Moryn Goes to Astapor

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 02, 2016, 06:44 PM

Having been in Essos several months already, Moryn wanted to do something to provide some manpower to the growing Blackfyre army. He therefore travelled to Astapor with what little money he had in order to purchase some of these elite-warrior slaves, but he also had some other bargaining tactics in mind. He had done his research, and luckily he was of a sharp mind if not on the battlefield than off the battlefield. These Essosi cities were always in constant rivalry. Once he arrived, Moryn sought out the Good Masters in order to begin his business proposals.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 04, 2016, 09:29 PM

The sun beat down upon the bricks of the Red City as Moryn enters it, sweat forming upon his brow from only the simple task of walking. The baking city is filled with life from giant elephants carrying nobles and merchants upon their backs to slaves with barely any clothing scurrying across the red streets as the dust is whipped into a frenzy by the wind. After a good deal of searching, and many palms greased with the oil that is money,Moryn is finally lead before an assembly of the Good Masters in one of the largest of the pyramids, wealthy merchants and nobles who ruled the city, these men range from obese to rail thin, but all are dressed in the finest clothes that money can buy and many wear jewelry that would put a Westerosi lady to shame. One of the largest and most opulently attired of the group addresses Moryn.

"What have you come here for vagabond?"

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 04, 2016, 09:45 PM

Moryn bowed before the Good Masters and then rested his hands against the pommel of his sword. "Good Masters of Astapor, I have come to do business with you." He began. "I am Moryn of House Tyrell, the Lords Paramounts of the Reach and Wardens of the West. We have recently fallen into ruin by the actions of a tyrant, the draconian King Aerys II. Cursed be his name. I have come with coin to purchase a number of your renowned warriors on behalf of my lord and liege, Dameon Blackfyre, who shall attempt to end the reign of the tyrant and establish himself as the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros. I come with coin." He patted his purse. "And with more." He let that point hang.

"It is my desire to purchase a full company of what you may offer, provided their quality is up to the standards your most high reputation has established."

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 04, 2016, 10:17 PM

The morbidly obese merchant remains seated and twists some of the rather large rings on his pudgy fingers as he addresses Moryn.

"And I am Hekaq mo Razn of Astapor, the voice of this council of the Good Masters. A former lord of Westeros? We had heard tales of your kingdom's struggles with The Nine. They included some few hints of the madness of your Aerys, but we care little for Westeros here in Astapor. You have outlawed our main export and seek to stamp it out where you can. But I see you at least have come to your senses and decided to buy our Unsullied, the best light infantry to be had in all of Essos. I care not if you use them to being a new king to the throne, so long as you have the money we can do business."

He gestures to a slave who brings forth paper and an inkwell with a quill to ink an agreement.

"We assure you of their quality Reachman. There are no finer light spearmen to be found in Westeros or Essos. Let me know how mant companies you would like to purchase."

Unsullied (elite light spearmen)
Cost: 14,000 Dragons
Upkeep: 3,000 Dragons
Points: 900
Skill: If fighting against cavalry they gain a +3 to battle rolls, if fighting against infantry they gain +2 to battle rolls. Both bonuses are subject to ratio calculations.

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 04, 2016, 10:46 PM

"I will take five units then." Moryn responded, unstringing his purse. No doubt the Good Masters would be shocked at the amount of money he had available to him. "Perhaps you should concrn yourself more with the dealings in Westeros, my Good Masters. You could be increased in wealth by trade, and the new King would be sure to repay those who supported him, amply, for any support they might offer. How many Unsullied would it take to kill the mad King and reclaim the capital, do you think?"

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 04, 2016, 10:58 PM

The Good Masters are clearly shocked a fugitive with his lordly house destroyed can afford so many of their elite infantry. But the request to aid the Nine directly in their endeavors is met by much more disagreement and many Good Masters disagree vehemently shouting their disapproval. Hekaq Brings order back to the council before addressing Moryn.

"You can hire five of our companies of Unsullied, but as you can see many are opposed to becoming involved in a civil war so far from our borders for promise of future favor and riches. Tell us exactly what you propose and we shall debate the pros and cons and return you an answer Reachman."

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 04, 2016, 11:08 PM

Moryn began to pace. "Aerys is not loved in Westeros...he is feared. The key to his rule lies in the threat of destruction his status holds over the lords of Westeros. Once this is broken, none shall bear allegiance to him. He may have some honorable hangers on, but the rest will desert him. It is a simple matter of cutting the head off the serpent, and then watching the body die. Daemon Blackfyre will assume the throne not through force of arms, as Maelys sought, but through an insurrection in the heart of the capital itself. Quick and easy. He only requires the necessary forces to overcome the bodyguards of Aerys on the spot. He has a standing army of men that must be overcome, after all. I am sure one Unsullied is worth three of those men. Once he is in power, gold and favor will flow to those who supported him."

Moryn flashed them a smile. "I would not presume to compare the Good Masters to mere Magisters of the coastal cities, but consider this a business investment. The price you could fetch in gratitude from the new King might far outstrip that which you could collect from the welathy few of Essos who purchase Unsullied by the dozen -not by the unit- in order to keep them as bodyguards or some other purpose."

He launched into his final argument. "Your forebears built the reputation of the Unsullied on war: your fine troops stood to the last man to repulse an attack of the dreaded Dothraki. It is in war that the Good Masters prove the worth of their Unsullied, not the security of individual merchants that travel the lands. When was the last time a company of Unsullied proved their worth against a horde of adversaries?"

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 04, 2016, 11:22 PM

The Good Masters listen to the proposal despite some of them muttering about how this may hurt their trading ventures. When Moryn finishes, Hekaq gathers the Good Masters and they retire into a chamber even deeper within the pyramid to debate the pros and cons of becoming involved in a conflict in Westeros. Over an hour passes with Moryn left in the meeting area with only a slave to keep him company, but finally Hekaq and the other Good Masters return. The slave helps Hekaq move his bulk back into his seat and once he is again comfortable, Hekaq relays the decision of the council of Good Masters.

"We debated long the pros and cons of helping you and your compatriots in your plot Reachmen, and despite much arguing and friction we have come to a joint decision as to our course of action. We will agree to help you, but there will be a number of conditions attached to our aid. Our aid will be given secretly so that none outside of this room will know we have promised you aid. If your cabal seize control of Westeros we demand that Astapor be given favored status and lower duties than any of your other trade partners. Lastly, slavery and the slave trade must be legalized again in Westeros. Another market to sell our main export to would be extremely valuable for our city. If you agree to these conditions you will receive three more companies of Unsullied fully free of charge. What say you to this offer?"

Table:
1-10 failure
11-15 conditional success
16-20 full success

Roll: 12

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 05, 2016, 09:49 AM

"It is not for me to make laws, only the King may do that. I doubt very much that Daemon would once again legalize the slave trade. However, I believe there may be room for a legal loophole. As long as the cargo was "freed" upon delivery to our ports, they would not technically be slaves. Perhaps we could even call such things 'liberation' from slavery and in return, the freed slaves could then work for the Crown to pay off the cost of their freedoms." He smiled. "There are many ways to justify most actions. I shall present this plan to my Lord. I think he shall be most agreeable to it, provided that he is granted these extra units."

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 05, 2016, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Pontifex Maximus

"It is not for me to make laws, only the King may do that. I doubt very much that Daemon would once again legalize the slave trade. However, I believe there may be room for a legal loophole. As long as the cargo was "freed" upon delivery to our ports, they would not technically be slaves. Perhaps we could even call such things 'liberation' from slavery and in return, the freed slaves could then work for the Crown to pay off the cost of their freedoms." He smiled. "There are many ways to justify most actions. I shall present this plan to my Lord. I think he shall be most agreeable to it, provided that he is granted these extra units."

Hekaq and the others nod with grins upon their obese faces, but Hekaq is the one to reply.

"That is agreeable to us Reachman. Go speak with your king so we can finalize this agreement."

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 05, 2016, 10:01 AM

"My King is wresting his Crown from the grips of the Tyrant even as we speak. I plan to secret these forces to the capital to aid him."

ooc: Sinc emy point cap will only let me acquire 1,666 Unsullied, I'll be happy just purchasing that number. It's less than what's on offer but I'm happy with the result. It's about time. My last three RPs like this ended in failure.

**Pyrrhus the Molossian** · June 05, 2016, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Pontifex Maximus

"My King is wresting his Crown from the grips of the Tyrant even as we speak. I plan to secret these forces to the capital to aid him."

ooc: Sinc emy point cap will only let me acquire 1,666 Unsullied, I'll be happy just purchasing that number. It's less than what's on offer but I'm happy with the result. It's about time. My last three RPs like this ended in failure.

OOC: That works for me. You did wait several days so I see no reason you shouldn't be in the vicinity of the other free cities by now.

**Pontifex Maximus** · June 05, 2016, 11:38 AM

And with that, Moryn was now the owner of 1,666 Unsullied warriors.

It was a bizarre thing, suddenly being at the head of what was, in effect, a slave army. This wouldn't be tolerated in Westeros. He wondered if any of them even spoke the common tongue. "We move to our camp!" he announced.