#house wyl

[tweedfrog]

Imagine after all the speculation if the words of House Wyl are just "don't tread on me"

[cynicalclassicist]

I'm annoyed as well that we have these Houses whose role is just to be assholes. Maybe we'll see some good Florents in the past? But personally I'd like it if Alekyne Florent turned out to be a decent sort.

Do you think we will ever meet any nice Florents (sans Melessa), whether that be in the main series or even Dunk and Egg?

Given the current trajectory of House Peake, House Bracken, and House Wyl probably not. We can both keep praying though.

Thanks for the question, anon

[ryonwyl]

House Wyl's castle, known as Wyl Keep, is a formidable and well-defended stronghold perched on the edge of the River Wyl, a winding waterway that cuts through the arid terrain of Dorne. Strategically located, the keep is designed to control both land and water access, ensuring the family's power and dominance in the region.

The Castle: Wyl Keep consists of three primary towers:

The Lord's Tower: The tallest and most imposing structure, this is where the ruling lord of House Wyl resides. Built from sandstone, it rises high above the surrounding land, offering a commanding view of both the castle grounds and the river. The tower features thick walls and narrow windows, providing excellent defense against both siege and attack. Inside, the rooms are lavishly furnished, with tapestries depicting the house's history and the serpent-like creatures native to Dorne.

The Guest's Tower: Slightly smaller than the Lord’s Tower, this structure is used to house visitors and diplomats. Though less opulent, the Guest's Tower is still comfortable and strategically placed near the entrance of the keep for easy access. It boasts large rooms with long balconies that overlook the river, offering guests a scenic view of the water as it winds its way toward the distant sea.

The Staff Tower: The smallest of the three, this is where the servants, soldiers, and other attendants of the keep live. The tower’s structure is more utilitarian, with simple rooms that are designed for function over comfort. From here, the staff can easily move about the castle to tend to their daily duties.

The Stairs:

The stairs connecting the three primary towers of Wyl Keep are a series of massive, carved sandstone bridges and staircases that spiral and ascend between the Lord’s Tower, the Guest’s Tower, and the Staff Tower. These stairways are monumental feats of Dornish engineering, rising high above the rugged terrain and offering both grandeur and practicality.

The lowest level features wide stone steps carved directly into the cliffs, reinforced with iron railings to provide safety. These stairs are heavily trafficked by the castle’s servants and soldiers, serving as the primary connection to the Staff Tower.

On the middle level, the stairs narrow and transition into elegant arches that link the Guest's Tower and the Lord’s Tower. These bridges, adorned with intricate carvings of adders and flowing river patterns, symbolize House Wyl’s heritage and control over the surrounding lands. The arches allow sunlight to flood through, casting dramatic shadows on the rocky walls of the castle.

The upper level is the most secure and secluded. Here, a single, high arch bridge connects the Lord's Tower to the Guest's Tower. This level is reserved for the lord’s private use or for hosting important guests. The staircase and bridge are narrower but more elaborately decorated, featuring gold inlays and banners bearing House Wyl's sigil.

From all levels, the stairways offer breathtaking views of the River Wyl below, with sunlight filtering through the canyons to bathe the steps in a golden glow during the day. The architecture of these stairways reflects both the harsh beauty of the Dornish landscape and the strength and pride of House Wyl.

The Drawbridge:

A central feature of Wyl Keep’s defenses, the drawbridge spans a wide, deep gorge that separates the castle from the rest of Dorne. The bridge can be raised or lowered depending on the situation, allowing the lord to control access to the keep. When raised, it prevents both hostile forces and unwanted travelers from entering the castle. The stone walls surrounding the drawbridge are thick and reinforced, adding another layer of security. The bridge itself is made of thick oak planks, reinforced with iron and chains, making it a reliable feature of the stronghold's defenses.

Flagship:

Protecting the river entrance to the castle is the Three-Masted Galley of House Wyl, a warship adorned with the house’s sigil: an adder coiled around a dagger. The ship’s prow is shaped like the head of a serpent, its mouth open as if ready to strike at any vessel daring to approach the castle’s river entrance. The galley is heavily armed, equipped with a complement of archers, marines, and a crew trained in naval combat. It serves not only as a vessel for House Wyl’s lords and family members but also as a powerful symbol of their control over the River Wyl and the surrounding waters.

The Village:

Located to the north of the castle lies a small but bustling village, which thrives thanks to its proximity to the river. The village is centered around a lively market where traders from across Dorne come to sell spices, textiles, and exotic goods. Locals barter for produce, livestock, and tools, while the more wealthy merchant class conducts their business in the shade of large tents and canopies.

In addition to the market, the village boasts an inn, which serves as a resting place for travelers and merchants making their way through the region. The inn is rustic yet cozy, with a large hearth at its center, where patrons gather to eat, drink, and exchange stories of the desert.

The village also has a brothel, discreetly situated on the outskirts, providing a place for those seeking solace or indulgence in the harsh desert landscape. The brothel is well-known, even among the nobility, for offering high-quality entertainment and is run by a shrewd woman who knows how to navigate the politics of Dorne as well as any lord

Surrounding Landscape:

The stronghold’s location on the River Wyl means that it is often surrounded by dry, sun-scorched lands. Despite this, the fertile banks of the river allow for small-scale agriculture, providing some sustenance to the castle and village. Sparse vegetation grows along the river’s edge, including a few hardy desert shrubs and palm trees, offering some shade from the heat.

The river itself winds through narrow canyons and jagged cliffs before opening up to wider waters further downstream, making it both a natural barrier and a vital route for trade. The land surrounding the castle is rugged, dotted with scattered sandstone formations that offer potential hiding spots for enemies, but these are also carefully watched by the keep’s scouts.

[sebeth]

TWOIAF/Fire & Blood: The Beginning of the Dornish War

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

 Aegon Targaryen has one more item to mark off his conquering checklist: Dorne.

Aegon tries a soft approach for nearly a year: he sent septons, maesters, and high lords to treat with Princess Meria Martell. She wasn’t interested. In 4 AC, the first Dornish War begun.

Rhaenys descended unto Planky Town and set the floating town ablaze. Meanwhile, Orys Baratheon led a thousand knights up the Boneway while Aegon marched through the Prince’s Pass with an army of 30,000. Lord Harlan Tyrell, Warden of the South, accompanied Aegon’s Army.

No word on Visenya – she must have stayed behind to govern the realm. Personally, I would have switched Rhaenys for Visenya.  No offense to Rhaenys – she’s a skilled dragonrider and participated in the Field of Fire and the Last Storm, so she has the Targaryen ruthlessness in her but her strengths seemed to be in the diplomatic/”soft power” areas and Visenya is the more vicious, highly skilled warrior. Was this personal for Rhaenys? Did she feel she failed in her initial visit to Dorne while her siblings/spouses succeeded in their visits to Westeros? Was this return to Dorne a chance to redeem herself?

Aegon’s armies marched into Dorne and found the watchtowers deserted, the fields burned, the livestock destroyed, and the wells poisoned. His forces were running short of food well before they reached the Dornish sands.

The Dornish are vicious – even to themselves. They are destroying their own lands to repel invaders but it’s at a great cost to themselves – Dorne isn’t known for its vast resources.

Thus begins a pattern of invade-retreat-guerrilla warfare-war crimes that would last for the next nine years!

A few highlights (lowlights?) of round one (4 AC to 6 AC) of the near-decade long war:

·         Lord Tyrell lost a quarter of his men and almost all his horses to the Dornish sands

·         Orys Baratheon’s forces were wiped out except for a dozen lords and himself – they became captives of the “Widow-lover” Wyl of Wyl

·         Rhaenys took Lemonwood, Spottswood, and Stinkwater but only found old women and children

·         Aegon took Skyreach, Yronwood, and the Tor; he also engaged in a one on one duel with the Champion of Ghost Hill only to discover it was Lord Toland’s fool

·         Aegon and Rhaenys descended on Sunspear only to discover no one was home – Aegon declared victory by default.

·         Aegon offered rewards for the heads of the missing Dornish lords and ladies; he also named castellans and stewards for the newly won Dornish castles – the most important nomination being the naming of Lord Rosby as the Castellan of Sunspear and Warden of the Sands

·         Aegon then gave the “good job, team. Let’s go home” speech and he and his forces returned to King’s Landing

·         The missing Dornish returned with a vengeance as soon as the Targaryen forces left Dorne

·         The Dornish recaptured their castle within a fortnight and slaughtered the royal garrisons.

·         Stewards and castellans were “allowed to die only after a long torment. It was said that the Dornish lords had a wager over who could keep their captives alive the longest while dismembering them.”

·         Lord Rosby was dragged to the top of the Spear Tower and then thrown from a window by Princess Meria Martell.

·         King Aegon had left Lord Tyrell and his forces to hold Hellholt and he had to deal with constant attacks from House Qorgyle of Sandstone and House Vaith of Vaith.

·         Lord Tyrell gathered his forces to march on Sunspear once he learned of Lord Rosby’s defenestration of Sunpear.  Somewhere east of Hellholt, Lord Tyrell and his entire army disappeared.

Aegon had his brother/best friend/Hand of the King taken hostage, his Warden of the South killed, a lord of the Crownlands executed, and lost thousands of men in the attack. Meria had multiple towns burned and lost hundreds/thousands of Dornish lives. Do Aegon and Meria attempt to make a compromise? No! The degenerate into “an endless bloody series of atrocities, raids, and retaliations, broken up by long periods of inactivity, a dozen short truces, and numerous murders and assassinations.

More year-by-year lowlights:

7 AC:

·         Orys Baratheon and the other captive lords were returned after being ransomed for their weight in gold. The Widow-lover lopped off each man’s sword hand before releasing his hostages. King Aegon retaliated by unleashing Balerion on the mountain fortresses of the Wyls. I wonder if Argella Durandon missed her husband while he was held captive or if it was more of a case “hope he’s dead”?

8 AC:

·         Dornish raiders attack towns and villages along the south shore of Cape Wrath, and set fires through half the rainwood.

·         Visenya Targaryen burns Lemonwood, Ghost Hill, and the Tor.

9 AC:

·         Visenya and Aegon return to Dorne and burn Sandstone, Vaith, and the Hellholt.

10 AC

·         Lord Fowler of Dorne leads and army through the Prince’s Pass and into the Reach, capturing Nightsong and burning a dozen villages. Lord ManfredHightower sent his son Addam with a strong force to retake Nightsong,

·         A second Dornish army under Ser Joffrey Dayne attacked Oldtown. The Dornish were unable to take Oldtown but burned fields, farms, and villages for twenty leagues around the city. Joffrey Dayne kills Garmon Hightower, Lord Hightower’s younger son.

·         Ser Addam Hightower reached Nightsong only to discover that Lord Fowler had torched the castle and executed the garrison. Lord Caron, his wife, and children were taken back to Dorne as captives.

·         Addam returned to Oldtown to relieve the city but the Dornish had retreated to Dorne.

·         Lord Manfred Hightower dies and Addam succeeds him as the Lord of Oldtown.

·         Aegon approaches Theo Tyrell over a 2nd Dornish invasion but he is hesitant considering the fate of his father in the previous war.

·         The three Targaryens unleash their dragons on Dorne: Aegon attacked Skyreach “vowing to make the Fowler seat a second Harrenhal”, Visenya brought fire and blood to Starfall, and Rhaenys returned to Hellholt only for Meraxes to be shot down by a scorpion bolt. Rhaneys and Meraxes die on impact. The three Targaryens unleashed their dragons on Dorne: Aegon attacked Skyreach “vowing to make the Fowler seat a second Harrenhal”, Visenya brought fire and blood to Starfall, and Rhaenys returned to Hellholt only for Meraxes to be shot down by a scorpion bolt.

·         Meraxes died shortly after impact but no one knows the exact time of Rhaeny’s death: “Some say she lost her seat and fell to her death, others that she was crushed beneath Meraxes in the castle yard. A few accounts claim the queen survived her dragon’s fall, only to die a slow death by torment in the dungeons of the Ullers.” I hope for Rhaenys’s sake that she died upon/shortly after attack because life under Dornish captors would make life under Ramsay Bolton look pleasant.

Three more years into this stupid war and what has Aegon or Meria gained? Nothing beneficial! More destruction of towns and farms on both sides. The Caron family has been taken captive/killed, and the Hightowers lost a father and a son. On a personal level, Aegon and Visenya lost their sister-wife and had a brother mutilated. Aenys lost his mother at three-years old! All this violence and bloodshed because of two vindictive egos!

Up next, the Dragon’s Wroth, the atrocities continue, and a tenuous cease-fire.

[tronodiferro]

House Wyl of the Boneway

GameOfThronesFanatic-Knjiga

[atopvisenyashill]

the number one miss of george’s re: worldbuilding is the lack of saints bc Y E S i can fully believe that “targaryen looking child king who rules from a hill & dies at the age of 9 bc he’s poisoned” just screams sainthood!!!!! you KNOW there’s poor people that follow the faith who were conspiracy theorizing about how like, unwin peake purposefully poisoned him or viserys killed him out of jealousy or something.

also REAL there’s two septs in the marches that are constantly in a petty cold war because one of them is run by reacher worshippers & they put up a sexy arrow ridden criston cole statue outside & one of those lil signs with catchy sayings on them all churches have that says some shit like “women are meant to serve man :)” and the sept down the road run by dornish worshippers immediately put up a baller ass crowned gaemon palehair statue with a sign like “eat the rich.”

comparing my blorbo gaemon palehair to dany…she literally sees the dothraki & meereenese as less than her, refuses to geld a rapist, sexually abused irri, doesn’t pay anyone in meereen, left astapor a ruin, AND takes a profit from the selling of slaves!!!! meanwhile my woke commie toddler son and his marxist mommies:

include a brown, dornish woman - my girl sylvenna

include a loving, consensual relationship between said dornish woman and her lover & gaemon’s bio mom lady essie

in fact most of the court atop visenya’s hill are the lowest of the low and are brutally punished for daring to make things better, not born with a fancy family name or the benefit of an army, rich friends, & dragons

explicitly take over in an attempt to calm down king’s landing and do succeed in calming down the people gathering at visenya’s hill with them

decree that men who beat their wives should be beaten themselves

give bread and beer doles to disabled veterans & the poor

gaemon is orphaned by house targaryen - his mothers are considered “unworthy” of the sword and hung but only after aegon ii tortures them of course - after aegon ii refuses to acknowledge him as a bastard, and is later poisoned and murdered because of their stupid game of thrones, do not compare him to that whack ass house or your colonizer queen!!!!!!

[ashblooddragons]

Little Viper

this request was made by a Anon hence not being @.

Word count: 1348

Summary: a match was made between the Hightowers and the Martells soon after the prince Aegon's birth. And Neither party is happy with the match.

Warnings: Otto being Otto, People being racist to the Martells, tell me if i missed anything

Amaras pov

I stare at myself in the mirror, taking in my loose black waves, olive skin, full lips, but most of all my vibrant purple eyes. The only thing that shows I am not completely Martell, the only way to show who my Mother is.

The Princess Saera Targaryen, everyone says I look like her. I have her seductive beauty, though I have yet to see a portrait to see it for myself. 

“You'll make all the other ladies Jealous Princess. And all the Lords will be livid they didn't take you before your betrothed claimed you.” My Lady in waiting, Lady Alarra Wyl says. 

I only smile and nod, for how else am I to respond to such kind words when all I feel is bitterness? 

I could have any man I want, and yet I am going to be the second wife to a second son? I am to inherit Dorne, and yet I am matched so the crown can feel better about themselves. 

“I hope I look even half as beautiful as you do on my wedding day.” My other Lady in waiting, Lady Elia Santagar. 

“I'm sure you will.” I say to the dark skinned lady. 

And truly she is pretty, just not beautiful. She has plain features that all together are pleasing but nothing special. I'd say the only thing special about her is those wild black coils of hers. 

They rub some animal fat along my skin keeping them soft and smooth. The scent of rosemary wafts through the air with each swipe along my skin. 

They then help me dress in my dress. It's a white dress with rich orange sleeves and a plunging neckline and back. The sleeves reach the floor making me look tall and regal. 

They put a gold chain crown on my head, gold bangle bracelets on my wrists and ankles. I then chose golden earrings with white quartz dangling from my ears, they were carved to look like my house sigil. And finally I add a golden necklace with diamonds encrusted in every inch. 

I look in the mirror taking in everything, it's all gorgeous but I know it will scandalize those Andals. 

Good. I think with a smirk before leaving my chambers to find my father waiting outside the Spet.

With each step I take in the infamous Red Keep. Though it is lovely, the stench of the city below ruins it with each step in this vipers den. 

A smirk comes to my lips at that thought. 

They call us vipers in the sand, while they are the true vipers. 

“There you are, you look like the sun in the flesh. Radiant and bright.” Father says when he sees me from down that hall.

I smile a blush coming to my cheeks. He always called me his ‘little sun’ so I should be used to the compliments but I don't think I ever will. 

“Well you are the one who picked it all.” I tease moving forward to stand next to him as we stare at the Septs doors. 

“I never said it was the dress.” He responds with a sad smile.

I take his hands in mine, squeezing them knowing he hoped this day would never come. 

“How did the time pass so quickly? I swear you were a babe in my arms only a moment ago. And yet you are marrying more than likely having children of your own.” 

I feel tears come to my eyes and I shake my head fighting them off. “Don't, you will make me cry and ruin all the work my ladies did.” I demand which makes him chuckle before he kisses my cheek.

“Sorry, little sun, can't have Elia upset, that girl is scary when she's mad.” He says and we both laugh joyously.

But just as soon as the joy fills us does it become dread. 

“We need to do this. This will help us.” He says putting my hand in the crook of his arm. 

I know that he doesn't mean to be cold so suddenly, it is only the way he copes. But even though I may know this does not mean it doesn't hurt any less. 

The doors open once he nods to the guards. I know many say they felt like their life was beginning the moment they saw their husband to be. But I didn't, I refuse to, for this isn't my life, no this Hightower demanded me and now I will make him regret ever looking my way.

It all flies by a blur, me being handed to this man who though is handsome I refuse to admit it. Our hands being bonded by that blasted ribbon, oaths spoken with cold calculating tones. And then his lips are on mine, and for a moment I realize mayhaps this won't be so bad. But that thought is quickly destroyed when he glares down at me again as if I am the one shackling him against his will.

He guides me out of the Sept with a scowl as the court claps and cheers for the Hand of the King. 

“Well now that, that is done, all we need to do is make face at the feast and do our duty. Then we can act as if the other does not exist unless need be.” 

I can't help but scoff before a chuckle leaves me. “Well it's lovely to meet you as well, Ser Otto Hightower. I'm so sorry I forced you into a marriage.” 

And with that I walk off letting him try and keep up with me. We don't say a word when we enter nor as we eat. 

I feel his gaze on me as I eat. When I turn to meet his gaze with a questioning raise of my brow I find him eyeing my outfit with a disgusted scowl.  

“Is there something else you wish to speak of? Or will you give me reprieve from that foul attitude of yours?”  

He scoffs, shaking his head. “Did you have to show your body to the whole of the court the day of our wedding?” 

I grip my wine chalice feeling the glass stem dig into the soft skin of my palm. 

“I would have you know, this is much more modest than the one I originally wished to wear. Be happy I came in white like you all demanded.” 

But instead of showing any remorse only grumbles under his breath about how us Dornish wish to dress as whores. 

That is the final straw, I had taken every cruel look from the court, every whisper of whore behind mine and my ladies backs. But for my now husband to call me a whore when I am the heir to Dorne? Now that is just unacceptable. 

So I lean over to whisper in his ear, for the court I look like an excited wife wanting to know the ways of the marital bed. But he knows that is not the case as my nails dig into his arm until he flinches.

“I hope you don't mean those words, husband. I would hate to have all of court know how you are the one who ruined their reputation. Or perhaps how you sent your daughter to the King, alone in his chambers.” I hiss in his ear before looking him in the eyes again.

“I will do my duty, and you will do yours. But so we're clear, you asked for my hand in marriage. Not the other way around.” I say before standing and waving my ladies so I can prepare for the rest of this miserable marriage. 

Before I leave I turn and look up at him again from across the throne room. He seems shocked, but also impressed. But most of all, if the way his eyes down my frame is anything to go by, he wants me. He desires me. 

Mayhaps this marriage will be worth my while after all. I think before leaving him to his thoughts and desires with his courtier friends. 

@sugutoad @ilikefelines @classicsimpforaaronwarner @mmogurl @sachaa-ff @themoonlitquill @athzhowakar @thelastemzy

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

BG3 Matchups/Asks Masterlist

Originally, this was a Masterlist of all the Baldur's Gate 3 matchups/asks I got the first time I opened my inbox. Now it houses both the asks from the first round and the latest completed pieces from the current one:

First-Round Asks Will Be The Ones Further Down While The New Ones Are On Top

Matchups (Round Two):

Lilly-pad02

Cakeboxie

Straight-Haired Nonnie

Asks/HCs:

Astarion:

HC: Astarion Comforting Overwhelmed!Tav

HC: Astarion Regaining Reader's (Tav's) Trust

HC: Male Companions Helping Tav with Their Period

HC: Losing Tav on a Stealth Mission (wyll, ast, hals)

HC: Male Companions with A Mute!Reader - Hot!

HC: Helping a Neglected Tav (gale, hals, wyl)

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Ascended!Astarion:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Gale:

HC: Male Companions Helping Tav with Their Period

HC: Losing Tav on a Stealth Mission (wyll, ast, hals)

HC: Male Companions with A Mute!Reader - Hot!

HC: Helping a Neglected Tav (gale, hals, wyl)

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Godhood!Gale:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Wyll:

HC: Male Companions Helping Tav with Their Period

HC: Losing Tav on a Stealth Mission (wyll, ast, hals)

HC: Male Companions with A Mute!Reader - Hot!

HC: Helping a Neglected Tav (gale, hals, wyl)

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Karlach:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

La'zel:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Shadowheart:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Halsin:

HC: Male Companions Helping Tav with Their Period

HC: Losing Tav on a Stealth Mission (wyll, ast, hals)

HC: Male Companions with A Mute!Reader - Hot!

HC: Helping a Neglected Tav (gale, hals, wyl)

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Minthara:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

HC: How The BG3 Companions Cuddle

HC: Companions Comforting A Severely Depressed Reader

Jaheria:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

Minsc:

HC: Modern!BG3 Companions' Thanksgiving

Kar'niss:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Enver Gortash:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

HC/S: Yandere!Raphael Steals Darling!Reader from Yandere!Gortash - Hot!

Raphael:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

HC/S: Yandere!Raphael Steals Darling!Reader from Yandere!Gortash - Hot!

The Emperor:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Orin:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Mizora:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Absolute!Tav:

HC: BG3 Villians and Their Yandere Types

Matchups:

Red Circle Anon

Astralmysteria

Veethewriter

GoogleDoc Anon

Amefuyuu

Tarantula Anon

Br4inr0tx

Botanicalbard

A-jynx

Sapphirest0nes

Elonianmisfit

Seanymphcalypso / [Now Lightofselune]

Cobaltspace

Lord-Westley

Detailed Anon / [Strawbirb]

Mourreon

Half-Drow Barbarian Anon

ENFP Leo Anon

Selandrine Drow Anon

Little Sun Anon

Tiefling Draconic Sorceress Anon

Metkapop

Hugthedragon

Sleepy Bard Tav Anon

Luz The Not-So-Good Rogue Anon

OrionsPaperwork

Toritofrito

And as always, here's a link to my current, complete

Masterlist

(Finishing updating all my links, and then I'll post the opened askbox announcement!)

Note: The lovely divider bars are courtesy of @cafekitsune

-Mothmom 💚

[lilith-kruger]

KING BAELOR TARGARYEN:The bards would argue, in time, that the vipers bowed their heads to baelor's step, but that is not the truth. Baelor received half a dozen bites as he crossed the cage, and while he opened it he nearly fell to the ground before the dragon knight could open the door and pull his cousin out of the pit. It is said that The wyls crossed their bets as prince aemon scrambled to climb out of the cage with baelor on his shoulders.

PRINCE BAELOR TARGARYEN:Baelor, of the house of targary in, prince of rocadragon, hand of the king, protector of the kingdom and heir to the iron throne of the seven kingdoms of the west had his pira funeral in the court of arms of vado ash castle, on the north bank of the river cockleswent. Unlike other large houses, some of which buried their dead or plunged them into the cold, green sea, the targaryen filled the dead with letters of fire, because they carried the blood of the dragon.

[myriamas]

who: @baashirdayne when and where: starfall, some short weeks following the final result of the dornish-new valyrian war. baashir dayne has returned home, and starfall held a celebration in his honour. context: they fighting

the ball was in full swing—light, music, and the clinking of goblets filling the air. the kind of celebration only noble houses could throw, complete with swirling dancers and adoring faces gazing upon the returning hero. the hero, of course, was baashir, her husband. baashir, standing at the center of it all, basking in his victory, surrounded by well-wishers. his mother had orchestrated this entire event, as if it was his triumph alone, as if she had not borne the brunt of everything he had left behind.

myriam stood at the edge of the crowd, gripping her glass so tightly her knuckles turned white. she had not come here for this. not for the pomp, not for the speeches, nor the compliments. all she wanted was the quiet of her chambers, the sound of inaaya’s coos and leila’s laughter. instead, she was here, choking on the cloying sweetness of their praise. she hated these people; it was a dawning realisation as she stared upon the sprawling individuals, no doubt her expression unimpressed and sour.

these daynes and their household and their people; they were not her people. they looked down on her. "i'm not dancing."

she hadn’t wanted to feel this way. she had told herself, in the beginning, that his absence was expected, something even she expected. that the war was something he had to do. he had a name to make, a legacy to carve out in the sands of history. he has wrongs to make right, to demand for what had been done to her. but as the months wore on, and her belly grew rounder with inaaya, that conviction faded. the birth had come and gone without him by her side. she had given birth to their daughter alone, her heart heavy and her arms empty, and yet she had said nothing.

as baashir spoke, his voice loud and triumphant, myriam could feel her pulse quicken. the music, the adoring smiles, they all blurred around him. did they not see? couldn’t they hear the screams in her head, the ones she had swallowed down while giving birth, while watching inaaya grow in her arms? she had needed him. what if she had died? what would all have this been for? she would have left her daughter behind. alone in the world. all for him to play the hero.

he was not the only warrior in dorne, sword of the morning or not. ravi, the martell prince. armaan yronwood, ryon wyl, doran uller, her own brother. there were so many he could have asked to step in. and he did not.

myriam’s jaw clenched. she had thought she would be fine with it, that she would find pride in his victories, but she couldn’t ignore the bitterness that had festered in her heart. the selfishness of it. he could have come back. he should have come back. but no, he had chosen to chase that high, to make his name even greater than before. he had needed that taste of victory, that sweet, heady feeling of conquest. myriam gripped her glass tighter. she should have known, from the moment he left, that it wasn’t about duty—it was about him. his name, his glory, and the rest of them be damned. he wasn’t some noble knight. he wasn’t her husband. he was just a man, seeking more of the fame he could never get enough of.

“you couldn’t even come back when i needed you most,” she muttered under her breath, as he stood beside her. the music was overwhelming, and she remained stood beside him. “you wanted to stay out there, chasing glory. chasing the high.” her voice was thick with strain, with a slight drunken slur. “and now you come back and act like nothing changed, like you’ve done no wrong. but you did. you stayed. for nothing but your own damn name.”

[baashirdayne]

The Dornish War || The Valyrian War

Month 1: The Fall of Alicent

Week 1: Alicent dies in the infirmary, with Doran Uller playing a role in her death to prevent her from leaving the West. Her discovery sparks a series of covert actions.

Week 2: First Minister Baashir Dayne's brother impersonates him to maintain the facade of stability while Lord Baashir Dayne and Armaan Yronwood sneak off to the Crownlands disguised as men of House Marbrand.

Month 2: Chaos in New Valyria and the Marches

Week 1: In New Valyria, chaos erupts as smoke and flames rise, igniting the pit. An explosion occurs, leading to crumbling walls and widespread panic, attributed to Baashir Dayne and Armaan Yronwood. Simultaneously, the keep of Hayford is set ablaze by Lords Dastan Allyrion and Ryon Wyl, who have returned to Dorne with valuable secrets.

Week 2: The Wyl of Wyl returns from the Westerlands, where the fighting intensifies in the Dornish marches. He captures a Dondarrion lord as a hostage, signifying a shift in tactics with intentions to take more captives.

Week 3: Lord Deimos Velaryon also captures a Dayne brother in the Marches, escalating the situation further.

Month 3: Siege and Naval Conflicts

Week 1: Lord Wyl and Fowler manage to break the siege at Nightsong, discovering the young Caron lord dead, though the Caron line persists.

Week 2: The Summer Islanders provide ships to Dorne during their visit. These vessels are utilized to launch an attack on the Weeping Town, unaware that Lord Tarth has been guarding the seas.

Week 3: A naval confrontation ensues as Lord Tarth and forces from Houses Wylde and Swann push back against the Wyl men at sea and in the town.

Week 4: In the Marches, First Minister Baashir Dayne and Lord Armaan Yronwood find themselves engaged in a tough battle against the Unsullied, with both sides stalemated. A temporary lull occurs as Silverwing appears in the sky, prompting the Dornish to retreat underground and conduct night attacks.

Month 4: The Wrath of King Jaehaerys II

Week 1: King Jaehaerys II Targaryen dismounts his dragon, intending to join the fray himself. He rallies his troops, engaging in fierce combat with the Dornish fighters. As the battle intensifies, he signals his dragon to take to the skies for a brief respite, planning for her to fly away and rest before returning.

Week 2: However, as Jaehaerys II fights on the ground, the dragon is forced back into action. She swoops down, unleashing fiery destruction upon the Dornish lines, incinerating clusters of warriors. The Dornish forces are compelled to regroup to prevent the Unsullied from advancing too deeply into their territory.

Week 3: In a desperate countermeasure, a coalition forms among the Dornish leaders. Prince Ravi Martell, First Minister Baashir Dayne, and Lord Doran Uller each oversee the deployment of giant crossbows, known as Scorpions. These massive weapons are strategically positioned to target the dragon as she reigns fire from above.

Week 4: The tension reaches its peak as the battle rages on. As Jaehaerys II’s dragon soars above, the three leaders coordinate their efforts, launching a volley of bolts into the sky. The sound of the Scorpions firing echoes across the plains of Dorne, with each bolt seeking its mark as the Dornish forces hold their breath in anticipation.

Climactic Moment: Suddenly, one of the Scorpion bolts strikes true, finding its target. The dragon emits a deafening roar before plummeting from the sky, engulfed in flames and smoke. Chaos ensues on the battlefield as soldiers scramble in shock. It remains unclear whose bolt delivered the fatal blow—whether it was Prince Ravi's forces, Baashir Dayne's, or Doran Uller's—that finally brought down the beast.

Aftermath: The death of the dragon shifts the tides of battle. Dornish fighters, now emboldened by their victory, push back against the Unsullied, reclaiming lost ground. The atmosphere is charged with a mixture of triumph and sorrow as the Dornish forces honor their fallen while preparing for the challenges that lie ahead, knowing the conflict is far from over.

[ Note: All muses in Dorne and New Valyria (Males Only for New Valyria) can take part in the fighting happening in the various locations in the Dornish marches. This is a timeline for about three months in the time after leaving the West. A post of plotting and planning from the New Valyria side ]

[jaehaerysiitargaryen]

The Valyrian War || The Dornish War

Timeline from the POV of King Jaehaerys II’s Realms: The Stormlands and Crownlands of New Valyria

Month 1: The Fall of Alicent

Week 1: Queen Alicent, beloved by many, dies in the infirmary, and whispers of foul play spread quickly. Her body is recovered by King Jaehaerys II, who hastily leaves the West to return to King's Landing, bringing the Queen's remains with him. The loss of the queen ignites the realm, and rumors circulate that she was murdered by someone in the West, stirring unrest among both the nobility and smallfolk alike.

Week 2: As Jaehaerys II approaches the Red Keep, the people of the Crownlands, especially in King's Landing, gather in the streets to witness the somber procession of the Queen's body. Tensions rise as grief turns into outrage, fueled by the suspicion of murder. Upon entering the Council chambers, King Jaehaerys’ grief manifests as an explosive fury. His booming rage shakes the walls of the keep, a terrifying reminder of his father’s temper. With none able to provide answers for Alicent's death, Jaehaerys demands justice, vowing retribution.

Week 3: The King sends his Stormlords to the Marches, determined to bring Dornish forces to heel. Lord Wylliam Swann and Morgan Wylde are dispatched to the front lines. However, Lord Lucerys Estermont is ordered back to Estermont lands, charged with guarding the coasts and reinforcing naval defenses, particularly against any attempted Dornish seaborne attacks. Lord Tarth, soon to join Lucerys, is to ensure no Dornish forces slip through the narrow waters. The Velaryon Fleet has not been called but has been ordered to wait for the King's orders should they be needed.

Month 2: Chaos in New Valyria and the Marches

Week 1: Chaos erupts in New Valyria as an explosion rocks the city. Smoke rises as flames consume parts of the pit, a ploy orchestrated by Baashir Dayne and Armaan Yronwood. Panic spreads in the Crownlands as Hayford Keep is set ablaze, the work of Dastan Allyrion and Ryon Wyl, who flee to Dorne carrying critical secrets that could shift the balance of power.

Week 2: In the Marches, Dornish forces, emboldened by their covert successes, push harder against the Stormlords. Lord Wyl returns from the Westerlands, where battles have grown fiercer. He captures a Dondarrion lord, sending a chilling message to the Stormlands. Lord Deimos Velaryon, Master of Ships, strikes back in retaliation, taking a Dayne brother hostage, escalating the conflict between the two regions.

Week 3: As the fighting intensifies, Stormlords find themselves engaged in bloody skirmishes across the Marches, particularly at Nightsong, where they face mounting resistance from Dornish forces. The Crownlands are shaken by the continued unrest in New Valyria, but Jaehaerys' focus remains steadfast on crushing the Dornish threat.

Month 3: Siege and Naval Conflicts

Week 1: Lords Wyl and Fowler successfully break the siege of Nightsong, but the victory is bittersweet. The young Caron lord is found dead, though the Caron line persists through distant kin. Tensions between the Dornish and Stormlanders remain high, with neither side willing to concede.

Week 2: In the seas near the Stormlands, Dorne receives unexpected aid from the Summer Islanders, who provide ships for an attack on Weeping Town. Lord Tarth, having fortified the coastline, intercepts the Dornish fleet. The naval skirmish between Lord Tarth, Morgan Wylde, and the forces from House Swann pushes back the Dornish, who had hoped to catch them off guard.

Week 3: Battles rage at sea and along the coast, as Tarth's forces battle Wyl and his men. The clash extends inland, with the Dornish retreating.

Week 4: In the heart of the Marches, Baashir Dayne and Armaan Yronwood clash with the Unsullied forces brought by Jaehaerys. The fighting reaches a stalemate as both sides find it difficult to gain the upper hand. Just when the Dornish think they might hold the line, Silverwing, the King’s dragon, appears in the skies, casting a long shadow over the battlefield.

Month 4: The Wrath of King Jaehaerys II

Week 1: With the sight of Silverwing looming above, King Jaehaerys himself descends upon the Marches. His presence rallies the Stormlords and strikes fear into the Dornish forces. The King, a massive figure on the battlefield, fights alongside his men, leading charges against Dornish skirmishers. His dragon’s arrival adds to the chaos, as fiery devastation rains down upon the Dornish lines.

Week 2: The King’s fury knows no bounds. His dragon burns entire companies of Dornish fighters as Jaehaerys II pushes deeper into their territory. However, the Dornish forces, ever resourceful, begin to regroup under their leaders. Prince Ravi Martell, Baashir Dayne, and Doran Uller coordinate a plan to bring down the King’s beast.

Week 3: The Dornish deploy their Scorpions—massive crossbows capable of piercing dragon hide. As Silverwing flies over the battlefield, the Dornish leaders launch a well-timed volley, hoping to end the reign of fire.

Week 4: One of the Scorpion bolts strikes true. A piercing cry echoes across the battlefield as Silverwing is struck. In the chaos that follows, the mighty dragon falls from the sky, crashing to the ground in a maelstrom of fire and blood. The Dornish forces, emboldened by the death of the dragon, launch a counteroffensive, pushing back the Unsullied and reclaiming lost ground.

Climactic Moment: With Silverwing dead, the balance of the war shifts. The Stormlords, previously buoyed by the dragon's presence, now find themselves on the defensive. The death of the dragon is a turning point, but the war is far from over. King Jaehaerys, though enraged, gathers his forces, preparing for the next phase of the campaign, while the Dornish leaders, triumphant, brace for the inevitable counterattack. The realm stands on the brink of a new chapter, and the Crownlands and Stormlands brace for what comes next.

[ Note: There will be threads and the like taking placed throughout these events either set before, during, or after. All muses are encouraged to get involved, in the Crownloands and Stormlands male muses are encouraged to get involved in the skirmishes, through there is a noticeable difference low number of Crownlands Lords who came to fight. In these regions women aren't allowed to fight but women can fight their own battles through political intrigue and the like. ]

[ladyseastar]

are the people of the six kingdoms racist towards the dornish?

okay so let's look at things from a historical level.

before nymeria came to dorne and unified it, there used to be a system of kings in dorne. for example: the head of house fowler held the title king of stone and sky, or the head of house yronwood at some point held the title of high king of dorne.

geographically if we look at the map of westeros we'll see dorne bordering the reach and stormlands.

the dornish houses that share borders with the reach and stormlands: blackmont, dayne, manwoody, wyl.

houses of the reach that share a border with dorne: hightower, tarly, peak.

houses of the stormlands that share a border with dorne: caron, dondarrion, swann.

now historically even before nymeria's time or aegon's conquest, there's known enmity between some of these houses and the dornish. one example I can think of is king samwell dayne who sacked oldtown. this is something that stands as logical reasoning for why the hightower's of oldtown would come to resent and distrust the dayne's. since the dayne's are a part of dorne it makes them dornish so the hatred for them gets projected onto the rest of dorne. it doesn't mean that all of dorne is bad but if I myself was a simple peasant without education and heard from my grandmother that her grandmother had been killed in a sack of the dornish i'd come to fear the dornish as well. there's records of a wylla of wyl and yoren yronwood who fought durran the young as well, although I don't know what the issue was about it's another reason why both sides misliked eachother.

on to the racial identity of the dornish.

keep in mind that before nymeria's arrival in dorne, there was little difference between the dornish appearance wise compared to the rest of the kingdom's. house dayne and yronwood for example both have white features, as they are not descendants of rhoynar. so this mindset that the people of the seven kingdoms are all racist doesn't really make sense because a lot of dornish houses aren't even genetically poc. and even before the rhoynar come, there are simply territory fights that result in both sides, which consists of white people hating eachother.

i see a lot of people thinking dorne to be a land full of poc. unfortunately that's simply not the case as all of the houses have been founded by first men or andal adventurers, and from what we know they're as white as it gets really. so before nymeria's arrival and even after these houses remain white, since I highly doubt that they'd be willing to marry the poor rhoynar refugees that arrived with nymeria.

now the rhoynar that arrived in dorne were mostly women, and they weren't very large in numbers some perhaps intermingled and wed the dornish natives as such spreading the rhoynar blood. nymeria herself married mors martell and together they had four daughters. their children would be considered half-rhoynar, as such house martall is not white. now nymeria had a son as well with her second husband davos dayne, again this child is half-rhoynar as such not white. now nymeria's eldest daughter succeeded her as the ruler of the unified dorne. personally I believe that the salty dornish houses and sandy dornish houses are descended from nymeria's three younger daughters and son. because, her children are royalty as such the vessels who wish to form good relationships with the now ruling house nymeros martell will seek to marry them. but some houses like the yronwood's and other stony dornish houses I believe never truly accepted the rhoynar at least not until some decades passed.

i don't believe that the six kingdoms aside from those houses that shared borders with dorne or held some sort of previous feud ever gave the dornish or their appearance and race a second thought. the whole issue of race in my opinion all started with aegon i targaryen, and his "valyrian's are the superior race" and "targaryen's are closer to god than men"

aegon i targaryen is a colonizer really. some may say nymeria was no better I'd just like to point out that nymeria never really burned anyone or brought about the amount of destruction that aegon and his sisters did. she unified dorne the best she could whether it was because of ambition or anything else her motives aren't know to me.

now dorne was essentially the only place to not bend to aegon's will. people tend to forget that aegon was the one who invaded dorne, and the dornish were simply defending themselves from him and his invaders, but the people of the six kingdoms didn't look at it from that perspective, they simply heard of dornish like wyl of wyl, who are not good people for the deeds they've done, and come to fear and resent the dornish even more. it doesn't have to do with race. it's about what people do, and how the action of few brings about reactions of many.

i also believe the people of the six kingdoms forget that while some of the dornish have committed acts that aren't good, they never initiated a full out war like aegon i and daeron i. the dornish simply were defending themselves, but again a common born person in westeros doesn't have the time to think about issues like this as they themselves are too busy trying to not starve to death under their monarchs.

after aegon's conquest the people of the six kingdoms generally came to look at the dornish as their enemies. this mindset never faded, especially not amongst the houses of the reach and stormlands, we see it continues to the time of daeron i targaryen, and after his death in dorne, along with other events i believe the mindset of "the dornish are our enemies, they're all evil" was even empowered. no one can accept the fact that they fought someone for years and years only for these people to now be accepted and even have their targaryen prince (daeron ii targaryen) get betrothed to a dornish princess (myriah martell)

i see this as culture shock for all the great houses. because how is it that their woman didn't get a betrothed to a targaryen prince and a dornish woman did?

i'm pretty sure during her first years in court myriah martell experienced a very very large amount of discrimination and exclusion due to her being dornish.

what do bullies do when they first pick on someone?

in my experience they begin with making fun of a person's appearance. i've been told multiple times that I'm too plain faced or that some features could use enhancing etc. this I believe is what brought along the discrimination towards myriah. they couldn't outright say "myriah you're a dornish bitch and we hate you and your people's guts" but they could make backhanded comments like "myriah your hair eyes and hair are too dark" "do not take it to heart, but you're nothing like us" "the sun of dorne must surly be harsh for it has burnt you so..." "the way you speak... it is not quite understandable..."

for the nobility of the seven kingdoms nitpicking at the dornish folks appearance is simply how they could express their hatred towards their long-standing enemies.

it didn't help that at the time myriah's own father in-law was a known dornish hater and wanted to start another war with dorne, so people still haven't stopped looking at the dornish as their enemies.

we see the appearance comments again with it with how they say baelor breakspear has the same dark hair and eyes his mother dose and as such he's more dornish that targaryen.

so they look at myriah and they see a woman from an enemies nation, they look at baelor and they see the son of a woman from an enemies nation.

at the end of the day they're so used to seeing perfectly pure targaryen bred royalty that they forget that they themselves actually hold features closer to the dornish. for example house baratheon is said to also have dark hair and eyes a similar point with the dornish. the tully's have red hair, as do the members of house toland, the lannister's have golden hair, as do the members of house dayne, fowler, yronwood and vaith. it's not even about appearance or race really it's simply the mindset of "dornish equals enemies"

i don't think they even understand racism in westeros, like we see them acting hateful towards larra rogare who's not a poc in anyway, and lys isn't even in any sort of conflict with the six kingdoms. to them it's simply unacceptable that they have to now accept the dornish who they regarded as enemies for hundreds of years prancing about freely in court.

in conclusion i have to say what i see in westeros isn't racism. it's simply the logic that "why do we have to play nice with these people whom we have been at war with?" this logic is what even causes the blackfyre rebellion. the lords of the realm feel neglected or even hatred towards daeron ii targaryen for bringing in so much dornish influence at court, something they didn't see during his father's or grandfather's time. it's unacceptable to them that these people who they consider enemies should now be considered friends.

whilst i as a poc don't agree or approve of their mindset i can understand it to a degree. for example when in hotd gwayne hightower gose "never thought we'd be fighting with a dornish by our side" it doesn't mean he's racist towards criston cole, it means he's holding on the the belief of "the dornish are not to be trusted, they're our enemies" that is probably passed down by his hightower ancestors who were once sacked by the dornish. we can't just label fear and mistrust as outright racist. it's simply human ignorance or lack of understanding that brings about some of their actions.

[amirofmanderlys]

who: @lucerysxestermont, @ryonwyl, @nasirofmanderlys, @jalabharmooton, @tionpeake context: the five great banking families of westeros speak on the rumours of the iron bank opening up a branch across the narrow sea - and the rumours it could be in the vale.

the chamber was dim, heavy velvet curtains muffling the daylight and creating a cloistered atmosphere. amir manderly sat at the long table, feeling out of place despite the rich sea-green of his doublet, the silver merman of his house gleaming faintly in the candlelight. the room reeked of pipeweed and ambition, a combination that made him restless. this wasn’t his usual arena—he preferred the simplicity of a sword’s edge or the honest chaos of a card game.

but his brother nasir sat beside him, calm and composed as ever, a steady anchor in these murky waters. he should be speaking, amir thought, resisting the urge to fidget.

the network was gathered in full today—mootons, estermonts, peakes, wyls, and, of course, the manderlys. the most powerful coin families in westeros, they liked to think themselves puppeteers of economies and alliances. amir wasn’t sure he believed that. the reach of the network always seemed to falter at the vale and the westerlands, and now, with rumors of the iron bank’s expansion to gulltown, it felt like the limits of their influence were being laid bare.

"gulltown...would be an issue, nah?" amir asked, breaking the lull in conversation, though his voice was quieter than usual. it felt strange to speak here, among people who seemed to measure their worth in ledgers and gold. it were not his usual manner of discussion. "it’s just... it’s hard to say what we’re even dealing with. i mean, rumors like this—they can spread like wildfire, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything real behind them."

he glanced at nasir for reassurance but found his brother’s expression unreadable. amir pressed on, unsure if his words carried any weight. "and if it is true—well, what then? what could we even do about it? gulltown isn’t exactly friendly to us. they’d probably see us coming from a mile away." he tapped his fingers against the table, the sound hollow against the polished wood. "maybe," he added after a pause, "maybe it’s not about stopping it. maybe it’s just... knowing for sure. someone should go, figure out what the iron bank’s actually planning. at least then we’d be dealing with facts instead of whispers."

the room was quiet for a moment, and amir felt the weight of the others’ gazes. he shifted uncomfortably, glancing toward nasir again. he’s better at this, amir thought. i can’t just sit here and say nothing. "anyway," he finished with a slight exhale, "that’s all i’ve got for you man." he gave a faint, self-deprecating smile, leaning back in his chair as the discussion moved on.

[horizon-verizon]

Is Criston Cole Dornish on the show?

This is from the 2nd episode of the first season:

Harrold: Ser Criston Cole. Son of the steward of the Lord of Blackhaven.

Rhaenyra: Be welcome, Ser Criston. You saw combat in the Stormlands.

Criston: Dornish marches, Princess. I fought for a year as a foot soldier against the Dornish incursions. Ser Arlan Dondarrion knighted me after we razed two of the watchtowers along the Boneway.

We learn that, like his book counterpart, he is the son of a steward.

In the book, that steward was the steward for the house of Dondarrions, which is actually a Stormlander house near the Dornish Marches. Their castle, Blackhaven, is in the Marches. The Wiki of Ice and Fire says this of what the Dornish Marches is:

an area of southern Westeros in the border region north of Dorne. The marches are predominantly in the southwestern stormlands and extend east to the Sea of Dorne, although much of the western marches are within the Reach. People from the region are known as marchers, and they are ruled by marcher lords

And this of Blackhaven's location:

in the southwestern stormlands. Part of the Dornish Marches, it is located in the northern Red Mountains near the Dornish border, north of the Wyl and south of the Cockleswhent.

These are maps of the Dornish Marches vs Dorne vs Stormlander vs the Reach:

So, the Dondarrions Criston & Criston's father are all Stormlanders, not Dornish in the show as they were in the original lore.

EDITED/SEMI-SELF CORRECTION:

Another anon has pointed out that the first episode has Alicent calls Criston Dornish and many scripts of the same episode has Alicent SMH this while one has its narrator call Criston a "Dornish knight", which means that this one where the narrator says is possibly a past draft of the script. Even so in the show, we are meant to understand that he is supposed to be Dornish and apparently Blackhaven is --where he is supposed to come from-- and the entirety of the Dornish Marches is in Dorne in the new, "separate" HotD universe.🙄

This is the Narrator portion of the episode 1 script from this site:

During old king Jaehaerys Targaryen’s reign, tragedies took his sons’ lives, leaving the succession undecided. A Great Council convenes to choose Westeros’ future ruler. Jaehaerys’ grandchildren, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and Prince Viserys Targaryen (Rhaenys’ younger cousin) are the candidates. Westerosi law gives a male heir precedence over a female, regardless their birth order and Viserys is chosen. Nine years into King Visery I’s reign, the Triarchy, an alliance formed by the free cities of Essos, threatens the kingdom, wanting to seize the Stepstones region. Viserys must also restrain his brother Daemon’s brutality as the City Watch commander in King’s Landing. Viserys, certain that pregnant Queen Aemma will bear him a son, holds a tournament to celebrate the impending birth. During the event, Dornish knight, Ser Criston Cole defeats Daemon in a competition while Queen Aemma and her son die in childbirth. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, proposes that Viserys’ only living child, the young princess Rhaenyra, be named heir to the Iron Throne. After a dispute with Daemon, Viserys proclaims Rhaenyra as the next ruler.

It's possible that the writers tried to show through Alicent's pointing Criston out that his looks lend to "outsider" and thus a sort of racial or ethnic pressure in his characterization. Show!Alicent could, in universe, just mistake him for Dornish because he looks like their idea of Dornish. However nothing follows up here to build from that element into his actions and how people treat him later on, and if it's not on screen nor even something the characters themselves hint, use, etc, it doesn't exist and thus does not in the story.

[atopvisenyashill]

thinking about this aegon tries to marry badly to avoid the dance au

he marries ynys sand, base born daughter of prince olyvar nymeros martell and lady gwenys wyl. raised by her mother in wyl. ynys is a warrior, she reveres wylla of wyl, and she’s a few years older than aegon (which he feels is the perfect touch to her unsuitableness).

qoren is Not In On It but he knows about it. this is an even more detached version of the vulture king’s war and he makes it clear that if they get caught doing something shady He Will Not Help.

helaena is in on this plan the entire time, and they figure it’s likely she and aemond are going to be married to each other immediately after they pull this goofy ass stunt, but aegon figures they’re better suited, and plus he has helaena to help him manage aemond’s temper.

i was trying to think of how he’d realistically get away from home long enough to get hitched, and i know he has a dragon, but that’s not exactly subtle is it, so i would think he needs a Kingsguard on his side so he can be like “oh yeah i’m going flying, he’s gonna meet me at this castle” and then just lie about what castle they’re heading to. this is how arryk cargyll becomes aegon’s personal guard & develops several ulcers.

viserys is initially PISSED because he’s having flashbacks to daemon running off with mysaria, rhaenyra is PERPLEXED by this move, otto insists helaena and aemond are married to each other immediately to curb any ~rebelliousness~ and no one can get Aegon out of the marriage because ynys has a letter signed by all the dornish marcher lords and qoren that they witnessed the bedding and arryk says they shared a bed on the road too. viserys is two seconds away from pulling another "i'm going to put a heavily pregnant woman on a ship to see if she miscarries and then start getting banishment happy" but Rhaenyra and Daemon convince him this is a good thing because it'll distract from The Rhaenyra Had Brown Haired Babies Of It All

aegon's first child by ynys HAS to be valyrian looking just to keep everyone on their toes. to make sure he's being INCREDIBLY unfit for the throne, aegon tells ynys she can name the kids whatever she wants - the less valyrian sounding the name, the better. so their first child has their father's silver hair and purple eyes, but their mother's slightly darker skin tone, and is named nymeria/nymeros targaryen.

POINT ONE: “acceptable bastards” have noble blood on both sides and i don’t think aegon could marry lower than that without otto being able to press her into the faith or just like, off her if it comes to it, before anyone can hear about the marriage. and anyone lower than that might not have the resources to defend themselves from behavior like that, and she would need to.

i remembered wylla of wyl being a warrior maid, and i thought it would be nice if she revered wylla, so one of her parents could from wyl, which works with the dornish marches background perfectly. i went through a couple scenarios and looked at some other noble born bastards that rise high and most of them had at least one parent from a great house, so that means one parent is a martell. i thought it would be simplest if she just grew up in wyl.

POINT TWO: that also puts some distance between her and qoren, and since qoren explicitly doesn’t want to get involved with dragon nonsense, i think there needs to be some distance between them for him to go “fine go marry a targaryen but keep whatever this is confined and lowkey because i will not back you up in public.”

also, since i put all that work into my dornish timeline, i just worked something out from there! qoren is around rhaenyra’s age, so not old enough to have a bastard old enough for aegon to marry. that means ynys sand has to be his half sister. i decided gwenys was a widow who never had any kids, had a hot and heavy affair with the married olyvar nymeros martell, and they decided she should just keep the baby at wyl. (she got remarried when ynys was around 4 and had a true born girl a year after, and they’re close they’re just like, Different. ynys got all of gwenys’ go get ‘em attitude).

POINT THREE: helaena being a dreamer is too precious to me, i think it’s great and hilarious if viserys was a dreamer and then had not one but TWO kids who were also dreamers but never noticed because he ignored them so much. i desire that shitty dad carnally. anyways. i think it’s logical to assume that if aegon pulls a stunt like this, everyone is going to start insisting helaena and aemond are married right now so that a) neither of them can also do some crazy shit like this and b) they can start having proper valyrian babies to counteract Aegon trying to plug up the family tree. I’m not saying anyone is factoring Aegon out of the family tree but I do think some people are going to go “well let’s get some back ups in motion in case Aegon decides to get crazy again.” I think Helaena would be fine with this idea; she has grown up probably assuming she was going to marry a brother anyway and they’re only a year apart.

(i came up with an excuse to age them up closer to show ages that i thought could be semi plausible which is just aegon trying to put off getting married by asking if they can wait until helaena comes of age, and since helaena thinks this is fine, and aegon pulls the “well rhaenyra got to wait” card, viserys just shrugs and agrees while alicent is sitting there like “is something happening right now. are my children conspiring.” so in my mind by the time they enact this plan, aegon is around 19, helaena is around 16, and aemond is about 15. also ynys would be like 26. hot, i love a woman getting married over the age of 13.

this could work without the pause though - i can just shrink the gap by making ynes 18 or 19. helaena is the age she was when she married aegon in canon (13), and aemond is 12, which means they’d likely wait a year before marrying him to helaena at least. um. it’s not fun but it has been done in this series before, with aemond’s daddy to boot).

POINT FOUR: firstly, every fanfic i’ve read where aegon has some sort of dragon dream has him sour on criston. idk if this is bc the writer dislikes him or because it makes sense aegon would distrust him (as in, sees him as power grabbing on the level of otto and daemon) BUT i do think if he’s keeping this from his mother he’s not gonna tell criston. i thought arryk was a good choice because i imagine aegon (esp show aegon) would appreciate someone so loyal they would be willing to go out in a double murder with their twin brother, over the other two green kingsguard who are Fine but probably watching maelor get ripped to death in a dragon dream turned aegon off a bit.

POINT FIVE: Listen, Viserys hates an argument so if people are being calm and going "look at me, i'm not arguing i'm perfectly rational" he's more likely to listen. see: eventually sending money to daemon in the stepstones. he also does Not care about what aegon does that much, so long as he's a proper dragon rider and Stays Out Of The Way. so if aegon is otherwise behaving, and helaena's feelings aren't hurt, and aemond is happy to marry helaena, and rhaenyra and daemon are both like "this is fine actually" and otto gives up and decides to focus on getting aemond married to helaena while he figures out how to deal with this, viserys will probably chill out and go "well they were married in sight of gods and men, nothing to do about it"

POINT SIX: Saera just saying Maegor's name was enough to make Jaehaerys throw a fit, and Aerion invoking it is part of why they pass his son up in favor of Egg, so I can see Aegon trying to go for some wild names. I also think he'd get Helaena into this, ask her to convince Aemond to name their first born Saera, Viserra, or Maegor. I don't know if Aemond would go for that? He's certainly insane enough but he's a momma's boy and Alicent might talk him out of it.