Chambers of the Master of Laws

[Adamat]

Here resides Prince Garrett Arryn, Master of Laws in King Daemon Blackfyre's Small Council.

[Poach]

Ooc: assuming you'd let me in.

Raymar Lefford entered the office of his new boss, or rather the newer of his two bosses, carrying with him various papers detailing most things about the City Watch. He dropped them on Arryn's desk as he took a seat.

The papers detailed the number of the watch, 10,000, their division into Inner and Outer Guard, whose jobs were Palace security and City security respectively, crime figures, which were fairly low (in part due to Raymar controlling organised crime, something not mentioned), prison and execution statistics, lists of prisoners of note (Celtigar and his Sellsword) and countless other boring figures, statistics, reports and budgeting.

"Everything on the City Watch you'd ever want to know, Prince Arryn," said Raymar, "Nothing of note to report, except the arrest of Celtigar and his woman. I received a message this morning telling me I report to both you and the Hand now. I'd unofficially been reporting to him until your position was filled, but it seems that arrangement has now been formalised. The Hand is, I believe, already suitably informed of the activities of the Watch, hence my meeting with only you this morning."

Raymar sat in dutiful silence, having decided he would approach Arryn formally.


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[Adamat]

"Lord Commander Lefford," Arryn said as Raymar came in. He thought about pouring himself and the Westerlander some wine while they spoke, but decided against it. "I have had the pleasure of inspecting your Inner Guard at the tournament. They seem drilled well, ready to handle every possible situation. What I am worried about, is, how do the Outer Guard function? Aren't they neglected, with the Inner Guard taking up most of your time? Also, do the Inner Guard serve you, or King Daemon?"

"Now, about these prisoners, I wish to speak to them, and will do so tonight. You may attend my meeting with them if you wish to do so, but I won't obligate you to come. Could you tell me about Celtigar's arrest? And have we sent a raven to Claw Isle yet?" He started looking through the papers, though he wasn't really interested in the numbers.

[Poach]

"Both arms of the City Watch are run on a day to day basis by their own Commandant, Prince Arryn, and I assure you neither side receives any more of my attention than the other." he said casually, "The Outer Guard function as a police force, as they have always done. They operate in companies of 250 men, two on each gatehouse, responsible for that gate, the walls between their gate and the next one, and the area of the city around that gate, and four to each of the three city barracks who are responsible for patrolling specified areas of the city, and one in the city dockyards, responsible for the dockyard."

Raymar took a pause there. It looked like Arryn wanted to ruin any potential relationship they had from the very start by making insinuations of corruption. So be it, Baratheon would surely run the City Watch entirely unopposed if Arryn was going to do nothing but fire accusations from the very start.

"The Inner Guard are a Palace Guard, Arryn." said Raymar, colder in tone than before, "Their job is to keep unwanted people out of the Palace and they do that job excellently. They answer to me through their officers, as does the Outer Guard, and through me they answer to you and the Hand, and through you the King. If you are insinuating they are disloyal the King, or that I am disloyal to the King, we can discuss both of our track records in serving Baelor and Daemon. You'll note Baelor never ended up dead, rather he was saved, by the hands of my men despite Aurelia's position against him, and House Lefford's loyalty to Daemon Blackfyre has been known for ten years. Will I sit and listen to your hostile suggestions all morning or have you any interest in doing the job of Master of Laws?"

"As for the prisoners, the Hand is in charge of their visitation," said Raymar, "He has reason to believe they are committing treason against the King and I cannot allow visitors to prisoners of such serious concern without the Hand, or King, agreeing."


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[Adamat]

"I will remind you that I am your superior, Lord Commander, and I wish to be addressed by my title, not simply with 'Arryn'. You also shall not forbid me anything, you shall advise me to speak to the King or the Hand before I visit those visitors." Arryn looked at the Lefford, his facial expression not changing. "Do we really need," he looked at the papers, "3000 men to guard the Red Keep alone? That seems a bit excessive. What do they cost the Crown every year to maintain?" Arryn sniffed.

"I do not doubt your loyalties if you just tell me that you are indeed loyal to King Daemon, but you must keep your vile thoughts of me being a traitor to yourself. I have even asked the Lord Hand about you, and he told me that your loyalty was beyond reproach. I am far more interested in the way you function, and if this is how you always react when someone insults you..." He left the answer in the air.

"I have the feeling that we've started out on the wrong foot, Lord Commander, I truly do, but I do insist that you show your superiors more respect. I am only interested in doing my work, as you are I suppose. Now, can we get this hostile air out of the room and resume our business? As I said, where is the coin to pay for 3,000 men coming from?"

[Poach]

"The allotted budget for the City Watch," said Raymar, deciding to simply move on from the previous clash, "I reduced my own salary considerably to fund much of the expansion. In these times of uncertainty having enough men to both police the city and mount a military defence, or to be known to be capable of mounting a military defence, is of the utmost importance. During the Blackfyre rebellion the city was taken by the Tyrells with ease due to the poor quality of the defence force available. The Inner Guard are capable of holding the Red Keep themselves against an invading army, ensuring the safety of all within until armies loyal to the King can come to the relief of the city."


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[Adamat]

So they are in your personal employ after all, Garrett thought. "I shall speak to the King about the Inner Guard pay then," he announced. "You do not have to pay for them yourself, I am sure that King Daemon would gladly do so for you."

[Poach]

"I don't pay for them myself," said Raymar, who saw Arryn was doing nothing more than looking desperately for some sort of conspiracy, "I reduced the salary my position receives and reallocated the money. Every penny they receive is from the king's coffers."

Raymar leaned back in the chair, tiring of listening to Arryn making indirect slights.

"I think I've enlightened you as much as any man is able, Prince Arryn. Will there be anything else?" he said in a tired tone.

Ooc: hence the desertion roll during the westerlands-riverlands war. I wouldn't have bothered writing 10,000 words of solo rp if they were Raymar's personal troops from the very start...

[Adamat]

"Nothing more, Lord Commander. You may leave if you wish to."

[Poach]

Raymar rose and left silently.


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[Oznerol]

Maelys Targaryen arrives and requests to see Lord Arryn. Before entering, he orders his guardsmen to scan, and watch, the near rooms, hallways, and chambers, to make sure no one will hear their conversation, nor even maids or servants.

[Adamat]

Maelys is let in by Arryn's guardsmen. One of them quickly runs back to the barracks to get more Arryn men in there.

"Ah, sit please," Prince Garrett motioned to a chair across the desk behind which he sat. "What bothers you enough to grace my presence? And do you really think these guardsmen of yours will keep out spies or anything? The walls have ears in King's Landing."

[Oznerol]

Maelys is let in by Arryn's guardsmen. One of them quickly runs back to the barracks to get more Arryn men in there.

"Ah, sit please," Prince Garrett motioned to a chair across the desk behind which he sat. "What bothers you enough to grace my presence? And do you really think these guardsmen of yours will keep out spies or anything? The walls have ears in King's Landing."

"I prefer to be cautious, my Lord Arryn. I needed to lessen the ears hering us, however"

Maelys sits

"I'm glad that you acepted the Master of Laws title, and are back to the Capital, you seem to be the only with wits enough to rebel against the mad spawn of the Dragonknight"

"Tell me my Lord, have you thought about the Commander of the Goldcloacks? That troubles me, I even told my brother about that, but he seemingly trusts Lefford, and while I would trust in him, as he has been loyal, he directly controls the whole Keep, and that is extremely dangerous"

"He was appointed by Baelor, maybe influenced by his wife, of whom he was a puppet... And he had no other choice but to support my brother, as he was outnumbered by Baratheon's and Blackfyre's troops. Tell me, my Lord Arryn, do you trust him?"

[Adamat]

Garrett carefully thought before answering. He knew that he could be overheard, like he already had said himself. Further than his hate for Westerlanders, he didn't have a real reason to distrust Lefford anyway at this point.

"Why wouldn't I trust him, My Lord?" Was his answer. "From what I hear, he does an amiable job."

[Oznerol]

Garrett carefully thought before answering. He knew that he could be overheard, like he already had said himself. Further than his hate for Westerlanders, he didn't have a real reason to distrust Lefford anyway at this point.

"Why wouldn't I trust him, My Lord?" Was his answer. "From what I hear, he does an amiable job."

"I do not desire someone to have such a control over my brother's life and fate my Lord, he could very well strike at will. He has thousands of elite soldiers, inside the very own Keep. Soldiers that he hired. Even if Lefford has been loyal, for now, I fear for us all"

"However you proved to be a capable Hand, and I hope you will control the Lefford with ease as Master of Laws"

[Adamat]

"As you say, My Prince," Garrett said, "I will control Lefford. No more than that, no less. If he does his job, I'll continue to let him do so. Is that all?"

It feels good to be back in the game, Garrett thought, as he put a cup of wine to his mouth.

[Oznerol]

"As you say, My Prince," Garrett said, "I will control Lefford. No more than that, no less. If he does his job, I'll continue to let him do so. Is that all?"

It feels good to be back in the game, Garrett thought, as he put a cup of wine to his mouth.

"I will remember your words, my gracious Lord. Keep Lefford at bay, and watch him carefully, I will on my own. Shall Gods bless yourself, Lord Garrett"

[Adamat]

"The same to you, My Prince," Garrett said. "Anything else? I am quite busy, getting settled in the Capital again."

[Oznerol]

"The same to you, My Prince," Garrett said. "Anything else? I am quite busy, getting settled in the Capital again."

ooc: I forgot you are a Prince too now!

"Nothing, Prince Arryn, hope you will fare well in your office. I'm glad to have you in my brother's side, my princely Lord. Welcome to King's Landing. My wife and I will be honoured to receive a visit of the most noble Arryns in our home, Dragonstone"

[Adamat]

"Perhaps I shall pay you and your wife a visit soon, then," Garrett assured the Royal. "Thank you for your visit, it is nice to have a friendly face to talk to right now."