Visiting a Maester

[Lucius Malfoy]

One day, Aegon II comes to pay a visit to the Grand Maester whose usual chambers were on the west side of the Red Keep. Attending the King was the Kingsguard as usual, who marched in two neat columns behind him. The door to the Grand Maester's chambers open as Aegon enters them. His sullen face showed a grin at the aged man who did his best to bow to his liege. Today, the King came with a request.

Grand Maester, I was wondering if you have any letters written by the hand of perhaps...Lord Footly, Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra Targaryen or Corlys Velaryon.

[Jokern]

The Grand Maester blinks a few times at Aegon, scratching his long white beard while doing so.

"Letters, your Grace? Yes... yes, I might have, I often have copies made of the letters sent from the Red Keep, but where did I put them..?"

The old man began to look around his chambers. There were many things lying around in piles, a complete chaos with dust gathering on books and instruments.

"Excuse my intrusion, your Grace, but what would the purposes of these letters be?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Aegon watches the Grand Maester look through his piles of papers. The King was often surprised by how messy a maester's room could get.

I need them for certain purposes, Grand Maester. A means to confuse my enemy and a means of bringing neutrals to my side. I want Rhaenyra to truly understanding the cunning of my person.

[Jokern]

The Grand Maester nods several times as he continues searching through his rubble.

"Of course, your Grace. We... we cannot allow the realm to split in two. When your forefather King Aenys ruled, he could not keep the newly-formed realm Aegon the Conqueror left him. It broke apart, and the blood of many soaked the land, rebels, loyalists and zealots alike. I hope that men will... will see reason and bend their knee to you, your Grace."

OOC: will letters be found?

A base 10/20 chance for each person, which means four different people. I will put -3 on Lord Footly since he was not a known frequent visitor of the Red Keep, and +2 on Daemon and Rhaenyra.

Lord Footly (7/20): 11, no letter is found.

Daemon (12/20): 6, a letter written by the Rogue Prince is found.

Rhaenyra (12/20): 14, no letter is found.

Lord Corlys (10/20): 13, no letter is found.

The Grand Maester, after searching for some time, finally pulls out a document. It bears the sigil of Aegon's uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. It is handed over by the maester's steady fingers.

"I'm sorry, your Grace, but this was all I could find. I hope that you will find it sufficient for whatever you're planning."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Aegon takes the letter, written by his uncle Daemon. He examines it closely before grinning.

I want you to write two letters, copying Daemon's handwriting. The first is to be addressed to Lord Footly to used as evidence to persuade the Tyrells to join the Iron Throne and not Rhaenyra nor to remain neutral. Then another letter that shall be sent to Lord Footly when the time comes, addressed from Daemon. I know where that bastard lies and I want to toy with the little Reachlord.

He hands the letter back to the aged Maester. He reaches into his pocket and drops an empty coin purse upon the desk.

Name your price. Whether it be gold, women, perhaps to ennoble your relatives and ensure they are given luxury.

[Jokern]

"So to... to clarify, you would like two letters "written" by Prince Daemon, one addressed to Lord Footly that I am to hand to you, outlining Princess Rhaenyra's promises to support House Footly's distant claim on Highgarden and making him Lord Paramount of the Reach and Warden of the South for his loyal service to her? And the second letter that I will send to Lord Footly himself at a later date? A relatively easy task with... with the letter in hand."

The Grand Maester's eyes go wide at Aegon's words, staring at the coin purse. He nervously rocks lightly back and forth, scratching his beard again.

"Well... well, your Grace, I am a maester sworn to serve my lord. Your appreciation is a good enough reward for me... But... but, your Grace, my family is a very minor knightly house from the Riverlands. I would think that they would... would be most gracious of being elevated to lords in their own right. If that is not too much to ask, your Grace."

[Lucius Malfoy]

You have read my mind perfectly, Grand Maester. The second letter will detail a later deployment into the Crownlands to support Lord Darklyn and Lord Rosby. For now though, I wish to see if I can gain the Tyrells by the first letter. I wish for you to also add in some hateful words, such as calling the Tyrells usurpers of the Reach like Rhaenyra's supporters call me and unlawful rulers of the Reach. And that Rhaenyra seeks to ensure that the rightful are placed where they should, just as she seeks to be the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. I know you will work hard to ensure it is a legitimate piece of work.

Aegon ponders upon the proposition made by the Grand Maester. He strokes his wispy mustache and grins a smile to the aged man.

When the war is over, plenty of land will be open to your family, Grand Maester. Perhaps, until such a promise can be fulfilled, they should come to King's Landing and serve the King directly. A great honor upon their house and a means for them to give great services to the Crown and to the Iron Throne. Surely when victory comes, they shall be among many who will be properly rewarded for their efforts.

[Jokern]

The Grand Maester bowed several times.

"Of course, your Grace. Your word is my law. And thank you, I shall send word to them immediately. When the letter is done, I'll come to the great hall as soon as my old legs can bear me. These kind of news should be seen by the whole realm."

[Lucius Malfoy]

I thank you, Grand Maester. Please, have your family come as soon as possible. They shall be comfortably housed in the capital in the Southern Crownlands, near the Stormlands. In case the war comes too close for their comfort.

With that, the King departed.

[Jokern]

After a few days, the Grand Maester enters the king's personal chambers, a scroll under his arm. He bows and hands it over.

"Your Grace, I've extraordinary news to bring you. I've just... just found a copy of a letter, written by Prince Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince. It seems to have been written some time during the last years of his Grace Viserys, your late father. While the original has most surely already been sent, the copy bears information that I feel is of greatest concern."

Opening the letter, Aegon could read the following:

Lord Yoren Footly of Tumbleton:

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, is most gracious for your words and hope that your loyalty will be ever unquestioned, despite the vile powers that plot to undo the will of Viserys I, his Grace the King and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. After much discussion, the Princess has decided to support your claim on Highgarden once his Grace passes away and the vipers reveal their true colors.


Along with this would of course the titles of Lord Paramount of the Reach and Warden of the South be granted to you, Lord Footly. House Tyrell are nothing but usurpers and opportunists, mere stewards raised far above their stations after opening the gates to Aegon the Conqueror, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Many other houses with better bloodlines, chief among them your own, would have been more suitable than the Tyrell. I suspect that House Hightower, whose members plot against us at this very moment, had a part to play in this arrangement. Controlling a weak puppet from the shadows seems to be their main strategy, then and now. We need a strong man to rule the greatest region in the realm, one of a long and noble line.


Lord Footly, Princess Rhaenyra thanks you once more for your oaths of fealty. We cannot allow the greens to undo all that we have worked for, the Queen putting her weak-willed son Aegon on the Iron Throne would doom the Seven Kingdoms. The Princess wants to put every man where he rightfully belongs. I hope that you will stand with her once the time comes.


In the Light of the Seven,


Prince Daemon Targaryen