Seagard, Seat of House Mallister

[Nesimî]

City picture will come soon, working on a blender scene for it.
History and general info:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Seagard was built long before the coming of Aegon I Targaryen to defend against Ironborn raids from the northeast. Seagard is the largest and indeed only port of note on the west coast of the Riverlands, consisting of a castle, town and port. House Mallister maintains a small fleet of half a dozen longships and two war galleys at Seagard.

Mains:

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Lord Aurane Mallister
Age: 42

Siege battles +3
Dueling +3
Field battles +4
Survival +4

Ser Trystane Mallister
Age: 25

Field Battles +2
Dueling +2
Sea Captain +2
Survival +2

[Nesimî]

Lord Artair stood on the battlements, watching the upgrades take place. He wondered if the timber would be enough to finish the fortifications.
What is holding the boy up?
He had sent his son to Riverrun a week ago to negotiate with his nephew. He had taken perilously few men with him and Artair feared he might have been overtaken by bandits.
The boy can fend for himself, I need to worry about fending off the filthy pirates.
He walked down the stairs and into the keep. He entered his solar, took out a bit of paper, and began a message.

[Utku]

Elwyn stared at the castle when the portcullis were being drawn up for him and his company.The sea was constantly roaring and clashing.

This castle stood against the sea for thousands of years.Greyjoys will never take this place.But maybe I can win their allegiance with soft words and western gold?

He rode inside on his mare and looked to see the Lord of House Mallister.

[Nesimî]

Artair Mallister saw a young man clad in blue and silver approaching the keep. He retreated from the balcony back into his solar and told one of his guards to allow the young man in.

[Utku]

Elwyn was allowed to enter the keep and but his company or his weapons were not allowed.Elwyn didn't mind.He told Mycah,captain of his guard to train with the Mallister man while he was speaking, mostly haggling he thought, with Lord Mallister.He wanted his guards to see how the real fighters are.

Yes, a man can train for 30 years,but real fighting is a whole other thing.And these men are fighters,I can smell it.

He was led by a guard to the solar.

[Nesimî]

Elwyn was greeted by an aging man, sixty or near enough not to make matter, with long greying black hair and a large beard.
"Lord Tarbeck, I presume?" he asked. "You have my thanks for coming at such short notice. I do hope the road was not too tiring, before we get to the matters at hand, please accept some food and drink."
Artair pointed to a table loaded with food and drink.
Why do I keep my food so close at hand? Have I really become so gluttonous? I should spend more time in the yard.

[Utku]

Elwyn was not impressed by Artair Mallister but he was not disappointed too.He had become older and weaker and his grip was still iron and there was determination in his eyes.

House Mallister in safe hands for years to come.
He supposed it was a good sign that Mallister showed him the food immediately,he didn't hesitate to eat from his bread and salt.Afer all, his lord father always said "Guest right is tougher than any shield and armor."He was also little peckish too.The road was more tiresome than he imagined.

Maybe I am getting weaker too. he thought bitterly.

Something about him must have reminded of him his father.Tarbeck thoughts lingered on his past for an instant,then gulped his last food and asked;

"What is so urgent to bring me from my hall so immediately?"

"Not that I didn't enjoy the road,my lord." he added instantly.He surely didn't want to disrespect a lord in his hall.

[Nesimî]

Artair poured himself a glass of water, and began.
"I am looking to come to a trade agreement with your House, Lord Elwyn. Winter is nearly upon us, and Ironborn have been growing bolder with each day."
How much should I reveal to this man? I wonder if the rumours are true about his cousin.
"We need resources for fortification of our walls and food for the winter. We have little livestock, and the soil here is not very fertile. We can provide fish and salt for you, along with a tidy profit in gold for wool, grain and iron."
He gulped down the water. He had never really cared for wine, unlike his late wife. Now the sight of it reminded him of her.

[Utku]

Elwyn was unsure how he should respond.The river lord was desperate for some gold in hand and resources of all kind.What he had to offer was little and less for House Tarbeck.

With gold everything can be bought.Even this castle and your house,my lord. he thought.But instead he found himself saying;
"I agree with those terms my lord,provided you give us your fish and your wool and not for only this year but the same percent for 3 three years to come.Also I'd like you to foster my little boy here.I hope you have an able maester,my lord.In return not only Tarbecks provide you gold,also we will help you increase your trade,such as building a port of some sort near your castle or improving if there is one."

Elwyn sipped his water as he waited the other lord to respond.He didn't know why the he didn't offer him wine and he himself was drinking water instead of wine but he was glad about it.Hard deals must be made with full conciousness.

[Nesimî]

The young lord is unimpressed with my fish and salt. I wonder how he proposes to obtain fish and salt with that miniscule fleet of his. I believe he has not even levied it yet.
And the boy... Niall does need a new squire, since his last one had run off with 2,500 dragons to take a Dornish bath. That had been embarrassing.

"Very good, my lord. Your young boy can squire for Niall, we shall send him back to you when he is knighted."
Is this a gesture of trust? He is handing me a hostage that I do not need. It could be he wants his son to learn the arts of war. True fighting was a good teacher, though it did not quite improve the life expectancy of anyone, let alone a young boy of eleven.
"There is one more point that I wished to discuss."

[Utku]

Elwyn Tarbeck was relieved to hear his son can be a squire.Elwyn hadn't paid his son enough attention till a year ago.He was busy wandering the Westeros or beholding the beauties of the Free Cities and he feared the boy might have become the son he needed.The cold sea of Seagard and the iron of pirates will harden him up. he thought.

"I am here to hear your proposals my lord." he said.However his mind began to wander to his wife and his child in his belly.He only learned his wife was pregnant 3 days ago.Elwyn had a feeling it is a girl.

Like I don't have enough women at my head,always talking,always whining about something."Then he paid his attention to the river lord and what he was saying.

[Nesimî]

Artair hesitated for a moment, then began.
"My lord, we are at constant risk of these disgusting pirates. They have been growing better organized and attacking in larger forces. Though some weeks ago the attacks stop. I fear they may be consolidating their forces for a large assault. I believe we should act preemptively. King Aegon might not take to kindly to our warring upon the Greyjoy, yet if we could reprimand his bannermen, he could possibly be more eager to curtail his attacks for some time. I have sent my son to speak with Lord Tully over this, and I need your support as well. You are in command of I believe, 20 ships? The Iron bastards have nowhere near the numbers to resist me if I were to launch a counter assault yet they are very strong at sea. I need a considerable fleet to take them on."

[Trot]

Jon Manderly arrives from white Harbor. " may I speak with the lord h asks a passing servant."

[Nesimî]

The servant examines Jon, noting the mermaid sewn on his breast. He confirms his identity and leads him up to Lord Artair's Solar.
He knocks on the door.
"Come"

[Utku]

Mallister wants the drums of war.And why not?he thought.But there were other things he needed to consider,Westeros was a place of delicate balance.One step too bold,and all could come crashing down.He also didn't care for Mallisters,but if he were to trade with them,they better have goods to trade with.Also his hatred for the kraken was still running deep.

I will always remember the day I was captured one of those bastards.

"I can say neither no nor yes to your offer,my lord.I,for myself wish to join you so we can crush these lunatic pagans who worship only weapons,salt and water.However,like you negotiate this with your overlord,I need to negotiate it with my overlord too.The King is far away from here but I dare not defy the golden lion.You'd also need the red lion too,his gold and power might give you the edge in this battle.But I promise,as the lord of Tarbeck Hall I will be on your side with my ships."

First I have to raise and man those ships.he thought bitterly.

[Trot]

Jon Manderly enters behind the servant. "I am Jon Manderly. My Lord Mailester I have a proposition for you."

[Nesimî]

Mallister wants the drums of war.And why not?he thought.But there were other things he needed to consider,Westeros was a place of delicate balance.One step too bold,and all could come crashing down.He also didn't care for Mallisters,but if he were to trade with them,they better have goods to trade with.Also his hatred for the kraken was still running deep.

I will always remember the day I was captured one of those bastards.

"I can say neither no nor yes to your offer,my lord.I,for myself wish to join you so we can crush these lunatic pagans who worship only weapons,salt and water.However,like you negotiate this with your overlord,I need to negotiate it with my overlord too.The King is far away from here but I dare not defy the golden lion.You'd also need the red lion too,his gold and power might give you the edge in this battle.But I promise,as the lord of Tarbeck Hall I will be on your side with my ships."

First I have to raise and man those ships.he thought bitterly.

Artair was pleased. He could not have expected any more.
"Very well, I believe that concludes our business." He copied down the trade agreement on a blank piece of paper. "That comes out to 17,700 for each of us, with 875 dragons going to our respective lords in tax."
He handed Tarbeck the sheet of paper.

Jon Manderly enters behind the servant. "I am Jon Manderly. My Lord Mailester I have a proposition for you."

Artair offers him a seat.
"I would be glad to hear it my lord, but please satisfy your hunger and thirst first, you must be weary. It is a long way from White Harbor."
He pointed to the table stacked with food and drink

[Utku]

The old man is popular,interesting. Elwyn thought.He also struggled to remember the new visitor from the North,he had friends in the North but he has only been in White Harbor twice.And in that time,he spent his time gambling and whoring not making new friends among the nobles.

I had no idea I was going to become lord those days.Olwen was the reasonable choice but he fell in love with that Northman I invited to my home.

Elwyn nodded towards Manderly and Mallister and left the room.House Mallister and Tarbeck were not friends still,but he realized he was leaving this solar not only with a trade agreement but also with some sort of alliance.

And also a chance to smash those heretics.It has been a while I used my sword.

He rallied his guards and rode home.Sea was still clashing and roaring,but it was somewhat dimmed.
The castle will beat the sea.As always.

[Trot]

"Thank you" he says sitting down and taking a sip of ale. "ah good ale it's long since I have had that." "but to business my brother sends me to seek a trade agreement."

[Nesimî]

"And what would the conditions of this agreement be?"
Artair was in a good mood. This would be the second trade agreement. If he could find a match for his son, it would be a perfect day. He made a mental note to inquire about Lady Alys.