The year is 286 AC. King Jaehaerys II has just passed, leaving the throne without a rightful ruler. While his three children fight for the crown, Winter creeps closer, and unimaginable darkness looms.
Not all alliances will be so typical this time. In fact, many people have a crucial effect on the way this story is told. As for the ending, we only hope there are enough people left alive to tell it after its passed.
Events
Join us for our first event, the wake of recently deceased King Jaehaerys II.
Updates
AUG. 19: So we are now officially open to the public. We have a mini-event flashback thread going on, and our main event just began. Feel free to make a second canon if you can keep both of them active enough.
Don't hesitate in pestering staff with questions; it's what we're here for! Let's raise a glass and make a cheer toward a successful launch of Winds of Winter.
Post by Arellio Tyquis on Jun 30, 2015 2:46:20 GMT
Many found their way into the illustrious halls of the Iron Bank of Braavos. Merchants of myriad origins, political power holders from across Essos’ wide swath of cities, and even the lords of Westeros journeyed to its chambers. But known privateers, pirates at least honorable enough to accept contracts? Such proved far rarer. And not a single slaver would ever willingly be granted terms with the Bank. Braavos’ origins would not permit such, and its people still detested slavers years after the Secret City’s founding. But not even Arellio knew of the Whitesail’s true nature. Still, he recognized talent from rumor – his less than admirable upbringing had provided him a knack for weeding out the truth among gossip and lies.
The meeting scheduled on that brisk and cold afternoon would transpire in more secluded quarters. Many would put such a negotiation beneath Arellio’s status. Most that would voice such had already vacated their seats on the Bank’s council through...well, officially unknown means, but with the same lifeless ends. And yet more strange still was that it was Arellio himself who chose to attend that meeting with this Whitesail – and alone. Unbeknownst to his colleague, it was he who had brief correspondence with Searyse Weys, and his thirst for her talents forced his hand. He would not let the common banker take his seat, for he had plans to iron out with this contractor.
Arellio awaited his guest in a large chair, cushioned in a very dark shade of magenta. Around it were large thick slabs of cast iron, painted gold and wrought with strange knobs. The arm rests of the chair looked more formidable than comfortable, and cold to the touch. The bank was not renowned for being warm or inviting. Yet Arellio had a reputation for being unnervingly polite and cheerful...
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 3, 2015 0:39:19 GMT
Well now that was a place to live in. Searyse loved opulent architecture. Before the doom, that was the standard that her people had been accustomed to. And what did she have? The harbor’s enclave with a few nice buildings, but mostly the cabins on a ship. What was the point of being a valyrian if she could not live in a big castle? And yet, she also knew that she could not live in a castle as some sort of little lady. That was just not the way she was used to be living, so she denied and defied it. Well, she would not mind a palace if she could rule it, but given the state of the world, she had accepted that it was better to pursue more modest goals.
And yet, those had brought her here. It was a bank though and no palace, but she still liked it, liked strolling through it since she knew that it was not a servant but an invited guest. sHe, invited in Braavos, now that was something. But then again, she did not really make slavery a household name. Ryse simply liked to make the most of what she caught and when there were survivors that she couldn’t ransom, they were sold off. Or she trained them to be servants, in the tradition of her people. Sure, that meant that she was giving her crew similar rights at port, but even if they did not have the blood of great men, they were useful. Given that she mostly sold people directly to slave traders, she was not exactly well-known either, as those people kept to Slaver’s Bay anyway.
But she was intrigued as to why the head of the bank would want to see her. And ys, she had confirmed it multiple times. It was the head that wanted to see her. Good thing she was wearing almost sensible attire, a dress hiding the traveller’s boots only barely. It was a modified thing that she could rip with a flick of her wrist if needed to. Having almost been killed by a dress getting in the way of legwork led to such things. In either event, she knew that she was presentable when she entered the promised room, only to find that man waiting. The first thing she noticed was his hair colour of course. Coincidence, or the right bloodline? She would have to find out, now it was time to off-handedly feign some kind of manners. “Ah, good afternoon….Ser? Lord? Head? I have to admit that I am not very accustomed with Bravoosi protocol and neither did I expect to meet you instead of a normal banker.”
At last she arrived. Searyse Weys dressed appropriately for her exclusive meeting, yet still not as elaborately as most clients of the Bank. But Arellio took interest in her precisely because she differed from his Bank’s usual clientele. The steps of her traveler’s boots against the smoothed and tiled floor echoed throughout the wide chamber. Until she reached a comfortable speaking distance, Arellio simply smiled at her. His mouth curved far too much, as his eyes gleamed with an unwarranted kindness that was more like to make one vomit than feel at ease. When Searyse stood close enough to his great chair, Arellio still continued to beam at her, allowing her to initiate their meeting.
“We who work at the Iron Bank are just its humble servants, me included. This one has the pleasure to be Arellio Tyquis. You may simply call me Arellio, my dear Searyse Weys,” he replied through his overly curved mouth. Then, he sporadically threw his arms up into the air. “And welcome to the Iron Bank!” His white robe sleeves fell to his elbows as his arms stayed in their awkward position for a few agonizingly long seconds. When he finally lowered them, he gestured toward the seat in front of him. It stood separated from Arellio by a granite long table. Though Searyse’s seat was also made of iron and cushioned comfortably, it had a more silvery color as opposed to the golden iron upon which Arellio sat.
Before he continued to speak, Arellio’s eyes scanned up and down Searyse’s figure. Her hair looked as white as the mists that blanketed Braavos when the cold winds could not blow it away. And her eyes – she had the fabled look he had heard about. Arellio himself had hair as white as snow, but he could not claim descent from any part of Valyria save its escaped slaves. And before he sat upon his esteemed seat as Head of the Iron Bank, he had been but a street urchin. Not that Searyse would have learned of such undignified details.
“Please, sit, sit! I can only imagine that after such a journey to get here, you would like to get comfortable!”
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 4, 2015 21:17:56 GMT
“I have learned to be most wary of those who claim humbleness. The boastful ones have an ego to exploit, but the seemingly modest ones are the tricky kind,” she replied unabashedly. She was not here to make friends so she simply spoke her mind right away. This was a business meeting and having done business with pirates, wise masters and good masters, she long since did not have any more nerve for actual diplomacy. Ultimately, she wanted something, he wanted something, but by now only he knew his, so she was going to wait.
At the very least he let her wait comfortably so there was that. Without further ado she quickly took her seat, crossed her legs and supported her head on her palm, which in turn would come to rest on her knee. “I actually journey quite comfortably. That’s one of the perks if you only move along with your own ship after all, less reliance on other people’s tastes,” she replied even though she had to admit that this chair was comfortable. But that was only due to the cushions, not because it was made of metal. Searyse, like any other Valeryan descendant, knew that those cousins who had fled to Westeros were swearing on iron for thrones. That raised the question, was he evoking this with gold, or was that just a thing that came naturally to people in positions of power.
“But since I am comfortable now, what exactly did you have in mind for summoning me? I prefer to get to the point first and elaborate on that instead of going on this tangent or that~.”
“A most sensible statement and a great lesson, I am sure,” Arellio said, still smiling far too largely even when Searyse openly labeled him tricky and not fully trustworthy. He kept his great grin and upright body posture frozen as Searyse took her seat across the table from him, head rested in her palm and her elbow atop her knee. A reclined position, one that discarded the pretenses of manners for the sake of comforts and removal of courteous airs. Clearly, the White Sail disliked any behavior or talk that avoided getting directly to the point. Arellio appreciated that, though he enjoyed the game of insignificant niceties far too much to abandon them in his speech.
“Indeed, travelling alone has its advantages. Nothing else to slow you down, hold you back, change your course. I must imagine that the independence feels most wonderful!” Then, his tone changed, though his eerie facial expression remained unaltered. He sounded more suggestive, sinister. “Though I have heard that travelling alone can leave one more vulnerable to the dangers that plague the seas. Pirates and privateers, for example,” he uttered, leaning over the table and resting his elbows down on its surface. His fingers laced, and his eyes squinted at Searyse with a keen and sickly interest.
“Why, what I have in mind is you, White Sail. And you have already mentioned why. I have heard rumors of your prowess along the seas. A reliable contractor, it has been said. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if it were true?” he asked overly cheerfully, his eyes widening and eyebrows perking up. “But before I rush into the reasons for this summon, I would humbly request that you either lend credence or disprove the veracity of the rumors about you. So, please do tell me, Searyse Weys, what sort of woman you truly are.”
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 9, 2015 23:49:31 GMT
Well, at least he got there eventually. Sure, that man had to give some weird anecdotes first, but those were easy enough to ignore. But ultimately, he came to a question that she actually deemed worthy of a reply, although he still had not truly given his hand away. Just why she was here he had not said, but she reckoned that it had some sort of good reason. Still, she grinned when he actually wanted the unaltered truth about her. She would give it to him, at least her version of it. If he could leave out the most important point, so could she.
“Frankly, I don’t know what rumours there are about me and I don’t care. I am used to being judged and mistrusted due to my family, my traditions and my appearance. Heck, the free cities are named that in defiance to my ancestors, that’s how annoying life here could be. So I hope you don’t mind it if I am not exactly the most trustworthy person as well.” For someone who wanted to get to the point, she sure made this elaborate. But the grin on her face should reveal the simple truth, she was playing at this on purpose, just to pay him back a little. However, she eventually returned back to the true conversation.
“Iamb brutal but not needlessly cruel. I am a scourge of the sea but amicable at port. I am efficient and I do not let a single thing go to waste, all to amass gold that I won’t be able to use to restore what was once. Unless I find another Valyrian of a certain degree of pureness, my line will die out, so I would do a lot to get my hands on fertile Valerian reproductive organ. Is that enough for you, banker?”
Post by Arellio Tyquis on Jul 10, 2015 14:56:39 GMT
If Arellio’s thin smirk spread any wider, his face was like to split apart. Even for a man like Arellio, who controlled and monitored almost every inch of his bodily gestures and suggestive tones, it took a lot of willpower to suppress a pleased giggle. What had Searyse said that delighted him so? Well, she cared little for the rumors about her, meaning that weak and honeyed words would not lead her astray. She had adapted to judgments about her ancestry and blood, and thereby maintained a thick skin in the face of adversity. And she recognized that she was not the most trustworthy person around. Neither was he. Their conversation, from Arellio’s perspective, was proceeding wonderfully.
Brutal, but not needlessly cruel. Good traits for Arellio’s intentions, for that meant the White Sail would not shy away from bloodying herself. Scourge of the sea, but amicable at port. Arellio could infer that from her character. After all, she did answer his summons and entered the great chamber to talk to him alone. She clearly demonstrated some sort of aptitude for business. Rumors had already shared enough about her cutthroat efficiency. And she avoided waste, which sealed Arellio’s judgments favorably. When Searyse had finally finished explaining her true self, Arellio unlaced his fingers and...clapped. Slowly at first, then more vigorously. Their sounds reverberated throughout the vast room, and Arellio let them die out before opening his crooked mouth to answer her.
“That is plenty, more than I could have hoped and asked for. You aim to please even when you care little to do so, White Sail. Well, now that we’ve smoothed over the truth behind rumor and determined who you really are, I would be delighted to share with you the reason for your summons.” His fingers laced back together again, covering all of his face save for his squinting eyes. “The Iron Bank can make kings rise and fall with its loans alone. Just as the blood of Valyria runs through your veins, wealth and trade flow through the waterways of Braavos and out into the world. But even a reputable establishment such as ours faces obstacles. Pirates without caution or care. Rivals with lofty ambition and reckless determination. These and more can prove as headaches to the good work we do here at the Iron Bank. I would have them lessened, to keep our work safe and profits high.
I brought you here to ask if you would kindly take up that role, White Sail. Your skills would prove a valuable asset for countering the raids of merchant vessels and ensuring the Bank and its clients receive their due. And, of course, you would receive yours as well, if you work with us. Would you be amenable to this opportunity? I would love to compromise on some details with you,” Arellio cooed fiendishly.
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 11, 2015 0:03:44 GMT
Oh, so they were finally coming to the really juicy part. That man was still doing a lot of unnecessary stuff and talked about meaningless things but he was finally giving some information on that deal he wanted to strike. And it was an interesting one in the sense that she definitely had not expected something like this to come up. She had figured he might have needed a contractor for a little job that he did not want the bank to be affiliated with, but this was almost egregious in magnitude, to try and pretty much employ a pirate. What had happened to the resolute iron bank that she had heard of?
Searyse smirked right back at him, but she could not suppress a little chuckle. Once she had calmed down enough, she started to actually consider the proposal. “Good, good, let me get this all straight. You want me to essentially give up being a pirate and instead becoming something of an enforcer for you, protecting ships and getting rid of other pirates, right? So that means in addition to already being an enemy to my victims, I would also make an enemy of my former ‘colleagues’ and forever get the reputation of being the Bank’s bitch. Obviously, that would mean that the compensation you other would be greater than what I could make with my own business. And that I get quite a bit of security from you as well.” She was not really putting up terms there, just noting how things would have to be if this was to work. Among pirates there was not exactly honour or a code, but if she did this and went back to pirateering, others would band together and crush her as a first thing. The backing of the bank would be nice only for as long as it held.
“So tell me, how would you plan to win me over to do this? It certainly wouldn’t be by offering me a more peaceful work environment~.”
Post by Arellio Tyquis on Jul 11, 2015 16:01:08 GMT
Though his grin still spread across most of his face, and his eyes squinted at Searyse with their typically unsettling glint, his heart beat did slow. For as confident in his manipulations and machinations as Arellio was, he feared that the woman before him would disdain him and his offer. Her smirked implied his fear proved baseless, and he felt relieved. As she chuckled, Arellio still fought back a giggle that struggled to surface, and he almost felt euphoric. Good, things progressed quickly and according to his design. But the deal had not been sealed just yet, and Arellio had to listen carefully for any counter-offers or suspicious inquiries the White Sail had.
“Excellent questions, my dear Searyse Weys,” chirped Arellio, all too joyfully. “Enforcer has a brutish sound to it, no? I’d prefer to think of it as...partner. One whose allegiance stays long term, rather than forging briefly binding agreements among multiple parties. And I suppose that, in the process, you would make enemies of less noteworthy seafarers whom you may have worked with in the past. Though I don’t expect they would prove a problem to you, should you indeed accept this arrangement. And, as for your reputation, that depends on how you fare, wouldn’t it? Though I am surprised that concerns you. Well, you may feel differently once you have a taste of the wealth and security the Bank provides those who dedicate themselves to it.”
Tempting and vague promises coated his reply, but no lies. The Iron Bank could indeed protect its investments with both men and gold, and the Sealord of Braavos himself helped in keeping the bank’s reputation from being tarnished. But Arellio never felt content with complacency or anything short of the utmost excellence. That was what lead him to reach out to the White Sail, and optimize the Bank’s securities and fortunes both.
“Alas, I haven’t gone into specifics yet, have I? My, oh my, how thoughtless of me!” he blurted, once again rising his arms into the hair and letting his falsely energetic voice flood the room. "I’ve mentioned wealth and security, but not the terms of them, and you ask how I intend to win you over? Why, the details, the details!" He lowered his hands so that they rest on the cold table between them, and his face with its gleeful sneer had nowhere to hide now.
“The Iron Bank will pay you a consistent wage in gold, with chances for more compensation per each privateer not already in our employ that you take out. Moreover, you may keep your share of plunder from them. I suppose I would even permit a 50-50 split. Also, for each beleaguered Braavosi or Bank-affiliated merchant vessel you rescue and escort, you will also receive extra compensation. Perhaps a fair share of their own profits? Moreover, we can provide as many deckhands as you request, and even a new ship, should it please you. In return, you will also sail to locations of our command, and escort ships as dictated, if need be.
Have you any issues or requests you would like to make?”
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 13, 2015 0:23:56 GMT
“That all sounds quite nice.” Of course it did, considering who it came from. While this man was a banker, he did seem a lot like a merchant too. These people were pretty good at selling things, even if what they sold were loans. Usually, she did not have too much to do with them, but on the other hand, they had money and most of all they had connections. That was the one thing she needed most right now.
“And I reckon you thought this out quite well, too. But I do have some conditions still. Firstly, I will choose my own crew. I don’t like being spied upon or regulated in how I do the things I do. You hire me for my practices, so let me do them as I see fit,” she stated first. It was the most important part. There was nothing worse than a traitor on the ship, even if one knew they were there. Heck, that only made it more annoying. She did not change her seating position at all, although she was crossing her arms now. It was not an excluding gesture though, more one that was expressed her confidence. Given how many concessions this man was making here, she figured she could ask for what she wanted, as long as it was reasonable.
“Second, I would like to use the bank’s resources for a personal quest of mine. You must have many debtors, not just here but over in the Seven Kingdoms as well. And you must have people with Valyrian blood in their veins, too. So if you, say, hypothetically come upon a fertile male that has trouble paying for his debts, I would like to pay for him with said wage and in turn get to carry a child. Doesn’t matter what family, or even a bastard, as long as the blood is as pure as possible.” That was an almost audacious request, but she figured she could ask.
Post by Arellio Tyquis on Jul 14, 2015 1:15:29 GMT
Searyse crossed her arms and Arellio beamed brightly, waiting like a quiet yet eager child for her answer. And boy, did it please him. Her conditions were simple and but two – that only she could choose her own crew, and that the bank pool from her wages to pay off the debt of any fertile man with Valyrian blood so that she could further her line. Arellio couldn’t help but finally giggle upon hearing that last condition. “Agreeable terms, White Sail. Very well then. In addition to your compensation for services rendered and exceptional, the Iron Bank will leave you with the sole right to choose your crew. And we will use our resources with discretion in order to find you a man with the blood of the dragon, pure and worthy.”
It was indeed a queer request, both in bluntness and context. Those of Valyrian descent were not popular amongst the populace of Braavos. After all, most denizens of the Secret City directly descended from escaped slaves of the Valyrian freehold. But Arellio did not care much for those sentiments save for when they influenced the Bank’s success. It was a small condition to include, should Searyse Weys prove herself worth his investment.
Grinning all too cheerfully, Arellio reached for a golden knob on the tableside facing him. He pulled it open to reveal a drawer, and from within fetched an inkwell, quill, and sheet of parchment. He quickly began to scribble out the terms of their agreement, his handwriting thin and fluid, just nearly bordering the line between masterful yet illegible. When done, he spun the parchment around to face Searyse and slid the inkwell across the table, the quill dabbed in with its feather protruding outward.
“If you are ready to begin this wondrous arrangement, please sign on that line across the bottom and make it so!”
Post by saelyra velaryon on Jul 16, 2015 15:38:47 GMT
He giggled at her condition, but she did not care. As long as he held his words, she was not interested at all as to how he thought of it. That was discretion anyway, after all. At least he did not outright deny it and gave the confirmation that they would at least try. That was one step closer than she was yesterday, so she did not mind doing this at all. If all else failed, she could always do what she did best and improvise. Still, it was a bit weird to get a contract this quickly, she had always imagined these kinds of things to take time.
But alas, she got it right away, which was likely either an insult or shortsightedness on his part. Or he simply assumed that she could read. Which would not have been wrong, just sort of weird, so she pointed it out. “You have not many pirates, now have you? Most of us can’t read, so you really should not put them on the spot like this. Fortunately, I can read, so I will just check it. Force of habit, if you allow so.” And with that, she would make sure that she caught the wording and the phrases. She did not truly expect him to try and set her up there, but that did not mean she was not wary. Merchants and bankers were wielding these things like weapons, so one needed to keep a close eye on them, especially when on their home turf.
But it seemed well enough to capture their agreement, so she took the quill. “I will need detailed information about your clients and their routes, if I am to assist them. Hence it would be useful if you introduced me to someone else here at the bank that can be my contact. I cannot always take up your precious time after all, now can I?” She signed the contract in the meantime.
Post by Arellio Tyquis on Jul 16, 2015 23:28:59 GMT
“Oh, my dear White Sail, why do you think you are sitting here and not some other scourge of the sea?” Arellio asked rhetorically, leaning back in his seat as his eyes fixed themselves on the quill. “Of course, we’ve already gone over why the Iron Bank has chosen you.” Why I’ve chosen you, he truly meant. Arellio’s eyes narrowed but his smile did not as he patiently watched Searyse read over the fresh written agreement. She could take all the time she needed to skim over and ponder each detail. Arellio possessed all the time in the world to ensure his machinations became reality.
Still somehow, he smiled even wider when Searyse grabbed for the thin frame of the quill. “Indeed, indeed! How very thoughtful of you!” he beamed, still reclining in his gold iron seat. “But worry not. We will provide you with all that information, shortly and with a thorough accounting.” When her signature marked the area above his sketched line, Arellio suddenly raised himself off his chair, leaning over and dragging the parchment back to him. He glanced at her name, thin and curved lines of drying black. “I thank you for your time, dear Searyse. I’m sure you consider it as precious to you as I do mine own. We’ll provide you that information, but for now, I urge you to explore the mysteries and wonders of Braavos! But don’t wander far — we’ll be in touch very, very soon.”
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Well now that was a place to live in. Searyse loved opulent architecture. Before the doom, that was the standard that her people had been accustomed to. And what did she have? The harbor’s enclave with a few nice buildings, but mostly the cabins on a ship. What was the point of being a valyrian if she could not live in a big castle? And yet, she also knew that she could not live in a castle as some sort of little lady. That was just not the way she was used to be living, so she denied and defied it. Well, she would not mind a palace if she could rule it, but given the state of the world, she had accepted that it was better to pursue more modest goals.