I am not even sure what to write anymore, we are getting nowhere with this. I suppose I could simply state how I concluded the population of the Ghiscari Empire and leave it at that:
The Ghiscari Empire is a country about half the size of the Seven Kingdoms (as far as I can tell, I haven't counted the pixels on the map). If we go by the classic approximation of equating the Seven Kingdoms with South America (which seems accurate with the Wall being 300 miles long) then the Ghiscari Empire covers approximately eight million square kilometers. Thats quite a bit of land, more then the Roman Empire ever ruled. With even tiny population densities an empire of that size can sustain millions of lives. Much of the lands of the empire (but by no means all) isn't well suited for agriculture so the population density shouldn't be high. I have been leaning towards 3/km2. Thats by no means a high number.
Another way to calculate just the population of the regions we know a lot about could be guesstimating the population of the cities we know enough about to make assessments about their population and then extrapolating the countryside population by picking a sensible urbanization rate. Using this and other Forum of Ice and Fire city population threads I decided to assess the populations of Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen at 1,200,000 combined. With an urbanization rate of 10 % (which I will concede after listening to the discussion is perhaps a bit high for a region like Slaver's Bay) thats 12,000,000. Plague and Daenerys's war in 300-305 would obviously have reduced that quite a bit with the region gradually entering a period of recovery from 318 and onward.
As for the monetary non-agrarian wealth of the empire it would be relatively limited, focusing on the copper and salt mines, the wool production and the trade tariffs and the GDP per capita would not be comparable to the Westerlands, the Arbor, Oldtown or other wealthy parts of the Seven Kingdoms.
With regard to the embargo its a fair point that medieval naval technology and organization doesn't allow a blockade of modern efficiency. But I don't see what should stop me from sending out ships regularly to patrol a very particular section of the sea and intercept any merchantmen sailing close by New Ghis (and those not sailing close by New Ghis are sailing close by the Basilisk Isles, thats not a viable alternative). Regarding the tariff in question I must admit I am baffled if 10 % is fine and 20 % is WAR! WAR! WAR! As I said before the 20 % was an example. The actual tariff will be flexible. Enemies of the Targaryen Dynasty will essentially be robbed blind, friends will pay a symbolic fee or nothing at all. Countries that are neither will pay enough to make sure the Empire turns a tidy profit but not nearly enough to make dropping the eastern trade or going to war a profitable choice.
Regarding the alliance between Aemon and Viserys I was myself blindsided by it. I don't know what to say, I didn't design it, I just agreed to it. I will say however that if Aemon and Viserys ever land in the Seven Kingdoms I wouldn't be at all surprised if the alliance eventually breaks down. But if we cancel the alliance because people don't like it (which btw is a criteria I would never even consider to demanding the annulment of anyone else's alliances) then whats the theme of this RP? The whole point is that we eventually want to build up to a showdown between the East and the West, that isn't likely to happen if Aemon and Viserys aren't on the same page, unless the Tyrell-Lannister Alliance is preparing to invade the Ghiscari Empire.
Regarding the dragons Aemon has three. But last I checked Aemon wasn't multiple people. He is the rider of Rhaegal and can only lead Rhaegal into battle. Whether he has two or twenty in reserve is irrelevant when they don't have riders. If anything that just means a lot of trouble trying to keep them under control.
Anyway that I think was what I had to say on the topic. I hope you appreciate it, its the reason you won't get an IC post today. Further arguing about the demographics, economics, politics and military of the Ghiscari Empire will either contain a clear counter proposal to what I have just written or be disregarded. Twenty four hours from know the debate on the Ghiscari Empire (the Aemon-Viserys Alliance and the dragon situation is still game) will be entirely closed unless I deem something sufficiently relevant and new to warrant an extension of the debate. Either that or within that twenty four hour span we pick a new OP.
On a more cheery note, I have added four maps to the third page of the OP. If anyone knows any good ones we can use let me know.
