Seated upon the Iron Throne, you come to a decision. You think you'll...
[ ] Wait on it. It isn't going anywhere, and neither are you. You can decide what you want to do with it when you have a better idea of the king you are and will need to be.
It's for the best, you think. There's already so much you plan on doing, so much more you want to start thinking about doing, and both categories are stuffed with things that will rile traditionalists and change things in Westeros in a truly fundamental way. Trying to diminish or destroy the Iron Throne, for better or worse a unifying image for nearly three hundred years, might be a bridge too far for right now. And for all you know, you may even come to like this thing, in your own way.
You take a deep breath, let it out, and find yourself able to relax the slightest bit more. Your back loses some tension, and there's no prick at your side or pain at your back. For now, at least, the Iron Throne appears to judge you worthy.
You don't relax completely. Its design, its very nature is to prevent such a thing. Maybe that's good, maybe that helps focus the mind. You find yourself beginning to focus a little on those designs you have for Westeros, and let yourself smile a little. This throne will make a few of those things a bit easier to get off the ground, at least.
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It doesn't take too much time for Gerion to discover that, with Pycelle's death, you're probably actually more unhindered than you would have been with his life; according to the novices that 'aided' him, Pycelle never bothered with the ravens except to try and read messages before passing them along, and left the actual work to his servants. With that knowledge, you bump up the letter to the Citadel a few points on your To-Do list, and when writing to the archmaesters you do your best to subtly, diplomatically suggest that you'd like Valyrian steel to be among the higher-numbered links on the next Grand Maester's chain.
[DC: 20 / 40 / 60 / 80]
[72 + 19 (Diplomacy) + 10 (Omake Bonus) = 101]
The letter you receive in return seems nothing short of relieved. It appears that Pycelle was neither popular with his brethren, nor a particularly good advocate for the Citadel to their minds, and the archmaesters stop just short of saying they're thrilled to have the opportunity to replace him … but only just. Slightly more politic in the rest of their response, you're nonetheless able to read between the lines and gather that they have a shortlist of men that they're already curating to better fit your desires. You take a small moment to think that, after struggling to survive for years, facing mad risks and mad kings and dangerous lords who might betray you to their mad king, it's really quite refreshing to have anyone be so obliging.
In short order, word comes that a new Grand Maester is anointed and will be arriving in the company of the Hightower contingent, coming to King's Landing for your coronation.
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About two weeks pass with little fanfare, though with plenty of work, and a depressingly high number of meetings. You can't say that any of them are unimportant or don't matter, though. Even if some of the participants might disagree.
"You're very kind to take time to see me, Your Grace, but it's a waste of it," Ser Warrek tells you, and for a moment you can smile that, despite all the other changes, he's still willing to tell you off if he thinks you need it. Your smile fades, though, in looking at one of those other changes.
"How is your arm healing, Ser Warrek?"
He shrugs, wincing only slightly. "Well enough, I suppose. The healer tells me there's no infection or risk of losing more of the arm, so long as I do what he tells me." He grumbles. "I've never washed and changed fabrics so much in my life, and now he has me doing it at least twice a day. More if I do anything to push myself "too hard", like walk outside or go to a tavern. Seven forbid I even look at a sword until he tells me I can."
"If they don't forbid it, I do," you command. "He clearly knows what he's doing, and I would not lose you or your arm over a moment's discomfort."
Warrek sighs, "Yes, Your Grace." Then adds, "It's not just a moment's discomfort, though, with him around."
"No?"
"No. I don't know where the sellswords found him, but he ... " Warrek trails off.
"Ser Warrek, please continue," you say firmly.
He had the decency to look abashed. "Sorry, Your Grace. I don't mean to speak ill of the man, he's been a great help to me. But there's a term in the Riverlander smallfolk: there's always been tales of Harrenhal being haunted by Harren the Black, and this term started as children mispronouncing his name, and it's stuck as the feeling the place gives off. This man, Qyburn, gives me the heebie-jeebies."
You can respect the feeling, especially as regards Harrenhal, but if the man is good with healing... "Your candor is appreciated, ser. So long as his advice is helping you heal, continue to follow it. And when you see him next, tell him the king requests his presence at his earliest convenience." After Warrek nods, your face softens a bit. "How's your other hand?"
"Uninjured, Your Grace," he looks a little confused at the question.
You clarify. "How's your other hand work for you? Please, old friend, speak plain."
It looks like Warrek is trying to gauge if you're serious, for a second, before he seems to decide either you are, or he doesn't care if you're not. "My left works like it's run by a council of Reacher lords. Good for flowery presentation, putting on clothes, and fuck-all else."
The snort that escapes you is decidedly unkingly. "Well, I appreciate your honesty. You think you'll improve?"
"Maybe," he twiddles the fingers on his left hand, glares like he wanted a better performance from them. "But not right away, and likely not ever as good as my right. I don't think I'm fighting any more wars for you, Your Grace," he sounds flippant, but looks so achingly regretful.
"One was quite enough for me, thank you," you respond lightly. "You'll stay in the city till your arm heals?"
Warrek gives you a more genuine smile now. "So long as you're still paying to put me up, Your Grace, I'll stay wherever you tell me."
"Good man," you acknowledge as you rise from your seat, and he matches you. "Come by as you find the time, I want to stay in the know on your recovery and future plans."
"Your Grace is too kind," he tries to dodge. "Surely there are more pressing concerns for the King than a mangled hedge knight."
"The King's time is best spent however he sees fit," you reply pompously, before giving him a private, more genuine smile. "And it is a poor lord or leader that forgets his friends along the way. I like to keep mine close at hand." Warrek's eye twitches just a little, but says nothing to that, and the reality of how easily you can now get away with barbs, puns and rude comments begins to dawn on you.
It's the little things in life you treasure.
-------------
Bit by bit, the full picture of the realm's financial position is revealed to you, as Lord Gerion is able to get what he needs from Rosby after almost two weeks of time and interrogation in the Black Cells. You almost wish he didn't.
[Your Domain has been updated! Crown Finances have been added!]
"Small wonder the Usurper was so eager to debase himself for a million gold," you observe grimly. In the Small Council chamber, you and he sit looking at the notes on scattered scrolls of parchment, wanting to talk before the meeting begins in earnest.
"Indeed, Your Grace." Like you, Gerion is almost impressed in a maudlin way at how utterly Robert had buggered his realm and himself on coin. "The Tyrell's position becomes a little clearer, too."
"How do you mean? Lord Mace wasn't into the Usurper for all that much, considering what his family probably has stashed away in Highgarden." You'd never seen their financials for yourself, but you guesstimated that they were probably slightly wealthier than you were personally, and year-to-year they almost certainly brought in much more from Reacher taxes than you did from your commercial ventures.
"Not on parchment, perhaps. But," Gerion extracts a single scroll from the mess with some particular details, "the payment schedule and interest on the loans is such that House Tyrell pays the Crown next to nothing in taxes. If Tywin had been here, and if the Usurper weren't such an indulgent wastrel--" he begins before you gesture with a spinning finger. You never mind hearing Robert being spoken ill of, and another time you might have let Gerion flex his inherent Lannister talent for insults and cutting remarks, but you have more present concerns. "If those were different, he might have discovered how well Lord Mace was fleecing him. Meanwhile, Reacher lords pay the same taxes to the Tyrells as before and instead of passing that along to the Iron Throne, the Tyrells further enrich themselves. It's a neat little scheme, Your Grace, I almost respect the grift," he remarks.
"Almost?"
Gerion adds dryly, "I'm sure I'd respect it more if it wasn't also, at present, my problem. One of them, anyway."
Your mouth grimaces slightly in sympathy. "Lady Briony remains unwell?"
He sighs a little, flicks at the small scroll at his side, from the morning's raven from Winterfell. "Not unwell, so much as not well enough for Lewyn to feel comfortable with her facing the stress of travelling here. She and the children remain in Winterfell." A deeper sigh. "At least the Stark children will like of that, they're all quite fond of Joy and Jacen." He shakes his head. "My apologies, Your Grace, my cares should not distract me from yours."
"You have my thanks, my lord," you say to him. "And my sympathies." The ship from Dorne is due any day now, but you miss your little family terribly. You can only imagine how the absence stings at your acting Master of Coin.
He swallows a little, nods, and continues. "I suppose one benefit to my nephew being Lord of Casterly Rock now is that he'll renegotiate on that particular line of debt much more favourably than my brother would have done. Especially with me here."
"No doubt Lord Tywin fears the same thing," you agree. "Before I saw all this, I would have scoffed at using our relationship in such a way. Now, though..."
"If it's any small consolation, Your Grace, if there's one thing I've learned in serving Lord Stark on his small councils," Gerion offers, "it's that necessity will often make wretches of us all. The best of folk don't hold too much of it against you, though, so long as one doesn't make a habit of wretchedness."
The image of your father atop his throne, curling talons, sneering lips and wild eyes comes to mind, unbidden. With a will, you shove it away. "Some small consolation," you reply with a smile you don't really feel.
At this time, the other acting members of the Small Council begin to join you, and after the customary pleasantries, you begin to discuss the other hugely pressing issue for you right now: the peace.
------------
The Acting Lords of your current Small Council negotiate terms of peace with the remaining belligerents. While some lords are not exactly happy with what has been taken from them, you succeed in crafting an agreement that all present can agree too, without fostering too much resentment for the future:
[With having the LPs on your side, you are limited in how harshly you can punish the opposition -- chiefly, Houses Tyrell and Arryn will continue to hold their positions as Lords Paramount. Choose four terms from the following list. Write-ins allowed, subject to QM approval.]
[ ] Areas of the Dornish Marches will be removed from the jurisdiction of the Reach and added to Dorne and/or the Stormlands.
[ ] Up to 3 belligerent lords/commanders will be sent to the Wall *
-[ ] Randyll Tarly
-[ ] Gerold Grafton
-[ ] Harrold Hardyng
-[ ] Ilyn Payne
-[ ] Courtnay Penrose
-[ ] Mandon Moore
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] A highborn hostage will be sent to the Red Keep (Write-in)
[ ] A substantial sum of gold and silver will be taken from each of the defeated Great Houses (+500,000 Dragons each)
[ ] A significant amount of ships and material will be taken from each of the defeated Great Houses (Royal Fleet & Red Keep Garrison become Full Strength)
[ ] The hostages Robert took from across the Seven Kingdoms will remain in King's Landing for one year, to give the new King an opportunity to get to know the future lords of the realm
[ ] Write-in other terms.
*[the term "belligerent lords/commanders" does not give you an end-run around the Lords Paramount keeping their positions, and the results of this may vary. For instance, sending up Ser Tommen of House Selleck, an upstart in the Reach (with a respectable moustache) that got their lands and titles within living memory, probably no one bats an eye; sending up Randyll Tarly (or a son of his) an old and influential but not Great House, would be seen as a dick move but not grounds for fresh revolt in itself; trying to send Leyton Hightower or his immediate heir Baelor would go disastrously for you...partly because they rather quickly took your side in things, but also because of the size and importance of their house.]
-------------
The Small Council must be filled. It would be prudent and expected for you to reward your wartime allies with places here or on the Kingsguard. That said, those same places could also serve as instruments of reconciliation with former belligerents.
[As the King, Advisors will be determined by their position on the council. Whoever you bring on as Master of Coin will serve as your Stewardship Advisor, for example. If your pick for a council seat does not have adequate skills to do a good job, or if you really want someone as your Advisor but appointing them to a council seat would be too scandalous, you may appoint a Shadow Councilor, who will serve as an Advisor without officially being on the council. However, a council member whose authority is being usurped by a Shadow Councilor will notice that they don't have any real power (unless they are very oblivious) and this will probably offend them.
These are not your only options, merely ones offered as suggestions by other advisors, or in some cases are presented with rather blatant self-interest.]
[ ] Master of Laws (Diplomacy Advisor)
-[ ] Stannis Baratheon (Diplomacy 7)
-[ ] Eddard Stark (Diplomacy 17)
-[ ] Raymun Darry (Diplomacy 16)
-[ ] Yohn Royce (Diplomacy 15)
-[ ] Write-in
-[ ] Appoint a Shadow Councilor
--[ ] Edmure Tully (Diplomacy 14)
--[ ] Daenerys Targaryen (Diplomacy 26)
--[ ] Write-in
[ ] Master of Coin (Stewardship Advisor)
-[ ] Gerion Lannister (Stewardship 13)
-[ ] Harry Strickland (Stewardship 17)
-[ ] Mace Tyrell (Stewardship 10)
-[ ] Selwyn Tarth (Stewardship 15)
-[ ] Write-in
-[ ] Appoint a Shadow Councilor
--[ ] Arianne Martell (Stewardship 16)
--[ ] Olenna Tyrell (Stewardship 18)
--[ ] Write-in
[ ] Master of Whispers (Intrigue Advisor)
-[ ] Oberyn Martell (Intrigue 17)
-[ ] Arianne Martell (Intrigue 19)
-[ ] Jorah Mormont (Intrigue 12)
-[ ] Garret of Saltpans (Intrigue 16)
-[ ] Write-in
-[ ] Appoint a Shadow Councillor
--[ ] Write-in
[ ] Grand Maester (Learning Advisor)
-[X] Jacaerys (unfortunately, you don't pick the Grand Maester)
-[ ] Appoint a Shadow Councillor
--[ ] Tyrion Lannister (Learning 20)
--[ ] Qyburn (Learning 20)
--[ ] Arianne Martell (Learning 19)
--[ ] Write-in
[Your Martial advisor is a special case. Since there is not a specific council seat devoted to the realm's armies, what I'm going to do is have you select the rest of the council members and then choose which one you want to be the Martial advisor. Or you can create an entirely new seat, the Master of War, though this will cause traditionalists to sigh and grumble about the Small Council not having the auspicious number of 7 anymore.]
[ ] Hand of the King
-[ ] Eddard Stark
-[ ] Jaime Lannister
-[ ] Jon Connington
-[ ] Oberyn Martell
-[ ] Stannis Baratheon
-[ ] Brynden Tully
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Master of Ships
-[ ] Rodrik Harlaw (Martial 17)
-[ ] Aurane Waters (Martial 15)
-[ ] Wylis Manderly (Martial 12)
-[ ] Alester Florent (Martial 14)
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
-[X] Barristan Selmy (Martial 20) [Remember that you cannot easily dismiss a Kingsguard without their consent, because Joffrey/Cersei hasn't set the precedent. He was, however, technically a belligerent commander on the Crown's side...]
Your Martial advisor will be:
[ ] the Hand of the King
[ ] the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
[ ] the Master of Ships
[ ] the Master of War
-[ ] Eddard Stark (Martial 18)
-[ ] Jon Connington (Martial 18)
-[ ] Oberyn Martell (Martial 17)
-[ ] Stannis Baratheon (Martial 21)
-[ ] Brynden Tully (Martial 19)
-[ ] Write-in
[Some of the lesser positions are listed here as well. Given these positions are not filled by Lords Paramount or heads of Great Houses, most of these men will not vanish because they weren't selected at this moment for this role or that – for instance, if you don't pick Ser Harras Harlaw for a role now, he'll still be available for things like the Kingsguard at a later date.]
[ ] Lord Commander of the City Watch (not a Small Council position, but important nevertheless)
-[ ] Janos Slynt is who holds the office now, a man who is rather brazenly for sale despite his pretensions at honour and decency. Formerly a pet of Queen Cersei, he is in the market for a new patron and will do pretty much whatever he's told, so long as it doesn't involve actually being the upright and uncorrupted leader he pretends to be.
-[ ] Jacelyn Bywater is an officer in the goldcloaks, who served with distinction (but not infamy or cruelty) during the Kraken's Folly. Losing a hand in the rebellion, he was knighted for his troubles and has since served ably in the City Watch, yet has not advanced through the ranks nor gained loyalty from many goldcloaks. Privately, you confirm that this is because he is not on board with extortionate bribery or wanton cruelty, and because Commander Slynt rather openly despises him.
-[ ] Aegon Targaryen is a young and unproven man, but one of unquestionable loyalty. He was raised to lead armies and manage realms, so a watch and a city should theoretically be no great test of his abilities. You are quite certain that he's learned things from his time with Lord Stannis, though time will tell what it is he learned.
-[ ] Davos Seaworth would be an unconventional choice, to say the least. A native of King's Landing, he is familiar with both sides of the law here, and is a loyal lieutenant of Stannis Baratheon. Older than the other options, he is still quite competent at management from what you can tell, and anyone who has spent as long as him on the seas has to be able to swing a sword properly.
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Master-at-Arms of the Red Keep (not a Small Council seat, but a position of prestige and importance)
-[ ] Warrek of the Hills has lost his dominant sword hand, but has been a long and loyal servant to you, and was specifically injured in your service. You could grant him some lands and a keep and offer him a retirement, or you could keep him close at hand (keeping such puns to a minimum within earshot) and reward him in another way.
-[ ] Jory Cassel is the nephew of Ned Stark's master-at-arms, and has more or less been trained for the role since he was ten. While neither a knight nor a man of the Faith, he served you and Lord Stark well during the war, and unlike Kingsguard positions this is not a life appointment, so he could return home when he wished.
-[ ] Harras Harlaw is a rare man, indeed; an Ironborn knight, albeit one who keeps to the Drowned God instead of the Seven. Naming him to the position would be mildly controversial given his god and his heritage, but he is undoubtedly competent as a leader of men and as a fierce warrior himself. It would also be a good gesture to House Harlaw and the Iron Islands.
-[ ] Bonifer Hasty is a somewhat older knight of the Stormlands, who apparently was once close with your mother, and more recently did not involve himself in the war, except to protect smallfolk from predation from either side. Appointing him would be seen as a move of reconciliation towards Stormlanders not named Connington or Baratheon, would please the Faithful, and he'd possibly be someone to talk to about your mother.
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] The King's Justice (not a Small Council seat, but a position of some prestige and dignity)
-[ ] Warrek of the Hills has lost one hand, but it doesn't take two to be an executioner and gaoler. You know him to not be corruptible or unnecessarily cruel, and those hold some appeal to you for this position.
-[ ] Sandor Clegane remained in the city, apparently, and has no qualms about killing people he's told to. Considering who may be in the Black Cells in the near future, he would probably jump at the opportunity.
-[ ] Beshka the Basilisk is currently on a ship from Dorne with the majority of your family, but will arrive well in time to take such a job. She is an unconventional option, but she's loyal, intimidating, and cares strongly about justice.
-[ ] Richard Horpe is a servant of Lord Stannis, who was once passed over for a white cloak because of Cersei Lannister. Stannis privately confides that may have been wise, as Ser Richard is "too fond of killing."
-[ ] Write-in
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AN: So, yeah, there's a lot to be getting on with here. You have a Small Council and other offices to fill, and a peace deal to hammer out. Please, discuss ideas and options (and don't hesitate to offer write-ins, the worst I can do is say 'no') and I think, generally speaking, we'll try to stick with plan vote formatting. Don't worry about the Kingsguard overmuch, they'll be a part of the next update's vote. Feel free to ask who's left, though, if you want to send one or two of them someplace very cold.
24-hour moratorium for people to hash out ideas and discuss potential options. I'll be around to answer questions folks have as best as I can. Happy plan-crafting!
