Am I huge jerk if I ask for a link to the discworld politics post?

Not at all. All I ask in return is that you bear in mind, this was some of my very early work, so it’s a little crude. 

Don’t know if I mentioned it during the Riverlands Development post, but yeah, I definitely would build some bridges other than that one. The main thing is balancing economic development with military security given that bridges negate our main defensive advantage, and can interfere with river traffic. Hence, the use of swing bridges – that way you can swing the bridge back over to your bank when you need to and then swing it back. 

To begin with:

• if I’m trying to maximize House Tully’s power, I might just build the Ruby Ford bridge as a swing bridge attached to Riverrun 2.0, which means that everyone who crosses the Trident needs to go through me (lots of revenue there) and means I can cut off traffic as needed. 
• At the same time, I would dredge the existing fords over the Red Fork and Tumblestone west of Riverrun, and then build swinging bridges so that I can control east/west and north/south traffic between the Riverlands and Westerlands, and the Northern and Southern Riverlands.
• I might also want a swinging bridge at Fairmarket and Stony Sept. 

chinoiserie-camille:

racefortheironthrone:

I think he went along with it because Cersei had made a public accusation, because he hated his son, and because someone had to be punished for regicide. 

You do not think Tywin could actually believe Tyrion was guilty?

I think that as much as Tywin hated Tyrion, he at least recognized that Tyrion wouldn’t have killed Joffrey in such a way as to be immediately caught.

Hah! Talk about a deep cut. No, never did. Still want to, though.

So, it depends on what precisely happens to Loras. 

• If Loras dies, the Tyrells go to war against the Lannisters faster than in OTL, although they probably won’t side with the Starks who Mace probably would blame for getting his son killed. If Renly still tries for the throne, and gets killed as in OTL, it’s probable that the Tyrells will pull back and later declare for Aegon (and against King Stannis) when he lands, especially if Aegon will marry Margaery. 
• If Loras is captured, it’s possible Tywin ransoms Loras to them for their support (possibly with Joffrey as sweetener), at which point the Lannisters probably run away with the war completely well before the Red Wedding, using the Tyrells as their battering ram. Renly probably negotiates for a pardon, but might well scheme to try to take out the Lannisters from within.
• If Loras gets away, you probably get a scenario a lot like the first, but without resentment toward the Starks. Possible that the Tyrells might side with the Starks post-Storm’s End, given that Loras will be quite vehement that you can’t trust someone who attacks the King’s banner to hold to any bargain, but equally likely that they pull back and later declare for Aegon. 

What if Cat hadn’t asked Brandon not to kill Baelish? How different would things be?

I don’t remember if I’d done this What If? in the Catelyn chapter where she remembers the duel, but…

1. Baelish probably dies. 

2. Jon Arryn isn’t murdered. 

3. Cersei et al. are accused by Jon Arryn and Stannis, with Renly in support.

4. Cersei et al. are executed. Tywin might well declare war.

5. Robert marries Margaery, the Tyrells become the King’s bank. 

I think he went along with it because Cersei had made a public accusation, because he hated his son, and because someone had to be punished for regicide. 

Not prevent, entirely. Depends where you are and where you need to go.

Keep in mind, the Tywins aren’t the only crossing over the Trident, just the only only one north of the Ruby Ford on the Green Fork. 

I wouldn’t try. I’d poison the wells and push for Hellholt. 

Artisinal wells maybe?