Seven Kingdoms - A Game of Thrones MultiplayAAR
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And so we are moving away from Targ incest Maelon is embracing the Seven it seems.
P.S anyone who is looking for a Tyrell Chapter, I will finish up the last chapter of the third session tonight.
EDIT: Okay tonight at latest, got caught up doing things.
P.S anyone who is looking for a Tyrell Chapter, I will finish up the last chapter of the third session tonight.
EDIT: Okay tonight at latest, got caught up doing things.
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Bryan Tyrell
29th through 31st Years Since Aegon's Landing
The Tourney of Highgarden was regarded by many as a splendid event. Much food and drink were laid on everyone who came to the capital of the Reach be it supplies of Arbor wine or the dozens of heads of cattle and pigs that came in from various regions of the Reach, and hunters operating in the woodland near Highgarden ensured there would be plenty of venison for the occasion. While the supplies of food and drink were vast, it was the fighting that everyone was focused on, for the Reach was considered the home of chivalry in Westeros and is the place where knighthood is looked upon with the greatest reverence and esteemed the most. Indeed there was only one name on everyone’s lips, Eon Hunter who was quickly rising the Tourney ranks, with Dareon Velyron behind him. Both knew how to handle a blade, and were skilled in the art of mounted warfare. But it was Eon Hunter who claimed victory at the conclusion of the Highgarden Tourney, sending Dareon slamming into the tourney ground with a perfect strike to the chest with a tourney lance.
And so the tournament of Highgarden ended and life returned to normal in the Reach, it would be two years before tragic news reached Highgarden, for Aegon the Conquer had tragically died of the Grey Plague. Now his pious son Maelon would rule over the Seven Kingdoms. It seemed that fate had a sense of humour, for only hours after Highgarden received news of the Aegon’s passing a white bird from the Citadel arrived, winter was over, but summer was coming and with it a new King on the Iron Throne…
3 months after we have played the third session it is all done. Onward to 13 more years full of death and political intrigue.
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Maelon raised her well
*Agh-hum* Sorry, just coughing. Furiously.
No, there are still quite a few. They're just all Lords and Barons.
I will have you know that his father stole that land from me during his brief tenure as Regent. Yes, Harren "inherited" Blacktyde when he murdered the previous child lord BUT THAT ISN'T THE POINT!
I'M TOTALLY JUSTIFIED IN MY ABSOLUTE RETALIATION!
Not a lot going on in the Reach since the Lord took power, but then again, that's probably for the best. The last time "Stuff happened" in the Reach, the entire Tyrell dynasty perished.
Aegon Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands
39 AL - 41 AL
39 AL - 41 AL
I once more walked the streets of the capital of Seven Kingdoms, having been called there to aid King Maelon Targaryen in ruling the realm. King Maelon also named me the 'Paramount Knight' of the realm, a great honor that weighed little. I sat in the Small Council, but my position as master at arms of the Red Keep gave me little power and few ways to affect what happened in the kingdoms. Although my work mainly consisted of training the young in art of war and teaching them how to fight on both foot and on horseback, I often took to the streets of King's Landing and kept the peace. Ser Tyon Reyne was Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing in name, true, but his position as Hand of the King - the second most powerful man in Westeros - kept him occupied most of the time. For example I once was called to assist the goldcloaks in searching the city for a prized statue that had been stolen from the great sept that had recently been built on King Maelon's orders. After a long day of going from house to house, it was revealed that one of the septons had simply misplaced the statue.
Seeing the septons cower as I said what I thought was a sight to behold.
I'd grown up in the capital so my face was well known to many of its people. That combined with my talkative nature, I was a familiar sight among the commoners of King's Landing. My wife Rohanne, my daughter Rhaenyra and I lived a quiet, mostly peaceful life in the Red Keep. I was blessed with a loving wife, but we had our difficulties like everyone else. She became pregnant soon after our arrival to the capital, but in the end all the waiting was for naught. The labour began all too early and though Rohanne gave birth to a son, the boy did not live through the night. While I'd seen it all before, I reacted so calmly to the setback that my emotions surprised even myself. Perhaps truly I had never recovered from Taena's demise - perhaps I was still too downcast to care.Having someone else's son as mine to raise only made me remember more clearly that I lacked a male heir of my own. King Maelon had entrusted his second son to my care and I'd tried to do well by the boy. Prince Lucerys Targaryen was not the easiest child to look after. The boy bullied those of his age and seemed to enjoy hurting other people, clearly lacking capability to feel sympathy for others. I did not try to change the prince's nature, no. Instead I attempted to vent the anger inside of him to a good purpose and mold a loyal soldier out of the him. He already had the cold, brave heart that was required: I taught him the rest.
One day I received a letter from Prince Aerion who ruled in Storm's End as my regent. It seemed that Lord Donnel Wylde had plotted to seize the Stormlands from me, and when Aerion had called him to Storm's End to answer for his actions the Lord of Rainwood had raised his banners instead. Lord Morgan Massey, a vassal of King Maelon, had answered the call and joined the rebel side. Aerion assured me that he'd be able to wipe out the uprising with the help of Vhagar in no time, but the thought of leaving a dragonrider to put down my enemies while sitting idly in King's Landing did not appeal to me. So it was that I resigned from my position as the Master at Arms and left the Small Council, riding once more to war. While I told Rohanne and Rhaenyra to stay behind in the capital until things would calm down, I took my ward and squire, Prince Lucerys with me. It was a decision not everyone agreed with me, but I had groomed the boy for war over the last two years and it was time to show him the true nature of it.
Lord Massey stood on my way to home. Prince Aerion called the banners and my northernmost vassals rallied at Wendwater, the seat of my father-in-law. Our troops outnumbered Lord Massey's two to one and I arrived to Wendwater just in time to lead the battle against the rebels. The outcome of the battle was as expected, and Lord Massey's forces were broken and left routing after two days of fighting. As I pursued them to their home, Aerion led the rest of my bannermen in the southern Stormlands against Lord Wylde. Overall the war seemed to be going well, but my mood was gladdened even more when news from King's Landing reached me. Rohanne had started showing signs of being with a child - my child, one that I'd fathered before I'd left to war.
Not long after something happened in King's Landing and the powers of Westeros once more shifted. King Maelon promised that whoever secured the arrest of Ser Manfred, once Grand Maester, would be greatly rewarded. It was not the riches that appealed to my nature, but my wish to serve my king. So it was that I began planning Ser Manfryd's imprisonment. The man had fled across the Narrow Sea to the Velvet Marches near Pentos. The Magister of Pentos was unwilling co-operate and to hand Ser Manfryd over, so I had to take the law to my own hands. I sent a group of soldiers from Storm's End, disguised as sellswords, to see to the capture of Ser Manfryd. Unfortunately the plan went awry and the men I sent to do the task failed and some of them were captured. My part in the plot was revealed, and not long after people on both sides of the Narrow Sea knew me as a man who'd sent armed men to act on a foreign ground. My hands were stained, but all that I'd done I'd done in service of my king.
Sadly not everyone saw it that way.
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Pentos is pretty brave in defying the King considering Maelon has Several Dragons ready to burn down his entire country
The Cheesemongers might not be so bold once their gold palaces come melting down around them :ninja:
All true, but perhaps Pentos is more valuable to the Iron Throne as a trade hub than as a burned-out ruin. You can't tax a pile of rubble
Nice to see LP Aegon getting a chance to show off some of that Baratheon fury.
Aegon Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands
42 AL - 43 AL
42 AL - 43 AL
After my plan to capture Ser Manfred, the former Grand Maester failed, I refrained from ruining my reputation any more than I already had. The man remained on the other side of Essos, fearing for the day when King Maelon's men would again make an attempt to bring him back to Westeros to stand in trial. And fear I would let him; I doubted I'd ever hear from Ser Manfryd again. Though the sea between Westeros and Essos is, well, narrow, Manfryd now lacked even the little authority he once had over the royal court. He was but an exile now, and I was ready to leave him in peace now that I'd shown my cousin the king what I was willing to do for his sake.
While I was taking care of King Maelon's enemies, he was busy making new allies. Tyrion, the eldest son and heir of Lord Lyman Lannister had been given to King Maelon's care, but our monarch had decided that I was a more suitable guardian for the little lion. Having the Lionknight's boy as a ward and a hostage was not enough to King Maelon, it seemed, for he made a move to betroth his third son Maekar to one of Lord Lyman's daughters. From what I'd heard, my cousin had married his second son and my former squire Prince Lucerys to a daughter of Myranda Arryn. That match had not made any sense as it did not bind the Arryns and Targaryens together; it was not Lady Myranda who ruled from the Eyrie, after all. Marrying a Lannister made some sense at least, though I was not quite sure if I approved the king's decision not to marry his sons to his daughters.
The Targaryen bloodline had been kept pure for a hundred years as they were the last true descendants of Old Valyria. In his attempt to make the Westerosi folk to accept him and his rule by abandoning some of his family's traditions, Maelon seemed to have forgotten that a king should be above his subjects. On Dragonstone where the Targaryens had ruled before my namesake's conquest they had been more gods than men in people's eyes. Perhaps they were on some level - no ordinary man could tame a dragon. When Maelon's half-blood descendants one day ruled Westeros, would they even be able to control and ride dragons? I did not know the answer but I was wise enough not to question my king's choice in his daughters-in-law.
The invitation King Maelon sent me to his son Maekar's wedding said that my presence would be greatly appreciated. I knew better, however: with little lord Tyrion in my care, it was him the king wanted more. The boy would one day rule Westerlands and many things would depend on his word: if he was raised even from this young in the faith that the Targaryens were his allies - and now family as well - the king's peace would last more surely. I myself was reluctant to leave since my wife Rohanne had given birth just recently to a girl that we'd named Lyarra. Although my wish was to stay with my family, I set off with my young squire, heading to the capital once more.
The ending of the wedding festivies was shadowed by news from the Stepstones. Some old pirate captain that once had sworn fealty to Queen Rhaenys the Laughing Dragon had declared that he bowed to the Targaryens no more. The kingdom of the Stepstones had passed to Rhaenys' nephew, King Maelon after her death, but it seemed that her old vassals did not acknowledge him as their ruler. Perhaps they assumed that with Westeros to rule, the great king Maelon would not care if a few islands stopped paying tribute to him. I told my cousin I volunteered to take care of the pirates for him, and so I returned on horseback to Storm's End, calling my fleet from Tarth. At the head of fifty ships, carrying five thousand Stormlanders, I brought blood and fire to the rebels and showed them what fury is. After the campaign was finished and the traitors were sent in chains to King's Landing, I looked at myself and realized that my experiences had taught me much about leading and commanding men.
The relationship between my ward Tyrion and his father Lyman Lannister was more damaged than I'd imagined. The boy had never forgiven his father the fact that he'd executed Lady Sharna, Tyrion's mother, and his time away from Casterly Rock had not helped to seal the old wounds. It was not my business to get involved, but I knew some of this old family feud. Lyman's wife Lady Sharna Mallister had slept with her father-in-law, Lord Loren Lannister and later gave birth to a bastard child of his. The son had been cuckolded by the father and when the old lion died, Lyman was free to deal justice. What was done was done. When the Lionknight could not soothe his son's temper with words, he tried to win his favor in the lists. Lord Lyman was one of the finest knights in his youth and though he was already well past the age of fourty, he still rode and jousted as if he was still in his prime.
As the day neared its end, the last jousts took place. The Lionknight won all his opponents except for one; to everyone's surprise the Lord Lannister lost to a hedge knight called Ser Owen Terrick. Edmyn Tully, the eldest son and heir of Lord Melwys Tully, fared better than everyone expected, making his way to the semi-finale where he lost to Prince Lucerys Targaryen. The second son of King Maelon made his way to the finale with Ser Owen whereas young Edmyn and Lord Lyman Lannister fought for the third place. The more experienced one of the two eventually prevailed and so the Lionknight did not have to leave entirely empty-handed. The last match of the day was between Prince Lucerys and Ser Owen. I admired the young knight's courage, but could not help but to smile when my old squire dropped him from the saddle. Seeing the boy I'd taught be crowned the champion while his father watched was the best possible ending I could think of to the tourney.
As the event came to an end, my guests began their travels to their homes. The tourney had served as a show of power and House Baratheon was, no question, at the height of its power.
Fittingly, at the same time an old enemy of mine was preparing to bring me down.
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Chapter 10: Gwyneth IV
36-41 AL
36-41 AL
(Side note: I screwed up the dating on the pregnancy last part. Not a big issue, but it's pertinent)
Gwyneth looked at Urzen, snug in his crib, a mere two weeks of age. Her child. Her living child. Her son.
Gwyneth looked up at the empty chair and swallowed. Bryan had sat there for a time, watching Urzen. Gwyneth couldn't open her mouth while he had, and she had loosed a sigh of relief once Bryan had walked out. Even after all these months, she hadn't been able to tell him.
Gwyneth looked back down at her son, and it felt like that Andal goddess the Mother was playing with her heartstrings. It was almost as if she were barely balancing on two horses starting to ride in opposite directions, one named Love and the other Duty. She took a deep breath, and almost jumped when she heard the door creak open.
Bryan walked in, carrying a goblet of wine. He was somewhat tall, but Gwyneth stood above him by about a quarter of a foot. She took the goblet when he offered it.
She stared into the wine, lost in thought. Eventually, her thoughts coalesced into something resembling clarity. Bryan doesn't need to know. And neither does Tristifer. It will be my secret, and maybe Urzen's too, one day.
A light tap shook her out of her reverie, and she realized that Bryan had asked her multiple times if she was alright. She didn't answer. She merely drank the wine and firmly mounted Love.
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The months passed peacefully. Lord Drennan drilled the troops, Gwyneth tended to her garden, and in the early months of the thirty-eighth year after Aegon's Landing found herself pregnant again. Then, two months later, Lord Nute Calmsea, Gwyneth's lone uncle, died, leaving Saltcliffe in the hands of his son, Lucas Greyjoy.
Gwyneth attended her uncle's funeral, but it was fraught with tension. Lucas kept glaring daggers at Gwyneth, and even went out of his way to converse with every guest but her.
In return, when Gwyneth looked upon her uncle for the last time, she dryly told Lucas to "hold her cup" before she clasped Nute's hands and poured the saltwater over his head herself.
Then, a few months later, she was treated to a surprise intervention as she walked into a sitting room with her close friend Frynne and found her half-sister Margot there waiting for her. Both sisters tried to stalk out of the room, the younger a bit more gracefully, but Frynne was strong, Gwyneth pregnant, and Margot the youngest, which is how the three of them found themselves locked in a room until Frynne was confident that Margot no longer detested Gwyneth.
A month later, Gwyneth's second living child was born, a daughter this time. She was named a more suitably-Arryn name like Beony.
A short time after that, the last of the male Harlaws, Lord Sigrin, finally dropped dead. He was an aging man, the brother of the old spymaster, and the last of the Harlaws, married as he was to his old wife. Upon his death, with no Harlaws remaining in the succession, the island of Harlaw passed into the possession of Gwyneth Greyjoy. She moved quickly, annulling the title of High Lord in a matter of days. The last of the powerful Ironborn lords had died - the only ones left besides herself only owned minor lordships.
As the thirty-ninth year after Aegon's Landing came to a close, Gwyneth noticed Bryan prowling the castle of Pyke. More specifically, the general area where Tristifer lived. Feeling a little regret and pity, Gwyneth started spending more time with her husband. Things seemed to be better, and the fortieth year after Aegon's Landing was looking to be a better year.
(They didn't fall out of love)
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Gwyneth was sitting at her table, throwing Finger Dancer at the wall, when her Master-of-Whisperer's walked in. Gwyneth frowned at her. "Helya, what are you doing here?"
Helya Pyke swallowed, and visibly gathered her courage before continuing. "There-there's a plot."
Gwyneth snorted. "Well, that isn't surprising at all. Between the rash of petty bribery and the completely illogical kidnapping attempt on my half-sister Lujja that was orchestrated by the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard - the Lord Commander! - I'm really not amazed."
Helya swallowed again. "It's against you, my Lady. They... they say you're a bastard. That your mother slept with another man, and that that is why you are alive while all your other blood sisters are dead."
Gwyneth's eyes had lost all trace of mirth and instead blazed with a cold fury. "Who are they, Helya?"
Helya was shaking. "Your cousin, Lord Lucas. One of the Harlaw girls, Harra. And... and your husband."
"Tell Lord Drennan to arrest them."
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Gwyneth slammed open the door to Harra's cell and strode in. Harra stood quickly and rounded on Gwyneth, and she seemed ready to spit bile at Gwyneth.
She never got the chance.
A stab to her stomach, followed by a thrust into the side of her neck took care of her, and also blooded Finger Dancer for the first time. Harra gurgled blood, surprised, then fell over. Gwyneth cursed as the Harlaw girl got blood over her dress. Grimacing, Gwyneth wiped Finger Dancer clean with Harra's clothes and strode out of the cell, slamming it shut behind her.
She sheathed Finger Dancer as she approached the next cell door. This time she merely opened the door a crack. Instead of going in, she told the guards standing outside Lucas Greyjoy's cell door to throw him into the deepest, darkest cell available. She spoke rather loudly.
Then Gwyneth walked to the last occupied cell. Bryan's. She composed herself before walking in. She was not wholly prepared for Bryan's hate-filled eyes, even though she had seen them plenty the last few months. His eyes took in her blood covered dress, but he said nothing.
"Why?" The question rang clearly in the cell.
Bryan crooked a smile. "Because you are a whore."
Gwyneth sighed deeply. "He bribed you, didn't he."
Bryan shrugged. "Yes. Your cousin did. Not that it mattered; I would have done it anyway. A man needs to be paid for his talents."
Gwyneth laughed richly. "Oh please. You may be a passable commander, but everything you know about intrigue? We taught you."
Bryan smirked. "It doesn't matter. There isn't anything you can do. My family-"
Gwyneth cut with a voice that had no mirth in it whatsoever, only cold. "I don't care about you or your family, little bird."
Bryan's eyes bulged as if he were being choked. "How dare you speak to me like that? My family-"
"Can do NOTHING! What are they going to do? Bankrupt themselves hiring a merchant fleet that will break apart at the first sight of the Iron Fleet? Or are they going to ask the Starks? Little chance there, seeing as how Lord Rickard is my uncle-in-law. The Tyrells? Oh, yes, they might do something, but I'm as much Tyrell as you and yours. The King? He has a reputation to preserve, and laws to uphold. Do you think he's going to do anything when he discovers his precious ward was effectively committing treason?" Gwyneth stopped, watching as Bryan shook with fury.
"Now that you've realized precisely how badly you misplayed, I'll tell you what happens to you. You'll be leaving the Iron Islands in a little fishing boat, with no money or name. Once you arrive in Lannisport, well, I'm sure the Lannisters will be happy to escort you."
Bryan laughed dryly. "So, you're sending me to the Wall then?"
Gwyneth smiled coldly. "Like I would give you even that slight honor. No, I'm afraid that you are now Bryan Arryn, an unmarried pig in armor."
Bryan flushed completely red, and somehow managed to shake even harder. "You can't-"
"I CAN AND I HAVE! I DO NOT ENJOY BEING BETRAYED! NOW QUIET YOURSELF, COCK! DAWN ISN'T HERE YET!"
Gwyneth would've thrown a cup at him if she had one. Instead, she turned and strode out of the cell.
Now, even though more money was always useful, and Bryan's personal reserves were somewhat deep, she almost didn't want to touch it, tainted as it was. Eventually, however, she chose to keep it, if only to inflict a deeper pain on her now divorced husband.
At least that was easy enough in the Isles.
Some of the images are in spoilers because there's limited text between them and what's contained in them is already described in the text. And that was quite the short-lived marriage. About six to seven years.
Gwyneth really has centralized the Iron Islands to no end. Can't help but feel for both sides of the marriage, though. Not like he tried to have her killed, which is alone a nice gesture in Westeros.
The change the forum has gone through has set up some obstacles on our way. All links in table of contents are dead and some old writing codes are no longer working. This means there's a lot of editing to do - sadly some posts exceed the limit of 20 pictures, meaning that to be able to fix the posts we'd need to reduce the number of pictures in them as well.
I have good news to tell you as well. We had our fifth session last night and now we have material all the way to 53 AL.
I have good news to tell you as well. We had our fifth session last night and now we have material all the way to 53 AL.
So we have lost the Lannister's Tully's and the Starks, and you may be losing me soon. It is becoming quite difficult for me to balance Real life, schoolwork, revision for AS exams and AAR writing. Hell I still have the fourth and fifth session to work through.
Bryan Tyrell
31st through 32nd Years Since Aegon's Landing
King Aegon was dead, and now his son Prince Maelon sat on the Iron Throne, It was a shock to many, since Aegon had been expected to live for at least a few more years, but it seems that the Stranger cared little, and now young Maelon ruled the Seven Kingdoms.
Bryan soon received a raven from King’s Landing asking him to attend the coronation of Maelon as King of the Seven Kingdoms. Bryan had no intention of refusing, considering that he owed the Targaryen for raising him for Lord of the Manderford to Lord Paramount of the Reach.
The coronation itself was rather lavish, with virtually everyone of important being there. Bryan himself stood in the front row of the Great Sept, alongside other Lord Paramount’s such as Ronnel Arryn, Aegon Baratheon, and Lyman Lannister, Bryan came forward when Aegon’s the Conquers crown was placed upon Maelon’s head to swear fealty and loyalty to the new king, along with the seven other Lord Paramounts.
With the coronation over, Bryan returned to Highgarden, where terrible news awaited him, for his own son had be murdered in the Westerlands by Garrison Myatt, and now the whole future of House Tyrell was in peril…
Authors note: this chapter has been on the backburner for a while now, hopefully the next few chapters will be longer. Just seemed like the death of Byron was a good chapter stopping point.
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Aegon Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands
44 AL - 48 AL
44 AL - 48 AL
When my old informers from my time as a member of the Small Council let me know that Queen Elaena was hiring men to attack me, I could scarcely believe it. There was an old hostility between us, but her husband King Maelon was a good friend of mine. I knew there was no way he would allow a conflict between his kin and my house which were bound together by oaths of fealty and not-so distant blood relationship. No war had been fought within the Seven Kingdoms after my uncle, the Conqueror united the lands of Westeros.
But when the attack on Stormlands came, it came swiftly and utterly without mercy. Perhaps knowing that her plan was discovered, Elaena mobilized her troops which numbered twenty thousand. And two dragons. Trogdax, her own was still small in size compared to the older beasts, but the one flying beside it was Meraxes itself, the old dragon of late Queen Rhaenys. Somehow Elaena had managed to convince her eldest son, Prince Maelys to join her conquest. As if having two dragonriders up against me in battle was not enough, the other one was the crown prince of Westeros. That the future ruler of Seven Kingdoms openly declared that he opposed my rule over the Stormlands and was ready to depose me with fire and sword was the greatest threat my family had ever faced.
The invaders advanced swiftly, storming the castle of Bronzegate and sacking it. One soldier in three of the host Lord Buckler had mustered in haste were all burned in dragonfire, and so the first blood of the war had been drawn. The Vale and the North had been through a conflict known as the 'Almost War'; named so because King Aegon had managed to end the invasion before it truly even began. Such was not the case this time, however. A thousand families cried for their dead and I prepared in Storm's End to give them justice.
I'd done everything I could from raising an army to fortifying Storm's End, but still the ending of this war depended on the word of a Targaryen. When I asked Aerion to fight for me against his kin, he faced the most difficult decision in his life. Some saw it as a threat to King Maelon that he wanted to live with his wife Valaena in my court instead of the Red Keep, and I presumed that it was the reason why Queen Elaena saw me as such a great threat and had taken action. Maelon was Aerion's older brother, but all his sons had turned mad more or less. Although Prince Aerion stood in the line of succession only after Maelon's sons and grandsons, he admittably was the best claimant to the Iron Throne. Even if he decided not to support me in this war, he would always stand a threat to Queen Elaena - and she'd just shown what she was willing to do to make things go her way.
Both of Aerion's daughters had been raised in the capital whilst he himself had first left to Essos to be a sellsword. As the years had passed, King Maelon had married Alysanne and Viseria away and the latter had died after giving birth to a daughter. Aerion had once turned his back to his family and regretted it ever since, but now at my request he was willing to do it again, knowing that whatever would follow would haunt him as gravely as once abandoning his children. As I won him and Vhagar to my cause, my odds seemed greatly better than they had before. With no further reason to hold back, I told the men to prepare for a march.
As we headed up the Kingsroad, there were rumours that the invader's ranks were dwindling. Most of Elaena's forces retreated north towards the capital for some reason, turning away instead of preparing to give us battle. The reason for this was revealed to me when a royal messenger brought to me a letter bearing King Maelon's seal. In it he assured me that he'd managed to convince Elaena to stand down and that her army of sellswords had been disbanded. My reply was far from polite; I told my cousin that this war was far from over. I'd told him years before of Elaena's plot to have me killed, and he'd given me a promise to keep her from further evil. Despite that promise a thousand Stormlander soldiers had died and the castle of Bronzegate had been sacked, its people robbed and raped. I did not write about Prince Maelys' part in it, but I knew Maelon understood how serious the situation with his heir was. Seeing that I would not be soothed by words only, the King had his wife imprisoned. The Crown Prince soon arrived at my court, sent by his father in good will as a hostage and to repent for his mistake.
I'd always trusted that my friendship with Maelon would keep the Stormlands safe. The conflict with Elaena had shown me how alone I truly would be without my cousin's aid. To ensure that no one would dare to attempt anything similar to her actions, I began to rally powerful allies - most notable one of them being Lord Bryan Tyrell of Reach. His sole son and heir who'd served as King Maelon's ward and squire up to this point was called back from the capital and trusted in my care after I suggested it. The young heir to Reach was the son of my late sister Ravella, so the Tyrells and Baratheons were bound together by blood. I used that connection to my benefit, winning myself a powerfulally for the years to come.
Although snatching Maelon's squire may have been seen as a message of sorts about my discontent over his decisions, my loyalty to my king hadn't weakened. I'd sworn to serve King Maelon and I took my oath seriously, even though I prepared for a darker future that might come when my strongest ally no longer sat on the Iron Throne. So when he approached me, asking for a loan, I did not hesitate. He'd sent me money in the past - some might've said I was simply lending it back to him.
Prince Lucerys Targaryen had been named Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing soon after his time as my squire came to an end. But even though his father had found him a wife and given him an important position, life in the capital had not suited the young prince. Like his uncle Aerion, Lucerys also had crossed the Narrow Sea to enlist in a sellsword company. And like his uncle, he returned at my invitation. Of all my cousin's children, he was the dearest to me. But the boy I'd raised was a child no more - the never-ending wars between the Free Cities of Essos had seen to that. His wife soon joined my court as well, now that her husband had returned back to Westeros.
The relations between the late lord Lannister and his heir had been as difficult as mine with my daughter had grown to be. There was no place at the head of Storm's End for Rhaenyra now after her imprisonment; whatever authority she once had had was gone with the wind. She was my flesh and blood, but she'd chosen her path the moment she began plotting the death of her aunt. Her sentence was to join the silent sisters, an order of women who were sworn not to speak and who saw to the preparation of the dead for proper burial. It was the best choice I saw in the situation, for if I'd put her to death the people would've seen me as a kinslayer. By sending her to the silent sisters, I rid her from the line of succession without having to see her die.
I've devoured the whole of this thread in about two sittings over this weekend. Absolutely brilliant stuff.
I do hope the poor benighted Tyrells manage to survive, and also hope that the Perching Falcon, his lovely wife, and their dearest Myr-Myr have long and happy lives still ahead of them. Sadly, not only is saying such putting the kiss of death on them, but there's been some pretty big suggestions that it's all about to kick off.
Consider me subscribed!
I do hope the poor benighted Tyrells manage to survive, and also hope that the Perching Falcon, his lovely wife, and their dearest Myr-Myr have long and happy lives still ahead of them. Sadly, not only is saying such putting the kiss of death on them, but there's been some pretty big suggestions that it's all about to kick off.
Consider me subscribed!