- Location
- USA
[X] Elder Haman
Time to take down those Foundation bastards.
Time to take down those Foundation bastards.
The Silver King (An ASOIAF Quest)
- Thread starter Vocalist
- Start date
- Fantasy
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ooh! I just remembered - we're likely about to get an entirely unwelcome reunion with Pycelle, cowering in the Citadel. That opens up some interesting avenues for us.
One thought that occurs to me: as unlikely as it might be to work, something we could do is send dear old dad Pycelle's freshly severed head, saying "hey, look who the Citadel was hiding against your express commands. Also, it turns out there's a sect of maesters that destroyed Summerhall and are now trying to destroy us. Maybe consider that I'm not your enemy, and this Foundation is?" Like I said, unlikely to work, but it'd be a hell of a thing if it did, and even if it didn't, then it further muddies the waters. Aerys starts suspecting the Citadel as well, possibly/probably burning maesters, which makes us look that much more palatable to the non-Foundationist maesters and their aid more likely ... plus I really wanna take Pycelle's head off.
One thought that occurs to me: as unlikely as it might be to work, something we could do is send dear old dad Pycelle's freshly severed head, saying "hey, look who the Citadel was hiding against your express commands. Also, it turns out there's a sect of maesters that destroyed Summerhall and are now trying to destroy us. Maybe consider that I'm not your enemy, and this Foundation is?" Like I said, unlikely to work, but it'd be a hell of a thing if it did, and even if it didn't, then it further muddies the waters. Aerys starts suspecting the Citadel as well, possibly/probably burning maesters, which makes us look that much more palatable to the non-Foundationist maesters and their aid more likely ... plus I really wanna take Pycelle's head off.
Well, not sure about the need for taking Pycelle's head, note that it will rot well before Aerys ever gets a chance to look at it.
But revealling the whole plot is a big thing, including that the maesters were disobeying the King by hiding Pycelle. Add in that Pycelle declared us dead (which we obviously are not) and so tried to frame Jaime Lannister for our death, well that just makes it suspicious as all get out that the new Grand Maester convinced the King that two of his Kingsguard (including Jaime Lannister) were conspiring with us to overthrow him. I mean... it almost looks as though those maesters have been out to get us all along and throws a lot of suspicion on the accusations. And the Maester of Winterfell is a regicide who stole Targeryon dragon eggs? Why... you don't think Lord Stark might have been aware of that do you?
It certainly ought to give King Aerys nightmares about whether he can really trust these supposed allies of his after all.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well, I'm sure someone in the Citadel (I'm sure Qyburn could point us in the direction of illuminating texts, if nothing else) knows how to preserve the head long enough for it to endure shipment to the Red Keep. Also, I think it's important to send the head along, so Aerys knows we're not just making shit up, Pycelle really was there and alive. And even if it gets gross, it will likely still be recognizably Pycelle's. And, well, I really wanna.
Vocalist
Verdant Maiden in Violet
- Location
- By a Cedar Tree
All righty! Still writing that update (boy, it's going to be a full one), but I just updated Rhaegar's spell list with some new spells. Basically, I gave him a way to interrogate dead people, but only if he raises them as wights first. You can always just, like, throw the wight in a fire if you don't need it afterward.
- Location
- USA
Hey y'all, I just had a realization... If Old Nan is working with the Green Men are our children actually safe on the Isle Of Faces? I think we should send someone to check on them. I'm getting worried about them.
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh yeah, if Old Nan was there when Rickard was young and OOC was there for Ned's kids she's definitely got some magic going on.
Either the Old Gods aren't as chill with us as Lyanna and Bloodraven or she's not as well informed, if she is of the green that is
Either the Old Gods aren't as chill with us as Lyanna and Bloodraven or she's not as well informed, if she is of the green that is
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
Our children aren't revenants like their parents, and they're under the protection of Ravana Hill -- I think they're probably the safest people in Westeros right now, certainly the safest people with Dornish or Targaryen blood. Though, since Rhaegar & Elia are likely in-character worried sick, I think it would make sense to contact Howland Reed, and see if he can use his Greenseeing abilities to check in on his cousins and relay information to us.
Also, since I had to look at the front page to remember Ravana's true name (I still have her in my head as Briony) I just noticed ... we lost Jaime's character sheet. I am doing a concern.
- Location
- USA
@Marlowe310811 We're missing Arthur too, so I think it's just that they aren't available for us as heroes right now.
I'm not worried about that. Old Nan didn't appear as hostile to us as the Foundation is, and she is more of the Green Men's advisor to the Starks, rather than evidence that the Green Men are our enemies. Think of it more as being like a magic maester, or a septon. Every Lord has one, but that doesn't mean that they will take sides in a conflict.
One thing to think about is what to do with all these Foundation prisoners. I'm thinking we send them to the Wall. The Wall will need more maesters, and it will be amusing to see the magic denying maesters forced to deal with the Others as their main enemy. It would also give us a chance to communicate with the Commander of the Night's Watch as well. Though depending on what the FOundation's maesters know about us we may have to be careful to make sure they don't turn him against us.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I don't think we can afford to let them go. After we extract all the information we can get from them (I imagine we can assign an Ironborn to that task, or Oberyn if he's feeling particularly vengeful on Elia's behalf) their only remaining use is as an instrument with which to bludgeon the Citadel. The stranglehold that the Citadel has on knowledge needs to be broken, and the best way to start that process is to undermine public & aristocratic faith in the institution. If maesters are no longer above suspicion, more lords will get unaffiliated raven handlers or get an heir/family member trained in it, and learn to read their own messages.
I cannot imagine a scenario in which I'd trust the Foundationists with so much as a spoon, let alone turning them loose (for a given value of the word) and trusting that they would not continue to act against magic in general or us in particular. Cousin Aemon certainly needs aides, but not Foundationists who helped kill his family. They get interrogated, excoriated, and executed. Preferably (but not essentially) in that order.
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Don't forget, we had the option to pursue a printing press with our not-a-maester.
We needed him for stewardship, but once we have more access to the resources of the realms and have proven the duplicity of the wise men, we can start the project for real.
We should also look into a way for Dawn to communicate freely and share her knowledge of history, she's one of the best resources available to us, and perhaps her word would do much for our doubters. Assuming we can prove ourselves to her enough, of course.
We needed him for stewardship, but once we have more access to the resources of the realms and have proven the duplicity of the wise men, we can start the project for real.
We should also look into a way for Dawn to communicate freely and share her knowledge of history, she's one of the best resources available to us, and perhaps her word would do much for our doubters. Assuming we can prove ourselves to her enough, of course.
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Well certainly we execute the Regicides. But those that merely are Foundation supporters and not regicides it would be a waste to kill them, and sending them to the Wall is not letting them go free, it's a traditional punishment, and their existence there will not in any way exculpate the maesters for allowing this Foundation conspiracy to grow in their midst.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Okay, I see the issue - I was conflating the regicides with their sympathisers. I honestly hadn't even considered that there might be maesters who were merely sympathetic to their ideology but would abhor their methods. Those ones should certainly be given the opportunity to repent (and offer us valuable information in exchange for leniency). We can judge from them who/how many go to the Wall, to the noose, or down to bedpan detail in the Citadel. The regicides, though, and the unrepentants? Let's go Queen of Hearts on their asses.
Edit: I just had a wicked thought. @Vocalist - how much of a body do we need to make a wight/raid its brain for information? Only 'cause the potential ability to make a DnD style threat is amazing to me - "tell me what I want to know and have a chance at survival, or I take your life and force your severed head to be more compliant. Choose wisely."
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Vocalist
Verdant Maiden in Violet
- Location
- By a Cedar Tree
Oh, I promise, Rhaegar has thought of that. Still updating character sheets. You recruited Baelor Hightower!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Oh hello there, new Stewardship advisor. And two new shiny things as well! innnteresting...
Hmm... might be better to have him free as a hero unit to take on either diplomatic or stewardship actions. Or martial actions for that matter. He's equal to Ashara Dayne in diplomacy.
Oldtown Raids!
Vocalist
Verdant Maiden in Violet
- Location
- By a Cedar Tree
[X] Help the Crannogmen hold Moat Cailin, with judicious harassment of the Northern coast.
-[X] Emphasize avoiding needless provocation (particularly with the Mallisters) - Ask Lord Quellon to give this task to his captains most capable of restraint, diplomacy, and good judgement
[X] Help transport Dornish troops up to the Crownlands.
[X] Elder Haman's plan for the Foundation
[77 + 13 Intrigue = 90; Success!]
[60; Success!]
You make your preparations and present your evidence to Lord Hightower. With Baelor and Lyanna at your side, you give your account of the Foundation and all you have discovered of them. He is shaken, but your evidence is convincing – and Baelor's support, you think, helps you a great deal in his eyes. Leyton Hightower is normally a cautious man, but at Baelor's urging, he agrees to take action.
Oberyn meets Archmaester Marwyn in town and informs him that his most hated rival among the twenty-six archmaesters is going to be arrested for some very serious crimes. The man is ecstatic. "In your raids," he says, "all I ask is that you leave the libraries and resources of the Citadel intact," and informs Oberyn that Perestan has been sequestered in the Citadel ever since you arrived in Oldtown, apparently hoping not to draw your attention. This turns out to be correct, as he is very easily found once Baelor Hightower arrives at the Citadel with a platoon of armed guards. Some of the other names on his list are not so easily found – but whether they are feigning illness or hiding in the Citadel's underground vaults or, in one case, genuinely already dead from an alchemy accident last fortnight, Baelor manages to find them. He marches his prisoners back to the Hightower, announces that no maesters are to leave the city (several are apprehended in the attempt over the course of the next days), and you set about interrogating the most interesting ones.
---
"Archmaester Perestan. How I've anticipated this meeting." He stares at you and your accompanying Kingsguard, sullenly. The Archmaester might have been a handsome youth, but now his hair is silvering and his figure growing fat. He sits stiffly in this chamber, high up on the floors of the Hightower where they keep prisoners. Light comes in only through one window, a barred window, and outside that window are hundreds of feet of empty air. If anyone were to escape from here, they would need to make it down through every floor of the tower below, and then through the black stone fortress at the base and its always-guarded gates. "I read your book, A Consideration of History. You had an excellent point about the need to evaluate the reliability of every source, although I disagree with some of the criteria you use."
"You're not the first person. I always intended them to be open for debate," he says dryly. "Your grace, if you wished to speak with me about books, you could have done so without having me arrested. Why am I here?"
"Summerhall," you state. The change in him is immediate. His eyes widen, his body straightens out of its sullen slouch – and then he sets his jaw and looks straight at you with open defiance and pride. The fact that this man could feel pride in what he's done fills you with disgust. You let your mask of politeness drop and meet his defiance with contempt.
"I thought – I hoped, very much, that Gilliane had escaped you, for all our sakes. But of course, his disappearance was because you killed him. Murderer."
"You calling me a murderer is hypocrisy to a degree that makes the Crone weep," you say coldly. "And, to correct you, he killed himself. Much to my disappointment; there were many more questions I wished to ask him. It won't happen again." You nod at the barred window, pleased.
"I will tell you nothing."
"Yandry and Gilliane said so as well, and yet they were not able to keep that promise. I doubt you will be any different. But the mess you have made is extensive, and I have a war to prosecute besides. So I will be direct: answer my questions, Perestan, or I will kill you and rip the memories from your corpse," you say evenly.
There is a silence. "…It was the opinion of most of us that someone had resurrected you to use as a puppet on the throne. A pale imitation of the man you were, capable of performing a role, but with all the agency and intelligence provided by someone else. Certainly, the idea of a man resurrecting himself is nonsensical. Unheard-of in our studies. Yandry's final letter suggested otherwise, but it was…hastily written. Garbled. So I remained skeptical. But, after speaking to you, seeing your face…I see now that you're no empty shell. You have intelligence, and awareness of your actions, and you hate me. You are…a monster, Prince Rhaegar."
"I repeat, I will not take moral recrimination from the man who murdered my family." You should get on with your questions, search for useful information, but some deep part of you still wants to make him understand, despite all of your bluster about being ready to dispose of him. "Leave aside, for a moment, our – philosophical differences about magic. You killed them. Your king, my great-grandfather. You stole my family's birthright. You sabotaged House Targaryen. Is it monstrous, is it unreasonable for me to hate you?"
"No, it's not at all unreasonable for you to hate me for that. But this is not just about taking vengeance for your family. This is about power. You want the power of dragons to overcome your hated father and solidify your rule afterwards. You dream of reclaiming lost Targaryen glory days, when no one would dare challenge the mighty king – but the truth is that plenty did challenge him, and the land burned when they did. You'll lead the kingdom to ruin as surely as your father if you refuse to see past your own selfish dreams. I did what I did for the good of the realm, so burn with your dragon eggs, your grace."
You let out a long, hissing breath. Turning to your Kingsguard, you say, "Lady Stark, cut his throat."
She draws her sword and does so, blood spurting onto her white gauntlets. You grab the corpse by the shoulders before it falls, and tilt the head to look into the eyes as they empty of life. You grab your song, and they quickly fade from brown to blue. The wight kneels on its own, now. You don't need to keep holding it, so you let go.
This is the first wight you've ever raised. It's an odd feeling, like there's a little door in your mind that leads straight to the creature's own, much simpler mind. Similar, in part, to how you feel a connection with the Others, but the wight doesn't push against you or say anything to you. Its mind is empty; it accepts whatever you give it. Well, not completely empty. Humming to keep your focus, you dive in, searching for the residue of Perestan's life.
[Rhaegar now has 2/4 MP!]
[16 + 21 Learning = 37; Significant Failure]
…This is harder than you thought it would be. The memories left behind are fragmented – flashes of scenes lacking context, organization, or chronology. You have no idea how to sort through them. Only the most recent memories are strong and whole – you feel his hatred, his disgusting pride, as he converses with you, and his well-hidden fear as he is marched to the tower, and…
"No, no, no," you gasp, breaking the connection suddenly. "You spiteful bastard!"
"What else did he do?" Lyanna asks, clearly discomforted by the death magic you're working.
"We must go to the Citadel immediately," you say. "When Ser Baelor came for him, Perestan issued one last order: to smash the dragon eggs."
---
You barrel down into the Citadel's lower levels, following a vague memory of Perestan's. Down here, great stone doors lead to mysterious vaults. The memories fail you, and you simply start trying doors until you find one that isn't locked. You throw it open, interrupting two quarreling acolytes.
"We can't throw them in the fire, what if they hatch? Just keep trying with the hammer – oh shit is that the prince?" The two acolytes face you, guilt and fear across their faces. Two dragon eggs are at their feet, and a large pile of shards. One of them is trying to hide a hammer behind his back.
The acolyte who was speaking speaks again: "He did it," he says, pointing to his friend.
"What the – Davit, you handed me the fucking hammer!"
[33 + 11 Willpower = 44; Failure]
"Lady Stark, kill them both." Your Kingsguard stalks forward as they back away. You move too, coming to kneel by the eggs, by the scattered shards. You pay no heed to their screams. Your rage is draining away, replaced by deep sorrow.
The Citadel stole four dragon eggs from Summerhall, but only two of them remain. Two dragons – not enough, according to your dreams. You need three, one for each of the Conquerors, one for each pillar of civilization. You pick up one of the remaining two – a heavy, scaled stone, and brush away the dust and the scuffs of the hammer. It shines silver underneath, under a winding ribbon of bright gold. You suppose you can thank the gods that the petrified egg proved resistant to their blows.
Someone approaches and crouches down beside you. It is Baelor Hightower. "I came as soon as I could," he says. You look at him. The Hightowers are your kin but barely, a marriage a century back, but they still look so Valyrian. His hair is as silver as yours, and he has blue-green eyes like the sea on a sunny day. He doesn't bear the Pact of Fire, but he looks like a dragonlord.
You raise up an egg-shard to show him. It is green with shades of blue, almost the color of his eyes, and silver swirls. "This was a dragon egg laid by Dreamfyre in King's Landing. It was given to Prince Maelor Targaryen at his birth, but never hatched for him. In 130 AC he was smuggled out of King's Landing with his sister Jaehaera, but the dragon egg was discovered by a stablehand at Bitterbridge and the young prince was torn apart by a mob. The egg was eventually ransomed by the Hightowers and sent to Oldtown, before being returned to King's Landing as a peace offering for the coronation of Aegon III." You inhale shakily. "This egg was over a hundred and fifty years old." Reaching for another shard, you continue: "And this egg – red, flecked with gold and swirled with black. It was laid by the last dragon, in her only clutch, in 152 AC. It was a large clutch, five eggs, and her health never recovered after she laid it. She died within a year. King Aegon IV gifted it to Lord Butterwell, in exchange, it is said, for being allowed to bed his three maiden daughters. That lord's grandson then attempted to give the egg to Daemon II Blackfyre in the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, but the rebellion was quashed early and Lord Butterwell's wealth and castle were seized, along with the egg." Your voice is breaking. "Each one of these is a treasure, a piece of history. Priceless. Do they know what they've done? Bastards, how could they destroy such beauty?"
Gently, Baelor takes the broken pieces from your hands and puts them on the floor. "Here," he says, giving you one of the intact eggs, a pure cerulean blue like the summer sky. "Tell me about this one."
You run your fingers over the smooth, tiny scales. A little heat flickers inside, a few notes of song, before fading away. You take a deep breath. "This is one of the eggs laid by Syrax, given to Viserys II by his mother Rhaenyra. It never hatched for him, though he kept it close all his life. And this," you place your hand on the egg of silver and gold, "is another laid by the last dragon. It was given to Princess Elaena Targaryen, for it matched the color of her hair, and she greatly treasured it all her life. After her death it was given to my great-great-uncle, Aemon Targaryen. He left it behind when he joined the Night's Watch in 233 AC." You take another deep breath.
"You have two eggs," he says kindly. "That's two more than you had yesterday, two more than anyone else in Westeros. Aegon the Conqueror needed but three dragons to forge the Iron Throne. And if magic is truly coming back, I'm sure you'll find a way to hatch them soon."
"Thank you," you say quietly.
"Look, your grace," chirps Lyanna, trying to cheer you up. "There's plenty more in this vault besides dragon eggs. I found Valyrian Steel! One and a half swords!"
"One and a half?" you ask, temporarily lifted out of your gloom by confusion. Yes, she's holding two hot-glowing longswords, and one of them is missing about half of its blade. Beside you, Baelor goes pale.
"Is that…" he rushes to her and inspects the left sword, the whole one, staring at the brilliant diamond in its pommel. "Oh, fuck my mother. Seven hells." He looks at you, confusion turning to rage. "This is our sword. This is Vigilance. What the fuck were the maesters doing with our sword?"
[Rhaegar has gained two Dragon Eggs!]
[Baelor Hightower has gained Vigilance! Baelor's character sheet has been added!]
---
Over the next few days, every single living Hightower finds an opportunity to thank you for bringing the corruption in their city to light. They are united in anger and gratitude now, and Lord Leyton Hightower seems willing to let you do whatever you wish with the traitorous maesters, as long as they are thoroughly punished.
The vault below the Citadel contained much more than eggs and swords: also a trove of books, on a great many dark magical topics: dragons, blood magic, fleshcrafting, ghost-eaters…It is enough to inspire lust in any scholar. Marwyn steps in then, and reminds you of his earlier request.
[ ] Allow the Citadel to keep the books Marwyn will catalogue them and incorporate them into the main libraries.
[ ] Seize the books for your own use
The other Valyrian Steel sword, it turns out, was Lamentation, and the maesters had been using it as a stockpile of Valyrian Steel for those who wished to forge links in the subject. You send the remains of the blade to the Royces, along with…
[ ] A few scraps, and what links you can seize from your imprisoned maesters. It won't be enough to reforge the blade, though the Royces will still be grateful.
[ ] Archmaester Marwyn's Valyrian Steel mask and rod of office Seizing those will offend him greatly, but the Royces will be overjoyed.
The discovery of two blades lost in the Dance of the Dragons inflames everyone's suspicions anew. You, Malora, Oberyn and Baelor set about questioning the prisoners.
[80 + 25 Intrigue (multiple people helping) = 105; Excellent Success!]
With so many men to question, at least one of them was bound to crack easily. In this case, it is a maester named Petyr, who tells Malora everything he knows in response to her dire threats. Petyr's information is used to break down the others, and soon you know much more, without even having to raise any more wights.
The conspiracy dates from shortly after the Doom of Valyria, when, aghast at the chaos unfolding over Essos and beyond, a group of maesters banded together to investigate ways to control the use of magic. One of their number was executed for speaking out against magic use by the Hightowers, and the group became embittered, radicalized, and secretive. When the Targaryens came to Westeros, they of course saw your house as bringers of destruction. They worked against the dragonlords often, spreading rumors and slander, and they attempted to purchase the three dragon eggs Elissa Farman sold to the Sealord of Braavos. They were unsuccessful, and the Sealord eventually ended up gifting them to his favorite courtesan, after which they disappear from the pages of history. Some prisoners tell you that the Foundation arranged the Dance of the Dragons by encouraging the Hightowers to contest Rhaenyra's claim, while others say otherwise, that the Dance was exactly the kind of disaster their organization was formed to prevent. Nevertheless it was a great boon to them, as dragons died and anti-dragon sentiment swung high amidst the smallfolk. The Foundation had a great hand in the Storming of the Dragonpit, and those who knew about Lamentation say it was recovered from there. As for Vigilance, it was purchased from a peasant who found it in the ruins of Tumbleton and kept, Archmaester Walderan confesses, in the event the Citadel ever greatly needed to purchase House Hightower's favor. "It appears to have worked against you in that regard," is Baelor's cold response. And the last dragon, who died young and stunted, was steadily poisoned by a Foundation agent among her keepers.
There are, nevertheless, a few things they are innocent of. They all claim no involvement with the plots against your father's life, nor the death of so many of your siblings. "Targaryen women often have trouble in childbirth," one of them tells you. "That's not our fault, but a natural consequence of your inbreeding."
You receive a dozen names, of maesters currently in service at castles across Westeros (Winterfell, Storm's End, Oakenshield, Vaith…), and a dozen more in Oldtown right now. You arrest the latter. You receive confessions from some, that they had been providing the Master of Whispers with details of troop movements and slandering you – apparently wishing for your father to defeat you in the war, and then deposed in favor of Aegon or Viserys under a regency. Quite a mirror of the original Dance, that. You have their chambers searched, and find enough incriminating correspondence that Lord Hightower starts drinking at night.
Above all, it becomes clear that the men caught in your net have different degrees of guilt. Some are acolytes and novices, only just being seduced by a poisonous ideology, and they react with horror and disbelief when the charges of regicide and treason are brought against them. Some did little themselves, but had full or partial knowledge of the group's more heinous crimes. And some, like Archmaesters Perestan and Walderan, were masters of the conspiracy, and gave the orders. How will they be punished?
[ ] Execute the leaders, and give the rest a choice between death or the Night's Watch
[ ] Execute all full members of the conspiracy, and give the sympathizers and hangers-on to the Night's Watch
[ ] Execute all full members of the conspiracy, and let the sympathizers and hangers-on be punished by the Citadel
[ ] Write-in
There is one more prisoner who doesn't quite fall into any of those categories: former Grand Maester Pycelle. Yes, he really was hiding in the Citadel this entire time. When you finally get around to interrogating him, he proves far more willing to beg for his life than any of the Foundation members. Yes, he says, he was never a member of the conspiracy, but was approached by them after he went into hiding. They wished to know details about your death, which he knows now was definitely a misunderstanding; you are clearly completely alive and not an evil sorcerer who could probably rip out his soul and eat it. And even if you could do that, you wouldn't, because you are a very just and honorable and merciful man. In fact, you are so completely just and honorable and merciful that he is now sure that that time when he declared you dead was actually a Foundation plot to murder you and, uh, frame the Lannisters for it? Sure, let's go with that!
He may not exactly be a Foundation member, but it's clear he's been listening to them enough to get very inflated ideas of your evil and mystical powers.
[ ] Accept his offer You will lift his exile, and in exchange he will testify that the Foundation coerced him into framing the Lannisters for your death in a failed attempt to weaken the throne.
[ ] Accept his offer, but give him a different story to tell (Write-in)
[ ] Just kill him He knows too much, and you can't count on fear to keep him quiet forever.
[ ] Just send him to the Night's Watch
---
Ooh, this was a big one - but I wanted to get it finished before my busy weekend. Four votes this time. Have fun, y'all.
-[X] Emphasize avoiding needless provocation (particularly with the Mallisters) - Ask Lord Quellon to give this task to his captains most capable of restraint, diplomacy, and good judgement
[X] Help transport Dornish troops up to the Crownlands.
[X] Elder Haman's plan for the Foundation
[77 + 13 Intrigue = 90; Success!]
[60; Success!]
You make your preparations and present your evidence to Lord Hightower. With Baelor and Lyanna at your side, you give your account of the Foundation and all you have discovered of them. He is shaken, but your evidence is convincing – and Baelor's support, you think, helps you a great deal in his eyes. Leyton Hightower is normally a cautious man, but at Baelor's urging, he agrees to take action.
Oberyn meets Archmaester Marwyn in town and informs him that his most hated rival among the twenty-six archmaesters is going to be arrested for some very serious crimes. The man is ecstatic. "In your raids," he says, "all I ask is that you leave the libraries and resources of the Citadel intact," and informs Oberyn that Perestan has been sequestered in the Citadel ever since you arrived in Oldtown, apparently hoping not to draw your attention. This turns out to be correct, as he is very easily found once Baelor Hightower arrives at the Citadel with a platoon of armed guards. Some of the other names on his list are not so easily found – but whether they are feigning illness or hiding in the Citadel's underground vaults or, in one case, genuinely already dead from an alchemy accident last fortnight, Baelor manages to find them. He marches his prisoners back to the Hightower, announces that no maesters are to leave the city (several are apprehended in the attempt over the course of the next days), and you set about interrogating the most interesting ones.
---
"Archmaester Perestan. How I've anticipated this meeting." He stares at you and your accompanying Kingsguard, sullenly. The Archmaester might have been a handsome youth, but now his hair is silvering and his figure growing fat. He sits stiffly in this chamber, high up on the floors of the Hightower where they keep prisoners. Light comes in only through one window, a barred window, and outside that window are hundreds of feet of empty air. If anyone were to escape from here, they would need to make it down through every floor of the tower below, and then through the black stone fortress at the base and its always-guarded gates. "I read your book, A Consideration of History. You had an excellent point about the need to evaluate the reliability of every source, although I disagree with some of the criteria you use."
"You're not the first person. I always intended them to be open for debate," he says dryly. "Your grace, if you wished to speak with me about books, you could have done so without having me arrested. Why am I here?"
"Summerhall," you state. The change in him is immediate. His eyes widen, his body straightens out of its sullen slouch – and then he sets his jaw and looks straight at you with open defiance and pride. The fact that this man could feel pride in what he's done fills you with disgust. You let your mask of politeness drop and meet his defiance with contempt.
"I thought – I hoped, very much, that Gilliane had escaped you, for all our sakes. But of course, his disappearance was because you killed him. Murderer."
"You calling me a murderer is hypocrisy to a degree that makes the Crone weep," you say coldly. "And, to correct you, he killed himself. Much to my disappointment; there were many more questions I wished to ask him. It won't happen again." You nod at the barred window, pleased.
"I will tell you nothing."
"Yandry and Gilliane said so as well, and yet they were not able to keep that promise. I doubt you will be any different. But the mess you have made is extensive, and I have a war to prosecute besides. So I will be direct: answer my questions, Perestan, or I will kill you and rip the memories from your corpse," you say evenly.
There is a silence. "…It was the opinion of most of us that someone had resurrected you to use as a puppet on the throne. A pale imitation of the man you were, capable of performing a role, but with all the agency and intelligence provided by someone else. Certainly, the idea of a man resurrecting himself is nonsensical. Unheard-of in our studies. Yandry's final letter suggested otherwise, but it was…hastily written. Garbled. So I remained skeptical. But, after speaking to you, seeing your face…I see now that you're no empty shell. You have intelligence, and awareness of your actions, and you hate me. You are…a monster, Prince Rhaegar."
"I repeat, I will not take moral recrimination from the man who murdered my family." You should get on with your questions, search for useful information, but some deep part of you still wants to make him understand, despite all of your bluster about being ready to dispose of him. "Leave aside, for a moment, our – philosophical differences about magic. You killed them. Your king, my great-grandfather. You stole my family's birthright. You sabotaged House Targaryen. Is it monstrous, is it unreasonable for me to hate you?"
"No, it's not at all unreasonable for you to hate me for that. But this is not just about taking vengeance for your family. This is about power. You want the power of dragons to overcome your hated father and solidify your rule afterwards. You dream of reclaiming lost Targaryen glory days, when no one would dare challenge the mighty king – but the truth is that plenty did challenge him, and the land burned when they did. You'll lead the kingdom to ruin as surely as your father if you refuse to see past your own selfish dreams. I did what I did for the good of the realm, so burn with your dragon eggs, your grace."
You let out a long, hissing breath. Turning to your Kingsguard, you say, "Lady Stark, cut his throat."
She draws her sword and does so, blood spurting onto her white gauntlets. You grab the corpse by the shoulders before it falls, and tilt the head to look into the eyes as they empty of life. You grab your song, and they quickly fade from brown to blue. The wight kneels on its own, now. You don't need to keep holding it, so you let go.
This is the first wight you've ever raised. It's an odd feeling, like there's a little door in your mind that leads straight to the creature's own, much simpler mind. Similar, in part, to how you feel a connection with the Others, but the wight doesn't push against you or say anything to you. Its mind is empty; it accepts whatever you give it. Well, not completely empty. Humming to keep your focus, you dive in, searching for the residue of Perestan's life.
[Rhaegar now has 2/4 MP!]
[16 + 21 Learning = 37; Significant Failure]
…This is harder than you thought it would be. The memories left behind are fragmented – flashes of scenes lacking context, organization, or chronology. You have no idea how to sort through them. Only the most recent memories are strong and whole – you feel his hatred, his disgusting pride, as he converses with you, and his well-hidden fear as he is marched to the tower, and…
"No, no, no," you gasp, breaking the connection suddenly. "You spiteful bastard!"
"What else did he do?" Lyanna asks, clearly discomforted by the death magic you're working.
"We must go to the Citadel immediately," you say. "When Ser Baelor came for him, Perestan issued one last order: to smash the dragon eggs."
---
You barrel down into the Citadel's lower levels, following a vague memory of Perestan's. Down here, great stone doors lead to mysterious vaults. The memories fail you, and you simply start trying doors until you find one that isn't locked. You throw it open, interrupting two quarreling acolytes.
"We can't throw them in the fire, what if they hatch? Just keep trying with the hammer – oh shit is that the prince?" The two acolytes face you, guilt and fear across their faces. Two dragon eggs are at their feet, and a large pile of shards. One of them is trying to hide a hammer behind his back.
The acolyte who was speaking speaks again: "He did it," he says, pointing to his friend.
"What the – Davit, you handed me the fucking hammer!"
[33 + 11 Willpower = 44; Failure]
"Lady Stark, kill them both." Your Kingsguard stalks forward as they back away. You move too, coming to kneel by the eggs, by the scattered shards. You pay no heed to their screams. Your rage is draining away, replaced by deep sorrow.
The Citadel stole four dragon eggs from Summerhall, but only two of them remain. Two dragons – not enough, according to your dreams. You need three, one for each of the Conquerors, one for each pillar of civilization. You pick up one of the remaining two – a heavy, scaled stone, and brush away the dust and the scuffs of the hammer. It shines silver underneath, under a winding ribbon of bright gold. You suppose you can thank the gods that the petrified egg proved resistant to their blows.
Someone approaches and crouches down beside you. It is Baelor Hightower. "I came as soon as I could," he says. You look at him. The Hightowers are your kin but barely, a marriage a century back, but they still look so Valyrian. His hair is as silver as yours, and he has blue-green eyes like the sea on a sunny day. He doesn't bear the Pact of Fire, but he looks like a dragonlord.
You raise up an egg-shard to show him. It is green with shades of blue, almost the color of his eyes, and silver swirls. "This was a dragon egg laid by Dreamfyre in King's Landing. It was given to Prince Maelor Targaryen at his birth, but never hatched for him. In 130 AC he was smuggled out of King's Landing with his sister Jaehaera, but the dragon egg was discovered by a stablehand at Bitterbridge and the young prince was torn apart by a mob. The egg was eventually ransomed by the Hightowers and sent to Oldtown, before being returned to King's Landing as a peace offering for the coronation of Aegon III." You inhale shakily. "This egg was over a hundred and fifty years old." Reaching for another shard, you continue: "And this egg – red, flecked with gold and swirled with black. It was laid by the last dragon, in her only clutch, in 152 AC. It was a large clutch, five eggs, and her health never recovered after she laid it. She died within a year. King Aegon IV gifted it to Lord Butterwell, in exchange, it is said, for being allowed to bed his three maiden daughters. That lord's grandson then attempted to give the egg to Daemon II Blackfyre in the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, but the rebellion was quashed early and Lord Butterwell's wealth and castle were seized, along with the egg." Your voice is breaking. "Each one of these is a treasure, a piece of history. Priceless. Do they know what they've done? Bastards, how could they destroy such beauty?"
Gently, Baelor takes the broken pieces from your hands and puts them on the floor. "Here," he says, giving you one of the intact eggs, a pure cerulean blue like the summer sky. "Tell me about this one."
You run your fingers over the smooth, tiny scales. A little heat flickers inside, a few notes of song, before fading away. You take a deep breath. "This is one of the eggs laid by Syrax, given to Viserys II by his mother Rhaenyra. It never hatched for him, though he kept it close all his life. And this," you place your hand on the egg of silver and gold, "is another laid by the last dragon. It was given to Princess Elaena Targaryen, for it matched the color of her hair, and she greatly treasured it all her life. After her death it was given to my great-great-uncle, Aemon Targaryen. He left it behind when he joined the Night's Watch in 233 AC." You take another deep breath.
"You have two eggs," he says kindly. "That's two more than you had yesterday, two more than anyone else in Westeros. Aegon the Conqueror needed but three dragons to forge the Iron Throne. And if magic is truly coming back, I'm sure you'll find a way to hatch them soon."
"Thank you," you say quietly.
"Look, your grace," chirps Lyanna, trying to cheer you up. "There's plenty more in this vault besides dragon eggs. I found Valyrian Steel! One and a half swords!"
"One and a half?" you ask, temporarily lifted out of your gloom by confusion. Yes, she's holding two hot-glowing longswords, and one of them is missing about half of its blade. Beside you, Baelor goes pale.
"Is that…" he rushes to her and inspects the left sword, the whole one, staring at the brilliant diamond in its pommel. "Oh, fuck my mother. Seven hells." He looks at you, confusion turning to rage. "This is our sword. This is Vigilance. What the fuck were the maesters doing with our sword?"
[Rhaegar has gained two Dragon Eggs!]
[Baelor Hightower has gained Vigilance! Baelor's character sheet has been added!]
---
Over the next few days, every single living Hightower finds an opportunity to thank you for bringing the corruption in their city to light. They are united in anger and gratitude now, and Lord Leyton Hightower seems willing to let you do whatever you wish with the traitorous maesters, as long as they are thoroughly punished.
The vault below the Citadel contained much more than eggs and swords: also a trove of books, on a great many dark magical topics: dragons, blood magic, fleshcrafting, ghost-eaters…It is enough to inspire lust in any scholar. Marwyn steps in then, and reminds you of his earlier request.
[ ] Allow the Citadel to keep the books Marwyn will catalogue them and incorporate them into the main libraries.
[ ] Seize the books for your own use
The other Valyrian Steel sword, it turns out, was Lamentation, and the maesters had been using it as a stockpile of Valyrian Steel for those who wished to forge links in the subject. You send the remains of the blade to the Royces, along with…
[ ] A few scraps, and what links you can seize from your imprisoned maesters. It won't be enough to reforge the blade, though the Royces will still be grateful.
[ ] Archmaester Marwyn's Valyrian Steel mask and rod of office Seizing those will offend him greatly, but the Royces will be overjoyed.
The discovery of two blades lost in the Dance of the Dragons inflames everyone's suspicions anew. You, Malora, Oberyn and Baelor set about questioning the prisoners.
[80 + 25 Intrigue (multiple people helping) = 105; Excellent Success!]
With so many men to question, at least one of them was bound to crack easily. In this case, it is a maester named Petyr, who tells Malora everything he knows in response to her dire threats. Petyr's information is used to break down the others, and soon you know much more, without even having to raise any more wights.
The conspiracy dates from shortly after the Doom of Valyria, when, aghast at the chaos unfolding over Essos and beyond, a group of maesters banded together to investigate ways to control the use of magic. One of their number was executed for speaking out against magic use by the Hightowers, and the group became embittered, radicalized, and secretive. When the Targaryens came to Westeros, they of course saw your house as bringers of destruction. They worked against the dragonlords often, spreading rumors and slander, and they attempted to purchase the three dragon eggs Elissa Farman sold to the Sealord of Braavos. They were unsuccessful, and the Sealord eventually ended up gifting them to his favorite courtesan, after which they disappear from the pages of history. Some prisoners tell you that the Foundation arranged the Dance of the Dragons by encouraging the Hightowers to contest Rhaenyra's claim, while others say otherwise, that the Dance was exactly the kind of disaster their organization was formed to prevent. Nevertheless it was a great boon to them, as dragons died and anti-dragon sentiment swung high amidst the smallfolk. The Foundation had a great hand in the Storming of the Dragonpit, and those who knew about Lamentation say it was recovered from there. As for Vigilance, it was purchased from a peasant who found it in the ruins of Tumbleton and kept, Archmaester Walderan confesses, in the event the Citadel ever greatly needed to purchase House Hightower's favor. "It appears to have worked against you in that regard," is Baelor's cold response. And the last dragon, who died young and stunted, was steadily poisoned by a Foundation agent among her keepers.
There are, nevertheless, a few things they are innocent of. They all claim no involvement with the plots against your father's life, nor the death of so many of your siblings. "Targaryen women often have trouble in childbirth," one of them tells you. "That's not our fault, but a natural consequence of your inbreeding."
You receive a dozen names, of maesters currently in service at castles across Westeros (Winterfell, Storm's End, Oakenshield, Vaith…), and a dozen more in Oldtown right now. You arrest the latter. You receive confessions from some, that they had been providing the Master of Whispers with details of troop movements and slandering you – apparently wishing for your father to defeat you in the war, and then deposed in favor of Aegon or Viserys under a regency. Quite a mirror of the original Dance, that. You have their chambers searched, and find enough incriminating correspondence that Lord Hightower starts drinking at night.
Above all, it becomes clear that the men caught in your net have different degrees of guilt. Some are acolytes and novices, only just being seduced by a poisonous ideology, and they react with horror and disbelief when the charges of regicide and treason are brought against them. Some did little themselves, but had full or partial knowledge of the group's more heinous crimes. And some, like Archmaesters Perestan and Walderan, were masters of the conspiracy, and gave the orders. How will they be punished?
[ ] Execute the leaders, and give the rest a choice between death or the Night's Watch
[ ] Execute all full members of the conspiracy, and give the sympathizers and hangers-on to the Night's Watch
[ ] Execute all full members of the conspiracy, and let the sympathizers and hangers-on be punished by the Citadel
[ ] Write-in
There is one more prisoner who doesn't quite fall into any of those categories: former Grand Maester Pycelle. Yes, he really was hiding in the Citadel this entire time. When you finally get around to interrogating him, he proves far more willing to beg for his life than any of the Foundation members. Yes, he says, he was never a member of the conspiracy, but was approached by them after he went into hiding. They wished to know details about your death, which he knows now was definitely a misunderstanding; you are clearly completely alive and not an evil sorcerer who could probably rip out his soul and eat it. And even if you could do that, you wouldn't, because you are a very just and honorable and merciful man. In fact, you are so completely just and honorable and merciful that he is now sure that that time when he declared you dead was actually a Foundation plot to murder you and, uh, frame the Lannisters for it? Sure, let's go with that!
He may not exactly be a Foundation member, but it's clear he's been listening to them enough to get very inflated ideas of your evil and mystical powers.
[ ] Accept his offer You will lift his exile, and in exchange he will testify that the Foundation coerced him into framing the Lannisters for your death in a failed attempt to weaken the throne.
[ ] Accept his offer, but give him a different story to tell (Write-in)
[ ] Just kill him He knows too much, and you can't count on fear to keep him quiet forever.
[ ] Just send him to the Night's Watch
---
Ooh, this was a big one - but I wanted to get it finished before my busy weekend. Four votes this time. Have fun, y'all.
- Location
- USA
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
He's not wrong, even if it applies more to SV than to Rhaegar himself....
[X] Accept his offer You will spare both his life and his mind, and in exchange he will testify that the Foundation coerced him into framing the Lannisters for your death in a failed attempt to weaken the throne.
-[X] However, he will remain with us as our nominal prisoner, we may need him to give testimony at a Great Council. Once he has done that we will grant him official mercy.
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- Location
- Maybe?
Eh, we're way more power for purpose than power to its own end. If unthreatened, we'd probably just make people's lives better.
Well, that was a good outcome, thought it could have gone better. Did you really have to fail your willpower roll?
@Vocalist For clarity's sake, when we failed the roll for questioning the wright Perestan was that a failure to gain the information in time to prevent the smashing of the Dragon Eggs, or was that a failure to gain full information of him? ie Did we go back later and make sure to extract all information from him?
Assuming that we did gain all relevant information:
[X]Allow the Citadel to keep the books... after you and Malora have skimmed them and taken notes. You also want copies made and sent to Dragonstone.
[X] A few scraps, and what links you can seize from your imprisoned maesters. It won't be enough to reforge the blade, though the Royces will still be grateful.
-[X] Include a signed copy of former Grandmaester Pycelle's confession, written in his own hand
-[X} Promise that once this war is done, you will aid them in locating enough Valeryian steel that they might reforge their blade anew
[X] Execute the leaders, and give the rest a choice between death or the Night's Watch
-[X] After preparing letters to be sent to all corners of the Kingdom describing the details of their conspiracy, the length of it, etc. Including the evidence (dragon eggs, stolen Valyrian swords, signed confessions). Ensure the weight and horror is felt by all the Lords of Westeros. (Leave out the details concerning yourself and Elia, instead hinting that they saw in you a powerful seer and a return of the Dragonlord magic, and so sought your demise).
-[X] Send shards from the broken dragon eggs to the Lords of greatest power and influence, as further evidence of the proof of these. (Holding back the two largest shards each - for a total of four).
-[X] For those maesters sworn out to castles, send letters to the nearby castles, informing their lords of the accusations, and asking that they send word by messanger to the other castles, that the conspirators be arrested and held for trial when the full evidence arrives. Take particular care with the letter to Storm's End, to be as diplomatic as possible, asking Lord Robert if Maester Cressen has given him council that supports these charges, and proclaiming our trust in his judgement.
-[X] Send letters to Kings Landing, including the signed confession of Maester Pycelle, and one shard from each of the broken eggs. Plead with our father to set aside this war, claiming that he has been poisoned against us, both in mind and body, by this evil conspiracy among the maesters. Let him lay down his arms and submit to a regency that we, his faithful son, might see that he is provided with treatment for his illness of the mind, which has obviously been caused by these enemies of our house. Also send copies to the members of the Kingsguard, and other lords at King's Landing who we think might be persuaded to change sides to us.
-[X] Speak to the Citadel about the matter, recognizing the importance of the Citadel to the realm, but pointing out how the Foundation betrays the core of the Maester oath and their ideals. Work with Archmaester Marwyn to begin on reforms to prevent this kind of thing from happening again (though we cannot stay to see to their completion). Also work with him to ensure this is recorded in the written histories in such a way as to best reflect on us (and conceal details of our death and resurrection). And finally, grant him the information you have on the nature of Pacts, and the Pacts you know of (excepting the Pact of Ice), offer to host him at Dragonstone when this war is done to tell him more.
-[X] Include letters to the Commander of the Night's Watch, warning him of the Foundation's crimes, and to be careful they have no opportunity to strike at Maester Aemon. Also warn him that magic is reviving in the world (we believe this to be a natural cycle in the world) and that the Night's Watch must be prepared for this. When this war is done, we intend to visit the Wall to talk with him about the threat and the needs of the Night's Watch so that the Night's Watch can be strengthened and prepared for the threat. Also send a letter to Maester Aemon, informing him of what we can safely entrust to a letter likely to go public, and inviting him to begin additional correspondence with us.
-[X] Make sure to destroy the wright you created after having ripped all the relevant information you can from his mind.
[X] Accept his offer You will spare both his life and his mind, and in exchange he will testify that the Foundation coerced him into framing the Lannisters for your death in a failed attempt to weaken the throne.
-[X] However, he will remain with us as our nominal prisoner, we may need him to give testimony at a Great Council. Once he has done that we will grant him official mercy.
That's my initial thoughts on how to handle this, though I would be happy to hear any improvements others have.
@Vocalist For clarity's sake, when we failed the roll for questioning the wright Perestan was that a failure to gain the information in time to prevent the smashing of the Dragon Eggs, or was that a failure to gain full information of him? ie Did we go back later and make sure to extract all information from him?
Assuming that we did gain all relevant information:
[X]Allow the Citadel to keep the books... after you and Malora have skimmed them and taken notes. You also want copies made and sent to Dragonstone.
[X] A few scraps, and what links you can seize from your imprisoned maesters. It won't be enough to reforge the blade, though the Royces will still be grateful.
-[X] Include a signed copy of former Grandmaester Pycelle's confession, written in his own hand
-[X} Promise that once this war is done, you will aid them in locating enough Valeryian steel that they might reforge their blade anew
[X] Execute the leaders, and give the rest a choice between death or the Night's Watch
-[X] After preparing letters to be sent to all corners of the Kingdom describing the details of their conspiracy, the length of it, etc. Including the evidence (dragon eggs, stolen Valyrian swords, signed confessions). Ensure the weight and horror is felt by all the Lords of Westeros. (Leave out the details concerning yourself and Elia, instead hinting that they saw in you a powerful seer and a return of the Dragonlord magic, and so sought your demise).
-[X] Send shards from the broken dragon eggs to the Lords of greatest power and influence, as further evidence of the proof of these. (Holding back the two largest shards each - for a total of four).
-[X] For those maesters sworn out to castles, send letters to the nearby castles, informing their lords of the accusations, and asking that they send word by messanger to the other castles, that the conspirators be arrested and held for trial when the full evidence arrives. Take particular care with the letter to Storm's End, to be as diplomatic as possible, asking Lord Robert if Maester Cressen has given him council that supports these charges, and proclaiming our trust in his judgement.
-[X] Send letters to Kings Landing, including the signed confession of Maester Pycelle, and one shard from each of the broken eggs. Plead with our father to set aside this war, claiming that he has been poisoned against us, both in mind and body, by this evil conspiracy among the maesters. Let him lay down his arms and submit to a regency that we, his faithful son, might see that he is provided with treatment for his illness of the mind, which has obviously been caused by these enemies of our house. Also send copies to the members of the Kingsguard, and other lords at King's Landing who we think might be persuaded to change sides to us.
-[X] Speak to the Citadel about the matter, recognizing the importance of the Citadel to the realm, but pointing out how the Foundation betrays the core of the Maester oath and their ideals. Work with Archmaester Marwyn to begin on reforms to prevent this kind of thing from happening again (though we cannot stay to see to their completion). Also work with him to ensure this is recorded in the written histories in such a way as to best reflect on us (and conceal details of our death and resurrection). And finally, grant him the information you have on the nature of Pacts, and the Pacts you know of (excepting the Pact of Ice), offer to host him at Dragonstone when this war is done to tell him more.
-[X] Include letters to the Commander of the Night's Watch, warning him of the Foundation's crimes, and to be careful they have no opportunity to strike at Maester Aemon. Also warn him that magic is reviving in the world (we believe this to be a natural cycle in the world) and that the Night's Watch must be prepared for this. When this war is done, we intend to visit the Wall to talk with him about the threat and the needs of the Night's Watch so that the Night's Watch can be strengthened and prepared for the threat. Also send a letter to Maester Aemon, informing him of what we can safely entrust to a letter likely to go public, and inviting him to begin additional correspondence with us.
-[X] Make sure to destroy the wright you created after having ripped all the relevant information you can from his mind.
[X] Accept his offer You will spare both his life and his mind, and in exchange he will testify that the Foundation coerced him into framing the Lannisters for your death in a failed attempt to weaken the throne.
-[X] However, he will remain with us as our nominal prisoner, we may need him to give testimony at a Great Council. Once he has done that we will grant him official mercy.
That's my initial thoughts on how to handle this, though I would be happy to hear any improvements others have.
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Having seen enough quests what would actually happen is that we'd be perfectly happy in our corner of the world, with wife and kids, loyal to those who are loyal to us.
...THEN conquer the world in disproportionate retaliation when someone crosses us or ours.
- Location
- United States
Ohhh, I am pissed at the Citadel.
And to top it off, they had Vigilance and Lamentation?
House Hightower is now firmly on our side, that much is clear. This treachery is far too deep for them to ever trust the maesters again.
Also we should be careful about sending them to the Wall. Our elderly uncle is there, I don't trust them not to spitefully murder him.