With the enthronement ceremony behind him, Gaimon finally had time to focus on the immense task ahead. His territory, known as the Hero Territory of Baeron, lacked any proper castles or towns. Yet, scattered throughout the land were small groups of people eking out a living in the forests and hills. Gaimon's first task was to gather these villagers and form a workforce capable of building his own castle—or at the very least, a manor to serve as the seat of his authority.
However, Gaimon's choice of territory came with inherent difficulties. Having spent much of his life in the Royal Forest, he knew few dared to live there permanently. Despite the land's fertility, the Royal Forest was restrictive and dangerous, its laws and wildlife discouraging most settlers. Those few who did inhabit the forest lived at the edge of survival, and even then, the effort required to find and recruit them often outweighed any potential benefit.
The forest itself was a dense, multi-layered expanse of life. Towering trees, thick shrubs, and entwined vines created a canopy that blocked sunlight, while the ground was carpeted with a deep layer of fallen leaves and rich humus, softening footsteps and hiding hidden dangers. Hilly and mountainous terrains, such as those around the Wende River Forest and the Royal Forest, added another layer of complexity. Elevations were steep, surfaces uneven, and the risk of injury during land surveys or construction was high.
Gaimon had initially considered building a city near the river's estuary. However, the terrain was unforgiving: cliff-like edges, salt flats, swamps, and wetlands offered no solid ground for urban development. After weighing the options, he settled on a river section dozens of kilometers upstream—a location both suitable for large-scale settlement and less prone to the natural hazards of the estuary.
Before any construction could begin, Gaimon needed to assess his resources. He and Jon had spent the previous two years preparing for this moment, making parchment from thousands of goat skins, which they then sold to the church after copying into Bibles. This enterprise had granted them a modest but significant sum of gold—about a thousand gold royals. While far from enough to finance a city, it was sufficient to get initial operations underway.
To put it in perspective, the currency system of Westeros was precise: one gold dragon equaled thirty silver moons, which equaled 210 silver deer, or 11,760 copper cents. A set of quality armor—including fine mail, a gorget, a neck guard, and a full set of protective gear—cost approximately 800 silver deer, roughly four gold dragons. In this context, a thousand gold royals was substantial but would only stretch so far when building a city from scratch.
To maximize his resources, Gaimon implemented a clever plan: he would recruit settlers willing to reclaim wasteland. He sent envoys to King's Landing to advertise opportunities for poor farmers, laborers, and adventurers. His terms were generous: any land reclaimed would be split evenly between him and the pioneer, with the pioneer's share remaining tax-free for three years. Beyond that, the tax rate after three years would be agreed upon in advance, protecting settlers from the unpredictable whims of nobles who often exploited high taxes to strip self-sufficient farmers of their land.
Gaimon went a step further, lending food, tools, and supplies to pioneers in advance. This eliminated one of the largest obstacles to settlement: capital. Settlers could now work with confidence, knowing they had both the tools and the legal backing to secure their new lands. Contracts were signed to protect these rights, providing the settlers with peace of mind in an era where land disputes were commonplace.
Despite these incentives, reclaiming land required more than sheer manpower. While ordinary farmers and laborers could handle basic tasks, the construction of cities and infrastructure demanded skilled artisans. Carpenters, stonemasons, blacksmiths, architects, and other specialized professionals were crucial to realizing Gaimon's vision. These individuals often commanded higher wages and were more difficult to attract than ordinary laborers.
Fortunately, Westeros had a solution: guilds. Each profession had a dedicated guild to manage recruitment, training, and labor contracts. By approaching the relevant guild, Gaimon could hire experienced craftsmen efficiently, bypassing the uncertainty of independent recruitment.
Gaimon's current funds were limited, but his status provided leverage. As a prince and a royal lord, his name carried weight, saving him considerable time and effort. Additionally, his territory was rich in timber, a valuable resource for shipbuilding, construction, and trade. Timber could be sold directly to merchants or utilized internally to develop local industries. Gaimon was determined not to squander these resources merely for profit; instead, he planned to build sustainable industries to increase long-term revenue.
The first industry he targeted was shipbuilding. Establishing a shipyard in his territory would allow him to leverage local timber, create jobs for skilled artisans, and generate goods for trade. He also intended to train local laborers as apprentices, ensuring that the knowledge and skills required for ship construction would remain within his domain.
With this vision in mind, Gaimon approached the Shipbuilding Guild. He outlined his plan to build a shipyard, hire skilled masters, and train local laborers. Despite his limited funds, the Guild recognized the value of royal patronage and quickly responded. Within two days, they had identified a master shipbuilder willing to travel to Gaimon's territory.
Excited by the news, Gaimon sent urgent word to the Guild, requesting that the master be brought to him immediately. He was eager to assess the craftsman's abilities in person, to determine if this individual truly possessed the knowledge and talent required to turn Gaimon's ambitious plans into reality.
While Gaimon prepared for the master's arrival, Jon continued recruiting settlers on the streets of King's Landing. The city buzzed with life, and among the crowds were those desperate for opportunity—farmers with tired hands, laborers seeking stability, and adventurers seeking land and fortune. Each new recruit represented another brick in the foundation of Gaimon's future city.
Even as the settlers arrived and the skilled craftsmen prepared to take up residence, Gaimon knew the road ahead would be long and arduous. Building a city was not merely about bricks and timber; it required careful planning, resource management, and, above all, the loyalty and effort of the people who would call it home.
Yet, for the first time, Gaimon felt a sense of optimism. The challenges were immense, but so were the opportunities. With a clear plan, dedicated settlers, skilled craftsmen, and the resources of a forested territory at his disposal, he was ready to begin the work of turning the Hero Territory of Baeron into a thriving domain.
And so, with contracts signed, guilds engaged, and settlers recruited, Gaimon took the first real steps toward shaping his territory. The river flowed steadily past the chosen site, reflecting the sun and promising life. In the distance, the forest stretched out endlessly, both a resource and a challenge. Yet with determination, foresight, and a careful balance of ambition and pragmatism, Gaimon believed that the wilderness could be transformed.
He would build not just a manor, not just a city, but a legacy.
The days ahead would be difficult. Settlers would tire, storms would come, and resources would sometimes run low. Yet every obstacle was a test of resolve, a chance to prove that leadership was more than authority—it was vision made real through action.
And so, with the stage set, Gaimon prepared to welcome the master shipbuilder, confident that together they could forge the first of many steps toward a new age in the Hero Territory. Every log of timber, every brick laid, and every contract signed brought him closer to the future he envisioned—a future where the forests and rivers of Baeron would host a flourishing city under his guidance..
In the quiet moments before the craftsman's arrival, Gaimon allowed himself a rare smile. The path ahead was challenging, but for the first time, he could see it clearly. The Hero Territory of Baeron, once wild and untamed, was on the verge of becoming something far greater—a testament to careful planning, strategic recruitment, and the indomitable will of its prince...
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