The Dragon Has Three Heads - ASOIAF Quest

Winning Vote:

Align with these men. If they and others are the remnants of a somewhat "honorable" gang, perhaps you can win them to your side by getting rid of their enemies. If so, you can hatch two dragons from one egg. Get rid of the violent gang, and perhaps gather some men that you can start building into your own force. Perhaps a private security company of some sort.

A Divine Order For This Mortal Coil - Part Five
Third Week of the Fifth Month 297 AC
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"The merchants here are tired of being threatened. They want help dealing with your rival gang. I want to get my hands into the local businesses and make some decent investments. You want revenge. It seems we all want something that has to do with eliminating the same people."

The ringleader looks at you disbelievingly. "You, a Valyrian noble, wants to help us restart the Silver Scorpions?"

You adopt an easygoing smile, and respond with your true intentions. "Not as a gang, no. That would obviously ruin any attempts at a reputation here. But if you went straight... If you became true hired guards for these merchants here, instead of merely taking protection money without being the ones causing the need for protection in the first place, well; how would it really be any different than what you were already doing? Beyond having official licensing of course."

The other two look to Garret questionably. He snorts and shakes his head. "Lester wanted to do that too. Takes money for licensing though. Permits, uniforms, bribes to officials so you don't 'ave to wait 2 years for all the paperwork." At least 2 Iron Bars (Talons) worth in total, and when he ran the figures he said we'd only bring in about 50 Marks (Dragons) a year. No investor wants to wait four years to get his money back, and then only if we manage to succeed. Why d'you think we did it this way in the first place? We ain't thugs. Jus' people who wanted to keep our neck o' the city clean and safe fer our kids."

'Not thugs? Ha, considering they tried to attack me just for being Valyrian that's rather generous. Still, I can work with this.'

"I daresay these Barons of yours have likely rounded up a tidy sum of money... Take them down with me, and I'll hire you on. We'll use whatever we liberate from the Barons and I'll cover the rest. 2 Bars for a future investment is just the kind of money I'm willing to spend." This incident has perhaps been more useful than expected. Apparently Braavosi merchants like to think big. Perhaps you can cash in on smaller less wealthy investments if you have many of them.

"Unlike the nobles of Braavos," you continue, "I haven't been here long enough to only take 50 Bar deals. I am willing to deal in small investments to get the ball rolling. Of course, that would mean that you'd be following a Valyrian so if that's a problem..." you trail off, all while subtly making yourself seem the kind stranger willing to get dirty with the common folk rather than the arrogant lord. Perhaps if you show them a Valyrian different than the stories they've always heard, you can change their minds.

The man look at you while scratching his chin, before finally grunting. "Suppose long as you don't make trouble it doesn't matter where the marks come from. Never thought I'd be working with a Valyrian, that's for sure."

And with that, the you arrange for a place to meet later and go in to speak with the members of what you hope will soon become your guild of merchants.​

The tavern is smoky, but not horribly so. It is empty save for one large table near the bar, and the bar itself. Not surprising since the front door said "closed". These are the merchants and other storefront owners that you wanted to meet.

You introduce yourself to them as Aegon Velaryon. 'No sense making too many identities for one city. One public identity will do. A web of lies catches all but the most canny of spiders after all.'

When they see you a chair is brought to the table, and a tray of bread, cheese, and meat is brought to you by the serving girl, as well as a mug of ale. It is apparent that the others have already eaten, and were awaiting your arrival. You give your apologies for your lateness, mentioning that you were waylaid but dealt with the situation. You don't tell them that it was by the Silver Scorpions, preferring to let them assume that it was by these "Barons" and that you've already shown yourself capable of holding your own against them.

Judging from the grudging looks of respect you get from some of the ones who looked at you negatively from the moment you walked in (no doubt more anti-Valyrians) and the surprised looks you get from the others, they took from that exactly what you intended.

Introductions start happening almost immediately after. Brom the smith, Gird the tavern keeper, Eileen the weaver, on and on they go before finally introductions are done.

"So," Gird asks, leaning forward a bit on the bar as he pours another glass of ale for Brom. "What exactly is this idea of yours?"

You finish the bit of meat in your hands, wipe them on your handkerchief, then lean forward with a predatory grin as you explain your goals for this meeting.​

Right then. The servants are handled, unless you miss your guess they won't be betraying anyone of the Targaryen line anytime soon, and Boromun... well. You knew that he had some of his old pirate habits still in there somewhere, but they've been buried deeper than they already were. Just as he would have wanted, so it isn't as if you intruded on his will any. That would have been much harder if he didn't want it just as much as you did.

Still, if everything you see is true then soon you'll have to come clean to Aegon. It's almost time for him to know.

'But for now, there's still that farm to get sorted.' you think to yourself as you go about your business.​

Well, rolls finally dictated that Dany will tell you what she's been up to. Hopefully you won't be angry with her about it.

Do you

[] Tell the "guild" about the guards you intend to make, and consolidate the plan allowing them to take some of the cost of getting them set up off of your hands? 1 Talon for setup. 50% income decrease as the investors get a stake.

[] Keep that separate. Two different business ventures so you can charge the guild full price. 2 Talons for setup. All profits remain your own.​