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Post by Lyonel on Feb 28, 2016 9:04:53 GMT -5
"Think we'll try to avoid that in the near future, eh?!?" Lysergio turned his head to Kraznys and motioned the words "flay, no" with his lips, then shook his head desperately.
"That's exactly what I was aiming for, cooperation." The braavosi said, turning back to the Committee. He made some accountings on his head, trying to figure out whether the Company's Coffers, allied with whatever was left of Myrish wealth, would be enough to rebuild them. "We'll find a way to get you the money for the factories, but afterwards, the High Magister requires to own a certain percentage of the enterprises according to the wealth we allocate for you... Could we agree on that?
"Next step is to reduce unemployment; our workforce has already been diminished by War, we can't give ourselves the luxury of having unused able hands. Men, women and Children MUST be willing to aid us in this recovery." Being of Braavosi descent, Lysergio did not agree at all with forcing people to work, which was no different than slavery itself. But he expected all this to be temporary, a necessary evil to fix the crisis. These people had served under Frances Dayne, it couldn't be much worse than that.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Feb 28, 2016 13:38:22 GMT -5
They can start rebuilding at least. The Myrish are mostly slaves anyway, so forced labor isn't unfamiliar to them. "We should start with the Market district; it's less burned down than anywhere else. Then the docks," he said.
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 28, 2016 14:59:08 GMT -5
"Good! King Killion has devoted some of their resources for our rebuilding. Otherwise, we are as good as bound to become the next Lorath." One of his main concerns were the possible competition that would arise, considering that the previously exclusive know how of the many Myrish crafts, had possibly been disseminated amidst the refugees and the North wouldn't bat an eye to exploit them.
"Next... Agriculture. As you might guess, the armies have depleted our fields; food is bound to be scarce for the near future. In the meanwhile, we can import the grander part of it. But we can't allow Myr to become dependent of foreign trade for this. We need to bring in some expert and focus on developing technology that will allow us to catch up with the other Free Cities."
"Problem is, and I'll be sincere with you: I don't know shit about Agriculture. Do you have any names that we may try to bring in?"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Feb 28, 2016 15:18:30 GMT -5
"You want Saan Castel," the immediate answer is. "A minister of Lys, who has made the Disputed Lands fertile again in areas. He's the most famed agriculturist in the Three Sisters area."
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 28, 2016 15:40:05 GMT -5
"I'll go to Lys, bring this Castel person..." The Captain grunted from his seat. Which led Lysergio to a little burst of insecurity, this could end badly, but he wouldn't refuse His Grace's decision.
"In the matter of Crime." The fact that Kraznys had named the Sand bastard as Captain of the City Watch still made his stomach turn, he would have preferred a thousand fold if Orys had been the one. "We are instituting a new City Guard, a mix of the former slave soldiers and our own men of the Host. Crime is bound to go rampant during this period of trials. So we expect to avoid grander complications."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Feb 28, 2016 15:56:30 GMT -5
The men nod. "Might want to teach them some Myrish, m'lord," he said. "Hard to enforce a law when you don't speak the language."
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 28, 2016 16:16:11 GMT -5
"Which brings us to another topic, Education... Some of you might think this useless." He quickly glanced at the Officers now turned Magisters, many those were men of war, forged in the Fighting Pits of Meeren, they would never comprehend the importance of an educational system for a City like this. "Myr was once renowned for being the most advanced of the Free Cities, it's fine arts praised by all the corners of the World. If we want that back, we must invest. It will be a win-win situation in the long run; and what a better situation than start everything from scratch?! We should make our own Citadel, become the Oldtown of the East." He paused, guessing he might have dreamed a little too high in this one. "Just a metaphor."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Feb 28, 2016 17:21:46 GMT -5
"Most of the learned men are dead," is the reply. "Slaughtered or burned to death or fled when Frances took over. Men of books are drawn to gold like any other men."
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 28, 2016 18:14:59 GMT -5
"Oh... Bugger. Woe to those barbarians who vilify knowledge." Lysergio sighed, this would difficult his task a lot. But he would not give up on the challenge, in his youth, he had seen the splendour and beauty of a Myr at the height of it's majesty, and he vowed he'd see that again. "I'll see to that in the near future. Now, any questions you might address, good gents?"
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Post by Malthazar Nazaryl on Feb 28, 2016 18:16:52 GMT -5
"Tyrosh will have Maesters." Orys volunteered. "The Ironborn aren't exactly known for their scuh, their skullah, their scholastuh, their smarts, but there are bound to be a few chaingangers there from the West."
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 29, 2016 8:30:50 GMT -5
"Tyrosh will have Maesters." Orys volunteered. "The Ironborn aren't exactly known for their scuh, their skullah, their scholastuh, their smarts, but there are bound to be a few chaingangers there from the West." "We are coming together, Orys." The Captain stated, getting to his feet; just a couple days had passed and Kraznys already knew that the life of sitting in a chair ruling was not something for him, he'd had to find some past time activities if he wanted to get through with it. "Lys, Tyrosh... Anywhere else, Lysergio?" "If we are unsuccessful in Tyrosh, maybe we could go for the Source? The Archmaesters ought to be somehow swayable to lend us some of their students."
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Post by Malthazar Nazaryl on Feb 29, 2016 13:44:22 GMT -5
Orys, who had no idea where the Citadel could be found on a map, considered this idea. He was not stupid. As a raider and sneakthief, Orys had few peers. But as a nationbuilder, he was sorely lacking. Then again...
"I'm thinking our priority now is teaching letters and numbers. Words and figures. Why not put the upper crust women folk to work as school teachers? We don't need people to know which sister sucked Aegon the Conqueror's cock in the spring of Two AC. By the time the hoity toity smartasses get here, our people will be running their own businesses."
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Post by Lyonel on Feb 29, 2016 14:06:53 GMT -5
"Orys is right, Lysergio." The Captain approached his Seneschal, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Tell them to find anyone who can put two plus two together or, at least, knows their letters. Merchant's daughters and wives, whorehouse owners, whatever..."
Lysergio nodded and translated the statement.
"Be it for the meanwhile; we'll try to get the foppish chaingangers in the West." Kraznys said in a gruff voice, making his way out of the Great Hall. "Orys, with me."
"Any questions, suggestions or opinions?" Lysegio smiled as his employer left the room.
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Post by Malthazar Nazaryl on Feb 29, 2016 17:45:32 GMT -5
Orys followed his boss, thumbs in his belt as though heading to the local tavern.
The 'Honest Men', as Orys called them, were composed entirely of men Kraznys and Orys had known personally from the pits. The Volantene didn't trust outsiders or people who had not shared a true bond with himself and the High Magister.
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Post by Lyonel on Mar 20, 2016 13:54:33 GMT -5
------------------------
A fair amount of time has passed since their first meeting, during this time Myr Bustled with movement, workers all around giving the first steps towards the city's new future. The first weeks were more difficult, big black bags had grown under Lysergio's eyes, once fond of sleeping into the afternoon he had learned the damages that could be caused by several sleepless nights in a row taking care of City business. His consumption of recreational Shade of the Evening had dropped, and he started feeling the effects of abstinence. To put a cherry on top, King Killion had instituted a literal witchhunt in his territories, and the braavosi feared for his own life for a long time, until he realized doing party tricks would hardly catch anyone's eyes... he hoped. Thankfully, a month or so in, the agriculturist had arrived from Lys and taken some of the load off of his back, Gods bless the fellow.
Now word had come that the High Magister had finished his participation in King Benjen's Tourney, he'd be finally coming home to help with the city administration. Lysergio called for the City Council (consisting of the Company's Commanders, the Guildmasters, the agriculturist fellow and whatever was left of the city's old aristocracy) for one last meeting before Kraznys' arrival.
"Good evening, my dear gentlemen!" Lysergio said with a smile, he sat on his chair beside Kraznys' newly comissioned Throne (it had been finished while the High Magister was away, and was yet to be used by someone). He had had a little buffet table set up beside the invitee's chairs. "How's our city faring?"
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