You're the Head of a Noble House: Westerlands Edition III

[James Steller]

Imagine you're the Lord/Lady of a Noble House in the Westerlands (assume that it's been around for as long as the others). You are in your mid-twenties, and you have just lost your parents, most of your brothers and sisters, spouse and infant son to a pestilence. The pestilence also wiped out nearly a third of your miners and farmers, the latter of whom had already had a bad harvest the year prior. This has left your House with several debts to pay. Only you, your youngest sister, and your 6-year-old daughter remain.

Due to your house's prestige, you have a number of marriage offers from Noble Houses. House Reyne's lord has offered their sibling to wed you and help pay your current debts, though any male heir you have would take the Reyne surname. House Brax has made a similar offer, even throwing in a good marriage proposal for your daughter to their young heir when they both come of age.

Your sister has also received marriage proposals. Lord Crakehall, Lord Foote, and Lord Westerling all wish your sister to marry their heirs, but make no promises about aiding your debts. You suspect that they will carve out as much of your land as they can now that your house is weakened. In the meantime, two outsiders have also come to ask for your sister's hand. Lord Rowan of Goldengrove, himself ten years older than you, is offering to marry your sister, while your daughter become engaged to his young heir. Another offer comes from the young Lord Piper, who also offers his second cousin from House Smallwood to marry you.

Meanwhile, House Lannister has secretly stepped in with their own solution to your troubles. The old lord of your house was a dear adviser to Lord Lannister, and so he offers to pay off your debt if you would undertake a task for him. There are rumours that a number of lords are discontent, and wish to mount a coup against the Lannisters. You must ingratiate yourselves to these lords, gain their trust, and reveal their treason to the Lannisters. Once this very dangerous task is completed, and the traitors have been identified and executed, your debts will be forgiven, and the youngest nephew of Lord Lannister will marry your daughter and take your name as his own. If you fail, your lands shall be divided up between your neighbours and your daughter will be raised as a lady-in-waiting at Casterly Rock.

One other option remains to you. You have distant relations in Tarbeck Hall who have access to House Tarbeck's small navy. One suggests that you arrange for one of the ships to be 'on patrol' for a time, raiding without the knowledge or consent of either Lord Lannister or the ruling Targaryen king, and then trading with Essossi sailors who won't ask questions. Any plunder gained will be split between you. This is another high-risk, high-reward situation, especially given what will happen to you and your daughter if your involvement is discovered.

What do you do? How do you run this household?

[OmnomnomPomelo]

Due to your house's prestige

So it means that my House is not a little noname one, so I won't agree with Lord Reyne. If all of my male heirs would take the name Reyne then my House will disappear.

Also I won't team with the Lannisters, coz 1)rumors, 2)if I play a "double agent" and fail and that Lords kills me then my House will be doomed. May the Lannisters are my siege Lords, but it doesn't worth it.

All of the others seem to be better choices than the Reynes or Lannisters. So I marry my sister to Lord Rowan and also agree to marry my daughter to his heir. I think this is the best solution of all the mentioned possibilities.

For myself I try to find a wife from the mentioned Houses: Crakehall, Foote, Westerling, Piper, maybe Tarbeck, coz these Houses showed some interest toward us.

Slowly pay the debts, if I still fail then my sister and daughter are in safety so I flee to Essos and become a sellsword.

[Floki of the Ironborn]

If the only marriage offers I'm getting are between Lords Brax and Reyne, then I'll stay single for now. I don't need those greedy lords in my life, all they will do is fleece me and eliminate my house. I'd rather wait until my financial prospects are better before I start making more children.

I respectfully decline House Lannister's secret suggestion, claiming I'd only hinder the investigation, though if I do hear of any treason, I'll send a raven immediately.

My daughter is currently my heir, so that makes her very valuable, hence why Rowan is interested. He'll probably be disappointed if I do have a son, but that's for another time. I agree to his proposals, sending him my sister and daughter so that they're safe.

Meanwhile, I send my relations at House Tarbeck to Braavos. On my behalf, they request the Iron Bank for a loan to pay off my debts and hire new workers to till and mine my land. My gold mine is presumably still valuable so I'll be able to pay off the Iron Bank without having to resort to piracy or double-dealing. After the Bank's loan is repaid, or at least close to being repaid, I only then start looking for marriage proposals. And really, if I showed how I managed to rebuild my family's fortune despite all those setbacks, surely I'll be seen as one of the most competent lords of the Westerlands. I might even snag myself a Lannister from Lannisport.

[King of Vaes Tolorro]

I play it safe.

1. Me: I wed the Piper woman and try to get children

2. Sister:I wed my sister to the Piper Lord

3. Daughter:I wed my daughter to Brax heir

4. I assure the Lannisters that i will side with them if the worst comes ot worst, but I will not risk my lands and daughter on a secret mission

5. I curtly refuse my Tarbeck kin and reprimand them for even thinking of making such a propistion to me.

6. I hold a festival every year from now until the end of time, to mourn the passing of so many of my family and people.

Banner: Oak with Golden Leaves

Words: We Will Endure

Great scenario!

[Universal Sword Donor]

Get a new wife and start pumping out kids.

Debts can wait

[GallowsKnight]

Under the guise of frugality to honor my people's hardships, I'm going to get very paranoid. No special meals for me. No hunting trips. I'll employ the second sons of leal landed knights as my personal guard in this time, so that in this time of famine they'll have less mouths to feed. I know if I die, my houses, sister and daughter will be up for grabs.

I accept Lord Brax's offer of marriage between his sibling and me. Without any obvious reprehensions at all. I am 100% with my future son as Lord Brax. Even my new wife will know this. It is of course sham. But it will deflect any move to hasten my demise. With siring a child and my daughter only being young. I have time to weave the illusion. Brax gives me funds to restore.

Once my son comes of an age I let him into the sham. He will not be Lord Brax, but "Lord MYNAME-Brax" and wear both arms quartered. How can our good family be offended? We are so close now by double marriage? In time we can drop the Brax if want to but what is four letters really?

I accept Lord Rowan's offer for my sister, but regret I cannot marry my daughter to his heir. If he accepts. Good, she is well cared for out of this vipers den and the man can't easily strike me down with assassin a kingdom away. Lord Rowan's presence in the mix might throw off other houses. If he declines, then Lord Crakehall. They are a old and powerful house and far away on the border of our kingdom and may have some knowledge of brewing plots.

I assure Lord Lannister of the love between our families. I will investigate such treason for no rewards. My new marriage to House Brax (and possibly Crakehill) give in an in to their counsels. With any traitors I meet I suggest but that due to my father's work I'm sure I could feed Lord Lannister misinformation. I don't look particularly hard. I play both sides where I can. If I'm caught in a treasonous conclave I might have a get out of jail card with Lord Lannister, at least once.

I decline my cousins suggestions. But keep a line open in case I need to flee to Essos.

[James Arryn]

That Lannister offer isn't one to just pass on; they have revealed too much to let me walk about unconnected, knowing their plans.

Therefore I play a double-bluff. I agree to the Lannister plan and make 'seeming' alliances with Houses like Reyne and Tarbeck...secretly getting the Lannisters to help me in making more advantageous connections as it will help our 'plot'...but actually tell the Reynes and Tarbecks what is going on, noting that we are past the point of no return if the Lord Paramount is actively plotting our demise, and using the 'seeming' connections to actually build real bonds. It is fortunate indeed that my assignment to masquerade will cover so much of my work with the semblance of fiction.

If I don't accept, someone else will. Meanwhile I poison the Lannister's cup as much as possible, sewing suspicion on some Houses who actually support them, and seeding the reports with enough minor truths to past muster. Gradually cementing a block of power to contrast the increasingly isolated and (seemingly) paranoid LP's, eroding their direct support and their reputation with fence-sitters alike. Save the coup de gras...a traitor within House Lannister in league with the plotters, looking to replace the current branch...for the time even the question will do the most damage, paralyzing their House when we make our move.

The aim is transplanting the Lannisters, if not in name, at least in actuality. I want to be a Kingmaker, not a King. Reyne or Tarbeck or a Lannister puppet will do fine. By making that offer they were forcing me to irrevocably choose one team or the other; I prefer instead to change the game.

[Floki of the Ironborn]

That Lannister offer isn't one to just pass on; they have revealed too much to let me walk about unconnected, knowing their plans.

Therefore I play a double-bluff. I agree to the Lannister plan and make 'seeming' alliances with Houses like Reyne and Tarbeck...secretly getting the Lannisters to help me in making more advantageous connections as it will help our 'plot'...but actually tell the Reynes and Tarbecks what is going on, noting that we are past the point of no return if the Lord Paramount is actively plotting our demise, and using the 'seeming' connections to actually build real bonds. It is fortunate indeed that my assignment to masquerade will cover so much of my work with the semblance of fiction.

If I don't accept, someone else will. Meanwhile I poison the Lannister's cup as much as possible, sewing suspicion on some Houses who actually support them, and seeding the reports with enough minor truths to past muster. Gradually cementing a block of power to contrast the increasingly isolated and (seemingly) paranoid LP's, eroding their direct support and their reputation with fence-sitters alike. Save the coup de gras...a traitor within House Lannister in league with the plotters, looking to replace the current branch...for the time even the question will do the most damage, paralyzing their House when we make our move.

The aim is transplanting the Lannisters, if not in name, at least in actuality. I want to be a Kingmaker, not a King. Reyne or Tarbeck or a Lannister puppet will do fine. By making that offer they were forcing me to irrevocably choose one team or the other; I prefer instead to change the game.

The big risk in your plan is that the Lannisters could be double bluffing you too. Who spies on the spy? Another spy. Maybe Lord Lannister is secretly meeting with all of his bannermen, making them paranoid about each other, thinking that they alone are the trusted servants of Casterly Rock.

[Ramsay Gimp]

That Lannister offer isn't one to just pass on; they have revealed too much to let me walk about unconnected, knowing their plans.

Therefore I play a double-bluff. I agree to the Lannister plan and make 'seeming' alliances with Houses like Reyne and Tarbeck...secretly getting the Lannisters to help me in making more advantageous connections as it will help our 'plot'...but actually tell the Reynes and Tarbecks what is going on, noting that we are past the point of no return if the Lord Paramount is actively plotting our demise, and using the 'seeming' connections to actually build real bonds. It is fortunate indeed that my assignment to masquerade will cover so much of my work with the semblance of fiction.

If I don't accept, someone else will. Meanwhile I poison the Lannister's cup as much as possible, sewing suspicion on some Houses who actually support them, and seeding the reports with enough minor truths to past muster. Gradually cementing a block of power to contrast the increasingly isolated and (seemingly) paranoid LP's, eroding their direct support and their reputation with fence-sitters alike. Save the coup de gras...a traitor within House Lannister in league with the plotters, looking to replace the current branch...for the time even the question will do the most damage, paralyzing their House when we make our move.

The aim is transplanting the Lannisters, if not in name, at least in actuality. I want to be a Kingmaker, not a King. Reyne or Tarbeck or a Lannister puppet will do fine. By making that offer they were forcing me to irrevocably choose one team or the other; I prefer instead to change the game.

I like the idea of becoming a triple agent. The trick would be ensuring that your House survives even if House Lannister wins the coming conflict

[James Arryn]

The big risk in your plan is that the Lannisters could be double bluffing you too. Who spies on the spy? Another spy. Maybe Lord Lannister is secretly meeting with all of his bannermen, making them paranoid about each other, thinking that they alone are the trusted servants of Casterly Rock.

The die is IMO cast once they make the offer. I don't have the power to stand up to the winds that will blow if either side wins if I declare neutrality. The lannisters probably can't afford to let me be as is, and if they win my refusal will eventually become as bothersome as an outright betrayal. The other side will never believe I said not if/when they hear of the offer from someone else.

So as soon as the offer is made, I'm effectively in the game. I choose to work against the Lannisters only because they have given me an advantage over them the other side has not.

If lord Lannister is meeting with all his lords, he's an idiot. This isn't something where you can leave a trail like Tyrion does with Myrcella/dorne, this is generalized treason talk. White noise is all you get when you put out unfiltered receivers. I don't see what he'd get out of destabilizing the situation, either; he's on top with the status quo. Undermining that threatens him more than anyone.

[James Arryn]

I like the idea of becoming a triple agent. The trick would be ensuring that your House survives even if House Lannister wins the coming conflict

Tbh, I'd put out enough of the usual buoys...protecting my Achilles Knee, cultivating a scapegoat, etc. just in case, but I don't really expect to salvage much if we lose. If I can see we're going to lose before it happens, different ballgame.

[Poodle Pup From Astapor]

That lord Lannister sounds like Mad Aerys, "fetch me some traitors, or else you are a traitor, and you lose everything." I'm not touching him with a 10 foot pole.

I keep looking for marriage offers for myself. I'm a lord from an ancient noble family, so I should eventually get a bride from a good house and with a good dowry, and without any unreasonable demands like changing the name of my heirs. Worst case scenario, if those debts start to strangle us, and I can't find a rich noble bride, I'd rather marry a merchant's daughter or a foreigner with great dowry than take these Reyne and Brax offers. It might hurt my house's reputation, but it's better than my house name disappearing altogether.

As to my sister's and daughter's marriage ideas, I would struggle to pay dowry right now. So we might have to revisit this in a couple years. I won't give up any lands. Of all the houses that want my sister, Crakehall seems like maybe the sexiest option. It's a rich house, and my sister would marry the heir. Rowans might be even richer, but lord Rowan already has an heir, and my sister would only be a stepmother to him. But ultimately, I can't just choose houses by strength here, because dowry is the biggest issue to me.

Same as with my marriage, if debts start to strangle us, I might have to look into marrying my sister to some rich merchant who would help our house financially.

[Floki of the Ironborn]

That lord Lannister sounds like Mad Aerys, "fetch me some traitors, or else you are a traitor, and you lose everything." I'm not touching him with a 10 foot pole.

To be fair, he's not threatening you with execution if your refuse or fail to reveal traitors. He just seems like he wants you to be his own Master of Whisperers if anything. If your life was on the line, James would have said so in the setup.

[Poodle Pup From Astapor]

To be fair, he's not threatening you with execution if your refuse or fail to reveal traitors. He just seems like he wants you to be his own Master of Whisperers if anything. If your life was on the line, James would have said so in the setup.

I didn't say that your life was on the line either. But it does sound very much like you are looking forward to John Connington's life, if you accept that offer and then don't bring any traitors. At best, you'll live in exile since you will lose your lands and family.

[Corpse Sniffer]

I am Lord David Greymount of the Westerands.

Firstly I send my sister to Rowan of Golden Grove. His house is secure and he is old with no heirs. I know that with him my daughter is safe. I instruct her to consummate the marriage and live happily and safely until I return to her.

I marry Lord Crakehalls first daughter, and promise him a portion of my land and taxes if he sends me farmers and men to defend my lands. I consummate my marriage and impregnate my new wife with a "Greymount-Crakehall" child.

I cooperate with the Lannisters as well, giving them the following names of lords who are plotting against them:

Brax, Crakehall, Reyne

Of course I only know that Reyne and Brax are truly unsettled. Lord Crakehall informed me of their treason at a council after my wedding to his daughter. I ride to Lannisport and inform my lord of the three houses that betray his faith. He summons his lords to Casterly Rock to profess their loyalty. Lord Crakehall and Reyne both attend with the other lords but Brax sends his second son. The Lord of Lannisport takes the heads of Crakehall, Reyna and Brax's son.

I with lord Lannister's heir, lead a force to the Brax hold and besiege his walls. When we finally kill Brax I make sure to elimante all in his family lne except his youngest daughter. I am rewarded with the Brax and Reyne lands while teh Crakehall lands go to Lord Rowan.

My sister gives birth to a son, and then proceeds to poison her old husband. Her son is now the lord of Golden grove AND the Crakehall lands.

I marry my youngest daughter weds Lord Foote's heir and the plotting continues.

[Ramsay's Penguins]

I'm not trusting Brax or Reyne here. I need my own heirs. And if Brax has a heir already, that's totally off the cards.

I think I'd like Rowan more, but I need my own marriage. I'd offer my daughter to the Brax heir and my sister to Rowan. If they disagree, then sister to Crakehall, on the condition they assist my debts. Daughter to Foote and myself to a Westerling, if there are members available.

I'll not betray the other lords of the west, but I promise Lannister I am with him unless harm comes to me. If harm does come to me I'll brush it off, but sow discord.

Tarbeck is a non-option. Last thing I need is more scheming relatives.

[Equilibrium]

Opportunistic scum, seeking to cash in on my misery and bad fortune, scavengers. Of course go with the Lion of the Rock, Lannisters always pay their debts.

First I try to get better terms, some off brand Lannisters for my sister and me, nice but not greed amount of land from traitor lords even loaning some miners to maintain production. Then of course I go on the investigation, not very deep and risky of course, Lannisters probably don't care if treason is true and I sure as hell don't, imagine not being able to prove conspiracy or saying there isn't one to the Lord Lannister, even worse for me if conspiracy for some reason happens some time after, I would be labeled traitor too. So just forge some proofs and give the Lion what he wants, find a way to implicate as much of rival and neighboring lords as well, and of course all of the scavengers see who carves whose lands now fucking pricks. If in the end there was conspiracy and I missed someone, punishments Lannisters will dole out will make them change their mind, even if that doesn't, fact they are now missing half co-conspirators certainly will.

I get bunch of new lands, having done beyond the expectations I am sure to get bonus, they have to give those to someone, being loyal to the boot and cousin gets me just enough not to make me in any way threat to Lannisters but more then enough. I of course continue to serve as my father did and enjoy my position of Lannister's most loyal bannerman with my new wife and my young golden hair babies (well some of them at least should look like their mother, I am not Barratheon)