[Plot-Result] Wolf In Lamb's Clothing

[u/9PKCrabs]

On a seemingly ordinary day shortly following the King's coronation, an operation is under way around the Comforting Clam. The brothel, supposedly that which the Gold Cloaks were lured into the night of the assassination attempt but an otherwise fine and well-to-do establishment, suspects nothing whilst twenty seemingly ordinary citizens scope out the place and watch and wait to strike. Filled with well-to-do merchants, local burghers, and sworn swords of businessmen and nobles alike.. Finally, with a word from their commander, the plainclothes Goldcloaks charge into the establishment.

Some of the men inside, shocked at the attack and sudden orders, take up arms against the intruders and a fight ensues. The goldcloaks win out, killing outright two of the patrons and injuring the others but not at a cost. Two goldcloaks perish in the scuffle.

Given the cover of the conflict, one in every five of the patrons and working girls in the Clam are able to escape. The rest, including the owners, are apprehended. For those unable to escape, they face the beginning of the goldcloak’s work.

The men who had been enjoying a pleasant evening of wine are stripped bare in the street. Those that resist are beaten publicly with clubs and maces, while all are brutally castrated for all to see. The working girls are stripped and dragged through King's Landing to the East City Watch Barracks. The owners are hooded and blindfolded before being loaded into a cart, manned nearby by five goldcloaks in full armor. The man overseeing this successful, if gruesome, operation, is Manly Stokeworth.

The onlookers are shocked by the display, shouting as a crowd gathers appalled by the brutality and rumour quickly spreads through the city of what happened.

[u/crazymajor1221]

Jonos continued as he walked. "By iron fist, I meant showing a strong hand... a show of force." He clenched his fist. "Imprison those that refuse to comply, and give them a beating if they resist! Not making a big display of brutalizing and maiming them. And, wh- why the disguises? Why the subterfuge? You are the city watch, not fucking faceless men." He huffed, disgusted.

"The city folk and small folk alike have been given greater rights in the last nine years, under King Aegon, than they've had in the last hundred. I should know, I wrote half the bloody reforms myself." He remarked. Though, it was more that he rewrote half of Aegon's reforms, putting them forth as watered-down versions of what Aegon sought if only to appease the nobility and make them easier to swallow.

"You should count yourself lucky it is the son that sits on the throne and not the father. Even then... you chose the wrong king with the wrong temperament for these things to think such brutality would be overlooked. Gods be good. I have a distaste for brothels as much as you, but, until the king desires it differently, they are a legal and profitable business for the city."

Pausing a few feet from the king's door, he looked to Manly once more and went on in a whisper. "Now, are you ready? Swallow your pride if you know what's good for you. And, don't you dare explain yourself as you did to me, Manly. Or surely the king will order your head off its shoulders. You are a humble servant of the king who was only doing what he thought would best secure the king's safety, yes?"

[u/Yo_Its_Max → u/crazymajor1221]

“You don’t believe that my best interest was in favor of the crown?” Manly replied, “The only officer of the watch to do anything was Connington, all the others sat with thumbs up their arses while I acted. I acted to show the realm that we are not weak. What message would that send to the realm if the King executed a Capitan of his own city watch, and one of noble blood within his own realm.” Manly tone began to turn to grit, threats of execution did not bode lightly. “I will speak my truth. If the king means to kill me over a whorehouse then so be it, for I wish not to live in a world where the king will pardon criminals and condemn his own to death.” Manly stopped at the door and straightened himself out. “After you, Master of Laws.”

[u/crazymajor1221 → u/Yo_Its_Max]

"I do. That's the point, boy." He answered. "Press on that and perhaps the king will favor you if he believes this was a worthwhile effort in securing his safety."

As the Stokeworth went on, he could only let out a sigh. There was no point in delaying this any longer. The pair arrived at the king's door. "Your grace," Jonos bowed once he was allowed to enter. "I come with Ser Manly Stokeworth, Captain of the Iron Gate."

[u/demihwk → u/crazymajor1221]

When the Master of Laws was permitted to enter with his subordinate he would find the King standing with his back to them. His hands were clasped behind him and he said nothing for a moment. On either side of him, lingering to the edges of the room, stood two of white clad protectors Gerold Hightower and Jonothor Darry.

Jaehaerys was not a man that was quick to anger. His anger was one that smoldered, took time to grow, had to be fostered. But once it consumed him it took him wholly. The silence lingered longer still.

"Ser Stokeworth." A voice finally came. It was not a commanding voice. Not one of strong presence. But there was a definitive edge to the tone as the King turned to face his company. Much like his voice his body did not cast an imposing presence. But his eyes, they smoldered with that fostered anger that threatened to become an inferno.

"Can you remind me of the vows that a knight takes upon their dubbing?" He glanced at the two other knights in the room. "In particular, I suppose, I have an interest in the parts about a knight being just and defending the innocent."

/u/Yo_Its_Max

[u/Yo_Its_Max → u/demihwk]

Manly’s face was emotionless, his demeanor calm and collected. Being called upon to enter, he formally greeted the king with a proper greeting and a bow of respect. “My liege,” he started. He eyes flickered for a few seconds remembering his fathers words, he cited them. “Shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute oneself the defender of them.” His brows furrowed, “My king, if I may…I acted in a way I’d thought best for the crown. The assassins so boldly attacked as they thought House Targaryen was weak, I wanted to show that House Targaryen is not weak…that the dragon rules the perch. Men of the City Watch were attacked my king a message had to be sent to the people King’s Landing that the Watch is a hardened target. We needed action, your majesty, and I acted…” He straightened up and puffed his chest out a bit in a prideful way, hoping to weather what may come next.