Blood of Dragons

The court of King Aegon IV remains aflame -- not with war, but with spectacle, whisper, and the slow-burning rivalry between Bracken and Blackwood that has played out in the King's absence, while he loiters in the Riverlands on an extended progress. The factions loyal to his Hand and to his mistress have taken to subtler battlefields: the hunt and the yard. In the Kingswood, Lord Kennoth Bracken, the Hand of the King, hosted a grand hunt and feast beneath the turning leaves. A noble stag was brought down, Ser Othan Bracken delivering the killing shot. The fireside celebration that followed was…

There was no great fanfare, no trumpets nor bells. Just a dockman's hoarse shout -- "Sail! King's colors!" -- mostly lost in the morning din of gulls, ropes, and rising tide. Yet the _Royal Spear's_ return did not go entirely uncelebrated. She came into port as quietly as any ship might, bearing the battered marks of her journey: cracked railings, Braavosi planking, weather-worn sails, and the weary souls of her crew and passengers. The royal war galley, presumed lost to storm in the journey south from White Harbor, glided once more into King's Landing's harbor Among those aboard were Ser…

Day 25 of Month 3, 177 AC. Six days out from White Harbor, having just passed the Paps, the royal fleet met nature's rage in the Narrow Sea. On the horizon a storm could be seen brewing, and by noon it as was among them, a black wall of a storm come shrieking out of the northwest. The Prince Daemon, bearing Prince Daeron Targaryen, and one of the escorts fought to claw westward for the shelter of the Fingers. But the Royal Spear, commanded by Ser Orbert Farman, was not so fortunate. As the gale struck full, the Royal Spaer labored under shortened sail. Then came the sharp CRACK of parted…

Thick fog clung to the New Castle's outer yard today as White Harbor played host to one of the most striking arrivals in recent memory: Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell, the Old Man of the North, rode in at the head of a column two hundred strong. Cloaked in black wool stitched with the direwolf of his House, the sixty-eight-year-old Wolf of Winterfell cut an imposing figure even in the autumn chill, his pale grey eyes sweeping the yard with a hunter's measure. At his side rode his heir, Lord Jonnel Stark -- stern-faced, long of jaw, and the image of his father in younger form -- and his…

On a brilliant autumn's afternoon, with the Blackwater gleaming under a sky of flawless blue, the royal progress to White Harbor set sail amidst grandeur, gossip, and more than a few surprises. Though the day was fine and the wind fair, one could not ignore the chill -- not in the air, but in the absence of the King himself, who did not descend to the docks to see his son off. Rumors were rife that they had been quarreling ever since the marriage of their cousin, Princess Elaena, ended as swiftly as it began. Daeron, the Prince of Dragonstone, stood at the forefront, flanked by his famed uncle…

hough the wedding feast of Princess Elaena Targaryen and Lord Ossifer Plumm ended in grief and scandal, the days that followed brought no quiet. Lord Ossifer's death in the bridal bed cast a long shadow over the Red Keep, one that deepened when Ser Alfryn Plumm, brother to the deceased, stepped forward to claim lordship in his stead. But the King, unmoved by grief or urgency, has withheld judgment. The matter, he declared, shall wait upon nature -- for it must be known whether the Princess carries a trueborn heir. In the corridors and chambers of court, the delay has not stilled the tongues of…

What was meant to be a gesture of justice ended in blood, clamor, and a child's first cry. Ser Omrys Baratheon, Reeve of King's Landing, descended into the depths of Flea Bottom to hold audience with the city's most wretched. Beneath the looming ruin of the Dragonpit and beside the muddy well that serves the quarter's thirst, he called the smallfolk to voice their grievances. They came by the hundreds: beggars and butchers, fishwives and sweeps, all burdened with petty thefts, rising prices, and crimes unmet by the Watch. But grievances, once stirred, do not sit quietly. As the crowd swelled…

In the Queen's Ballroom of Maegor's Holdfast, beneath golden torchlight and gleaming mirrors, the wedding feast of Princess Elaena Targaryen and Lord Ossifer Plumm unfolded with all the pomp and lavish excess of a royal celebration. Courtiers in their finest silks and satins toasted, danced, and dined on honey-glazed capon, saffron rice, and sweets that flowed as freely as the Arbor gold. Above it all, the royal family presided: the bride radiant, the groom grinning, and King Aegon IV seated in high spirits beside Queen Naerys, their children, and siblings: Princes Aemon and Daeron, Princess…

On a day veiled in the grey mists of autumn, with the chill damp clinging to the air and the tourney field churned to mud, scores of knights of the realm (and some from outside of it as well) gathered to celebrate the forthcoming union of Lord Plumm and Princess Elaena Targaryen. Though the elements were challenging, the spirit of competition burned brightly, witnessed by King Aegon IV himself, his companion Missy Blackwood, the royal bride-to-be, and her aged betrothed. From the first clash of lances early in the day, by late afternoon only sixteen champions remained. The lists saw their…

The promise of royal favor brought roaring crowds and clashing lances to the tourney fields of King's Landing, but also left murmurs and unease in its wake. Beneath the banners of House Targaryen, knights from across the realm contended fiercely, overseen by the Dragonbane's daughters and the ever-watchful court. This tourney, unlike most, bore a special twist -- the favour of Princess Daena Targaryen herself would travel from knight to knight. Awarded first to Ser Othan Bracken, the honour was to pass to any knight who unseated its bearer. The man who held the favour at day's end would be…

The Kingswood is a fickle beast, one to tread lightly with. Its sprawling vastness might contain game aplenty for the noble palates of the court, timber for the Crown to trade, and keeps still. But there amidst the myriad trees, where the harsh stare of King and court can't quite be felt, trouble has precious room to sprout, then grow. And when a beast is cut and scorched, it does eventually bite. The whispers and rumblings have proved right. After giving way to irksome disorder and then ominous lawlessness, the wood has descended to open rebellion. Word came to the Red Keep speaking of an…

In a turn that has caught many at court by surprise, the venerable and immensely wealthy Lord Ossifer Plumm has arrived in King's Landing and swiftly secured the king's favor in arranging a betrothal to none other than Princess Elaena Targaryen. After years of holding onto hope for the return of Oakenfist -- now formally declared lost at sea -- Princess Elaena has at last consented to marriage. Though Lord Plumm's age has raised eyebrows, his deep coffers have seemingly smoothed the path to this unexpected match. Court whispers abound regarding Lord Plumm's lavishness, for he has spared no…

A wedding tourney, held in celebration of the union between Ser Otho Royce and Lady Elyne Lefford, was an event of great spectacle, where lords and knights from across the realm gathered to test their mettle upon the lists. Before a noble audience that included Princess Rhaena and the Hand of the King, the competitors rode beneath banners of bronze and gold. The final day of jousting would be dominated by two names: Ser Otho Royce, the groom himself, and Ser Omrys Baratheon. But if the contest had crowned its champion in the lists, it was what followed that would be spoken of long after the…

In the annals of Westerosi history, few events have captured the essence of chivalry and deception quite like the Tourney of the Setting Sun. Set against the backdrop of an unruly king's machinations and personal vendettas, this grand spectacle unfolded amidst rumors that ran like wildfire, painting a portrait of King Aegon IV's clandestine designs. Forbidding the Kingsguard from participating in the event, the king sought to manipulate the tourney to honor his mistress, Melissa Blackwood, as the Queen of Love and Beauty; knights indebted to him, friendly to him, or seeking his favor had…

In the heart of the realm, the royal city of King's Landing, a strange omen (or not, depending on how you ask) has come to pass. Missy Blackwood, the royal mistress to King Aegon IV, has given birth to a son, whom she named Brynden. However, joy was tempered by the babe's fragile health -- an albino with a conspicuous red birthmark across his cheek. His two elder sisters were both more robust at birth and thrived. Maesters express doubts about his longevity, citing his feeble constitution. Despite this, Lady Melissa is resolute in her determination to nurture him. She has been frequently seen…