Grand Feast of Lannisport

[Pontifex Maximus]

Tywin Lannister commissioned the feast to be held at a richly adorned hall in Lannisport. It sat close to the sea, and a warm salt breeze blew through the open windows into the cavernous halls of the manse. Tywin and his wife Serra Lefford were present, along with Tygett, Kevan and their wives. The growing brood of Lannister children were also present, chief among them the eldest twins Jaime and Cersei.

The overwhelming scents carried from the kitchen mingled with the fresh sea breeze in the hall to create a welcoming environment. Serving girls in rich, elegant dress served wine and other small morsels before the feast properly began. Tywin sat at the head of the table, the positions to his immediate left and right left vacant. His brothers would sit at the positions just next to those seats at the high table. The children ran among the tables where the lesser swornswords would sit, beneath the table of the lords of lesser houses, but lords nonetheless.

Serra looked regal as she took a proud seat at the opposite end of the table, where the women would sit.

Tywin spoke to his son, Jaime. "I will not have you making a fool of me here. Youw ill not fight with the other children and under no circumstances will you consume wine." his green eyes bore into his son's. "Do I make myself clear?" he set his mouth in a firm line.

"Yes father." Jaime replied. Tywin released his arm and Jaime fled back to play with his cousins and siblings.

Kevan approached his older brother. "Always so stern with the children!" he said with a laugh. "Let them play."

Tywin turned his nose up. "The children are a reflection on the father, Kevan. There will be plenty of opportunities to play at some child's game when our bannermen are not being entertained." he replied curtly. He narrowed his eyes as he spied Tygett playing with the children in a mock duel. "Our brother disgraces himself." Tywin replied dryly. Soon the other lords would arrive. He had many things to discuss with them. Some good and some bad.

[The Mad Skylord]

Robar Clegane marches into the hall and takes up his seat. When the !music starts, he gets up and goes to the dance floor, determined to show off his skills. He arrives just as "Work, work, work" comes on. He shakes that booty - and he shakes it well!

[Pontifex Maximus]

Tywin regarded the antics with disdain. A man of such an age should not engage in such frivolities.

[Poach]

Raymar Lefford arrived, bringing with him his sister Kyra, his son Ryon, and his daughter-in-law, Falia Kenning.

Ryon had recently been in the Reach and had secured fruits for Lannisport, something he was keen to share with his fellow governors.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Tywin greeted the Lefford party. "Welcome, my lords and ladies. Please help yourselves. We are pleased you could come." he said in a formal and emotionless tone. "Raymar, a word if you don't mind." one of Tywins servants pulled a chair out next to the Lannister

Tygett greeted Ryon "welcome! Three years and Lannisport has come quie a ways, wouldn't you say? I daresay in anoth er three and it may rival Kings Landing itself."

[Poach]

"Of course, Lord Tywin." said Raymar, taking a seat next to the Lord Paramount and waiting for him to speak.

"It certainly has," said Ryon, "The markets are busier than ever, and I bring good news on that front: I have secured export of fruits from Tumbleton. Apparently there has been some rebellion there some time ago and the new castellan is as eager as we to bring commerce back to the surrounding lands."

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[Pontifex Maximus]

"Of course, Lord Tywin." said Raymar, taking a seat next to the Lord Paramount and waiting for him to speak.

Tywin's green eyes were set in a harsh gaze at the hall around him as Raymar took his seat "I've a mind to pay the Reach back for their insults." Tywin said after a while. "Parking a fleet in my harbor and sending their lords to escort me to the capital - it will not stand." he concluded acidly. "If not this year, or the next year, then soon. I've a mind to provoke them into a conflict from which they will remember while the Lion rules from the Rock." He took a small sip of wine. "My daughter will marry Daemon's son and heir soon, who then could stop us from exacting a bit of revenge? I will handle the raising and strengthening of our ground armies, but we must also see to the fleets. That thrice cursed Redwyne fleet will be a constant threat to our shores."

"It certainly has," said Ryon, "The markets are busier than ever, and I bring good news on that front: I have secured export of fruits from Tumbleton. Apparently there has been some rebellion there some time ago and the new castellan is as eager as we to bring commerce back to the surrounding lands."

"Very good." Tygett replied. "It is my hope that we can soon turn the economic powers of Lannisport to training fighting men. What is the status of the Reach? THere has been some talk as of late..."

[Poach]

Raymar

"Do you believe the King will abide two of the realms engaging in open warfare?" asked Raymar, "The Reach is without allies owing to Lord Tyrell's youth and lack of suitable children to marry off, but they escaped punishment for failing to control Lord Rowan. The two do not easily reconcile."

Ryon

"For the whole Reach I cannot say," said Ryon, "but Tumbleton appears to have lost House Footly. A castellan loyal to Mace Tyrell rules there due to Lady Footly now being his wife. That there are no men left stinks of a conspiracy to see that through: the Tarlys wiped the men of the House out for rebelling against Highgarden, allowing Mace Tyrell to seize Tumbleton through marriage."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Without a pretext for war, no." Tywin answered. "As long as I'm able to humble the Reach amd gain favorable terms I shall be satisfied. The Lords of the Realn need reminding to fear the name Lannister." he piled some onions onto his plate "and with that accomplished we will see to the Riverlands."
---------

"Much has happened then" Tygett replied, a bit surprised. "No doubt soon enough the Tyrells will rise from the ashes."

[Poach]

Raymar

"What pretext do you have in mind?" he asked. Raymar knew of no recent provocations, at least none that could be used to justify a punitive response.

Ryon

"He seems to be growing bolder as he ages," said Ryon with a nod of agreement, "Though as the Rowan affair shows he does not seem to command his vassals entirely."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Maybe it is time to unleash Clegane." Tywin pondered. "The nirthern Reach has been spared of most of the warfare, near as I can tell. Clegane with no banners in a raiding party might stir them up, and if he's caught then it will be easy enough to blame his crimes on the actions of a single mad dog. Naturally Id like for there to be more but we haven't much to do with the Reach. Manufacturing a political pretext seems unlikely."

----------
"And who can blame him? A lad barely a man with no father and an array of dead uncles?" Tygett shook his head "Aerys gutted House Tyrell its no small wonder the house survives at all."

[Poach]

Raymar

"Even without banners there's a real risk Clegane's men will be tracked back to the Westerlands," countered Raymar, "That seems more likely to give Tyrell a pretext over yourself."

Ryon

"It's an unenviable position," sighed Ryon, "Still, the turmoil at least benefitted Lannisport: we've acquired trade opportunities in the rebuilding."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes, true." Tywin replied. "But rightness or wrongness would not matter in the end if we emerge victorious. Perhaps we could stir their enmity in other ways. Create a rivalry of sorts. A tourney would be a lovely way to get the blood boiling. Maybe a lord of the Reach could fall at the tilt, or in the melee." He pondered his option. "Or, a more insidious option. Tell me, the young Tyrell has recently become a father, yes?"

-----

"If it's gold they want, it is gold they'll get." Tygett replied. "Though I wonder how long we will sit idle. Frey and Tully must be reminded of our strength eventually. Same with the Reach."

[Poach]

Raymar

"An assassination? Easily done with a tampered lance," said Raymar, leaning back in his chair, "You must lay the groundwork, however: accidents happen in the tilts, everyone accepts that. Bad blood has to be generated between the two Houses that cause and receive the death, and I do believe the young Lord Tyrell is a father now, yes."

Ryon

"Does the Westerlands ready for war, then?" asked Ryon in a low voice, leaning in to ask the question.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"An accident it would be, or rather, a dreadful mistake. That alone might satisfy my honor. A pointed warning that the Houses of the Reach would do well to be more cautious in the future of taking liberties above their station." Tywin added with a dark grimace. "A tourney there shall be. And if accidents occur, let it be on the head of the combatants and nobody else."

__________

"Preparations perhaps only." Tygett replied good naturedly "I doubt that any war is immediately imminent, for what cause is there after all?"

[Poach]

Raymar

"A tourney it is." said Raymar flatly, raising his glass in a subdued toast to the idea. There had been rumour of a Tourney in the works at King's Landing but nothing had ever come of it, to the disappointment of many a young knight and would-be social climber. Hosting one in the Westerlands would do well for prestige, especially as the last one was also held in the region.

Ryon

"Wars happen without cause all the time." said Ryon with a shrug, "People are always killing each other. Probably wouldn't do our trade with the Reach any favours if they ended up as our foes, though."

[The Mad Skylord]

Clegane seeks out Tywin Lannister, hoping to talk to him.

[Pericles of Athens]

Robb Reyne arrived fashionably late, extremely fashionably late with his Lannister bride Genna - their babes left at home in Castamere.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Raymar

"A tourney it is." said Raymar flatly, raising his glass in a subdued toast to the idea. There had been rumour of a Tourney in the works at King's Landing but nothing had ever come of it, to the disappointment of many a young knight and would-be social climber. Hosting one in the Westerlands would do well for prestige, especially as the last one was also held in the region.

Ryon

"Wars happen without cause all the time." said Ryon with a shrug, "People are always killing each other. Probably wouldn't do our trade with the Reach any favours if they ended up as our foes, though."

Tywin raised his glass. "A tourney, and may the gods favor the bold." he said, draining the cup. It was not the best plan. He had hoped to come up with better in truth, but
it would have to suffice. "Will you take part in the tourney, Raymar?"

Clegane seeks out Tywin Lannister, hoping to talk to him.

he is permitted to approach.

Robb Reyne arrived fashionably late, extremely fashionably late with his Lannister bride Genna - their babes left at home in Castamere.

He is greeted respectfully by the Lannister party and invited to join Lord Tywin at the high table.

[The Mad Skylord]

Clegane bows respectfully to his Lord. [B["Lord Tywin, I hear the King has built a professional army for himself. Perhaps it is time we followed suit and built a force we can rely on without raising the militia?"[/b]