We should agree to Olenna's request - on the condition that Renly be our guest at King's Landing for the duration of the war - he'll have freedom of movement around King's Landing and all the liberties of his rank, but with a Lannister guard detachment to follow him. When the war is over, provided he hasn't tried anything, he'll be free to return to rule the Stormlands once more.
I like the idea in principle. However I would rather avoid having Renly anywhere near the Iron Throne. Just in case some maniac among the gold cloaks or red keeps guards harbours some misplaced Loyalties to a Baratheon Uncle and tries doing anything clever.
Keeping Renly far away. And more importantly in the custody of someone not a Lannister in case anything should happen to him would be my vote. To that end, rather than the condition he be held at kings landing we might make it a condition that Renly instead guests at HighGarden for the duration of the war.
Beyond that Olenna is being downright Gentle. To be expected when the Lannisters and the Tyrells represent one of the oldest Alliances in Westeros between the reachlands and the Westerlands dating back since before Aegons conquest.
Let's look at the options. One thing to bear in mind regarding the Iron bank in particular. Is that "If you owe the bank 100 coins you have a problem. If you owe the Bank a Million coins the bank has a problem." To be sure, we don't want to insult the bank or risk them deciding the loan is a writeoff and to support other claimants anyway. But at the same time, keeping the debt high means some of the other claimants who might wish the Iron banks gold will be put off by having to pay Roberts debts as well. That said. I do think taking two options is a fair play. We're certainly not going to do anything quite so
bold as to pay it all off in a single installment, yet paying it down and reducing the interest might certainly be wise.
As for actually how to accomplish that. For a start I think the tax on sin and indulgences is an obvious move. In canon this was accomplished through the dwarfs penny, a tax on prostitution. It seems Cersei intends to tax more heavily but since she has a great number of expenses with the royal fleet and the Iron bank are approaching us for payment sooner that seems fair. And of particular note, sin and debauchery aside. This is a tax on luxuries. The 'ladies' of fleabottom and the street of silk won't be out of work for want of an extra penny, even if I expect the latter will be taxed more heavily. And more importantly, no-one will starve to death from lack of alcohol.
For the second tax actually. I think we've got some rather good options. The wartime tax on the smallfolk. The King has Ridden off to the Riverlands to defend them from the Mountains banditry. And we've sent the Master of ships with an army to defend the crownlands from invaders. A wartime Tax is wholly fair and reasonable given the circumstances, even more so for our defence of the realm. The one downside to this, is that, combined with the tax on sin we would be taxing the peasantry twice. I'm not... overly concerned on that right now, but something to bear in mind.
Taxes and Tariffs on the crownland houses. Similiarly, not a bad idea with us sending an army to protect the crownlands. Risks here are that A, it could turn some crownland houses against us. B, there's currently multiple armies marching through the crownlands so many of the farmsteads, hamlets, villages and smallholding nobility are likely already hard pressed to feed us. And C, with several houses already in revolt, gathering taxes from them would likely prove difficult so it may not provide as much funds as we would hope. The other side to that, is that, if successful, we could confiscate large amounts of funds from the defeated houses. But, that's not something we can rely on.
The last one I would seriously consider right now? Taxing all the Lords Paramount. Sure in practical terms it's only like to get us money from the Westerlands and the Reach, an outside chance of maybe the stormlands if the Tyrells take Renly in hand. But even a small amount of gold From Tywin and Olenna, two of the wealthiest Houses in the realm, will be a massive aid.
I'll note that trying to delay and use pretty words and promises isn't inherently a bad plan. We owe the bank enough that the bank has a problem not us. And I doubt many of the claimants will be lining up to pay Roberts drinking and tourney debts. We might actually be good to delay for a while, especially if the Iron bank wants to harvest interest payments and late fees and compound interest. But, well, late fee's and compound interest. I'd rather get started on paying it down.
Pledging some gold from Casterly Rock. A very bad idea currently. I don't like how it's worded. Pledging Casterly Rocks gold. The incomes from the mine direct? Tywin would have our hide for that. Beyond that, looking at it pragmatically and long term this option specifically spends gold, *power* from House Lannister specifically. Unlike taxing all the lords paramount it singularly and specifically weakens house Lannister. Not a good option. Another thing to consider is that Tywin is raising a Host, or hosts from the Westerlands. Soldiers he'll need to pay. Promising his gold without his knowledge or authorisation would be poor form I think.
Loans from the Faith. Decent, assuming they accept. But we'd simply be exchanging one financier for another. And without looking into the books, for all I know the faith is charging us criminal amounts of interest while the Iron bank is offering fair interest rates. Loans from the Faith are something to leave in out back pocket for now, we can use this for emergencies if things truly come to that.
Lastly. Worse option of the bunch. Taxing convents, septs and so on. This might not even be a bad option in peacetime. but in the midst of civil war, with a large chunk of our foes claiming Cersei's children to be an afront to the gods. Well. Let's try and stay on the high septons good side. Beyond that? I don't the gold cloaks any further than I have to. Keeping the smallfolk in line? Fine. Manning a defensive wall? Maybe. But sending them to tax septs and convents? I have *zero* faith that the gold cloaks would be able to accomplish that without insulting the faith and a major pillar of our support.
Yeah. Sin and indulgences. And Raising taxes on the lords paramount.
Renly. If he actually kept to a promise to surrender. Well. Just getting him out the war is prize enough. But, if his surrender turns over his army to the Tyrells and to us. I see no reason not to accept. I'm going to throw on some conditions mind since Olenna added a condition of her own, but they should prove simple enough. Afterall, assuming Margaery and Joffrey marry the Lord paramount would hardly want his own grandchildrens rule placed at risk by Renly again in the future.
As to our conditions. Get Myrcella out of the city and to safety within Highgarden. There are far too many armies in the vicinity of the crownlands. Joffrey is busy in the riverlands. And if something were to happen to him having his brother and sister in the same place could prove risky, particularly if Kings landing is besieged.
Next condition. Renly is not only to surrender. But to fully support the crown against other rebels. But to keep him far from the throne, for now House Tyrell are to be his jailers. And Lord Mace Tyrell is to be given command over Renly's army.
Third condition. we want Renly married. to a minor noble. The smallest we can get. One who is no threat to the crown whose house owes Loyalty to the Tyrells. Olenna as a great matchmaker brokering the deal for Margaery and Joffreys wedding is to find a bride for Renly whom is overjoyed to be Lady of storms end and its many riches and who will give him a strong line of succession to his own seat.
Lastly. Renly is to make amends with his niece and publicly recant his prior claims. He is to be kind to his niece, a perfect example of chivalry in every way to a young Lady. And he is to show the realm that his claims of bastardry were the words of a grieving man who lost his brother.
How do you respond to Olennas offer? What fate do you plan for Renly Baratheon?
[X]Plan: The Western Alliance.
-[X] [Debt] Raise taxes on the Lords Paramount. Including those in active rebellion.
-[X] [Debt] Heavily tax sin and indulgences like prostitution and alcohol.
-[X] [Marriage] Something else: If she has conditions we have conditions of our own.
--[X]First and foremost Lady Olenna is to take Princess Myrcella to ward at Highgarden with her when she leaves so that our daughter is to be safe. Waiting in Kings landing when Stannis threatens to besiege it is no safe place for a girl.
--[X]Second. If Renly is to be pardoned he needs to make a show of contrition. Upon his Surrender he is to reside in Highgarden until the end of the war and he is to bestow command over all stormland forces to Lord Mace Tyrell the warden of the South while Lord Renly sits out the war in peace.
--[X]Thirdly. Renly is to take a wife. We want no great Alliances for him so that lady wife should ideally be chosen from among House Tyrells own Loyal vassals as a reward for their leal service that their Lord Paramount and his Lady mother have happily arranged.
--[X]Last for now at least. Renly loved his niece and nephews once. He is to retract all accusations and be seen dining besides the princess happily. To ride with her. To be a doting uncle and for Myrcella and his new Lady wife to be good friends so at to put this ugliness and strife behind us. Particularly since the Princess may well have to appeal to her brother the King on his behalf. Assuming those conditions are met he should receive a full pardon and be confirmed in his inheritance to Storms end so long as he remains a loyal servant of the crown.
