The Small Council

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Small Council:

Of King Aegon Targaryen, the Fifth of His Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm

Hand of the King: Torrhen Stark
Master of Whispers: Marq Raplin
Master of Coin: Ormond Westerling
Master of Laws: Eldon Baratheon
Master of Ships: Stannis Harlaw
Grand Maester: -
Lord Commander of the Kingsguard: Ser Duncan Tall

[Pontifex Maximus]

Aegon convenes the Small Council at the beginning of the year. He takes hi seat at the head of the table

[Oznerol]

Lord Ormond arrives, sorrounded by clouds of attendants, secretaries and accountants, carrying parchment rolls and books. After a brief chat Lord Ormond dismissed them. Lately he was extremely busy collecting the new tax, overseeing the whole process wasn't easy. And the death of his beloved wife has payed it's toll on the Master of Coin, he wore a full black attire, and had a saddened gaze. His temples had turned purely white, when were grey.

He bows to the King and sits. He wears the chain of his office, a necklace made with a coin of every Targaryen King, the current hangs in the middle. A freshly minted golden dragon (made of Westerling's gold) with the handsome and shaven face of Aegon.

[jacb547]

Lord Stark arrives looking grimier than usual he takes his seat by the King's side and launches a disapproving look to Westerling, What was the King thinking? No Lord will welcome this tax and at such at time when we need support the most.

[Axis Sunsoar]

Lord Baratheon strides into the room, his dark beard and shoulder-length hair are newly trimmed and he has clearly made an effort to straighten and groom. He wears a fur-trimmed cloak with the Baratheon stag embroidered on it, as well as a long robe, also in Baratheon colors. Around his neck he wears a heavy chain, displaying rolled scrolls. His symbol of office. He bows deeply before the king and takes his seat between Lord Ormond and Lord Torrhen.

He notices the look on Torrhen's face, and wonders. why does the hand look so sour? Has the Master of Coin slighted him?

Putting such thoughts aside, Eldon looks at the assembled group. Based on his knowledge, at least the Master of Ships was missing, and a Master of Whispers too, if the position had been filled.

[Jokern]

Lord Stannis Harlaw arrives and silently takes his seat at the council's table. He was dressed in black leather garments, with a silver scythe over his heart and a dirk in his belt. Around his neck was an iron chain of ships, his badge of office. He glanced at Lord Westerling with slight contempt. Giving him such a meager funding for the fleet, did the Westerlander think he was a fool that would just bow and say tbank you?

[Pontifex Maximus]

Aegon brought the council to order. "We have a great many things to discuss. Many things have changed since the last time I spoke to each of you individually. The Crown's income, next year, I am told by my master of coin, will be substantially larger than this year's. And on that note I have good news for you all in that you should have more money with which to discharge your duties. The matter of the pretenders weighs heavy on my mind." Aegon ran his hand through his silver hair, smoothing it back.

"I would have Aemon found and brought to me. If he refuses to drop his claim and persist in this charade then it will be a matter of a trial for treason, presided over chiefly by Lord Baratheon as Master of Laws, myself and of course the Hand." Aegon sighed deeply. "He is my blood and I will not be rash or hasty in dealing out punishment or charges against him. It will be a fair trial, if it comes to that."

"But turning our attention now to the most serious threat, that of Serra of Lys and her bastard born pretender. There is great potential in harm. How would my council suggest we neutralize this threat?"

[Jokern]

Stannis takes to word.

"I don't know much of this Serra of Lys or her son, but if your Grace thinks they're a threat, death is the only way. Publicly execute them for treason against the realm, make examples of them to your enemies and your allies."

[jacb547]

Lord Torrhen seems itching to talk about something else but he concurs and addresses the matter of the pretenders. "She has fled, to Lys maybe or another of the Free Cities. Serra is the daughter of a Magister in Lys and out of our reach if she is content to stay there I don't see the need to do anything. And if she does attack they will found out that a single Free City cannot hope to match the Kingdom of Westeros."

[Oznerol]

"My King, we should not upset the Lyseni merchants, they are fundamental for our trade, and King's Landing wealth depends on the Free Cities' goods and traders. If we kill a daughter of one of it's magisters we could seriously damage the relationship between the wealthy Lyseni and us. And expect roars from the Merchant Guild... And we know the Lords of the Guild's Ruling Council are one of the Crown's best economic partners. Sometimes your Grace needs loans, and they are the perfect moneylanders"

He coughs

"The Serra's affair can be solved easily, she has fled, and renounced to every claim her son could have. We should plainly ignore her. And, by the way, anyone would support her, so her menace is completely void. We don't even know that if the son is a bastard, or not. I presume he is a filthy bastard"

"Other reason to don't upset the Free Cities: there are the whispers that talk about Black Dragons lurking around, we do know that Bittersteel saved and fled with most of Daemon's offspring, and they are a greater menace than the Lyseni bastard could even dream"

"However, if needed, I will see if the King can afford an assassin"

[Wheatley]

The newly appointed master of whispers, Jon had sneaked into the room mid-conversation and taken his seat.


"Serra's family surely has enemies in Lys. The merchant princes in Essos always stab one another in the back for an extra profit. The other magisters would thank us that we remove one of their rivals." Said Raplin faintly.

"They might even assist us removing her and her son if we give them something in exchange... Perhaps exclusive toll reliefs for a year."

[Oznerol]

The newly appointed master of whispers, Jon had sneaked into the room mid-conversation and taken his seat.


"Serra's family surely has enemies in Lys. The merchant princes in Essos always stab one another in the back for an extra profit. The other magisters would thank us that we remove one of their rivals." Said Raplin faintly.

"They might even assist us removing her and her son if we give them something in exchange... Perhaps exclusive toll reliefs for a year."

"Didn't think about that... Maybe that is a wise move... I presume you are the new Master of Whisper"

"Does someone here in the Council has a liason with a magister of the Free Cities? If we can get rid of both of them, subtly, it would be better for the Crown and the King"

"But toll reliefs could damage the Crown's and the Merchant Guild's incomes, should be something else"

[Pontifex Maximus]

The King listened to the words of his councilors. I will not send a knife in the dark personally. There is no honor in such an act. If someone acted on my behalf but not under orders, however...

"Eldon will soon announce to the realm my desires regarding the pretenders, but the Crown must also make an effort to end the threats."He turned to Westerling. "They are threats as long as someone can lift them on high, declare them the true king of Westeros, and press that claim. Just because someone has no legal legitimacy doesn't mean they can't win the throne through war. For that reason they will always be living threats. When this boy of Lys comes of age, who knows what support he could rally? We must kill this viper in the egg."Aegon turned to address the whole council. "I will not send a knife in the dark for such a purpose and sully the Crown's reputation. Surely there are factions within Lys we could use to exploit a conflict." It must be war, there is no other way. "It may be possible to end the bastard's claim and not offend the merchants of Lys, if we offer them something in return."

edit to add this-

Aegon perked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Marq speaks sense. A worthy addition to our table he is. Do you think you could secure such a trust between us and them?"

[Wheatley]

"It is possible." Raplin answered.

"The main families in Lys fear to intervene against Serra. The word in the city is that her son is related to the Targaryen King and killing them would bring fire and blood to Lys. If we gave them clearance and support, it is likely that Serra and her father can be taken down without it being traced to us."

[jacb547]

"My Lords you are talking about murdering a child!" Lord Stark looked clearly upset "This would sully the crown's reputation beyond measure! That is not even mentioning our own state of minds. Murder the boy yes but not while he is a child who has done nothing to slight us! If he grows up and intends to attack then yes kill him but his murder right now would be a most vile crime!"



​OOC: Just went full Ned Stark.

[Axis Sunsoar]

"Honor is a worthy aspiration, but not always practical. Is it honorable to execute prisoners of war? Or is it honorable to sack a city? Neither of these things are honorable, but they are done anyway. Honor can only be considered after what must be done is finished. After Serra and her whelp are dead, His Grace may return to ruling the realm with honor. But be assured that Serra will not hesitate to stoop below honor to remove the rightful king and place her poppet on the throne." Lord Baratheon did not appear entirely without regrets, but his mind was set.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Aegon was getting angry, but he tried not to show it. "And what would you have us do, Stark, sit around and wait for the boy to gather an army?"

[jacb547]

Lord Stark now faced Aegon, Have I voted for the wrong King? "What army you grace? What Rbel Lord will flock to a boy when there are two grown pretenders alive, Aemon and Blackfyre? Or tell me, my lords, are you so unmanned by a child that you would send your knifes to kill him in his bed while he plays with his toys?"

[Axis Sunsoar]

"In time, toys will turn to torches and swords, if we let them. As you mentioned, there are already two full-grown pretenders, we should eliminate this one before he can become the third. If you are so eager to see the realm plunged into a bloody civil war, then I am sure that Blackfyre or Aemon the Maester will oblige soon enough."

[Wheatley]

"Lord Stark, my plan did not involve us sending assassins after a child. Serra has made house Targaryen an enemy when she bewitched the poor Aerion and deserves to die for it. Whatever happens to Aegon after that is none of our business." Jon thought it best to stick with what the King wanted. Lords were so concerned with honor. With reputation. He wondered if his life as a commoner perhaps was easier. Only wealth mattered to him and his colleagues. Wealth and fear.