Hilariously, the Night's Watch are the closest thing to Targaryen Loyalists without actually being allowed to swear to us.

Before we came along they were destitute, running short on every supply you could think of, mostly populated with nothing but underfed undertrained criminals scraped from the dungeons and cells of Westeros.

Then we showed up, and the Night's Watch gets:
  • Gold, enough to buy small kingdoms
  • Magically hardened supplies of all stripes including sets of Reinforced Segmented Hardened Steel Fullplate for every Night's Watch member which even lords would have been proud to bear
  • A copy of the Legendary Map of the Farthest North to replace their embarrassingly inaccurate maps
  • A restored library
  • Magic healing
  • Consecrated Weirwood Heart Trees
  • Their abandoned castles repaired and refurbished by magic
  • Magic Items, including Valyrian Steel blades
  • Magic Training
  • A concrete plan to evacuate the Wildlings so the Night's Watch doesn't have to be worried about a hundred-thousand wights or wraiths (or at least a hundd-thousand more)
  • Rescued Children of the Forest
  • Rescued Westerosi Giants
  • A restored reputation which Lord Commander Mormont took advantage of to boost recruitment
  • Forces of the Imperium stationed with the Night's Watch
  • Semi-Regular help from Viserys and the Companions against the stronger things Beyond the Wall
If it didn't go directly against their vows they'd have already bent the knee. As is they are more than happy to follow our lead.

Honestly they were the easiest to provide for. Their whole situation was so hopeless that even us simply giving them Gold would have been enough for them to "bend the knee" in all but name, let alone the fact we actually recognize the significance of the Wall and our efforts to actually bolster their forces.

It also doesn't hurt that thanks to us they can eat actual food instead of "hopefully rabbit stew" every other day.
 
Honestly they were the easiest to provide for. Their whole situation was so hopeless that even us simply giving them Gold would have been enough for them to "bend the knee" in all but name, let alone the fact we actually recognize the significance of the Wall and our efforts to actually bolster their forces.

It also doesn't hurt that thanks to us they can eat actual food instead of "hopefully rabbit stew" every other day.
And we made sure people in Castle Black taking watch duty don't freeze in the cold, but instead are actually alert and focused.

Speaking of which, we should make x18 more of those Endure Elements/Keep Watch/Prestidigitation three-headed dragon statues for the other castles along the wall, @Goldfish.

And also, like a RL year ago, I wanted to slowly ramp up how much enchanter budget we dedicated to the Night's Watch each month to produce minor magical items, starting at 5,000 IM (one enchanter) and adding one each month until we dedicated five enchanters exclusively to making stuff for them (25,000 IM).

Then when every ranger has basic equipment, we would presumably equip their elite rangers with specialized gear.
 
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Honestly they were the easiest to provide for. Their whole situation was so hopeless that even us simply giving them Gold would have been enough for them to "bend the knee" in all but name, let alone the fact we actually recognize the significance of the Wall and our efforts to actually bolster their forces.

It also doesn't hurt that thanks to us they can eat actual food instead of "hopefully rabbit stew" every other day.
God yes. The food alone is a gift from heaven as far as they're concerned.
 
[X] Triumphant Emperor
-[X] Savior of the last of the Giants, just as you rescued the Children of the Forest.
-[X] Ferry them through Castle Black, meet with Lord Commander Mormont and get an update on the situation of the Night's Watch and how the overall Wildling evacuation is going, say hi to Maester Aemon, then return to Sorcerer's Deep with the Giants and your vassals in tow.
-[X] See if it'd be possible for Aemon to visit Sorcerer's Deep for a bit.
Hey, could we maybe ask Lord Commander Mormont what the Night's Watch has been dealing with since we last asked? If they need any specific assistance, or if they are dealing with an ongoing problem (maybe even an urgent one) we could definitely detach someone to deal with it either this month or the next.

Edit: Oh wait, you said an update in general already. I guess it could be clearer but that's probably bound to get us some info.
 
And we made sure people in Castle Black taking watch duty don't freeze in the cold, but instead are actually alert and focused.

Speaking of which, we should make x18 more of those Endure Elements/Keep Watch/Prestidigitation three-headed dragon statues for the other castles along the wall, @Goldfish.

And also, like a RL year ago, I wanted to slowly ramp up how much enchanter budget we dedicated to the Night's Watch each month to produce minor magical items, starting at 5,000 IM (one enchanter) and adding one each month until we dedicated five enchanters exclusively to making stuff for them (25,000 IM).

Then when every ranger has basic equipment, we would presumably equip their elite rangers with specialized gear.
I'll add them to the crafting schedule.

We can also leave them three Banners of Restful Nights, 50 Healing Belts, 50 PfE Rings, 50 Muleback Cords, 20 Handy Haversacks, 20 pairs of Soulfire Bracers, 20 Earrings of Arcane Acuity, 5 Gravewatch Pendants, 20 Sending Stones, 50 Traveler's Any-Tools, 20 Launchers, 200 Alchemist's Fire Launcher Munitions (equivalent to 2,000 vials), 200 Heatstones, 500 doses of Antiplague, and 1,000 doses of Healing Salve.

That's another very significant contribution. Enough to equip a lot more members of the Night's Watch with essential gear, along with several teams for more dangerous work.

Want to add that stuff to your plan, @Duesal?
 
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Guys i have a brilliant idea. Why don't we invite baratheon twit to a peace summit and talk shit to him. I really want to talk to him and see his impotent rage. Also bring the lanisters as well. God i want to see the look on his face after the thing with the ships.
 
Hey, could we maybe ask Lord Commander Mormont what the Night's Watch has been dealing with since we last asked? If they need any specific assistance, or if they are dealing with an ongoing problem (maybe even an urgent one) we could definitely detach someone to deal with it either this month or the next.

Edit: Oh wait, you said an update in general already. I guess it could be clearer but that's probably bound to get us some info.
Expanded the questions to get a broader picture of the problems they've been dealing with, both political and supernatural.
I'll add them to the crafting schedule.

We can also leave them three Banners of Restful Nights, 50 Healing Belts, 50 PfE Rings, 50 Muleback Cords, 20 Handy Haversacks, 20 pairs of Soulfire Bracers, 20 Earrings of Arcane Acuity, 5 Gravewatch Pendants, 20 Sending Stones, 50 Traveler's Any-Tools, 20 Launchers, 200 Alchemist's Fire Launcher Munitions (equivalent to 2,000 vials), 200 Heatstones, 500 doses of Antiplague, and 1,000 doses of Healing Salve.

That's another very significant contribution. Enough to equip a lot more members of the Night's Watch with essential gear, along with several teams for more dangerous work.

Want to add that stuff to your plan, @Duesal?
Added, thanks. :)
 
Guys i have a brilliant idea. Why don't we invite baratheon twit to a peace summit and talk shit to him. I really want to talk to him and see his impotent rage. Also bring the lanisters as well. God i want to see the look on his face after the thing with the ships.
It might be amusing, but it would not serve any real purpose beyond self-gratification. It wouldn't be true to Viserys' character, either.
 
Canon Omake: The Choice is Yours
The Choice is Yours

Thirteenth Day of the First Month 294 AC

"Fish movement sighted in Westbrook, it's bedeviled I tell you..."

"...haven't seen anything like it. Five hundred people used to live in that area, now the place is a ghost town--"

"--a minor hamlet of little note, nothing more..."

"You haven't seen it yet? Page twelve, right there. That's what we saw down by the old Tarbeck mines. Took a dozen men-at-arms with the the special hooked polearms to bring it down."

"--dragon's good for one thing, I guess. These drawings are accurate?"

"Aye. They're drawn to scale."

"Get that the fuck out of here, before Lord Tywin hears about it!"

The shout interrupted the havoc and bedlam in the temporarily refurbished Halls of Triumph, deep in the bowels of the Rock, taken over by dozens of Golden Shields. There were scribes and servants ferrying parchment and supplies through the area while two dozen knights gathered around a table, one of multiple command centers across the Westerlands. The entire group was silenced, stiffening in surprise and fear as the normally more congenial Gerion Lannister worked himself up into a towering rage.

"We haven't had accurate reports in a fucking fortnight, Lord Gerion." The ever-stoic Melwyn Sarsfield bore the full brunt of the lion's glare without flinching, features carved from stone and brushing an oiled cloth over his arming sword. "If you want this fox den to stop resembling a chicken coop filled with headless cocks, you're going to have to make some compromises."

"Would you like to compromise your neck's own integrity when my brother asks me to separate it from your head?" Gerion smashed a fist on the table, causing everyone, battle-hardened veterans and knights one and all, barring Sarsfield of course, to jump in shock. His fist resounded with each word in hard emphasis: "We. Can. Not. Continue. Fucking. Around." He pointed at a squire, who scooped up the pile of the Imperial Times collected across every region in Westeros, spread out across the long stone table, and dumped them into a sack to be dropped into the forge's crucible during the night... just as he had eight times before. "Melwyn, report."

"It's Ser Anton Swyft." Ser Melwyn almost rolled his eyes when it was clear the confusion in Gerion's eyes meant that he didn't quite recognize the name. "The pissant that Lord Tywin sent to the Night's Watch to act as an informant, so that he wouldn't spike his head instead."

Gerion pondered that only for a moment. "That happens often enough these days, the names are starting to run together. Well, go on. What does Anton fucking Swyft have to say up in the ass end of the world?"

"It's your lady wife's elemental who carried the whisper wind. Read this." Melwyn handed the missive wrought upon a silk scroll over to his commander, every man there watching with bated breath.

Gerion slumped into an empty chair after scanning it not once, not twice, but three times, massaging his temples with both hands. "The fuck am I reading, Ser Melwyn?"

"Viserys Targaryen leading 'an army of giants' across half the Far North and apparently approaching Castle Black. I expect he'll arrive there soon. Hells, maybe now." No one said a word. Melwyn smiled slightly, as if finding the situation humorous somehow. "There's a giant sky ship hovering overhead, and some wildlings trailing in their wake like remoras gliding alongside a shark."

"You confirmed this?" Gerion queried tonelessly.

"Divination didn't say much, but aye, there be giants." Melwyn sheathed his sword, ignoring the panicked rumble of conversation he'd just kicked up with aplomb.

"Quiet," Gerion barked, regaining their attention once more. Then: "Get out."

Gerion waited for several heartbeats, a vein pulsating on his forehead, before he repeated, "Get the fuck out!"

Everyone in the open hall fled with varying degrees of urgency, with the most panicked sprinting headlong toward the nearest gilded stairwell.

Gerion pointed a finger at the Sarsfield knight. "Not you."

Sarsfield scoffed, "Oh, are you Lord Tywin now, come to tan my hide?" Gerion noted the knight had only become so openly insubordinate when the room had finally emptied and the last of the footsteps faded from the cavernous hall.

"Are you trying to get thrown into a gaol, man?" Gerion probably would have sent him back to his lands by now, to keep him from getting himself killed if nothing else, were it not for the fact that he was the only damned adjutant with his head screwed on straight at all times. As, apparently, opposed to most times, when it was dealing with matters the Shields were equipped and experienced in handling, but then a non-conventional thinker would not long survive Tywin's wroth when he was not minded to direct it toward productive ends.

Not unless they showed consistent results, not without Gerion's favor shielding them, and the Lord of Castamere could only be in any one place at a time, only have eyes in so many places as well.

"The fuck do we have to fear in regards to being thrown into a dark pit, or even being pitched into the bay in the dead of night? We've got enough problems without flinching and whinging, whenever the Old Lion gets restless and starts prowling around in lands beyond his ken and business, poking his greying whiskers about." Gerion was frankly baffled by the man's irreverence.

He was quite polite and well-mannered enough when actually in his brother's presence. But six months of directly reporting to him as he acted as Gerion's intermediary had worn down longstanding respect and patience, until nothing but a feral gleam remained in the battle-hardened knight's gaze when his very name came up, falling just shy of outright contempt. "We've got a war to fucking plan, and here we are chasing fucking fairy tales!" Sarsfield knocked a cup off the stone table where it shattered against a push cart. "You going to go sally the troops and meet the Targs in battle, him and his fucking army of giants?"

"No." Gerion's denial was instant, already knowing where the man was going with this.

"Why the fuck not?" Sarsfield said with a corpse grin, making it perfectly clear he knew why, faux-simpering tone aside.

"Because then he'd fucking slaughter us," Gerion replied, irritated but not rising to the man's jabs.

Sarsfield stood and slowly paced around the table, the chair beside Gerion scraping loudly as he plonked himself down into it and poured two cups of wine. Arbor Gold, and if Gerion wasn't mistaken the last of that vintage, on account of the fact that there weren't any damned traders from the Arbor plying their wares in Lannisport these days and he couldn't justify translocating across half of Westeros for good drinks. Not when there were so many other damned problems to be solving and not enough reliable men to solve them with.

"So why fucking worry?" Sarsfield still had the same rictus grin, though it grew subdued at Gerion's warning glance, even as he lifted the cup and took a long drink.

"You're starting to sound just like Jaime," Gerion groused, amused at the thought of his nephew in spite of himself.

"Gods forbid," Melwyn replied in like tone, "Damned fool is more fatalistic than I am, though I suppose he has reason to be, on account of the fact that the entire realm knows him by one name and it isn't 'Young Lion' or 'Shiny Shirt' or 'Golden Cock'."

"You would think if the Dragon cared about the fact that Jaime stabbed his father to death, he would have hired some assassins to kill him, and Robert, and probably half the royal family. He doesn't care, or his heart's made of stone, or Hells, maybe he's grateful to Jaime that he made the matter of succession so much more expedient by not simply rapping the mad bastard on the head, instead of sticking him in the back." Gerion wanted to laugh as much as he wanted to cry, a laugh slipping out of him and leaving him breathless.

Tywin was often in such a mood that no one dared to so much as laugh in Casterly Rock these days, no one dared to but Gerion and Melwyn fucking Sarsfield, who joined him a moment later.

"Gods, what a bunch of fools we make," Gerion said between laughs.

"Aye, a right pair of cock-ups, we are," Melwyn replied, draining another cup. Good things had to end sometime, however. "What do we do now?"

"Delay the next report. We'll try harder to get spies into Sorcerer's Deep and see if there's anything specifically planned for those things--I'd say focus on Everfire Dale the most, it's hard to keep orders of giant-sized armor and weapons hidden. How close are we to getting people back into their damned Keep?"

"Fucking impossible," Melwyn replied, deadly serious now. "Not since the Maesters we knew were poking around that way got real spooked. The place is locked up tighter than my wife's cunny, and it has everything to do with the damned Book and Sword."

"Gods cursed us, what a bunch of humorless cunts," Gerion swore, "How does he find them all?!" Rumor held strongly that there were dragonmen and spies from the Inquisition infiltrated across half of Westeros and most of Essos, an entire interconnected spy network spanning two continents sprung up nearly overnight, in relative terms as far as intrigue went, and while they had more accurate details thanks to magic on some of their activities, they were clever sorts when it came to getting the most mileage out of only a little magic.

Whatever method they used to convey information had yet to be cracked, likely the result of numerous expensive anti-divination wards, or more crude methods such as lead-lined rooms and dead drops.

"Found two more a league past the dividing line of Darry and Harrenhal," Melwyn replied grimly. "He's growing bolder. Spreading his wings."

"Can we cut out the simile?" Gerion got enough of that living life as a Lannister in such gentle company as he was wont to.

"Either way, shit rolls down hill fast and falls on our heads. We need to move, and soon." Gerion took a moment to parse that, trying to connect Sarsfield's last words with the rest of the conversation, with no delay acknowledging that he hadn't meant moving against the Targaryens.

"Just do your duty, Melwyn," Gerion growled, not wanting to have this conversation again. Not here, not now.

"It's now or fucking never, Gerion," Melwyn replied, unperturbed by the murder being glared at him. "Talk with your wife. Hug your children. But the choice is yours."

Gerion stormed off. He didn't want Lonmouth words parroted back at him, not when there was talk of treason against kith and kin hidden within subtext and metaphor.

The bitter irony was otherwise too damned painful to countenance.
 
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Even if Gerion tries to bend the knee that won't save his House. The name Lannister will be expunged from history, and anyone still bearing it will be forever excluded from the nobility and all other offices of power and import. If we're feeling generous he might be allowed to stay in Castamere, but that's a big if. And only by another name.

But it seems like he knows that, and now he's ready to abandon the rest of his kin.
 
@Crake, the tension is palpable among that gathering of unfortunates. Good to see Gerion is being realistic, and that Tywin appears to be fraying around the mental edges. Hopefully he won't unravel completely, though, else he might do something supremely stupid.
Even if Gerion tries to bend the knee that won't save his House. The name Lannister will be expunged from history, and anyone still bearing it will be forever excluded from the nobility and all other offices of power and import. If we're feeling generous he might be allowed to stay in Castamere, but that's a big if. And only by another name.

But it seems like he knows that, and now he's ready to abandon the rest of his kin.
Maybe "Brightshield", in honor of his association with the Golden Shields and the soon to be former Lannister association with all that glitters?
 
@Crake, the tension is palpable among that gathering of unfortunates. Good to see Gerion is being realistic, and that Tywin appears to be fraying around the mental edges. Hopefully he won't unravel completely, though, else he might do something supremely stupid.

Maybe "Brightshield", in honor of his association with the Golden Shields and the soon to be former Lannister association with all that glitters?
I mentioned this before, but I am inordinately pleased by the idea of going them by "House Casterly of Castamere". Any other Lannisters who slip the noose can also take it on.
 
Maybe "Brightshield", in honor of his association with the Golden Shields and the soon to be former Lannister association with all that glitters?
As long as the Lannister name dies I have no objection.

Speaking of the Golden Shields, they're definitely getting disbanded with prejudice.

Unlike the Silver Eye they can't be trusted to be folded into the Inquisition, these are people who have been scheming against us for years. Not to mention the fact that the Inquisition does its own recruiting.
 
As long as the Lannister name dies I have no objection.

Speaking of the Golden Shields, they're definitely getting disbanded with prejudice.

Unlike the Silver Eye they can't be trusted to be folded into the Inquisition, these are people who have been scheming against us for years. Not to mention the fact that the Inquisition does its own recruiting.
They're litigated with extreme prejudice. The mages we'll free from their Geass and we'll of course integrate them into the Scholarum's structures, and I'm sure many who are skilled will ply their skills both for us and others across the Realm with gusto. But we go over everything they did with a fine toothed Brainspider.
 
They're litigated with extreme prejudice. The mages we'll free from their Geass and we'll of course integrate them into the Scholarum's structures, and I'm sure many who are skilled will ply their skills both for us and others across the Realm with gusto. But we go over everything they did with a fine toothed Brainspider.
The ones freed of Geas we'll have to watch carefully as well. Bizarrely there are a few of Tywin's minions who didn't resent having a Geas. I wouldn't doubt more than a few saboteurs being welcomed into our ranks as a final Fuck You from Tywin.

Also I distinctly remember capturing a few Lannister mages way back near the beginning and finding a woman who nobody wanted because she was ready to backstab anyone in power she could manage. We ended up sending her right back to the Lannisters in hopes that she'd be their problem instead.

I still don't want her.
 
The ones freed of Geas we'll have to watch carefully as well. Bizarrely there are a few of Tywin's minions who didn't resent having a Geas. I wouldn't doubt more than a few saboteurs being welcomed into our ranks as a final Fuck You from Tywin.

Also I distinctly remember capturing a few Lannister mages way back near the beginning and finding a woman who nobody wanted because she was ready to backstab anyone in power she could manage. We ended up sending her right back to the Lannisters in hopes that she'd be their problem instead.

I still don't want her.
My guess is she's dead or fiend bait. Anyone that categorically moronic doesn't last long in this kind of setting.
 
Crake's Report does highlight, though, that we're ultimately on a time limit for Westeros. The longer we don't attain control, the higher the risk that some faction panics and any intervention risks leading to an invasion for which we are unprepared (because the alternative might be the breakdown of order in at least some areas; e.g. consider the scenario where the smallfolk no longer recognizes the lords loyal to King Robert as legitimate and rises up in arms).
So: how do we deal with this risk? Are there already some long term plans for preparing the invasion? If not, we should at least think on what we need for it and when everything should be ready.
 
Great omake @Crake, I love how Gerion and company concluded it must be 'an army of giants' when Viserys never considered the notion. Someone is going to ask Jeor about it and he's going to call them refugees and they will just think 'the watch is even depeer in the dragon's pocket than we thought'.
 
Okay, so:
1) Where do we put the White Tree?
We'll need to fleshforge some guards for it regardless though.

2) @DragonParadox, any more Heart Trees left in the North that OGs want us to evacuate in the coming month? Simply because they are too close to the Enemy as of the moment?

3) @everyone, so, shall we send a team of researchers next month(s) to the Fist of Giants alongside the Nag (with his Legwndary sword likely making him the perfect Chosen Giant for any form of legend-digging) here, to try and parse wtf has been going on with them?

Bottom line, we'll bomb the place with Wyldfire if anything too dangerous is down there.
We have the facilities.
 
Okay, so:
1) Where do we put the White Tree?
We'll need to fleshforge some guards for it regardless though.

2) @DragonParadox, any more Heart Trees left in the North that OGs want us to evacuate in the coming month? Simply because they are too close to the Enemy as of the moment?

3) @everyone, so, shall we send a team of researchers next month(s) to the Fist of Giants alongside the Nag (with his Legwndary sword likely making him the perfect Chosen Giant for any form of legend-digging) here, to try and parse wtf has been going on with them?

Bottom line, we'll bomb the place with Wyldfire if anything too dangerous is down there.
We have the facilities.
Rina said previously that whatever it is that is beneath the fist of the first men is likely not hostile. since you know it didn't do anything to the giants or their children only comunicated to them in dreams. but i get the precaution
 
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