The Order of the Golden Shields Part Two
Weapons and Plans: The plans of the Golden Shields, such as I have been able to ascertain, hinge upon the notion that they will be able to force a confrontation over Lannisport either by inflicting enough damage upon any invasion force or by the symbolic value of taking the Rock. One suspects this strategy is based, at least in part, on the Lannister conviction that the Empire is fragile in the absence of its ruler. They are still hoping to play Cyvasse, kill the king and the rest will crumble.
The dragon-slayer construct itself is not something I have personally witnessed in action, but I have spoken with those who did, and thus gained some insight into its mechanisms. It makes use of the connection of Valyrian dragonblood, be it dragonlord or lesser beast to an ancient curse of death and ruin. Thus, it is preternaturally protected against not only fang claw and fire, but also any magic one of dragon blood might cast. Further, its own attacks cut deep into blood and bone, even into the mind of any dragon it strikes. I distinctly recall one argument between Lanna and her goodbrother as to whether any dragons struck down by the latter would be driven to a berserk rage or to flight. Tywin preferred the former thinking that mad dragons would cause more damage to their own allies as well as giving him more political fodder in the aftermath of victory, where Lanna eventually prevailed in making the curse one of flight so as not to risk harm to Lannisport.
Expect use of wands, staves, and elemental engines such as one might find in the Wars of the Three Spheres as well as alchemical and arcane explosions to seal off any breaches as enemy forces storm the Rock. The knights who trained alongside the Golden Shields can be expected to hold their own against the best Legion champions and perhaps even some flesh-forged beings, though the weight of dead bodies should grind them down. I would not be surprised to find that certain traps were rigged to bring down the entirety of the Rock to deny it to enemies as a last gambit. It seems suitably petty for a man as in love with his own self-made image of invincible ruthlessness as Tywin Lannister. One would hope Lanna would not go along with such a loss of lives, lore, and potential, but sadly I cannot be certain of that.
Potential Infiltration Routes: Although navigating the innermost chambers of the Rock or Castamere would not be easy for an invader, there are of course means of bypassing the defenses, there have to be in order for the Golden Shields to function on a day to day basis. The members as well as any visitors brought this far use Tokens of Passage bound to their blood and soul. I am still in possession of my own token, and while access may be rescinded I am confident I can work out how to create a skeleton key of sorts given enough time and perhaps access to genie enchanters who would be familiar with the tradition.
Fallback and Flight: The Golden Shields have no plans that I know of to continue resistance after an eventual conquest of the Westerlands. To plan for that would be to plan for defeat and the fall of House Lannister. That said, mages who have been selected for loyalty as well as skill may well take it upon themselves to make such plans, particularly in light of the rumors circulating about your rule among them. The Sisters of Battle in your ranks are known to them. Though Lanna herself does not believe you have made a pact with hell to gain their services and neither does her closest circle, rumors to that nature are common among the Dutiful. The experience of dealing with devils has left many of them leery of even a whiff of brimstone.
What next?
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OOC: The part about targeting the dragons minds sounds to Viserys like a sort of supped-up Feeblemind using the curse on the Valyrian Reds as a template. It might be one of those things that can punch though otherwise absolute defenses like mind blank. Not yet edited.
