Braavos

Braavos is the wealthiest and likely the most powerful of the Free Cities. It is located in a lagoon on the northwestern end of Essos, where the narrow sea and the Shivering Sea meet. Braavos is also known as Braavos of the Hundred Isles and the Secret City, a name also attributed to the city Nefer, the last remaining city of N'ghai. Braavos is sometimes referred to as the "bastard daughter of Valyria".

A New Sealord
In 288 AC the controversial Keyholder Notario Ledaesh was elected to the office of Sealord, even though many allegations of corruption and bribery were levied against him. As soon as he took office, the new Sealord stopped the building of ships, instead turning the coin to the building of the city and monuments within it, undertaking a massive project to restore the Titan of Braavos and to lift the Drowned Town with dams and pumps. These were at first viewed with suspicion, but quickly discovered as what they are, acts of corruption, as his friends were in charge of the projects.

The War of the Green Waves
In 298 AC a new and bold Pentoshi Prince announced the end of his cities liberation and changed the name of the indentured servants to slaves. This was met with an uproar in Braavos, and when many called for war, the Sealord was quick to answer, hoping the Braavosi navy was still strong enough to beat his neighbor. He did not however, consider the fact that his navy had not been used or repaired in a decade and therefore unfit for combat.

The Pentoshi were able to beat the Braavosi, who eventually had to retreat making Pentos free once again. Ledaesh was embarrassed and now was despised. His projects were looked upon with a new light, with his rivals discovering that their architects were embezzling some funds and fruitlessly using the rest. Even his fellow keyholders turned against him, as the Iron Bank began to exact larger interest on the man and his coffers.

Death of Ledaesh
In 302 AC, Ledaesh went to sleep, after a large meal, and would never awake again. His death, presumed poisoning, was never investigated with much fervor, as the man had made himself many enemies among the courts and the powerful. The election afterwards was fraught with intrigue and bribery, as the arcane and ancient process to select a new Sealord took weeks. Eventually, the third round was tallied in the Hall of Truth, leading to the naming of a new Sealord, a magister. Though narrowly defeated among the keyholders, his popularity was so great as to allow magisters to carry him to victory. The new Sealord has built a fleet unmatched in size to any in the known world, preparing for what seems to be an inevitable conflict with Pentos.