Rhaella can give input how the old established class will react to our changes. But she's not fit to design the new order.
No, she hasn't adapted to the New world and would likely create something too close to the old to work with Azel's plans.

What they said.

She'll make a good sounding board, someone to play the ideas off on just to see how the 'old school' thinkers would react to our policies, but probably not much further than that yet.

Given time she might come up with some really profound insights, or at least more profound that what she's doing right now (which is still pretty useful as we've just seen), but she needs to learn what she's actually working with in this new age before she can build anything.

She knows what a house should look like, even some of the tools used to build one, that doesn't mean you ask her how to build a skyscraper.
 
[X] Plan Goldfish & Crake, may the Heavens tremble before them!
-[X] "Ah, yes, I understand. The lack of an obvious hierarchy must seem nearly as strange to you as the workings of magic. In truth, I have no desire to cement my household into a rigidly structured organization, but it is a concern I have often thought upon in recent months. On the matter of Leila, however, I have merely been waiting for the proper time to make the announcement. As you've already seen, we are often forced to rush from one problem to another, with little time left in between for less pressing issues."
-[X] "I do not mean to sound dismissive, Mother, I actually thank you for reminding me. In truth, abandonment of all formality just isn't tenable, not with the scale of my ambitions, but facilitating a court the like of which we've known in Westeros, or even in the lands of the East? Where nobles may scheme and indulge in petty politicking and backstabbing in organized fashion, may hide behind their words and trade barbs rather than accomplish what is expected of them? Perhaps impossible to eliminate in entirety, but I see no reason to encourage this behavior in the manner to which they are accustomed to. Do you honestly miss Father's court?" You shake your head. "I barely remember that time, but of what I can the niceties and falseness behind every smile and empty flattery... what use were they to us?"
-[X] This evening, after the smelter is up and running, Viserys and Lya will arrange an informal meeting with Leila. Apologize to her for delaying this for so long. Explain to her how much we value her efforts and how important they have been to Sorcerer's Deep. She has more than earned this.
--[X] Inform her that she will receive an annual salary of 600 IM, with an additional commission of 5% on anything she crafts for us. She will be given the official title of Artificer and legitimized under any surname she finds acceptable. Depending on her preferences, we can make an announcement of her elevation to our subjects or be more discrete and simply allow others to learn of her change in fortunes more organically.
 
Last edited:
[X] Goldfish

Unless anyone has an objection to her taking a commission? She's mostly doing low value items, so it won't bite us that hard.
 
The sounding board or devil's advocate idea is good. Try to get her invested in the end result, not the means of getting there.

It probably helps that SD is sufficiently different that the old patterns don't cleanly apply, which we know she's already noticed.
 
@Goldfish, Your plan is largely the same as mine. And my post still outlines the logic behind our decision making here.
 
... I like that people have found a way to make her useful.

As a sounding board for ideas to show how the nobels of westeros will react.

I look forward to sticking her in magic lessons. Give her dark sister when she gets magic maybe.

I like that Viserys' sword is base steel
 
Last edited:
Another thing, on the subject of Leila's surname. Just leave it to DP. I think surnames should be left mostly up to the individual, unless they're really stupid, in which case Viserys quietly encourages them to reconsider.
 
Formal hierarchies don't need to be overbearing or obnoxious. Honestly, when informal organizations hit the larger size bracket, they frequently become a lot more bogged down in sniping and stupid games than ones with an org chart, because people don't have clear lines of demarcation to allow them to say "you know what: this is your job, so I'm gonna leave you to it."

[x] Crake
 
Last edited:
... Damphair. Lmao.

@Crake @Goldfish, maybe thank her for reminding us of that issue - the ad hoc method of personal charisma does not scale well, but we've let crisis and opportunity crowd designing a formal structure out of the schedule.

Although I hope she won't try to, ya know, help.

I think my problem is that I see no use to having a 'court', except as a means to scheme against people who try to do their job/do the right thing. That and gossip in an unproductive fashion. GoT has made having one look very unappealing.

Edit:
I wonder what Lelia's back pay should be.

If she freaks out about the amount of money, tell her to buy reagents to make items for herself. She's bound to have ideas. Item of predigenesation ect.
(I hate the name of that spell).

Or see about funding an orphanage.
 
Last edited:
Just as an example, our inner circle? Names like "Lya" and "Vee" work because when someone addresses a missive on a fast-bound flight straight to Viserys by construct, and the subject of one or the other comes up, Viserys first thought isn't "Which Lya? Which Vee?" There's only one or two of note, and otherwise, why would the message specify them by name rather than some kind of position or title? You don't bother the Dragon with people of little consequence. From his perspective, there's one Vee, and one Lya of consequence.

This falls apart outside of that circle. While "Just Lya" or "Just Vee" works for them, our other mages are going to need to adopt a surname upon gaining even a "base tier" position in our Scholarium, or our Imperial Battlemage sub-org, or our office of Enchantment or whatever area they excel in, because surnames eliminate confusion in the workspace. And past that point, when our empire is so big that surnames begin to overlap, we append stormtrooper codes to official messages, and get a secretary to double check the person down on file using our armies of organization construct servitors to locate the right one.

But that's in the future. Surnames are fine for now.
 
I think my problem is that I see no use to having a 'court', except as a means to scheme against people who try to do their job/do the right thing. That and gossip in an unproductive fashion. GoT has made having one look very unappealing.

Ah, but that's the old style court that we're all, quite rightly, trying to avoid like a fat man avoids a kale salad.

An ideal situation would be one where advancement came from achievements rather than 'political clout'.

Less who you know or where you were born and more what you can do sort of thing.

I don't care if we know your first name, if you appear anywhere on the Aurane scale you're ass isn't going to be in charge of a stick let alone in a position of power.
 
Here, let me pretty this shit up, if it matters.

[X] Goldfish, but with Crake
-[X] "Ah, yes, I understand. The lack of an obvious hierarchy must seem nearly as strange to you as the workings of magic. In truth, I have no desire to cement my household into a rigidly structured organization, but it is a concern I have often thought upon in recent months. On the matter of Leila, however, I have merely been waiting for the proper time to make the announcement. As you've already seen, we are often forced to rush from one problem to another, with little time left in between for less pressing issues."
-[X] "I do not mean to sound dismissive, Mother, I actually thank you for reminding me. In truth, abandonment of all formality just isn't tenable, not with the scale of my ambitions, but facilitating a court the like of which we've known in Westeros, or even in the lands of the East? Where nobles may scheme and indulge in petty politicking and backstabbing in organized fashion, may hide behind their words and trade barbs rather than accomplish what is expected of them? Perhaps impossible to eliminate in entirety, but I see no reason to encourage this behavior in the manner to which they are accustomed to. Do you honestly miss Father's court?" You shake your head. "I barely remember that time, but of what I can the niceties and falseness behind every smile and empty flattery... what use were they to us?"
-[X] This evening, after the smelter is up and running, Viserys and Lya will arrange an informal meeting with Leila. Apologize to her for delaying this for so long. Explain to her how much we value her efforts and how important they have been to Sorcerer's Deep. She has more than earned this.
--[X] Inform her that she will receive an annual salary of 600 IM, with an additional commission of 5% on anything she crafts for us. She will be given the official title of Artificer and legitimized under any surname she finds acceptable. Depending on her preferences, we can make an announcement of her elevation to our subjects or be more discrete and simply allow others to learn of her change in fortunes more organically.
 
Last edited:
I think my problem is that I see no use to having a 'court', except as a means to scheme against people who try to do their job/do the right thing. That and gossip in an unproductive fashion. GoT has made having one look very unappealing.

Some sort of government is necessary however, and it needs to be constantly available. I'm no politics major, but from what I see, the main problem with the Westerosi court is that it conflates personal glory with governance. The best way to get what you want is to add to the glory of those at the top, and ensure that those people live a cushy life. Since those people are simultaneously judge and beneficiary, and are only beholden to their immediate (themselves powerful) constituents when those constituents are themselves shortchanged, corruption becomes not just a primary means of advancement but really the best way to break the status quo.
 
Last edited:
Just vote Crake.

No, I mean, really, the vote has to be [ ] Crake if you want it to count towards the tally.
 
Last edited:
Changed to take into account Goldfish's revise at the end.
Adhoc vote count started by Crake on Jan 29, 2018 at 7:02 AM, finished with 154 posts and 18 votes.

  • [X] Watch the smelter opening
    [X] "Ah, yes, I understand. The lack of an obvious hierarchy must seem nearly as strange to you as the workings of magic. In truth, I have no desire to cement my household into a rigidly structured organization, but it is a concern I have often thought upon in recent months. On the matter of Leila, however, I have merely been waiting for the proper time to make the announcement. As you've already seen, we are often forced to rush from one problem to another, with little time left in between for less pressing issues."
    -[X] This evening, after the smelter is up and running, Viserys and Lya will arrange an informal meeting with Leila. Apologize to her for delaying this for so long. Explain to her how much we value her efforts and how important they have been to Sorcerer's Deep. She has more than earned this.
    --[X] Inform her that she will receive an annual salary of 600 IM, with an additional commission of 5% on anything she crafts for us. She will be given the official title of Artificer and legitimized under any surname she finds acceptable. Depending on her preferences, we can make an announcement of her elevation to our subjects or be more discrete and simply allow others to learn of her change in fortunes more organically.
    [X] Goldfish, but with Crake
    -[X] "Ah, yes, I understand. The lack of an obvious hierarchy must seem nearly as strange to you as the workings of magic. In truth, I have no desire to cement my household into a rigidly structured organization, but it is a concern I have often thought upon in recent months. On the matter of Leila, however, I have merely been waiting for the proper time to make the announcement. As you've already seen, we are often forced to rush from one problem to another, with little time left in between for less pressing issues."
    -[X] "I do not mean to sound dismissive, Mother, I actually thank you for reminding me. In truth, abandonment of all formality just isn't tenable, not with the scale of my ambitions, but facilitating a court the like of which we've known in Westeros, or even in the lands of the East? Where nobles may scheme and indulge in petty politicking and backstabbing in organized fashion, may hide behind their words and trade barbs rather than accomplish what is expected of them? Perhaps impossible to eliminate in entirety, but I see no reason to encourage this behavior in the manner to which they are accustomed to. Do you honestly miss Father's court?" You shake your head. "I barely remember that time, but of what I can the niceties and falseness behind every smile and empty flattery... what use were they to us?"
    -[X] This evening, after the smelter is up and running, Viserys and Lya will arrange an informal meeting with Leila. Apologize to her for delaying this for so long. Explain to her how much we value her efforts and how important they have been to Sorcerer's Deep. She has more than earned this.
    --[X] Inform her that she will receive an annual salary of 600 IM, with an additional commission of 5% on anything she crafts for us. She will be given the official title of Artificer and legitimized under any surname she finds acceptable. Depending on her preferences, we can make an announcement of her elevation to our subjects or be more discrete and simply allow others to learn of her change in fortunes more organically.
    [X] Diomedon
 
@Crake I added your final revision just for the sake of those who had already voted for me.

EDIT: Though now that I think about it, I could have just voted for you. But I like this plan name more. :p

[X] Plan Goldfish & Crake, may the Heavens tremble before them!
-[X] "Ah, yes, I understand. The lack of an obvious hierarchy must seem nearly as strange to you as the workings of magic. In truth, I have no desire to cement my household into a rigidly structured organization, but it is a concern I have often thought upon in recent months. On the matter of Leila, however, I have merely been waiting for the proper time to make the announcement. As you've already seen, we are often forced to rush from one problem to another, with little time left in between for less pressing issues."
-[X] "I do not mean to sound dismissive, Mother, I actually thank you for reminding me. In truth, abandonment of all formality just isn't tenable, not with the scale of my ambitions, but facilitating a court the like of which we've known in Westeros, or even in the lands of the East? Where nobles may scheme and indulge in petty politicking and backstabbing in organized fashion, may hide behind their words and trade barbs rather than accomplish what is expected of them? Perhaps impossible to eliminate in entirety, but I see no reason to encourage this behavior in the manner to which they are accustomed to. Do you honestly miss Father's court?" You shake your head. "I barely remember that time, but of what I can the niceties and falseness behind every smile and empty flattery... what use were they to us?"
-[X] This evening, after the smelter is up and running, Viserys and Lya will arrange an informal meeting with Leila. Apologize to her for delaying this for so long. Explain to her how much we value her efforts and how important they have been to Sorcerer's Deep. She has more than earned this.
--[X] Inform her that she will receive an annual salary of 600 IM, with an additional commission of 5% on anything she crafts for us. She will be given the official title of Artificer and legitimized under any surname she finds acceptable. Depending on her preferences, we can make an announcement of her elevation to our subjects or be more discrete and simply allow others to learn of her change in fortunes more organically.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top