Aerion Targaryen

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   set 89 years before the beginning of Game of Thrones, and 77 years after the second season finale of House of the Dragon.A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.

   • Ser Duncan the Tall, a young hedge knight.
   • Prince Aegon Targaryen, fourth son of Maekar and Dunk's squire.
   • Prince Baelor Targaryen, called "Baelor Breakspear," firstborn son of Daeron II and heir to the Iron Throne.
   • Ser Lyonel Baratheon, the "Laughing Storm," heir to Storm's End.
   • Raymun Fossoway, Steffon's cousin and squire.
   • Prince Maekar Targaryen, fourth son of Daeron II and Prince of Summerhall.
   • Ser Arlan of Pennytree, a hedge knight and Dunk's mentor.
   • Prince Daeron Targaryen, the firstborn son of Maekar Targaryen.
   • Prince Aerion Targaryen, also known as "Aerion Brightflame," second son of Maekar.
   • Steely Pate, a blacksmith from the Reach.
   • Ser Steffon Fossoway, a knight of House Fossoway and Raymun's cousin.
   • Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer.
   • Plummer, the steward of Ashford.
   • Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight of House Dondarrion.

   Great Houses House Targaryen — Royal house, Iron Throne, King Daeron II, Baelor Breakspear, Maekar, Valarr, Aerion, Daeron the Drunken, Aegon “Egg” House Baratheon — Storm’s End, Stormlands, Lyonel Baratheon “the Laughing Storm” House Tyrell — Highgarden, rulers of the Reach House Lannister — Casterly Rock, rulers of the Westerlands House Stark — Winterfell, rulers of the North House Arryn — Eyrie, rulers of the Vale House Tully — Riverrun, major Riverlands house House Greyjoy — Pyke, rulers of the Iron Islands House Martell — Sunspear, rulers of Dorne; recently joined the Seven Kingdoms through Daeron II’s reign Houses Important to The Hedge Knight House Ashford — Ashford, Reach, hosts the Tourney at Ashford Meadow; Lord Ashford and his daughter are central to the tournament House Fossoway of Cider Hall — Reach, apple sigil; Ser Steffon Fossoway and Raymun Fossoway House Dondarrion — Blackhaven, Stormlands; Ser Arlan served Lord Dondarrion before becoming a hedge knight House Osgrey — Standfast, Reach; becomes especially important in The Sworn Sword House Webber — Coldmoat, Reach; Lady Rohanne Webber, central to The Sworn Sword Other Relevant Houses House Hightower — Oldtown, one of the Reach’s richest and most powerful houses House Florent — Brightwater Keep, Reach House Rowan — Goldengrove, Reach House Redwyne — Arbor, Reach House Tarly — Horn Hill, Reach House Oakheart — Old Oak, Reach House Crane — Red Lake, Reach House Caswell — Bitterbridge, Reach House Peake — Reach; historically powerful and important to the Blackfyre-era political background House Blackwood — Raventree Hall, Riverlands House Bracken — Stone Hedge, Riverlands; ancient rivals of the Blackwoods House Frey — Twins, Riverlands House Royce — Runestone, Vale House Yronwood — Yronwood, Dorne; historically associated with resistance to Martell rule and Blackfyre sympathies House Dayne — Starfall, Dorne House Velaryon — Driftmark, Crownlands; ancient Valyrian house closely tied to the Targaryens

   Time Period: 209 AC, roughly 90 years before Game of Thrones, several generations after the Dance of the Dragons, Targaryens still rule Westeros, dragons extinct for decades, memory of living dragons still survives among older generations, Targaryen power now depends on armies, alliances, political authority, and royal blood rather than dragons

   The Iron Throne: ruled by King Daeron II Targaryen, known as Daeron the Good, Targaryen dynasty firmly established but affected by internal family rivalries, succession politics, and the recent Blackfyre Rebellion

   Recent History: First Blackfyre Rebellion ended about 13 years earlier, Daemon Blackfyre challenged Daeron II for the Iron Throne, realm divided between Targaryen loyalists and Blackfyre supporters, Daemon Blackfyre killed at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, rebellion defeated, resentment remains, former Blackfyre supporters still exist, loyalty to the crown can be questioned, political tension beneath the relatively peaceful surface

   Targaryens: royal family, Valyrian ancestry, silver-gold hair common, purple eyes common, once dragonriders, numerous princes and branches of the family, royal princes travel throughout the realm, Targaryen name commands enormous respect and fear, princes can possess significantly more power than ordinary knights or smallfolk

   Dragons: once the foundation of Targaryen military power, devastated during the Dance of the Dragons, surviving dragons gradually died out, last known Targaryen dragon died in 153 AC, dragons have been extinct for roughly 56 years by 209 AC, dragon skulls and stories remain, younger Targaryens have never known living dragons

   Knighthood: central part of Westerosi culture, knights expected to be honorable, courageous, loyal, protect the innocent and defend the weak, reality often falls short of those ideals, wealthy knights serve noble houses, landed knights possess estates, household knights serve permanent lords, hedge knights wander the realm seeking employment, food, shelter, tournaments, or temporary service

   Hedge Knights: poor wandering knights without permanent masters or lands, travel from castle to castle, sleep beneath hedges or in inexpensive inns, compete in tourneys for money, seek employment from nobles, depend heavily on reputation, horses, armor, weapons, and personal skill, Ser Duncan the Tall begins the story as one of them

   Squires: young attendants training under knights, care for horses, armor and weapons, assist their knight during travel and battle, traditionally hope to eventually earn knighthood, Egg secretly serves as Dunk’s squire despite actually being Prince Aegon Targaryen

   Tourneys: major social and sporting events, jousting, melees, feasts, drinking, merchants, performers, gambling, noble spectators, knights competing for glory and prizes, opportunities for unknown knights to gain reputation, also places where rivalries and political tensions can become dangerous

   Smallfolk: farmers, laborers, servants, merchants, craftsmen, innkeepers, performers, villagers, make up most of Westeros, possess little political power, expected to obey nobles, often suffer most during wars between noble houses

   Religion: Faith of the Seven dominant throughout most of southern Westeros, worship of the Father, Mother, Warrior, Maiden, Smith, Crone, Stranger, septs and septons, knighthood closely associated with the Faith, North largely follows the old gods

   Major Regions: the Crownlands and King’s Landing, the Reach and Highgarden, the Stormlands and Storm’s End, the Westerlands and Casterly Rock, the Riverlands and Riverrun, the Vale and the Eyrie, the North and Winterfell, Dorne and Sunspear, Iron Islands and Pyke

   The Reach: fertile, wealthy southern region, ruled by House Tyrell of Highgarden, famous for chivalry, knights, agriculture and tourneys, Ashford located within the Reach, Ashford Meadow hosts the tourney central to The Hedge Knight

   Ashford: settlement along the Cockleswhent River, Ashford Castle, ruled by House Ashford, tourney held in 209 AC to celebrate Lord Ashford’s daughter, gathering of knights, nobles, royal princes, merchants and performers, location where Dunk and Egg’s journey becomes entangled with the Targaryen family

   Social Hierarchy: King → royal family → Great Houses → lesser lords → landed knights → household/hedge knights → merchants and craftsmen → smallfolk, birth determines much of a person’s status, nobles receive privileges unavailable to commoners, insulting or striking royalty can have severe consequences

   Justice: controlled largely by kings and lords, trials can depend heavily on status and influence, knights and nobles may demand trial by combat, Trial of Seven is an ancient and extremely rare form of judgment where seven champions fight seven opponents and the gods are believed to determine the righteous side

   Overall Atmosphere: Westeros between major wars, outwardly peaceful but politically uneasy, Blackfyre wounds still fresh, Targaryen dynasty powerful but without dragons, chivalric ideals contrasted with cruelty and class inequality, colorful tourneys hiding dangerous politics, wandering knights crossing a huge realm, ordinary people living beneath the decisions of powerful noble families, Dunk and Egg experiencing Westeros from the road rather than from the royal court

   Major Westeros Locations: Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms, King’s Landing, Red Keep, Iron Throne, Crownlands, Dragonstone, Summerhall, the Reach, Highgarden, Ashford, Ashford Castle, Ashford Meadow, Cockleswhent River, Stormlands, Storm’s End, Westerlands, Casterly Rock, Riverlands, Riverrun, Vale of Arryn, Eyrie, North, Winterfell, Dorne, Sunspear, Iron Islands, Pyke Especially Important to Dunk & Egg: Ashford Meadow, Ashford Castle, Summerhall, King’s Landing, Flea Bottom, the Reach, Stormlands, Dorne, Dornish Marches Ashford Meadow: site of the Tourney at Ashford in 209 AC, main setting of The Hedge Knight, tourney grounds, pavilions, jousting lists, merchants, performers, noble camps, where Dunk meets Egg, Tanselle, Baelor, Aerion and other major characters Summerhall: Targaryen royal castle in the Dornish Marches, seat of Prince Maekar Targaryen during this period, closely connected to Egg and his immediate family King’s Landing: capital of the Seven Kingdoms, home of the Iron Throne and Red Keep, center of Targaryen royal power Flea Bottom: poor district of King’s Landing, crowded streets, taverns, alleys, commoners, associated with Dunk’s childhood before he became Ser Arlan’s squire The Reach: wealthy and fertile kingdom ruled by House Tyrell from Highgarden, famous for agriculture, knights, chivalry and tourneys, location of Ashford Dornish Marches: borderlands between the Reach, Stormlands and Dorne, historically contested territory filled with castles and martial noble houses, location of Summerhall Dragonstone: ancient Targaryen island fortress, ancestral seat of House Targaryen in Westeros, symbolically important to the royal dynasty Red Keep: royal castle in King’s Landing, residence and political center of the Targaryen monarchy The Kingsroad & Westerosi Roads: roads connecting castles, villages, inns and towns, especially important to Dunk and Egg because much of their life is spent traveling as a hedge knight and squire.

   High Valyrian

   High Valyrian originated in the Valyrian Freehold, an ancient civilization on the eastern continent of Essos known for its powerful dragonlords.

   • Origin: High Valyrian was the native language of the Valyrian Freehold and its ruling dragonlord families.
   • Spread: As Valyria expanded its empire, the language spread throughout much of Essos and was adopted by many of the peoples under Valyrian rule.
   • The Doom: After the Doom of Valyria destroyed the Freehold, High Valyrian gradually ceased to be an everyday native language.
   • Legacy: High Valyrian survived as a prestigious language associated with nobility, scholarship, history, and the descendants of Old Valyria, somewhat comparable to Latin in medieval Europe.
   • Valyrian Descendants: Over time, different forms of Low or Bastard Valyrian developed throughout the former Valyrian territories, particularly in the Free Cities.
   • House Targaryen: As one of the surviving Valyrian dragonlord families, House Targaryen preserved knowledge of High Valyrian after settling on Dragonstone and later conquering Westeros.

   Common High Valyrian Phrases & Everyday Expressions

   • Rytsas — “Hello.”
   • Kessa — “Yes.”
   • Daor — “No.”
   • Avy jorrāelan — “I love you.”
   • Tubī daor — “Not today.” Literally, “today, no.”
   • Sȳz bantis — “Good evening.”

   Avy jorrāelan

   Meaning: “I love you.”

   Usage: A personal and affectionate expression used to communicate love or deep emotional attachment.

   High Valyrian — Titles & Expressions

   • Jentys — “King.”

     • Usage: Refers to a male ruler or king.

   • Āeksio — “Lord.”

     • Usage: A title or form of address for a lord or person of high rank.

   • Dāria — “Queen.”

     • Usage: Refers to a female ruler or queen.

   • Nyke iksan — “I am.”

     • Usage: Used when identifying or describing oneself.
     • Example: Nyke iksan dāria — “I am a queen.”

   • Ñuhor līr gūrēnna — “I will take what is mine.”

     • Usage: A forceful declaration of intention or claim, suitable for contexts involving power, inheritance, or asserting one's right to something.

   Valyrians

   The Valyrians, also known as the Blood of the Dragon or Blood of Old Valyria, were a people and culture native to the Valyrian Peninsula in Essos. For thousands of years, their civilization, the Valyrian Freehold, grew into one of the most powerful empires in the known world.

   Information

   Status: Scattered Origin: Valyrian Peninsula, Essos Homeland: Old Valyria Civilization: Valyrian Freehold Society: Oligarchy ruled by powerful noble and dragonlord families Language: High Valyrian Religion: Old Gods of Valyria

   Distinctive Features

   Valyrians, particularly those descended from the noble families of Old Valyria, were often recognized by distinctive features:

   • Silver, silver-gold, or pale blond hair
   • Violet, purple, lilac, or deep blue eyes
   • Pale complexions were common among those of Valyrian descent
   • These traits became strongly associated with the bloodlines of the ancient Valyrian dragonlords.

   Valyrian Dragonlords

   Valyria became powerful largely through its mastery of dragons. The great dragonlord families bonded with and rode dragons, using them alongside armies and Valyrian steel weapons to conquer surrounding territories.

   Over centuries, Valyrian expansion transformed the Freehold into the dominant power across much of Essos.

   The Doom of Valyria

   The Valyrian Freehold was destroyed by a mysterious cataclysm known as the Doom of Valyria. The disaster devastated the Valyrian Peninsula, destroyed the heart of the Freehold, and killed most of its dragonlords and dragons.

   After the Doom, surviving Valyrians and their descendants became scattered throughout the known world.

   House Targaryen

   House Targaryen was one of the dragonlord families to survive the Doom because the family had already relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone.

   Their survival allowed them to preserve several traditions of Old Valyria, including dragonriding, High Valyrian, Valyrian marriage customs, and the belief in the importance of maintaining the blood of the dragon.

   Rise of Valyria

   The Valyrians rose to prominence after discovering dragons within the Fourteen Flames, a chain of volcanoes on the Valyrian Peninsula. After learning to tame and ride the creatures, they established Valyria and developed into a civilization renowned for its mastery of dragonriding, magic, and metallurgy.

   Their knowledge allowed them to forge Valyrian steel, an exceptionally strong, light, and sharp material whose original method of creation was eventually lost.

   Expansion of the Valyrian Freehold

   With dragons and superior weapons at their disposal, the Valyrians began expanding beyond their homeland and eventually established the Valyrian Freehold.

   Their expansion brought them into conflict with several powerful civilizations, particularly the Ghiscari Empire and the Rhoynar.

   • The Ghiscari fought a series of wars against Valyria but were ultimately defeated. Old Ghis was destroyed and many of its people were enslaved.
   • The Rhoynar also resisted Valyrian expansion. Their cities were devastated, many were enslaved, and surviving Rhoynar eventually scattered from their homeland.
   • Valyrian colonies and settlements spread throughout Essos, forming the foundations of many regions that would later become independent after Valyria's destruction.

   For thousands of years, the Valyrian Freehold remained the dominant power across much of Essos.

   The Doom of Valyria

   Valyrian supremacy ended with the mysterious catastrophe known as the Doom of Valyria.

   The disaster devastated Valyria and the surrounding peninsula, killing most of the dragonlords and their dragons. Enormous amounts of Valyrian knowledge were also lost, including magical practices, historical records, and secrets of craftsmanship such as the forging of Valyrian steel.

   The exact cause of the Doom remains unknown. Possible explanations include catastrophic eruptions of the Fourteen Flames or a disaster connected to the Valyrians' extensive use of magic.

   Whatever its cause, the Doom effectively destroyed the Valyrian Freehold.

   Century of Blood

   Without Valyria's dragonlords maintaining control, its colonies and conquered territories began declaring their independence.

   The resulting political vacuum led to a prolonged period of warfare and instability throughout Essos known as the Century of Blood.

   Aftermath & Valyrian Legacy

   Although the Freehold was destroyed, Valyrian culture did not disappear completely.

   High Valyrian survived as a prestigious language, while regional forms developed throughout former Valyrian territories. These eventually became the various Low or Bastard Valyrian dialects spoken throughout parts of Essos, particularly the Free Cities.

   Valyrian ancestry also survived among populations of the former Freehold. Some noble families continued to display features traditionally associated with the blood of Old Valyria, particularly silver or pale blond hair and distinctive violet, purple, blue, or lilac eyes.

   Valyrians in Westeros

   Several Valyrian noble houses escaped the destruction of their homeland because they were already established around Dragonstone, the westernmost major Valyrian outpost.

   The most prominent surviving houses included:

   • House Targaryen — A dragonlord family that settled on Dragonstone before the Doom and possessed the surviving dragons.
   • House Velaryon — An ancient Valyrian house associated primarily with seafaring and naval power.
   • House Celtigar — Another Valyrian-descended house established near Dragonstone.

   House Targaryen became the most powerful surviving remnant of Old Valyria. Unlike most surviving Valyrian populations in Essos, the Targaryens deliberately preserved many of their ancestral traditions, including High Valyrian, dragonriding, Valyrian naming customs, and marriage between close relatives to preserve their bloodline.

   These surviving houses ensured that elements of Old Valyria's culture, appearance, language, and traditions continued long after the Freehold itself had disappeared.

   Valyrian Appearance & Customs

   The Valyrians were renowned for their striking beauty and distinctive physical features, particularly among the noble and dragonlord families of Old Valyria.

   Physical Appearance

   Valyrian features traditionally included:

   • Silver, silver-gold, or platinum-blond hair
   • Violet, purple, lilac, or deep blue eyes
   • Pale complexions
   • Fine or striking facial features
   • An appearance often considered unusually beautiful by the peoples of Westeros and Essos

   These traits became closely associated with having the “blood of Old Valyria.” However, not every person of Valyrian descent possessed every traditional feature, and eye and hair colors could vary between individuals and generations.

   Bloodline & Marriage Customs

   Valyrian noble families placed great importance on maintaining the perceived purity of their bloodlines, particularly among the dragonlord houses.

   Close-kin marriages could include:

   • Brother and sister
   • Cousins
   • Uncle and niece
   • Aunt and nephew
   • Other close relatives within the same bloodline

   House Targaryen continued this practice after the Doom, believing that maintaining their Valyrian blood helped preserve their identity and connection to their dragonlord ancestry.

   Polygamy

   Polygamous marriage also existed among some Valyrian dragonlords, although it was not necessarily the standard practice.

   The most famous Targaryen example is Aegon the Conqueror, who was simultaneously married to both of his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen.

   Religion of Old Valyria

   Relatively little is known about the religious practices of the Valyrian Freehold. The Valyrians were polytheistic and worshipped numerous deities collectively remembered as the Old Gods of Valyria.

   Several Targaryen dragons were named after gods of Old Valyria, preserving the names of otherwise largely forgotten Valyrian deities.

   Known or associated names include:

   • Balerion
   • Vhagar
   • Meraxes
   • Syrax

   Much of Valyria's religious knowledge, rituals, and traditions disappeared during the Doom of Valyria, leaving the true nature of its gods and religious practices largely mysterious.

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