Future of the Far Reach

[The Flint]

So what will we do here?

We've got the Crown in bed with Braavos, one of our worst enemies.

We've got Dorne, also in bed with Braavos, stealing from us with their Sunspear as metropolis efforts.

We've got the West, murderer Cedric, greatly fortifying himself.

We should have friends in the Vale,but that's about it, and i'm not sure how reliable Brandon will be, even though he's playing Howland, whose Cyrus' cousin. He's never been a major risk taker before, so if something goes down he might chose to save his neck.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

The Far Reach stands alone as we often have until they need us and they we save their asses. I'd say try to improve relations with the Mander but that means dealing with Tallahar who will likely piss us off and make things worse.

Like I found during Horas's Coup, the Vale are not great allies since, they simply retreat behind their giant wall and were basically left in the open.

I wish you weren't Maester of Coin because that leaves you exposed in Kinglanding and therefore almost guarantees you will get pulled into the other realms shenanigans.

We need some sort of military campaign to build up everyones stats so we can defend ourselves better but a homegrown one is better then one where the rest of the Kingdoms are involved.

[The Flint]

This is true, but where? any border shenanigans are likely to bring the other houses in. And I don't see any opportunities for combat training abroad. The free cities have all been crushed, and I don't see much chance of a rebellion or banditry in the Far Reach.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

Pirates? It would give us some skill in Naval Combat, and perhaps an excuse to build more ships. I like the idea of a stone wall at Horn Hill and a wooden wall around the coast.

[The Flint]

I don't think we could wall in the entire Reach, It would simply be impractical. Maybe some kind of early warning system with small towers and torches to notify of approaching pirates?

Still pirates might be a good idea, but from where? The Red Dagger Pirates were never addressed, they might have grown in strength. Might work?

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

I was speaking metaphorically about a wooden wall, as in the wooden wall or "The Arbor Fleet" in that we maintain or improve our capacity for more ships.

I think the Red Dagger Pirates would make sense and after the campaing we might be able to convince them that an easier target was off the coast of Dorne.

[The Flint]

Good idea. We may also be able to pick up intelligence from the Red Daggers about the location of various Cult hang outs, and send Flea and his people purging.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

It also gives us the leg up with a number of able bodies Naval Generals that we can use if it comes to war with Braavos, Naval superiority definitely made a difference in Dorne even if the traditional sea battles were undone.

An agreement with the Ironborn to start plundering the Dornish Braavos Shipping might prove useful although we wouldn't want to give the Dornish cause for building more ships so we would need to keep any ship building program secret.

[Sam]

Naval strength will definitely be important, I think, if a conflict arises with Braavos, which I feel almost certainly will. Speaking about the Red Daggers, Ser Mychel would support any investigation into them (I'm not saying I have him know about what's going on in here, but if approached he would be as helpful as he could be) since the investigation about the Red Dagger men that he protected the queen from that he turned over to Benfry was rendered moot by the Basilisk invasion.

That said, my character Ryam Flowers will be serving Cyrus Varner in whatever he's doing

[The Flint]

Cyrus will probably be fighting. He's a more knightly fellow than Francis' was. We'll see.

[Sam]

Maybe Flea should ressurect his Anti-Martell rioters in Sunspear, now that Martell has officially become Prince of Dorne? that might at least keep the dornish occupied inside their own borders making them less of a threat to us.

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

If Dorne is independent then I don't see them marching North to aid Rodrick. People declaring themselves independent have really thrown a wrench in our works since our noble cause now seems tainted. The big question becomes what happens when we fight off Rodrick.

Are we really going to fight off Rodrick to place his son on the throne and then after we have been bloodied ride to unite Westeros again by fighting the North, West and Dorne?

My real guess is that Cedric is just waiting hoping we tire ourselves out and then he will march in like Julius Caesar and save the realm since his army will be whole.

I don't know what the answer is as Independence is not one of our goals but the problem is we are guilty by association now anyways.

[Ser Jayk Redwyne]

If we're guilty by association, it might be best to just accept that fact and declare independence. It doesn't look like Rodrick's son would be much better than his father, and (as you say) the Crown will hardly have the strength left after we have beaten it to fight the North, West and Dorne.

Then again, is there another candidate for the throne who might prove more useful to us?

[Ser Kenneth Coyn]

Yeah the whole problem though is that the Far Reach that Justin and I have always played has been the idealistic types. Sure we will put people in the ground (not with poison) and we scheme with the best, but we have always tried to play as the moral guiding light in the dark realm.

I just don't see our characters supporting independence, as much as I would like to say F%$ the rest of the kingdoms. We need some kind of moral legitimacy to act out.

While I could see us being able to find reasons why the Baratheon's are not worthy to rule anymore, but whats the alternative, Justin an I fear that a divided Westeros will just get swallowed by Braavos.

I was thinking of leading a Religious revolution as well with my Septon character, that might increase legitimacy but at the same time create more problems.

[Ser Jayk Redwyne]

Ooh, tricky one. Religion could backfire badly. Jayk's quite idealistic too, but Furman isn't.

I really meant another candidate for the throne; is there not a suitable Baratheon, if the Prince won't do?

Perhaps even a Targaryen