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Post by Horas on Sept 3, 2007 13:29:33 GMT -5
Horas Blackwood brings the following issue before the king, the hand, and the small council.
"The ambassadors of the Free Cities have been grieviously offended and now demand terms from Westeros. They are massing a force and may attack should we not come to some agreement. They cannot succeed in a land invasion, but they have more than enough ships to utterly destroy our navy and cut off all of our foreign trade. They have demanded the following:
1.) First you must drop the Tariffs for our Cities. True friends do not make friends pay to enter their house.
2.) Second your kingdoms will pay us to compensate us for all the damage done to our people and goods during the last war. The exact cost we can work out jointly.
3.) Third one man from each of our Cities shall be placed on this board for the Gold Consortium.
4.) Fourth you must come to visit the Braavosi Sea Lord and apologize to him for the transgressions you have committed. While you are on the other side of the Narrow Sea, it would be good for you to visit, Lys, Tyrosh and Myr, also.
As the tariff was put in place to protect from Dorne, not the Free Cities, it seems reasonable to allow exceptions for Lys, Tyrosh, Myr, and Braavos. Travelling to Braavos is nothing more than a gesture, but it is easily accomplished and may go a long way towards smoothing relations. We can likely talk our way out of paying reparations caused by Aedon's dragon -- the Free Cities cannot very well hold us responsible for the Targaryen's debts yet deny us their funds. I defer to the Master of Coin on the matter of the Gold Consortium, as I do not know how greatly that would harm our interests."
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Post by The Smith on Sept 3, 2007 18:19:13 GMT -5
Pier leans forward, "It would not hurt our interests at all it was Baldwin's creation, but to no give in completely I say we allow only two in, and they can rotate the position between each city."
"The Tariff though, with out those cites we might as well discontinue it completely, the coin profited from those cities account for the lion's share of the profit. We do trade with other cities but those are some of the richest and closest trading partners or ours."
"And quite frankly we need the coin, as the Iron Bank is dragging their feet. Clearly the Sea Lord is pressuring them to not loan us any coin. I still think they may, they like to go against the Sea Lord occasionaly to show their strength, but it will be several more months, and the only income we have is Taxes and Tariffs."
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Post by Lord Rhodri Arryn on Sept 3, 2007 19:25:55 GMT -5
"I have a couple thoughts on this, and will likely have more when I have the opportunity to consider it further. First; Callen Baratheon is not responsible for any destruction to Free Cities possessions in the war between Aedon Baratheon, a Braavosi by birth, and Michael Dondarrion. Furthermore, as the Iron Bank of Braavos currenly holds vast sums in the name of House Targaryen, any compensation that might be due to any Free City should be taken up with that institution.
It should be noted that it is illegal by Westerosi law and custom for any foreign state to own land in Westeros. The land belongs only to the Kings and nobles to whom he is liege. At best they can argue is some stock in warehouses or the personal effects of ambassadors. Again, Aedon Targaryen is the responsible party in that destruction. It is frivolous for them to argue otherwise.
It should be remembered that the only imports we receive from these cities -- Myrish Lace, Tyroshi spirits, and such -- are purely luxury goods. We do not need these items for any purpose save the tariffs collected. At best we reduce the tariffs; if we were to eliminate them, their importation would serve us no good at all. We provide all our own timber, grain, meat, leather, fur, iron, and gold. With spring coming, we are completely self-sufficient.
They cannot threaten us on land. The worst they could attempt to do is sink our fleets and cut of our trade to them. But that would be only depriving themselves of any wealth we have -- it is a dangerous bluff, we would become easy prey for the Ironborn -- but it may just be a bluff.
Lastly; there are nine Free Cities, and they all hate and distrust each other. If four are threatening war with us, we should begin speaking with the other five. We should also find ways to turn those four upon each other."
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Post by Horas on Sept 25, 2007 22:09:39 GMT -5
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Horas Blackwood brings up the subject of the Free Cities again. Envoys have been sent to all the free cities who are not against us, offering alliances and noting that Braavos' possessions are ripe for the plucking with the greater portion of her navy at Dragonstone.
The cities reply that Braavos is telling them that if they help Braavos hold onto Dragonstone they will turn the island into a grand bazaar to sell goods to Westeros. Braavos will split the islands in nine ways and each's government will reign over their section of the island.
How should we proceed?
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Post by Horas on Sept 27, 2007 15:32:47 GMT -5
Almost all of the Free Cities have agreed not to support Braavos now, but they still worry about attacking Braavos.
Only Lys is seems willing, but they do not want to be the only one to attack.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Sept 28, 2007 12:55:11 GMT -5
Callen sat in council, "Send them another message telling them to try economic sanctions, and that an assault on Braavos may not be needed, if a military naval blockade could be established the power of the Braavosi can be severly limited."
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Post by Horas on Sept 28, 2007 13:49:14 GMT -5
Once the envoys have been heard back from, Horas says,
"Braavos commands formidable economic power in addition to it's military. The Free Cities are afraid that economic sanctions will harm them more than Braavos, but they are exploring possibilities. The other Free Cities are particularly worried about Braavos' navy. Their army would not be difficult to defeat, but Braavos' navy is exceedingly powerful."
Horas pauses and looks at the other councillors. "The Free Cities are willing to work with us, milords, but I do not think we can expect them to do all of our work for us."
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Post by Lord Rhodri Arryn on Sept 28, 2007 14:15:58 GMT -5
"We need to besiege Dragonstone. We have enough men already raised in the Vale. If we can ring the castle, time will be our ally as they won't be able to stock their garrison. But getting there is the problem. Something needs to draw their navy away from the Island so we can land our ships."
"Would Lys be willing to merely threaten a Braavosi interest?"
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Post by Horas on Sept 28, 2007 17:49:18 GMT -5
"Falatir Razoon, the Lyseni delegate, is still in King's Landing. Perhaps we could invite him here to discuss the matter," Horas says.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Sept 30, 2007 23:53:05 GMT -5
Callen nodded, "By all means, invite him up here."
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Post by The Smith on Sept 30, 2007 23:58:10 GMT -5
Falatir Razoon enters clad from head to toe in Lysian finery, playing with the silk ruffles hanging from his sleeve he sits at the table nodding politely at Piers, "Yes Callen, what may I do for you?"
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Post by Percy Rivers on Oct 1, 2007 0:00:20 GMT -5
Callen filled Razoon in on all that they had talked about. When he was finished he said "We're discussing a couple of options now, but what do you suggest?"
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Post by The Smith on Oct 1, 2007 0:03:00 GMT -5
"Give them Dragonstone. What do you need it for. And they will not attack any more. I think that is the best for every one." Falatir pulls a scented hankder cheif from his sleeves and holds it to his nose.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Oct 1, 2007 0:09:30 GMT -5
Callen raised an eyebrow. "Does something smell bad Counciller Razoon? No, we cannot allow Braavos to keep Dragonstone, it will heavily damage trade in King's Landing if merchants in the Narrow Sea have some where else to land. Besides, they invaded it, and if I allow them to take something under my rule it could invite worse."
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Post by The Smith on Oct 1, 2007 0:21:33 GMT -5
Falatir shrugged, "There is always an odor around the men of Westeros that I generally can not abide. Then I see you at being at an impasse, I do not see how you will be able to get your undefeatable ground forces, past their undefeatable sea forces. The rest of the free cities do not want Braavos to have any more power, but since Braavos has offered them a piece of the island there is little incentive for them to fight. And it would take at least two or three cities allied to hurt Braavos, and I do not see any of the remaining cities working together to attack Braavos. Volantis is having internal struggles. Lys and Tyrosh have started to fight over the Stepstones again. Etcetera Etcetera." He waves his hand in an exhausted manner.
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Hope you all are well and happy.