Swords of the Realm
Tenth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC
In the end you decide to simply define abdication as 'death for the purposes of succession' and leave the matter of defining terms from there to the individual title holders, a tacit acceptance of loopholes at the end of the day but better than tangling Imperial law more into matters of succession. As for Count Tarly, well, he shall be 'dead' in a few weeks... and any children he might later have will be as ones born to a man who died in the nine months of pregnancy.
More than a touch absurd, you would grant, but then what is any legal system without at least a touch of absurdity? Malarys even allowed it has 'a certain rustic charm to it'.
As though the only way a dead man could sire a child would be to die before the birth, continued the rest of the unheard jest. Well, while you are doing your best to avoid turning into a mirror the the Freehold, there can be no doubt your legal system will face challenges more akin to the ones the Old Valyrians did than anything the last four hundred years had seen. You ask for the proposals for the Ministry of Justice, but those it seems are still with the Inquisition for verification and so instead you move on to the military proposals, for which you still have no less than four marshal posts to fill to round out the High Command.
The first to come into consideration is a familiar one, surely worthy of honor. Ser Benjicot Brown of Riverlander fame and infamy, a knight loyal, skilled, and experienced in a manner of fighting few of his peers can match. Alas, his exploits have left him with many calling his honor into question, though not too loudly nor too openly. Hailing from the other side of the Narrow Sea and counting as his exploits far different, though no less well loved by his men for it, the former Unsullied known as Red Ant. He has been serving in the Legion ever since he surrendered to it in Tyrosh. Known for his strict discipline and loyalty, which brought him accolades, but also for showing little mercy to his foes.
As you turn the page to the next report, you are surprised enough to make a few calls just to check in on the particulars of the candidate. You did not know you had any full blooded Shaitan in your ranks, much less one with experience in the War of the Three Spheres and the long struggle against the Brazen Throne before that. True, Neda bint Hashim Khademnejad was only of middling rank in the armies of her home and had only risen to petty officer in the hosts of the Opal Throne, but she brings with her aeons of experience, though some may whisper about the circumstances of her departure from the empire of her birth.
While looking into more who might impart the wisdom of long ages upon your forces, you encounter word of a scholar of war who has but recently found his way into your realm, following rumor of your breaking of the prison tower of the Efreeti and the freeing of Bloom. Netzachel, whose name means God's Victory, is a Codex Archon, though his light has long since changed from clear gold to iridescent colors that pierce the eye and
silver in the mind. A survivor of the rape of Elysium who was sore tried in those days, he vowed to gather any knowledge of war, any craft of battle that would aid in avoiding such a monstrous defeat ever happening again. He has studied in Dis, in the libraries of Axis and even in the nameless pits of the Abyss, leaving him with vast knowledge, though his presence is now disconcerting even to those who do not know what manner of lore lies in his pages.
Compared to the last two candidates, the grey haired Archmaester Benedict seems positively mundane. In his youth he rode with a mercenary band in Essos and wanted to spend a few years learning warcraft in the Citadel to one day take it over, but never left Oldtown again. He has a sharp mind and has been center of some controversy due to his recent books about the implications of magic in warfare, which Beryl herself as well as various Legion officers found insightful.
For a candidate with more practical acumen, one has but to look to General Vaerios Ghad, though his skill lies less in the technical particulars of command, where he is talented but unexceptional. No, it is his oration that served him in good stead in Sarnor against the living dead. Granted, the content of those speeches is not uncontroversial. Not only is his faith in the Red God strong, but so too is his faith in the notion that you are Azor Ahai. Part of you wonders what proportion of the many faithful of the Red God hold to that theory, most of the rest of you does not wish to know.
Fortunately, you do not have long to ponder the question for
Qyburn of all people comes forth with a proposal for marshal. To be honest you are surprised he is even aware that such a decision is in the works, given the usually insular nature of his studies, but you cannot say you object to the name he puts forward, or perhaps
names. It is hard to judge with the minds that make up the Necrotic Molds. Broken Roots they are, one of the Greater Bloodclot Molds has become the vessel of a group of long forgotten warlords and has expressed interest in leading an army once again. It's unique nature would give it many advantages in that task, but it's alien nature and twisted mind would also present great obstacles. There's also worry it might overly focus on the threat in the far North.
Compared to the brief, faintly chilling meeting with the
Ones who make up Broken Roots, there is something almost comforting to sharing a cup of fermented mare's milk with a former Dothraki Khal, though you are aware of the fact that most would count the grim, shaven headed man rather intimidating. Thirro had lost near his entire Khalassar to the dead before ending up in the fighting pits of the Ghiscari. He spent two years as a pit fighter before Zherys bought him in the hopes of using his expertise in the growing army of Volantis. He showed himself surprisingly capable as an officer and was retained as such when the Volantene army merged into the Legion. His nickname stems from his habit to shave his head every day, which he vowed to do until the day that no undead are left in the Great Grass Sea.
Perhaps he and Broken Roots are not so different after all, for all the span of long ages that lies between them.
No sooner had you left your meeting with the former Khal that Moonsong found you with a proposal of her own... well, not really hers. It had been checked by enough institutions that the paper is festooned with ribbons and seals like an invitation to a wedding in the Vale, but she certainly found the man interesting enough to make sure his name ends up on your desk. Ryos Lodaris, a Braavosi who had never outgrown the life of a Bravo, was thought dead at sea nine years ago.
Instead of dying though, he somehow wound up on the Plane of Water, where he lived the life of a sellsword until half a year ago when he showed up at the Imperial embassy and sought passage back to Braavos. The tales he tells of what happened to him in between are more than a bit fantastical and the House of Mirrors spent many divinations to verify them and to ensure that he is no plant by the Deep Ones. That suspicion has so far kept the Legion from hiring him, but he vowed that he would endure whatever the Inquisition deemed necessary to prove his loyalty.
As evening begins to fall, you receive the file of the newly promoted General Hazhak mo Zhoa, which upon reading it with care, you suspect might have been delayed with a purpose. The officer has ever been hounded by his heritage. While hailing from New Ghis and having been a trainer of the Lockstep Legions hired to train the first few Legionaries, his advancement in the ranks has been hobbled by the stubborn rumor that he was involved in the training of Unsullied in Astapor. His actual service record is spotless and he seems to have taken it upon himself to overcome this burden through hard work, but with many Legionaries still being recruited among former slaves, there have been issues with discipline in his units.
The last to arrive for your consideration is Donnel Waynwood, and late had been his kin in the taking of the Vale. Yet perhaps you might still make use of the second-born of the reigning countess of Ironoaks just the same. Many a man who has joined the Imperium only reluctantly has found it much to his liking in the end. The veteran knight has been leading the knights of the Vale on many campaigns and has submitted his application for the position of a Marshall on that basis. Unfortunately, he lacks experience in arcane warfare, baring what he learned while being on the receiving end when fighting against the mountain clans.
Choose Four:
[] Ser Benjicot Brown
+ Years of Experience (Has been leading the Lads for years and has plenty more experience as a soldier in previous campaigns)
+ Guerilla Leader (Skilled in asymmetric warfare)
+ Very Loyal
- Small Unit Leader (Has no experience leading whole armies, let alone multiple)
- Stench of Banditry (especially among Riverlanders, he is seen as little more than a brigand)
[] Red Ant
+ Disciplined (Holds himself to high standards and runs a tight command)
+ Loyal
+ Renowned (Has some degree of fame in the Legion and will spark enthusiasm among his soldiers)
- Heavy Prejudice: Ghiscari (Carries a grudge over his past as an Unsullied, but mostly confined to the Ghiscari)
- No Quarter (Is known to show little mercy on the battlefield and expects none in return)
[] Neda bint Hashim Khademnejad (Daughter of Hashim, of House Khadem)
+ Born For War (has been trained for military service from a young age and served for decades in the Peerless Empires armies)
+ Inner Planes Warfare (Versed in the tactics and strategies of the Inner Planes and to some degree those of other planar forces such as the Illithid and Baator)
+- Ambitious
- Foreign Loyalties (While not part of the high nobility of the Shaitan, her family are still influential, which makes some claim her to be disloyal)
- Questioned Honor (Her joining of the Legion caused a minor scandal in the Peerless Empire and further promotion might spark controversy)
[] Netzachel (God's Victory)
+ Unmatched Knowledge (Has knowledge of warfare that is rivaling that of even the greatest generals of the planes)
+ Trickster (Can surprise even the best prepared foe)
- Aura of Taint (Being filled with fiendish and even some aberrant knowledge gave him an aura akin to a fiend, though all investigations have shown his mind untouched)
- Theorist (Has not actually led a campaign so far)
[] Archmaester Benedict
+ Quick Learner (Easily picks up new knowledge and strategies)
+ Political Acumen (Has studied the politics surrounding war as much as the actual warfare and has much experience navigating the fickle politics of the Citadel)
+ Westerosi Approval (While a Maester leading an army would be odd to many, lords are used to their advice on the matters of war, making him a strange but acceptable choice)
- Theorist (Has not actually led a campaign so far)
- Grudgekeeper (Is known to nurse personal grudges with some dedication with the most notable ones being held against Marwyn and Qyburn)
[] General Vaerios Ghad
+ Experienced Legion Commander (Has led Legions into battle and is well acquainted with the Imperial military)
+ Inspiring Leader (Always manages to motivate his troops to give the utmost)
+ Loyal Unto Death
- Fanatic: R'hllor (Is known for leading a rather outspoken prayer group and mixing religious themes into his speeches)
[] Broken Roots
+ Hivemind (By using Necrotic Molds as intermediates, Broken Roots could instantaneously communicate with all nearby forces under his command)
+ Elder Lore (Having the knowledge of dozens of warlords from the Age of Heroes and access to the Green Dream makes it well versed in warfare)
+- Unambitious (Cares not for personal glory)
- Alien (Baring Softstrider and Bloodraven, no one in the Curia or High Command would truly comprehend its nature)
- Hatred: Others (It's hatred to the Others is overwhelming and might color it's decision-making)
[] Thirro (the survivor), the Shaven Khal
+ Mobility Focus (Knows the advantages of moving faster than your enemies and is experienced in leading quick and decisive raids)
+ Combined Arms Tactics (Learned in the Volantene army to skillfully blend traditional warfare with magical support)
- Barbarous (The only diplomacy he knows is by strength of arms and others see in him no more than a skilled savage)
- Prejudice: Undead (Has a great hatred for the Undead)
[] Ryos Lodaris
+ Underwater Combatant (Has extensive experience in underwater warfare, including multiple skirmishes with the Illithid)
+ Planar Connections (He knows many mercenaries and minor politicians on the Plane of Water, which would greatly aid him when deployed there)
- Murky Loyalty (While very loyal to Braavos, he only cares about the Imperium in so far as that it is the realm that his home city now belongs to)
- Whisper of Favoritism (He is a distant cousin of the reigning Sealord by matrilinear descent, which is objectively barely a connection at all, but as far as those wary of Braavosi influence on the Imperium are concerned, he might as well be his trueborn son)
[] General Hazhak mo Zhoa
+ Skilled Commander (He has trained and served with the Lockstep Legions of New Ghis and has shown himself a capable field commander in the Legion)
+ Exemplary Service (He is serving with a dedication and focus that knows few equals)
+ Logistical Skill (He is one of the designers of the Legions supply chain and knows it like the back of his hand)
- Stained Reputation (The suspicion of being an Unsullied trainer hangs over him and it is unlikely that these rumors will cease)
- Discipline Issues (While most soldiers accept his command, there tend to always be a few who rankle at his presence, no matter how little it is felt, leading to occasional but public misconduct)
[] Donnel Waynwood
+ Renowned Knight (He is well known as a devout and respectable knight, so his appointment would greatly please many Westerosi nobles and attract knightly recruits to the Legions)
+ Mountain Fighter (Has experience in leading small units in difficult terrain, which would translate decently well to fighting on the Plane of Earth)
+ Beloved Leader (Has a knack for making his soldiers feel that he genuinely cares for their well-being and thus inspires much loyalty from them)
- Behind the Times (Has no experience in magical warfare)
- Dubious Loyalty (His house only swore to the Imperium at gunpoint)
OOC: This update comes to you courtesy of @Azel making up the characters without which I would have taken a lot longer to put up a full list for marshals. Not yet edited.
