CK2AGOT - Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons

[HistoryDude]

Good to see a look upon the Dornish.

Although the Martells looked like they were trying to be controversial. Do none of them have any sense of propriety? Just because you technically have parental approval to marry for love doesn't mean you should... especially in Westeros.

 

[Thaiga]

Good to see a look upon the Dornish.

Although the Martells looked like they were trying to be controversial. Do none of them have any sense of propriety? Just because you technically have parental approval to marry for love doesn't mean you should... especially in Westeros.

I personally blame the Viper and his mistress. They had too much influence over the lot of them and filled their heads with all that nonsense like freedom to love, children being innocent of the sins of their fathers yada yada. And look what it brought? And I have not even talked about the Citadel Scandal yet!

 

[Thaiga]

The Stormlands​

The Stormlands extend from the Kingswood all the way to the Sea of Dorne, over 400 miles to the south. They also extend from the coast to the easternmost plains of the Reach, varying from 300 to 500 miles, and also include a significant number of islands in the Narrow Sea and the Sea of Dorne, most notably Tarth and Estermont. Finally, the Stormlands also control a sizable salient of territory extending south and east, between the Reach and the Red Mountains. This salient, known as the Dornish Marches, extends just over 400 miles to the south-east of Summerhall. From the south-eastern tip of the Marches, at the castle of Nightsong, to the north-eastern corner on the coast near Massey’s Hook, the Stormlands extend for over 900 miles. For an area that is often overlooked by history and chroniclers, it is a surprisingly large region.

Although large, the Stormlands are not hugely populous. The region lacks a major city and the land can be damp and dismal. The Stormlands certainly field less soldiers than the Westerlands, the Vale, the Reach, the North or the Riverlands, but they have a reputation for fierceness and valour.⁶

Houses of the Stormlands​

Lords of the Stormlands owe their fealty to the Lords Paramount of House Baratheon. Their seat is the castle of Storm's End.

Storm's End by Logan Feliciano​

Major houses of the Stormlands, and their vassals, include:

House Bolling of Storm’s Drum House Baratheon of Stagsden House Wensington of Durran’s Point House Stormhaven of Storm’s Call House Swygert of Galemont House Penrose of Parchments House Trant of Gallowsgrey House Musgood of Drakesgrave House Tarth of Evenfall Hall House Toyne of Sunwatch House Massey of Stonedance House Bar Emmon of Sharp Point House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound House Errol of Haystack Hall House Follard of Woodmere House Buckler of Bronzegate House Fell of Felwood House Staedmon of Broach Arch House Caron of Nightsong House Selmy of Harvest Hall House Peasebury of Poddingfield

House Connington of Griffin’s Roost House Grandison of Grandview House Wagstaff of Adderdell House Morrigen of Crown’s Nest House Seaworth of the Rainwood House Wylde of Rain House House Kellington of Blue Grove House Rogers of Amberly House Estermont of Greenstone House Gower of Wrathrock House Whitehead of the Weeping Town House Mertyns of Mistwood House Tudbury of Tudbury Hall House Swann of Stonehelm House Herston of Slaynemouth House Horpe of Lockport House Lonmouth of Lonmouth House Dondarrion of Blackhaven House Cafferen of Fawnton House Hasty of Hadlow Keep

---

⁶ Atlas

 

[Thaiga]

Notable Events in the Stormlands​

Aftermath​

After the fall of the Usurper Robert Baratheon, his brother, Lord Stannis Baratheon, was forced to abdicate his position as the Prince of Dragonstone and return to the Stormlands. This in turn prompted Lord Renly Baratheon to gracefully step down as the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands in favour of his older brother.

Stagsden​

Lord Paramount Stannis granted his brother a pretty new castle (later known as the Stagsden) not far from the Storm’s End and forsworn any attempts of arranging a marriage for him (a move that must have been devastating for many a maiden). Lord Renly’s best friend and constant companion, Lord Loras of House Tyrell, affectionately called by Lord Renly as his Knight of Flowers, moved in with him. They developed a peculiar fashion of wearing each other’s house’s colours and ruled their little dominion together like a married couple until Lord Renly’s peaceful death in the year 348AC at the age of 71. Lord Loras was granted the rule over the castle until his own peaceful death only three years later, in the year 351AC, at a nice age of 69.

Renly Baratheon by Christine Griffin (author's offical account unfortunately unavailable)

T1 version of the Knight of the Rose from Heroes of Camelot (if anyone knows the name of the author, please contact me)​

With his death the castle of Stagsden returned to the Baratheon family and is currently held by Lady Paramount Shireen’s third son, Ser Gallard of House Baratheon. He is married to Lady Elwene, daughter of late Lord Paramount Willas the Wise of the Reach. They have a son, a strong lad named Boremund. He is betrothed to a beautiful granddaughter of Lord Andrew of Wrathrock.

The Return of Massey’s Hook​

It is known that prior to the War of Conquest, Massey's Hook was part of the Stormlands owing allegiance to the Durrandon Storm Kings of Storm's End. The Bar Emmons and Masseys had developed closer ties with the Targaryens of Dragonstone, however, and allied with Aegon Targaryen against the Storm King Argilac the Arrogant. After Aegon the Conqueror's victory, Massey's Hook became part of the new crownlands owing allegiance to the Targaryens reigning in King's Landing.⁷

Old Lord Maric was the ruling Lord of Massey’s Hook during the Restoration. He was however briefly involved in a conspiracy to install the Usurper’s brother Stannis as the new king instead of the rightful Targaryen pair. This made it apparent that the Targaryens and the lords of the Hook had drifted apart. The short-lived seditious faction was then peacefully dissolved as Lord Paramount Stannis refused to participate in yet another coup. The Queen then seemed fitting to reward Lord Stannis for his loyalty and returned the Hook and its surrounding lands to their roots. This new dynamic was not without its storms, of course, as one of the lords of house Massey, Lord Albyn the Planter, was beheaded in the year 327AC on the orders of Lord Paramount Stannis of the Stormlands.

But let us not get ahead of ourselves and look further back at the Masseys en mass.

Lord Maric peacefully died just three years after the Restoration.

His second son Ser Justin unfortunately died just three months before the Restoration from an especially malignant tumour.

Lord Maric’s youngest son, Ser Wallace, lived a long life that almost could be seen as two vastly different ones.

His first wife Sarya was a lowborn witch. With her Ser Wallace lived in the surrounding woods under the constant influence of his wife’s dubious brews, trapping defenceless creatures and torturing them for days until they became as mad as his beloved Sarya. This life of course could not go on forever and after one of their especially brew-filled nights Ser Wallace found his witch-wife dead.

Surprisingly however he did not grieve that long and soon remarried to a woman young enough to be his daughter. His new wife Betha was born of rape perpetrated against a common-born woman by Betha’s father, a disgraced “ser” Ronel Waters, natural-born son of the Late Lord Walder from House Frey of the Crossing. Soon after he was caught and brought to trial that condemned him to be gelded and sent to the Night’s Watch. He died there during a trial by combat while serving under the command of his nephew, Dickon Frey.

Since Sarya never gave her husband any children (she made sure of that with her concoctions), after her death Ser Wallace’s new wife had to rapidly fill that void and she did so with six children. Unfortunately it did not do any favours to her health and he died at the age of six-and-thirty. Both her husband and her father outlived her.

The pair’s third child and first daughter, lady Myrren, was supposed to marry the valiant Ser Sumon from House Chelsted. When the rain that poured on their wedding day ruined the young lady’s dress the guests tried to console her saying that it’s for good luck. She died within a month from the inflammation in her lungs. Ser Symon eventually remarried.

Poor lady Myrren’s sister had a bit more luck, especially the middle sister Mary who married Ser Martin from House Warfield of Stokeworth. Cassana, the youngest one, is married to Ser Ben Flowers, known in the tourneys as Blackant, a bastard-born knight from House Bushy.

Ser Wallace’s oldest son, Ser Maric, is married to lady Argella from House Caron. Their only son Barron is married to lady Rosalei from House Durwell.

Ser Maric’s middle brother, Ser Edric, is married to lady Megga from House Costayne. They have a daughter. The last brother, Ser Harys, married a common-born woman named Joy, a wise woman from a local village. They do not have any offspring and this unfortunate fact grieves Ser Harys very much.

But let us briefly go back to Lord Maric, the grandsire to the aforementioned brothers.

A year after Lord Maric’s death his only daughter, Lady Joselyn, was brutally executed by her own husband, Lord Guncer from House Sunglass of Sweetport Sound. It was later revealed that her accusations were fabricated by Lord Guncer’s lover, a common whore by the name of Brienne Parsin. Even more insultingly, Lord Guncer actually married the fallen woman soon after the execution.

In retaliation, Lady Joselyn’s brother invaded the isle of Sweetport Sound, took its lord captive and forced Lord Guncer to bend the knee. Unfortunately Lord Jon was gravely injured during his revenge. He lost an eye, the wound began to fester and the brief Lord Jon was dead within a year.

His firstborn daughter, Lady Elinor, was married to Ser Jon from House Bar Emmon until his death at the age of six-and-forty. Lady Elinor never remarried and wore her widow’s garments for twenty five long years.

Her sister, Lady Alys, did not feel the same way about her first husband, nor for her second one for that matter. When her first one, Lord Bryen from House Tollett of Grey Glen, decided to father a bastard and consequently died from a brothel disease at the age of just one-and-thirty, Lady Alys eventually remarried to old Ser Beric of House Peckledon, but he died at their wedding, drowning in wine while laying under an open barrel. Lady Alys later fell in love with Ser Raynald, a much younger baseborn knight in the service of her second husband’s household. Unfortunately he died of gout at the prime age of four-and-thirty, leaving poor Lady Alys alone once again. Ser Raynald was the only man she ever truly grieved and wore a proper mourning for. Their union was contested by her family however, so unfortunately their son, Ser Ronard, is widely considered a bastard. To escape that stain he had recently left Westeros and ended up in the North Valyrian region of Port Orbar where he married lady Nelayenis from House Longwaters.

Ser Rupert is the only son of the brief Lord Jon that still lives. This unfortunately cannot be said about his first wife, lady Rohanne from House Estren, who was executed by Ser Ruper’s nephew after she tried to seduce him. Ser Rupert remarried to lady Olana from House Waxley who is eight years younger than Ser Rupert’s son.

Until her death Ser Rupert’s daughter, lady Lollys, was married to Ser Manfrey from House Bullhart, son of Lord Gendry the Bull and his Lady of Blades.

Ser Rupert’s poor son, Ser Steffon, had unfortunately suffered an injury to his head in the very next tourney after being knighted so now he lives as if he was seven years old. He naturally does not have any children with his wife, lady Alicent from House Bracken, and the pair lives with minimum contact as Ser Steffon does not want to play with nasty girls and lady Alicent does not want to deal with a literal manchild.

Ser Davos was Lord Jon’s middle child. Despite his open preference towards male company, he dutifully sired two children with his wife, lady Jonquil from House Chyttering. Unfortunately the honourable Ser Davos was accused of unsolicited advances towards one of the Baratheon brothers and lost his life in a subsequent trial by combat. His wife eventually found solace in the arms of Ser Alan, a baseborn knight in her late husband’s family’s service. Despite their claims of marriage however Ser Alan and lady Jonquil’s son suffered the same fate as Lady Alys’ and is considered a bastard. He lives quietly in the service of the Masseys along with his baseborn wife.

Ser Davos’ daughter, lady Marei, is married to Ser Deremond from House Buckwell; they have a son. Her brother Jorald is married to a baseborn woman named Elane. Despite their age the pair still hopes for a child.

Brief Lord Jon’s successor unfortunately was his eldest son, Lord Albin, for his favourite style of execution known as The Planter (he liked to bound or break his prisoners and bury them up to their nipples into the well tamped down earth). He was eventually executed by Lord Paramount Stannis for his unforgivable dealing with the pirates. His wife Lerra from House Bar Emmon, a very beautiful woman in her younger years, openly entertained other men during their marriage, a thing that is rumoured to be encouraged by her husband. After his death she eventually remarried to Lord Harlan from House Wagstaff of Adderdell and currently serves as her step-son’s very inventive interrogator.

Lady Lerra had two children out of wedlock.

Her first one, Ser Morton, is married to Lady Carmella of Tudbury Hall and has five children with her. Morton was born from Ser Bertram, a young and promising heir to House Westbrook whose peculiarly inconsistent nature drove him into a very early grave.

Lady Lerra never disclosed the father of her daughter Serra, a second bastard. It is speculated that she was conceived during an intercourse that involved a number of different men and it was therefore impossible to determine the actual father of the child. Lady Serra was noticed at one of the tourneys by none other than the Laughing Ant - Ser Jeremy from House Ambrose, the son of the Queen of Trader Town. A virtuous man, he was nevertheless smitten by the fickle and stubborn Serra and fought tirelessly to win her affection. He eventually did, and now the married pair has two children together.

Calamitous Lady Laena was Lord Albin and Lady Lerra’s firstborn child. Shortly after her fifteenth nameday she was sent to the Vale to marry Lord Wyllem from House Malcolm of Old Anchor. She soon became pregnant with her first (and tragically only) child. Unfortunately the pregnancy was going really hard for the poor girl, but it was the birth that truly turned nightmarish. After days of fruitless agony her body could not take it anymore and her mind finally snapped. She grabbed a pair of fabric scissors one of her handmaids used to cut fresh linens for the birthing bed. With a horrendous wail of a dying animal Lady Laena started to plunge the sharp metal into her body, frantically stabbing herself without any thought or reason into the abdomen and nether regions. The handmaids and the maester were so shocked by her sudden frenzy that when they finally came to their senses and tried to stop the wretched girl it was already too late for her. She died in an unimaginable agony, drowning the whole room in hot red blood. Miraculously however her son survived. Maester managed to cut the child out of his dying mother’s womb just in the nick of time.

The Planter’s and his unchaste Lady’s last child is a son, Ser Morton, who was born after his bastard half-brother and still named the same. He is the only unproblematic member of this bunch. He is married to lady Molianne from House Mallery. Their only son Andrew is married to a pretty young Morya from House Smallwood.

Ser Jon and Ser Dickon, the Planter’s second and third sons respectively, are another matter entirely.

Let us start with the second.

Ser Jon, the Planter’s second son, is still alive. Before his exile to the Night’s Watch he was married to lady Tysane from House Bar Emmon and the pair has one living child together, an unstable daughter named Meredyth who is married to Ser Hobber from House Cordwayner.

It would seem however that a shy and virtuous wife was not enough for Ser Jon, so he proceeded to have a bastard son with his own sister-in-law, Lady Myrcella from House Darkhart. Little Albin’s birth prompted Lord Maldon, the cuckolded uncle, to seize the boy’s father and send him to the Wall. After that lady Tysane returned to her childhood home and little Albin stayed at his family’s court where he grew up into a strong lad and was recently knighted. He also very recently married the young and beautiful lady Helaena from House Velaryon of Driftmark and was declared a legitimate heir to Massey’s Hook, but that will be explained a little further.

Let us first cover Lord Maldon’s second betrayal, this one even more dire. Ser Dickon was the Planter’s third son. His wife, lady Elanna from House Staedmon, was accused, brought before Lady Paramount Shireen, stood trial at the Storm’s End and was finally found guilty of conspiracy to murder her brother-in-law, Lord Maldon. She was promptly beheaded then and there. Ser Dickon’s knowledge about his wife’s dealings was not decisively proven so he was allowed to return back to his brother’s court where he soon married lady Talla from House Appleton whose first husband from House Jordayne was sent to Night’s Watch some time prior. Unfortunately for all involved, lady Talla later testified before Lord Maric’s court that in the throes of passion her new husband had confessed to her about his involvement in the conspiracy. Lord Maric had no choice but to condemn his brother and, being a man of justice, took his brother’s head off himself.

Lady Talla then returned to her son’s court at The Scourge. Ser Dickon’s only son, Ser Bonifer, was not indicted or punished in any way and quietly lives at his family’s court with his wife, lady Alma from House Yronwood.

Betrayed by both of his brothers and with a stain of kinslaying, Lord Maldon, a deeply religious man, proceeded to punish himself for his deeds, fasting to the point of no return. He died just four years after his brother’s execution. His wife, Lady Myrcella from House Darkhart, apparently loved him very much. She terribly regrets her own betrayal and deeply grieves for her late husband.

All four of the pair’s daughters are happily married into the noble houses of various prominence.

The pair’s only son, Lord Tarwen, is the current Lord of Massey’s Hook. he is married to Lady Alina from House Corbray, daughter of the current Lord of Northweald. Recently Lord Tarwen’s Council unexpectedly pushed for him to name his bastard-born brother/nephew as his legitimate heir. Surprisingly the stubborn and proud Lord Tarwen acceded to their demand, much to the dismay of his four sisters.

It took a bit of time and it was not without its tempests, but ultimately the Masseys settled with their new old Stormlands overlord. Even the death of their patriarch had a solid reasoning behind it, after all the cruel Lord Albyn was thoroughly disliked by his subjects and was a known pirate sympathizer that had many shady dealings with the scoundrels from the Stepstones. It would seem that Lord Stannis indeed had a knack for inspiring loyalty by acts of delivering justice.

The Stags Leap Forward​

Lord Paramount Stannis the Just ruled the Stormland as a very respected ruler. For his valiant service he was granted a sword, later named the Father’s Fury, to be passed from generation to generation.

Lord Paramount Stannis of House Baratheon died in the year 331AC at the age of 69 from a tumour of the body growing in his armpit, despite the maester’s efforts to fight it with an amputation.

Stannis Baratheon by Magali Villeneuve

Lord Stannis and his wife, Falyse of house Florent (died peacefully in the year 343AC), only had one daughter, Lady Shireen. She inherited the Stormland from her father and still rules there despite her rather sickly disposition in the later years.

Lady Paramount Shireen is married to her cousin, Lord Edric, the Bastard of Storm’s End. Their loving marriage produced four sons and three daughters.

Unfortunately though two of their eldest sons are already deceased.

Their second son, Lord Duran, was the first to go. He died in the year 344AC at the age of just 38.

It is believed that even though he was a strong man, his health just could not handle his constant drinking and overeating. His poor wife, Lady Lyria of House Errol, finally died in the year 354AC after ten years of constant sorrow and despair.

They had two daughters together (both married and had issue).

The oldest son of Lady Paramount Shireen, Lord Orys, died in the year 350AC at the relatively young age of just 46 of the seemingly natural causes despite physically being a very strong man.

His death was most probably brought by the same hedonistic lifestyle and extreme obesity that took his younger brother just six years prior. He left behind a wife, Lady Aliona of House Tarth, and seven children: four sons and a daughter with Lady Aliona (all married and with children of their own), and two bastard daughters from his extramarital affairs.

Death of the Usurper​

Even though it occurred far from the Stormland (or any other Westerosi lands, for that matter), I think this footnote would be a fitting place to mention the death of the Usurper Robert Baratheon.

After his exile, he was reportedly spotted amongst the mercenaries’ company with a very fitting name, The Stormcrows.

He stayed in the Captain Syrodos’ employ for an unknown amount of time, but in the end he was seen in the court of a Braavosi sealord Tormo Fregar.

The Usurper Robert of House Baratheon died in the year 327AC athe the age of 65. He died of a tumour growing from his testicles. Sad, but fitting end for a once great and undefeatable warrior conquered by his own vices.

Robert Barathen by Magali Villeneuve

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⁷ WoIaF

 

[Thaiga]

The Maid Most Fair and Just​

After the unfortunate affair with the trial of Lord Selwyn, the Evenstar of Tarth, and his execution on the order of Lord Paramount Stannis Baratheon in the year 309AC, Lord Selwyn’s only living child, Lady Brienne, inherited his seat.

Even though she initially shunned all the prospects of marriage (and was called the Maid of Tarth for that), she later met a knight, Ser Rory, from a small house, the Valkyns of Black Bog, vassals of Seaworths of Rainwood. He was a kind and honest man, and strong both in his body and his will (his will was downright stubborn, a trait that must have been of paramount importance when courting a known Maid). They became friends and later lovers, and Lady Brienne finally believed his promises and accepted his proposal. Ser Rory forsworn his family name for love and got a special dispensation from the Queen herself that all the children that might come from this union will be considered as true heirs of House Tarth.

And the children sure followed, four tall and able-bodied daughters and a son, a true giant of a man. Soon Lady Brienne was not called the Maid anymore (well, duh), and no one dared to mock her as “the Beauty” either. People of Tarth started to call her “the Goliath” instead, after the folk hero of old.

The eldest daughter of Lady Brienne, Lady Eleanor, married the bastard son of the Usurper, Ser Lyonel. They were granted a castle not far from the Storm’s End.

Ser Lyonel took a family name of Stormhaven, and named his castle Storm’s Call, for he pledged his eternal allegiance to his father’s house and made a vow to always listen to their call.

They had two sons and a daughter (all married and with children). Their second son, ser Robert, is serving as the Keeper of the Black Cells of the Red Keep.

The second daughter of Lady Brienne, Lady Jocelyn, married Ser Cortnay of House Seaworth, grandson of the famous Lord Davos the Onion Knight and the heir to the Reinwood at the time of the wedding. But tragedy struck this loving family when Lady Jocelyn fell ill with what seemed like an ordinary flu and then died suddenly in the year 330AC at the age of just 31.

Her poor husband was so grief-stricken that he fell into the deepest despair and took his own life just a month after his wife’s death.

Their ill-fated, but hauntingly beautiful and sadly so short-lived love-story left behind four children, three daughters (all married, had issue) and a son, Lord Dale, current Lord of Rainwood and the second to bear that name.

He is married to Lady Mylla, the granddaughter of Lady Paramount Shireen through her second son, Lord Durran. They have four daughters and two sons.

Lord Dale also beget three bastards: a girl and a boy from Lady Adena of House Valkyn, the late first wife of Ser Casper Seaworth, and a boy from a woman named Tynalla, a lowborn wife of the very same Ser Casper’s son.


The third daughter of Lady Brienne, Lady Aliona, married Lord Orys of House Baratheon, the first son and (at the time of marriage) heir of Lady Paramount Shireen of the Stormlands. Their marriage is covered in the previous chapter.


The fourth daughter of Lady Brienne, Lady Laena, married Ser Richard of House Bullhart, the first son and heir to the fledgling House Bullhart of Rosby.

They had three daughters (their first girl tragically died at the age of just two years after an unfortunate encounter with a rabid dog, the second perished at the age of 23 under very suspicious circumstances after her marriage to the heir of now infamously evil Lord Jeremy from the disgraced House of Chyttering) and three sons. All surviving children are married and have children of their own.


The third child and the only son of Lady Brienne, Lord Denys the Gallant, married Lady Elane from the resurfaced House Toyne.

It was the marriage of love and it produced four living sons (all married and with children) and a daughter (married to Lord Allard of Crackclaw Barren).

It was Lord Denys who proposed to take back the Island of Morne from nature that claimed it for all those centuries. And so the recolonisation of Morne came to pass. Lord Denys restored the castle of Morne and brought his family to live there.

Lord Danys also built another castle on the Isle of Morne. He named this new castle Sunwatch for it was in a perfect position to ponder as the sun came up from the Narrow Sea. He granted this castle to his brother-in-law, Ser Byrios of House Toyne.

His son is looking after it now.

Lord Denys also brought maesters and scholars and builders to study the ancient structures on the island. This endeavor proved very fortuitous as his relentless excavation yielded an exceptional reward - the legendary sword believed to have been wielded by none other than Ser Galladon of Morne himself, the legendary hero the House of Tarth claims to be a descendant from. Supposedly the sword is enchanted, unable to be stopped by sword or shield, and it was supposedly given to Ser Galladon by the Maiden herself as a token of her love. Whatever the truth of these tales, Just Maid is an impressive sword with its blade undulled by the centuries. The hilt is wrought in gold and bronze, decorated with amber and the pommel is shaped like a star, presumably in honour of the Seven. The blade is curious, sharing many similarities with the sword Dawn, it is as pale as milkglass, looking like no Valyrian blade, yet sharing all of the properties, being incredibly strong and sharp. Lord Denys presented this prize to his mother, Lady Brienne, for she was considered to be the Maid Most Just indeed.

The sword returned to Lord Denys in the year 343AC when his mother, Lady Brienne, the Goliath of Tarth, died peacefully at the age of 63.

Brienne of Tarth by Bella Bergolts

With the rebuilding project well underway, Lord Denys, now head of the Tarth family, Lord of Tarth islands and a steward of Stormlands, granted Morne to his second son, Lord Rory (married, has children).

Lord Denys, the Gallant Lord of House Tarth, died in the year 351AC at the age of 51. He died in his official chambers at the Storm’s End, most probably due to the stress that naturally accompanied his work.

Ser Rory (the husband of Lady Brienne, not to be confused with their son) stuck around for another ten-ish years after his wife’s death, outliving his oldest son (and going blind at the sight of his lifeless body), and finally followed his beloved Fair Maid in the year 356AC at the age of 78.

Lord Gladden is the current Lord of Tarth. He is married to Lady Bonessa of House Baratheon, daughter of Lady Paramount Shireen of the Stormlands. They have two living sons and three daughters.

 

[TWR97]

A fascinating entry for the Stormlands. Also Stannis getting the Stormlands back and actually treated well? I say that's a happy ending for the Mannis, and probably got to reconcile with his brother Renly too, very different as to how their relationship went in canon. I'm glad the Baratheons are still around, was worried they'd be rendered extinct for the Rebellion. And Robert even got his wish to fight and get away from kingly duties.

 

[Thaiga]

A fascinating entry for the Stormlands. Also Stannis getting the Stormlands back and actually treated well? I say that's a happy ending for the Mannis, and probably got to reconcile with his brother Renly too, very different as to how their relationship went in canon. I'm glad the Baratheons are still around, was worried they'd be rendered extinct for the Rebellion. And Robert even got his wish to fight and get away from kingly duties.

Thank you! I actually kinda like Mannis, or rather I am sympathetic to him. The one Baratheon that I definitely like a lot is Shireen, so for her sake her dad was treated well. To my surprise, he was a very stable and loyal vassal, never missed a call to arms or rose in rebellion. So this time he actually deserved every good thing he got. And he did in fact have very green relations with Renly. As for Bobby, I actually tried to send him to the Wall but he escaped. When I saw where he escaped to, I knew this playthrough was blessed. First he gets sick so bad that Ned becomes regent and has his hands freed for the bloodless coup (I actually was planning for war), and then Bobby joins the STORMcrows? That cemented my investment in this round for sure.

 

[Thaiga]

The Reach​

The Reach measures approximately 1,200 miles along its longest axis (from the Arbor to the Blackwater Rush near King’s Landing). At its widest the region extends for about 800 miles from east to west and about 600 miles to north and south (with a significant southward extension west of the Red Mountains).⁸

Houses of the Reach​

Lords of the Reach owe their fealty to the Lords Paramount of House Tyrell. They rule from the castle at Highgarden.

Highgarden by FelixSotomayorArt​

Major houses of the Reach, and their vassals, include:

House Norridge of Thornton Hall House Tyrell of the Halls of the Greenhand House Ball of Manderford House Fireball of Fire Meadow House Tyrell of Bournheath House Westbrook of Westbrook House Willum of Smallwood House Cockshaw of Bardshome House Redwyne of the Arbor House Hightower of Oldtown House Cuy of Sunhouse House Roxton of the Ring House Mullendore of Uplands House Costayne of the Three Towers House Bulwer of Blackcrown House Blackbar of Bandallon House Beesbury of Honeyholt House Florent of Brightwater House Norcross of Norcross House Dunn of Dunnsbridge House Tarly of Horn Hill House Hunt of Hunt Hills House Oldflowers of Sommerset House Inchfield of Inchfield House Sloane of Fawn Crag House Middlebury of Biddlebury House Ashford of Ashford House Peake of Starpike House Pommingham of Knarsdale House Yelshire of Yelshire House Ashford of Holyhall House Fossoway (green) of New Barrel House Fossoway (brown) of Dunstonbury House Fossoway (red) of Cider Hall

House Merryweather of Longtable House Hastwyck of Hastwyck House Appleton of Appleton House Uffering of Sweetmeadow House Meadows of Grassy Vale House Caswell of Bitterbridge House Bridges of Knettishall House Vyrwel of Darkdell House Leygood of Leygood Keep House Varner of Roseford House Footly of Tumbleton House Lyberr of Caltrop Hill House Cordwayner of Hammerhal House Orme of Harpshire House Ambrose of Torrentpeak House Bushy of Alden Keep House Wythers of Wythers House Graves of Nateby House Rowan of Goldengrove House Shermer of Smithyton House Rhysling of Iron Gate House Kidwell of Ivy Hall House Osgrey of The Northmarch House Durwell of Dosk House Stackhouse of Derring Downs House Webber of Coldmoat House Conklyn of Leafy Lake House Crane of Red Lake House Redding of Redding House Risley of Risley Glade House Oakheart of Old Oak House Lowther of Catswold House Hewett of Oakenshield House Serrer of Southshield House Grimm of Greyshield House Chester of Greenshield

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^{8 Atlas}

 

[Thaiga]

Notable Events in the Reach​

Some Roses Have the Longest Thorns​

Due to prior marital arrangements, Lord Paramount Mace of House Tyrell was the first to become a part of The Coup that brought our beloved Queen back where she belonged (on the Iron Throne, that is). For that he was granted a fine sword that came to be known as the Longthorn. Lord Mace was a staunch supporter of the Throne and a loyal vassal up until his sorrowful death in the year 310AC.

Game of Thrones - Growing Ambition by Paolo Puggioni

The death of his mother, the Queen of Thorns Olenna of House Redwyne, in the year 304AC deeply affected him and his sisters, who both died of the same great sadness in the year 316AC.

Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns, by Borja Pindado (unfortunately couldn't find this particular picture on either of the author's official pages: DeviantArt / ArtStation)

Lord Mace’s wife, Lady Alerie of House Hightower, died a year before them from seemingly natural causes.

Alerie Tyrell by BellaBergolts

The Falcon and the Snake​

Despite the considerable and historical enmity between Houses Tyrell and Martell, then not yet a Paramount Lord Willas bore them no personal ill will long remained in correspondence with Lord Oberyn the Red Vyper. And thus it came to pass that Lod Wyllas married one of the Snakes, a bastard daughter of Lord Oberyn and a septa, Lady Tyene Sand. This match surely was a controversial one, as many marriages associated with Dorne seemed to be in the early years of Queen Daenerys’ reign. But it was a loving one too and helped to mend the animosity between these two families and their respective regions as well.

Lord Paramount Willas succeeded his father on the 22nd day of the Twelfth Moon in the year 310AC. For his brilliant rulership and masterful administration he became known as Lord Paramount Willas the Wise. Ever a diligent man, the weight of his responsibility greatly affected his already delicate health in his last years and is believed to be his undoing.

Lord Paramount Willas died in the year 334AC.

Willas Tyrell by PanExis

His beloved wife, Lady Tyene, followed him four years later.

Tyene Sand by BellaBergolts

Growing Strong​

The Rosebush of the Reach did indeed grow strong.

Lord Paramount Mace and his wife, Lady Allerie, had four children together: three sons, Lord Willas, Ser Garland the Gallant, Ser Loras the Knight of Flowers; and a daughter, the Generous Lady Margaery.

Lady Margaery married the Ironworded Lord Paramount of the North, Lord Robb of House Stark. Their marriage will be covered in the appropriate chapter.

Ser Loras never married and lived his whole life in the Stormlands with his equally bachelor friend, Lord Renly of House Baratheon.

The Stem​

Lord Paramount Willas and Lady Tyene had five children: two sons and three daughters.

Their second child, Lady Elinor, married Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, Lord Bywin the Bladesman of House Tully. Their marriage will be covered in the appropriate chapter.

Their fourth child, Lady Sansara, married Prince of Dorne, Doran the Good. Their marriage is covered in the previous chapter on Dorne.

Their last child, Lady Elwene, married Lord Gallard of House Baratheon, master of Stagsden. Their marriage is covered in the previous chapter on Stormlands.


The third child of Lord Paramount Willas, Ser Raymun (who relocated to the Halls of the Greenhand after the death of his uncle Ser Garland), was married once, although a certain young chambermaid might have disagreed if it was not for her convenient natural death not even a month after Ser Raymund’s.

Ser Raymund’s wife, Lady Lia oh House Hightower, gave him two children.

Their daughter, Rhonda, is married to Ser Bradamar of House Tully, grandson of Lord Paramount of the Riverlands Edmure the Confessor through his second son Harys. The pair currently resides in Braavos where Ser Bradamar holds the position of Chief General at the court of Master Tycho of Moonsbrigde. The union remains childless.

Ser Raymund’s son, Ser Uther, was married to Lady Mylessa of House Osgrey, daughter of Lord Martyn II of Northmarch. She fell into a deep sadness after the same unfortunate duel in the year 347AC between her husband and his kinsman, then heir to the Reach, that brought Ser Raymund to the bottle. Her heart finally gave up and she died in the year 357AC. Ser Raymund remains unmarried.

Their marriage produced four children: two daughters and two sons.

Their oldest daughter, Mina, married her kinsman, Ser Lucas, grandson of Lord Paramount Richard the Bladesman through his fourth son, Lord Robert of Littleton. Their marriage will be covered later.

The oldest son of Ser Uther, Greydon, is the presumed heir, although his mental state raises serious concerns. Despite that, he is married to Lady Calla of House Westbrook, although the pair is yet to produce any children.

Ser Uther’s second son, Ser Loras, is much more stable and is expected to look after his brother if such need should arise. Ser Loras is freshly married to Lady Beliona of House Fireball.

Ser Uther’s last child with Lady Mylessa, Lady Jorella, just married Ser Mathis of House Ball, oldest son and heir of Lord Perwyn of Manderford.

Lord Paramount Willas’ oldest son, Lord Paramount Richard the Bladesman, succeeded his father in the year 334AC. He was married to Lady Aressa of House Lannister, first child of Lord Paramount Tyrion the Imp.

The union proved to be very successful and resulted in seven sons.

Their second son, Lord Randyll, married Lady Mary of House Baratheon, fierce daughter of Lady Paramount of the Stormlands, the Illustrious Lady Shireen.

The union produced only one daughter, Lady Lena. She married Ser Ormund of House Hightower, brother of “Red Nosed” Lord Martyn of Oldtown. They have a son and a daughter.

The third son of Lord Paramount Richard, Lord Alester, for his cruel fiery nature became known as the Black Rose. He married Lady Asta of House Hightower, oldest sister of “Red Nosed” Lord Martyn of Oldtown.

This union also resulted in only a daughter, Lady Aressa. She married Lord of Mandervale, Lord Garlan of House Fossoway (the green batch). They have a daughter.

The fourth son of Lord Paramount Richard, Lord Robert of Littleton, married Lady Mylessa of House Footly, sister of the open-handed Lord Addam of Tumbleton. Lord Addam granted the chateau of Littleton to his new brother-in-law as a wedding gift and the pair resides there now.

This union resulted in one living son and a daughter.

Their son, Ser Lucas, is married to his kinswoman, Lady Mina, daughter of Ser Uther from the Halls of the Greenhand. They already have two sons and a daughter.

Lord Robert’s daughter, Lady Jancia, is a young maiden and is yet to be bethrothed.

Lord Paramount Richard’s fifth son, also named Lord Richard, married Lady Carellen of House Redwyne. As of yet they have only one daughter, Lady Kalianne. She married her kinsman, Ser Theo, son and heir of Ser Ormond of Bournheath. Their marriage will be covered later.

Lord Paramount Richard’s sixth and seventh sons, twins Lords Gareth and Runcel, married twin sisters of House Bulwer, Ladies Delina and Lysa. Both matches are yet childfree.

The first son of Lord Paramount Richard, the current Lord Paramount of the Reach, Lord Medwick, succeeded his father in the year 354AC. He married Lady Alera of House Merryweather, daughter of the careless Lord Russell of Blueburn.

With five sons and a daughter, this union also proved fruitful, albeit not without tragedy.

Their first son and heir, Ser Gormon, was slain in the year 347AC by his own kinsman, Ser Uther of the Halls of the Greenhand in a duel for honour. He was only one-and-twenty years old, but already with a son from his wife, Lady Bressa of House Bulwer, older sister of the aforementioned twins.

Lady Bressa later happily remarried and had other children with her new husband, Lord of Oldtown Martyn II of House Hightower, called the Red Nosed for his love of drink.

Ser Gormon’s and Lady Bressa’s son, Lord Jafer, is the heir apparent to the Reach. He is married to Princess Rhaella of House Targaryen, daughter of Princess Aella, the Realm’s Delight, and Lord Aethon, heir to the Harrenhal. They currently reside in the Red Keep of King's Landing.

Lord Medwick’s second son, Lord Victor, swore to protect his little nephew and his family, even though they are not even ten years apart in age, and forsworn all prospects of marriage or inheritance. He took an oath and became a sworn knight of the Queensguard.

Lord Medwick’s third son, Lord Quentyn, is married to the brilliant Lady Clarice of House Webber and is clearly outshined by her in almost every regard.

Lord Medwick’s twins, Lady Dalla and Lord Imry, are also married to another set of twins, Ser Matthos, the heir of Tarth, and his sister, Lady Bonessa, respectively. Both pairs already became the parents of boys, although Lady Dalla’s boy unfortunately did not thrive.

Lord Medwick’s fourth son, Lord Lothor, is newly wedded to Lady Patricia of House Shermer. Although coming from a rather minor house being just a girl of four-and-ten, Lady Patricia already shows a lot of promise and ambition.

The Gallant Branch​

The second son of Lord Paramount Mace, Ser Garland, chose to live in the chateau he called the Halls of the Greenhand and married twice.

His poor first wife, Lady Leonette of House Fossoway (green apple batch), gave him three living children: a son, Ser Ormond, and two daughters, Lady Lia (married Lord Lewys of House Marbrand, Lord of Ashemark, had issue) and Lady Janna (married Lord Ser Arthur of House Crane, the heir of Red Lake, had issue). Lady Leonette was then accused by the High Septon and Lord Paramount Willas was forced to condemn her to the pyre in the year 315AC. She was the only death sentence he ever issued.

Ser Garland married again after that. It clearly was a marriage of love. As his bride he chose Lady Beony of House Cordwayner, a widow of one of his distant kinsmen, Ser Raymund. Both marriages of Lady Beony unfortunately remained childless or resulted in stillbirths. She died in the year 338AC from the same ailment that took her first husband. Ser Garland followed her just two days after.

Ser Garland’s son, Ser Ormond, married Lady Oraney of House Ball. To commemorate that match Ser Ormond was granted the chateau of Bournheath in the Manderford. They are the current masters of Bournheath and have two children together.

Their son and heir, Ser Theo, is married to his kinswoman, Kalianne, a granddaughter of Lord Paramount Richard the Bladesman through his fifth son, also Lord Richard, for whom she is the only child. The pair has two sons.

Ser Ormond’s daughter, Arwyn, is married to Osbert of House Florent, a brother of Lord Alester II of Brightwater. They do not have any children yet.

 

[Thaiga]

Better to be Green than Rotten​

After the marriage of Lord Paramount Mace’s sister, Lady Janna, and Lord Jon of House Fossoway (green batch), the semi-legendary title of Lords of Mandervale was bestowed on them as a better-late-than-never wedding gift. Lord Jon later became known as Lord Jon the Gallant for his valour and honor as a knight. The union resulted in four daughters and one living son.

Said son, the Honorable Lord Raymun, succeeded his father in the year 308AC. He was married to Lady Delena of House Ashford. They had two sons and three daughters, although their last three children all died before the age of fifty.

Lord Raymun was the one to find Garth's Fist, ancestral blade of House Gardener with a design based on ancient legends from the Age of Heroes. Its grip and quillons are inlaid with bronze, harking back to Garth Greenhand's status as the King of the First Men. The chappe is also bronze, cast in the likeness of a bearded and crowned figure frozen in a wordless scream, evoking the darker side of the legends of the Greenhand. The pommel of the sword is the Gardener Hand closed into a fist, cast in steel, reflecting the fact that the open-handed Gardeners can just as easily dispense violence as well as beneficence. The recovery of the sword made the Fossoway’s claim of being their descendants much more grounded and the sword is now considered the most prized possession of the Fossoways from New Barrel.

After Lord Raymun’s peaceful death in the year 336AC, he was succeeded by his son, Lord Jon II, also called the Gallant, the fact that will no doubt confuse some future maesters as the time goes by. He was married to a dornish, Lady Aslia of House Wyl. The union produced five sons and a daughter and all of them survived to adulthood.

But then the tragedies struck.

Their second son, Ser Igon, a kind, honorable and rather bookish man, first started showing signs of an unhinged temper in his early teens. His father tried to manage it by taking him as a squire, but by the time the boy became a man it became apparent that his condition only got worse and brought with it not only an “unnatural interest in men”, which is debatable, but also clear and simple fits of stark raving madness. In another attempt to deal with it somehow, his parents found him a wife, Lady Elene from House Drox in the Westerlands. For some time everything seemed fine as the pair produced three healthy children in rapid succession: two girls and a boy. But then Ser Igon stated that “his duty here is done” and left to join the Ragged Standard, a sellsword company in the Free Cities. He died in the employ of Captain Zonio in the year 342AC at the prime age of just seven-and-twenty.

His death greatly affected the family. His brother, Ser Raymun, married his brother’s widow, Lady Elene, but their marriage remained childless. Ser Igon’s father, Lord Jon, fell into deep sorrow that he never recovered from and thus now Lord Raymun became Lord of Mandervale. And he was the Lord for a whole fourteen days before leaving Lady Elene a widow once again.

After the trial, his killer Ser Addam hastily left the Reach and ended up as a consort to the Lady of Aprochon, a small castle on Claw Isle.

Ser Addam was born a bastard but made legitimate after the marriage of his parents, a sister of Lord Rycherd II of Red Lake, Lady Carellen of House Crane, and Ser Garyn of House Aryenos, a man from the Rhoyne valley. It is still a mystery how such a ruthless and deceitful woman like Lady Carellen managed to seduce, persuade to abandon his family to marry her and then produce three sons with a kind and honorable knight such as Ser Garyn. Most sources tend to blame the Arbor wine that Ser Garyn seems to enjoy a little bit too much.

After the tragically short reign of Lord Raymun II, the Lordship of Mandervale passed to his nephew, Lord Garlan, son of poor Ser Igon and Lady Elene. He is married to Lady Aressa of House Tyrell, the only child of Lord Alester the Black Rose, the third son of late Lord Paramount of the Reach Richard the Bladesman. The pair has a little daughter.

Lady Elene returned to the West, married for the third time and even managed to bear a child for her new husband, Ser Gerold, a knight of House Serrett.

Still Better to be Rotten than Red​

As part of the royal pardon for the House Blackfyre, Ser Franklyn Flowers, also known as the Bastard of Cider Hall, a former knight in service to the Golden Company, was invited back to the Seven Kingdoms and granted a castle of Dunstonbury near New Barrel in Mandervale. If he so wished, he also was to be officially recognised as a bastard son born of rape of a washerwoman at Cider Hall and Lord Bennis of Cider Hall.

Ser Franklyn reluctantly agreed and retained the house name of Fossoway to spite his loathsome father. He changes the colour of the apple to brown as a final insult.

He married Lady Megga of House Yelshire, but their union resulted in only two daughters. At his deathbed they made a pact to manage the castle together.

The younger daughter, Lady Juliya, was married to Reynard Flowers, a bastard born to Lady Cymoril of House Goldwyne and an unknown father (although it is rumored that it was Lord of Iron Gate Reynard of House Rhysling, the father of her own husband, his then heir Runceford, but nothing can be proven).

They had a son, Donnel, and a daughter, Clarice (married to the master of Browntoft, Ser Warryn of House Weatherwax, has issue).

The older daughter, Lady Eldara, married Ser Lyonel Flowers, a bastard born son of Lord Morm of Sommerset. Unfortunately the time has not been kind to Ser Lyonel and now it’s demons ravage his once kind soul.

They still managed to have three healthy daughters together.

Their oldest, Dalla, is married to her cousin Donnel. They stand to inherit the castle after Lady Eldara’s passing. The pair has a son, Moribald (betrothed to Leyla of House Cockshaw, the daughter of Lord Denys of Bardshome) and a daughter, Annys (betrothed to Lord of Holyhall, Colin of House Ashford.

Lady Eldara’s younger daughters, Mylessa and Megga, are only one year apart in age from one another. They married the twin brothers, Ser Votrimer and Ser Jason, knights originating from a merchant family in the town of Threeflowers in the Grassy Vale.

 

[Thaiga]

The Chequy Lion Roars Again​

Marshall of the Northmarch, the ancient and almost forgotten title, was also reborn under the rule of Lord Paramount Mace (although if the rumors are true the idea came from the Queen herself). It was bestowed to the house of it’s original owners, the Osgreys.

Lord Martyn was the first to hold that position since Lord Ormond who lost the title during the reign of Maegor I Targaryen.

Unfortunately the archives that held the name and house of Lord Martyn’s wife were damaged and she herself is now lost to us. But she lived on through their children, Lords Myles and Quenton.

Lord Myles, later called the Grey Lion, succeeded his father as Marshall of the Northmarch in the year 309AC. He was married to Lady Melara of House Rowan, daughter of Lord Mathos II of Goldengrove, the former liege of House Osgrey. This marriage helped to ease the tensions between the two houses that rose after the division of power.

Their union was productive and loving, indicated by their three sons and two daughters and the fact that after his wife’s death Lord Myles was in mourning until his death in 347AC.

His son, Lord Martyn II, the current Marshall of the Northmarch, is a man with a clear type in women: they must come from the Westerlands and be associated with a lion of some sort. His first wife was Lady Cerelle, a Lannister of Lannisport. They had a daughter and two living sons together (all married and with issue). After Lady Cerelle’s death Lord Martyn married Lady Lanna of House Broom, a widow of Ser Janos of House Kingslayer, son of the infamous Cub, Ser Joffrey. Lord Martyn and Lady Lanna do not have children together.

The Mighty Shield of Oak​

During his reign, Lord Paramount Mace deemed it was high time to unite the Shield Island under one banner. And thus it came to pass that Lord of Oakenshield, Lord Humfrey of House Hewett, was granted the vassalage of all four islands.

Unfortunately the same menace that got to the archives on House Osgrey befall upon the details of Lord Humfrey’s marriage. Yet that unfortunately forgotten woman gave her husband three sons and five daughters.

Their oldest son, Lord Robert, succeeded his father in the year 308AC. He was married twice, and if the rumours are true, his second wife, the myrish minstrel Jamylla, might have been the end of his first, Lady Rylene of House Grimm. After Lord Rober’s untimely death his surviving wife remarried to one of his vassals, Lord Osbert of House Serry, Lord of Southshield. Another time as a second wife and another husband she would outlive.

Lord Robert had two daughters, one from each of his wifes.

His oldest daughter, the eloquent Lady Lyessa, succeeded him as the Lady of the Shield Isles. She also married twice.

Her first husband, Ser Holgor Flowers, was a bastard born to an unknown father and Catelyn of House Kidwell, an unruly daughter of Lord Holgor of Ivy Hall. Her first husband’s death at a young age of twenty reeked of foul play, but nothing ever been proven. Her second husband, Ser Lyle Strongboar of House Crakehall, could not handle the stress of their two children being sick and took the vows of a septon after their son’s death in the year 303AC only to die in the year 306AC of the same grey death just a month after it took his daughter. Ser Holgor Flowers was born in the year 304AC, probably a result of his mother’s attempt to find some solace in the arms of a man after her husband’s abandonment. And then she met Captain Damon of the Hedgeknights and the pair eloped. She bore her knight three sons and went mad after his death in the year 319AC. She mourned him for four-and-ten long years and finally followed him in the year 333AC, taken by the same malignant tumour that took him all those years ago.

Ser Holgor was not far before her as he died at a young age of six-and-twenty in the year 330AC from accidental injuries he sustained in one of his fits of madness. He left behind four sons (all married, with issue).

Lady Lyessa’s second husband, Ser Owen, was a knight from House Osgrey and an otherwise unremarkable man. He died at the prime age of thirty from complications with a festering wound. He left behind a daughter (married, with issue).

Lady Lyessa also had a bastard in between husbands that she beget from Ser Semwyle, a lowborn knight in her employ. Ser Bertrand Flowers grew up to be a brilliant commander, but unfortunately he could not outmaneuver his most ravenous foe and he was taken from this world at the age of just twenty years by a tumour that drained the life out of his body.

 

[Thaiga]

Minor events​

The Fall from Grace​

The end of House Graceford came fast and complete when Lady Alyce, the only child of the late Lord Gunthor, decided to burn her uncle Gart at the stake. For this deed on kinslaying she became known as the Daughter of The Others and then died mysteriously just four month after that. Her husband, Lord Alesander Flowers, a bastard of an unknown parentage, was granted the right of administering the holdings of Holyhall. He never remarried, but fathered three bastard sons. After Lord Alesander’s death Holyhall went to it’s lieges, Lords Ashfords of Cockleswhent.

The Scandal at the Citadel​

As much as I would have liked to avoid this embarrassing topic entirely, I am unfortunately bound by duty to preserve history as it happened, even if it brings me a great deal of discomfort.

It felt as if all seven hells broke loose around the Citadel when a sworn maester gave birth. Yes, my dear reader, your eyes did not deceive you. Not “fathered” (although that was also the case), but actually gave birth.

On the third day of the fifth moon in the year 313AC Maester Alleras, a respected member of the Order, gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the maester’s chambers of the Red Keep. It then became openly known that Maester Alleras is actually Lady Sarella, one of the famous Sand Snakes, bastard-born daughters of Lord Oberyn the Red Vyper. And as if that was not scandalous enough, Archmaester Wex, a bastard-born former member of House Botley, claimed the boy as his.

The great trial was planned, but suddenly the Queen herself got involved. She argued that since very few people knew the truth about Sarella and since she managed to build for herself a solid reputation as a brilliant scholar and an able maester, the rule that strictly prohibited women access to the maester’s education is outdated and should be reviewed. It almost gave Archmaester Wylis, my esteemed predecessor, a heart attack, but the dragons were already numerous and many of them quite big, so the Conclave was called to convene about the matter.

Game of Thrones - Secrets of the Conclave by Paolo Puggioni​

I will now confess that I was, in fact, privy to “Alleras’' secret as he, well, she was my friend for many years. So naturally I vouched for her and for Maester Wex and voted for the inclusion of women into the education. The debates lasted for many months, but finally it was agreed that both maesters would retain their chains and positions (probably because the Queen clearly stated that she does not intend to give them up or even dismiss them from her service and the Conclave wished to safe both face and at least the appearance of power). Furthermore, any girl that would wish to become an acolyte would be considered and tested and might be allowed to study based on her result.

And so “the Alleras’ Law” came into existence.

The fruit of this scandal was named Rickard. He grew up to resemble his grandsire, Lord Oberyn, both in appearance and somewhat in spirit, as a shrewd and ambitious man, albeit a bit shy. He was knighted and received the duty of command of a small contingent of guards around the Red Keep. He married twice, first out of love, then out of duty. His first wife, Lady Laenysha from House Otherys, gave him two daughters and a son before her untimely death in the year 351AC at the age of four-and-thirty. A foul play was suspected, but the investigation turned up nothing. Ser Rickard keeps a locket with a pitch-black strand of unruly hair he took as a memento of his beloved wife. Eventually though Ser Rickard remarried to the daughter of a merchant, the brilliant Lady Helicent. It is more of a business arrangement than an actual marriage though made out of notion that the children might need a feminine presence in their lives.

Eventually most of the talks about The Scandal died out. although it is still unrecommended to speak about it around certain members of the Order. No other girl has taken a vow as an acolyte as of yet. At least no girl that the Order knows about.

 

[TWR97]

Okay that part on Sarella siring a child with Wex Pyke of all people made me chuckle, I did NOT see that one coming, especially with where they are in canon. Still at least the kid turned out to be a decent man with some above average stats. Also helps that he DOES look a bit like Oberyn. The old viper must be laughing in the afterlife at the sudden turn of events and how that affected the way the Citadel would be working. Can't wait for the rest of the updates, especially the Tullys and the Starks.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Non AGOT viewer/reader. Amazed with beautiful artwork. Love the teddy bears on child deaths. Keep expecting a test at the end which I will fail.

 

[Specialist290]

Keep expecting a test at the end which I will fail.

"What is a Targaryen? Do you agree?"

 

[Thaiga]

Okay that part on Sarella siring a child with Wex Pyke of all people made me chuckle, I did NOT see that one coming, especially with where they are in canon. Still at least the kid turned out to be a decent man with some above average stats. Also helps that he DOES look a bit like Oberyn. The old viper must be laughing in the afterlife at the sudden turn of events and how that affected the way the Citadel would be working. Can't wait for the rest of the updates, especially the Tullys and the Starks.

Oh, you and me both! She did it without my interference! The only thing I did was force-join her into the maesters' society with event.id and then swayed her into friendship. Wex joined by himself and then he was elected as Dany's Grand Maester. I checked him only at that point in game and saw that he was friends with Sarella. So I thought that it might be logical that Grand Maester came with entourage of other maesters and so I moved her to my court. And then that happened. I was stunned and utterly delighted. So, like with the apostate septon's child, I found the best tutors in the realm and tried to provide to the best of both Dany's abilities and sense of immersion. With Sarella's kid I hope we did the ol' snake proud.
According to my roadmap, the Riverlands will come after the West and Iron Islands, then will be the Vale and then the North and finally the Northernmost North.
And then the Essos, which is a hot mess all around and I also have all the events turned on for everybody, so there's destiny's children, a rhoynish princess, old-gods-worshipping dothraki with silver hair and a peculiar custom of killing their mothers and/or wives in a duel...
I sure hope to finish with this one by the end of summer, 'cause the winter is finally coming and I'm already eager to once again not know what will happen.

Non AGOT viewer/reader. Amazed with beautiful artwork. Love the teddy bears on child deaths. Keep expecting a test at the end which I will fail.

To be fair, I've already butchered the canon to the point of it being unrecognizable, so you don't really need to know that much about it. There are dragons, a bit of magic here and there, incest in the highest echelons of power, (k)nights are dark and full of terrors and the winter is coming. That's pretty much it So nothing harder than "Who's sigil is a three-headed dragon?"

"What is a Targaryen? Do you agree?"

What's the difference between Rolly Duck?

 

[Thaiga]

The Westerlands​

Located along the far western coast of the Seven Kingdoms is a land of hills and low mountains, riddled with mines. Gold and silver is mined here in vast quantities, enriching numerous families, none more so than the Lannisters of Casterly Rock. The Westerlands roughly match the Vale in size, but are more populous, more fertile and, by far, form the richest lands on the continent in terms of wealth.

The Westerlands occupy a stretch of the west coast of the continent, with Ironman’s Bay located to the north and the Sunset Sea to the west. The region’s borders to the east are formed by the headwaters of the Red Fork of the Trident and to the south by the headwaters of the Lesser Mander and the northern plains of the Reach. The eastern and southern borders are somewhat flexible, resulting in frequent and long-standing border wars with the Riverlands and the Reach in ancient times, although since the Targaryen Conquest the borders have been settled. The Westerlands measure roughly 300 miles from east to west (with the Kayce Peninsula adding another 140 or so miles to that) and about 550 miles from north to south.

The Westerlands are roughly estimated as being home to between five and six million people, making them the second-most populous region of the Seven Kingdoms, behind only the Reach to the south. They can also field the second-largest (but easily the best-equipped) army, with a strong emphasis on heavy cavalry, pikes and crossbowmen.⁹

Houses of the Westerlands​

Lords of the Westerlands swear their fealty to the Lords Paramount of House Lannister. They rule from the stronghold of Casterly Rock.

Casterly Rock and Lannisport by Félix Sotomayor​

Major houses of the Westerlands, and their vassals, include:

House Hetherspoon of Heather Field House Lannister of Brightwall House Lannister of Lannisport House Pouncalot of Goldbarrow House Kingslayer of Gold Hollow House Clifton of Horncliffe House Broom of Oxcross House Vikary of Goldengrass Hills House Clegane of Fang Tower House Crakehall of Crakehall House Falwell of Falwell House Hawthorne of Hawthorne House Yew of Greenmont House Swyft of Cornfield House Jast of Lonmont House Greenfield of Greenfield House Lydden of the Gold Road House Hamell of Dancastel House Drox of Drox Castle House Sarwyck of Riversping House Peckledon of Peckledon House Payne of Payne Hall House Serrett of Silverhill House Turnberry of Redbramble House Myatt of Myatt

House Brax of Hornvale House Estren of Wyndhall House Westford of Westford House Moreland of Moreland House Ruttiger of Ryehill House Sarsfield of Sarsfield House Garner of Goldshire House Yarwyck of Tendering House Lefford of the Golden Tooth House Foote of Nun’s Deep House Bettley of Pendric Halls House Marbrand of Ashemark House Stackspear of Brent Brook House Lorch of Glitterdell House Doggett of Red Hills House Ferren of Thurrock Houser Westerling of the Crag House Algood of Golden Hills House Banefort of Banefort House Reyne of Castamere House Tarbeck of Bramhope House Farman of Fair Isle House Kenning of Kayce House Prester of Feastfires House Plumm of Maunhill

---

⁹ Atlas

 

[Thaiga]

Notable Events in the Westerlands​

The Lion Hunt​

The Great Lion Hunt, as it is now known, started in the reign of the usurper Robert of House Baratheon after the treachery of his queen and one of his kingsguard was discovered and brought to light.

The Disgraced Queen and the Kingslayer​

It all began with the investigation by Lord Paramount of the North, Lord Eddard of House Stark, prompted into it by Lord Paramount of the Vale, Lord Jon of House Arryn. The investigation resulted in the discovery of numerous bastards sired by the Usurper, all of which shared the same physical characteristics as their father. As none of the allegedly legitimate children of then king and queen possessed those qualities, it was concluded that the Usurped cannot be their true sire.

The queen was accused of adultery and imprisoned along with her household.

After rigorous questioning the maids revealed that the queen's lover is none other than her own brother, Ser Jaime the Kingslayer. He was immediately apprehended and thrown into the black cells beneath the Red Keep.

The trial was held and the accused were proven guilty.

All of their progeny was declared illegitimate, stripped of their family name and no longer considered as children of the Usurper nor the members of House Baratheon.

The Usurper wanted to execute them all, including children. For that purpose the great gallows began construction in front of the Sept of Baelor. That notion prompted Prince Doran, who presided over the trial of her mother, to smuggle Mircella on one of his ships bound to Dorne while the boys were disguised as squires to the many knights of House Lannister that were hastily leaving the capitol for the safety of the West.

Their parents were also spared the block as their father organised another smuggling operation to take both of his children to Essos. In truth the escape was made only for his dotted on son, Sr Jaime, but he refused to leave without his twin, so they were both taken to Pentos.

When the news reached the Usurper he considered waging war on both regions and the foreign state, but was ultimately dissuaded by Lord Eddard. It is known that he did however hired numerous spies and assassins to murder the reminders of his ineptitude as a husband, but their attempts turned out futile and stopped with the fall of the Usurper.

The Old Lion​

After the disgrace that was bright to House Lannister by the twins, Lord Tywin barricaded himself and his relatives inside the Casterly Rock, awaiting the wrath of the Usurper. He was stripped of all of his privileges and honorary titles but ultimately saved his head as Lord Petyr of House Baelish, then the Master of Coin, convinced the Usurper to put a heavy annual fine on the West instead.

It all changed when the Queen arrived as she did so in tow with Lord Tywin’s beloved son, Ser Jaime. The Old Lion came to the capitol himself to greet the Queen and his prodigal heir. But his disappointment was almost palpable when he found out that his son left the Kingsguard just to become a part of a Queensguard. That disappointment became then truly immeasurable as he was promptly arrested for the crimes committed during the Rebellion.

Tywin Lannister by Ertaç Altınöz​

He tried to call for a trial by combat and named the Mountain That Rides as his champion, but Gregor Clegane was disqualified from being anyone’s champion due to him being declared a criminal and an outlaw himself.

Therefore the great trial was organised. Great many witnesses both of high and of low birth were called, many grievances heard. The Old Lion was ultimately found guilty, but due to Her Grace’s respect for both of his sons he was spared and sent to the Wall. He betrayed that gesture of mercy though and fled to Essos on his way North. He made a mistake of going to Pentos where the Queen still had many connections so he was swiftly recaptured and brought back in chains. He was then packed and sent towards the Wall again, but still a lot of people knew that Lannisters always pay their debts, so he was smuggled out again, this time to Braavos. It take significantly longer for him to be recaptured again, but he was eventually brought back to King’s Landing. The Queen famously said: “Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. And I will not be a fool again.” Thus ended the life of an Old Lion, Lord Tywin of House Lannister, and his son whom he hated all his life succeeded him.

A Cat of a Different Coat​

Perhaps the second most happy people after the Martells to bear witness to the trial and fall of the Old Lion were two men named Malcolm and Harys. They presented their cases during the Lion Drama and presented evidence of being direct descendants of two houses that were presumed extinct due to the deeds of the accused Lord Tywin.

Malcolm claimed to be a direct descendant of Ser Robb of House Rayne through his bastard son, Ser Daemon Hill, that he beget somewhere during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. After the Restoration of Castamere he became Lord Malcolm, the first of his name, later in life called the Trickster for his dubious antics.

Harys claimed descent from Lord Adrian of House Tarbeck through his bastard-born oldest son, Ser Gerold Hill. After the Restoration he became Lord Harys of Bramhope, the first of his name, later in life called the Rash as a jest about his timid nature.

The Fall of the Mountain​

After years on the run, the Mountain’s Men were finally captured and brought before the Queen in very heavy chains.

Gregor Clegane by Nordheimer​

I will not bore you, my dear reader, with the details of the trials and executions of the pebbles and focus all my energy on the boulder himself. He was in the year 307AC. The news of his capture reached Dorne while the prisoner was still on the road, so the Red Viper arrived shortly after to accuse him of murder of his sister and her children. The Mountain demanded a trial by combat. The Queen went pale as her husband’s direwolf’s fur, but she could not deny him that right nor the eager dornish Prince his dream. And so it came to pass that on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month of the year 307AC the Viper fought the Mountain.

I was not there to witness that gruesome and glorious ordeal, so I will refer you to the works of a contemporary. Albeit not a maester but a mere Ser, I find that particular author to possess a great deal of talent.

An excerpt from A Storm of Swords,
an amateur collection of stories
witnessed and written down
by Ser George of House Martin,
keeper of the Dragon Pit
at the time of trial:

He looks as though he was chiseled out of rock, standing there. His greatsword was planted in the ground before him, six feet of scarred metal. Ser Gregor's huge hands, clad in gauntlets of lobstered steel, clasped the crosshilt to either side of the grip.

The Red Viper was lightly armored; greaves, vambraces, gorget, spaulder, steel codpiece. Elsewise Oberyn was clad in supple leather and flowing silks. Over his byrnie he wore his scales of gleaming copper, but mail and scale together would not give him a quarter the protection of Gregor's heavy plate. With its visor removed, the prince's helm was effectively no better than a half-helm, lacking even a nasal. His round steel shield was brightly polished, and showed the sun-and-spear in red gold, yellow gold, white gold, and copper.

A platform had been erected beside the Tower of the Hand, halfway between the two champions. A dozen trumpeters blew a fanfare to quiet the crowd. The High Septon shuffled forward in his tall crystal crown, and prayed that the Father Above would help them in this judgment, and that the Warrior would lend his strength to the arm of the man whose cause was just.

Two servants brought Clegane his shield, a massive thing of heavy oak rimmed in black iron with the hounds of Clegane painted over.

There were fifty yards between them. Prince Oberyn advanced quickly, Ser Gregor more ominously.

When the two men were ten yards apart, the Red Viper stopped and called out, "Have they told you who I am?"

Ser Gregor grunted through his breaths. "Some dead man." He came on, inexorable.

The Dornishman slid sideways. "I am Oberyn Martell, a prince of Dorne," he said, as the Mountain turned to keep him in sight. "Princess Elia was my sister."

"Who?" asked Gregor Clegane.

Oberyn's long spear jabbed, but Ser Gregor took the point on his shield, shoved it aside, and bulled back at the prince, his great sword flashing. The Dornishman spun away untouched. The spear darted forward. Clegane slashed at it, Martell snapped it back, then thrust again. Metal screamed on metal as the spearhead slid off the Mountain's chest, slicing through the surcout and leaving a long bright scratch on the steel beneath. "Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne," the Red Viper hissed. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

Ser Gregor grunted. He made a ponderous charge to hack at the Dornishman's head. Prince Oberyn avoided him easily. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

"Did you come to talk or to fight?"

"I came to hear you confess." The Red Viper landed a quick thrust on the Mountain's belly, to no effect. Gregor cut at him, and missed. The long spear lanced in above his sword. Like a serpent's tongue it flickered in and out, feinting low and landing high, jabbing at groin, shield, eyes. Prince Oberyn could scarcely miss, though none of his blows penetrated Ser Gregor's heavy plate. The Dornishman kept circling, jabbing, then darting back again, forcing the bigger man to turn and turn again. The Mountain's helm had a narrow eyeslit, severely limiting his vision. Oberyn was making good use of that, and the length of his spear, and his quickness.

It went on like that for what seemed a long time. Back and forth they moved across the yard, and round and round in spirals, Ser Gregor slashing at the air while Oberyn's spear struck at arm, and leg, twice at his temple. Gregor's big wooden shield took its share of hits as well, until the raw oak showed through. Clegane would grunt from time to time, but otherwise he fought in a sullen silence.

Not Oberyn Martell. "You raped her," he called, feinting. "You murdered her," he said, dodging a looping cut from Gregor's greatsword. "You killed her children," he shouted, slamming the spearpoint into the giant's throat, only to have it glance off the thick steel gorget with a screech.

All around the yard, the throng of spectators was creeping to get a better view. The Kingsguard tried to keep them back, shoving at the gawkers forcefully with their big white shields, but there were hundreds of gawkers and only six of the men in white armor.

"You raped her." Prince Oberyn parried a savage cut with his spearhead. "You murdered her." He sent the spearpoint at Clegane's eyes, so fast the huge man flinched back. "You killed her children." "The spear flickered sideways and down, scraping against the Mountain's breastplate. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children." The spear was two feet longer than Ser Gregor's sword, more than enough to keep him at an awkward distance. He hacked at the shaft whenever Oberyn lunged at him, trying to lop off the spearhead, but he might as well have been trying to hack the wings off a fly. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

"Be quiet." Ser Gregor seemed to be moving a little slower, and his greatsword no longer rose quite so high as it had when the contest began. "Shut your bloody mouth."

"You raped her," the prince said, moving to the right.

"Enough!" Ser Gregor took two long strides and brought his sword down at Oberyn's head, but the Dornishman backstepped once more. "You murdered her," he said.

"SHUT UP!" Gregor charged headlong, right at the point of the spear, which slammed into his right breast then slid aside with a hideous steel shriek. Suddenly the Mountain was close enough to strike, his huge sword flashing in a steel blur. The crowd was screaming as well. Oberyn slipped the first blow and let go of the spear, useless now that Ser Gregor was inside it. The second cut the Dornishman caught on his shield. Metal met metal with an ear-splitting clang, sending the Red Viper reeling. Ser Gregor followed, bellowing. He doesn't use words, he just roars like an animal, Tyrion thought. Oberyn's retreat became a headlong backward flight mere inches ahead of the greatsword as it slashed at his chest, his arms, his head.

The stable was behind him. Spectators screamed and shoved at each other to get out of the way. One stumbled into Oberyn's back. Ser Gregor hacked down with all his savage strength. The Red Viper threw himself sideways, rolling. The luckless stableboy behind him was not so quick. As his arm rose to protect his face, Gregor's sword took it off between elbow and shoulder. "Shut UP!" the Mountain howled at the stableboy's scream, and this time he swung the blade sideways, sending the top half of the lad's head across the yard in a spray of blood and brains. Hundreds of spectators suddenly seemed to lose all interest in the guilt or innocence of Tyrion Lannister, judging by the way they pushed and shoved at each other to escape the yard.

But the Red Viper of Dorne was back on his feet, his long spear in hand. "Elia," he called at Ser Gregor. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. Now say her name."

The Mountain whirled. Helm, shield, sword, surcoat; he was spattered with gore from head to heels. "You talk too much," he grumbled. "You make my head hurt."

"I will hear you say it. She was Elia of Dorne."

The Mountain snorted contemptuously, and came on... and in that moment, the sun broke through the low clouds that had hidden the sky since dawn.

The Red Viper crouched, squinting, and sent his spear darting forward again. Ser Gregor hacked at it, but the thrust had only been a feint. Off balance, he stumbled forward a step.

Prince Oberyn tilted his dinted metal shield. A shaft of sunlight blazed blindingly off polished gold and copper, into the narrow slit of his foe's helm. Clegane lifted his own shield against the glare. Prince Oberyn's spear flashed like lightning and found the gap in the heavy plate, the joint under the arm. The point punched through mail and boiled leather. Gregor gave a choked grunt as the Dornishman twisted his spear and yanked it free. "Elia. Say it! Elia of Dorne!" He was circling, spear poised for another thrust. "Say it!"

Prince Oberyn had circled behind him. "ELIA OF DORNE!" he shouted. Ser Gregor started to turn, but too slow and too late. The spearhead went through the back of the knee this time, through the layers of chain and leather between the plates on thigh and calf. The Mountain reeled, swayed, then collapsed face first on the ground. His huge sword went flying from his hand. Slowly, ponderously, he rolled onto his back.

The Dornishman flung away his ruined shield, grasped the spear in both hands, and sauntered away. Behind him the Mountain let out a groan, and pushed himself onto an elbow. Oberyn whirled cat-quick, and ran at his fallen foe. "EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA!" he screamed, as he drove the spear down with the whole weight of his body behind it. The snake has vaulted over the Mountain. Four feet of spear jutted from Clegane's belly as Prince Oberyn rolled, rose, and dusted himself off. "If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells," he promised.

Ser Gregor tried to rise. The spear had gone through him, and was pinning him to the ground. He wrapped both hands about the shaft, grunting, but could not pull it out. Beneath him was a spreading pool of red.

Prince Oberyn moved closer. "Say the name!" He put a foot on the Mountain's chest, grabbed the spear with both hands and twisted it with a push.

Clegane's hand shot up and tried to grab the Dornishman behind the knee, but the Viper kicked it away and twisted the spear again, leaning onto the shaft.

"Elia of Dorne," they all heard Ser Gregor say. His deep voice boomed with rage within the helm. "I killed her screaming whelp." He tried to thrust his free hand into Oberyn's unprotected face, his steel fingers aiming into his eyes, but the Prince quickly straightened up and gave the spear a good twist. "Then I raped her." He tried to grab at the Viper’s leg once again, when he remembered, too late, that snakes had no legs. "Then I smashed her fucking head in. Like this." Clegane slammed his fist into the ground beside him.

There was a sickening crunch. The tip of the spear finally went all the way through his enormous body and shattered his spine. The pool of blood around him seemed to smoke in the cold dawn air.

The Mountain was dead.

The Mountain and the Viper by therealmcgee​

 

[Thaiga]

The Fate of the Pride​

The Queen is a firm believer that the children should not be held accountable for the deeds of their fathers and everyone agreed that the Lion Trial was fair and just, so no hard feelings developed between Houses Targaryen and Lannister.

Small Man with a Large Shadow​

After his succession, the Queen and King became fast friends with Lord Paramount Tyrion, the Warden of the West, and named him to be the Hand when the need for a new one arrived.

Tyrion Lannister by JakeMurray

Early years of his reign were controversial. Lord Tyrion started on a poor note of a scandal. And adultery, as it happens (a lot in this family, it would seem). It was revealed that he became involved with Lady Melesa Crakehall, the wife of Ser Lyonel Frey, the second son of Ser Emmon Frey and Lady Genna Lannister, the aunt of Lord Paramount Tyrion. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Ser Lyonel himself had a mistress, the daughter of a hedge knight, and that mistress was pregnant with his child at the time. So the natural solution was found in a special dispensation by the Queen granting the annulment of the marriage of Ser Lyonel and Lady Melesa. Ser Lyonel then did the right thing and married his mistress, saving their child from the fate of a bastard. Lord Tyrion followed suit and married Lady Melesa.

His further reign was uneventful as the marriage proved very beneficial for his character and the realm as well. After Lord Paramount Tyrion’s peaceful death in the year 339AC, his wife clung to her sorrow for just over a year and followed her beloved lion in the year 341AC.

Do You Drink Wine? by Ertaç Altınöz

This tender and loving union produced four children: a daughter and three sons.

Lady Aressa’s marriage to the Lord Paramount of the Reach Richard the Bladesman is covered in the previous chapter on the Reach.

The brilliant second son of Lord Paramount Tyrion, Lord Herrock, married a woman from the main branch of his mother’s House, Lady Myranda, a sister to the famous Lord Rollam, the White Boar of Crakehall.

They only have a daughter, Lady Jorelle. She Married Lord Symond of House Marbrand, Lord of Ashmark. They have two sons.

Lord Paramount Turyon’s third son, Lord Kennet, married Lady Sherei of House Clegane, granddaughter of Lord Sandor of Fang Tower, brother of the infamous Mountain That Rided.

They also have only one daughter, Lady Farena. She is married to the young Lord of Kayce, Lord Leo of House Kenning.

The current Lord Paramount of the Westerlands and Protector of the West, Lord Paramount Damion, Lord Tyrion’s first son, succeeded his father after his death in the year 339AC. He is married to Lady Elona of House Rayne, daughter of Lord Malcolm the Trickster of the Restored Castamere. The union helped to heal the old wounds and prevent further bloodletting.

Their daughters, Ladies Adela, Tya and also, for some reason, Tya, are all married into great houses of the Westerlands and all have children.

Lord Paramount Damion’s second son, Lord Kevan, is married to Lady Melene, the granddaughter of the famous Ser Brynden the Blackfish of House Tully. They do not have any children yet.

Lord Paramount Damion’s youngest son, Lord Tymond the Red Lion, is married to the beautiful Lady Elinor of House Kingslayer. They do not yet have children either.

Lord Paramount Damion’s firstborn son and heir, Lord Tytos, was married to Lady Barbara of House Tully, the sister of Lord Paramount Waltyr the Bladesman, daughter of Lord Paramount Bywin the Bladesman and the granddaughter of Lord Paramount Edmure the Confessor of the Riverlands. They managed to produce two sons and one living daughter before Lord Tytos’ untimely death at the age of just three-and-thirty. The excessive love of drink proved too strong even for this brawny giant of a man. Lady Barbara did not remarry and stays with her children in Casterly Rock.

The current heir to the West is Lord Tytos’ firstborn son, Ser Eldon, is married to Lady Ilyse, the woman of his mother’s House Tully main branch. They have two sons.

Lord Tytos’ second son, Ser Damion, is married to Lady Elyn of House Baratheon, the granddaughter of Lady paramount Shireen of the Stormlands through her late firstborn son, Lord Orys. Ser Damion the younger and Lady Elyn have a daughter.

Lord Tytos’ only daughter, Lady Jamylla, is married to Lord Grover, the youngest brother of Lord Paramount Waltyr the Bladesman, son of Lord Paramount Bywin the Bladesman and the grandson of Lord Paramount Edmure the Confessor of the Riverlands. She accompanied her husband all the way to Dorne only to see him become involved with Lady Nerissa, the heir to Dorne, a woman almost twice his age.

 

[Thaiga]

The Queensguard​

This would be the perfect place to talk once more about the peculiar tale of Ser Jaime the Kingslayer, formerly of House Lannister. Born as an heir to arguably the most prominent lord of all Seven Kingdoms, he was knighted at a very young age for a great deed done. He then was called upon to cast aside his family name, his inheritance and, if need be, his own life as a part of the Kingsguard for a Mad King. He then betrayed his vows to protect one life to save the lives of hundreds and all he got for that was a shameful name and contempt of his peers. He then became a Kingsguard to another king, the one who waged rebellion on the former. He loved the wrong woman and made the wrong choices and almost lost his life by the decree of that second king. He fled and ended up in service of a daughter of that same Mad King that he himself did kill. She listened to his story and embraced him, for that he pledged his whole self to her to do with as she pleased. She asked him to guard her from evil, even if that evil came from within herself, the same he did for her poor father. And so he did, dutifully, until his last breath. Long shall be remembered the tale of Lord Commander Jaime the Kingslayer, a true knight and a good man.

Jaime Lannister by dalisacg

The Cubs​

The children that came from those wrong choices were deemed innocent of any wrongs by the Queen as well, so they did not need to hide anymore.

Lady Myrcella’s life was already covered in the previous chapter on Dorne.

Ser Joffrey was granted a castle near the city of Lannisport that later became known as Gold Hollow. He declared that he and his are now a branch of House Lannister descendent from the great kingslayer and in defiance made his coat of arms a Lannister golden-on-red lion, but with two tails intertwined, to spite all those who tried to belittle him for the consequences of his birth. He also made bad choices in love.

His first wife was Jeyne of House Slynt, daughter of the disgraced Janos Slynt and sister to the Lord Commander of the Queensquard Danos. She gave Ser Joffrey two sons. The second wife, Lady Myrcella of House Lannister of Lannisport, did not have any children with Ser Joffrey, although she did have children of his House for she was a widow of Ser Joffrey’s grandson.

But let us gradually get there.

The family life of Ser Joffrey's second son, Ser Osney, is a problematic one. It so happened that Ser Osney is married to Lady Olenei of House Lannister of Lannisport, oldest sister of the aforementioned Lady Myrcella. They have two sons together. He also openly entertained a paramour, a lowborn woman named Calynne. But what makes this one infidelity stand out among the rest is that when said Calynne died (it is rumoured that from a poison), Ser Osney was adamant about her being buried as entombed as his legal wife. Despite already having a living legal wife who is still furious about the whole ordeal.

Ser Osney’s sons turned up as men of better judgement at least.

His first son, acolyte Rollam, a man with a brilliance in all things martial except for actual battle, was a great help during the writing of this same book, a deed that I want to praise him for on these same pages.

Ser Osney’s second son, Ser Ossifer, a truly masterful warrior, is happily married to equally gifted Lady Nesella of House Westford. They have one living daughter.

The first son and heir of Ser Joffrey, Ser Janos, unfortunately died from bloody flux in the year 335AC at the age of just nine-and-twenty. He was married to Lady Lanna of House Broom. They had two sons and two living daughters together before Ser Janos’ untimely death. Lany Lanna later remarried to Lord Martyn of Northmarch; their marriage is covered in the previous chapter on the Reach.

Two of their youngest daughters, Ladies Cerenna and Domella, are happily married to the men from prominent houses and have children of their own.

Ser Janos’ first son, Ser Amory, unfortunately died young as well and under very suspicious circumstances. It is his wife that later married Ser Joffrey, her first husband’s grandfather.

Ser Amory had left three daughters, all married into prominent or even great houses.

It was Ser Janos’ second son, Ser Jon, who finally succeeded his grandfather as master of Gold Hollow in the year 354AC. He is married to Lady Shiera, daughter of a merchant from the town of Westwood on Fair Isle. They have two daughters and a son.

Ser Tommen was also granted a castle not far from his older brother’s, named Goldbarrow to sound similar to his. As Ser Tommen was just a child back then, he just copied his brother’s coat of arms as well, although his lion became white to honour his unclefather. And then he decided to honour his favorite kitten as well, thus the House of Pouncalot was born.

Ser Tommen married twice. His first wife was Lady Leona, a Tyrell from a distant branch and a young widow; her first husband died when they both were only four-and-ten. Ser Tommen and Lady Leona had three children: a son and two daughters. After Lady Leona’s death Ser Tommen married Lady Edmaria of House Farman. They had a son together. After Ser Tommen’s death Lady Edmaria had a bastard daughter whose father she never revealed.

Ser Tommen’s daughters both married into respected houses and each had one daughter.

Ser Tommen’s second son, Ser Marq, was married to Lady Tyshara of House Reyne, granddaughter of Lord Malcolm the Trickster through his second son, Ser Tywell. They had a son together before Ser Marq’s untimely death caused by a tumour. Lady Tyshara remains unmarried and lives in her father’s castle.

Ser Tommen’s first son, Ser Symon, succeeded his father in the year 339AC. He was married to a very promising woman from House Clegane, Lady Cerissa, granddaughter of Ser Sandor the Hound through his second son, Ser Walder the Strong. The pair had two children together before Ser Symon found himself imprisoned by his liege, Lord Tytos of Lannisport. The paper trail is surprisingly thin and we do not know the exact contents of the accusation, but based on the mutilation of the genitals that Ser Symon received before being broken on the wheel suggest that it had something to do with carnal pleasures.

Ser Symon’s daughter, Lady Eleyna, is married to Ser Tommard of House Lorch. They share a peculiar interest in the people of the Free Cities and their beliefs.

Ser Symon’s son, Ser Caspor, is the current master of Goldbarrow. He is married to the very tall Lady Edrina of House Kingslayer. They have a son together.

The Queen Once More​

Of course we should not talk about the children while forgetting their mother, infamous Light of the West, Cersei of House Lannister. Not much is known about her time in Pentos where she fled with her brother after the trial, but it is apparent that the pair had a major falling out and separated for good somewhere around the time our beloved Queen returned to her rightful place. While Ser Jaime came back with her, his sister remained in Essos. It is unclear exactly how did she met the equally infamous scoundrel and pirate Lord Euron of House Greyjoy, the one called Crow’s Eye, but it is a known fact that she did indeed meet him and eventually even married him, although it is unknown whether it happened before, during or after his “conquest” of the Basilisk Isles.

She bore him three children, two of whom decided to flee their father’s “kingdom” and came back to Westeros.

Her daughter, Ana, married Lord Gorold of House Goodbrother, Lord of Great Wyk island in the Iron Islands region. Unfortunately she died at the age of just seven-and-twenty shortly after giving birth to their second child. Their first child and the heir to the Great Wyk also died very young in a reaving gone wrong.

Cersei’s and Eruon’s second son, took after his mother both in looks and in customs. He came to the Westerlands and pledged his services to the Lord of Fair Isle. He eventually married said lord’s sister and was granted a small castle of Gisburn as a wedding gift. Sery Denys decided to honour both houses of his parents and became the founder of House Greylion with a grey lion with golden claws on a black sail. He has two sons and a daughter (all married and with children).

Cersei’s and Euron’s firstborn succeeded his father as the “king” of Gogossos as is the current ruler of that wretched place.

We will of course talk more about the shady dealings of those Isles of Tears, but for now let us have a brief look.

“King” Boremund took after his father with great enthusiasm. He married twice, both times he wed a princess. His first wife was the daughter of a Naathi queen. She managed to escape and went back to her home island but was unfortunately murdered, most probably by the agents of “king” Boremund. Their daughter is currently involved in an armed conflict disputing the succession of Naath.

“King” Boremund’s second wife is a Ghiscari. He also had numerous salt wifes and ordinary lovers over the years and his brood is as big as his father’s.

Cersei herself stayed with her husband until the end and styled herself as the “Queen of Basilisk Isles”. As far as we know, she died of natural causes at the age of five-and-seventy in the year 341AC, although it is rumoured that it was either her love of drink or the fits of madness that came with it were the actual cause of her death.

Cersei Trading Card ©Fantasy Flight Games by Resh DarkStar