The Conqueror's Line - A Westeros Story

[Branderburgian]

House of the Dragon made me dig out this old gem and as usual the timelines that come out of it are both interesting and surprising. I decided to play 100 years as Aegon and his heirs and see what I could make out of it. To keep things interesting, I put in a few rules.
-Deal with Dorne differently: It is extremely easy to handle Dorne if you want to be gamey and I didn't. Even if I had a hundred percent of war score, I wouldn't end the war before one of these things happened a) I managed to imprison the ruling Prince or Princess either through battle or plot, b)killed or capture Aegon or one of his sisters, c)Winter came before the war was finished
-Roleplaying as much as I am able: Character makes a bad decision, good, roll with it.
-Have some things happen as they did: Building the Dragonpit for example close to 42 AC and things like that

Now, on to the main show

The Conqueror's Realm, seemingly a unified entity but deep down.
A patchwork of Lords kept together by the Conqueror.
​

The situation in the various Realms of Westeros

Crownlands: Housing the center of Targaryen power, Dragonstone and the City of King's Landing, the Crownlands are the direct vassals of the Crown. An area with rich fields and trade ports, the Crownlands have prospered much under the Dragon's peace and its Lords are the most fervent allies of the Crown.

The North: The largest region in all of Westeros but hardly populated, it is ruled over by the aging former King Torrhen Stark. The Starks quickly accepted the Targaryen's as their overlords after the burning of the Eyre and have remained loyal ever since, fighting a small war with their Karstark kin for control of the region. The Crown has given its royal backing but it has stopped short of deploying troops as long as the conflict remains small and contained.

The Vale: As ‘’High as Honor’’ are the words of house Arryn and they used to stand true. The mountains and valleys of the Vale are home to some of the oldest and proudest houses in Westeros, with house Arryn traditionally ruling from the mountain fortress the Eyrie, far above the clouds. This changed with the arrival of the Dragons. Spurring the offer of the Targaryens, the Vale turned into the hardest part of the Conquest before Dorne. The war in the Vale took a personal dimension when the King's uncle, Daemon Velaryon was captured in a skirmish as his smaller force was moving towards the Vale and tortured at the Eyre by the Queen Regent. That led Aegon to take flight alongside his two sister-wives and burned the Arryn's out of their perch. The Queen was eaten by Balerion the Black Dread while the young King was given the mercy of a beheading alongside any living Arryn's captured at the peak. An assasination hunt was launched for the surviving members of the House. The Vale was given to a branch of House Royce of Gulltown.

The Riverlands: Had a troubled recent history. Giving brief battle to the Targaryen's, Harren the Black was captured and forced to accept the suzerainty of the Aegon but being stripped of his mighty fortress. Turned over to one of the local Ironborn Lords who rebeled during the War with Dorne, Harrenhal and the Riverlands were given to the Blackwoods, who refused to join in their Lord's treachery and rebelled against him. Ever since, the Riverlands have upheld the King's Peace with loyalty and leal service.

The Westerlands and Iron Islands: Hate and war had united these lands long before King Aegon made it official. Ruled over my Marq Lannister, nephew of King Loren Lannister who fought well against the Conqueror and provided his services as Master-at-Arms ever since he bent the knee. Loren and Harren the Black at first and then his son, Harwyn, fought a bitter five year conflict after the Conquest over compensation for raiding and a deep mutual rivalry between the Houses. King Aegon, his attention diverted to Dorne at the time didn't pay much attention until the end of that war. Taking the side of the more dependable Lannisters and after his calls to end the War were rebuffed by Lord Harwyn, King Aegon raided the hold of the treacherous Lord and arrested him, awarding overlordship of the Islands to House Lannister in order to pacify and bring that rebellious area into heel.

The Reach: The food basket of the Realm is a land of chivalry and plenty, where the wine flows as freely as the countless fields of flowers and grass. Ruled over by Garse Greenhand, grandson of Garth Greenhand, King of the Reach and one-time Master of Law of King Aegon, the Reach continuous to prosper under the overlordship of the Dragons.

The Stormlands: Given personally to the brother of the King, Orys Baratheon has managed to bring his realm under control after two small revolts from local lords. Ruling alongside Monica Velaryon, the Lord of the Stormlands has began his own private war with Dorne with the implicit backing of the Crown, seeking to control the passes towards the country, learning from the mistakes of past campaigns.

Dorne: The Dornish Princes might have managed to survive the onslaught of the Targaryen dynasty through a long campaign of irregular warfare, tiring out Aegon's armies until the coming of Winter and a revolt in the Riverlands forced the King to return home. However the war has left its marks, weaking the Princes in Sunspear as many revolts have broken out in the north of the Principality. Orys Baratheon and the Crown have taken advantage of such weaknesses, methodically seeking to control the Mountain Passes before another attempt at Conquest is made.

---

The Royal Family

​

The Patriarch of the House of the Dragon, King Aegon First of his Name , King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. A large title for a large figure, King Aegon forged the majority of a land long divided into one unified whole. Now, a settled Monarch, he has sought to retain a balance within the Realm, shore up his Strength and that of his House. His sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys are still alive, their bond still unbroken but all these legends are slowly fading away. Aegon has grown rotund after he has followed his beloved brother Orys in one banquet too many, Visenya still keeps her sword arm strong but has shown signs of being tired while Rhaenys spends her days in bed, disassociated with the world that she so loved after some illness.

​

Lord Daemon, Prince of Dragonstone and recently, Hand of the King (is one of the most fortunate products of RNG that I've ever seen)
has been heralded by many as a perfect copy of his father. Born in 7 AC after much pomp and relief throughout the realm, Daemon is the child of Aegon and Monica Velaryon, the youngest daughter of Aegon's fallen uncle. Growing to be tall, broad and fearsomely handsome, he was trained from the first moment alongside his father in rulership and war. Described as generally just, diligent and kind there was a darker side within him who craved violence, death, and absolute mastery over all he deemed his. Keenly aware of his future, he had once stolen the crown of his father and wore it around court to the consternation of many but the delight of King Aegon. Growing into a brilliant strategist, Daemon supports his uncles strategy against Dorne and even swayed his father to support the Lords of the Prince's Pass when they rebelled against Dorne, joining Orys and an army of 17000 bannermen into the passes and driving away the Dornish armies. The Prince's Pass quickly swore loyalty to King's Landing and governed from Storm's End. When he turned sixteen, Daemon was given his lands in Dragonstone and the Handship, with his uncle Oryn stepping into the role of Master of Laws. Daemon sees many things that he dislikes in Westeros. The Faith is far stronger than it should be, King's Landing could be larger, the Lord's power could be brought closer to heel, Dorne could be subjugated. For now, the Prince is his father's right and loyal hand waiting patiently on the wings of the Dragon for his time to rule.

​

Princess Valaena Targaryen was born in 11 AC after much effort, Queen Rhaenys became pregnant. As Daemon is a mirror of his father, Valaena has much in common with her mother. Ethereally beautiful, kind, somewhat slow-going and relaxed, fiercely intelligent and scheming but kind and devoted to her elder brother and husband, the Princess of Dragonstone is the perfect influence and supporter for the future King. A dragon rider since 12 and soon a mother-to-be at sixteen, she's expected to bring stability to the succession of the Iron Throne and anchor it on stable ground.

​

Princess Shaena came in 14 AC, the second-to-last and final surviving child of the Conqueror. Raised primarily by her mother, the Queen Visenya, she was given much less care than her elder siblings. She is quick to anger and fiercely proud of herself and her heritage. She is betrothed to Alaric Baratheon, her cousin and heir to the Stormlands, a match that is as much a product of their father's machinations as well as a teenage infatuation that has blossomed between the time when Alaric came to be fostered by the King.

The unofficial third Queen of Westeros and a powerful figure in the politics of the Realm, Lady Monica Baratheon (née Targaryen and Velaryon) is the Matriarch of two dynasties and perhaps the most important woman of her generation. Brought into King's Landing after the King was afraid of his line and taken as a third wife in late 6 AC, fifteen year old Monica almost immediately proved the better of her older cousins, quickly producing the long awaited heir to the Throne. Remaining at court for a few years, she was married to Lord Orys Baratheon after Argella Durandon was tried and executed for taking a lover and having his bastard. The King engineered the wedding due to the proven fertility of Lady Monica and young age for Orys was getting close to 50 without any heirs of his name. The couple has proven quite successful both politically and as a family, having four children in quick succession ensuring the stability of Orys' line.​

---

Notes: Since I can't include every little detail, I welcome any questions you might have, I have kept a few notes. I am currently aiming to play until the end of the first post-Conquest century (100 AC)

 

[Branderburgian]

Correction
Clarification: I made a mistake in my notes. Loren Lannister is still the Lord of the Westerlands at 54. I got an event that he had gone into a regency for a bit, probably took a trip and my brain wrote it down as if he had died. I'll retroactively correct it above.

---

Interesting Bits

The Prince's sworn sword and personal bodyguard is a Lannister, Ser Joffrey. He's one of my better Kingsguards hence why he's send in that mission. His only drawback seems to be his temper and he's an absolute fan of the Prince although that's not reciprocated, with the Prince keeping his distance. He also has a lot of positive stats he is diligent, kind, charitable and content with his position albeit he has a temper at times and likes to be fashionable. The Lannisters are making a good case for being Kingsguard in this timeline.

Looks like Daemon and Valaena might be this timeline's version of Jaeherys and Alicent. They are absolutely besotted with each other and I plan to make her a key part of his council since her intrigue stats are amongst the best in the Kingdom at this time, so they will be doing a lot of ruling together.​

---

AI Art

Prince Daemon

Princess Valaena

Princess Shaena
​

I always feel more comfortable having faces for my characters and Midjourney has been such a helpful tool for someone like myself that is only somewhat of a passable writer and definetely not a painter. These are the children of the Conqueror at 27 AC

 

[Branderburgian]

At the closing days of 27 AC, the Faith which had remained silent and even proclaimed King Aegon as Westeros' King and supreme authority in temporal matters made one of its more aggressive moves yet. While the High Septon at the time of the Conquest as well as the next three kept their silence on the matters of the incestuous marriages of the King's family, the new High Septon came from a faction that had other ideas. The Fundementalists loathed the Targaryens as spawns of Incest and they made that clear for all to see when an edict of Excommunication was proclaimed at the steps of the Starry Sept in Oldtown. Its aim was the Princess Shaena, the Conqueror's youngest child. It was as logical a target as it could be under the circumstances. The Princess didn't have the popularity of her older siblings neither the ear of her King Father but Aegon was quick to stifle any dissention. The first edict was withdrawn relatively quickly and another one was lodged soon after that which was again quickly withdrawn when King Aegon and Queen Visenya, the mother of the Princess made an "unscheduled" visit to Lord Hightower on their dragons Belarion and Vhagar. For now, the Faith backed off but the current High Septon would be the source of trouble for years to come. Princess Shaena came to be called by the smallfolk as Shaena the Twice Damned, a nickname that the young Princess came to love and fervently adopt.

​

Tragedy though strikes early into 28 AC when the Prince and Princess of Dragonstone suffered a stillbirth. The young girl that lived for a few minutes was cremated in a somber ceremony in Dragonstone, Princess Valaena's dragon Lykax providing the flame. For now, the first couple of Westeros would continue to remain childless and the Realm would hold its breath.

Further tragedy would befall the House of the Dragon in the seventh day of the Ninth month of 28 AC as the long suffering Rhaenys Targaryen finally passed on. Confined in her bed for years and non-responsive, her chambermaids discovered that she no longer had a pulse. The distraught King Aegon was heard shrieking in the halls of the Red Keep, confining himself in his room for a week and a half. Meraxes, her dragon's wails would pierce the heavens and make the people of the City scared of dragon fire and blood. While the King was holed up in his quarters, Prince Daemon took the situation under control in order to organize the funeral of the woman that the Targaryen children called Mother. Every lord, large and small, in the Realm was invited for the ceremony and no expense was sparred.

​

As the King returned to his duties a month after his beloved sister-wife's death, King Aegon finally came to the realization that his end was finally closer than ever before. His thoughts turned to Legacy and how his reign and that of his House would be remembered.

---

​

Meraxes also didn't remain unoccupied for long. Princess Shaena, long ignored by the King, made her presence known by taming her stepmother's dragon in the 11th month of 28 AC. The young Princess made a concentrated effort in locating the lair of the wyrm in the King's Wood before approaching and taming it. Landing at the yard of the Red Keep, she requested an audience with her father. In the packed Throne Room, she informed him in front of the Court that Meraxes would fly again. The King was very pointedly reminded that the Twice Damned Princess was also the blood of the Dragon, even if she came from the woman that she married for Duty.

​

Another new Dragon would also come into the fray. Prince Daemon hatched one of the eggs given to him when he was a child, spawning the she-dragon Rhaenion. All members of the House of the Dragon were dragon riders at this point.

​

29 AC passed in peace with more work being put into the Red Keep and the Royal Fleet while the ruling duo of Father and Son devote their time more into the work of organizing the realm.

Relations with Dorne had cooled down significantly after the War for the Prince's Pass with trade flourishing between the two states, punctuated by the occasional border skirmish. But on the opening days of 30 AC, the Dornish sought to heat things up again with a covert jab. Prince Doran of Dorne proposed a wedding between his father and power behind the throne, Prince Lewyn Martell with a low level noblewoman in the court of King's Landing. The families of more highborn ladies were offended urging the King to not satisfy their request. The King did just that, declining to even send a reply to the court of Sunspear.

The Second Month brought some measure of joy back into the halls of King's Landing as Princess Valaena gave birth to a little girl. Princess Monica Targaryen became the first living child of the new generation although her birth was not without its controversies. The Princess was cursed with an affliction that split a part of her face close to her upper lip and nose. The Maesters tried to fix it with whatever method they could but they proved unsuccessful, forcing the Princess to wear a veil that covered the lower half of her face.

At the second day of the 3rd month, the King's brother, the legendary politician, military commander and Royal Confidant, Orys Baratheon joined his half-sister in death. The three most prominent families of Westeros, the Targaryens, the Velaryon's and the Baratheon's met in a private ceremony in Storm's End to bid farewell to the giant that supported the Conquest and the Crown with extreme will. The King was seen weeping once again before Princess Shaena, the future lady of the Stormlands lit the pyre of the deceased, standing next to and consoling her young betrothed, Lord Alaric. ​

---

As half of 30 AC came to an end and in pursuit of establishing his legacy, King Aegon and Prince Daemon began planning a grand Royal Progress planning to reach the Capitals of all the major regions of the Realm. Receiving additional funds through the Bank of Qarth to speed up the process, a large part of the year's budget already thrown into an expansion of King's Landing, the King amassed a vast entourage.

Security was a Paramount concern as an assasination attempt in a past visit to Winterfell had only been averted by the timely intervention of Lord Torrhen Stark and his men, the Lord becoming the Warden of the North in a much more literal manner than ever before.

The first leg of the trip would be towards Dragonstone. The King would be accompanied by his son to a visit of his old home before Prince Daemon would return to the capital to assume the role of a Regent. During that time, the King found himself even in some of the seedier parts of town, refusing to partake in the pleasures that older Dragons would have. He wasn't interested in spreading any more Dragonseeds than Dragonstone already had, thinking it beneath him.
However, two days after the visit was concluded tragedy struck.

The ship that carried the Conqueror and his wife Visenya failed to appear at the lookout point on Claw Isles. The Royal Fleet quickly spread out to search for the King, Daemon, Valaena and Shaena mounted their dragons to search for him. A week after, Queen Visenya was located on an islet in the Narrow Sea, deathly pale, shivering and clinging to the Crown of Aegon. As soon as she saw her stepson, the battered woman went to her knees and offered him the Crown, proclaiming him feebly as the new King before passing out from the exhaustion and the vicissitudes of the Sea. In the middle of the next week, Balerion's body was washed out on a beach at Cracklaw Point. The monster of Valyrian legend had died trying to save its master.

The day that Prince Daemon waited and dreaded ever since he understood how the world worked was here and the future of the House of the Dragon was in his hands...​

---

Notes:
-Shaena shows everyone that they shouldn't have underestimated her. What I mean by "the King never paid her much thought" came from the fact that Aegon had his perfect pair of children. He educated them personally and provided extensive funds for their activities. Shaena was given to her mother and provided with exactly enough to have a decent education but not more, Aegon being slightly more cold towards Visenya. Her siblings though love her according to their stats. The three heads of the Dragon remain undivided.
-We lost Orys. Another legend gone.
-The thing about Dorne wasn't exactly an in-game mechanic but it really reflected my reaction. At that moment my court was populated by nobles from many of the realm's first families that came with their folks that served on the Council and the Dornish ask for the daughter of a landless noble? It must be a jab at all of us.
-And so the Conqueror passes into legend, a towering figure that met an ignominious end.
-King Daemon prepared for this role for his whole life yet the task ahead of him is treacherous. The House of the Dragon is severely depopulated, their greatest weapon is reduced in power and the Faith is nipping at their heels. There's still much to be done.
-The shock of the King's death in such a mundane manner will remain relevant to Targaryen of the future.
-Aegon's death is connected to one of the events during the progress which I was so shocked I failed I forgot to screenshot, an accident at sea.
-Αs always, I welcome any questions you might have.

 

[Branderburgian]

King Daemon's opening moves

At the 11th month of 30 AC, the Conqueror's funeral took place in Dragonstone. It was a grand but somber event with every lord of Westeros receiving their invitation from their Mormonts of Bear Isle to the Fowlers of the Prince's Pass in Dorne arrived at the volcanic island to attend the send off of the most influential man in Westeros' recent memory. Even an envoy from faraway Qarth came, to remind the King of his father's outstanding debt. The envoy wouldn't have returned with his head upon his shoulders hadn't been for the timely intervention of Queen Valaena, who assured that the Iron Throne was reminded of its obligations and would never imagine forsaking them.

The death of the King passed in popular legend throughout the Seven Kingdoms in various ways. Many people refused to believe that he simply died for he was a legend. Some said that the King left them to only return at the hour of the Kingdom's need, others that he had descended into the volcanos' of his home, turning into stone and resting until he is needed again. Some of the more radical of Ironborn rejoiced at the manner of the King's death, claiming to have been the Drowned God's revenge.

What was readily accepted though was that King Daemon had made a favorable impression on both High Lords and the smallfolk. A known figure throughout the years and much admired due to his successful service as late King's Hand, he enjoyed much support especially from the Houses of Stark and Lannister. Lords Loren Lannister and Torrhen Stark, the last surviving former Kings before Aegon's Conquest had excellent relations with the late King and threw their support behind the newly minted Daemon readily with the rest of the Lords Paramount following suit. The only source of discontent came from Oldtown. While the Faith made a special service in the memory of the King, they refused to send a representative to Dragonstone to participate in the ceremony or even discuss the particulars of the Coronation. The High Septon, it was rumored had gone into hiding upon King Aegon's death for Daemon's opinions on the institution were known far and wide. Always loath to recognize an authority other than the Crown, Daemon believed that the autonomy of the Faith and its exception from taxation was an anathema thrice more despicable than what the faith had claimed about his sister in 27 AC.

The King didn't return to King's Landing immedietely, sending his step-mother Visenya to rule in his stead for the remainder of the year while he took stock of the situation. There were many issues that burdened him. The loss of Balerion was a devestating blow to the Dynasty's power while the Faith nipping at his heels was a hassle but the thing that occupied Daemon's mind the most was the thinning out of the Conqueror's blood. He was the only male descendant of King Aegon, a very precarious position for him. Deciding to spend the last days of 30 AC at their first seat, the King and Queen enjoyed themselves for what would be the last time that they wouldn't have Royal Duties with an endless procession of balls, feasts and events.

Their stay wasn't merely for entertainment purposes though. On Dragonstone, the Royal couple formalized the shape of their new Council.

The Lannister family featured heavily on its makeup with Lord Loren retaining his position as Master-at-Arms with the King's close confidant, long-time collaborator and sworn shield Ser Joffrey Lannister joining the Council as Master of Laws.

His sisters assumed prominent positions as well with Queen Valaena receiving the position of Master of Whispers while Princess Shaena receiving the post of Master of Coin. Both of women were noted for their abilities in those sectors but they were also chosen to underline the close unity of the House of the Dragon.

Various other smaller positions were given out to the various Lords of the Realm with Lords Blackwood and Stark serving as advisors with little duties whenever they were in King's Landing and the noted scholar Grand Maester Talbert, a noted poet, wiseman and Master of Languages and Geography rounding out the roster.

Finally, Symond Shawney, a minor noble from the Riverlands and former Master of Coin for the Conqueror was raised to the Handship. Noted for his organizational acumen and just character, Daemon held immense respect for the man and they shared many ideas while they worked together in the past. Shawney was a proponent of central road system for Westeros and in that endeavour he would receive the King's full support.

The King, his sisters, their Court and their dragons returned to the Capital on the first day of 31 AC. After a brief ceremony at the Sept of Remembrance, he was crowned once again by his private Septon from Dragonstone in front of an adoring public, a direct challenge to the hidden High Septon.​

---

Notes:
-Yes, the High Septon is hidden for some reason. It happened slightly after the King's death. There's probably someone after him but I am spinning it in my favor.
-The Faith has indeed refused to Crown me and I can't organize a coronation through decision and neither are they approaching me for it so either the game is bugged or we're in a tense stand off with the Faith. Either way I am glad cause it fits narratively.

 

[Branderburgian]

Lady Gwenna of the Vale has been on the Seat of the Eyre since the age of 5, when her father was killed in a succession conflict between the members of House Royce for the overlordship of the Vale. Her side won with the support of the Crown, through forcing the rebel Royces to surrender. She is to be married with her cousin Elmwood Royce, one of the hostages she received after peace returned to the Vale.

The elderly Torrhen Stark still holds the North at the age of 71, one of the last pre-Conquest Kings. With his heir killed during a trial by combat after a brief war with the Karstarks, his grandson Eyron Stark is to succeed him as the Warden of the North.

Lord Mathis the Old is another Lord of the time of the Conquest still clinging around. He has kept the Trident at peace and he has a strong heir in his son, Dickon Blackwood, a man of renowned military skill.

Lord Loren is the other Pre-Conquest King that is still alive and active. A long-time member of the Small Council as Master-at-Arms. A soldier of singular martial and organizational ability, he has done much to secure the realm from outside threats as well as effectively suppressing the Iron Born for the last 20 years. His heir is Marq Lannister, a nephew of his brother Tybolt the Exile, a member of the Night's Watch and Commander of Shadow Tower fort on the Wall. He's married to the daughter of Mathis Blackwood, Barbra and he has two sons.

Lord Garse of the Reach is the grandson of Mern Gardner, the King that was defeat during the Conquest. A capable ruler but harsh, he has sadly fostered feeling of rebellion against him in the Reach that threaten the King's Peace in the area.

Prince Royce of Dorne is the current ruler of Dorne however he is merely a newborne childe. Prince Lewyn, the enduring puppetmaster of the court in Sunspear continues to rule as Regent after the death of the former Prince whose rise he had engineered in the past.​

 

[Branderburgian]

The Tax War, the Sack of Lys and a Coronation long delayed

The Kingdom's new small Council assembled at the Red Keep on the day after the Coronation at the Sept of Remembrance. The first and current order of business was aimed at forcing the Faith into respecting the authority of the Crown. Many solutions were provided but none seemed to please the King either because they were too comfrontational or too meek. The solution was provided by Princess Shaena, the Master of Coin. "Remember how our uncle Orys", said the Princess, "drew in the Stormlanders at the claws of Vhagar during the Conquest by using a misdirection. We shall do something similar. I wasn't the most observant of student in matters of the faith by I distinctly remember incense, expensive vestements, candles and other paraphernalia being necessary for a Septon whenever we went at the Sept of Rememberence. We can't levy taxes from the Faith that is true enough but there's no law in the books that disallows us to be as obstructive as possible."

The King readily gave his approval to two pieces of legislation, promulgated two months later, beginning what would come to be called, the Tax War. The Import Duties Tax of 31 AC placed a tariff on objects such as silk, sammite and other luxury goods used by the Faith in the course of its everyday operation while the Quality Assurance Mark Duty Act of 31 AC required manufacturers of goods that so happened to be used by the Faith to afix a small mark on the object that marked it as produced to the specifications of the Crown. The mark had to be bought by a Crown official and the price was naturally transfered in its price. The tax was a master stroke, leaving the majority of the small folk untouched while the Faith would have to increase its operating costs.

As always, the hidden High Septon excommunicated the Lord of Dyre Den, a staunch Targaryen ally before retracting the excommunication two days later when Princess Shaena made an unannounced visit to the Lord of Oldtown in order to personally deliver the writ of collection of the added duties to Lord Hightower and was hosted graciously by one of the most powerful Lords in the Reach, making japes at the mysterious ability of the High Septon to be invsisible. On the morrow, she buzzed the dome of the Starry Sept thrice on the back of her Dragon before returning to King's Landing.

The leadership of the Faith at 31 AC

Life in court continued as much as it had before with the various events that entertain the nobility, however King Daemon did not take place in the revelry, wishing instead to focus on the governance of the Realm and the upbringing of his only child, Princess Monica until...

...an opportunity to meddle with the politics beyond the Narrow Sea and enrich the realm appeared. Sealord Garro Prestayn of Braavos was a longtime opponent of Lys and proposed to the King to find common causes against them. Daemon was also weary of the influence of the Free Cities within Westeros. Ever since his family conquered Westeros and forged ties between the two continents, trade stations from the Free Cities appeared in most singificant cities in Westeros. The Essossi merchants were very capable and at times choking their Westerosi counterparts therefore an opportunity to rebalance the situation while also gaining funds and providing Westeros with its first war as a unified country seemed too much of a good opportunity to pass.​

---

Hostilities began quickly after the official declaration of war on the 19th day of the Eigth Moon of 31 AC with a raid at the Lyseni trade ports in Duskendale and Stokeworth while the King's banners were ordered to assemble at King's Landing while the Royal Fleet set sail from its anchorages at Dragonstone and joined by the Velaryon Fleet.

The Lords Paramount readily joined the effort with even the hidden High Septon putting aside his misgivings to support the unified effort in Essos by directing his Septons to sing the praises of the loyal men of Westeros. The King accept the praise for "if the King of Westeros is not a man loyal to Westeros then there is no Kingdom to speak of" and sent various letters to the Lords of the Kingdom to direct their efforts. A 55.000 men strong force was to be assembled, made up primarily by men from the Reach, the Manderly Fleet from the North and the Royal Navy. Under the command of the Dowager Queen Visenya, this force would be tasked with capturing Lys while the rest of his bannermen were directed to camp close to King's Landing to forestall any attempts at sneak attack towards the Capital.

The maneuver bear fruit when an army of Crownlanders and Rivermen under the command of Quellon Goodbrother, commander of the Dragon's Gate and one of the most capable military officers of his day easily swept over a small force of Lyseni that had landed close to Duskendale.

The King decided to remain at the capital at this point of the War. With the succession unsure and his dragon Rhenion being the smallest of those that belonged to the House of the Dragon, he decided to instead help in managing the campaign.

As the troops kept assembling, a vacancy in the Kingsguard provided an interesting opportunity. After capturing several territories in Dorne, a steady stream of Dornish exiles had streamed into the Court of King's Landing, seeking refuge from the various conflicts and machinations in Dorne. One of those men, the capable knight Ser Arran Yronwood was proposed by the Hand of the King to become the newest member of the Kingsguard. "You are the King of the Rhoynar too, your Grace, if not in fact, at the very least in title", said the Hand in his usual forward manner, "one of them should be allowed to guard you and for a Dornishman, Ser Arran is a kind, just and honorable man and carries deep rooted hated for the regime in Sunspear", he counseled. Never one to deny the sage advice of his Hand, King Daemon confirmed Ser Arran's appointment and the Dornishman gave his oath at the King and his new Lord Commander, Paxter Redwyne, the man that replaced the first Lord Commander, Leonard Hightower. A moment of high symbolism, the appointment was a direct challenge to Sunspear and its hidden master.

Dowager Queen Visenya reached Lys with her army on the 30th day of the 11th moon of 31 AC and proceeded to begin the siege of Lys, the first time in more than seventy years that a Westerosi army operated in the Continent.​

---

Notes:
-The War with the Faith is waged in another battlefield while a lucrative opportunity shows to the Westerosi that they are far more powerful together than they ever were.
-Yes, Visenya is a 57 year old badass that still rides dragons into battle. The first lady of Westeros, indeed.
-I find it very ironic that Daemon has all the martial abilities of Maegor but can restrain himself enough to fight the Faith without ruining his publicity with the people for bureuacratic problems require Jaeherys solutions.

 

[Branderburgian]

A larger force of Lyseni appeared at the gates of King's Landing two days after the King's Army placed their island home under Siege. The Gates were dutifully closed and barred while the King urged the people of King's Landing to remain calm and go on as they used to for he had the luxury of knowing that an army from the Reach was closing in to smash the Lyseni invaders. Battle was joined on the morrow and the King observed the spectacle from a segment of the city's walls before leading a raiding force to meet the commander of the Reach's army in the field to congratulate him. The Mock Siege as the event was called was finished within less than two days. A harmless episode that lead to few deaths, it nevertheless seemed to have an effect on the King.

Arriving on Lys upon the 23rd of the First Moon of the new year, 32 AC, the King was hailed by his troops with thunderous applause and Queen Visenya and Lords Stark and Gardner at their head. Later that day after a small, private feast the leaders of the Westerosi army conferred on the upcoming Siege. The next few days saw heavy use of dragon fire by both Queen Visenya and the King, his fears of his Dragon's size having been forestalled through the advice of his stepmother. "She's quick and nimble and you're a skilled rider, boy", she told him one night when the rest of the Lords had retired for the evening. "It would also serve your goals well enough for men to see a son of the Conqueror on a dragon. Thus are legends made"

And so the King was seen upon the back of Rhaenion, diving and strafing the battlements of Lys alongside the Dowager King on her own beast. The defenses of the Bastard Daughter were slowly and carefully eradicated within two weeks before a final charge brought it low. The city fell on the 5th of the Second Moon and the King gave his troops the freedom of the City for three days, as was customary "for I am nothing but a man of traditions", he was heard speaking. Veterans of the War still recount to this day of the "King's Gift", their share of the spoils from one of the most prosperous cities in the Known World. Peace was signed not long after at the Mansion of the First Magister which served as the temporary residence of the King and his commanders. After peace was signed, the King and Dowager Queen took flight towards Braavos and where they were welcomed and hosted by the Sealord Garro Prestayn to celebrate their victory, the first Valyrians to ever set foot on the City.

During those times another plot had began taking shape in Westeros. Queen Valaena in her capacity as both Regent and Master of Whispers had been left in charge of the Realm's affairs as her husband fought in Lys and later maintained relations in Braavos. She and her sister, Princess Shaena hatched a plot to take advantage of the after-effects of the absence of a large part of the Faith Militant. Directed by the hidden High Septon to take part in the campaign "against the Godless City of a thousand false idols", the Faith Militant eagerly joined the King's Campaign but neglected its duties at home. Beginning from the middle of the 3rd Moon of 32 AC, a series of attacks took place in several Septs around the Realm. The attackers were organized and directed and most importantly, always seemed to make their escape at the opportune moment. The attacks reached their peak when a mob rushed the Starry Sept in Oldtown only to be stopped by the timely intervention of Princess Shaena upon the back of Meraxes. "The High Septon might soil his night clothes in some hidden recess of this marvelous building, but the Crown will always be the shield of the Faith", she proclaimed from the back of her Dragon and at the head of a force of Hightower Men-at-Arms provided by the Lord of Oldtown. Writs and laws were promulgated soon after, proclaiming that the Crown and its vassals would be tasked with the protection of Holy Places throughout the Realm, rendering the Faith Militant redundant. A month later, these oaths were remade by the Lords Paramount or their proxies, with Lord Manderly taking the oath in the name of Lord Torrhen Stark. The Most Devout, leaderless and decapitated by the absence of their leading figure were powerless to resist. The Faith Militant, either on ships in the Narrow Sea or on Lys couldn't challenge the matter. Lord Garse Gardner was tasked with disarming the arriving members of the two orders as they arrived in King's Landing, shadowed by the ships of his navy, doing so with a smile "so sweet and flowery that could have made many a maiden swoon and the Lord Commander of the Warrior's Sons suffer a bleeding of the brain", as it has been recorded. Most members of the Militant orders surrendered their arms permanently while some turned to little more than bandits while several Warrior's Sons found employment in the Free Companies of the Disputed Lands.

Much controversy has surrounded the events around the disbandment of the Faith Militant. Whether the rumors of things like the Queen's extensive network of contacts orchestrating the events or the agitation of a group of knights known as "the Dragon Princesses' Posse", admirers of the Princess Shaena, can be verified or not, the deft handling of the situation by Queen Valaena proved the undoing of the High Septon's machinations. While remaining in hiding, his powers were much reduced and the pull of the man formerly known as "The Popular One" was diminished significantly. The King returned to the Capital on the 3rd day of the Eighth Moon, after having attended the funeral of the recently passed Lord Torrhen Stark in Winterfell alongside the Queen for the once-King in the North was a valued friend of the Conqueror and a comrade-at-arms of the young King. During their stay they participated in a small Progress of their Northern territories, the first time such a trip had taken place since the death of King Aegon.

The new Lord of Winterfell, Lord Eyron Stark was a studious and shy boy of ten years. Already suffering from a mysterious affliction, he wasn't expected to live a long life. His sister, Alysanne Stark was his heir.

However sad that month began good tidings were expected in King's Landing. Symond Shawney, the Hand of the King, informed Daemon that the Realm's debt could be repaid in full to Qarth. The infusions of cash from the War as well as the new duties on the Faith's expenses were a success, allowing the Kingdom much latitude in its financial dealings. For his good service, King Daemon knighted the Hand, making him Ser Symond Shawney, the first of a long line of rewards throughout the years.​

---

Notes:
-A war ends, debts repaid and more old Legends join the Gods.
-The Faith receives another blow. I took a few things into account when writing this, mainly the fact that the HS had been in favor of the War, the fervent support of basically every Lord in Westeros and the vast difference between the Intrigue stats of Valaena and the HS. I happened to recruit the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows for the War so everything clicked in place. The so-called "Popular One" has many more reasons to be in hiding now.
-I added a third part because 32 AC is the most packed year, the rest flows more quickly so I thought it better to get it out of the way.

 

[Branderburgian]

Two months later, on the tenth moon of 32 AC, a large victory feast was proclaimed to celebrate the victory at Lys. The Great Lords of Westeros returned to King's Landing, however amongst the merriment, tragedy loomed.

Quellon Goodbrother and Queen Visenya threw words around at the feast, surrounding their contributions during the conflict. Goodbrother insinuated that if it weren't for her Dragon, Visenya wouldn't have been close to any battlefield and the Queen challenged him to a duel to prove the issue. King Daemon allowed the duel, sure that the Queen would make short work of the interloper.

He wasn't wrong but neither completely correct. Queen Visenya indeed slew the loudmouth Ironborn but suffered grievous wounds in the process. Suffering for a weak, she finally died, clutching Dark Sister in her hand while bed-ridden. Her daughter Shaena flew her body to Dragonstone alongside her siblings where the second sister-wife of the Conqueror was cremated by a burst of her beloved Vhagar, her ashes interred next to her sister and brother. After this incident, King Daemon never gave his assent for any duel, even jailing petitioners that came to him more than once.

Life continued in the Court of King Daemon and the frenzied work of binding together the Kingdoms proceeded unimpeded. In the 10th month of 32 AC, work began on the first section of the Kingsroad. Propositions on an additional tax was made however the King rebuffed such calls. "The King's Roads will be built for the benefit of all my subjects. They provide me their taxes and leal service already and that is enough. I will not burden them unduly", King Daemon said and that was confirmed by his sister, reporting that the tax revenues were already ample enough for the undertaking. Princess Shaena's tenure as Master of Coin was to be rather short but it was quite successful, placing the basis for the future prosperity of the Realm. "I am perhaps the only woman in the world to have provided her brother with her own dowry", she was known to say, something that was proved correct next year, in 33 AC...

her betrothed, Alaric Baratheon was old enough to go through with their wedding. The feast, which took place in Storm's End was a grand affair that reaffirmed the bond between the two preeminent Houses of Westeros.

The next years passed peacefully and without incident with the King striving to be a better father to his only daughter and quite possibly heir, Princess Monica while retaining his good relations with Braavos.​

---

More tragedy befell the King's House in 35 AC when his mother, Monica Velaryon attempted to mount the riderless Vhagar, only to perish in the attempt as the beast made short work of her. King Daemon and Alaric Baratheon mourned their mother dearly during the funeral, two of the Realm's most powerful men sharing in the pain of losing a parent. Ser Jacarys Velaryon, heir to Driftmark and sister of Queen Dowager Monica Velaryon managed to ride the wyrm and claim it as his mount, a move that sowed deep mistrust towards him by her children.

In the following years, the King and his brother gradually began drafting plans for a way to contain the Dragons and control this most potent weapon. A site was chosen at Visenya's hill and money would gradually be set aside for its construction.

The rest of 35 and most 36 AC continued to be peaceful and uneventful. A play about the war in Lys gave the King his enduring nickname, "Daemon the Imperious", which was well received by the Royal Family while Monica began expressing violent urges, becoming an increasing headache to the King since he remained without a male heir. To relax, King Daemon descended into the lists during a Tourney in Rosby, skillfully defeating his opposition and rising as the winner. Good news also came from Storm's End, where Princess Shaena gave birth to a daughter, Visenya Baratheon.

Foreign relations occupied much of King Daemon's rule at this point. His diplomats smoothed things with neighboring kingdoms while in the middle of 36 AC, the King decided to visit Old Volantis, Pentos and Braavos in older to cultivate even better relations with the Cities of Essos and Westeros' most important trading partners. The journey began in the 25th of the Fourth Moon of 36 AC. During the trip, the King would produce a series of Maps and Charts that would become the basis for many famous travelers in the future.

The King was welcomed with high honors in both cities, readily accepted even within the Black Walls of Old Volantis as one of their own due to his pristine Valyrian heritage.

His most triumphal appearance was his return to Braavos, this time alongside Queen Valaena. Welcomed by the Sealord Garro Prestayn, they tightened the bonds between their two states. The Queen charmed the ladies of Braavos with her wit while the two men discussed further moves beyond the Narrow Sea and the possibility of intervention in one of the Braavosi conflicts with Lorath.

The Queen bore more happy news while they were in Braavos for she found herself with child. However the joyous event was mired with suspicion as the King began doubting the truth of the Queen's claims. While it was true that they had been apart for a while, the Queen had visited the King during his procession many times and during his two stops in Volantis and Pentos where they had carnal relations. The King however remained unconvinced and mistrustful for reasons that remain unclear. Perhaps his obsession with getting an heir and his denial of that gift for years had gotten the better of him or the stresses of Kingship had made him mistrustful. In any case, he launched an investigation on the matter and even badgered Queen Valaena during her confinement when that investigation turned up nothing. The shadow of "The Heir Controversy" or "The Royal Quarrel" divided the Royal Couple for months.

Aegon Targaryen came six months later, on the 7th day of the 7th moon of 37 AC to the great cheer of the Court and his parents. Finally, the succession was secure and while the King remained somewhat mistrustful over the years, the increasingly striking resemblance between Father and Son would put his worries to rest. A month of revelry and Tourneys was proclaimed throughout the Realm.

A month later, the last Pre-Conquest King, Loren Lannister died. His heir, a young boy of three named Tywald became the new Lord of the Westerlands, one of the two children born to the late Lord and his second wife, a common woman known as Lady Benerra of the Wilds.

The 37th Year after the Conquest continued in peace as the King dotted on his new heir and began setting the basis for his education and rule. The roads continued as planned under the direction of the Hand however the next year...

The Autumn Pox of 38 AC would descend upon Westeros​

---

Notes:
-Diplomacy and governance remain the staple of Daemon's rule as he continues to put the Realm on the road to future greatness.
-The son that was awaited finally arrived but not without Drama. This was perplexing because I checked into the files and Aegon (ignore the name, the mod doesn't allow you to immediately name your kids, you have to do it yourself, he will be an Aegon) is in fact his father's son. What not having an heir for too long does to a motherfucker, I suppose.