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 LORENT TYRELL on Sept 12, 2017 4:41:12 GMT
Whispers among the nobility beamed with anticipation of the upcoming council meeting, a sequel to the late King Jaehaerys II's wake that promised to rival it in theatrics. Lorent viewed it all as a burlesque. He was a man of strange and simple tastes, and he found himself more enthralled with the idea of exploring the Red Keep than listening to the echoes of the same cries for attention that he had to endure during the wake.
“Beautiful,” he began in genuine admiration, a sincere side he rarely showed through his perpetual smile. Lorent breathed in calmly, taking in the sanctified air of the Royal Sept as he gently ran his fingers along the elaborate decor of the seven-sided walls. Although it was surely smaller than the Sept of Baelor, the lack of of a crowd rendered it much more impressive. His fascination peaked as he descended the stairs, amber eyes drawn to the tall silhouette of a hooded figure synonymous with the vast unknown yet simplified as the guide of death.
Lorent often lit a candle for the Stranger in his youth, as he found him to be the most compelling face of god. However, he had not come for religious affairs. His long-sleeved blouse was a soft, luxurious fabric of a modest feldgrau and high-waisted, brown trousers of a slim fit were tucked into black boots and held to his waist by three steps of black belts. His taste in fashion preceded his quirky nature, but the attire still reflected his formality. A golden pin rested proudly above his pectoral, and it bore his signature crest of three roses held together by a vine.
He had come to do business, but his incessant smile masked the intentions of said business while he waited for the heiress of fire to receive him.
Alysanne is one of the three Targaryen children who purport they have claim to the throne. The now-dead King decreed Alysanne be Queen, and the unorthodox mother of three plans to become one.
Post by ALYSANNE TARGARYEN on Sept 12, 2017 15:45:47 GMT
Her meeting with Lukas had left her hopeful yet soured. Today, she was no longer alone. She had gained a Hand, someone that knew her every move and secret. Someone that could provide her with counsel in areas she lacked. And Quellon was an area she lacked any tact or wit with how to deal. At the same time, even Lukas knew not the best answer to get her out of the hole she had dug. He merely tied a string to her leg to keep her afloat, but how long before it was severed?
If she could pick any house to ally herself with, it would be the Tyrells or Starks. Lannisters were too conniving for her tastes. The others seemed less consequential in the grand scheme of things. Starks already vowed to protect her -- or at least, their Lord did. She was not sure what would happen if something ever befell Cassius. She tried not to worry on such troubling things. There was enough trouble in the Red Keep as is.
The Bloodguards followed behind her, disguised as guards of the Red Keep. She could tell their distaste for all the nobles around, clad in grand gowns and tunics. It almost made Alysanne smile. Before she could form snarky musings, however, she saw none other than Lorent Tyrell standing in the middle of the hall, almost as if to intercept the Princess. But that could not have been.
"Ser Lorent, are you awaiting your brother? I'm afraid he departed for the meeting room already. You likely just missed him." She did not know much about Lorent, and she assumed that was his doing. He was a fashionable man, but the level of apathy in his face seemed renowned at this point. While many may have thought him to be a sociopath, Alysanne saw the same face she often remarked as her son carrying.
Post by LORENT TYRELL on Sept 13, 2017 3:42:44 GMT
As several steps sounded through the hall, Lorent broke away from the sept to place himself in a more favorable position. His amber gaze anchored onto the slender form of the graceful apparition as he began to process her like a scholar would process literature. Several faint details came together in order to paint a vague portrait of Alysanne while Lorent's persistent smile masked his scrutiny.
He raised his right fist over his left shoulder while lowering his head to the princess as any knight would. Lorent offered the greeting as a show of discipline more than respect, though he certainly felt some admiration for the woman before him. In fact, once his body straightened back into his steadfast form, the trained eye may have noticed that his smile was more organic than usual.
“Princess Alysanne,” he began softly to prevent his response from coming off as a threat. “I am here for you.”
While his eyes seemed focused in Alyssane's direction, he had noted all of the details of the false guards that he needed. This was the mere fact that they were not familiar to him. He knew not of their skill or origin, but he understood that their unfamiliarity indicated a reciprocated lack of trust. He also understood that his conversation with Alysanne would have to be metered, which Lorent expected. He would certainly not draw attention to himself by asking her to dismiss the guards.
“I have already spoken to Lukas and he is quite eager to represent our family on father's behalf.”
He almost chuckled, realizing that neither he nor his brother were thrilled with the idea of being tied down by the responsibility of the throne, but both thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of that potential.
“He spoke of how he bored you with his political prattle, and how I should use my uncanny charm to lift your spirits before you are locked away in that dreadful room for more political prattle. I dare not turn a blind eye to a maiden in distress, especially when she is threatened by a monster as fearsome as boredom.”
Last Edit: Sept 13, 2017 3:45:08 GMT by LORENT TYRELL
Alysanne is one of the three Targaryen children who purport they have claim to the throne. The now-dead King decreed Alysanne be Queen, and the unorthodox mother of three plans to become one.
Post by ALYSANNE TARGARYEN on Sept 13, 2017 17:27:33 GMT
She supposed she should not be surprised about a second Tyrell seeking her out. If she were to stand back and look at things, it would appear as if the Tyrell brothers had planned this from the beginning. They cared about their house's standing in the world. Why come forward to support the woman claimant? Did she expect they could manipulate her more easily than Daeron, or did they truly want to see the Realm in her hands? She trusted Lukas above anyone else in this Kingdom right now -- it was a blind trust, but it was one she had been forced to make.
And where did Ser Lorent stand?
"I do worry about that father of yours. Seems an odd time to take a hunting trip. Seems an even odder time to have gone missing." She knew Lukas should prepare to become Lord Tyrell, and Ser Lorent brother to Lord Tyrell. Both their positions would be elevated in this case. Brothers to the House Lord had much more power than sons.
He definitely did have more charm than his brother. Ser Lorent was more light-hearted in their conversation, but all the while Alysanne could not shake the feeling of ulterior motive. Not a necessarily evil one, but one there nonetheless. She heaved a sigh. "Yes, I am not looking forward to this meeting. Although, technically I have sat in on more Small Council meetings than either of my brothers," she mused, realizing she would probably be less anxious than the Targaryen men. A slightly chortle escaped her lips as he went on. "You are quite the clever humorist, are you not?"
"Tell me. What is your angle here in Kings Landing? I know it surely isn't to find a wife," she jested, smiling and holding her hands behind her back. "There must be reason for you hanging around these halls. And it can't be to humor someone like me." Her head tilted slightly. She glanced back to her guards. 2 Kingsguard and 4 bloodguards. "Proceed to the throne room where the council meeting will convene. I will be there shortly."
The guards all hesitated, and she could tell the bloodguards were about to outright refuse. But they remember who they pretended to be, and they left the Princess and the Knight alone. "If you do attack me, I will be forced to show you my skills with the blade." Alysanne had never picked up a sword in her life. Many had estimated it would be her greatest error.
Post by LORENT TYRELL on Sept 14, 2017 3:46:03 GMT
“I suppose that father of mine has a lot of faith in the ability of his heirs to handle his affairs, even if those heirs aren't quite as confident.” Lorent paused for a moment, tilting his head upwards in a show of confusion. Perhaps it wasn't a lack of confidence, as he and Lukas thought each other quite capable of succeeding as Lord. They were still children clinging to superficial wishes while cursing responsibilities, yet adults in that they would bear the same responsibilities they cursed if for the sake of their family.
At any rate, Alyssane's actions triggered a strange delight within Lorent. His head tilted back down so that he may consume her with his gaze, her canvas flooding with the colors of her actions. His excitement even colored his smile differently, shifting from familiarity to anticipation. This was the woman that he grew to admire, and the only heir of Jaehaerys that he acknowledged. Hers was a mind of wit and cunning, and her tactful reciprocation of his facetiousness made the dance of wits much more enjoyable.
Lorent didn't anticipate Alysanne's dismissal of the guards, and this engaged his mind further. It was either a strange bluff or a display of trust, something probably born from either Lukas's declaration of loyalty or the history of coexistence between the Targaryens and the Tyrells. He could not grasp her motive, and in most other situations that fact would have distressed him. At the moment, he only found the thought to be stimulating. His eyes still traced her frame, wondering if there was some truth to her bluff. Lorent couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
“I, attack you? You, defend yourself? I dare say your sense of humor completely outshines mine!” He would gather himself, raising his forearms for a dramatic shrug. “I am completely unarmed m'lady, though I must warn you that I'm rather gifted with these hands.”
Lorent lowered his limbs into the leisurely position of resting his hands on his hips while he attempted to grasp the mind of the woman before him. He was aware she had offered Lukas the same respect, but he wondered if Alysanne held her own intentions. Of course, he understood that those intentions weren't necessarily malicious.
“I must thank you for giving me the courtesy of private conversation,” he began softly in order to distinguish his next words from their previous banter.
“I am truly here for you. My brother has made me aware of your arrangements. I merely wanted to let you know that I would not mind making myself useful to you as well.”
Last Edit: Sept 14, 2017 3:50:12 GMT by LORENT TYRELL
Alysanne is one of the three Targaryen children who purport they have claim to the throne. The now-dead King decreed Alysanne be Queen, and the unorthodox mother of three plans to become one.
Post by ALYSANNE TARGARYEN on Sept 14, 2017 15:32:57 GMT
Alysanne returned his smile with equal brilliance, although it lacked the smidge of condescension she could see in Ser Lorent's. Or perhaps it was her misreading. "Why someone as charming and handsome as you chose knighthood, I will never know. But it does speak volumes of your character." After all, becoming a knight meant sacrificing a lot. If Lukas ever died, Highgarden would never fall into Lorent's hands.
"It is of no consequence at all," she replied to his thanks, waving a dismissive hand. "A woman needs her privacy, and I could likely count on one hand the number of minutes in my life I have been afforded it." It was true. King Jaehaerys had always assigned one, if not two, kingsguard to Alysanne at all times. Men meant to protect the king alone had been forced to follow around an eleven-year-old girl as she practiced High Valyrian and built bouquets from the garden.
The true intentions came out, and Alysanne found herself pleasantly surprised. Her eyebrows raised as she took in Ser Lorent's entire form. She scrutinized every detail of his face, as flawless as it may be. "Tell me. What kind of friends do you have outside your house?" Her eyes shifted nervously to either side of Lorent, looking behind him and then turning to look behind her. Utterly alone. She took a pointed step close to him. "Consider this day the calm before the storm. All of Westeros is about to go to shit. I am going to need all the help I can get, both physically and socially. I trust your brother. Can I trust you?"
Post by LORENT TYRELL on Sept 15, 2017 2:03:35 GMT
Friends? Lorent resisted the urge to chuckle at the question, as he hardly ever applied such a term in ways that were not superficial. If he had ever identified someone as such in conversation, it was his way of calling them more useful to him than not. Few individuals managed to elicit fondness in his heart without being related to him by blood, a number that he could quite literally count on one hand with plenty of change to spare. He processed the valuation of others objectively, so such fondness was neither a requirement nor an indication of his respect.
Alysanne's trails of wisteria caught his attention, and it was not hard for him to understand she was in fear of surveillance. He recalled the information given to him by his brother and attempted to fit the details together. His immediate conclusion was that the troubled waters she drifted in may have ran deeper than she made Lukas aware of, though this was something he need not press without more information. He processed her words but focused his mind on navigating the conversation of their alliance instead of the source of her paranoia.
“Naturally I tend to keep the company of other young nobility, but I must admit that I do benefit from the camaraderie of less savory individuals.” Less savory was a broad spectrum of flavors. The years that Lorent spent hanging around the ports of Oldtown exposed him to foreign nobles, criminals, and all of the colors between the two.
“Princess Alysanne, I will swear myself to you if you wish it.” His stare hardened upon her, and his incessant smile betrayed the severity in his voice while reinforcing the meaning behind the words to follow. “But do not view my vow as a declaration of the heart, and do not view it as one from a man. View my vow as a law of nature, and trust in me the way that you would trust in fire to raze and a blade to eviscerate. Take me in your hand as you would any sword, and trust that I will move for your intentions by the strength of your hand.”
Last Edit: Sept 17, 2017 16:18:17 GMT by LORENT TYRELL
Alysanne is one of the three Targaryen children who purport they have claim to the throne. The now-dead King decreed Alysanne be Queen, and the unorthodox mother of three plans to become one.
Post by ALYSANNE TARGARYEN on Sept 19, 2017 0:43:42 GMT
"Less savory, hm? My kind of people," she told him with a wry smile. It did not surprise her in the slightest. Ser Lorent did not seem like a man who only surrounded himself with only the good of Westeros. Though a knight, his armor was less than shiny.
His pledge to her was one she scrutinized. If not from the heart, was it from the mind? Did he consider her the most sensible pick? Many of the people did. If all citizens were allowed to vote in this "election" that was going to bed held, Alysanne would take the crown without a doubt. The people loved her, and they had been used to her ruling in her father's stead. But the Lords were not so forgiving of her gender, nor were they willing to risk death by Rhaegar or Daeron if they supported a losing claimant.
"I can only hope a man such as yourself will join the Kingsguard." She tapped a musing finger on her lip. "Or perhaps it will be called the Queensguard if I sit on the throne." Alysanne had already begun building for the future of Queenship. "Can I speak candidly with you, Ser Lorent?" Of course she could. With no space in between the two, one might have quirked an eye if not for Alysanne's history of being a sexually frigid being. She was one of the few women in Westeros not caught in scandal or being inappropriate with other men. She had no interest in those things. Now that she had bore three children, there was no need to lure men in or even entertain her own husband whom she hated so dearly.
A delicate hand rested on his upper arm as she leaned her head forward. She was not tall enough to whisper into his ear, so she spoke lowly. "Quellon is attacking Dragonstone now to retrieve the stolen half of the Royal Fleet my brother took. I assume after this council meeting, all will know the news." She knew the information would be shocking. "It was the only way to stop Rhaegar from building his army and taking Kings Landing by storm. But now I'm in Quellon's debt, and I don't know quite how he will collect." It had been an arguably stupid move, one that was necessary and yet possibly detrimental.
Post by LORENT TYRELL on Sept 28, 2017 4:49:42 GMT
Whether they were the Kingsguard or the Queensguard, the nature of the role remained one of much sacrifice and much less reward. Ascending to the title of Kingsguard meant losing the rights to land, to marriage, and to a legacy. Even worse was the constant dilution of the Kingsguard's prestige, as it seemed that each generation of Kingsguard could not match the luster of the previous. It seemed more of a diplomatic title than an indication of strength and skill, though no one dare say that to their face.
Her hand would grace his body, but Lorent knew better than to interpret her touch as a romantic advance. This was especially obvious after dissecting her confession. Whether it was a test of his loyalty or a show of faith, the young Tyrell felt that the confession presented call to action. The Kingsguard were called to protect the mental wellbeing of their sworn noble by acting as confidants and advisers. Sure, nothing had been made official regarding his role. But Lorent would not pass on an opportunity to test his abilities.
"Do you think that you were wrong? Quellon is shrewd, and we do not know how he would have acted without your agreement. If anything, you may have spared Rhaegar's otherwise forfeit life by acting quickly." She would find his hand moving to rest on the shoulder that was opposite the arm she had used to make initial contact. It was a rather gentle gesture of one sworn to the tradition of war, but it was rare for Lorent to act without purpose.
His eyes sought hers with a glow of absolute fascination, yet those same bright eyes scrutinized the princess while his mind continued to mill information. It was because Lorent was fascinated with flaws and he was driven by a desire to pursue and purge them. Alysanne was still very competent in his eyes, and Lorent chose to ignore the idea of retracting his fealty in favor of the idea that he could help purge her flaws. He soon removed his hand from her shoulder then raised his index finger to press the middle of its side against his own lips.
"I cannot confidently call your act foolish when all of your options were less than ideal. Rhaegar's recklessness placed you in a corner, and you made a decision to resolve issues on multiple fronts. No one can fault you for being efficient. As far as your deal with Quellon, should you not reap the benefits of his favor? I don't see why not as long as we plan for the eventual reckoning."
Last Edit: Sept 29, 2017 2:58:00 GMT by LORENT TYRELL
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