THE FREE CITY OF BRAAVOS
THE IRON BANK
74 YEARS AFTER THE DOOM
Artos lit the grand fireplace that adores the Sealord’s Palace’s great hall. Several guardsmenwere standing beside him, holding jars of oil and red candles. He took one of the red candles and put it on top of the fireplace. Silently, he knelt in front of the fireplace, its warmth fending off the cold gusts of wind, as the large windows beside him creaked. He cupped his hands and prayed.
“Lead us from darkness, O Lord,” he started. The guardsmen and several of the Palace’s servants followed him. “Fill our hearts with fire, so that we may walk upon your shining path. Yours is the fire that gave life to men, that lights our souls in the eternal night. O R’hllor, you are the light in our eyes, the fire in our hearts, the warmth on our loins. May you grant your blessings upon us for this day. Especially when the times that we need the most…” He’s going to deliver a state speech this day, so why not go on and ask R’hllor everything that he could give.
“R’hllor who gave us breath, R’hllor who gave us the light of day. We thank you. Verily, there is no god but R’hllor; and R’hllor is the greatest.” The others followed with a chorus of “Lord of Light, defend us. Lord of Light, protect us.” Artos rose and opened his arms towards the fire. He took a melted wax from the red candle, right on his thumb. “For the night is dark and full of terrors.”
The rest echoed his words. He turned and fastened his ornate cloak with a golden brooch bearing the Iron Bank’s sigil. Artos walked towards the exit as he heard a voice calling. “So, you’ve finally found a religion.”
Artos gave the man a kindly smile. “A man must have his faith, isn’t it what the Magistrates keep telling us? The Lord of Light has provided us with day, and the sun is unusually bright these days. Would you join me, Lord Arenys?” The Keyholder smiled.
“Of course. Cannot wait for the Sealord to deliver about how the city is very prosperous and the citizens are bathing with gold.” The other man responded with a sarcastic smile. “Well, what do you expect? I am a Senator of the City Council, and so I’m obliged to oppose you.” They walked down the Palace’s marble steps.
“Ah, but I’m in your party. You nominated me for the national committee last year.” Despite all of his controversial policies that often goes against the Keyholders’ political stance, Uthor Arenys had always been one of his staunchest supporters. “That is true. Your first term as Sealord had brought us an agreement with Pentos, and a strong government that could rely on its own, without being dragged and pulled across the City Council like the inefficient bureaucratic mess that precedes it. I am sure that this is what your father would want.”
“Indeed, and my father would have wanted the most capable man out there serving Braavos’ prime interests. I have good news, my lord. You will lead the expedition to Dorne. Last year’s Council session have authorized this.” Artos gave him a slight smile. He watched as his former guardian’s face turned pale. “You must have been very proud to serve your nation, Lord Arenys. I thank you for your service.”
Artos walked out of the Palace’s large bronze gates and mounted his horse. He found the ornate carriages that usually brought the Sealords for their speeches to be quite dull. He waved a hand to Uthor, still startled at him, and rode past the Palace’s boundaries, with only a token of guards at his back. The citizens are also startled at the look of their Sealord riding through the town, like some bravos chasing one another – but then, he could care less about the Braavosi traditions that these politicians clung their life unto. He reined his horse at the City Council’s building, and dismounted with a swift jump. He fastened his cloak once again and walked through the doors, right into the Senate Chamber, where most – if not all – of the city’s most esteemed legislators have been waiting.
The Council’s Sergeant-at-Arms, a politician tasked with the duties of protocol and law enforcement, waited for him at the chamber’s doors. As soon as he spotted Artos walking, the Sergeant stepped in to the Chamber, and shouted, “Mister Speaker, the Sealord of the Free City of Braavos!”
The Speaker of the Council rose up from his seat, holding a scepter in his hand. “Order, order! Order in the Council!” the Speaker screamed. When all the Magisters and Keyholders finally ended their fierce debates and intense shoutings, the Speaker stepped up in front of Artos, holding several parchments in his hand, and regally lifting his scepter for the whole Council to see.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, honoured members of the Council, and humbly the servants of the citizens of Braavos. I bid you all welcome on the three hundred and first session of the Council of the Free City of Braavos. May we never forget, and always remember, that our duty is first and foremost to the free and independent citizens of Braavos; that we are all elected here to exercise that responsibility as the vices of the city, and that we shall all strive to escort and protect our citizens’ interests first above our lives. As I, that has been chosen to speak for this honoured assembly, present ourselves before the foremost sovereign elected by the citizens of Braavos, we offer the voice of the people.” The Speaker said in a booming voice.
Artos gave his kindest smile and rose up from his throne, regally looking. “I recognize you as the voice of the people. I grant you this sacred task to escort and protect the interests of the people, and to help the elected sovereign exercise it with the most caution and counsel. The Sealord is at your service.” Artos bowed deeply.
The Speaker returned with a slight, courteous bow. “We recognize you as the elected sovereign of the people, and we would honour the trust by providing the utmost counsel to your government. Now, as it is customary, the Council will hear a formal addressing from the government’s head, in a presentation of the State of the Union, which has been eagerly awaited and demanded by the people…”
Artos rose from his seat again and moved to a desk near him. He gave several parchments of his speech to the Vicegerent and the Speaker of the Council, as well as several other councilman. He started with a loud, but intense voice. “The State of the Union is strong. It has and will always be strong, but to remain so it would need the unity of Braavos more than ever. I will start with the first of our most important matters of state. Councilman, as you all know, the power of our city, in forms of trade, wealth, and in military expansion, is now more increasing than ever. Five years ago, before the start of my first term as Sealord, the Free City of Pentos seek to threaten the ideals of freedom and democracy that our nation held firm above all else; and we retaliated in defense of it. It is only our right to defend the values of freedom against all odds, and that is explicitly why our proud nation is founded firstly; against the vile idea of slavery. We won, although it came at a great cost. Not for us, but for Pentos. But ever since, we have exercised our might of power benevolently; we have allowed Pentos to resume its former…
activities, for the sake of respecting their sovereignity. Since then, we have made further progresses in terms of diplomacy and military support. Chief among these are to the Free Cities of Lorath, Norvos, and Qohor, of which we have great relations with and receiving our support in terms of trade and soldiers still to this second.”
“But an enemy most vile threatened the ideals which we live upon. The city of Volantis, now proudly declaring themselves heir to the old Valyrian Freehold, has once again resumed their aggressions to the former Valyrian colonies; the Free Cities. Already they have Lys and Myr under their oppressive yoke. Now, I believe, they want to bring Tyrosh under that barbaric and vile yoke as well; threatening their sovereignity by sending their ships a mere stone’s throw from Tyrosh’s harbor. Now as I have said before, we have not and will not stand idle to this aggressive and threatening behavior that those so-called triarchs had acted throughout this region. The safeguarding of freedom and democracy is paramount over all else in this world. Who will say that if they got Tyrosh under their horrific administration, they would not stop until all of us become their slaves next?” The statement invites many a roar of agreement from the Council.
“Because of that, we could not stand idle and let the vile and oppressive triarchs from expanding their rule upon the Narrow Sea. As you all know, I have authorized the sending of three Braavosi fleets on expedition last year, after the Navy Act passed legislation last year. One by the force of ninety ships to Pentos and its surrounding waters, herding off pirates and safeguarding our trading interests there. One to the protection of Tyrosh, after our esteemed ambassadors has agreed with their archons to let our ships patrol the seas near the Stepstones. This consisted of a hundred and sixty ships, aiding the patrol of any Tyroshi fleets present. As a token of friendship to the Tyroshi government, I have authorized the gift of ten further galleys, each of twenty oars, for the Tyroshi navy to take possession of, under last year’s Friendly Military Contribution Act. And finally the third expedition had not come as a military one, but more akin to a diplomatic expedition. We have sent one hundred and sixty ships to Dorne, in order to meet the Princes of House Martell that ruled the peninsula, and to strengthen our trade relations with them. Under last year’s Iron Bank foreign grant budget, we have gifted House Martell with a sufficient fund to raise two thousand men, equip, and train them thoroughly. The budget did not allow for more spendings, partly because we have other states that is also important to our interests, and of course I plan to continue this on to this year, but it's a matter for later. Half of the Dorne expedition will visit the petty pirate kingdoms on the Stepstones, granting them letters of marquee to dock on Braavosi-controlled ports, but that they will not interrupt our vessels and instead.. divert their attentions to
somewhere else. We also plan for this half to continue to the Summer Isles, to Naath and then onwards to New Ghis and Qarth; finding a new trading route south that bypass Volantene control over the Rhoyne delta.”
“I suppose that is all I could address regarding the situation in the south, other than that we will continue last year’s military grant budget to bulid more ships in the Arsenal. Now on to the West. As you all know, a month ago I have sent Consul Zalyne to conduct an expedition to Westeros. Chief of all he will meet with the last Valyrian dragonlords to negotiate with them about the trade potential lying in Blackwater Bay. The Storm Kings and the Ironborn Kings currently squabble over Westeros, leaving many local lords scattered and unable to properly sow and reap their crops. The current government’s stance would be more liberal to this condition; we will grant permit to all trading companies that wanted to operate in the Blackwater. Consul Zalyne has gifted two of our galleys in good faith to Lord Targaryen. In return we expect them to increase their patrol frequencies to fend off any opportunistic pirate that would plunder our merchant ships there. Braavos would not support either House Durrandon or House Hoare or any other royal House that are currently contesting over the Sunset Kingdoms, but we will estabilish a colony on the mouth of the Blackwater, holding fealty to neither of these lords. If any of you wants to estabilish your own royal House to be kings over Westeros, I suggest moving here before anyone else does.” Laughter filled the chamber as he spoke. “I myself have an intention to be crowned after this term is finished,” he said with a chuckle.
With another scream of order from the Speaker, the Council chamber goes silent. “Now for the domestic matters of state,” Artos continued. “It is true that I have signed several unpopular policies that frankly some of you disagree thoroughly. The implementation of last year’s shipping and warehouses tax, for example.” Rumblings followed his statement. “However I must remind you that this is all for ensuring that our domestic market remains a place of good competition, and thus a healthy one. Since the liberalization of warehouses and shipping companies twenty years ago, this market has been steadily growing throughout Braavos in an unprecedented rate. Businesses are competing healthily against one another… until it doesn’t. The eight largest warehouse holding companies in Braavos has been buying out smaller warehouses in large numbers, exponentially increasing their value. Something must be done to stop these businesses from eating one another and eventually, creating a monopoly. And this does not apply to the warehouse and shipping businesses only. All manners of legal business will be subject to this year’s Income Tax act, which will control one’s growing wealth by the larger contributions he has to make to the state, parallel to the growth of his wealth. This year’s Progressive Tax Act would also implement a tax in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases. We have put forth these proposals for legislation, in order to implement a more competitive and healthy capitalist economy in Braavos. As a reminder, these taxes will go straight into the State Treasury, as opposed to the Iron Bank, to increase the monetary value that our own state administration has against independent financial institutions…” he ended. Shouts of agreements cheered him from the Magistrate side, while the Keyholders side largely remained silent.
“As for the final announcement for the government programs this year, I am absolutely happy to announce that we will begin the single largest initial public offering of the most valuable company throughout the known world…” Several Keyholder senators rose up and began shouting obscenities at him. “Yes, that is right, ladies and gentleman, this council had authorized the initial public offering for the Iron Bank of Braavos! The Bank’s value is estimated to soar well over billions of coins after the initial public offering has taken place… wherein we will release forty-nine percent of the Bank’s shares to public market. Rejoice!
Eventually, all wealth lead back to Braavos…”
Artos stepped down and smirked widely at the Keyholder senators, who were all sending him death glares at the moment. No doubt most of them will likely beg and plead for the Faceless Men to end him wherever they can. This will forever mark him as a traitor in the eyes of the Iron Bank’s remaining keyholder families; yet little did Artos cared for them. Petty familial interest must be put aside for the common good. The common good of his city…
Mero stood ever smiling, hearing Lord Aerion’s answers to his proposal. His refusal to allow any Braavosi warehouse to be constructed in Dragonstone has been politically motivated rather than naturally. Despite being a barren rock in the middle of the sea, a Braavosi warehouse, as small as it is – even if it’s sized as big as a hog’s house and located very inland, could provide a boon in both trade and political relations with the Targaryens; and Lord Aerion knew the latter all too well. It is why he so courteously told Mero to estabilish warehouses at the closest island that he had famililal relations into; because he did not wanted to be seen favoring the Braavosi while he still ahd a Volantene triarch present on his island. Or so Mero thought.
On the second matter, Mero had to give compliments to the dragonlords on how he could avoid owing favors with Braavos and having a stake in a new port located in mainland Westeros, all at once. The gold that Mero had presented in front of him would be used as the dragonlord’s shares in the new port. He had no objections on that, though; he could as well carry a giant dragon banner with the name of Lord Aerion carved in gold, to present that the dragonlord has also a claim in this new effort, and not just some foreigner from faraway Essos, if there is anyone who would contest the new colony’s sovereignity. He bowed slightly and said, “Of course, Lord Targaryen. Our own fleet would also be assigned to patrol the Blackwater Bay and this new colony from any threat of pirates. After all, no business wanted a loss…”
He followed Lord Aerion, bedecked in shining armor, towards his Garden of the Gods. Mero Zalyne was a diplomat, a businessman, and a soldier all in one – everything that a honest and proud Braavosi hoped to be. Yet despite all his achievements, his journeys throughout Westeros and Essos, he could not help but shiver at the presence of so many deities. Strange and familiar faces greeted him as he entered the garden. He stopped and examined the faces, his heart telling him that he need not fear all of these idols, as they were but one and the same.
He looked one by one at the gods. “All of these features, are but multiple faces of the same deity. There is only one God, Lord Targaryen…” he spoke, “and his name is Death. It is from where we came, and it is where we will end.”
“Tell me, my Lord. Do you hold slaves?” He asked. “I have heard that the Targaryens do not hold slaves, and that your house views all men as equal, before their might. As you know, Braavos is a free city, founded by free men who achieved their freedom by rebelling against the terrorism of their vile masters. And throughout several centuries, as old Valyria fell to internal bickering and finally their unexpected demise, Braavos had risen into a place of refuge, where the enslaved could rise to become a master, of their own fate and freedom. Indeed, we are now in possession of the largest trade fleet, that side of the Narrow Sea, and the largest amount of treasury as well,” he boasted. “But everywhere they go, Braavosi would always bow courteously when in foreign courts. We have always abided by the rules of where we go and trade, and respect the sovereignity of other states that we had come to contact, peacefully. We have recognized you as the dragonlords,” he reminded Aerion of the dragon egg, “and we have given what is rightfully yours by right.” He stopped.
“But now this pitiful and vile excuse of a state has come and spread its poisonous tentacles over Valyria’s former colonies, and have forced them to submit one by one. Already two great cities fell under their yoke, and now they dream of reinstating Valyrian,” he chuckled, “as if they had the right to call themselves
Valyrian in the first place,” he said with a smirk, “their rule over old Valyria’s territories. I have heard that one of their leaders are here. That could only mean one thing. Any man with working common sense will know that they did not come here for mere sweet words and friendship, they want your
assets.” He was sure that Aerion knew what that meant. “You have a weapon of mass destruction, milord. To pledge it, to help one of the most aggressive and vile slaver nation in known history would spell doom for the countries that have struggled for freedom so many years. I will be frank; I have come to plead you, in good faith, stay your hand. Stay neutral. Look not to Braavos or Volantis nor any other Free City for your dragons to burn. Let us resolve this power squabble peacefully if it could, or by sword if we must. Not by fire.”
“Contrary to what
they might ask, we did not come here to gain your support. We only asked for your word, that you, or your son, or his descendants, or your kin, to stay the dragons from our conflict. I sincerely hope that you will consider the best…”