King Robb,

Noted. You may be getting a raven from one of my bannermen after the current matter is resolved.

Pleasure as always.

I am really curious how many new PM's Chief gets every time he reloads a page.

Too many. :D

Lord Varys, I thank you. You should hear from me soon.

[ooc] Lord Varys is going to go to the gym probably like...as soon as deadline hits. As per his stated policy, Lord Varys will not be voting. [/ooc]

King Robb,

I was remiss earlier and forgot to thank you for the case of Riverrun wine, certainly it is as impressive as the groves of the Arbor.

I have heard wonderful things about the Northern whiskeys and scotches and hope that in the near future we may be able to arrange a way to sample one of them.

Ahem,

I've heard wonderful things about the Northern girls - it's said that with the way they kiss they keep their boyfriends warm in winter.

I suppose that would not interest you though Lord Renly.

-Lord Varys

I am an adventurous man, my Lord. You never know.

I am going to have to run and may not be back before deadline.

We have limited ravens left, there were (are) people who I wanted to get them before we voted but that is not going to be possible -- some of you though will be getting messages from us.

Since there has been a ruling that Enemies of the Realm cannot be voted for the Storm's End bannermen and I have discussed matters and they have graciously allowed me to place our votes in a bloc:

BRIENNE OF TARTH (FONT) VOTES FOR TYWIN LANNISTER (HOOPS)
LORD CORTNAY PENROSE (DARTH) VOTES FOR TYWIN LANNISTER (HOOPS)
SER LORAS TYRELL (MURRA5Y) VOTES FOR TYWIN LANNISTER (HOOPS)
KING RENLY BARATHEON (ME) VOTES FOR TYWIN LANNISTER (HOOPS)

It appears that the Stag hunts the Lion. Backed into a corner, how will House Lannister respond? And what of House Baratheon of Dragonstone? Do they stand united with their kin? Whither House Stark and the North?

-Lord Varys

*ahem*

(That would have worked better if Daddy Torgo hadn't posted inbetween)

??

Times up. The offer I made will stand on the morrow.

Vote Brienne of Tarth/Fontisian

I would prefer my father stay in the service of my son, whether he wishes to or not. And why is this lumbering daughter of a nobody granted more power than I, a daughter of one of the most powerful houses in the realm?

Brienne is the perfect candidate for voting - I do not think Lord Renly will execute her and I do not believe she will leave his service. Voting for her will leave him flouting the laws of the realm again. If she does choose to flee my Lord Renly will gain very little from her departure.

(In between Path and my posts :) )

I'm sensing a bit of jealousy here, Cersei.

The same could be said about your father, could it not Cersei?

My Lord Varys, I do not believe that is an option...

Although...

vote no lynch

Roose Bolton (JAG) Votes For Tywin Lannister (hoops)
Theon Greyjoy (Lathum) Votes For Tywin Lannister (hoops)

Pretty sure Lord Karstark is around, he can vote for himself. :)

I like the way you think Lord Baelish. Although what is this lynch that you speak of?

Well...I suppose if it's good enough for you...

VOTE NO LYNCH

-Lord Varys

Vote Brienne of Tarth/Fontisian

For all its worth, which is nothing

An alliance seems to have been reached between the other three claimants. The focus of their attention shifts Westward, to Tywin Lannister himself. Perhaps their thinking is that dismantling Lord Joffrey's support at its root will leave him fatally wounded. Would that make the carcass easy prey for a wolf?

And if they succeed, what will the response of House Lannister be? What can it be? Unless Tywin Lannister has cut himself a deal with one of the other claimants and chooses to flee I believe Lord Joffrey has no choice but to keep Tywin in his service.

Should he flee, what then? Where will he end up? And what will his fate be? Can the entente cordial withstand the addition of a living Tywin Lannister to one of the three legs, or will that fatally unbalance things and wrench the three apart?

-Lord Varys

[b]vote no lynch/B]

Well I would consider this to be disappointing.

I did not realize Varys was playing the role of narrator.

I have voted

I have many roles Lord Tywin, narrator the least among them. I have no ravens left today unfortunately, so you are likely unable to take advantage of my other roles.

-Lord Varys

Release the Kraken!

Did you remember to clean its cage this morning?

Father really! Indeed you would consider it disappointing, were Joffrey in a stronger position. I would suggest you leave the mummery and lying to Tyrion.

I would ask you to remain with Joffrey if I believed you hadn't already planned your escape route and, I would expect, invested a sizeable amount of your free cash in improving Casterly Rock.

I suspect the other would-be rulers would tell you that I've done very little planning of an escape route. Which may prove to be to my detriment. Time will tell ...

All this talk of liquor makes me want to break out a cask of fine Winterfell scotch tonight.

And where would your Lord Father flee to Lady Cersei?

House Lannister has few friends, and in the game of thrones trust is a scarce commodity.

If only I could get my hands on some dragons ...

If only indeed Lord Tywin.

Unfortunately for you, news travels, even across the narrow sea, and she whom you speak of is doubtless no friend of yours, and would sooner see you fed to them as anything else I suspect.

I am not sure where my ravens have gone. There are things I would like to say to a number of people.

You misunderstand me. I want the dragons, not her allegiance.
As long as I'm construing imaginary scenarios, I have one for each of the three pretender kings.

I'm still bitter I wasn't allowed to breed more dire wolves.

Lord Tywin,

I do not misunderstand you at all.

Perhaps I will have occasion to speak with you as you consider your future.

-Lord Varys

Jesus, someone decided to clean the coffee pot at work, and didn't dilute the vinegar. Fucking level 3 hazmat situation right now.

I like to imagine that literally everything CW does has to do with coffee.

Sorry I haven't been around this afternoon, busy cleaning the office.

WAS IT YOU WITH THE VINEGAR?!?!?

I addressed this with the Kings in PM, but just to follow up, so everyone knows, Enemies are Enemies until they're not. And when they're Enemies, they don't get votes.

Had you voted for Ser Loras I'm quite sure there would not have been a vinegar issue. Just saying.

Or one of the folks that isn't an enemy - can't keep track of all of them.

Remember. There's only one enemy, and his name is Chief.

Hand of the king, Cersei?

All, I have to send my computer back to dell..... And i dropped a bottle of wine on my work computer (fuck me) so........ I'm fucked, and computer less for a number of days now. I have the iPad.

[OOC] damn that's an impressive run of bad luck clusterfuck [/OOC]

Thank you my lord. I would not be wholly adverse to marrying Robb although he would have to have the mutt put down. I would prefer he wooed me himself mind.

Dear father

I would ask you to carefully consider, or should I say, reconsider your position. Today will mark the end of the uneasy alliance between the Baratheons and Stark. Two of them will turn on one of the others. But which? Consider what the last few days have taught us. The weak are envious of the strong and will combine to pull them down. Should you side with Lord Renly then it is sure that Winterfell and Dragonstone will combine to attack Storm's End. The Kings realise this as well, accepting you into their house would be as good as attacking the other two houses. Casterly Rock is rich in men and resources but not sufficiently rich to equal the might of one of the houses. As Stannis realised but it would seem Renly does not is that in this game of thrones it does not pay to be the strongest until there are but two opponents. Thus, there is a risk that you will be hunted down and killed if you leave your grandson's court, in much the same way Clegane was. Should you survive a day you will have to side with the house alone once it is decided who will form the alliance, as a poisoned chalice you will bring bad luck on whichever house accepts you.

Further the alliance is over and the house that finds itself standing alone will have to find an ally. That ally will be the Lannister house. If you remain at Joffrey's court then that alliance will have strength, possibly enough to counter the opposing alliance.

It is not an enviable decision you face but remember who has forced this decision on you. And remember that we always pay our debts.

I wouldn't worry too much about the so-called mutt. He obeys, even when his nature demands otherwise.

It is curious that you think I would stand with Renly, when he has so recently refused us. As you noted, we Lannisters pay our debts.

All options are heavily weighted with both risk and reward at this time. Both Joffrey and I, together and separately in the coming hours, have much to consider.

The phrase "poisoned chalice" is a very interesting one indeed ...

Bah, I sound too much like Varys in that last communication. No one wants that.

A man would be amused.

Cersei certainly believes she has a talent for knowing what is going on considering it appears she has had little direct communication. I put as much stock into her machinations as I do the Little Bird Report, quite little.

Ah well. I guess the Westeros News Channel does have 24 hours to fill.

I do not require much direct communication to ascertain things my lord. And I place just as much stock in your protestations as you do in my "machinations".

I believe it may be in its place to mention that, while the votes of the members of the small council are insignificant at the moment, as the tides of war sweep the lands and nobles die, they will prove of increased importance. If Jaime is killed in any other way than in honest battle then I will make it my purpose to avenge his death in any and every way at my disposal.

And if it is by a faceless man?

I have a hard time believing anyone would spend the required amount to kill Jaime when there are kings that could be removed. Except, perhaps, yourself. And I doubt you have the coin.

I am not the only person who wishes Jaime dead but I think most would pick you over him

I am aware that there are those who would prefer me out of the way. I would find myself flattered should someone be prepared to spend the necessary coin to silence me. Although the pride would be tempered by the knowledge that it was the act of a fool.

I demand that something happens before the morrow. I am so bored I have taken to taunting my brother. Easy and comfortable, like a well-worn glove. But unsatisfying and quickly tiresome.

The craven alliance have not the balls to attack the Lannister lion despite kicking it for the last three days. The Maker knows my husband had his faults but were he cut from the same cloth as his brothers and the wolf cub we would still be labouring under the yoke of the Tyrant to this day.

Cercei is lonely as no one is willing to take up her bed anymore.

At 61 I could consider bedding Cersei.

I suggest a grand alliance. All 4 Kings march on the fortress of Chieftan Rum.

Oh good, I just realized deadline was on Tuesday. I was thinking it was tonight and was worried htat nobody was around. Now i can go back to not doing anything! (except for bathing and feeding and getting ready for bed two kids.)

One of the perks of getting removed from the Kingsguard.

Meanwhile, I realized earlier today that Game met real life as I channeled my inner Bolton when removing a splinter from my 3 year old's finger.

(Sounds painful for the chiddy. Not sure I would want Bolton removing a splinter from my finger - he'd take off all the skin "Ah, I just have to clear away this skin to get a grip. And this bit is in the way" etc etc)

While you provide yourself with a constant stream of harlots to forget your, ahem, short-comings.

One would imagine that at 61 considering is all you would be able to achieve. Just don't "consider" too hard or your poor heart might give up.

I assure you, I achieve great distance on my comings

Surely you cannot be this foolish father. Why do you delay your decision?

Are you safe in Joffrey's court? No, not entirely but it seems the safest for you. If you leave then I fear for Jaime's life. I suspect you may also thwart the little runt's plans, a cause I think we can both agree is worthwhile.

Do you have a contact outside of Joffrey's court? Perhaps I have been misinformed, perhaps you do not. But you certainly have had contact with others and believe that they will listen to you. But there is a world of difference between a willingness to listen and doing what you want. At least at the moment you have the ear of your liege.

The concern over Joffrey's court is that it seems to be doomed with or without my presence. So that weighs on the decision process to some extent.

The notion of having influence beyond that court is a separate matter entirely. I would suggest the isolation that you have felt over the past week has been shared by nearly all of House Lannister the past several days. It appears that all ravens for the other houses are otherwise engaged with non-Lannister matters. Obviously this also factors into a decision.

[ooc] i'm around, but I've got some work-meetings this morning and a conference call at 2pm...i may be like...less available than is typical for me this morning. [/ooc]

Given what the kings have learned of the result of the damage to their honor, I think it very unlikely that Joffrey is willing to keep Tywin a member of his court. To do so would be to assure his defeat. At least without Twyin there would be a chance of him building his court back up.

Interesting...very interesting.

-Lord Varys

What do the kings know about the damage to their honour? Perhaps this is information that my father should have. And possibly my son as well. If Joffrey cannot afford to keep my father at court then why haven't we moved on already? There is no way a bannerman can be executed by their liege unless they are stupid or, no, just stupid.

I find it very doubtful that Joffrey will be able to build his court back up. Who would choose to bend the knee to him if my father does not remain in his court?

And the wait to see what Tywin does continues.

I wouldn't call it stupid, Cersei. If Tywin is executed, Joffrey at least retains the lands he held. If he holds on to Tywin, despite the desire of the realm to have him executed, then the people may well refuse to serve your son. It would be a slower death, I suppose.

Tywin has the choice to leave his justice up to his grandson, and hope the boy is sentimental, in which case the two will slowly fade out of the game of thrones. Or Tywin can choose to bend his knee to another and play kingmaker. I wonder how sentimental a man Lord Tywin is.

Lord Tywin would be a powerful piece indeed, however any who accepted him into their service would have to contend with the likelihood that they would immediately become the target of a united effort against them. For this reason I believe that the likeliest course of action is that Lord Tywin will remain right where he is - regardless of the hit that it causes Lord Joffrey. We are, after all, only in the early stages of the game of thrones.

-Lord Varys

A bannerman would be a fool to leave themselves in the position where their liege would be able to execute them. My father is no fool. As Varys hypothesizes Tywin would more likely act as an albatross round the neck rather than a kingmaker at this stage. I would imagine he will be left to his own devices until it is clear which way the alliance splits.

Left to his own devices, or captured and executed. I do not know at this juncture which is more likely. There is much talk afoot of what will be done with Lord Tywin if he flees, with other claimants vying to offer him safe heaven. I fear however, that not all of these offers are trustworthy, and that once fled & received, Lord Tywin may be executed rather than accepted into the service of another.

-Lord Varys

I would say that most that flee would probably not want to head to Stannis. Especially a Lannister bannerman.

Nor, for that matter, would Lord Renly be an attractive option, given what happened to the last Lannister to flee there. Which leaves only Lord Stark as a refuge, and the Houses Stark and Lannister can hardly be said to be on friendly terms at the present time.

-Lord Varys

There's only one Lannister who I'm at conflict with, and he's sitting on the throne in King's Landing right now.

Except executing my father would aid my son greatly. I doubt any king will execute my father as Casterly Rock will immediately be inherited by Joffrey.