The Line of Rhaegar - AGoT AAR
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Chapter XVI: Targaryen's Folly
I sat at the Painted Table, staring out across the Narrow Sea, hoping beyond hope to see a ship bearing the three-headed dragon, a ship bearing my father. But it was a vain hope.
That damned Tourney. I don't know what came over my father, but it seemed he was determined to make it worse than the one at Harrenhall. The guests had jousted, fought, and feasted, and they all waited with baited breath for the great King Rhaegar to deliver his speech. The silence afterwards was the result of no great oratory skill. I was disowned and exiled to Dragonstone, and my brother was given Blackfyre.
The court was in chaos, and questions bombarded Father. But it seemed he had no interest in answering them, for a mere month later he up and left for distant Asshai, taking half the Royal Fleet with him. Why he went to Asshai is a complete mystery. There was nothing of value there, and it stank of him abandoning his responsibilities.
The realm held its breath, waiting for Father. It was balanced on the edge of a knife, and the only reason war had not already erupted was due to a mutual agreement between brothers to await the return of a wayward father.
When the remnants of the Royal Fleet limped back to King's Landing, it seemed as if the entire realm had been drawn to the city. Alas, the only thing the fleet brought back were more questions. The King and most of his escort had been lost at Asshai, they said. The King was dead.
The month long peace that followed was no true peace. All the realm weeped, for the king and for themselves. Father had amassed himself a tidy collection of widows, and they mourned most of all. From me and my brother, no grief could be spared. Father, in his idiocy, had left this burden on us.
A knock came at the door, and I turned. Mother was standing there. "Ah. Well, if they've arrived, usher them in." I sat down at the head of the table as Lyanna walked through the doorway, leading a motley procession. The nominal king, my brother Jon, walked in, resplendent in his attire, and after him followed by his mother. Then, Arianne stepped through the door, and after her, my uncle Viserys. He was scowling as he came in, which was no surprise, given the stupid proposal he was entertaining. Elia was the last to enter.
Characteristically, the first words came from Viserys, and they were as useless as ever. "The throne is mine by right. You're both bastards, and not true Targaryens besides." Everyone cringed at that, and two people turned to look at him - his wife, in distaste, and my brother, in amusement. "We are Targaryens, same as you. Father proclaimed as such at our births. And, forgive me if I am wrong, but in both Valyria and Westeros, son comes before brother." In a colder tone, I picked up after Jon. "Get out of here Viserys, unless you have something useful to say. The invitation was extended as a courtesy, and your presence is already wearing thin."
He puffed up and looked like he had something to say, but thankfully Arianne intervened. "Husband, why don't you leave the room." He looked at her in confusion, and Arianne decided to adopt a colder tone. "Now." Viserys looked at us in distaste, cursed us, and left.
"What are you teaching your daughter, treating your husband like that?" Lyanna asked with a slight laugh. "That she shouldn't look to her uncle as a source of inspiration." Arianne replied coolly. I cocked my head at that. "A curious statement, Aunt." She looked around, surprised at the mutual confusion. "You mean he never told you?" Elia was the first to understand, and when she did her eyes almost popped out of her head.
"You too?" Lyanna and Jorda were a bit slower than Elia, but burst into laughter upon their realization. The only confused ones were me and my brother. Jorda recovered from her laughter first. "When was this?" "The night of my wedding." Arianne replied, relaxing in her chair. This prompted another round of laughter, but did nothing for the confusion. Jon spoke first. "What is this all about?" Elia answered him in a cool tone. "My husband fucked my niece the night of her wedding. And afterwards too, it seems." "I'm surprised you didn't know Jon, especially considering you're married to my daughter." Arianne was chuckling a little at our faces. I recovered first. "Well, this is an interesting meeting. Everyone here seems to have some relation to Rhaegar's loins." This prompted another round of laughter, and an aghast Elia leaving the room.
When Jon finished chuckling, he spoke. "This has been an amusing interlude, but now we must get to the point of the meeting. Halys, do you insist on pressing your claim?" I nodded. "You were disinherited." "I was given Dragonstone." Jon replied by sliding Blackfyre a half-foot from its scabbard. "You're the better fighter." I replied in turn. Jon nodded. "Aye, that I am. Is there any wine?" "Jorda, the table behind you." "No need mother, I'll get it myself."
Jon walked over and poured five glasses before proceeding to hand them out. "Need I remind you that I sit the Iron Throne?" I shrugged. "I have the Reach." "And the North too, I think." Lyanna added, with a slight hint of annoyance and a glance towards me. Arianne downed her glass, then spoke. "My father will likely honor his blood ties. Dorne stands for my son-in-law." I took a sip. "Has the Faith chosen a side?" Jon shook his head. "Curiously not. One would think they would want to regain some power with a change in regime. Not that I'd listen to a word they say, after what they did to Father. Would you?" I shook my head. "An irrelevancy, then. Ah, yes, I also have Father's treasury." "Inconsequential, considering the scale of this conflict." Jon's eyes twinkled. "Enough gold to buy five thousand men is not 'inconsequential'." Jon grew silent. "Mothers, if you please, leave us." I nodded in agreement. They scowled at us, but left.
"A curious trio." I said. "The dragon must have three heads." I cocked my head at Jon. "One of Father's pet obsessions." He produced a letter. "I found this in our father's study. He had written it in Ghiscari. Care for me to translate?" "Of course, oh Maester." No grin split Jon's face. "Simply put, Father paid for a Faceless Man with our half-brother's life." I fell silent. "Jon, you know what this means. Father was unstable. Why do you persist then, knowing this?" Jon shook his head. "Our father was not like our grandfather, Halys. He was not mad. Granted, he was not good either." We sat in silence for a time, then I lifted my glass in toast. "Fuck Father?" Jon raised his glass in reply. "Fuck Father." We drank.
"See you on the battlefield then, brother."
______________________
I was considering including an explanation of events now, but I decided it would be better to have it at the end.
The Bastardswar begins.
I sat at the Painted Table, staring out across the Narrow Sea, hoping beyond hope to see a ship bearing the three-headed dragon, a ship bearing my father. But it was a vain hope.
That damned Tourney. I don't know what came over my father, but it seemed he was determined to make it worse than the one at Harrenhall. The guests had jousted, fought, and feasted, and they all waited with baited breath for the great King Rhaegar to deliver his speech. The silence afterwards was the result of no great oratory skill. I was disowned and exiled to Dragonstone, and my brother was given Blackfyre.
The court was in chaos, and questions bombarded Father. But it seemed he had no interest in answering them, for a mere month later he up and left for distant Asshai, taking half the Royal Fleet with him. Why he went to Asshai is a complete mystery. There was nothing of value there, and it stank of him abandoning his responsibilities.
The realm held its breath, waiting for Father. It was balanced on the edge of a knife, and the only reason war had not already erupted was due to a mutual agreement between brothers to await the return of a wayward father.
When the remnants of the Royal Fleet limped back to King's Landing, it seemed as if the entire realm had been drawn to the city. Alas, the only thing the fleet brought back were more questions. The King and most of his escort had been lost at Asshai, they said. The King was dead.
The month long peace that followed was no true peace. All the realm weeped, for the king and for themselves. Father had amassed himself a tidy collection of widows, and they mourned most of all. From me and my brother, no grief could be spared. Father, in his idiocy, had left this burden on us.
A knock came at the door, and I turned. Mother was standing there. "Ah. Well, if they've arrived, usher them in." I sat down at the head of the table as Lyanna walked through the doorway, leading a motley procession. The nominal king, my brother Jon, walked in, resplendent in his attire, and after him followed by his mother. Then, Arianne stepped through the door, and after her, my uncle Viserys. He was scowling as he came in, which was no surprise, given the stupid proposal he was entertaining. Elia was the last to enter.
Characteristically, the first words came from Viserys, and they were as useless as ever. "The throne is mine by right. You're both bastards, and not true Targaryens besides." Everyone cringed at that, and two people turned to look at him - his wife, in distaste, and my brother, in amusement. "We are Targaryens, same as you. Father proclaimed as such at our births. And, forgive me if I am wrong, but in both Valyria and Westeros, son comes before brother." In a colder tone, I picked up after Jon. "Get out of here Viserys, unless you have something useful to say. The invitation was extended as a courtesy, and your presence is already wearing thin."
He puffed up and looked like he had something to say, but thankfully Arianne intervened. "Husband, why don't you leave the room." He looked at her in confusion, and Arianne decided to adopt a colder tone. "Now." Viserys looked at us in distaste, cursed us, and left.
"What are you teaching your daughter, treating your husband like that?" Lyanna asked with a slight laugh. "That she shouldn't look to her uncle as a source of inspiration." Arianne replied coolly. I cocked my head at that. "A curious statement, Aunt." She looked around, surprised at the mutual confusion. "You mean he never told you?" Elia was the first to understand, and when she did her eyes almost popped out of her head.
"You too?" Lyanna and Jorda were a bit slower than Elia, but burst into laughter upon their realization. The only confused ones were me and my brother. Jorda recovered from her laughter first. "When was this?" "The night of my wedding." Arianne replied, relaxing in her chair. This prompted another round of laughter, but did nothing for the confusion. Jon spoke first. "What is this all about?" Elia answered him in a cool tone. "My husband fucked my niece the night of her wedding. And afterwards too, it seems." "I'm surprised you didn't know Jon, especially considering you're married to my daughter." Arianne was chuckling a little at our faces. I recovered first. "Well, this is an interesting meeting. Everyone here seems to have some relation to Rhaegar's loins." This prompted another round of laughter, and an aghast Elia leaving the room.
When Jon finished chuckling, he spoke. "This has been an amusing interlude, but now we must get to the point of the meeting. Halys, do you insist on pressing your claim?" I nodded. "You were disinherited." "I was given Dragonstone." Jon replied by sliding Blackfyre a half-foot from its scabbard. "You're the better fighter." I replied in turn. Jon nodded. "Aye, that I am. Is there any wine?" "Jorda, the table behind you." "No need mother, I'll get it myself."
Jon walked over and poured five glasses before proceeding to hand them out. "Need I remind you that I sit the Iron Throne?" I shrugged. "I have the Reach." "And the North too, I think." Lyanna added, with a slight hint of annoyance and a glance towards me. Arianne downed her glass, then spoke. "My father will likely honor his blood ties. Dorne stands for my son-in-law." I took a sip. "Has the Faith chosen a side?" Jon shook his head. "Curiously not. One would think they would want to regain some power with a change in regime. Not that I'd listen to a word they say, after what they did to Father. Would you?" I shook my head. "An irrelevancy, then. Ah, yes, I also have Father's treasury." "Inconsequential, considering the scale of this conflict." Jon's eyes twinkled. "Enough gold to buy five thousand men is not 'inconsequential'." Jon grew silent. "Mothers, if you please, leave us." I nodded in agreement. They scowled at us, but left.
"A curious trio." I said. "The dragon must have three heads." I cocked my head at Jon. "One of Father's pet obsessions." He produced a letter. "I found this in our father's study. He had written it in Ghiscari. Care for me to translate?" "Of course, oh Maester." No grin split Jon's face. "Simply put, Father paid for a Faceless Man with our half-brother's life." I fell silent. "Jon, you know what this means. Father was unstable. Why do you persist then, knowing this?" Jon shook his head. "Our father was not like our grandfather, Halys. He was not mad. Granted, he was not good either." We sat in silence for a time, then I lifted my glass in toast. "Fuck Father?" Jon raised his glass in reply. "Fuck Father." We drank.
"See you on the battlefield then, brother."
______________________
I was considering including an explanation of events now, but I decided it would be better to have it at the end.
The Bastardswar begins.
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So it begins...
Just one critique: could you indent more traditionally with the dialogue? It just gets hard to follow when everything is in one giant paragraph.
Just one critique: could you indent more traditionally with the dialogue? It just gets hard to follow when everything is in one giant paragraph.
Oofff....
I actually found this chapter a bit harder to keep up with, especially considering I had no trouble before this one. And's it's not just the paragraphs tied together. I honestly think it is a little too fastly paced for the event being described.
That being said, I also want to ask about the current shape of the big houses. Is that a bit much?
I actually found this chapter a bit harder to keep up with, especially considering I had no trouble before this one. And's it's not just the paragraphs tied together. I honestly think it is a little too fastly paced for the event being described.
That being said, I also want to ask about the current shape of the big houses. Is that a bit much?
Changed it around. Better?
Yeah, but I wanted to wrap up the entire setup in one post. Hopefully, the war will be interesting and long enough that I can pace it better.
And in answer to your question:
The Starks rule the North. Eddard is still in charge. I feel he would lean strongly towards Halys, considering Halys is Eddard's nephew.
The Arryns rule the Vale. Some other line inherited after Jon Arryn died and that line still holds it. These Arryns have no familial obligations either way.
The Tullys rule the Vale, with Edmure Tully in charge. Edmure Tully is a strangely positioned one. He is married to the King's sister, but is brother to Catelyn, which is a bit of an awkward position.
The Leffords, lords (or in this case ladies) of the Golden Tooth rule the Westerlands. The main line of House Lannister is dead/irrelevant, and Tullys rule Casterly Rock. The Lady Lefford is married to Halys' sister, but she's also a complete idiot, so it could go either way.
The Tyrells rule the Reach, with Willas Tyrell at the helm. They are backing Halys all the way, since Margaery has been slated as the future Queen and they aren't going to let something as minor as a disinheritance stand in their way.
The Martells rule Dorne, with Doran still alive. Doran would probably side with Jon, considering his granddaughter and eventual heiress of Dorne is married to the King.
The Greyjoys still rule the Isles, but I don't know who rules them and don't really care. I doubt that they would pick a side, so they don't matter.
And finally, the Tarths rule the Stormlands, with Selwyn Tarth still alive and well. He has no leanings one way or the other.
And obviously House Targaryen rules the realm and will rule the realm regardless of which half-brother comes out on top.
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Still confusing in several parts. I tried indenting it myself, but I was lost at times who was speaking, and who was addressing whom.
On a side note, I always dislike the lustful trait for Rhaegar. (Although I believed they removed it.) Lyanna's abduction always struck me as a classical doomed love, which otherwise would've ended in a monogamous "all's well" relationship. But it was written by George, so...
What I mean is, it forces you to write him like a wencher which seemed OOC. You handled it well, though.
What I mean is, it forces you to write him like a wencher which seemed OOC. You handled it well, though.
The whole affair between Lyanna and Rhaegar is probably THE mystery of the entire series for me (that, or the exact details of the Tragedy of Summerhall). A lot of things regarding that didn't add up or otherwise make sense.
I don't think a single one of Rhaegar's (vast) progeny has the lunatic trait, which is nice. Neither does Rhaegar, but his prophecy obsession can be taken as a slightly more benign form.
Yeah they did. This Rhaegar got lustful through a lover event I believe. And since he gained lustful, well... the chamber visit option exists for a reason.
Eh I don't know, Rhaegar hasn't held any orgies yet. Who knows though, he might be letting loose in Asshai, if he's still alive.
I've got the war set up, and I'll post how the Lords Paramount are aligned soon. Then I hope the war doesn't end in a day so I have some content.
Regretfully though, Jon is an attractive ubermensch.
Chapter XVII: How the dice fall
A light knock came at the door of the Small Council chamber. I looked up and noticed Prince Doran. Gout had afflicted him in the last year, and now his personal bodyguard was responsible for his transportation. "Hello grandfather, Areo. Please, come in." I waved for emphasis. Doran inclined his head as he was wheeled in. "Thank you, Your Grace." He glanced at the stack of papers on the desk.
"I assume the lords of the realm have replied?" "They have. I think. I haven't actually looked at any of the letters." Doran smiled slightly. "How many letters did you actually need?" I shrugged."Not many. Certain loyalties were guaranteed either way. The Tyrells and Starks for my brother, and you for me. The rest are a mystery."
I picked a sealed letter at random. The seal was the Stars and Moons of Tarth. I tore the letter open and read it. "The Evenstar favors us, it seems. The Stormlands stand with us." Doran had gone for a letter bearing the seal of the Golden Tooth. "The Westerlands too, it seems."
I snorted. "A blind eunuch would be more useful than that imbecile." "I doubt a blind eunuch would be more useful than the at least twenty thousand men the Leffords represent." I snorted again and tore open another letter at random. The Tully's fish adorned this one.
"Well, it's as I expected. Edmure sided with his family. The Riverlands stand for my brother." "The Greyjoys stand for you." I stared at Doran, my mouth hanging open. After a moment, I could finally speak.
"They chose a side in the first place?" Doran nodded. "You know what this means, of course?" I nodded. "My brother will sail for the Riverlands instead of the Reach. He wouldn't want to be caught by the Ironborn. Which means we can't trap him as he sails around Dorne."
Doran lifted a letter affixed with an eagle. "One left. Care to make a wager?" I glanced at Doran. "You know, I have never heard those words out of your mouth. I would expect them out of Oberyn's." I considered for a moment. "I'll take it. Fifty dragons that the Arryns fall as they did twenty-five years ago." Doran inclined his head and carefully cut open the letter. He read over it and smiled. "You owe me those fifty dragons, Your Grace."
I chuckled slightly. "For thirty thousand men, I'd pay a million."
________________________________________
Sorry for the delay and the shortness.
A light knock came at the door of the Small Council chamber. I looked up and noticed Prince Doran. Gout had afflicted him in the last year, and now his personal bodyguard was responsible for his transportation. "Hello grandfather, Areo. Please, come in." I waved for emphasis. Doran inclined his head as he was wheeled in. "Thank you, Your Grace." He glanced at the stack of papers on the desk.
"I assume the lords of the realm have replied?" "They have. I think. I haven't actually looked at any of the letters." Doran smiled slightly. "How many letters did you actually need?" I shrugged."Not many. Certain loyalties were guaranteed either way. The Tyrells and Starks for my brother, and you for me. The rest are a mystery."
I picked a sealed letter at random. The seal was the Stars and Moons of Tarth. I tore the letter open and read it. "The Evenstar favors us, it seems. The Stormlands stand with us." Doran had gone for a letter bearing the seal of the Golden Tooth. "The Westerlands too, it seems."
I snorted. "A blind eunuch would be more useful than that imbecile." "I doubt a blind eunuch would be more useful than the at least twenty thousand men the Leffords represent." I snorted again and tore open another letter at random. The Tully's fish adorned this one.
"Well, it's as I expected. Edmure sided with his family. The Riverlands stand for my brother." "The Greyjoys stand for you." I stared at Doran, my mouth hanging open. After a moment, I could finally speak.
"They chose a side in the first place?" Doran nodded. "You know what this means, of course?" I nodded. "My brother will sail for the Riverlands instead of the Reach. He wouldn't want to be caught by the Ironborn. Which means we can't trap him as he sails around Dorne."
Doran lifted a letter affixed with an eagle. "One left. Care to make a wager?" I glanced at Doran. "You know, I have never heard those words out of your mouth. I would expect them out of Oberyn's." I considered for a moment. "I'll take it. Fifty dragons that the Arryns fall as they did twenty-five years ago." Doran inclined his head and carefully cut open the letter. He read over it and smiled. "You owe me those fifty dragons, Your Grace."
I chuckled slightly. "For thirty thousand men, I'd pay a million."
________________________________________
Sorry for the delay and the shortness.
I loved the dialogue between the brothers, and in particular their toast.
Great AAR!! Although some of the dialogue between Rhaegar and his enemies was, at times, a bit corny. I suppose there's no way to avoid that when you are playing a villain like Rhaegar and have to deal with the AI's silliness.
Great AAR!! Although some of the dialogue between Rhaegar and his enemies was, at times, a bit corny. I suppose there's no way to avoid that when you are playing a villain like Rhaegar and have to deal with the AI's silliness.
Ahh its getting intense now, brother against brother.
While Jon has more regions, Halys has the two largest (the North and the Reach) plus the Riverlands. Can't say who is going to win this one.
While Jon has more regions, Halys has the two largest (the North and the Reach) plus the Riverlands. Can't say who is going to win this one.