The Crowned Dragons - A Game of Thrones Mod
- Thread starter MattSR30
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
I just laughed at the fact that the 'son' of Sam, (though it's actually Craster's, obviously), is a fearsome and strong warrior. Also, I have some oddities with religion going on in my save too, but that will be explained in the interlude coming up shortly.
I know, I know. Though I like that customization is available in the game, I'm not a fan of the actual mechanics of it. A lot of the haircuts aren't great, and they don't blend well with the facial hair options at all. I was going to swap to Rhaegar and change it, but I figured I'd let the game take its course and make decisions for itself. Perhaps when I actually play as Rhaegar upon Aegon's death, I'll look into changing it. I'll probably try and make up a story for why he looks that way, and why he'd change it. We'll see.
CHAPTER XII - THE LORD COMMANDER
It had been over twenty years since we landed on the shores of Westeros, the Golden Company at our back and the Seven Kingdoms ahead of us. I had served in the Golden Company for many years, but it was Aegon that truly gave me recognition for my skills. Lord Jon had knighted me before we ever set foot in Westeros, but it was upon our landing in the Stormlands, and Aegon's declaration of kingship, that I truly reached unthinkable heights. I was the first sworn knight of Aegon Targaryen's Kingsguard, an honor that I could never truly repay. Upon seizing the crown three years later, I was named as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and have served our king and the order ever since.
Though not the young man I once was, my vigilance and skill with the blade had not dulled with the passing of years. I fought beside the king in his wars against the kingdoms, and again against the Greyjoy rebels shortly thereafter. Some years after that, I was called into war once more, first to quell the ever-impending threat of House Lannister, and then once more to crush a Greyjoy uprising. For the first years of my service to the king, I had barely known what peace felt like. The calmness of regular life had escaped me for so long, and even when not at war, I remained ever vigilant at the King's side, ensuring his safety, no matter the cost.
It was eighteen years to the day, from my ascension to Lord Commander, that the king called a meeting of the Small Council to discuss the affairs in the Riverlands. As Lord Commander, I had a seat on the council, though at such meetings, I felt out of place. In times of war, my advice was relevant and perhaps even useful to the king. However, at times such of these, when the crown itself was not at war, but its vassals were, I was of no use. I knew how to swing a sword, and had not the mind to convince others to lay down their owns, save for with my own blade. As such, I left the matters of the Riverlands to the other council members.
Lord Edmure of Riverrun had lost his war against Martyn Lannister, and the Westerlands held onto the seat of Darry, and the Bay of Claws. During the latter stages of the war, Lord Rickon Stark declared war on his uncle, in an attempt to seize back the Neck. Thinking his uncle weak from the wars with the Lannisters, Rickon Stark rushed foolishly into the Riverlands, and soon found himself scurrying back to Winterfell, having been defeated soundly in foreign lands. With the conclusion of the wars ensured, the matter to discuss was that of Martyn Lannister himself. Queen Margaery had been receiving word from her eyes in Casterly Rock that Martyn Lannister was looking to encite the other lords to rebel against the crown, in an attempt to overthrow our king and put yet another Lannister bastard on the throne. King Aegon sent word to Casterly Rock, demanding Lord Martyn's presence in the capital, to defend himself against the accusations put forth against him.
I had figured that King Aegon had had enough of the treasonous Lannisters, and that the news of Martyn's deception was the last straw. That thought proved correct, when Martyn Lannister was found guilty of treason, and House Lannister was duly punished. Lord Martyn was banished to Castle Black, to serve in the Night's Watch, and House Lannister forfeited their claim to Casterly Rock, Darry and the Westerlands itself. Needing someone he could trust to take up the title of Warden of the West, King Aegon named his second son Maelor Lord of Casterly Rock and the Westerlands. It seemed an odd and brash decision to me, but my place was not to judge the king's decisions, but to serve and protect him from harm. Shortly thereafter, Maelor was shipped off to the Rock, and I sent Ser Parwyn to accompany him- as a member of the royal family, he must have a Kingsguard by his side at all times.
It was not long after Maelor's departure that his brother was brought into this world. Queen Margaery and King Aegon named him Maekar. The first Maekar Targaryen had sat upon the throne well nearly two centuries ago, and came to do so through a series of unfortunate events that resulted in the death of his brother and his heirs. Though some feared naming the boy Maekar would some how prophetically result in a similar situation, I saw it more as an ode to the nature of the man himself. Maekar I was said to be strong, and an exceptional leader, yet was a fair and peaceful man. His reign saw many years of peace, and occurred between two of the worst conflicts in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps the boy would be fated to sit upon the throne should his siblings die, or perhaps he was fated to serve his brother faithfully, to aid him in his conflicts and help him govern in times of peace. Only the gods knew, and it was unlike the gods to share their thoughts with mere men. I could only hope that one day I might live to see such times.
It was a cold November night when I was stationed outside the King's chambers, tasked with standing guard throughout the night. It was a task that I had done many times, and would continue to do for many more years into the future. It was a thankless task too, but it was ultimately one that needed to be done. The King could not be left unguarded at any moment, and it fell to the Kingsguard- and the Lord Commander- to ensure that that would never happen. The nights would often be long and entirely uneventful, the Red Keep all but silent throughout the early hours of the morning. It normally wasn't until shortly before sunrise when life in the keep could actually be heard. Serving girls and cooks and cleaners would all be up and working in preparation for the day, yet still, the task remained dull. The desire to converse with others who walked the halls was never far from thought, but this never amounted to more than a polite nod or a muttering of good morning. It was not the place of the Kingsguard to idly chat with passers-by, it was our sworn duty to remain ever vigilant, and ever vigilant I would remain.
I took a few steps forward to gaze out of the window for but a moment. It was not yet midnight, judging by the moon's position, when I began to hear rustling down the corridor. For many years, Rhaegar and Rhaenys had been responsible for garnering the attention of one of the seven standing guard. The children often woke in the late or early hours of the day, and could be heard making their way to the kitchens, or running through the halls to not be caught out in the dark. However, that was many years ago, and now Rhaenys ruled Summerhall with Rhaenys at his side, and with their coming-of-age, the children ceased to cause disturbances to the guardsmen. I cannot speak for my other sworn brothers, but in honesty, I missed it. I had come to love the children of the king, as I had come to love him many years ago. He was a noble man and was perhaps above all else worthy of fealty and admiration. The very least I could do was honor his children and protect them from harm too.
Though it was certainly not Rhaegar or Rhaenys, perhaps the noise was Daella, who though not typically a mischievous child, was of a similar age to Rhaegar and Rhaenys when they had scuttled through the halls of the Red Keep all those years ago.
"Daela", I called out, hoping to find a small girl appear from around the corner. I received no reply, and so I began taking steps forward to investigate the commotion, and that was when I felt it.
My neck was warming rapidly, and not seconds later the warmth began spreading further down my neck. Soon, I could feel the warmth on my shoulders, spreading further and further down my body beneath my plate. I raised my hand to my neck and felt the warmth. Blood. The sight of the blood sent my body into shock, and I soon felt an immense pain in the side of my neck and throat, shortly before being numbed to all pain entirely. I felt my knees giving way, and my body begin to lose its form. I slowly began to stumble, certain that I would soon find myself sprawled out across the floor in a pool of my own blood. In my stumble, I managed to throw my body around to look behind me. The movement proved too much, and I lost all balance and immediately crashed into the cobbled floor beneath my feet.
Looking up, I saw only a man garbed in the unmistakable golden cloak of the city watch. Though I could not see his face, the man held a knife in his hand soaked in fresh blood... my blood. It was then that I began to feel the life fade from my body. I was passing into a deep and endless sleep, one that I knew there was no waking from. I tried with all my might to raise myself up from the floor, to stop the man who had surely just robbed me of my life, before he could do more harm. All my might mounted to little however. What felt like an attempt to push down the walls of the capitals single-handedly, amounted to little more than a nudge off the floor. I was finished.
In my final moments, I caught a final glance of the gold cloak. The man was staring at me, while slowly opening the door to King Aegon's chambers. I tried to scream, hoping that somehow I might wake the king, but as my strength had failed me, so too did my voice. There was nothing I could do. My final moments were spent thinking of only three words: I have failed. With the thought in my mind, the assailant, already half way into King Aegon's chambers, uttered the last words I was ever to hear- words that sent a shiver even down my soon-to-be-lifeless spine. Words that proved that this was no mere gold cloak.
Valar Morghulis.
It had been over twenty years since we landed on the shores of Westeros, the Golden Company at our back and the Seven Kingdoms ahead of us. I had served in the Golden Company for many years, but it was Aegon that truly gave me recognition for my skills. Lord Jon had knighted me before we ever set foot in Westeros, but it was upon our landing in the Stormlands, and Aegon's declaration of kingship, that I truly reached unthinkable heights. I was the first sworn knight of Aegon Targaryen's Kingsguard, an honor that I could never truly repay. Upon seizing the crown three years later, I was named as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and have served our king and the order ever since.
Though not the young man I once was, my vigilance and skill with the blade had not dulled with the passing of years. I fought beside the king in his wars against the kingdoms, and again against the Greyjoy rebels shortly thereafter. Some years after that, I was called into war once more, first to quell the ever-impending threat of House Lannister, and then once more to crush a Greyjoy uprising. For the first years of my service to the king, I had barely known what peace felt like. The calmness of regular life had escaped me for so long, and even when not at war, I remained ever vigilant at the King's side, ensuring his safety, no matter the cost.
It was eighteen years to the day, from my ascension to Lord Commander, that the king called a meeting of the Small Council to discuss the affairs in the Riverlands. As Lord Commander, I had a seat on the council, though at such meetings, I felt out of place. In times of war, my advice was relevant and perhaps even useful to the king. However, at times such of these, when the crown itself was not at war, but its vassals were, I was of no use. I knew how to swing a sword, and had not the mind to convince others to lay down their owns, save for with my own blade. As such, I left the matters of the Riverlands to the other council members.
Lord Edmure of Riverrun had lost his war against Martyn Lannister, and the Westerlands held onto the seat of Darry, and the Bay of Claws. During the latter stages of the war, Lord Rickon Stark declared war on his uncle, in an attempt to seize back the Neck. Thinking his uncle weak from the wars with the Lannisters, Rickon Stark rushed foolishly into the Riverlands, and soon found himself scurrying back to Winterfell, having been defeated soundly in foreign lands. With the conclusion of the wars ensured, the matter to discuss was that of Martyn Lannister himself. Queen Margaery had been receiving word from her eyes in Casterly Rock that Martyn Lannister was looking to encite the other lords to rebel against the crown, in an attempt to overthrow our king and put yet another Lannister bastard on the throne. King Aegon sent word to Casterly Rock, demanding Lord Martyn's presence in the capital, to defend himself against the accusations put forth against him.
I had figured that King Aegon had had enough of the treasonous Lannisters, and that the news of Martyn's deception was the last straw. That thought proved correct, when Martyn Lannister was found guilty of treason, and House Lannister was duly punished. Lord Martyn was banished to Castle Black, to serve in the Night's Watch, and House Lannister forfeited their claim to Casterly Rock, Darry and the Westerlands itself. Needing someone he could trust to take up the title of Warden of the West, King Aegon named his second son Maelor Lord of Casterly Rock and the Westerlands. It seemed an odd and brash decision to me, but my place was not to judge the king's decisions, but to serve and protect him from harm. Shortly thereafter, Maelor was shipped off to the Rock, and I sent Ser Parwyn to accompany him- as a member of the royal family, he must have a Kingsguard by his side at all times.
It was not long after Maelor's departure that his brother was brought into this world. Queen Margaery and King Aegon named him Maekar. The first Maekar Targaryen had sat upon the throne well nearly two centuries ago, and came to do so through a series of unfortunate events that resulted in the death of his brother and his heirs. Though some feared naming the boy Maekar would some how prophetically result in a similar situation, I saw it more as an ode to the nature of the man himself. Maekar I was said to be strong, and an exceptional leader, yet was a fair and peaceful man. His reign saw many years of peace, and occurred between two of the worst conflicts in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps the boy would be fated to sit upon the throne should his siblings die, or perhaps he was fated to serve his brother faithfully, to aid him in his conflicts and help him govern in times of peace. Only the gods knew, and it was unlike the gods to share their thoughts with mere men. I could only hope that one day I might live to see such times.
It was a cold November night when I was stationed outside the King's chambers, tasked with standing guard throughout the night. It was a task that I had done many times, and would continue to do for many more years into the future. It was a thankless task too, but it was ultimately one that needed to be done. The King could not be left unguarded at any moment, and it fell to the Kingsguard- and the Lord Commander- to ensure that that would never happen. The nights would often be long and entirely uneventful, the Red Keep all but silent throughout the early hours of the morning. It normally wasn't until shortly before sunrise when life in the keep could actually be heard. Serving girls and cooks and cleaners would all be up and working in preparation for the day, yet still, the task remained dull. The desire to converse with others who walked the halls was never far from thought, but this never amounted to more than a polite nod or a muttering of good morning. It was not the place of the Kingsguard to idly chat with passers-by, it was our sworn duty to remain ever vigilant, and ever vigilant I would remain.
I took a few steps forward to gaze out of the window for but a moment. It was not yet midnight, judging by the moon's position, when I began to hear rustling down the corridor. For many years, Rhaegar and Rhaenys had been responsible for garnering the attention of one of the seven standing guard. The children often woke in the late or early hours of the day, and could be heard making their way to the kitchens, or running through the halls to not be caught out in the dark. However, that was many years ago, and now Rhaenys ruled Summerhall with Rhaenys at his side, and with their coming-of-age, the children ceased to cause disturbances to the guardsmen. I cannot speak for my other sworn brothers, but in honesty, I missed it. I had come to love the children of the king, as I had come to love him many years ago. He was a noble man and was perhaps above all else worthy of fealty and admiration. The very least I could do was honor his children and protect them from harm too.
Though it was certainly not Rhaegar or Rhaenys, perhaps the noise was Daella, who though not typically a mischievous child, was of a similar age to Rhaegar and Rhaenys when they had scuttled through the halls of the Red Keep all those years ago.
"Daela", I called out, hoping to find a small girl appear from around the corner. I received no reply, and so I began taking steps forward to investigate the commotion, and that was when I felt it.
My neck was warming rapidly, and not seconds later the warmth began spreading further down my neck. Soon, I could feel the warmth on my shoulders, spreading further and further down my body beneath my plate. I raised my hand to my neck and felt the warmth. Blood. The sight of the blood sent my body into shock, and I soon felt an immense pain in the side of my neck and throat, shortly before being numbed to all pain entirely. I felt my knees giving way, and my body begin to lose its form. I slowly began to stumble, certain that I would soon find myself sprawled out across the floor in a pool of my own blood. In my stumble, I managed to throw my body around to look behind me. The movement proved too much, and I lost all balance and immediately crashed into the cobbled floor beneath my feet.
Looking up, I saw only a man garbed in the unmistakable golden cloak of the city watch. Though I could not see his face, the man held a knife in his hand soaked in fresh blood... my blood. It was then that I began to feel the life fade from my body. I was passing into a deep and endless sleep, one that I knew there was no waking from. I tried with all my might to raise myself up from the floor, to stop the man who had surely just robbed me of my life, before he could do more harm. All my might mounted to little however. What felt like an attempt to push down the walls of the capitals single-handedly, amounted to little more than a nudge off the floor. I was finished.
In my final moments, I caught a final glance of the gold cloak. The man was staring at me, while slowly opening the door to King Aegon's chambers. I tried to scream, hoping that somehow I might wake the king, but as my strength had failed me, so too did my voice. There was nothing I could do. My final moments were spent thinking of only three words: I have failed. With the thought in my mind, the assailant, already half way into King Aegon's chambers, uttered the last words I was ever to hear- words that sent a shiver even down my soon-to-be-lifeless spine. Words that proved that this was no mere gold cloak.
Valar Morghulis.
Last edited:
- 1
No kidding. From what I gathered, it was hundreds, if not thousands of gold to kill someone as important as a king. Whoever wanted me dead was obviously pretty damn powerful. As you might suspect, my thoughts are leaning towards a certain branch of golden lions, or a certain aunt to the east.
Though with the Faceless men, it's virtually impossible to figure out who killed you, I'm going to keep my eyes open regardless.
Wow I was thinking while reading it that it had such a GRR Martin ring to it... hard to believe someone could afford that!! (and the AI doing something like that wow)
Quite an annoying, (yet interesting), event. At least it gives me something to write about.
At least he' an adult, and has been for a few years. If this happened when he was still a child, it would have made it that much easier for the perpetrator to dethrone Rhaegar, or screw up the realm in some way.
Thank you, kind sir!
Very nicely written, as ever. My money would be on the Lannisters, I think, as Daenerys is far enough removed from the succession for the AI to typically ignore the possible inheritance, and I doubt she has enough enmity to just target Aegon for no reason at all. The Lannisters would at least have the highly negative opinion. Still, all the same, what a shame about Aegon VI.
I'd have to agree the Lannisters are the probable culprits. Dany doesn't really gain by this move, even if she had the money. The Lannisters probably still have cash (I'm presuming some of them held on to titles in the Westerlands, or if not Lannisters proper descendants who married into other houses *cough* Frey *cough*). Dark horse (or squid) candidate would be the Greyjoys, who also lost everything but I doubt could afford it. Although iirc sometimes the faceless men offer to take your child's life in exchange for the target, which would be a Greyjoy thing to do.
That's assuming there's not a total mind screw going on, and that one of your own kids or your lady wife didn't decide to accelerate the succession. I doubt it, but you can't tell in ASoIaF.
Edit: And while the realm rightly mourns the loss of their King, let's not forget poor loyal Duck.
That's assuming there's not a total mind screw going on, and that one of your own kids or your lady wife didn't decide to accelerate the succession. I doubt it, but you can't tell in ASoIaF.
Edit: And while the realm rightly mourns the loss of their King, let's not forget poor loyal Duck.
Thank you. I'm definitely leaning towards the Lannisters, but Rhaegar needs to be able to find evidence of their crimes.
I'd have to agree the Lannisters are the probable culprits. Dany doesn't really gain by this move, even if she had the money. The Lannisters probably still have cash (I'm presuming some of them held on to titles in the Westerlands, or if not Lannisters proper descendants who married into other houses *cough* Frey *cough*). Dark horse (or squid) candidate would be the Greyjoys, who also lost everything but I doubt could afford it. Although iirc sometimes the faceless men offer to take your child's life in exchange for the target, which would be a Greyjoy thing to do.
That's assuming there's not a total mind screw going on, and that one of your own kids or your lady wife didn't decide to accelerate the succession. I doubt it, but you can't tell in ASoIaF.
Edit: And while the realm rightly mourns the loss of their King, let's not forget poor loyal Duck.
There are still some 'minor' Lannisters in the Westerlands, and there are still some that are relatively close in relation to Martyn, so you'd expect strong ties and a deep purse. Seems like the general consensus is that it would be them.
And yes, the loss of Duck is sad. A boy who came from nothing, to serving as a close friend and Lord Commander to a Targaryen king. His deeds will forever be remembered in the pages of the White Book.
INTERLUDE - 321 AL
With the death of King Aegon VI, the throne passed to his eldest son, Rhaegar. As such, now is as fitting a time as ever to stop, sit back, and take a look at state of the realm, as well as a quick overview of The Wall, the territories beyond the wall, and Essos as well.
THE IRON THRONE
Seat: King's Landing
House: Targaryen
Lord: King Rhaegar I
Heir: Maelor Targaryen
King Rhaegar was crowned on the first day of the 322nd year after Aegon's Landing, only one day after his nineteenth nameday. He had served as the heir apparent since birth, and Lord of Summerhall since his sixteenth nameday. His father, Aegon VI, won the throne in war, reclaiming the seat for House Targaryen twenty years after Robert Baratheon's rebellion. Since then, the realm has seen fluctuating periods of conflict and peace, though for the most part, King Aegon VI was loved by the smallfolk and nobility alike. Rhaegar was raised since birth to follow in his father's footsteps, and had quite the reputation to live up to.
DORNE
Seat: Sunspear
House: Vaith
Lady: Princess Obara
Heir: Arthur Vaith
In the eyes of House Vaith, it was a series of fortunate events that led them to claim control over all of Dorne. Arianne Martell was removed from her claim to Dorne after a quarrel with her father, Prince Doran. However, both of Arianne's younger brothers died before their father with no issue, and so Arianne was left as the sole child of descendant of Doran Martell. Upon her father's death, Princess Arianne took the title of Princess of Dorne, but had already married into House Vaith by that time. Through the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, because her marriage was not a matrilineal one, Arianne's heir would be of House Vaith, and so upon Princess Arianne's death, Dorne passed to Princess Obara Vaith. House Vaith is not popular in Dorne, and with many of Prince Oberyn Martell's bastards still alive, there is the potential that one might be legitimized and a civil war for Dorne might break out.
The Reach
Seat: Highgarden
House: Tyrell
Lord: Lord Willas
Heir: Steffon Tyrell
Willas Tyrell succeeded his father Mace as Lord of the Reach during the early years of King Aegon's war for the throne. By that point, he was already tied through marriage to House Targaryen, and had served as one of the crown's staunchest allies. Serving on the Small Council of King Aegon, as Master of Coin, for many years, Willas Tyrell garnered quite the reputation throughout the kingdoms as a wise and powerful man. A sign of Lord Willas' reign, the Reach saw far less internal conflict than the other kingdoms. However, a marriage of House Tyrell and Lannister left the crown wary of this new alliance, and Lord Willas found himself being dragged into Casterly Rock's numerous conflicts. A man of honor and respect, Lord Willas was not pleased when House Lannister was stripped of their lands and titles by King Aegon, but followed his liege dutifully in accepting his decision. Highgarden could muster some of the largest armies and could supply easily the most food out of any of the kingdoms, and would remain a valuable ally for many generations to come.
THE STORMLANDS
Seat: Storm's End
House: Connington
Lord: Lord Jon
Heir: Lester Connington
Hand of the King Jon Connington was the man most considered responsible for Aegon VI's ascension to the throne. In his exile, he fostered the young Aegon and raised him up to be the king he was destined to become. He followed Aegon into battle without hesitation, and was rewarded for his loyalty and service to House Targaryen by being named Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and Hand of the King. He has served as both for twenty years, and is as loyal today as he was two decades ago. Though House Tyrell could back the crown with soldiers and food, King Aegon could never find a more loyal friend than Jon Connington. Where the ascension of House Vaith in Dorne resulted in great hostility between many of the houses, the lords of the Stormlands graciously accepted and welcomed Lord Jon as their new liege. Before Jon, the Stormlands were ruled by a brash young warrior, followed by his less-than appropriate brother, and finally his blasphemous and unloving other brother. No doubt Lord Jon was a welcome change.
THE WESTERLANDS
Seat: Casterly Rock
House: Targaryen
Lord: Lord Maelor
Heir: Rhaegar Targaryen
For as long as history can remember, House Lannister ruled over the Westerlands with almost unquestionable authority. The House was largely responsible for the removal of House Targaryen from the Iron Throne, and their near extermination. During the many years after Aegon VI's ascension to the throne, House Lannister proved incredibly troublesome, so much so that not long ago the great House was stripped of their lands and titles, and Martyn Lannister was banished to Castle Black. King Aegon, in one of his last acts, granted Casterly Rock and the governance of the Westerlands to his second son, Maelor, in order to ensure loyalty to the crown. It remains to be seen how this plan will work, but it is hard to imagine the lords of the Westerlands so readily accepting such a drastic change. Some issues may arise as well, seeing as how the Stormlands have had control of Cornfield, a de-jure region of the Westerlands, for many years.
THE RIVERLANDS
Seat: Riverrun
House: Tully
Lord: Lord Edmure
Heir: Hoster Tully
Under the rule of Joffrey and Tommen Lannister, the Riverlands was granted to Lord Petyr Baelish, after House Tully had sided with House Stark in the War of Five Kings. Seeking to strengthen his relations with his vassals, King Aegon returned the Lord Paramouncy of the Riverlands to House Tully, upon his ascension to the throne. Since then, the Riverlands has seen relatively prolonged peace. Recently however, due to the succession crisis in the Westerlands, the Riverlands had been at war with Casterly Rock, attempting to reclaim the Bay of Claws as a vassal of House Tully. Quarrels have also arisen between House Tully and House Stark, as Lord Rickon Stark seeks to reclaim control of the Neck from the Riverlands. During the conflict, Lord Edmure's only two sons were both captured in battle by the Stark forces, and were now being held prisoner. Should they be executed by the Starks, the Riverlands would pass to Edmure's eldest daughter, and potentially once again slip away from the grasp of House Tully.
THE VALE
Seat: The Eyrie
House: Arryn
Lord: Lord Harrold
Heir: Kyle Arryn
Upon the death of the sickly and feeble Robert Arryn, the lordship of the Vale passed to Harrold Hardyng, the last remaining descendant of Jasper Arryn. Granted the name Arryn, Lord Harrold was a strong man and a fierce warrior, though not particularly skilled in the art of diplomacy. Through the machinations of Petyr Baelish, Harrold had married Sansa Stark in his youth, and as such, his sons now held a claim to the North, at least to a certain extent. There has been talk over the years that Rickon Stark is not who he says he is, and was merely an imposter boy put in Winterfell to remove the Boltons from power. This could create conflict between the North and the Vale, but Harrold Arryn's reign thus far has experienced nothing but peace. In the last few months of King Aegon's reign, he was called into war by Edmure Tully against House Lannister, though sent only a minor force of troops, not wanting to see the forces of the Vale crushed in some petty war. Harrold Arryn's son and heir Kyle had also personally served as King Aegon's squire and ward, alongside the now-king Rhaegar. This was in hopes that a bond could be formed between the two men, and thus the Vale and the throne, but in actuality the two grew to despise one another, and considered themselves in adulthood to be bitter rivals.
THE NORTH
Seat: Winterfell
House: Stark
Lord: Lord Rickon
Heir: Beron Stark
The ancient and noble House Stark was supplanted from their dominion over the North by Roose Bolton after the events of the Red Wedding. Shortly after my coronation, King Aegon undid the damage caused by the Lannisters by naming the recently-found Rickon Stark as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, while Roose and Ramsay Bolton answered to the king for their crimes. Some trouble has arisen from Rickon Stark's religious beliefs, with the Stark lord preferring the far-older Old Gods that the Wildlings beyond the wall worship. These gods are not unlike the Old Gods of the North, yet the Northern lords have not taken kindly to their liege's choices. There has also been much infighting in the North since King Aegon named Rickon Stark as Lord of Winterfell, with many still remaining loyal to the Bolton traitors. However, all-out war broke out in the North recently. A number of lords gathered evidence claiming that Rickon Stark was an imposter, and that Arya Stark was the rightful claimant to Winterfell and the North, though most view her as an imposter too. The two sides are engaged in a bloody conflict, and with Sansa Stark producing sons of her own in the Eyrie, as well as holding portions of the North as her own, the potential for pandemonium in the North lingers.
THE IRON ISLANDS
Seat: Nagga's Hill
House: Harlaw
Lord: King Harras
Heir: Erik Harlaw
In the early days of the War of Five Kings, Balon Greyjoy declared himself King of the Iron Islands once more, and the Ironborn began a struggle for their independence. For years after Aegon VI's coronation, he fought with King Euron Crow's Eye in a number of wars, before finally personally slaying the Iron King in battle. This left the Iron Islands in chaos, resulting in the Iron Crown passing to a lowborn islander, before settling on the head of Harras Harlaw. The Harlaw king has ruled the Iron Islands for many years now, with no interefence from the Iron Throne, no doubt thanks to King Aegon's intentions to let the islands tear themselves apart, before claiming them for his kingdom once more. Numerous conflicts have been fought on the islands over the years, but it appears as though House Harlaw is finally settling into a position to rule for many years to come.
THE NIGHT'S WATCH
Seat: Castle Black
House: N/A
Lord: Lord Commander Jon Snow
Heir: Jaime Lannister
They are the watchers on the Wall, the shield that guards the realms of men. There is not much to say regarding the Night's Watch. Lord Commander Jon, with the aid of Stannis Baratheon, fended off a Wildling invasion while Aegon VI was fighting his war in the Stormlands. There are some who claim that there was something far worse that followed on the heels of the Wildlings, but nothing has ever come of the stories. The Wall and the Night's Watch remain in tact, and Lord Commander Jon has led them with honor for many years, having garrisoned a number of the abandoned keeps with Wildlings that have taken up their cause. Though the defeat of Mance Rayder brought the Wildlings low once more, a new King Beyond the Wall has risen up, and the Night's Watch are once more faced with the threat of invasion.
BEYOND THE WALL
Seat: Hardhome
House: Varawolf
Lord: King Harmond Hornblower
Heir: Hallis Varawolf
After Mance Rayder was crushed by Stannis Baratheon and the Night's Watch, many of the Wildlings joined their cause, while many scattered and returned to their hovels North of the Wall. For years, no news reached the kingdoms from Beyond the Wall, until only a few years ago when King Aegon received word that someone known as 'the Hornblower' had united the tribes and declared himself king. Though some of the lands beyond the Wall had been lost to the cold touch of winter, most tribes and villages still remained in tact, and this Hornblower King had tens of thousands of Wildlings at his disposal. Should he choose to turn his attentions towards the South, the Night's Watch would not be enough to contain such a threat. The crown's forces would surely be required to repel yet another Wildling invasion.
ESSOS
Essos has remained largely out-of-touch with the Iron Throne. The Free Cities have made little noise for many years now, preferring the prospects of sales over that of swords in the Seven Kingdoms. A number of large Khalasars have formed, the most prominent being that of Khal Mago, who is said to have nearly thirty thousand Dothraki warriors at his back. It is a good thing the horselords of the East have no interest in sea or ships. Slaver's Bay has fractured once more, the reign of Daenerys Targaryen had been failing for many years. When once she could claim dominion over Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen, only Meereen now truly belonged to the Queen. The Mother of Dragons appeared cursed, perhaps as a result of the manner in which she procured her dragons. All of her legitimate children did not survive childbirth, while the one illegitimate son born to her did. Many believed that Daenerys would one day legitimize the boy, as to ensure that her legacy survived. If not, Meereen would be left without a queen, and all of her work to liberate Slaver's Bay would be undone in a fortnight.
With the death of King Aegon VI, the throne passed to his eldest son, Rhaegar. As such, now is as fitting a time as ever to stop, sit back, and take a look at state of the realm, as well as a quick overview of The Wall, the territories beyond the wall, and Essos as well.
THE IRON THRONE
Seat: King's Landing
House: Targaryen
Lord: King Rhaegar I
Heir: Maelor Targaryen
King Rhaegar was crowned on the first day of the 322nd year after Aegon's Landing, only one day after his nineteenth nameday. He had served as the heir apparent since birth, and Lord of Summerhall since his sixteenth nameday. His father, Aegon VI, won the throne in war, reclaiming the seat for House Targaryen twenty years after Robert Baratheon's rebellion. Since then, the realm has seen fluctuating periods of conflict and peace, though for the most part, King Aegon VI was loved by the smallfolk and nobility alike. Rhaegar was raised since birth to follow in his father's footsteps, and had quite the reputation to live up to.
DORNE
Seat: Sunspear
House: Vaith
Lady: Princess Obara
Heir: Arthur Vaith
In the eyes of House Vaith, it was a series of fortunate events that led them to claim control over all of Dorne. Arianne Martell was removed from her claim to Dorne after a quarrel with her father, Prince Doran. However, both of Arianne's younger brothers died before their father with no issue, and so Arianne was left as the sole child of descendant of Doran Martell. Upon her father's death, Princess Arianne took the title of Princess of Dorne, but had already married into House Vaith by that time. Through the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, because her marriage was not a matrilineal one, Arianne's heir would be of House Vaith, and so upon Princess Arianne's death, Dorne passed to Princess Obara Vaith. House Vaith is not popular in Dorne, and with many of Prince Oberyn Martell's bastards still alive, there is the potential that one might be legitimized and a civil war for Dorne might break out.
The Reach
Seat: Highgarden
House: Tyrell
Lord: Lord Willas
Heir: Steffon Tyrell
Willas Tyrell succeeded his father Mace as Lord of the Reach during the early years of King Aegon's war for the throne. By that point, he was already tied through marriage to House Targaryen, and had served as one of the crown's staunchest allies. Serving on the Small Council of King Aegon, as Master of Coin, for many years, Willas Tyrell garnered quite the reputation throughout the kingdoms as a wise and powerful man. A sign of Lord Willas' reign, the Reach saw far less internal conflict than the other kingdoms. However, a marriage of House Tyrell and Lannister left the crown wary of this new alliance, and Lord Willas found himself being dragged into Casterly Rock's numerous conflicts. A man of honor and respect, Lord Willas was not pleased when House Lannister was stripped of their lands and titles by King Aegon, but followed his liege dutifully in accepting his decision. Highgarden could muster some of the largest armies and could supply easily the most food out of any of the kingdoms, and would remain a valuable ally for many generations to come.
THE STORMLANDS
Seat: Storm's End
House: Connington
Lord: Lord Jon
Heir: Lester Connington
Hand of the King Jon Connington was the man most considered responsible for Aegon VI's ascension to the throne. In his exile, he fostered the young Aegon and raised him up to be the king he was destined to become. He followed Aegon into battle without hesitation, and was rewarded for his loyalty and service to House Targaryen by being named Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and Hand of the King. He has served as both for twenty years, and is as loyal today as he was two decades ago. Though House Tyrell could back the crown with soldiers and food, King Aegon could never find a more loyal friend than Jon Connington. Where the ascension of House Vaith in Dorne resulted in great hostility between many of the houses, the lords of the Stormlands graciously accepted and welcomed Lord Jon as their new liege. Before Jon, the Stormlands were ruled by a brash young warrior, followed by his less-than appropriate brother, and finally his blasphemous and unloving other brother. No doubt Lord Jon was a welcome change.
THE WESTERLANDS
Seat: Casterly Rock
House: Targaryen
Lord: Lord Maelor
Heir: Rhaegar Targaryen
For as long as history can remember, House Lannister ruled over the Westerlands with almost unquestionable authority. The House was largely responsible for the removal of House Targaryen from the Iron Throne, and their near extermination. During the many years after Aegon VI's ascension to the throne, House Lannister proved incredibly troublesome, so much so that not long ago the great House was stripped of their lands and titles, and Martyn Lannister was banished to Castle Black. King Aegon, in one of his last acts, granted Casterly Rock and the governance of the Westerlands to his second son, Maelor, in order to ensure loyalty to the crown. It remains to be seen how this plan will work, but it is hard to imagine the lords of the Westerlands so readily accepting such a drastic change. Some issues may arise as well, seeing as how the Stormlands have had control of Cornfield, a de-jure region of the Westerlands, for many years.
THE RIVERLANDS
Seat: Riverrun
House: Tully
Lord: Lord Edmure
Heir: Hoster Tully
Under the rule of Joffrey and Tommen Lannister, the Riverlands was granted to Lord Petyr Baelish, after House Tully had sided with House Stark in the War of Five Kings. Seeking to strengthen his relations with his vassals, King Aegon returned the Lord Paramouncy of the Riverlands to House Tully, upon his ascension to the throne. Since then, the Riverlands has seen relatively prolonged peace. Recently however, due to the succession crisis in the Westerlands, the Riverlands had been at war with Casterly Rock, attempting to reclaim the Bay of Claws as a vassal of House Tully. Quarrels have also arisen between House Tully and House Stark, as Lord Rickon Stark seeks to reclaim control of the Neck from the Riverlands. During the conflict, Lord Edmure's only two sons were both captured in battle by the Stark forces, and were now being held prisoner. Should they be executed by the Starks, the Riverlands would pass to Edmure's eldest daughter, and potentially once again slip away from the grasp of House Tully.
THE VALE
Seat: The Eyrie
House: Arryn
Lord: Lord Harrold
Heir: Kyle Arryn
Upon the death of the sickly and feeble Robert Arryn, the lordship of the Vale passed to Harrold Hardyng, the last remaining descendant of Jasper Arryn. Granted the name Arryn, Lord Harrold was a strong man and a fierce warrior, though not particularly skilled in the art of diplomacy. Through the machinations of Petyr Baelish, Harrold had married Sansa Stark in his youth, and as such, his sons now held a claim to the North, at least to a certain extent. There has been talk over the years that Rickon Stark is not who he says he is, and was merely an imposter boy put in Winterfell to remove the Boltons from power. This could create conflict between the North and the Vale, but Harrold Arryn's reign thus far has experienced nothing but peace. In the last few months of King Aegon's reign, he was called into war by Edmure Tully against House Lannister, though sent only a minor force of troops, not wanting to see the forces of the Vale crushed in some petty war. Harrold Arryn's son and heir Kyle had also personally served as King Aegon's squire and ward, alongside the now-king Rhaegar. This was in hopes that a bond could be formed between the two men, and thus the Vale and the throne, but in actuality the two grew to despise one another, and considered themselves in adulthood to be bitter rivals.
THE NORTH
Seat: Winterfell
House: Stark
Lord: Lord Rickon
Heir: Beron Stark
The ancient and noble House Stark was supplanted from their dominion over the North by Roose Bolton after the events of the Red Wedding. Shortly after my coronation, King Aegon undid the damage caused by the Lannisters by naming the recently-found Rickon Stark as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, while Roose and Ramsay Bolton answered to the king for their crimes. Some trouble has arisen from Rickon Stark's religious beliefs, with the Stark lord preferring the far-older Old Gods that the Wildlings beyond the wall worship. These gods are not unlike the Old Gods of the North, yet the Northern lords have not taken kindly to their liege's choices. There has also been much infighting in the North since King Aegon named Rickon Stark as Lord of Winterfell, with many still remaining loyal to the Bolton traitors. However, all-out war broke out in the North recently. A number of lords gathered evidence claiming that Rickon Stark was an imposter, and that Arya Stark was the rightful claimant to Winterfell and the North, though most view her as an imposter too. The two sides are engaged in a bloody conflict, and with Sansa Stark producing sons of her own in the Eyrie, as well as holding portions of the North as her own, the potential for pandemonium in the North lingers.
THE IRON ISLANDS
Seat: Nagga's Hill
House: Harlaw
Lord: King Harras
Heir: Erik Harlaw
In the early days of the War of Five Kings, Balon Greyjoy declared himself King of the Iron Islands once more, and the Ironborn began a struggle for their independence. For years after Aegon VI's coronation, he fought with King Euron Crow's Eye in a number of wars, before finally personally slaying the Iron King in battle. This left the Iron Islands in chaos, resulting in the Iron Crown passing to a lowborn islander, before settling on the head of Harras Harlaw. The Harlaw king has ruled the Iron Islands for many years now, with no interefence from the Iron Throne, no doubt thanks to King Aegon's intentions to let the islands tear themselves apart, before claiming them for his kingdom once more. Numerous conflicts have been fought on the islands over the years, but it appears as though House Harlaw is finally settling into a position to rule for many years to come.
THE NIGHT'S WATCH
Seat: Castle Black
House: N/A
Lord: Lord Commander Jon Snow
Heir: Jaime Lannister
They are the watchers on the Wall, the shield that guards the realms of men. There is not much to say regarding the Night's Watch. Lord Commander Jon, with the aid of Stannis Baratheon, fended off a Wildling invasion while Aegon VI was fighting his war in the Stormlands. There are some who claim that there was something far worse that followed on the heels of the Wildlings, but nothing has ever come of the stories. The Wall and the Night's Watch remain in tact, and Lord Commander Jon has led them with honor for many years, having garrisoned a number of the abandoned keeps with Wildlings that have taken up their cause. Though the defeat of Mance Rayder brought the Wildlings low once more, a new King Beyond the Wall has risen up, and the Night's Watch are once more faced with the threat of invasion.
BEYOND THE WALL
Seat: Hardhome
House: Varawolf
Lord: King Harmond Hornblower
Heir: Hallis Varawolf
After Mance Rayder was crushed by Stannis Baratheon and the Night's Watch, many of the Wildlings joined their cause, while many scattered and returned to their hovels North of the Wall. For years, no news reached the kingdoms from Beyond the Wall, until only a few years ago when King Aegon received word that someone known as 'the Hornblower' had united the tribes and declared himself king. Though some of the lands beyond the Wall had been lost to the cold touch of winter, most tribes and villages still remained in tact, and this Hornblower King had tens of thousands of Wildlings at his disposal. Should he choose to turn his attentions towards the South, the Night's Watch would not be enough to contain such a threat. The crown's forces would surely be required to repel yet another Wildling invasion.
ESSOS
Essos has remained largely out-of-touch with the Iron Throne. The Free Cities have made little noise for many years now, preferring the prospects of sales over that of swords in the Seven Kingdoms. A number of large Khalasars have formed, the most prominent being that of Khal Mago, who is said to have nearly thirty thousand Dothraki warriors at his back. It is a good thing the horselords of the East have no interest in sea or ships. Slaver's Bay has fractured once more, the reign of Daenerys Targaryen had been failing for many years. When once she could claim dominion over Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen, only Meereen now truly belonged to the Queen. The Mother of Dragons appeared cursed, perhaps as a result of the manner in which she procured her dragons. All of her legitimate children did not survive childbirth, while the one illegitimate son born to her did. Many believed that Daenerys would one day legitimize the boy, as to ensure that her legacy survived. If not, Meereen would be left without a queen, and all of her work to liberate Slaver's Bay would be undone in a fortnight.
Last edited:
- 1
What about "The Golden Targaryans?" (I looked at the names and thought "Needs more references to their origins". Though I'd go with Crowned Dragons otherwise.)
Also HOW is Connington still alive? I am impressed that he shrugged off the greyscale, but how is what I've wanted to know. And sorry to ask, but what happened to Varys?
Otherwise, should be interesting to see how Rhaegar settles into rule of Westeros.
Also HOW is Connington still alive? I am impressed that he shrugged off the greyscale, but how is what I've wanted to know. And sorry to ask, but what happened to Varys?
Otherwise, should be interesting to see how Rhaegar settles into rule of Westeros.
Hmm... Interesting... I only added 'The Crowned Dragons' to that list so that I had a fourth option on there. I didn't think people would like it.
As for Varys, he died a long time ago. I thought I mentioned it somewhere in one of the chapters, but I guess not.
