The year is 286 AC. King Jaehaerys II has just passed, leaving the throne without a rightful ruler. While his three children fight for the crown, Winter creeps closer, and unimaginable darkness looms.
Not all alliances will be so typical this time. In fact, many people have a crucial effect on the way this story is told. As for the ending, we only hope there are enough people left alive to tell it after its passed.
Events
Join us for our first event, the wake of recently deceased King Jaehaerys II.
Updates
AUG. 19: So we are now officially open to the public. We have a mini-event flashback thread going on, and our main event just began. Feel free to make a second canon if you can keep both of them active enough.
Don't hesitate in pestering staff with questions; it's what we're here for! Let's raise a glass and make a cheer toward a successful launch of Winds of Winter.
Post by DAELLA BARATHEON on Aug 22, 2017 8:58:01 GMT
The missive had come sudden in the night. And with only a fleeting goodbye and fluttering cloak had her husband rode off into the night posthaste King's Landing.
Daella had been left to pick up his pieces. She accepted that, being as his life had been spent picking up hers.
She had gathered the children and informed the castellan of their plans. It would be only a temporary leave, she assured him. The seat of the storm would not remain vacant for long. But if events were to be believed then the realm was in for some dire times indeed. Clothing, perishables, and a chest for each child to bring what personal effects they wished; then they were off in the dawning light and the wake of their lord's hoofbeats.
"It will be good to see some of your family," she said, though oft time she merely talked to herself. She held no fondness for most of her kin, and they her, but she would at least hope her children could have a less rocky reputation than she. Her grip on the reins tightened somewhat as she sat horseback, swaying from side to side at as quick a pace as they could with the caravan and guard. Long gone were Daella's days of carrying nothing on her back and vaunting off into the unknown, though she yearned for it still.
"...Trickery and scheming abound in the capital." Fragmented phrases, trying not to address the likely reality. But also a tinge of bitterness, both for the things that had happened to her there and the inability for her to train her children appropriately for politics. "And words are uttered far more than true service."
Post by SELYSE BARATHEON on Aug 22, 2017 17:21:36 GMT
For someone who loved new different things and places, she absolutely hated traveling. She was usually fine once they actually arrived, though considering the circumstances she doubted that would be the case this time, already dreading the forced social interactions she was bound to be thrown into.
If it wasn't for her mother, she would've insisted on staying behind at home.
So, unfortunately, she ended up stuck in a carriage with her two younger siblings, her elbow leaning against the window in the side and her head resting on her hand, eyes following the landscape as a sigh left her lips.
"I hope we can stop soon," she said, to nobody in particular. "I could use some walking around."
Sitting here, cooped up in a carriage, wasn't exactly how she liked to spend her time. Perhaps she could convince mother to let her join her on horseback for the rest of the road.
Post by OISIN BARATHEON on Aug 22, 2017 21:47:12 GMT
When Oisin heard the news, a large grin became plastered across his face. This was going to be amazing! The capital! They were going to the capital. Oisin's grin stretched from ear to ear at the thought of jousting tournaments, duels and the lovely court ladies of King's Landing. It would be a much better playground for the only male Baratheon heir than the rain soaked cobblestones of Storm's End.
”Ah yes, I am excited to see my cousins,” he responded to his mothers words. Truth be told, Oisin had only ever really interacted with his cousin Naerys. He hadn't really heard much about the rest of his family aside from what was in the historical books and the occasional gossip. Oisin was very much interested in how they were in actuality. As they rode, his mother seemed to be quietly speaking to herself. His eyes shifted to the carriage that held his sisters before glancing back to his mother.
”Do you have any lessons for us regarding King's Landing as we travel?” he asked, tilting his head. ”We can learn a lot of from your experiences there, Mother.”
Post by AOIFE BARATHEON on Aug 22, 2017 23:06:02 GMT
Aoife hated traveling. The girl could already feel her stomach doing flips as she sat in the carriage. The only comfort this doomed trip had upon the girl was the promise of the capital's higher trends and fashions. Surely there Aoife could find the stylish dresses and elegant tea sets that filled her dreams. A gentle hand reached up to cover her mouth as the carriage hit a bump in the road. The pale Baratheon was starting to turn a soft green.
In her hands a sewing project. She was threading the rampant stag onto a cloth. Only the antlers were done so far. They were large and magnificent with gilded flowers entangled in them. The rest had been halted by the bumpy road and sickness.
As her sister spoke, Aoife glanced up with weary sky blue eyes. ”I... yes... solid ground... not moving...” she grumbled before sniffling softly. ”...” Her eyes shifted to the ground before glancing up to her sister.
Post by NAERYS TARGARYEN on Aug 23, 2017 13:21:47 GMT
It would be a bit of a journey, but not so heinous as traveling north. Seven be thanked for that. Being the squire of a man like Arkas Baratheon was not just difficult for who he was, but what he was. The Hand of the King had need to journey often, which meant that young Naerys had to travel often. Even so it was rare for him to gripe. The young Targaryen had learned early on in his career, whining to Arkas could make things exponentially worse for him.
And so he sat quietly upon his horse riding abreast of the Bararheon carriage. Targaryen or not, he was a squire and had no place riding in the comfort of his foster family’s coach. Like the rest of the house guard that surely accompanied the stags, Naerys was armed and armored both, though it was doubtful any fool outlaw would dare raid their little convoy. With as many standards flying around it, it would be well obvious who was coming along the road.
Yawning, the noise mostly carried away by the breeze that ruffled his light hair, Naerys road close enough to hear the conversation within, but he didn't jump in right away. While more friendly with the younger twins as they were close to his age, he was far more rigid around the two Lady Baratheons. Disrespect could be ill afforded to the dragon of Storm's End, especially from a half dragon like himself. Daella was right, he well knew. King's Landing was more dangerous than it was glamorous.
''I shall endeavor to keep your children out of trouble, Lady Baratheon.'' Naerys leaned on his horse to smile into the carriage window and to steel a glance at Oisin. His violet eyes quickly flitted to Daella however. As if anyone would be convinced his baby face was protecting a damn thing.
Post by DAELLA BARATHEON on Aug 23, 2017 17:51:50 GMT
A small voice interrupted her mutterings, and Daella sat upright with a start. As she glanced at Oisin within the carriage, she considered the boy more closely. He would almost be a man soon, though shorter than most his age and with a musical timbre of voice. Doubtful that he would complete his growth spurt so late into an imposing figure, which she had accepted though wondered if Arkas did the same.
"I would hope mine experiences spare yours," Daella said as her horse slowed a stop and she raised a hand, calling personally for the man at the head and soon enough the collection of halt rang through the air and the procession stopped. "Stay with your own station is all I would say for the coming days."
A hand went to her head in consternation. Maybe her children couldn't sense her urgency or worry, but she figured they weren't supposed to. "Stretch those legs then," she said as her horse took a few steps away from the carriage to look about into the north-west following the kingsroad, but not before passing by her husband's squire. She can give a faint, knowing smirk. "I'm sure you will put your training to good use," all the while pleased that her son had another boy available as a playmate.
Post by NAERYS TARGARYEN on Aug 29, 2017 22:07:49 GMT
Perhaps unlike her own children, Naerys could easily detect Lady Baratheon's worry. He met her smile as she passed with one of his own. Her words made him wonder if her husband had disclosed to her all that he had disclosed to him. Was that the cause of all of her worry, or was it merely her past experiences? Daella was something of a wildfyre herself. No doubt she had felt the woe of pissing too many people off. Naerys had never asked though, nor would he dare.
It wasn't his place to pry at empty scales on the dragon, asking where they had fallen off along her flight. Keeping his own steed close by the carriage, the boy averted his eyes to the surrounding countryside along the road. The Stormlands were a gorgeous place, if a tad wet at times. Just as Oisin and Aoife, he had been born here, at Summerhall. It was a more beautiful place than Storm's End if he had to tell the truth. Thankfully he never did.
''Keep your eyes open, men.'' None made a verbal acknowledgment but a few nodded. It had been about a month since Arkas had made Naerys captain of the house guard. A humorous notion to some, the storm king had seen some quality he wanted within the boy, something beyond mere martial prowess. There had been jokes at first, but while some could not respect his age, they could respect his goodheartedness. Never was a dragon's heart more genuine.
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