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Post by Magnate Lucius on May 29, 2020 14:12:15 GMT -5
The Red Keep The Red Keep is a castle on Aegon's Hill in King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The Red Keep contains the Iron Throne and is the home to the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, the reigning dynasty, the Kingsguard, and the members of the court. The Red Keep is made of pale red stone and overlooks the mouth of the Blackwater Rush. The Red Keep has seven massive drum-towers crowned with iron ramparts. The castle is smaller than Winterfell and is patrolled by gold cloaks. Much of the Red Keep is connected underground. Massive curtain walls surround the castle, with nests and crenelations for archers. Thick stone parapets, some four feet high, protect the outer edge of the wall ramparts, where the heads of traitors are traditionally placed on iron spikes between the crenels at the gatehouse. The walls have great bronze gates and portcullises, with narrow postern doors nearby. The castle also has great cornerforts. The immense barbican has a cobbled square in front of it. Behind the walls are small inner yards, vaulted halls, covered bridges, barracks of the City Watch of King's Landing, dungeons, granaries, kennels, and stables. The Red Keep has serpentine steps which can be strenuous to climb. Maegor's Holdfast, the small council chambers, the Tower of the Hand, the lower bailey, a small sunken courtyard, and the black cells are located below the steps. The Great Hall with the throne room is found above the steps, and the outer yard or ward is found near the main gate. Also above the steps are the godswood, the river walk, the small kitchen, and the pig yard. The royal sept and the Maidenvault are located above the serpentine steps as well. Relics of the Targaryen dynasty, such as dusty suits of black armor, sit in some corridors. Doors are made of oak banded with black iron. Sweet-smelling rushes can be spread on floors. The Red Keep is full of cats, including those kept as pets as well as strays, like a black tomcat.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 19, 2020 15:19:01 GMT -5
After the meeting, Devan Lannister sought out the Master of Laws, Lord Tarly. The man had something up his sleeve and he needed to know what had to be done, now that Lord Tyrell had made his decisions. Both Lannister and Tarly were to be left behind with troops and a mission. What was the next move? Only Tarly knew likely.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 19, 2020 15:29:42 GMT -5
Devan was received a spartan office which had been established for the Master of Laws. Lord Tarly sat at a desk, where he seemed to have been skimming over some papers, Heartsbane propped against the table at his side, near to hand as it often was. He looked up when Lannister entered, "Ah! Ser Devan. I had been hoping we might get the chance to speak again. He stood from the desk, and called for one of the keeps servants to bring wine, as was customary when receiving anyone. As they waited for its arrival, he looked quizzically towards the other man. "A... cunning plan wrought by 'Lord Tyrell,' was it not?" His face seemed conflicted between a sour, disappointed look and wry amusement.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 19, 2020 15:38:13 GMT -5
Devan, first, drinks his wine before deciding to speak.
I can see why Ashford was your victory and not his. Even with ten thousand men, the Goldcloaks are hardly reliable and Aurane Waters was able to get into the Red Keep just fine.
Lannister says, crossing his arms before laying back into his chair.
Cersei is dead though... Myrcella is with us, but still requires someone to watch over her. Tommen is captured.
Devan reaches for his cup again to drink from it.
Fortune smiles as he has put us in charge of the city and to find Tommen Baratheon though. I don't think anything suggested will make Aurane bend and give us the King. He has the King, he will want a King's Ransom for Tommen more than likely.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 19, 2020 15:53:28 GMT -5
"Indeed and that is our problem," Randyll mused, reaching for his own wine, "Trust me when I say, Ser Lannister, that whatever the best course for the realm may be, I do not particularly want to see either of your young cousins hurt, so I do intend to take that part of our task seriously."
His hand rested loosely across the hilt and cross-guard of Heartsbane, "Once he is back though, I am hesitant to restore a child king to the throne. The business of regency has cost the realm sorely of late, at a time of crisis when a ruler is needed to hold things together, we have grown fools squabbling over who holds the power because of the matter of regency." He sips from his wine now, a deep draft, and then sighed, "If we ha had a king who could rule in his own right, that would not be an issue, as there would be no need for someone to rule in his stead."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 19, 2020 16:05:10 GMT -5
No truer words spoken. The regency of Joffrey and Tommen, thus far, had been messy affairs. Since Robert's death, the Small Council seemed to be constantly shuffled over the course of two years. Nothing was kept consistent and it was definitely apparent that the Small Council lacked skill and the Queen Regent... not sure what game she had been playing at. Devan wondered if it was right to be here. Right to even consider being involved in this game. Still, here he was.
Regencies tend to be messy. Though, these past two have cost the Seven Kingdoms more than any other previously.
Jaehaerys I, Aegon III, Daeron I, those regencies made these recent ones look like nothing. Devan's eyebrow couldn't help rising when Tarly spoke.
A king who could rule in his own right? We can't bring Robert back from the dead, and Daenaerys is across the Narrow Sea, my Lord. There is hardly a choice.
Lannister reached for his cup, pausing for a moment to recall some words spoken before. He looks at Randyll.
...unless you mean...
Devan speaks, remembering how Lord Tarly spoke of Aegon being an attractive choice.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 19, 2020 20:13:45 GMT -5
The time had come. He could not keep dealing in half-truths and veiled suggestions. It had exhausted him already. "I refer to the dragon in the south, yes." He let a pause fall for a moment before he continued.
"I do not like the thought of betraying oaths taken, but my liege lord has revealed himself to be more than willing to break oath after oath in his quest for personal glory and status. If everything goes as planned and he shatters the pretender's force and we rescue Tommen, you can rest assured that he will simply push to reassert himself as the true power in the realm, to the detriment of both your house and my own, I should think. And besides that, long before I had an oath to the current king, we all had oaths to the Targaryen Kings. Oaths which I sought to fulfill and was rewarded by Mace Tyrell claiming my victory and efforts as his own, and then leveraging himself to greater status in bending the knee. I am good for little but leading men, Ser Daven, and I was denied even the right to claim honor from that."
He takes another deep draft, draining his cup of wine before he speaks again.
"And beyond such thoughts of oaths and honor, I simply find him the better choice in this moment, both for men of ambition, and men of duty. A new king brings new opportunities, particularly for those who helped him get there. And this new king brings a better chance for the realm than anyone else, I would think. He eliminates the squabbles over the regency. Beyond that, I am sure you are aware of the... unfortunate rumors about your cousins. True or false Dragon, a conquering Targaryen from across the sea might have better hope of gaining loyalty from doubters than children possibly born under... ah... uncouth circumstances, and children who are certainly of the lineage responsible for much hurt in the North and Riverlands. Besides that, there might be room for someone of that same lineage who is perhpas less directly associated with the recently departed Tywin or Cersei."
He had stood now, leaning across the table a little bit as he spoke earnestly. The die was cast now. He looked expectantly towards Daven, awaiting his answer.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 19, 2020 20:43:43 GMT -5
Devan grasps his cup and proceeds to finish the remainder of it.
With Tommen and Myrcella, there are still up to ten more years of regency. Cersei's grip is gone, but the children were not taught to stand up for themselves. And their regents, depending on who they are, will likely like Cersei and Mace, using them as puppets to exert their will over the Seven Kingdoms.
Lannister speaks, leaning back into his chair.
And, if both of them die, who is left? Only Stannis Baratheon and Daenaerys. One follows a foreign god and the other lives in a foreign land.
The choices were few and distant, in terms of distance to the Iron Throne, not claim wise. Devan was at a crossroad. The Westerlands betrayed the Targaryens before, but only at the last moment, and only when it was right. Tywin swooped in and captured the capital for King Robert Baratheon, earning the greatest of rewards for his deed. The king was killed by a Lannister, the plot to burn the city ended by a Lannister, and the heirs of Rhaegar, supposedly, killed by a Lannister dog. They earned their place by their actions during that war.
Before, I had an oath to Tywin Lannister. He is gone. My oath, to the Iron Throne, was more to Cersei than Tommen. She was the ruler, he was just the toy used to legitimize her reign. Now, she is gone. I fear for my home if we must endure more regency. The Westerlands will be bled dry... this I know.
It was Devan's ultimate desire to see the Westerlands restored and the Lannister dynasty stabilized. He looks at Randyll after awhile.
I have little choice. A king is far in the North, a queen across the Narrow Sea, but a dragon just a reach away.
Devan understood what had to be said.
My men and I will support the return of a Targaryen. We will support Aegon.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 20, 2020 15:36:47 GMT -5
"As will mine. And between us it seems we will be in charge of holding King's Landing, hopefully we can avoid a repeat performance of the sacking of the city."
He glanced out one of the narrow windows that looked over the city, "The High Septon may prove an issue I am afraid. He has very distinct thoughts about what is right and wrong, and I can't imagine a coup fits into his idea of right. He seems to have concern for the small folk of the city, so if their lives and livelihoods are spared he may look on us slightly more favorably, but the Targaryens and the Faith are not often on the best of terms. Granted that young Tommen's very legitimacy was in question from a trial that will never be held though, perhaps a trueborn Targaryen will sit better with him than a potentially false Baratheon. Else we will have to hope that whatever manpower remains in the city is enough to handle an uprising of the Faith militant."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 20, 2020 16:06:02 GMT -5
Devan contemplates quietly on the matter of the Faith Militant.
I still have an additional seven thousand waiting at Hayford. We can bring them in and move them to the south of the river.
Lannister suggests, thinking of the terrain of King's Landing.
Otherwise, I can see about using some sort of deception. My men assemble within my former encampment, but the number of pots and lights remain the same.
He wasn't exactly the best at deception, but tried to think of ways.
Otherwise, I can send word to Lord Brax to march the men the day after Mace departs. I doubt it will take long for Tyrell to come into contact with Aegon.
They were not sure where Aegon was, but there was little time to march between King's Landing and Storm's End.
What of the Goldcloaks? They aren't efficient like they once were... but they are still manpower nonetheless.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 20, 2020 16:36:58 GMT -5
Lord Tarly paused the pacing that he had started to gaze out the window again. "Indeed, a not-insignificant force of manpower either, though not necessarily known for their loyalty or their competence. It might be good to approach them and ensure they understand where their payment will be coming from soon enough. I am sure if their Lord Commander can't be persuaded, plenty of captains can be swayed individually."
He sat down at his desk once more, spinning his empty goblet between two fingers and watching it as he did so. "After all this is done, I think want little more than to return home and live out my days at Horn Hill, with my son and my daughters. Yet I suspect I won't have any peace until I find it forever on the wrong end of a blade."
He glanced up suddenly. "Ser Daven, might I ask a favor of you?" his gaze slid to the massive blade at his side, "If I should fall at any point in the next few weeks, and you live, see that Heartsbane goes to my son. I know it is a fine prize and many would be forgiven for wanting to keep it, but I ask now, warrior to warrior, that you do this for me."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 20, 2020 16:46:20 GMT -5
While I arrange things with my commanders, Lord Tarly, perhaps you or... another supporter could help convince the Goldcloaks?
Devan suggests as he will want to make sure that the Lannister men do their job well and were not detected. He would need to keep an eye out for any... sparrows. His eyebrow goes up at Tarly's next words, mentioning of retiring to Horn Hill and living his days out. Was this a last 'rah' for him? His final actions before retiring? Aegon would likely try to see him remain as one of his primary commanders if the Pretender's cause prevailed.
The mention of Heartsbane caused his eyebrow to go up higher. Looking at the hilt of the Valyrian Steel, Devan looks back up at Randyll.
I will see to it. I am not as greedy as the more famous Lannisters. I desire simply to see the Westerlands prosper again and that my dynasty be rebuilt.
The mention of family lingered for a moment. Devan had spoken earlier with Lord Tyrell, so perhaps, he could speak to Tarly of the same matter.
My Lord, I am searching for a bride and Lord Tyrell mentioned several notables. Would perhaps you consider a marriage between my house and yours when this is over?
Although Devan's mind lingered in Alla, Tarly was being rather trustworthy. Alla may not be happy, with her betrothed, once he betrayed House Tyrell after all.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 20, 2020 17:05:27 GMT -5
"Thank you, it puts me somewhat at ease to know that at least. And yes, I can certainly see to some communication with the Goldcloaks."
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow when Daven spoke of marriage, though after a few moments of considering it, he nodded in agreement. "Yes, I do have two daughters yet unwed, since I received word from my wife not too long ago that my eldest, Talla, has been married to Willas Tyrell. That certainly adds a point of interest to our plans here, of course, but Willas is known to be clever and reasonable, perhaps that will be a point of negotiation between when this is done. My second daughter, Lysa, is only a year younger, past her sixteenth nameday now. I would be proud to see her wed to you if it is something you desire once the war is done."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 20, 2020 17:24:26 GMT -5
Devan considered the offer of Lysa Tarly and nods his head. Although what Lord Tyrell had offered were good, it was doubtful that any of the Tyrell cousins would have liked him for betraying their family. It would lead to a rather unhappy marriage. While such things were common, Devan didn't want to worry about marital troubles. They may come, but with the cousins, it would likely be a guarantee.
When word comes of Mace's defeat and Aegon marches through those gates proudly, we will see to the betrothal and the marriage.
Lannister nods, grateful to Lord Tarly. A means to solidify their partnership.
If you will excuse me, I must go and send ravens to Lord Brax and see to the troops being brought into King's Landing.
He rises and bows his head before departing, if nothing further was to be said.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 20, 2020 19:35:24 GMT -5
Tarly returns the bow with a respectful nod and watches Daven leave.
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