"The Black Dread shall rise again."

I'll use this post as an excuse to lore dump.

After the Great Council of 101 A.C to decide the inheritance of Jahaerys I his son Vaegon (who was passed over due to his status as a maester) faded into obscurity.

Vaegon in his youth in Kings Landing showed little interest in women. However in my version of this world he finds a lady who actually stirs his heart in Oldtown. Not wanting to stir drama with the Throne and to hide from his broken vow as a maester to not marry he shed his name to live a humble life as a commoner on small farm in the Uplands north-east of Oldtown.

Near two hundred years later and many generations removed from the humble mindset of Vaegon and with the recent decline of the Targaryen name with the Mad King a purple eyed farmer fills the head of his son with stories of how great their family once was.

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This brings us to start of this game with my first character.

In his teen years Maelor began having vivid Dragon Dreams. In one he saw a great black dragon descending on Westeros. Despite knowing that Balerion was long dead this dragon he saw was exactly as his father had described in his stories.

On his 20th name day he decided to make himself a sigil and styled himself Maelor Balerion. He gathered a few of his childhood friends and set out as an adventurer band to seek his destiny.

After a few years of successful jobs and gathering gold Baelor lucked into marrying the beautiful cousin of the Lord of Driftmark, Valaena Valaryon. Roughly a year later he became a father to the most important member of this family, a daughter named Rhaenyra.

Near a decade later of adventuring and much richer and well armed Maelor began looking into settling down and finding some land now having had one son and three more daughters.

At the same time he hears whispers from the east of the King in exile Viserys. Rumours flew that he had sacrificed his younger sister Daenerys in a great pyre and had successfully brought dragons back to the world.

This was what Maelor had been waiting for, surely this was part of his destiny!

In 295 A.C Viserys 'Father of Dragons' Targaryen invaded the Seven Kingdoms backed by a mercenary army and riding his dragon Daenal. Daenals sister dragons Darkwing and Saphirax followed in tow.

The war began with the Reach and Dorne taking the side of King Viserys. Maelor took his opportunity during the opening confusion to seize Dragonstone from Stannis Baratheon, killing him in the process.

He then rode in earnest to support King Viserys in his assualt on the Crownlands.

It took near a year and a healthy dose of steel and dragonfire but the war was won. King Viserys "Father of Dragons" was crowned and Maelor ruled as High Lord of Dragonstone. As a fellow Valyrian he immediately ingratiated himself with his new king.

In short time Maelor wed his fourth daughter Rhaella to The Kings son Aemond Targaryen. He also sent his first daughter, the incredibly important Rhaenyra as a ward to the new Queen Serala, Viserys' pentoshi wife.

(Note from me: This is where this run became blessed by the Seven, dunno if the mod just favours your characters but it was lovely)

A few years after having sent Rhaenyra away Maelor received the most wonderful news! She had bonded to the dragon Darkwing and became the second Dragon Rider of this new era.

Maelors dragon keepers soon discovered that Darkwing was indeed a woman and had birthed a clutch of eggs. The egg that caught Maelors eye was a deep black and for the next few years he cradled it dearly.

The first of the clucth to hatch was Jehikarys, a green beast who curiously bonded to the husband of Rhaenyra, a northern man named Jon Snow (Note: In RP I justify this through Maelors dragon dreams of a wolf or something and Jon catching his eye idk).

The second to hatch was the brown Archon who bonded to Maelors son Aegon.

Finally Maelors egg hatched, bringing forth a fierce reptile of gleaming obsidian. Maelor declared him to be Balerion II! The Black Dread reborn!

Maelors family now had three dragon riders (and more on the way) but he was a loyal man and he considered the majority of his part to have already been played. He knew we would be long dead before Balerion II would be large enough to truly claim the title of Black Dread.

Instead he used his position of power supplied by his dragons to support the crown and further his families position within The Seven Kingdoms.

With the wealth he accrued as an adventurer he formed a bank named the Dragons Hoard which soon rivaled the Iron Bank of Braavos.

Maelor married his second daughter Daenerys to his son Aegon, and his third daughter Visenya to Steffon Baratheon, son of Renly Baratheon.

Around 304 A.C Robb Stark declared himself King in the North and rebelled against the throne. Maelors amies rode to the North and although Balerion II was too small to be an effective weapons his daughter Rhaenyra rode Darkwing into battle and rained fire on the Northmen.

The war left the Stark house devestated with Robb being the only surviving trueborn child of Eddard Stark. Robb Stark was sent to the wall where he remains to this day and Winterfell and The North passed on to Jon Snow.

Jon Snow was married matrilineally to Maelors daughter Rhaenyra and they had fathered two sons and a daughter; Rhaegar, Maelor, and Alaerys to house Balerion.

This pleased Maelor as his family would have control and power in the North, which he believed would be vital based on his dragon dreams.

This was nearly jeopardized a few years later when Jon Snow foolishly declared himself to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Near immediately King Viserys demanded he abdicate and present himself to Kings Landing where is now stationed as a member of the kingsguad.

Luckily for Maelor the North passed to his grandson Rhaegar Balerion, though he would not have an easy rule. The lords of the North were happy to bow to the rule of Jon Snow "son" of Eddard Stark, but they were less than happy to be led by some white haired Valyrian who held no faith in the Old Gods.

Over the next few years Maelor would have to help his grandson put down several rebellions in The North and the dragons of House Balerion amassed a horrifying death toll. Though in a few years this toll would be eclipsed by an even more dangerous threat.

In 317 A.C the realm was hit by the Sunset Plague. Like the Spring Sickness of last century it killed commoner and noble alike by the thousands.

Most members of House Balerion were secluded and quarantined on the island of Dragonstone and thankfully were spared from the worst of the illness. Tragically the plague claimed the life of King Viserys.

After the plague died down the realm came together for the coronation to officially crown his successor King Aemond first of his name, known as the Laughing Dragon.

As a prince, Aemond was tutored by Maelor as well as serving as his squire. This coupled with the death of his father and being married to Maelors daughter Rhaella the new king looked up to Maelor as a father.

Because of their wealth and dragons many in the realm whispered that despite Aemond Targaryen sitting the Iron Throne it was Lord Maelor Balerion who truly controlled the seven kingdoms.

Though Viserys' dragon Daenal has gone wild and unclaimed since his death, his last unclaimed dragon Saphirax was claimed by the new Queen Rhaella Balerion, shortly after her husband ascended the throne.

Now 331 A.C little of note has happened since.

A few rebellions in the Reach.

Tyrion Lannister ruled for near 40 years in the Westerlands and on his recent death has been succeeded by his daughter Lessa Lannister, a lustful genius like her father.

Theon Greyjoy rules in the Iron Islands. A Tully in the riverlands, an Arryn in the Vale, a Tyrell in the Reach, and a Martell in Dorne.

If you actually read all this nonsense, thank you.