The Archon's Palace

[Sam]

Ser Rodrick Baratheon comes to the Archon's palace after arriving in Lys, seeking an audience with the Archon himself, in the name of Lord Steffon Baratheon.

[The Smith]

A minor dignitary is dispatched to see Ser Rodrick. "The Archon is engaged in matters of the war. How may I serve?"

[Sam]

Rodrick nodded sagely. "I come on behalf of my brother, who seeks to know more about the conflict your people have with the Braavosi. We have no love for Braavos where I come from, and my lord brother has considered sending ships and swords to aid your fight, depending on the circumstances," he explained.

[The Smith]

The man touched his lips, and frowned. "I am torn good ser. On one hand we seek allies in abundance, yet on the other some of your country men sacked our city not twenty years past."

[Sam]

Rodrick's eyebrows furrowed, as he sought to remember his childhood history lessons. He snapped his fingers in realization when he remembered. "The Ironborn, you mean, aye. The sacked our own capital as well, and suffered for it. My mother burned their fleet and their castles from dragonback. Their leaders were killed and their slaves freed, and given land to rule those islands in place of the foul reavers."

[The Smith]

The dignitary nodded his head, "Yes but as you can understand your kind has not been popular in the city streets since then for they do not understand the politics of the matter, and can hardly tell the difference between a man from these Islands, and a man from your Land of Storms."

[Sam]

Rodrick nodded again. "Aye, I can understand such a sentiment. May I ask why your Archon wishes to make war against the Sealord? I had thought that the Free Cities were prosperous when united and cooperation between you would be beneficial for all parties."

[The Smith]

"Do the studies of your lands suffer so badly? Have you never heard of Lord Delinal." The man shivered slightly.

[Sam]

"We have, of course, but I understood that he was several years dead. Are his successors just as bad?" Rodrick asked.

[The Smith]

"During Delinal's rule he actually made puppet states out of several of our brethren." He growled, "Now that Braavos has fallen so far, we must strike to gain back some of our loses. For even though Lys never bowed to Braavos, we made several poor treaties, and we seek to redress those issues."

[Sam]

"We in Westeros have known suffering at the hands of powerful tyrants as well," he said, and then added hastily, "though not currently, thank the Seven. Does your Archon truly have the strength to challenge Braavos at sea?"

[The Smith]

"Not alone. It was we have allied with Myr and Tyrosh, and why we have dignitaries in every other Free City with a navy." The man replied, "We are confident other Cities will follow our lead, Braavos has been a tyrant for far too long. Their enemies grow larger then their Titan."

[Sam]

Rodrick nodded again. "My lord brother's fleet is not large; some thirty-odd warships, but the crews are well disciplined and well trained as well. He has said he would be willing to lend them to your service provided your Archon will pay for the costs of mobilization and upkeep. What do you intend to do with Braavos should the gods favor you with victory?" he asked.

[The Smith]

"We are disclosing our plans to just anyone. Rest assured we have one." The dignatory replied.

[Sam]

Rodrick nodded. "Very well, my lord, I thank you for your time. The offer will stand, so if you need our aid, send a message to Storm's End. I only had one other question; Do you have any reccomendations for whorehouses while I am here in Lys?"