Orion Targaryen: Viper or Dragon

Name: Orion Targaryen Aliases • The Chimera • The Prince of Scholars • Soulless Boy (By Maegor specifically) • Prince of the Darkhold Titles • Prince • Lord Allegiance: House Targaryen Culture: Crownlands Race: Valyrian Born: 14 AC, Dragonstone Age: 22 Father: King Aegon I Targaryen Mother: Queen Visenya Targaryen Children: Valaena Targaryen, Cassius Targaryen

Personality Archetype: Publicly quiet + Studious + Intelligent + Subtle + Secretly Cruel and Sadistic + Believes cruelty is both an art form and a tool to be used subtly + rarely shows his true colors to anyone + Calm + often relaxing to be around and a good listener + Observant.

Sex: "Experienced" + "Passionate" + "Seductive" + "Kinky" + "Subtly dominant" + "Gives suggestions that are commands" + "rarely indulges" + "Uses the act as a tool to control or manipulate someone" + "Bisexual" + "Can be cruel" + "Uses pain as a tool to control"

Orion Targaryen was the second son of Aegon the Conqueror and Queen Visenya Targaryen and the youngest of the Conqueror's three children. Orion's birth was considered strange by the Maesters, he was born without the prominent Valyrian features of his mother and father; his hair was a ashen grey as opposed to the distinctive Valyrian silver. His eyes were a deep sapphire blue unlike his parent's amethyst eyes. It is believed that Visenya took a fertility potion before his conception that lead to his physical differences.

Regardless, Orion is considered Visenya's favorite child. After his birth Visenya did not give Orion as an infant to any other. She refused to let the midwives or Aegon himself hold Orion until she presented him to her dragon Vhagar. While presenting him to Vhagar she proclaimed "This boy will stand with you after me, he shall be yours to protect. You will defend my son as he is yours as well." As an infant it was said that Orion Targaryen didn't cry, a fact that was concerning to the Maesters.

As a child Orys Baratheon noticed Orion was different, on multiple occasions he mentioned to Aegon how even in his young age Orion's smiles always seemed fake as if someone was mimicking a facial expression they didn't understand. However Visenya rejected the idea that her son was broken despite observing the same behaviors and encouraging him.

Orion's talent for mimicking emotions grew quickly. To the majority of the court and his family Orion appeared as a soft spoken, studious and unsociable. Only Visenya herself and Orion's elder brother Maegor weren't fooled. Visenya understood her youngest son's hidden cruelty and uncanny ability to lie and encouraged him to practice it. Orion had a cruel side he kept hidden extremely well, he often practiced flaying prisoners alive in hidden dungeons intent on learning how the human body worked. He also treated cruelty and his sadistic nature as an art form preferring his carnage to be elaborate and clever.

In his martial studies, Orion was incredibly skilled with a spear regularly besting many of the Targaryen knights and his elder brothers. Orion also practiced swordplay with Dark Sister, which Visenya allowed him to use stating that it would one day be his to wield. Having Visenya's favor lead to a vicious rivalry between Orion and Maegor.

This rivalry boiled over when a servant girl found Orion in his chambers with his gut slashed open nearly eviscerated. Before he lost consciousness he whispered Maegor's name. Despite Visenya wanting her eldest son's head there was no proof other than a nearly dead boy's words and nothing ever came of it. However the relationship between Visenya and her sons was never the same. Maegor claimed Orion did it to himself to frame him and boasted about it once the two were alone. Also during Orion's recovery time he found an interesting connection in his aunt Queen Rhaenys Targaryen. It is not known whether this connection was romantic obsession on Orion's part or a simple trauma bond. But some believe Queen Rhaenys was the mother of Orion's eventual two children: Valaena and Cassius but it is not confirmed.

Following his healing when he turned 15, Visenya gifted Orion her Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister and promised him he would claim Vhagar upon her death. After receiving Dark Sister, Orion set out to claim his own keep, with Dragonstone firmly held by Maegor. Orion eventually found an abandoned Sept known as the Lone Sept in the North left from the failed Andal Invasion centuries ago. Orion took over the Sept building up walls around it and declaring it the Darkhold and naming himself Prince of the Darkhold. The Darkhold would also serve as the perfect place for Orion to continue his art of butchering living people. It also allowed him to form ties with House Bolton.

Orion also kept a close relationship with his eldest brother Aenys. He presented himself as the quiet but loyal brother who would always support Aenys. Despite privately believing both Aenys and Maegor weren't fit for the Iron Throne. His position as the reasonable, quiet brother made Orion a well loved figure amongst the lords, smallfolk and faith. A fact he understood and discreetly exploited to convince Aenys to consider royal matches for Valaena and Cassius with his own children.

Orion is skilled with poisons and understands the need for a subtle game. He does not openly challenge his brothers and instead subtly positions himself as a better alternative. He often comes off as helpful and soft spoken appearing to be against conflict. He maintains an innocent guise but is incredibly observant and understands how to make himself into what people need him to be.

Orion is also extremely well traveled having spent time in each of the Seven Kingdoms, most of the Free Cities in Essos and Dorne. Orion enjoys learning whatever he can from each of the cultures he encounters on his travels. Orion typically wears a doublet that is half blue, half red with the three headed dragon of House Targaryen on the red side and his personal seal of the Chimera on the blue side.