A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

[DragonParadox]

By Harsh Paths​

Twenty Eight Day of the First Month 294 AC

You meet Belfir, Lord of House Malthor, not in a study surrounded by fire furnishings and the treasures of his house, but in a courtyard where a fountain carved in the likeness of twin dolphins burbles quietly to the high walls and the patch of sky visible overhead, the sun pale and wan as the face of the ailing lord. Though he cannot have seen more than fifty years he moved to greet you with a hesitant step, and not just because of trepidation at your true identity and those of your companions. In a land that that counts a great virtue the strength and hardiness of being a warrior he was not granted much respect, you gather as much from what he does not say and from what he does.

He tensed when Tyene offered to heal him, but accepted kinship however distant having gained her that much trust. When the magic proves her true to her words he is much more at ease in your strange and unexpected company, and much more happy to talk of trade and the profits thereof.

Talk of a more direct relationship once the Imperium has established relations with Norvos more formally are met with seeming incomprehension to the implications. The instincts of a cautious man. You can respect that, even when it is not in your favor. Ultimately you did not come here to lay the foundation for the conquest of Norvos, but to find out who the Hells thought it was a good idea to seed sedition and banditry in your realm.

As it transpires you barely have to go through the full account before Belfir spits: "Harrowers, only ones mad enough to try, I'd stake my right hand on it."

"Who or what are Harrowers?" Dany asks frowning faintly.

To his credit the Norvoshi lord does not take being questioned by a child poorly, beyond a single bemused look. "Fanatics who think a Second Harrowing is coming, or perhaps the end of days." He pauses, obviously taking in the lack of understanding. A touch awkwardly he continues, "The Doom of Valyria, the Century of Blood, we call it the Harrowing of the Lord of the Long Axe, when the true metal was parted from the dross, the righteous following the Path of Iron and the wicked, like those who follow the Beast of Qohor, falling into the flames. The Harrowers are the ones who think it is happening again and you are, er..."

"Valyria come again," you interject, raising an eyebrow in askance. "I will admit to the dragons, but those were hardly unique to the Freehold. One would think the end to slavery might be some indication that I do not intend to make the Freehold's mistakes."

"That does not make you more pleasing to the Harrowers, Your Grace," Lord Malthor shrugs. "They say you are a creature of the Red Devil, come to rain down fire on us all. Madness of course. What else are you to do but leave them be? If you would drive them from their temples your cities would be ablaze in a fortnight." From the way he speaks of R'hllor it is clear he has no great love of the Red God even though he does not fear Him as much as these 'Harrowers'.

"There is no god held above another in Sorcerer's Deep," Garin offers, speaking up for the first time. Among all of you he alone had not given his full titles in greeting and so he had not been much in the lord's eye, just as he preferred. All the better really, 'High Inquisitor' may give the wrong impression.

"Ah, but you see that only makes you more akin to Valyria of old, a way to deceive the decadent heathen magisters before they are fed into the flames," Belfir scoffs before taking another long drink of the Dornish Red he brought out in honor if Tyene. "A fertile ground for deviltry they call it. How the Lawgiver can favor such fools with his miracles I shall never know..." the words, the near blasphemy, are spoken enough that merely human ears would have struggled to hear them.

A brief conversation by brazier with Golden Shores confirms that the mages who worked against you indeed consider themselves 'Heralds of the Second Harrowing', which leaves you in something of a conundrum. On the one hand you could speak to the Voice of the Lawgiver, the head of the cult, about the outrage perpetrated upon your realm and ask that he censure his followers. On the other you could take your complaint directly to the First Axe of the City and currently leader of the Harrowers, but from what you hear of his reputation he is unlikely to take any challenge from heathens well. This is also the man responsible for persecuting the Red Faith in Norvos. You do not mistake the reason Dany wants to meet the man.

"Do they have trial by combat in Norvos? I'm betting I could beat him," she confirms your suspicion.

"Warrior's balls," Sandor cruses under his breath, drawing a laugh from Waymar.

What do you do about the knowledge that a public and politically influential faction in Norvos helped sow dissent and banditry in your lands?

[] Speak to the Voice of the Lawgiver

[] Publicly confront the First Axe

[] Write in

OOC: And here we are, one piece of the puzzle you were missing because your inquisitors are not exactly well read on current Novoshi religious factions.

 

[DragonParadox]

Tangled Talks ​

Twenty Eight Day of the First Month 294 AC

Alas for Dany's imaginings and fortunately for Clegane the Norvoshi see the concept of trial by combat or indeed any duel of honor as a perversion of their god's will. Blood is to be spilled in defense of hearth and holy faith not for pride's sake, say their holy scriptures. That sentiment at least you can agree with even if it closes a door in this instance. There are after all still plenty more to take.

The seven of you leave the manse as quietly as you had come. No sense drawing attention to House Malthor with what you intend to do next. Unless you are much mistaken the powers that be in Norvos are going to very much wish for a scapegoat of some kind by the time you are done and you do not mean the straw and tar effigies of they sometimes burn at festivals.

"We are going to need some place suitable to send letters from," you say once you are back in the street. "It would not do to presume to invite ourselves to the temples and palaces of our hosts..."

"Unless we are inviting ourselves sword in hand," Waymar offers. His expression makes it clear that much like Dany he would not object to the chance to put Purity to that use.

"Yes, barring that," you reply dryly.

Garin does not disappoint. The Fivefold Lotus is perhaps the most expensive inn in the Lower city and not without cause. It has all the accommodations a member of the Old Blood of Voantis might expect while traveling, and indeed it was used for that very purpose by many of that rank as well as Braavosi magnates princelings from the east and north at the edge of the ruined lands and once in the distant almost legendary past even by a delegation from far off Yi Ti as the proprietor is happy to recount when you lay your coin on the table. Even the mention that you might call on some of the highest powers in the land from here and they might not be entirely happy with you by what they read does not seem to trouble him.

"You ain't planning to have them red rats set us all on fire are ye?" he asks with the sort of hearty chuckle that does not belong anywhere near describing people praying for salvation as best they know as 'rats'.

Still it wouldn't gain you or them anything to take umbrage so you simply nod and settle the generous payment you agreed to for the next two days and contemplate the letters you are to send to the two priests. Something blatant enough that they cannot simply ignore it but not so aggressive as to be met with the Hearthguard. "Varys I'm going to need your services..." It is after all hard to mistake a dragon, even a smell one for something else.

Getting a letter to the Voice of the Lawgiver while he is out performing his duties is a courteous enough affair, though tense 'with a lot more sorcerer-priests than you'd expect and wearing decent magic beside' according to your familiar. By contrast getting a letter to the first axe sees her return hissing that 'it's a good thing he isn't the First Crossbow or I would still be picking bolts out of my wings'. Suffice to say he did not get a letter to carry in return that time though further correspondence with the Voice does see him assure you that the First Axe will be there and proffers one of the not-quite-apologies that are familiar to envoys and diplomats the world over.

"So do you think Big Beard is willing to plays a straight hand?" Tyene asks, reading the most recent letter, the one inviting you to the Palace of Norvos. "Because if that's a trap things could get ugly. Norvos gets hit too hard and before you know it goat-thing worshipers in the streets. I don't know about you but Zherys' story of the not-so-good old days gave me chills."

"Well we can't divine the mind which is a significant thing in and of itself, but the tone strikes me as guarded enough to be sincere, a trap would offer more concessions in the hopes of lowering our guard I think."

"I guess..." the nod stops abruptly. "Have you read that pile of horeshit all the way yet?"

"Oh..." The letter goes on to clarify that it is only open to men in your company 'because the chambers at the heart of the palace have been dedicated wholly to the Lawgiver after the destruction of the temple and no women may step there.'

Is this a power play you wonder, or a genuine part of his faith? Does it even matter, you did not come here to be dictated terms to. The evidence from the Eastern Flatlands is clear, prisoners and all, never mind foresight.

What do you do?

[] Insist that all your companions be present even if it must be at a different location

[] You have very good glamors, good enough to hide from true sight. If the Voice wants only men in his chambers you can pass Dany and Tyene as men

[] Acquiesce to the terms of the meeting, the public setting will help get your point across as to the gravity of the visitation

[] Write in

OOC: I hope all the background world-building is not dragging. I'm doing my best to keep this going at a good clip while making Norvos feel like as much of a unique place as Lys or Volantis. Not yet edited.

 

[DragonParadox]

Voices Loud and Silent ​

Twenty Eight Day of the First Month 294 AC

One final message flew into the darkening sky, not angry but resolute. The Voice would meet in a neutral location or wave the proscription for the palace or else their answer would be taken to be one of contempt, not just to you but to the lives of imperial citizens lost in the grievance you have come here to address.

"Think he'll dance?" Tyene asked as her gaze followed Varys out the balcony window.

"If he is not willing to do so under these terms he would not have done so regardless, just swept the responsibility aside like so much dust in the wind," you reply, certain now that it had been a power play. Even if the proscription was true he was the one that suggested a place that would have stripped you of two members of your delegation, three counting Sandor staying behind with Dany.

Thankfully the letter you receive is not full of angry rhetoric, frustration yes, that much bleeds through the polite address, but the Voice of the Lawgiver, Lord of Norvos in all but name, agrees to meet at the Lotus when Narrah tolls on the morrow. Good enough, you send your confirmation of the place and the hour.

***​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

The morning finds the city of Norvos waking to what you imagine is a strange sight, a procession of senior priests flanked by a hundred of the Hearthguard marching down the Sinner's Steps to stop at the threshold of a famous, not to say infamous, inn. To say the other patrons are wary at this sudden show of interest by the priesthood is an understatement. At least two parties of foreign traders decide to be about their way early rather than meet the high priest. The proprietor on the other hand is practically rubbing his hands together glee, the rumors this will spring will doubtless be good for business, but you do not have long to ponder the matter.

It is now you meet the man you have so far known only by hearsay and penmanship.

Mikaelos Erdent, Voice of the Lawgiver and formal head of the Priesthood of the Lord of Iron, strides into the room with the assurance of a lord walking into his own keep, which given the power of the priesthood in Norvos he in effect is. It would be trivial for him to confiscate the inn, or indeed any other of its sort in the Lower City for not following any of a myriad of religious rules and norms, but you very much doubt he will. For centuries the priesthood has shown a certain practicality in administering the city's riverside affairs. Hopefully that same practicality will be in evidence today.

As greetings are exchanged and pleasantries seen to you look around the group of priests with the eyes of magic, all of them are sorcerers and bearing enchantments of some worth, though for the most senior of them you can only guess at for they are warded against divination. Not that you need either divination or an introduction to spot the First Axe. He is the priest with the dark bristling beard glaring at you from across the room as though you were if not Asmodeus himself than at lest his favored servant, which given his perspective on the Red Faith is not far off the mark.

You do not grant him the satisfaction of more than a passing look, instead laying out your complaint on the matter of the mages in the Eastern Flatlands as well as a demand for restitution for the harm done to your realm and your people.

"A dire situation for all concerned, especially when those who bear the mark of the God stray so far from true justice..." the Voice begins in a sonorousness expressive voice, the sort that seems practically made for delivering sermons.

Alas, before you can hear what he has to say about said dire happening Tyene whispers in your thoughts: "The serving girl just poisoned his drink."

You confess you were not watching the wine of all things. Glancing at the young woman who is just now stepping away from the table you see the meek pose and lowered gaze that most domestic slaves learn to put on, though it does not quite hid the rage and despair in her gaze.

Was this a political ploy from the First Axe, some other party? Weaving spells without word or gesture you look into her mind, only the edges but it is enough: Let him choke on his own blood the way my brother did when they hanged him, here in the gaze of Azor Ahai. Let him see justice be done for all those who were lost.

The Voice might have some enchantment to either detect or nullify poison under the mind ward, in fact he likely does, but if he detects poison from a hidden R'hllorite assassin he is not going to see a coincidence fueled by misguided belief, he will see a conspiracy. On the other hand can you reveal someone so desperate, someone willing to die to avenge kith and kin and only acting now because she believes you are an agent of her god here to witness it?

What do you do?

[] Call attention to the poisoned wine and the slave

[] Let things unfold as they will

[] Try to stealthily nullify the poison in the wine cup

[] Write in

OOC: The city is a powder-keg of resentment and oppression over the treatment of the Red Faith. I have been rolling form complications ever since Viserys stepped through the gate. That time turns out to be now.

 

[DragonParadox]

A Priestly Pivot ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

"Dire?" you interject raising your voice ever just enough to cut off the priest. "Yes, I would agree that my citizens are dying is a dire thing, a tragedy even. However the errors of those who had been inducted into your faith is not what I have come here to discuss, but very well, if we are to discuss the tragedy of men who now face a noose for their crimes in the Flatlands let us speak of them. Errors you say? Sins? Choices? What choice has a slave driven to fight an unfair war in a foreign land? All this while you claim to know nothing of their actions and condemn them as the works of their minds and souls alone..." you reach out with magic to grab the poisoned cup and drink it to the dregs.

When the poisoned wine touches your lips you feel as much as hear the horror of the Voice's would-be killer and you realize danger as she is about to shout a warning and give the whole thing away.

"Stop, he's safe," Varys' mind-voice is practically a scream, enough that even the echo is enough to send a twinge of pain through your temples.

Thankfully the assassin stops just shy of giving herself away, her mouth snapping closed before anyone in attendance can notice her.

"Meet us at the Fountain of the Dancing Goat at noon," your familiar adds in a more normal tone as you set the goblet down to the audience of less than pleased Norvoshi priests, but none the wiser about the attempted assassination which is all you needed.

You almost miss it...

In truth if you had not just had an assassin sneak by you to almost poison a meeting before it could begin you might not have been watchful enough, but you are.

Thus you see the First Axe's eyes narrow beneath his dark stormy brow, you see two of them men directly behind him shift slightly on the balls of their feet and try to bite back a grimace, as though they had silently received less than pleasing news. For a moment you wonder if the assassin is not a slave enacting vengeance at all, but an agent of the Harrowers, but you dismiss the notion almost at once. You had not seen much of her mind in that brief glimpse, but the hatred had been real and as uncomfortable as it had been to feel, so had her reverence of you.

Of course the First Axe could still have known about the girl, perhaps others like her at the inn and suggested that his superior accept the venue in the hopes that it would spark an incident for his 'Second Harrowing'.

"The people of the Lawgiver, whether slave or free in earthly matters, are answerable first and foremost before Him. In bringing ruin and banditry to your realm they have shamed themselves more even than the thieves, thugs and killers in blood-stained crimson for they at least can say they do not know the way. So I ask then what compensation do you ask for Dragon Lord, so that we may part here in peace and leave each other to our own devices?"

If he was expecting to get a rise from you with the characterization of the Red Faith you must sadly disappoint him. Intentional dramatics aside you have walked through the gates of this city resolved to not let anger rule you and so it will be.

What do you reply?

[] Ask for material compensation
-[] Write in amount

[] Ask for trading concessions which will favor your companies
-[] Write in what sort

[] Ask for a lessening persecution of the Red Faith
-[] Write in proposal

[] Write in

OOC: Here we are, I know it's a bit of a short speech by Viserys' standards, but with everything else happening I figured it would be best to not expand too much on that.

 

[DragonParadox]

Words over Steel ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

To tell the truth there is nothing Norvos could give you that you would have need for. There is a point to be made about restitution for those their 'bandits' harmed, but beyond symbolism there is no reason why your own coffers cannot do the same. "I merely wish for you to use this incident as an opportunity. There are clearly forces within your clergy who wish to engender hostilities between Norvos and the Imperium." At this point there is no reason to be coy, you motion towards the First Axe... to rather more immediate results than you had hoped for.

"Heathen! Blood guzzling witch!" In the moment it takes you to realize he is not accusing you of being secretly female but a magician who traffics with dark powers the priest snatches out his axe, quickly followed by three of his fellows and about a third of the Hearthguard. "You come here speaking of peace and seek to sow discord in the bosom of the God's hallowed temple."

Oathkeeper hisses faintly, the sound of steel scraping against drake leather, the sound of fire crackling in the air, but Ser Richard does not draw it. Sandor follows suit and for a moment no one speaks, though even upon her diminutive silvered features you can see Dany would very much wish to hurl an arcane curse.

"I do not care how you do it," you continue coolly, still addressing the Voice as though you had not been interrupted. "Now that you are aware of the issue, holy one, it is your responsibility to address it, unless of course you would like to claim these bloody deeds as more than the doing of rogue priests."

"The internal politics of Norvos are of no concern of you and yours," Mikaelos Erdent replies, his voice only a touch shaken on the first few syllables, but recovering thereafter. "You can, however, rest assured that the matter will be dealt with." Suddenly addressing the First Axe, he commands, "Sit down, Steafanos. This is not yet a battlefield, nor a trial ground..." as an amulet hidden under this rawhide vestments flashes and for a moment almost too fleeting to catch he is... more.

This is not the flaming display of R'hllor in Lys, but you will remember it just the same. The First Axe and those with him certainly will, and not charitably from the looks they give the Voice under knotted brows.

"Good," you nod. "Know that my patience in this matter is already spent. Should another such incident occur there will be consequences for Norvos." You are almost tempted to add the faith to the threat, but you realize it might push the Voice into a corner of having to defend his god even at the cost of rash action. You are trying to threaten, not goad, after all, though the line can be quite thin at times.

"Should you deal with the matter well, perhaps there might be discussions into more profitable matters in the future," Garin interjects, playing the part of the greedy Braavosi magnate that they would expect, but also leaving a door open that you could not afford to.

The Voice does not scoff you notice, though many of his fellows do. One or two look even look interested. You mark their names and faces well, as Garin does no doubt. It is always good to give the Inquisition as much of a head start in a new place as you can. With that you part ways, hopefully not to meet again anytime soon. You have other matters to see to, though you are not yet done in Norvos.

***​

The Fountain of the Dancing Goat is obviously some sculptor's attempt to mock the Black Goat of Qohor, showing an inebriated goat dancing on its hind legs and in the process of tripping over a rock as water gushes from its nostrils as well as the amphorae at its side, but you are not here to critique ancient art.

"She's good," Tyene mutters, pointing out an old woman taking her ease in the heat upon of one the worn stone benches. "No magic, just a really good disguise. That is probably how she slips by the priests. Magicians expect to find magic at the root of all their troubles, but skill alone can be a dangerous thing."

"Skill undirected can be all the more so," Dany murmurs at your other side. "I hope she isn't too wed to the notion of you being an instrument of her god."

How do you address the R'hllorite rebel?

[] As a friend of the faith

[] As one concerned with the freeing of slaves

[] Write in

OOC: You guys failed the spellcraft roll to figure out what class the high priest is unfortunately, but other than that things went well.

 

[DragonParadox]

Of Hidden Embers ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

It is easy enough to find a small patch of greenery in what must have once been some noble's park before the surrounding buildings crept close enough to leave it a shadowed weed choked place where actual goats now graze on tough hardy weeds that do not mind the stony soil and swift harsh rains of Norvos.

"Hail and well met, though strange it has been the circumstances of our meeting I greet you as a friend to the faith," you begin as Dany waves cheerfully, somewhat to the bemusement of the would-be assassin.

The sentiment is not helped any when your sister adds upon your words while setting herself down on the bench: "I for one am sorry you couldn't go through with it, but it would have made a bloody mess of our negotiations... er, probably literally."

"I...Your Excellency..." The title sits uncomfortably upon her tongue as though she would rather give you another. "I am Lysandre, a humble servant of the Lord of Light. I was trained to be a priestess, but only part way before the fist of the heathens came down upon us all. Now I am as you saw me, a spy, sometimes an assassin."

For the first time in quite some time you feel embarrassed, though you manage to keep the heat off your cheeks of course. You are not the Chosen of R'hllor and have no intention of using her mistaken presumption. "As I said I am a friend, I would hazard to say all of us here are, though I must confess I cast a spell to look upon the surface of your mind when I spotted you earlier and for that I apologize." That should handle it. While Azor Ahai might apologize for his own reasons, you doubt most members of the Red Faith imagine that particular figure as needing spells to know one's soul.

Lysandre nods and you can practically see the assumptions realign behind her eyes like wheels spinning quick and bright. "There is nothing to forgive, others would have had more abrupt reactions to my deeds at the inn. I will find some other place and time to kill the Pig and the Boar..."

"'Pig and Boar?'" Garin prompts curiously.

"Oh, the Voice is the Pig because he squeals a lot and the Axe is the Boar because he gores folk wherever he goes and rolls around in the mud." Though she speaks the words lightly, you can hear the hatred and the pain that birthed those insults. Not just her own either.

"Are there others working with you?" you ask carefully, knowing that she might refuse to answer, but interested just the same.

"Some, a little over two dozen in my lot, a few other groups scattered throughout the city, mostly escaped slaves and some house and pillow slaves with freedom to move about the city. There are other groups I know of, but we don't tell each other much in case the damn Harrowers get to us. From faint embers a fire rises...." she says it like a quote but you do not recognize it from any holy text, something local then.

"How do you fight the Bearded Priests when you aren't trying to poison their leaders?" Dany asks in the same cheerful tone she oft uses to disarm suspicions.

"Keep priests safe, smuggle out those we need to when we can get to them, strike out at the worst of the Harrowers, organize large groups of slaves working together, and build up weapon caches for when the pot finally bubbles over."

"And when do you think that might happen?" Waymar asks gravely, likely considering the horrors a slave revolt might unleash. What happened in some scattered places in Tyrosh and its hinterlands was bad enough, but without a Legion or Lawmen to stop them things could get very bleak indeed.

"Not yet, not anytime soon," Lysandre replies. "We need more freedmen on our side, more weapons, more magic...." she trails off looking at you in askance, clearely curious to see if you have anything to offer along those lines.

What do you do?

[] Offer some overt aid to the Red Faith in Norvos
-[] Write in

[] Do not offer some overt aid to the Red Faith in Norvos

[] Write in

OOC: And here we are, almost done with Norvos entirely.

 

[DragonParadox]

Uncommon Fatherhood ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

You ponder your answer with care. While arming the Red Faith here in Norvos would give you a weapon to be feared, it would be more burning brand than dagger and you do not wish to see the city set alight. So instead you offer more reliable, untraceable methods of smuggling their most vulnerable out of the city through the auspices of the local Inquisition.

Garin lays out what the Inquisition is succinctly and quickly, their methods, their means and most importantly their purpose to gather information and ensure as smooth a transition of power as can be achieved. His further advice on the matter is to keep the network tightly focused so as not to lead the First Axe into rolling up multiple cells one after another, and rather than focus on arming a slave rebellion, utilize the resources those bearing the Book and Sword provide to gather information. About the priesthood, about the nobility and supporters of the Harrowers, their vulnerabilities and advantages which can be wrung by setting one group against another.

Offers are made and accepted, silver passed through merchants and hidden middlemen into the hands of the Red Faith. It will take a while to get all the resources you mean to delivered in an inconspicuous manner, but for now you deliver a small chest of silver, mostly in old worn coin, the sort of thing you keep in your cloak precisely for meetings such as this.

Lost 2,000 IM

"The twilight of the priests rule has come," you promise solemnly under the shade of the rustling trees. As elsewhere in Essos where people still suffer under an iron yoke, those who have worked atrocities be it from greed or following some creed of their own will face the consequences.

"There is no neck so sainted that it cannot be fitted for a noose," Dany adds with a smile of her own that manages to startle an outright laugh from Lysandre, an unexpectedly bright silvery sound, though you imagine if there had been any Harrowers near they would not find the sound the least pleasing to the ear.

Thus you part, a little poorer in coin though richer by far in assets within Norvos upon the hill. The bells ring on as ever they have done, but in this moment it is as though commemorating something more than the city's age old customs and rituals.

"Think she can make an inquisitor?" Tyene asks as you watch Lysandre melt back into the streets of the Lower City. She is admittedly quite good, even keeping an eye on her you still lose her as soon as a line of horsemen breaks your line of sight for a moment.

"Perhaps, it depends if she can bear within the tenets of the the institution..." you glance towards Garin.

"One more thing for them to make note of," he nods as the seven of your return to the Deep.

***​

From there your gaze wanders far east and south of Norvos to what were once the northernmost provinces of Valyria proper, now rebuilt under the aegis of angels and dragons. Most of the news is good this month with healers having properly covered both the Painted Mountains and Draconys, one more reason to tempt colonists into the wild frontier, the messenger service in Mantarys' hinterlands established in addition to the newly rooted Inquisition presence in New Ghis.

Alas not all news can be good news. The feeble progress in Tolos' growing infrastructure this moonturn has made Relath suspicious, and a dragon who thinks he might be cheated is a fearsome being indeed. With the aid of both lawmen and inquisitors he managed to unveil a web of graft and corruption that had been slowly spreading throughout the city, one that favored some of the oldest families of Tolos. Normally that would not be an issue in and of itself, but the scandal has come to include one of Relath's wives, her own part in the affair enough to earn her decades of prison time.

Spoiler: Northern Valyria Actions

Establish Messenger Service in Mantarys (4/3) -> Complete

Expand Law Enforcement in Mantarys (10/89)

Establish Inquisition Base in New Ghiscar (34/30) -> Complete

Establish Healthcare Services in Painted Mountains (7/7) -> Complete

Establish Healthcare Services in Draconys (7/3) -> Complete

Establish Messenger Service in Tolos (5/57) -> Complete -> Complications

"I worry that imprisoning my get's mother might turn them against me," the dragon lord of Tolos admits bluntly when he brings the matter before you. He snorts in amusement, a cloud of brine filling your solar and wafting out the open window. "That sort of thing has poor precedent. You understand more of humans than I, what do you suggest?"

What do you reply?

[] Honesty, you did not take the child's mother away out of malice but because the law upon which all good rule demanded it

[] Attention, try to bond with all his children as much as possible, there will be conflicting loyalties of all sorts pulling at them, best to cement the one to Relath early

[] Write in

OOC: No crit successes this time, but at least the one crit fail rolled low on scale.

 

[DragonParadox]

A Thirst For Learning ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

If there is one thing you had not expected to discuss today it is parenthood, being neither a father yourself nor particularly interested in becoming one in the near future, but needs must. There is the seed of trouble here and one that goes deeper than corruption and wasted coin. "You should tell the truth and naught but that for in this age a lie, however well crafted, is too easily unraveled. I would say spend more time with your son in the absence of his mother, but it goes deeper than that. You should spend more time with all your children, secure a sense of loyalty and duty."

The sea-dragon nods, his blue-green scales casting a crown of light about his head in the magelight of the chamber. "I can see the logic of it, but there are quite many of them and most of the times not particularly interesting company. I would call them slow, but in truth they are half-mortal. It would be foolish of me to blame them for the aspect of their nature I decided for them." He pauses for a moment thoughtfully, though not to what you might prefer. "Tell me, do you know someone knowlegeble in djinn courtship? Perhaps I have been going about this the wrong way. If I provide them a leader who is more capable...."

You bite back a sigh, it's not that Relath is lacking in wit or wisdom, he simply does not understand the deeper motivations of those who make up the vast majority of his subjects, mostly because he does not care to. "A younger sibling brighter in magic might be resented and plotted against. If you have more children than you can handle..." you make no attempt to hide your disapproval of that fact. "Hand them off to families loyal to you with which to forge bonds."

"Fostering like they practice in the Sunset Lands?" Relath tilts his head in askance. "I had thought to simply hand them over to the Scholarum once they showed control of the magic in their blood, but that seems a fair notion." He chuckles again. "If I did not know better I would suspect you of ulterior motives, cousin. The House of Mirrors is about to gain quite a bit of silver from me."

So much for your disapproval making any impact on him, you shake your head as the Lord of Tolos takes human shape again to more comfortably fit in the corridor beyond your solar. Still, as foibles go it is far lesser to those of many magisters not one thousandth as useful as him.

***​

News from the south is thankfully lacking in surprises. The efforts to improve life in the Basilisk Isles have taken to an almost frantic pace with everything from marks to engineers to skilled craftsmen taking the southern road in ever greater numbers. You would call Saan's reaction giddy if the man were not likely to take offense at it. Still, for all he waxed poetical about the wonders of culture and ease upon warm southern waters he has not neglected keeping his ships in good shape and drilling his soldiers. He knows full well what sort of terrors the jungles of the mainland holds, far beyond the painted lizards.

Meanwhile in Naath the efforts to increase the quality of schooling have gone remarkably well. Locals and new immigrants alike understand that knowledge can be power or wealth and opportunity, not least because of Wyla's influence, and so much to your surprise there is a proposal before you. One for an institution of Higher Learning in Naath, nothing to the size of the Academy in Sorcerer's Deep, but still an interesting notion, a University of Botanical and Zoological Studies that would work in close partnership with the Scholarum, perhaps even the Flesh Forge of Gogossos, to understand the strange creatures of Sothoryos, spreading knowledge of life studies that could be useful in a myriad of fields from the tending of crops and livestock to medicine and healing.

Spoiler: Sothoryi Actions

Establish Orphanages in Naath (9/1) -> Complete -> Critical Success -> Proposal for Partnership with the Imperial Government to create an university.

x2 Improve Infrastructure in Basilisk Isles (42/95)

On the one hand the enthusiasm translates into actual money, partly from Wyla but also from other interested parties to help found the university, on the other hand Naath is still out of the way and has a limited migration draw due to the peril of their native butterflies.

Do you go ahead with the University of Botanical and Zoological Studies in Naath?

[] Yes (One Provincial Action locked 30 Progress; Cost to the treasury 10,000 IM; other half of the costs paid for from local sources +1d6 extra progress added per month automatically)

[] No, Naath is too isolated for the investment

OOC: Only two provincial actions marked Other, a few odds and ends from minor characters and the tax code to go before we are done with the month.

 

[DragonParadox]

Of Tattered Gold​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

After looking over the numbers on Naathi immigration you sign off on the university. The Island will never be among the most populous of your provinces, but it should reach a respectable population in a few years. Thanks in no small part to the difficulty of clearing the jungle much of that population will remain tightly packed around existing settlements. A fair enough place to set down an university and they shall never lack for samples of either flora or fauna.

Efforts to improve schooling for your citizens continue all along the eastern frontier as much as the south, with Balon Swann proving he can do more in his lands than serve as a bulwark of iron while Ser Jon Redfort completes his works on the sanitation system in his county without any further trouble. Both lords are you suspect leaning rather heavily on experts in those fields, but that is very much the system working as intended. A lord is not supposed to do everything, a lesson you had some trouble learning you will grant, but you got there eventually.

The last two reports for the day, likely sorted together by some new clerk who thinks Andalos and 'the Lands of the Andals' form together, are two pieces of news, one expected and the other very much not. There is now an inquisition presence among the Seven Hills, nothing too strong for it is considered a quiet posting simply because of the lack of people as well as the goodwill gained by helping to build up septs.

That is, alas, as far as the good news goes. Inquisition attempts to infiltrate and subvert the Goldcloaks have been plagued with failures and delays. The Lannisters are apparently wise enough to keep a careful arcane eye on the people who make up the majority of King's Landing's soldiers under arms, having perhaps long expected the tactics. Fortunately no one had been traced back to Chataya's brothel or any of the other major Inquisition assets in the city, but a lot of minor safehouses had to be burned and many agents had to flee for their lives. The lucky ones made it while others were caught and eventually hung as spies, a feeble supposed victory of the Usurper over you.

Lost 8,000 IM

The worst part of the whole business is that it seems to have woken the Usurper from his cups at least enough to slur something that might upon other lips be counted a good idea, the reformation of the Goldcloaks into simply being peacekeepers and the raising of a proper garrison for the city under royal colors. Bloodraven is reasonably certain he can make the case as Varys against the change, but unlike in other instances you cannot simply use Pycelle to make the proposal with the Spider chimming in support. The idea has the full support of Tywin Lannister which means that to counter it publicly would give away the fact that the Grandmaester is no longer his creature. So the question that now hangs in the balance is is this change worth 'Varys' being uncharacteristically vocal, perhaps enough to draw suspicion as to his loyalties, or should you simply let the project go ahead?

Spoiler: Further Reports

Establish Public Schools in Draconys (8/6) -> Complete

Construct Sanitation Systems Painted Mountains (7/5) -> Complete

Establish Inquisition Base in Andalos (6/2) -> Complete

Subvert Goldcloaks (17/25) -> Complications

What do you do about the proposal for a royal garrison of King's Landing?

[] Let is pass unchallenged

[] Ask Bloodraven to block it

[] Write in

OOC: A slightly worse fail on this one, but you have assets to mitigate it if you want.

 

[DragonParadox]

A Dearth of Death, a Wealth of Taxes ​

Twenty Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

Ultimately the decision is not a hard one. While it is unfortunate from the perspective of your infiltration that the Gold Cloaks will have less power in King's Landing you have time to spare until the first legionary boots touches the shores of the Seven Kingdoms and the Three-Headed Dragon once more flies openly. Royal Garrison or Gold Cloaks you will deal with the gate guards one way or another, whereas Bloodraven's position on the Usurper's own Small Council is far too valuable to risk over this. Who knows, you might even profit from the tensions such a change will stir in the long run. For now you turn your gaze back to internal matters...

***​

"How did you find the Eastern Flatlands, General?" you ask the still somewhat worn general, the crimson of his cloak turned a shade darker by the dust of his past duties.

"Hot, sullen and full of idiots who need to see a dragon to believe just how hot things can get for them to stop flirting with treason," the general replies. "I think they got the idea in the end, but I would not be surprised if the robbers and would-be rebels move on to greener pastures. There's a lot of resentful magisters out there far from cities or the sea who think they aught to be kings of their own bloody fiefs and they resent us like bile under the tongue for taking away their slaves, and adding insult to injury by putting former slaves in the armor of the Legion that they have to sit up and respect."

"Some will learn to live with it... others won't," you conclude darkly. Thankfully there are other ways to curb the worst of their power than keeping a mailed fist on their shoulder.

"The new Tax Code?" he only half asks. "Aye, I've heard about it. You wouldn't believe how much I heard about it," he chuckles a little. "Some nights I'd wake up to Alinor muttering about it in her sleep. Must have done some good though. She finished it this month... well her and half the clerks in the realm and the bloody Sealord of Braavos." the general shakes his greying head. "Some days I can't believe we're here. Keep expecting to wake up back in Braavos with someone telling me I ran a fever. Only reason I don't give it more credence is that I'm no poet or song-smith to make up the sort of things we've been living these last few years."

Enforce Martial Law in the Eastern Flatlands -> Success

Speaking of Braavos, news from the Secret City is not all good. It will take another month until the local Scholarum branch is ready to receive its first hopeful initiates, as differences in training methods and norms for the conduct of arcane students have to be smoothed out, But Ser Gerold was not mistaken about the tax code...

The person who compiled it all into a single tome three feet square long and one foot thick in a cover of drake leather that could serve as a decent shield in a pinch must have been a Braavosi. It is the sort of humor one finds among the canals, particularly for the bankers and persons of means oft accused of being dour but which are in truth most often bidding their time to do something like... well this. Presentation aside the tax code is a marvel pf accounting, one might almost call it art if you did not think professors from the Academy of Fine Arts would protest long and loud about it. It sets down a clear accounting for taxes that must be paid to the Crown by everyone, from small farmers to what remains of the great latifundia, from vast merchant companies to local governments in all the myriad of forms they take.

It does not actually account for all local taxation, merely sets rules on what kind of local taxes can be imposed by the various lords and governors of the Empire. The sheer amount of rat-holes plugged is staggering. It is not only the royal coffers that will swell from local lords and cities no longer being able to replace lost tariffs with commensurate taxes in other places or other such tricks. The poorer and developing provinces will see less of an increase for the moment, but it is good that they are building their finances on a solid foundation.

Imperial Tax Code (62/60) -> Complete

Establish Higher Learning Institution in Braavos (13/20)

All Imperial Provinces with Wealth of 7+ Gain +1 Wealth from Tax Reform; All Provinces with wealth of 15+ gain +2 Wealth

Still, for all the tax code plugged the flaws of the patchwork of old laws and new you were functioning on before there remains the question of what philosophy of taxation to impose on the Imperium as a whole going forward.

What do you choose?

[] Flat Tax

[] Progressive Tax

[] Keep it Mixed

[] Write in

OOC: Right now you have a mix of flat and progressive taxation depending on local conditions, the product or service being taxed, etc... with a lot of tax loopholes plugged up, hence the across the board increase in wealth. It's not that there is more wealth in the economy, but that you can more easily tax it.