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The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest

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Personally I'd be inclined to go with Syrax. Use the time when we've won a trial by combat after people doubted the strength of the crown to go with a Targaryen show of force.
 
[X] Go and see Syrax. A flight around the Giant's Lance might clear your head.
[X] Speak with other knights as Ser Tarly suggests. There are some friendly faces here that you would trust.
 
Imperious said:
Personally I'd be inclined to go with Syrax. Use the time when we've won a trial by combat after people doubted the strength of the crown to go with a Targaryen show of force.
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I like this, but we've already objectively done a good show of strength by killing Arnold in three blows in a dress, we've already put some fear in our detractors, whereas if we mingle with the knights, we could instill some love in people who could support us in the future, as opposed to more fear with Syrax.

Also I love Syrax, but only going to our dragon when we're in distress doesn't sound entirely healthy, we do also need other people to talk to.
 
Lord of Sturgia said:
To be honest I don't think there's any wrong answer here, it feels like the Harrenhall vision vote, where each choice has it's own benefits, I don't think QM is trying to trick us and that each choice will have some hidden negative, I think it's more along the lines of if we choose one option we get those benefits and the only downside is we lose out on the other choices benefits.
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I don't disagree, but if anything has downsides I think the most likely would be:
Talk to knights - might look soft
Dragon ride - might look callous
Alicent - might look gay
Sept - might be lower stress reduction? Or if we do find religion we might become less morally flexible on certain things that we haven't already formed a solid opinion on.

Upside wise, I see the appeal of taking to the knights in that they're the ones who will have dealt with this sort of thing before, and in terms of male bonding. However, this does also kind of rely on Westerosi knights being willing to talk about their feelings, which might be an issue. I'd prefer to do the male bonding when we're a position of more emotional strength and on a less sensitive emotional topic. Also the only people here I think we can really trust are Tarly and Gwayne.

My second choice would be Alicent, because progressing that relationship would've nice, but taking her advice is already kind of adjacent to that, and IMO the Fot7 is kind of unfairly maligned in the fandom so I'll push it. Also, if we are ever going to get religion, I think this is probably the most narratively appropriate time to do so?
 
hailcapital said:
I don't disagree, but if anything has downsides I think the most likely would be:
Talk to knights - might look soft
Dragon ride - might look callous
Alicent - might look gay
Sept - might be lower stress reduction? Or if we do find religion we might become less morally flexible on certain things that we haven't already formed a solid opinion on.

Upside wise, I see the appeal of taking to the knights in that they're the ones who will have dealt with this sort of thing before, and in terms of male bonding. However, this does also kind of rely on Westerosi knights being willing to talk about their feelings, which might be an issue. I'd prefer to do the male bonding when we're a position of more emotional strength and on a less sensitive emotional topic. Also the only people here I think we can really trust are Tarly and Gwayne.

My second choice would be Alicent, because progressing that relationship would've nice, but taking her advice is already kind of adjacent to that, and IMO the Fot7 is kind of unfairly maligned in the fandom so I'll push it. Also, if we are ever going to get religion, I think this is probably the most narratively appropriate time to do so?
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Alright sure you've convinced me, I'll approval vote the Sept as well.
 
hailcapital said:
However, this does also kind of rely on Westerosi knights being willing to talk about their feelings, which might be an issue. I'd prefer to do the male bonding when we're a position of more emotional strength and on a less sensitive emotional topic. Also the only people here I think we can really trust are Tarly and Gwayne.
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Sers Reylon and Gwayne are good people to get closer to anyway, so I wouldn't mind even if that was the only benefit. But our entourage is bigger than that and presumably includes other trusty knights we might want to know better. Seven Hells, we just added Ser Steffen to it for the purpose of getting to know him better, he might surprise us.

Also, Westerosi knightly masculinity isn't necessarily the same as postmodern toxic masculinity when it comes to sharing feelings. Knights are expected to be courtly and poetic, after all, not merely stoic and reserved.
 
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I do see the "political" appeal of talking to knights, so to speak, but I find it a pity that from among all the options Alicent is the least voted. Even the Seven have more votes. Just let Rhaenerys cry on her girlfriend's shoulder or something. Not to dismiss Best Dragon, but maybe Alicent will have a better therapeutic effect.

[X] Spend some time with Alicent and try to rest. Her presence has already helped you so much.
 
[X] Go and see Syrax. A flight around the Giant's Lance might clear your head.

Dragon therapy ftw!

That said always good to remind everyone about the big lizards.
 
Zimmerwald1915 said:
Sers Reylon and Gwayne are good people to get closer to anyway, so I wouldn't mind even if that was the only benefit. But our entourage is bigger than that and presumably includes other trusty knights we might want to know better. Seven Hells, we just added Ser Steffen to it for the purpose of getting to know him better, he might surprise us.

Also, Westerosi knightly masculinity isn't necessarily the same as postmodern toxic masculinity when it comes to sharing feelings. Knights are expected to be courtly and poetic, after all, not merely stoic and reserved.
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Reylon is a good person to talk to, but we kind of already did in the update. And Gwayne is young and hasn't seen combat outside of Tournaments, IIRC if he's blooded at all, it'd be as a headsman.

I think there's a difference between being flowery with like courtly love and being open with how you feel about killing someone.

I was just pushing an eventual Gwayne marriage so obviously I wouldn't mind getting to know him better and becoming friends - but I'd prefer starting that out with like banter about tournaments and stuff. This seems too heavy a subject to try and meet people with.

Also, part of Arnold's argument was faith based. While the Fot7 is nowhere near as strong institutionally as IRL medieval Catholicism was, the majority of the 7 kingdoms does follow it and it informs their actions. I think we'd be better off presenting ourselves as a different interpretation of the Faith than we would as just not caring about it. I don't want people feeling like they have to pick between us and the Seven. Both public displays of piety and developing genuine piety ourselves would help with that. And we have some solid theological ground to work with here: Arnold talked about the Father and Mother as if they were separate gods, but this is heresy - they are different aspects of the same god. And between the two of us, clearly we were the one the Seven favored.
 
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[X] If the Seven guided your blade, they might be willing to guide you too. Go to the sept.
 
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Teen Spirit said:
QM's Note: Thanks again to @Azel who wrote this entire section. Which is also how it's done already because it was written at the same time as the last update. Would have been very awkward if the vote went another direction. Now you may think 30 is a lot of stress for this but uh, Rhaenyra just killed a man, that was always gonna cause massive stress. But it can be managed, I did not trick you.
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Even if this was a case of GM trickery (which it wasn't. this was a predictable outcome in all regards), it is a landmine better encountered now than later.

[X] If the Seven guided your blade, they might be willing to guide you too. Go to the sept.

The Realm Will Take Notice Of Our Actions. And, considering the secret relationship that we will definitely not be able to hide forever, it would be good for them to see that in a stressfull moment, Rhaenyra turned to the sept for guidance.

Plus, this is what Alicent would've done had she somehow gotten into our situation. This might help us connect to a side of her Rhaenyra doesn't naturally 'get'.
 
Teen Spirit said:
Okay, here's the thing, there is a difference between a decision that simply taking causes stress and a decision that results in stress. The former is in red because fundmentally in that moment it is a choice Rhaenyra really doesn't want to take but can force herself to. The Red is to indicate that Rhaenyra really doesn't want to take that option. The latter is not gonna be foreshadowed because, for one the red is there to indicate the character's personal preference, and two because that's a bit of a spoiler, like imagine if the option for talking to the Queen was in red but you had no context, it would be more confusing then informative because you'd have no idea before that the Queen was just gonna unload homophobic slurs like crazy.
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Maybe you could clarify in the text, that that 30 Stress was not for taking the decision but for gaining the "achievement" of our first life taken?
Or am I misunderstanding the reason for gaining that Stress?
 
Seriously? The Faith? If we want to be political, the greater influence would be to make ties with the warrior nobility. And given the low influence of the Faith on society, compared to RL history, that would make a much larger impact.

So, approval voting:
[X] Spend some time with Alicent and try to rest. Her presence has already helped you so much.
[X] Speak with other knights as Ser Tarly suggests. There are some friendly faces here that you would trust.
 
[X] Speak with other knights as Ser Tarly suggests. There are some friendly faces here that you would trust.

We Will want/need to expend Lots of Time with Alicent after all of this, but for now Rhaenyra needs to Talk with those who personally understand what Is like to kill the first time

Besides, news of Rhaenyra executing a traitor during a Trial of Combat will spread across the Kingdoms. Winning a combat under the eyes of the Seven Is a Big Deal
 
hailcapital said:
I'd be for finding religion. It seems like it'd be pretty helpful to share a religion with our subjects + gf.
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Honestly, I don't see any appeal in becoming a true believer of a religion that merely tolerates the Targaryen and their "queer customs" (which honestly I understand since I also find incest quite disgusting) because Maegor literally beat the snout out of them, that considers our relationship with Alicent as an abomination, and that their teachings stay on our way to the throne... Maybe I am too cynic to get it but it seems like self-flagellation for no good reason (at least the Lord of Light gives you cool powers and shit)...

Jaehaerys did well in getting the Faith in his corner while ensuring they didn't get their militant orders back, but I don't see any use in getting more involved with the Faith beyond "good business partners"...
hailcapital said:
IMO the Fot7 is kind of unfairly maligned in the fandom so I'll push it. Also, if we are ever going to get religion, I think this is probably the most narratively appropriate time to do so?
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TBF, the Saith of the Seven is:
  • The less original religion in the setting since it is basically medieval catholicism in which the Holy Trinity Dogma has an expanded casting.
  • The only religion that doesn't give you cool magic and shit, nor teaches you some very useful mundane tricks (like saving someone from drowning)
So it is normal that the fandom doesn't care much about the seven, especially when it is shown to be just as corrupt and endogamic as Catholicism in the 11th Century...
hailcapital said:
Also, part of Arnold's argument was faith based. While the Fot7 is nowhere near as strong institutionally as IRL medieval Catholicism was, the majority of the 7 kingdoms does follow it and it informs their actions. I think we'd be better off presenting ourselves as a different interpretation of the Faith than we would as just not caring about it. I don't want people feeling like they have to pick between us and the Seven. Both public displays of piety and developing genuine piety ourselves would help with that. And we have some solid theological ground to work with here: Arnold talked about the Father and Mother as if they were separate gods, but this is heresy - they are different aspects of the same god. And between the two of us, clearly we were the one the Seven favored.
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Man, I am always for good publicity stunts, BUT we what you are proposing won't sway any of the "Hardcore Believers" because that kind of people doesn't really like any sort of religious debate or have their ideas challenged (And, this is a "Medieval" Religion, if we want to show "our" Piety building a new Sept in the Capital would be 100 times more effective than any public displays of piety or developing genuine piety)... Let's show piety like Margery, by appealing to the stomach of the smallfolk and by keeping the High Septon under our thumb...
 
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For some reason, I expect that the main reason people are divided about what happened is that Rhaenyra looked shocked and had to be escorted out after killing Arnold. In essence, in their minds, she showed weakness.

Even if it's likely most of the other knights in the audience or in the Eyrie reacted the same to their first kills as knights or squires. In their mind, the first cause will be "she's a woman, of course it bothered her!" instead of "killing people is mentally damaging".

I think talking to the knights might help spread the word as they realize it's her first time killing somebody and they start slotting her reaction into "first blood for a warrior" not "weakness of a woman".
 
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[X] Spend some time with Alicent and try to rest. Her presence has already helped you so much.
[X] Speak with other knights as Ser Tarly suggests. There are some friendly faces here that you would trust.
 
[X] Spend some time with Alicent and try to rest. Her presence has already helped you so much.
[X] Speak with other knights as Ser Tarly suggests. There are some friendly faces here that you would trust.
 
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