[h1][center]A Splintered Realm[/center][/h1]
[center][h3]A Song of Ice and Fire Alternate Universe[/h3][/center]

It is the year 262 after Aegon’s Conquest. Aerys Targaryan, the second of his name, ascends the Iron Throne. During the first years of his reign, the kingdoms were prosperous and the young king thrived to maintain this prosperity. The old royal court of his father almost completely expunged. The young king befriended a young knight, Ser Tywin Lannister, the heir to Casterly Rock and the Westerlands. He was impressed by the young knight’s administrative skills and ruthless cunning, King Aerys II soon invited young Tywin to the royal court and appointed him the Hand of the King. 

The new hand perfectly complemented each of the king’s shortcomings. Aerys II desired to be remembered as the greatest king the Seven Kingdoms had ever known. While Aerys II boasted of his grand plans of building a new wall in the north or a shiny marble city on the other bank of the Blackwater. The hand, Tywin, painstakingly worked to make certain the kingdom actually thrived.

After years it was becoming obvious that the realm’s prosperity was solely due to Lord Tywin’s merit. However the hand was not offered much love for his long service to the throne, he was brutal, harsh, stern and insensitive. But above all, he was strikingly effective. The king quickly grew jealous of his hand, further complicating the relationship between the two most powerful men in the realm. 

Aerys II’s mental health deteriorated over the next few years. He had several miscarriages and stillborn children. He was captured for six months during the Duskendale mutiny. Lord Tywin and Ser Barristan Selmy had managed to rescue him but the king grew more paranoid and feared for his life. From then on he did not leave the Red Keep at all. His suspicions grew as well as his paranoia furthering his slow descent into madness. 

Aerys II soon began belittling Tywin’s achievements and actions, blocking his power as hand. But even after the death of the Lady of the Rock, Lord Tywin still stood firmly by the King’s side. But in the year 281 after Aegon’s Conquest, King Aerys II appointed Lord Tywin’s son and heir, the fifteen year old Jamie Lannister to the revered Kingsguard, a great honor to be sure. On the surface, this was true but Tywin desired to restore the might of House Lannister. The king had taken his heir and any hope of ever achieving his goal. Tywin was enraged upon the king’s decision and returned to the Rock. Returning his golden chain of linked hands. 

Later that year a great tournament took place at Harrenhal celebrating the advent of spring even though the year would later be known as the year of the false spring with the return of a harsh winter not long after. Many of the great lords gathered at Harrenhal, even the king left his refuse, shocking all in attendance. 

The day was won by Prince Rhaegar Targaryan first heir to the Iron Throne. He managed to unhorse and defeat several opponents of great renown, including Brandon Stark. After the last bout the champion was given the opportunity to choose a new Queen of Love and Beauty. The young dragon prince shocked the assembled as he rode past his wife, Elia Martel, and bestowed the crown of blue roses upon Lyanna Stark of Winterfell. Eddard Stark, who had come down from the Erie, later would describe this as the moment when all smiles died. 

Sometime later, in the year 282 after Aegon's Conquest, Rhaegar and Lyanna had disappeared. The North and the Stormlands saw this abduction. The heir of Winterfell was on his way to wed Catelyn Tully of Riverrun but as soon as he heard about his sister’s abduction, he picked his best men and rode past the Riverlands to King's Landing. Unaware of the prince’s absence he shouted, outside of the Red Keep, for Rhaegar to come out, demanding his life.  The king did not take kindly to this and had all of the northmen arrested for plotting the murder of the prince. Aerys II summoned Lord Rickard Stark to answer for the crimes. 

Lord Rickard soon arrived in King’s Landing with two hundred men behind him. When he arrived he demanded a trial by combat. Lord Rickard demanded trial by combat, and the king granted the request. Stark armored himself for battle, thinking to duel one of the Kingsguard. Instead they took him to the throne room and suspended him from the rafters while two of the king’s pyromancers kindled a blaze beneath him. Aerys told him that fire was the champion of House Targaryen.

As the Warden of the North roasted in his own armor, Brandon was chained just out of reach of a sword with which he could have cut his father down. He strangled himself to death reaching for the blade, for his father’s life. Not a single northman who had accompanied the two to the capital ever saw the north again. 

The king sent a raven, demanding that the Lord of the Erie send him the heads of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon. What followed was open rebellion in the Vale. The new Lord, Eddard Stark of Winterfell took Catelyn Tully to wife and secured the Riverlands. Lord Stark and Lord Baratheon called their banners.

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[h2]A Quick Note:[/h2]

This will be an AU. So we're starting with the above events already having happened. The events that took place in Robert's Rebellion are all subject to change. The only restrictions that I'm imposing is that no one can play a character made by G.R.R.M. They can be NPCs but no PCs. Also, if you want to make a character who is a part of one of the main houses, go ahead. Just no Lannister sons because that kinda ruins some previously stated stuff. Otherwise, I don't think anything else should be a problem. It should also be noted that the players don't need to be a group. It is perfectly fine to be on either side of the conflict or to be a maester or what have you. 

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[h2]Character Sheet:[/h2]

[b]Name:[/b]

[b]Age:[/b] 

[b]Sex:[/b]

[b]Appearance:[/b]

[b]House/Region:[/b] No need to have a highborn character. You can also make a house but list some of this stuff:

[hider]

Sigil:

Words:

Seat:

Lord:

Region:

Overlord:
[/hider]

[b]Profession/Title:[/b]

[b]Religion:[/b] You can make one up. If you do, describe it. 

[b]Philosophy:[/b] This is mostly for development. It isn't necessary but certainly good for the character. Just something brief that is central to their actions.

[b]Bio:[/b] A brief description of your character's backstory and personality. You probably can't give a good backstory in one paragraph. It may be useful to make their personality apparent in the bio so you don't have to separate the two. 

[b]Armament:[/b] Your weapon(s) of choice. If your character doesn't use any, include a description of their combat style or anything else similar.

[b]Other Notable Equipment:[/b] You don't have to list every bit of pocket lint they have. I'm fine with assuming they have some unmentioned stuff. 

[b]Other:[/b] Anything else not mentioned above.

[b]Sample Post:[/b] Write a post describing an important moment of your character's life; a bit of their daily life or perhaps a skirmish they took part in. This will be the most important part of your application.