- Location
- Lake Wobegon
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
It goes far deeper than I realized.
The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest
- Thread starter Teen Spirit
- Start date
Imperious
Without the sun of my life
This is ASOIAF. Probably no one stays "undoubtedly" loyal, but if we will spend a lot of actions spending time with her, then we may well improve our relationship with her for us to have better odds of having her feel loyal to us then most. It could even present an opportunity for us to wed our children during the next generation to make us actual family if Alicent weds into a family we want good relations with like that of a Lord Paramount.
And hey, if Otto knows we're the one who arranged for his daughter to have a prominent match we might even get some favor with him as well.
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
...yes? What a strange argument. It's not like people picked their candidate purely based on their arms. But nonetheless, we must stress our legitimacy wherever we can. That is only helpful.
Yes! Stressing over and over again our legitimacy is good. No damage will be done and can only help.
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
How is saying we should take the unmodified Targaryen shield "over and over and over" again? If at all, the outside expectation choice was the canon one.
i would prefer using our actions to affect something that actually matters instead of a non-issue like this
stressing over rhaenyras personal arms is like jaehaerys stressing over the lords not liking him forbidding the right of first night when pretty much the entire realm could give a fuck
- Pronouns
- Reader
Yes. We are the rightful heir of the line of Aegon through Viserys. Deliberately having a shield with the proper Sigil of house Targaryen would go a long way. Getting our siblings gifts with the proper Sigil is also a good move. It won't cement their claim above ours but it is sort of proof that we consider them proper members of the family, which is a good thing for them to recall when assholes approach them with designs on the throne.
while I do agree that officiating a herald of Legitimacy to shout the ways in which Rhaenyra has comported herself in the manner of a proper heir of the Iron throne may be a bit mad, I think the same can be said for going out of our way to separate ourselves from Viserys and other members of his line by having a personal Sigil.
- Location
- Lake Wobegon
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
We can use a personal sigil for our appearances as a mystery knight, if and when we get around to it. Not having used it previously, and not using it again thereafter, will only add to the intrigue.
- Pronouns
- Reader
I think we are going to be a bit to big for mystery Knight shenanigans soon. like, recognizably big.
Look, other knights would never break the sacred Andal tradition of kayfabe!
In all seriousness I agree with Zim and Susano- use the quartered arms (I really wish GRRM used them more, they're cool and semi-authentic) for Mystery Knight/unofficial appearances, but keep to the official Targ heraldry in other respects
but having a personal sigil is nothing noteworthy in westeros?
there are plenty of named characters that have personal sigils even if only during tourneys so that different family members can be held apart
eg garlan and loras both have their own individual sigils and nobody thought them strange or exceptional
even aegon the second had his personal sigil which was the dragon painted in the same gold as sunfyre instead of the red of the family crest
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
How does the actions economy enter this? This didn't start with a call to do something, but just with the question of what arms we would prefer. And given that choice, well, the unmodified arms are superior. It is sorta like our dragon flight during the upcoming marriage - we didn't spend any action pushing for that, but it was the superior choice out of three given, again because of legitimacy considerations. Same here. And I do think the "default" option, the one not requiring actions, would be that the heir simply bears the unmodified arms.
???
A mystery knight doesn't have a sigil, or else it wouldn't be a mystery knight. They fight with empty shield, normally. And once identified, we'd have the unmodified Targaryen shield again.
Second and third sons, all. Not heirs. The lord/monarch and heir have the first right to the unmodified family crest, so it is in fact the second and third sons or distant cousins who have to modify theirs.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
They fight with sigils they make up generally. Lyanna was called the Knight of the Laughing Tree for a reason after all
- Location
- Volksstaat Hessen, Deutsches Reich
Not always, but yes that also happens. But noteworthily, the Knight of the Laughing Tree never appeared again. I.e., we can just make up nonsense sigils every tourney anew. Nothing that would be associated with us, really. Which, again, is kinda the point of being a mystery knight.
- Location
- Spain
TBH, seeing how there are thousands of independent knights in Westeros, each with their own unique sigil, when we decide to go Mystery Knight it will be quite difficult to make our sigil own on the run without accidentally committing copyright infringement
...
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because you were talking about stressing our legitimacy
and its only your headcanon that unmodified arms are the superior choice, westerosi couldnt care less about which arms someone uses
joffrey had his personal arms and so did aegon II and both were thought of as the heirs and yet both decided to create personal sigils out of their own free will and neither did anyone believe it strange
hell renly who was all about PR went and change his personal arms to the tyrell colours to signify the marriage and nobody gave a shit
that only heirs and lords get to use the unmodified arms and the rest have to change theirs is a headcanon that is simply not supported by the text
- Location
- Spain
@Teen Spirit I would like to ask you a couple of questions
You told us that you were kind of glad that Visenya reborn won so that Rhaenyra could see straight up through Daemon's attempts of grooming her... But what would have happened in that regard if we had picked the Schollar origin?
And just to know, if instead of approaching Rhaenys and Corlys with our plan we had tried to meet Rhaneys alone, how things would have turned out?
You told us that you were kind of glad that Visenya reborn won so that Rhaenyra could see straight up through Daemon's attempts of grooming her... But what would have happened in that regard if we had picked the Schollar origin?
And just to know, if instead of approaching Rhaenys and Corlys with our plan we had tried to meet Rhaneys alone, how things would have turned out?
The Seashell Wedding: Part I
- Pronouns
- He/Him
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The Seashell Wedding: Part I |
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A new idea suddenly sprang into your mind. There was one place where both of you could go where no one would whisper of what was said and none would question why you were even there.
"Meet me in the Dragonpit, tomorrow around noon," you declared.
"In the Dragonpit? Why there?" Alicent looked at you with confusion and perhaps a small amount of worry over your choice.
"The Dragonkeepers speak little common and care nothing for the politics of the realm," you explain. "And you used to watch Syrax and I all the time. No one would question why you were there if they found out."
The Dragonpit was by and large the personal domain of House Targaryen. There was little reason for any lords to even go near the place. Few would notice if Alicent went there and those who did could easily be convinced that Alicent was simply there to watch you fly, as she had many times before. If Alicent was truly this worried, there was no better place in King's Landing.
Alicent was hesitant, picking at her fingers as she considered.
"Very well," Alicent nodded. " I will meet you there, after I visit the sept."
"I will make sure the keepers know to escort you in," you assured her.
You found yourself confused and curious about this whole situation. What had Alicent so distraught?
The two of you parted ways and went on with the rest of your afternoons, your confusion never fully leaving your thoughts.
The next day, you made your way to the Dragonpit shortly before noon. When asked, the Dragonkeepers agreed to allow Alicent into Syrax's lair, though not without some distinct displeasure over the whole situation.
"The girl is an Andal. Bringing her here is an insult," one of the Dragonkeepers, an older man whose hands were covered in ancient burn scars, protested.
"I am not teaching her to fly," you snapped back in Valyrian, "and Syrax knows her as a friend. You will let Alicent Hightower in."
The Dragonkeeper muttered under his breath, but did not protest further, leaving you and Syrax alone in her lair. The Dragonkeepers were loyal to your family, but they were also quite proud of being the last remnant of Valyria in Westeros. Sometimes too proud.
Syrax's lair was a thing of rough hewn rock, lit only by your torch and a few torches along the wall. The few signs it was anything more than a natural cave were the thick ceiling of carved stone at the top of the lair and the platform towards the entrance. The polished white stones were stained with remnants of countless past meals.
Syrax herself was sleeping in one corner of her cave, curled up as tight as a dragon could be.
Alicent entered a few minutes later, guided by one of the female dragonkeepers who left quickly.
Syrax woke up, presumably curious as to the new smell in her lair. Alicent went stiff for a moment as she felt the dragons gaze upon her.
"Relax. Syrax knows you," you assured her.
And true enough, the dragon returned to her slumber once she realized it was a familiar presence, letting Alicent take a visible breath of relief in response.
This whole meeting felt more than a little strange to you. Conspiratorial and cloaked. What was eating at her thoughts that she was more comfortable talking here than in the grove?
Alicent approached, shadows dancing across her face as your torch flickered.
"Did your father forbid you to speak to me?" It was the first thought that entered your mind, it didn't make any sense but few ideas you could think of did.
"No," Alicent replied, her voice filled with regret. "As I said, that was my own error, and I am very sorry for it."
"My father did instruct me to visit the King the night your mother died," she said after a heavy sigh. "Wearing my mother's dress."
That took you off guard. You had fears over Alicent and your father, but even you couldn't deny they seemed utterly baseless. The Hand of the King had never pushed for his daughter openly and had seemingly been disturbed by how aggressive Corlys had been with his efforts. The only reason you worried at all was simply the fact that any family would have a lot to gain from marrying your father.
Something he clearly realized quite quickly, judging by her words.
"Your father was trying to convince mine to marry you?" You dared.
Alicent turned away in shame, hiding her face in the shadows.
"He wanted me close to the King," she replied. "There was no mention of marriage and he never suggested as much to your father, I swear, but my father-"
"His intentions seem pretty clear," you finished.
Alicent nodded hesitantly.
The thought sent a shiver of terror dancing down your spine. Your father marrying Alicent. The very thought sickened you and made your stomach turn. You had only just begun to patch things up with your best friend. Such a marriage would have opened wounds that would never heal. To say nothing of the pressure Otto would have put on your father to make any son Alicent had his heir. Everything about it disturbed and terrified you.
But none of it would come to pass, you reminded yourself firmly. Your father was engaged to Johanna Westerling, a house from the Westerlands that the Hand had no connections with.
"I appreciate your honesty in this, Alicent," you said warmly, suppressing any anger you felt. "And we should both feel relief that my father has already chosen another."
Part of you was upset with Alicent, that she had gone behind you back, and been more comfort to your father than you, her friend, for months. But between her words and her damaged hands, it was plain that she had been forced into it by her father. And you couldn't deny she had clearly been of some comfort to your father, even if your efforts had been more important.
Alicent did not seem to share your relief.
"My father wasn't happy when he heard your father was considering other options," she explained. "Even less so when he announced that he was marrying Lady Westerling."
The dread in Alicent's eyes shone brightly in the torch light.
"Your worried he's going to make you marry someone else because my father didn't pick you?" You guessed.
Otto Hightower was many things, but you could not imagine him being physically abusive. Her fears must have been over something else.
"I don't know," Alicent replied, her voice soft with fear. "I did not think he would consider such things for years, but after this, I am no longer certain."
You were more than a little surprised at this. Alicent was always so formal, so focused on what was proper for a lady, you had never thought she would be like this towards something as basic as marriage.
"Do you want to get married?"
You had seen people dread a pending marriage or loathe their current. Ladies who found their groom to be an utter horror, and men like your uncle who despised their wife even before the bedding. But you had never scene some so full of tension and worry over the prospect of marriage in general.
"It is a duty," Alicent said stiffly. "One that none of us can avoid."
Duty. Your recent talks with Alicent had made it clear that word was quite important to her, for better and worse. She had forgiven you because she had come to understand that your desire to become a knight was it's own duty in a way.
That put what you saw before you into stark contrast. Alicent, so prim and proper, so bound to tradition and doing what a noble lady should do, had no desire to get married. Were it not for her all but naked fear, this would almost have been amusing to behold.
Your friend was scared and doubtful. Filled with worries about her future. She needed comfort.
How Do you Comfort Alicent?
[] [Defiant] "If your father tries to force you into a marriage, refuse him. Insist you will marry only as you see fit."
[] [Romantic] "Don't worry. You will find a man who loves you. My father and his father both found love in their marriages."
[] "We are young. You should not worry about such things. It will be years before your father expects you marry."
[] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
[] "Marriage is a duty, but you don't need to have it define you. You can do what your father and future husband expect of you and still live your life as you see fit."
[] Write-in (Subject to QM approval)
"Could you tell me about your cats," you asked Johanna. "What are their names?"
You had never had pets. Dogs didn't like the smell of dragons, cats weren't a common sight in the Red Keep, and everything else seemed too high maintenance for you to really consider.
Your words brought a bright smile to the future Queen's face. She quickly snatched the two Calico cats off her bed.
"This is Elys," she gestured with her head to one of the cats. "And this is Lady Bethany. You've already met Lancel."
You stared at the cat who had struck you earlier, the Black cat staring at you in a way that you swore he was challenging you somehow.
"He is quite the bold fellow," you remarked.
"We found him as a kitten, running around the Crag," Johanna explained. "He's always been a feisty one. My father thinks he believes himself a lion and nothing has convinced him of the truth yet."
You almost swore Lancel's expression grew smug at Johanna's words.
"Lady Bethany and Elys were gifts from wealthy merchants," she went on. "Sailors love Calicos. They're everywhere at the docks, even in Lannisport. Though none are quite as beautiful as these two amazing ladies."
The love Johanna had for her cats was obvious, her smile growing wider the more she talked about them. You were glad to see her happy, glad to see that your future step-mother was a person and not some cruel and ambitious hag out for power.
Though you were not prepared for just how much Johanna Westerling loved cats, both hers and in general, as she proceeded to talk about them enthusiastically for the next hour, speaking of them the way your father might speak of Valyrian history, or your uncle about Dragons.
You ended the conversation exhausted, but you felt as though you and Johanna had at least established the basics of a working relationship.
Relationship with Lady Johanna Improved. New Status: Cordial
The days before the wedding were marked with celebration, both within the Red Keep and in the city as a whole. There was hawking and gambling, dances, music, competitions of strength, and comedy plays by mummers. You lived well those days, enjoying yourself as best you could.
You actually saw little of the actual marriage itself, with it being held out in the open, your father wanted you and Syrax in the air as vows were exchanged. This had been practiced of course, ensuring that you and Syrax reached the gardens and flew directly over your father and his new bride just as the marriage had been made official. Even from up high you heard more than a few gasps. The lords of the Crownlands may have been long used to the sight of a dragon, but for many from the Westerlands and other kingdoms, the sight was clearly novel and awe-inspiring.
You landed Syrax outside the Red Keep and hurriedly made your way to change into a dress more fighting for a wedding, before rushing to join the feast. Sitting by your father's side at the main table, the now Queen Johanna sitting on his other side.
Rows of tables were laid out before you in the gardens, filled with lords from almost every kingdom, save the Iron Islands, that being a request of the New Queen and her family. You ate well during the dinner, feasting on dates stuffed with pine nuts and drinking Dornish wine while the fool Mushroom and other performers filled the air with music. But even as you tried to enjoy yourself, you couldn't help but notice how your father was acting.
He was...civil with his new wife, the two talking about various subjects, sometimes at length, but your father often seemed tense and strained, like he was forcing himself to do some of this. You also caught glimpses of melancholy in his expression.
Though he would never say it, you could tell your father was miserable. And you couldn't help but feel much the same. This wasn't a marriage of love. This wasn't the kind of thing you dreamed of. This was the very thing you often had fear you may one day suffer. A marriage born purely for pragmatic reasons and political gain, with no thought given to feelings of the bride or groom. It not only sickened you, it left your mind filled with worrying thoughts about your own eventual marriage.
+2 Stress
Of course, a wedding wasn't just about vows and feasting. There were a lot of politics involved as well. There were a lot of lords and ladies here that you rarely saw otherwise. Lady Jeyne Arryn, Otto's son Gwayne, Lord Boremund Baratheon, Lord Stark, Ser Harwin "Breakbones" Strong, the Frey heir, Elmo Tully, and even your uncle's estranged wife Rhea Royce, among numerous others. You could use this chance to talk with people, build up existing relationships or forge all new ones. Your father and his new wife were too busy to really talk at the moment but you could find a few minutes to talk with almost anyone else here.
And there was the matter of dancing. No wedding was complete without dancing. As a girl on the cusp of being considered an adult, who you danced with tonight could prove very important. While it wasn't a definitive sign of anything, the lords of the realm would take notice of your choices. Of course, you could also refuse to dance with anyone, but that too would get noticed by those in attendance. Dancing could also be a way of chatting with someone and ensuring there was some degree of privacy.
A bold thought entered your mind. There was nothing stopping you from dancing with a girl. It didn't have to mean anything important. It could, if you wished so, but it would be a good way to avoid having a dozen marriage offers shoved down your throat by the end of the night. Such a thing would cause scandal, but when as the threat of scandal stopped you? You knew Alicent would probably refuse and you couldn't bring yourself to ask your new stepmother, but there might have been other ladies at the wedding with the will to dance with you. You could also dance with one of the many serving girls, they are working very hard, they could use a brief moment of respite.
This was a rare moment. One you could use to great advantage, if you so choose, or simply made it a moment to enjoy yourself.
Wedding Actions (Pick Three)
[] Talk with
-[] Otto Hightower
-[] Gwayne Hightower
-[] Alicent Hightower
-[] Lady Jeyne Arryn
-[] Victaria Tyrell
-[] Rhea Royce
-[] Harwin Strong
-[] Lionel Strong
-[] Larys Strong
-[] Elmo Tully
-[] Boremund Baratheon
-[] Borros Baratheon
-[] Forrest Frey
-[] Tyland Lannister
-[] Jason Lannister
-[] The High Septon
-[] Write-in (Subject to QM Approval)
[] Dance with
-[] Gwayne Hightower
-[] Harwin Strong
-[] Elmo Tully
-[] Borros Baratheon
-[] Forrest Frey
-[] Tyland Lannister
-[] Jason Lannister
-[] Write-in (Subject to QM Approval)
[] [Defiant] Dance with a Girl
-[] Alicent Hightower
-[] Lady Jeyne Arryn
-[] Victaria Tyrell
-[] Rhea Royce
-[] One of the Servants
-[] Write-in (Subject to QM Approval, Not Johanna Westerling)
[] Just try to relax and enjoy yourself.
[] Observe the crowd, see what the various lords and ladies are up to.
[] Write-in (Subject to QM Approval)
Plan Voting Required
QM's Note: I want this be a chance to do a variety of things, try and begin building alliances and relationships, discover new romance options, etc. Again this is a role-playing focused quest, you don't have to meta game this. Just do what you think is most interesting.
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- Location
- IN SPACE
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This should be smile.
As for the vote, I think maybe handmaiden is the least bad of those options but also Alicent is my blorbo so I'm biased.
I think we should either dance with Gwayne or pick a girl to dance with, and I'd like to speak to Jeyne if possible. She's a Lady Paramount, a useful ally, a fellow queer, and might have useful advice about being a woman in power.
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- Location
- Who knows?
I wanna say dance with Jeyne or Rhea if we wanna go extra spicy~~~~
( I am pretty sure we've burned any chance of reconciliation with Daemon to the bedrock)
( I am pretty sure we've burned any chance of reconciliation with Daemon to the bedrock)
Victaria Tyrell is there! Yay!
- Location
- Germany
Absolute no-brainer here. Neither Defiant nor Romantic will really vibe with Alicent right now, but this fixes her immediate issue (fear of marriage) and gets her what she could never admit to wanting (be close to Rhaenyra).
Tempting, but the update already calls out that this would go too far for her. There will be other opportunities.
Useful to get started on outmaneuvering Daemon.
Free intel is always great.
This is politically useful. And otherwise.
[X] Plan Ladies And Politics
-[X] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
-[X] Talk with: Rhea Royce
-[X] [Defiant] Dance with a Girl: Lady Jeyne Arryn
-[X] Observe the crowd, see what the various lords and ladies are up to.
-[X] Plan: Fuck it we ball
--[X] [Defiant] Dance with a Girl: Alicent Hightower
--[X] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
--[X] Talk with: Lionel Strong
--[X] Observe the crowd, see what the various lords and ladies are up to.
We've talked the talk, it's time to walk the walk.
I also believe it's time we petition our father for a new hand.
--[X] [Defiant] Dance with a Girl: Alicent Hightower
--[X] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
--[X] Talk with: Lionel Strong
--[X] Observe the crowd, see what the various lords and ladies are up to.
We've talked the talk, it's time to walk the walk.
I also believe it's time we petition our father for a new hand.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Plan: I am shipper trash
-[X] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
-[X] Talk with: Rhea Royce
-[X] Dance with: Harwin Strong
-[X] Talk with: Alicent Hightower
-[X] "Perhaps one duty can replace another. Become my Handmaiden and you won't be expected to marry for a decade more, mayhaps even longer."
-[X] Talk with: Rhea Royce
-[X] Dance with: Harwin Strong
-[X] Talk with: Alicent Hightower