Fair Winds and Faith
Fifteenth Day of the First Month 294 AC
"The Iron Islands may not be a lucrative trading partner in the present, but it has the potential to become one in the near future. This is especially true if a few forward thinking individuals are willing to invest in it now, when the islands are poor and their allies few in number," you reply carefully, considering the resources of the island for good or ill. "Iron can of course be extracted from the islands' plentiful ore deposits. More organized and sophisticated mining operations, ones overseen by professional engineers and properly equipped workers, will yield far greater results than the haphazard scrabbling currently undertaken by thralls or serfs."
"Be that as it may, Your Grace, I fear that iron like gold mines here in 'The Garden', as your allies of earth and air call it, would not be able to compete in the long term with the vast seams of metal in the Endless Delve," Lord Hightower replies. "I have heard accounts of shaitan wealth and it is... humbling."
"True, yet they also consume vast quantities of iron," you reply, having considered such matters yourself long before the Terminus opened. "It is in many ways like grain upon that realm, a staple good for xorn and others who consume metal. Speaking of more mundane food the same techniques and magic which allow the lands surrounding Sorcerer's Deep to grow bountiful crops can also be applied to the Iron Islands, even those which do not at first glance appear conducive to agriculture."
"I will admit I had not considered that sorcery might grow something of worth on those wind-swept rocks," he replies. "They will never out-produce the Reach's bountiful fields, but at least it should keep the Ironborn from starving."
"Lastly there are sea-based goods that could be exploited, with the right tools and techniques," you conclude. "Pearls, for one thing, perhaps sea slugs, fish farms most certainly, and whaling would be something the hearty peoples of the islands could partake in, if they were funded. The lords have never exploited such things as they were all ways one might become
too profitable."
Ser Baelor frowns bemused. "Too profitable? I do not think even the lords of the Iron Islands would be so mad as to think
that. As Garth the Ninth, first of the Sage Kings, said, 'one should not be too hasty attributing to malice what can more easily be explained by ignorance.'"
"I fear in this case there was malice aplenty, my lord, and madness come to that." You explain what you had learned about the history of the Islands, of how their people had been manipulated directly with powers of the mind, outright corrupting effects from bilestone, as well as indirectly through the jealousy or spite of their neighbors. While reavers grumbled and harrumphed in the Islands for years about Lord Harlaw's more peaceful tendencies, he was still an Ironman who commanded respect through the weight of his lineage, and had only thrown himself full force into trade when he decided the reaving culture was madness perpetrated by monsters.
"Fuck," the young Lord Hightower breathes so softly most would not catch it. You wonder if he had even realized he had said it. His haze slips over your head to the wall behind you. "If the wards had been less strong than they are or our ancestors less strong minded we could have been in their place, dancing to the tune of monsters for all these centuries, hated and reviled by all civilized folk."
"I don't suspect they want our sympathy much less pity, but our business they would sooner take, and better for it," you point out. "Lord Harlaw is interested in the art of wine-making. It might be worth seeing if Lord Redwyne is interested in a closer association, perhaps even a betrothal."
"Paxter is less keen on Ironborn than I, but given what you just told me Your Grace..." Lord Hightower nods. "Assuming he can find a girl who wouldn't mind being a lady of those damned rocks it might be worth it."
More sensible than most lords to think of that, you note with approval. Another man might have taken his sister's misadventure in the North as 'proof' women had no business being consulted on their own marriages.
Next you approach the politics of the Faith and the way in which they have changed in the wake of the Conclave. Broadly speaking the faithful aresupportive of the decisions of the Conclave, though even with the Chosen and the High Septon both supporting the integration and guidance of mages there remain those who see sorcerers of any stripe with deep suspicion. In truth you discover there are elements of the Faith who view the Chosen themselves warily. Though not represented at all in the highest circles of the hierarchy Lord Hightower explains that there are plenty of village septons and begging brothers who ask why they should bear the presence of witches on the word of those who also work magic.
"They believe the Chosen are also 'witches'?" you ask startled. To tell the truth you had been so focused on the threat the Chosen could pose to your plans that you had not considered their own opposition within the Faith, certainly not from the grassroots and the common septons.
"Few of them will come out and say that much aloud, but they'll imply it when they're sure of their audiences," Lord Hightower explains darkly. "It doesn't seem to be the work of some power or outside agent, just folk chaffing at all the changes the Faith's gone through of late. It's easier for a man to accept his lord's ways might change then his faith's."
You nod, something to keep in mind, though you are not planning to act in that sphere soon. "And the Citadel?"
"That's a mess of plots and counter-plots to put an Essosi prince's palace to shame," the lord huffs in disgust. It's clear he does not consider you Essosi enough to take offense at that, not that you would in any case. You have seen enough of how Lys or Tyrosh were ruled before your conquest to be entirely unimpressed. "To tell the truth I would rather have one of the more forward thinking archmaesters explain it all better than I could if you would meet with him."
"Which archmaester?" you ask curiously. House Hightower's close relationship with the Citadel is no secret and so far Baelor's political; instincts have proven sound.
"Archmaester Ryam, his mask and rod are gold for economics and mathematics. He was one of those who suggested trade with the Iron Islands to help prop up the Reader's rule."
A man you have
met before, also at Lord Hightower's suggestion, but not as Viserys Targaryen.
What do you reply?
[] Accept, speak to the archmaester about Citadel politics, he would know more than his patron
[] Refuse, you do not wish to make your interest in the Citadel known to any archmaester, receive Lord Hightower's account
[] Write in
OOC: Quite low rolls on Faith information for Lord Hightower unfortunately, though it's likely your investigations in the city will turn up more. 
