Vassals of Sunspear :
-Lady Ravella Santagar, age 30. A strong, willful lady who has always been at odds with Princess Lucia, seeing her as a rival in nearly everything since their time in the Water Gardens. Now that both of them have succeeded their fathers, the two still disagree on almost everything besides a few select topics. A rivalry still goes on between the two if they happen to be training at the same time.
-Ser Amory Dalt, age 24. The Knight of Lemonwood, he is a unusually tall and muscularly built young man, clearly made to be a warrior. That is all he is, being a rather simple man in anything else, with his wife generally handling anything non-military for Lemonwood due to her husband's ineptitude or being prone to questionable decisions.
The Court :
-Helicent Dayne, age 49, former Princess-Consort of Dorne, mother to Princess Lucia and Ser Ryon.
-Felicia Caliuem, age 18. A mysterious Lyseni woman who is apparently the Lyseni government's diplomat to Dorne, or so she says. From a ancient Valyrian line that is rumored to have ruled Lys under the Freehold.
-Syrio Volentin, age 43. Lucia's master at arms.
-Illyrio, age 40. A Bearded Priest of Norvos who served her father, he now serves her loyally. Has married a local Dornishwoman and has a son named Tristifer.
-Ulrick Dayne, age 36. A member of the Daynes of Starfall, Ulrick is the uncle of the present lord of Starfall. He has a strong dislike of Hightowers.
-Vardis Fowler, age 16. A young knight of House Fowler who squired for Ser Ryon and now is a full-fledged knight.Taunts any Yronwood unfortunate enough to cross his path
-Maester Reginald, age 48. The old maester of Sunspear, he spends most of his time sleeping or talking to ravens.
-Arianne Tolland, age 25. One of Lucia's handmaidens
-Isabel Sand, age 40. Rumored to be a baseborn daughter of Lord Uller sent to Sunspear by the prior Lord Uller in a fit of demented rage.
Military
Last edited by Xion; January 30, 2014 at 04:03 PM.
A raven arrives from Casterly Rock carrying a letter with the seal of House Lannister upon it. It reads:
To the honorable Princess of Dorne,
I will will gladly accept your offer of trade of Dornish Horses in exchange for Westerlander Gold. Your horses are renown this realm for thier quality and they shall become a vital asset for my region. I hope that this shall be a new step to a greater friendship.
Signed,
Lord Tommen Lannister "the Cautious Lion", Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, Warden of the West
A raven arrives from Rayonet with a letter carrying a response from Lord Gaunt accepting the trade proposal from the Princess of Dorne. The letter states that the first shipments of perfumes shall be heading to Sunspear within the next month.
Lord Dafyd Martell-Yronwood strode down the marbled hall toward his wife's personal chamber. His movements were precise and crisp, his back, battering-ram straight. Not a hair on his head was out of place, the dark colour of it seemingly drinking in the late afternoon sunlight, save the temples which were long since gone white. All in all the Prince Consort of Dorne cut his usual dignified, imposing figure. But if you looked closely you could see the slight tightness around his dark eyes, the ever so slight twitch of his lips behind his salt-and-pepper beard. It was all to do with the lavish parchment he carried in his hands.
'How? Even whilst I still live?' He thought for what must have been the eighth time since the raven had arrived. He briskly approached the door and greeted the two guards by name before entering his wife's chambers. "Grave news my wife." He said without preamble. "My brother, Lord Yronwood, is dead." He stated flatly, no trace of the turmoil he felt in his voice.
Lord Dafyd Martell-Yronwood strode down the marbled hall toward his wife's personal chamber. His movements were precise and crisp, his back, battering-ram straight. Not a hair on his head was out of place, the dark colour of it seemingly drinking in the late afternoon sunlight, save the temples which were long since gone white. All in all the Prince Consort of Dorne cut his usual dignified, imposing figure. But if you looked closely you could see the slight tightness around his dark eyes, the ever so slight twitch of his lips behind his salt-and-pepper beard. It was all to do with the lavish parchment he carried in his hands.
'How? Even whilst I still live?' He thought for what must have been the eighth time since the raven had arrived. He briskly approached the door and greeted the two guards by name before entering his wife's chambers. "Grave news my wife." He said without preamble. "My brother, Lord Yronwood, is dead." He stated flatly, no trace of the turmoil he felt in his voice.
The Princess tilts her head up from laying on a divan apparently, a slight trail of smoke going towards the window gives a hint as to what she was doing. Wearing a dark orange and gold dress, she does get up when Dafyd states the news. "...Indeed, very grave...and I am sorry for your loss." she walks over and sadly smiles at her husband, trying to console him about the news slightly. "Would you like for us to go visit the new lord, dear?"
Last edited by Xion; January 30, 2014 at 06:40 AM.
A great ship from Oldtown arrived at the harbour of Sunspear. Its flags displayed a white tower on grey. A messenger was send off the ship, reporting that on board was Lord Alester Hightower, who wished to speak with the princess of Dorne.
A great ship from Oldtown arrived at the harbour of Sunspear. Its flags displayed a white tower on grey. A messenger was send off the ship, reporting that on board was Lord Alester Hightower, who wished to speak with the princess of Dorne.
The messenger is led to Princess Lucia, who is staring out one of her solar's windows at the harbor of Sunspear, noting the Hightower warship present in it due to it's immense size and taking up several docks to the irritation of some merchant ship from Volantis that the harbor master is dealing with. She exhales a small puff of smoke and turns around to face the messenger. "If Lord Hightower wishes to speak with me, return to him and tell him to come to the Sun Tower." she then turns back around to stare out the window, while two spear armed guards watch the messenger.
"A tax for one percent of every lord's income." Lucia exhales a puff of smoke, nodding. "Roughly twelve thousand in total from the court's estimates." "Are you going to send out men to collect it for the King?" "No, my son. I don't like this tax and enforcing it upon my vassals isn't my plan. I have some remaining funding from this year's expenses and plan to use that to pay for a portion of the tax..and perhaps if you have any left over, together we can pay the entirety of the tax without calling on our vassals to do so." Lucifer quietly thinks while his mother views over some estimates her council have presented, a slight trail of smoke emitting from the pipe. "It is a good idea mother, let the vassals worry about increasing their own prosperity and Dorne's as a whole while we deal with the crown." "Exactly. Arianne, go find Dafyd and ask him to come here." "Yes, my princess." Arianne leaves to find the Prince-Consort and inform him the Princess and Magistrate wish to speak with him, while the mother and son review more economic reports.
When Dafyd is led in by Arianne, Lucifer bows to his father, while Lucia simply nods, having moved to laying down on one of the divans in the room, tossing a kiwi up and down. "Dafyd. The King has levied a one percent tax on every lord's income. Lucifer and I are planning on paying the entirety of the tax for Dorne as to allow our vassals to spend the money elsewhere for the benefit of Dorne. Do you agree with this action, or oppose it?
Last edited by Xion; January 31, 2014 at 03:47 PM.
The messenger is led to Princess Lucia, who is staring out one of her solar's windows at the harbor of Sunspear, noting the Hightower warship present in it due to it's immense size and taking up several docks to the irritation of some merchant ship from Volantis that the harbor master is dealing with. She exhales a small puff of smoke and turns around to face the messenger. "If Lord Hightower wishes to speak with me, return to him and tell him to come to the Sun Tower." she then turns back around to stare out the window, while two spear armed guards watch the messenger.
The messenger bowed and quickly left again, from the princesss to his demanding lord master. With his master, the messenger returned to the Sun Tower. Lord Alester, as ever was dressed according to Southern Andal fashions. However, he was a bit less elaborate as usual. His party was but a small one. Leaving most on deck of the ship. He arrived at the Sun Tower and waited patiently to meet the princess, while sheltering in a small piece of shadow form the sun.
The messenger and Lord Hightower are led to the top floor of the Sun Tower, with the dome of gold and leaded glass visible as the ceiling for the room, while the floor is a pale marble, while light sifts into through the numerous colored glass windows. On a dias on the opposite side of the room, sits the two thrones of Dorne, the Spear and Sun Throne. "Lord Hightower, welcome to Sunspear." the Princess states while sitting in the Spear Throne, the room mostly abandoned besides for several of her guards instead of being filled with petitioners and courtiers as it usually is.
Dafyd looks down at his wife. They were not close, not in love, but they had made a good partnership for all these years and he loved her in his way. "I think it might be best that we do. There will be a funeral, and I must see that young Ythan has anything he needs." He says gravely. "But you must know my dear...Yros will be there." Dafyd's oldest child had been a sore point between them in the past, and it had been with a heavy heart that he had sent his son away from Sunspear to placate his wife. It hurt even more because he knew she had been correct. "I do not know if he will be pleased to see me, but I think we both know what the boy is like around you."
"Of course, I'll leave Ryon in charge of Sunspear while we're away." she turns to walk away, but then sighs. "Of course he will.." she states slightly bitterly "..but I can't allow that to stand in my way. He'll try to goad me into doing something to offend Lady Yronwood and young Ythan.." she continues in a similar tone before turning around to face her husband with a eerie smile. "..but I think I know who exactly to bring as an escort." she states, waving her hand for two men, a Braavosi and Norvosi to appear from a side room, both wearing armor traditional of their cities, and wielding a slender blade and ax respectively. "You remember Syrio and Illyrio, don't you, dear?" her smile widens. "Besides that, perhaps the boy has changed, although I find that to be unlikely. Maybe he'll just ignore me entirely besides to hiss at him like he did the last time we visited Yronwood."
A small smile touches the corner of Dafyd's mouth. "As you will my dear." He says in acquiescence. He nodded in respectful greeting to the two Essosi. He knew both men, had sparred with them in the yard a time or two, and respected their ability as warriors. "Well met gentlemen. Would that we were meeting again under better circumstances." He liked the Norvoshi, his fighting style was direct, strong and honest. The Braavosi was all quicksilver, hard to pin down. "I trust you will enjoy my family's lands."
He looked back to his wife. "My son will stay in line or he will answer to me. You have my word on that Lucia. Or...perhaps a few rounds in the yard with one of these gentlemen will teach him humility."
Lucia nods and walks back to look at her desk for something, while the two guards nod in return to the Prince-Consort. "Likewise, my lord. It is truly unfortunate we must meet again due to the death of a great man." Illyrio states in his rather rough sounding voice. Syrio nods, agreeing with his fellow's wording.
Lucia turns back around, and exhales a breath of smoke, removing her pipe from her mouth. "I'll hold you to that, then." she puts the pipe back in and exhales another puff of smoke before replying, slightly smirking. "Hm...perhaps, but at the same time it could infuriate your house to see such a event happen..but hopefully it will not be required." she looks at a servant and gestures the girl closer, telling her to prepare some supplies for the journey to Yronwood, to which the servant runs out quickly after being ordered to do so.
Even Alester Hightower could not deny, that this Sun Tower was a most splendid one. He was obviously impressed by the marble floor and the dome of gold and glass. He bowed deeply for the princess. "My princess. I thank you for admitting me to this beautiful room. It is a real wonder."
Lucia just nods. "Well, seeing as this is the room I hold court in, you would likely of ended up here anyway. I am pleased to know you like it though. So, what does House Hightower want with Dorne?"
"Well, my princess. I have come to Sunspear to talk with you about the relations between the Reach and Dorne. We both know that our houses didn't have a great start at first. But now that Dorne is part of the realm for such a long time, I think it might be time that we set our differences aside and look for constructive ways to improve relations between our kingdoms. For instance, instead of raiding our borders, we should trade with each other. If we would work together we gain much more then opposite each other. I offer one of the tradelanes from Oldtown to house Martell as an clear example for this."
"Another Reachman attempting an overture of peace, but is it of his own volition or Tyrell's command?" Lucia dismisses her thought for the time being and considers Hightower's offer for a few moments before replying. "Relations between Dorne and the Reach have been terrible for centuries, even before Aegon's Landing, so I don't consider nearly four decades of being under the Iron Throne a long time in that regard. As for trade, Sunspear and Planky Town at the time are unable to accomodate any additional trade routes at this moment, unfortunately." she steeples her fingers and leans forward slightly. "Besides, centuries old hatreds can not easily be cast aside by the Marcher lords. Even if the rest of the Reach and Dorne were to change their views to be more favorably of the other, the Marcher lords will resist such change fiercely, having inherited enmity of the others' lords." Lucia sighs lightly. "At least mother is away in Starfall at the moment."
"Relations between the Reach and the other kingdoms as the Stormlands have been terrible for ages too, before the conquest. They however, are have smoothed and became peaceful in time." Alester pointed out. "Four decades under the same Iron Throne might not be counted as long in regard to the past. But it is a start. Your forefather Maron Martell brought his princedom into the kingdom and you could help finish his dream of peace between Dorne and the other kingdoms. If we don't act the enmity of the lords will continue. It is my view that by working together, our realms could achieve so much more. This will not be done in a single day, perhaps not in my lifetime. But it will be a start. In time, the marcher lords might be able to see beyond their differences and see that they might not difference that much from each other. I have vassals to the border too, my princess. However, we are sheltered in the shadows of the Red Mountains and parted by the sea. It is likely that some of them are hesitant to work on the relations with those who they considered a treat for many centuries. But I would be willing to work on that.. my question to you is, are you? The marcher lords will not jump up in joy, but we could lead by example and try to do some good, in light of the Seven."
"That is true,but in the case of the Stormlands, the fact Dorne was a mutual enemy of both regions may allowed for a common ground to be found, making the process smoother on both realms. As for my grandfather.." Lucia pauses for a moment. "..perhaps he did seek peace, but all his agreement with the Iron Throne brought was a war for the throne, then my father nearly had to fight another war over it as well. So I have believe it was more to finally end the attempts by the Targaryens to conquer Dorne on his own terms, instead of being dragged before the Iron Throne and forced to surrender Dorne." the Princess gets up from the throne and walks forward to the edge of the top step of the dias. "Even if we do act, the enmity will continue, just in a more subverted format..and as for the Marchers, I highly doubt they will change." she then sighs. "Yes, you do, my lord. House Cuy of Sunflower Hall, and House Mullendore of Uplands if I am recalling them correctly. Two houses that have clashed with my uncle's men several times in petty raids and reprisal attacks." "Mending relations with the Reach could remove the threat from the western border. But at what cost..?" "Perhaps it is indeed time the petty bloodshed of the feuds of the Red Mountains ends."
Sunspear, seat of House Nymeros-Martell
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Originally Posted by Ganbarenippon
