Lord Antaryon's Manse

[whatever]

The home of the Antaryon family.

[whatever]

Lysaer stood outside the gate leading into the manse, waiting for the men to show him inside or have him escorted to whereever Lord Antaryon was holding his dinner. He had only been on the outside of the Manse, so he was clueless how the Manse looked inside the walls.

"I think you need to lead the way from here, this was as far as I got the last time I was close to Lord Antaryon's Manse." he said and looked back at the two bravos.

[The Stranger]

The Bravo whom Lysaer had talked to earlier snorted in mirth, and opened the gate, leading the way inside.

The inside of the manse was covered in attractive tapestries of every kind, gilded artwork and goldleaf covered the walls, and clearly expensive paints, mostly portraits were on the wall.


Seated a a dinner table, was Lord Antaryon, by himself, there was several dishes before him, but he was meticulously picking clean the bones of a large cooked fish.

"Hello again... Lysaer was it? please sit."

[whatever]

Lysaer walked trough the halls, watching the walls with a hint of amazement in his eyes. His father had told Lysaer that they were a rich family, but not in comparasion to this Lysaer understood.

He bowed deeply and placed his belongings next to a chair, before he took a seat, trying his best to hide his suspicious feeling that was moving inside him.

"I thank you, Lord Antaryon. I was surprised to get your invitation to this thing. I was half-expecting the same treatment as our former mutual acquaintance."

[The Stranger]

"We do not have any mutual acquaintances master bard," The lord says, he gestures and a servant pours two glasses of wine.

"I have asked around about you... I am told that you are an observant man, with a good head on his shoulders. Does that ring true to you?"

[whatever]

"You are so right, I was just rambling. I am sorry, my lord." Lysaer said with a nod.

He looks at the wine-cup as it's placed in front of him, it had been a long-time since he had anything like this to drink so he takes his time to let the scent of the wine move to his nose, before he reaches for it.

"I would like to believe so, my lord Antaryon. One doesn't survive long as a bard if you are not observant and ready to adapt to the situation at hand."

[The Stranger]

"Fair enough. Tell me what you know of the politics in the city? Do not spare any details, treat me as though I were a foreigner, who had no knowledge of it."

[whatever]

Lysaer looked at the lord with a bit of surprise on his face, but quickly found his compsure again.

"It is common knowledge we are lacking a man holding the postion as Sealord of Braavos at the moment, which is why the smaller cities formed this Free Alliance and has begun to war against us. As we speak, there is three lords fighting for the position; Lord Tregario, Lord Selunai and Lord Delinal."

He took a sip of the wine to clear his throat, letting the taste fill his mouth before he let it slip down his throat.

"I am sure there are other lords that would like to become Sealord, but those are the one's I have heard mentioned around the taverns and inns I've been to."

[The Stranger]

"That's all you know? What do you know of these three men?" Antaryon asked, with an upturned eyebrow.

[whatever]

"Not much, I am afraid. I've been trying to keep myself out of the whole thing since it's hard making a living as a bard if you are closed of to certain taverns where followers of the different lords go to drink and have fun. I know that the Blue Manray holds many bravos and men following Lord Delinal, while Manyar's Tavern houses a lot of people wanting to see Lord Tregario as Sealord."

[The Stranger]

"I see... Well than you should know first and foremost, that the three men, though equally powerful, are very different. Lord Delinal is the grandson of the Great Sealord Sergyo. Respect for that history has earned him the support of many noble houses. The boy IS charming and quick witted, its true, although some say he lacks substance." Antaryon cleared his throat.

"Tregario is the foremost shareholder of the Iron Bank, and the number of men who owe him favors is great, and money, even greater. Despite this, he has no strength but what he can buy for cold hard coin." Antaryon watched Lysaer's eyes, to make sure he was listening.

"Lord Selunai is the city's greatest military mind and lord of the Arsenal. The navy answers to him, and the ability to arrange commissions for noble sons give him a number of opportunities to arrange friendships."

[whatever]

Lysaer nodded and listened carefully. As Lord Antaryon began to finish, he went through his head to see if he remembered what he had been told and most of it seemed to have stuck with him, even though he sat quiet for a little while.

"I am sorry, I was just memorizing what you told me since from what I could see as you spoke, you wanted me to listen and remember what you have told me, though for what reason I still can't understand."

[The Stranger]

"That's because I haven't said yet," Antaryon replied, giving the bard a stern look.

"Whoever wins will reward his supporters, and punish the supporters of his enemies. For that reason, it is most crucial the future of my house that I make the right decision regarding with whom to ally. Are you beginning to see now?"

[whatever]

Lysaer took another sip of his wine, as he tried to think of the reason why Lord Antaryon had invited him.

"You want me to find things the lords wouldn't like to share with their supporters; their dirty little secrets." Lysaer said after a minute of silence.

He could think of no other reason for Lord Antaryon to invite him, since that what he done for the healer and told the Lord about which had made Jurok float in the canals.

[The Stranger]

Antaryon sighed softly, as if vaguely frustrated at having to explain himself at all.

"I need to know who is going to win. Who has what trump card up their sleeve. That way I can make an informed decision... Two nights from now, Lord Delinal is holding one of his parties. You shall need to be in attendance. Find out anything that gives us an idea of the Delinal's true strength, and we shall work from there. Can you do that?"