'Make them an offer they have to refuse.'
-The Early Musings of Prince Rhaenar.
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Lys rose on the horizon like a sunlit paradise.
A city clinging to stone. Palms stood tall along the approach, white sands gleaming on the calm tide, gulls wheeling overhead.
As the fleet closed in, Rhaenar stood on the deck of the Sea Snake and picked out fruit trees lining the beaches — pineapples, oranges, mangoes. His mouth watered at the thought of fresh citrus after weeks at sea.
Admiral Corlys studied the bay.
Hundreds of ships lay at anchor in tight defensive order — a maze of sails and hulls, catapults mounted, archers posted, scorpions floating.
"How do you wish to proceed?"
Rhaenar shrugged. "So long as our supplies hold, there's no hurry. Set the blockade. Laenor and I will circle the island. I won't have surprises."
And so the fleet settled in to wait while the two young dragonlords went about their work.
The voyage had sorted men from boys. Many were desperate for land again, the sea robbing them of sleep and stomach alike.
But this was the path they had chosen, the captains reminded them.
If you want it easy, jump overboard and swim home. If that is how you wish to serve the Seven, your country, your pride, and your people.
Each Lyseni ship sent to parley was sunk, until none came at all.
On the third day, Laenor and Rhaenar returned from their flight.
Corlys folded his arms.
"Well?"
"All is clear, Father," Laenor said.
"We strike at nightfall," Rhaenar added. "If the weather holds."
It did. The moon was new, the sky thick with clouds.
No light fell from above. The dragons could rise, vanish into the dark, and be gone again.
It was almost too easy.
The Lyseni needed light on their decks — lamps, candles, torches — and each glow became a beacon. A target.
Fire followed.
Sundance and Seasmoke dove and burned, breath after breath, until the care taken in choosing such darkness no longer mattered.
Smoke smothered the bay, blinding any hope of seeing sky or scale.
Screams. Of anguish, pain, burning flesh. Screams of hopelessness as the barricade sank to the depths, reduced to charred ash.
Fire rained down well into the morning, until suddenly it ceased. The people of Lys watched in horror as their line of defense slipped beneath the bay.
Then came silence. One too eerie to bare. And still the invaders did not move.
Hope flickered. What if this was all they wanted — the fleet destroyed, the means to strike back undone?
Surely the Dragon Prince would be content with setting their naval dominance back by years, at least.
Indeed, had the Westerosi turned away then, they need not have lifted another finger. It would have taken little time for rivals among the Free Cities to descend upon Lys and exploit its weakness. The vacuum created by such destruction was enough.
But no. They waited.
This was among the first signs of Prince Rhaenar's use of psychological warfare.
The stillness was not born of patience, nor of uncertainty, nor of any frailty in his resolve.
The truth became clear when a single Westerosi ship sailed into the now-empty bay.
Upon its mast flew the flag of parley. It was the Prince's turn to send a delegation — and this time, no effort was made to sink it.
They arrived with a treaty to sign, marking the first official use of the numbering system that would later be known as Rhaeneric Numerals:
Articles of Submission of Lys
Let it be known that these terms are set forth by Prince Rhaenar of House Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, Commander of the Legion, and Dragonlord, are to be accepted in full by the City of Lys, its magistrates, councils, and ruling interests.
I. Cessation of Hostilities
All Lyseni forces, naval and landbound, shall lay down their arms at once. The city of Lys shall open its gates, harbors, and storehouses to the Legion without resistance.
II. Indemnity and Reparations
Lys shall pay compensation, with interest, for all labor, wages, provisions, matériel, and losses incurred by the Legion in the prosecution of this war. Payment shall be rendered in coin, goods, or service as assessed by Dragonstone.
III. Restitution and Redress for Unlawful Taking
All property unlawfully taken from Westeros or its subjects — whether flesh, coin, gems, relics, artifacts, vessels, documents, or other chattels, tangible or intangible — shall be returned in full, without limitation as to date, passage of time, or prior transfer.
This obligation shall apply irrespective of current possession, resale, inheritance, concealment, or alteration of said property.
Where restitution in kind is impossible, incomplete, or disputed, Lys shall provide equivalent compensation as determined solely by assessors appointed by Dragonstone, whose valuation shall be final and binding.
Failure to comply shall constitute a material breach of surrender and be subject to remedy at the discretion of Prince Rhaenar.
IV. Establishment of the Dragonstone Embassy
Lys shall grant a tract of land sufficient for the establishment of a permanent embassy.
This territory shall stand apart from Lyseni law, immune from search, seizure, or levy. No armed force may enter its grounds without the express written consent of Prince Rhaenar or his appointed dignitaries.
V. Contractual Priority and Exclusive Right of First Refusal
Lys shall grant to Rhaenari entities the exclusive right of first refusal for all contracts, agreements, purchases, commissions, or undertakings of any kind, whether public or private, arising from or connected to the rebuilding, maintenance, arming, provisioning, or operation of the city and its holdings.
This priority shall extend, without limitation, to naval construction, ship repair, arms and armor, provisions, clothing, tools, materials, equipment, labor, logistics, mercantile supply, and all services incidental thereto.
No contract with any foreign power, city, guild, or individual may be entered into unless Rhaenari entities have first been offered the same terms in full and have declined in writing.
In consideration of this exclusivity, Prince Rhaenar guarantees that Lyseni sovereignty shall not be infringed upon by hostile powers seeking advantage from the present conflict.
VI. Apology and Acknowledgment
A formal apology shall be issued by every sitting magistrate and member of Lys's political class, acknowledging wrongdoing against the people of Westeros.
VII. Hostages
Hostages shall be delivered from each influential Lyseni family, to be held at Dragonstone for the assurance of continued compliance.
VIII. Demilitarization
The city walls of Lys, along with all fortifications, defensive structures, armories, arsenals, and any military installations or equipment, shall be dismantled or surrendered. No reconstruction, rearming, or re-fortification of any kind shall occur without the express consent of Dragonstone.
IX. Tribute
Three percent of all Lyseni income, trade, and taxation shall be paid annually to Dragonstone.
X. Oversight and Veto
While Prince Rhaenar shall not interfere directly in domestic governance, he reserves the right of veto over any decision, treaty, or undertaking of the Lyseni government.All matters of state must be fully disclosed to the office of the Dragonstone embassy.
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Faced with certain destruction, any of these terms could have been accepted. They could have yielded, even if begrudgingly, and bide their time.
Who knew where Rhaenar would be in five or ten years? A stray arrow here, some poison there — and this problem would dissolve upon his death.
It was only in the final clause that the real issues arose:
XI. Requirement of Unanimous Assent
This Instrument of Surrender, together with all obligations, concessions, and undertakings contained herein, shall enter into force only upon the unanimous, explicit, and recorded consent of every individual, council, office, magistracy, or authority within Lys possessing any lawful power to deliberate upon, approve, ratify, or otherwise assent to matters of war, peace, treaty, finance, or governance.
No consent shall be implied. Abstention, absence, silence, conditional approval, procedural delay, or failure to cast a vote shall constitute refusal.
Should any single eligible authority withhold assent, dissent, or fail to provide an unequivocal affirmation, this Instrument shall be deemed null, void, and without effect in its entirety, and Lys shall be considered to have rejected surrender in full.
In such circumstance, Prince Rhaenar shall be released from all restraint, obligation, or forbearance contemplated herein, and may resume or prosecute hostilities at his sole discretion.
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The request proved impossible.
Even after a string of purges and assassinations, there was always one man who would not — or could not — agree to the terms.
It would take little investigation to ascertain whether these people truly had the clout or influence that met the threshold Prince Rhaenar had in mind.
However, many scholars today argue that these terms were never meant to be accepted — merely a formality set forth by the Prince before carrying out what he had always intended.
In any case, the Westerosi descended on the city in their thousands.
What followed would be remembered as a cautionary tale; a footnote on man's cruelty.
Or as a Dragon would call it:
Just another day~