| Viewing Single Post From: A Call to a Grand Council | |
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| The White Bull | Oct 7 2008, 03:53 PM |
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“Lord Vandelay I understand your concerns, and loyalty is a very important attribute for a King. So is flexibility and I will think some more on the subject of Lord Black and the Iron Born. That being said the most important attribute in a king is understanding what is best for his people.” The White Bull approached a large table on which was outlined a map of all of Westeros, he waved the representatives from all sides to join him at the table. This was not unexpected, he though to himself. One of the traits I like most about Vandelay is his loyalty. Although I thought his practicality had overridden it with the timely death of his father. “The reason that I have invited you all here is that you are educated men, capable of reason. Let us go through a few facts before you finalize your decisions and with that the fate of your people. First let us look at income, for gold is the fuel which drives the engines of war, and without it no army can last for long. Currently the Knights of the Trident extract 2900 Golden Dragons from their territories, while Lord Manderly and myself are able to extract 3600. Over time this will allow us to maintain and grow a larger and more powerful army than the Knights and the longer the timeframe we look at the larger our advantage grows. Next let us look at untapped resources, those lands which have still yet to swear fealty to any of us. Lord Vandelay, assuming that you will hold Saltpans, your alliance has 3 territories under your control which can be brought into your care with out directly confronting Lord Manderly and myself. (Maidenpool, Duskendale and Rosby). On the other hand Lord Manderly and myself have 21 territories that we could add to our alliance without directly confronting you, and that is assuming that you hold Saltpans. (Mistwood, Ashford, Sharpoint, The Crag, Oldstone as well as the rest of the Vale and almost the entire North.) We already have more land and our potential to grow and increase is much larger than yours. In the middle there are 8 territories whether in Dorne or surrounding Kings Landing which both alliances have an equal opportunity to take. But even if you were to take these all, we still have far more potential for growth than does your alliance. Next let us look to the safety of our capitals. Lord Cenedil’s capital is under siege, and from what I can tell it has at best a 50/50 chance of surviving. If that capital goes then you must admit that the war is as good as over. Harrenhal is but two cities away from my forces at Deep Den, and by the end of the week Lord Manderly’s forces could be within one town of Lord Black’s capital at Riverrun. White Harbor on the other hand is at least two cities from any of your troops and at the end of the week may well be three. Oldtown is also at the very least 3 towns from any of your forces and the only one who could attack it, Lord Black, has no troops. As I expressed before if you look at the current battles it is the Riverlands and Dorne which suffer. These are the ones torn apart, while the Reach, the North and the Vale have yet to experience the horrors of this war. You are in a battle that you can not win, and one which will make your lands and your people suffer immensely. I have offered more than many might say any of you, other than Lord Manderly, deserve, because I love this land and its people. And I see great promise in two of you outside of my alliance. Lord Manderly already knows how much I respect him. You would think of doing all of this damage to your people and this country to defend a despicable man, a man who rapes this country with the ways of the iron born. This man with the gall to call himself a king in your presence, this butcher of the bloody gate. I advise you all to think on this, for the story will be told far and wide, and your people will know that they have been given a chance at peace. A chance to live in a new way, were all of them have a chance at greatness. You will deny this to them, you will cause them this pain, over a man who does not deserve to live. I will think on whether his people can remain, but if this treaty is to be signed, Lord Black and all of his kin must leave this land forever. Think on this my lords, for as I have laid out above, this is a war you can not win. I have given you the opportunity to be part of greatness, part of a Westeros that will be far better for our children and all of it’s people. Do not give up this opportunity to protect a man, who is being given a gift of exile, when instead he should hang for all to see as the epitome of what was wrong with the old Westeros.” The White Bull left the giant table and returned to his seat. “Speak now if you will, Lord Vandelay, Lord Cenedil, Lord Manderly, and yes even you Lord Black and tell me why what I have said is not so.” |
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| A Call to a Grand Council · Diplomacy | |
8:19 PM Nov 26
