[Center] [B][url=http://www.chatzy.com/28180859617306]Chatroom[/url][/b]

[img=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/images/thumb/e/e5/Marc_Simonetti_Bran_theironthroneJoff.jpg/350px-Marc_Simonetti_Bran_theironthroneJoff.jpg][/Center]

“Yet still the blades tormented him, the ones he could never escape, the blades of the Iron Throne.”

[b][u]Game of Thrones - A Song of Ice and Fire[/u][/b]
Focus of the RP is not to lose ourselves in game mechanics; instead this is a game of logic, reason and collaborative writing. Our goal is not to have an overly competitive game, but to immerse into a nice creative experience for all parties. We write a story with each other, not against each other.

Generally, players will either pick up a canon house or create their own house and roleplay with one or several members of it. This means each player is entitled to several characters per house. However, they do not all have to be members of said house by ties of blood. Instead you can use several types of characters as points of views.

Naturally there are other options in the world of aSoIaF, such as Septons, hedge knights and sellswords, spies and spymasters, mercenaries and merchants from across the Narrow Sea, and many more. Additionally, as spots fill up or the need arises, players are allowed to play as more than one house or take over a fallen one.

[B]OOC Rules and Guidelines:[/B][LIST]
[*]GMs are currently Vanq, Ruby and myself. Feel free to contact us whenever you require assistance or information.
[*]Advanced standards; this means a common sense approach; game of logic and collaboration.
[*]Character Sheets should be posted on the OOC (though they can be sent via pm as well) for approval/disapproval. Not all decisions will be made public.
[*]You are assumed to be an adult by submitting a character for this game; please act like one.
[*]Players playing Great Lords will have the chance to weigh in on applications for Minor Lords under their Great Lord.
[*]Applications may take a few days before a decision can be made. Generally issues will be resolved over pm.
[*]Players are encouraged to play typically one-on-one scenarios, large battle scenarios, cloak-and-dagger scenarios, small plots and large plots. To be creative, and to interactive with their fellow players on their own to plot is expected. Take initiative.
[*]Players are allowed to play as more than one house, however preferably not in the same territory or region. It would also not be allowed if players wished to take up more than one Great House.
[*]House Targaryen and some canon characters are currently being held for storytelling purposes (unless stated otherwise), though if you have an idea or request, run it by the GM.[/list]

[B]Outline:[/B]
The year is 209 AL and the entire Realm waits with bated breath as scandal and grief grip the Red Keep. The heir-apparent of King Daeron II the good has been slain in a trial of seven at the tourney of Ashford; struck down by the mace of his own brother Maekar no less.

What will the lords and ladies of Westeros do, now Valarr, the Young Prince, is heir, for he is a man of renowned misfortune, prone to depression and melancholy and too inexperienced to fill the responsibility that was his father’s burden.

What of Bloodraven and his scheming? How will his rivalry with Maekar play out? Who will be named Hand of the King?

From across the Narrow Sea, Bittersteel and the Blackfyre supporters watch with predatory interest as events unfold in the land whence they have been banished. Meanwhile, on the other side of Westeros, the Ironborn are stirring once more, their ships cleaving the Sea of Sunset intent on plunder.

[B]IC information:[/B]
[hider=Recent Events]
[u]Death of Aegon IV the Unworthy:[/u]

[i]“Fire and Blood were the words of House Targaryen, but Dunk once heard Ser Arlan say that Aegon's should have been, Wash Her and Bring Her to My Bed.”[/i]

There have been few monarchs as malicious and awful as Aegon IV, aptly dubbed ‘the Unworthy’. The feat history remembers him for is the legitimisation of his Great Bastards on his deathbed thereby sowing discord in the realm. In addition he bestowed upon his most favoured son the Targaryen ancestral Valyrian sword ‘Blackfyre’, and spread rumours that his trueborn son, Daeron, was in fact the result of Aemon the Dragonknight and Queen Naerys’s illegitimate union. Many viewed that the sword Blackfyre symbolised the dynasty, thus was planted the seed of which civil war would grow.

[u]The Blackfyre Rebellion:[/u]

[i]“Some old dead king gave a sword to one son instead of another, that was the start of it”[/i] – Ser Duncan the Tall

King Daeron II was a cultured, scholarly man and reigned over a sophisticated court, attended by maesters and learned men, which was perceived as effete and overly-refined, not pleasing to many of his more martial courtiers and nobles. His marriage to the Dornish princess Myriah introduced foreign influences and manners to the court, further adding to the displeasure with his reign and retinue. In addition to the aggravation of the Dornish influences at court, popular rumours held that King Aegon IV's sister-wife Naerys had shared her affections with their other brother, Aemon the Dragonknight, leading to the possibility that Daeron II was not the son of Aegon IV.

After more than a decade of building tension, open warfare erupted in 195AC. The immediate cause was Daemon Blackfyre's rage over Daeron betrothing his sister Daenerys to Maron Martell, Prince of Dorne. Daemon was in love with Daenerys and took this as a great slight towards him. 

However, Daemon rebelled so many years after Aegon the Unworthy's death for several reasons. One was his growing resentment at having the status of a bastard, and what it meant. Another was that he gained councillors who urged him to it. 

Daemon mustered a sizeable army against Daeron and was joined by his half-brother Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers, a fellow Great Bastard. Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers, another Great Bastard, remained loyal to the King. On the small council, Bloodraven advocated a hard line against the rebels, winning out over Prince Baelor Breakspear's desire to pardon.

Heavy fighting erupted over the next year, with the Riverlands particularly afflicted. Ser Quentyn "Fireball" attacked the Westerlands, killing Lord Lefford at the gates of Lannisport and then defeating Lord Damon Lannister in turn. At the crossing of the Mander, Ser Quentyn slew all of Lady Penrose's sons except for the youngest, whom he spared as a favour to the lady.

Finally, at the Battle of the Redgrass Field in 196AC Bittersteel and Blackfyre led a strong force against a royalist army commanded by Prince Maekar and Lord Hayford, the King's Hand. The fighting was very heavy, with Lord Hayford slain.

During the battle Blackfyre came face-to-face with Ser Gwayne Corbray of the Kingsguard, wielder of the Valyrian steel blade Lady Forlorn. Their duel was said to have lasted nearly an hour before Blackfyre gained the upper hand. However, by this time a second royalist force was approaching from the south led by Prince Baelor.

Perhaps even more critical was that Bloodraven and his archers, the Raven's Teeth, captured and assumed a position atop the Weeping Ridge, which overlooked the battlefield and allowed them to rain arrows down among Blackfyre and his commanders. Bloodraven himself slew his half-brother Daemon Blackfyre and Daemon's twin sons Aemon and Aegon. The rebels began to rout, but Bittersteel rallied them by leading a charge that decimated the Raven's Teeth, taking out Bloodraven's eye in the process. However, Prince Baelor's Dornish spearmen gained the battlefield and crushed the rebel army against Maekar's shield wall.

It is unknown how many men took part in the final battle, but it is known that more than ten thousand died in the engagement, earning it the name Redgrass Field. With Daemon dead and his forces defeated, the Rebellion was finished. Bittersteel was able to recover the sword Blackfyre from the battlefield and escape to the Free Cities, where Blackfyre's remaining sons had already fled.

[u]The reign of Daeron II:[/u]
While Bittersteel rallied the Blackfyre support by founding the Golden Company and Daeron II grew increasingly antisocial, it were his son and half-brother that ruled the Seven Kingdoms. In fact, due to Daeron being so consumed by his books and studies, most of the decisions were made by his son Prince Baelor, who had been named Hand of the King after the battle at Redgrass Field, and Brynden “Bloodraven” Rivers as Master of Whispers.

[i]"He had been the finest knight of his age, and some argued that he should have gone to face the dark clad in mail and plate, a sword in his hand."[/i]

Following the conclusion of the Blackfyre Rebellion, Dorne and the rest of Westeros cohered due to the efforts of Daeron and his marriage policy. The Realm licked its wounds and recovered, guided by the gentle but firm hand of Baelor Breakspear, who had been named Lord Protector of the Realm in addition to serving his ageing father as Hand.

As peace settled over the lands, the Realm slowly started to rebuild. Both the Iron Throne and Dorne moved forward, adopting the trend of constructing palaces such as those in the Free Cities. Daeron commenced with the raising of Summer Hall, while Prince Maron Martell built the Water Gardens to celebrate the union between the Targaryen and Martell dynasties.

[u]Calamity:[/u]
Chivalrous as he was, Baelor stood up for a young hedge knight at the tourney of Ashford in 209 AL, when his nephew Aerion Brightflame was assaulted by said knight after he had manhandled a Dornish puppeteer. The Targaryen prince demanded a trial of the seven, leading to the grand finale at Ashford’s tourney and the death of Daeron’s Hand. The bout proved disasterous for Baelor, whom received a blow of a mace wielded by his younger brother Maekar to the head. He perished of the wound shortly after.

Meanwhile the Ironborn have taken up their old ways again, under the leadership of Dagon Greyjoy. Sensing opportunity to pillage and reave following the chaos caused by the tourney at Ashford, the Ironborn have sailed and trouble the western coast of Westeros.

Daeron II mourns and despairs for his son and heir is dead by the hands of another son. Hoping to appease his father, Maekar sent away his son Aerion Brightflame, whom he appointed responsible, in exile to Essos. However, in a spiteful act and against his father’s wishes, Aerion took one of the Targaryen’s dragon eggs with him to Lys.[/hider]

[B]OOC information:[/b]
The Realm suffered great losses during the civil war and ever since the coronation of Daeron II and conclusion to the Blackfyre Rebellion, people have worked to rebuild. Now, the Kingdoms are comparably of the same strength and prosperity as before the great conflict.

This takes place way before any of the books (and series adaptation). As such you would need to check for canon information on the wiki. Though many things are the same as they are in the timeline of the books, there can be slight differences. For example: Dorne is not subjugated to the Iron Throne, but joined the rest of Westeros through a marital union. The Reynes of Castamere, Tarbecks of Tarbeck Hall and Darklyn of Duskendale are still around. Harrenhal is ruled by House Lothston.

[hider=Setting Resources]
[URL=http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Concordance/]The Citadel - Concordance[/URL]
[URL=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Seven_Kingdoms]Westeros.org - Wiki of Ice and Fire[/URL]
[URL=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Timeline]Timeline of Westeros History[/URL]
[URL=http://www.westeros.org/BoD/Helpfiles/Roleplay_Travel/]The Citadel - IC Travel Times table[/URL]
[url=http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/6740-distances/#entry262384]Westeros forum - Distances[/URL]
[URL=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Currency#Seven_Kingdoms]Currency - Wiki of Ice and Fire[/URL]
[URL=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/List_of_Characters]List of characters from the novels in alphabetic order. (Good for finding Westerosi names.)[/URL][/hider]

[u][B]The Crownlands & King’s Landing[/B][/u]
[u]House Targaryen, Royal House of Westeros[/u]
[Hider=The Targaryens][LIST]
[*]King Daeron II the Good[/*]
[*]Queen Myriah Martell, his wife[/*]
[*]Prince Baelor Breakspear, his firstborn son and heir, slewn by a lethal blow of Maekar’s mace[/*]
[Indent][*]Valarr the Young Prince, first son of Baelor, father to stillborn children[/*]
[*]Matarys the Even Younger Prince, second son of Baelor[/*][/Indent]
[*]Aerys, his second son[/*]
[*]Aelinor, his daughter[/*]
[*]Rhaegel, his third son, a meek and sickly man, prone to bouts of madness[/*]
[Indent][*]Twin sons[/*][/Indent]
[*]Maekar, his fourth son, kinslayer[/*]
[Indent][*]Daeron the Drunk, has a feeble-witted daughter[/*]
[*]Aerion Brightflame, has a young son, exiled to Essos[/*]
[*]Aemon, studying at Oldtown to become a Maester[/*]
[*]Aegon “Egg”, squire to Ser Duncan the Tall, present at Ashford[/*]
[*]Rhae, no older than ten[/*]
[*]Daella, no older than eight[/*][/Indent]
[*]Daenerys Targaryen, his sister, married to Prince Maron Martell of Dorne[/*]

[*]Daemon Blackfyre, former pretender, slain at the battle of Redgrass Field[/*]
[*]Brynden “Bloodraven” Rivers, Great Bastard, half-brother to Daeron II, Master of Whispers, owns Dark Sister[/*]
[*]Shiera Seastar, Great Bastard, half-sister to Daeron II, Bloodraven and Bittersteel[/*]
[*]Aegor “Bittersteel” Rivers, Captain of the Golden Company, in exile in Essos with Daemon Blackfyre’s surviving sons.[/*][/LIST][/hider]

[u]The Small Council[/u]
[LIST]
[*]Hand of the King, formerly Baelor Breakspear, currently empty[/*]
[*]Master of Whispers, Brynden Rivers, also known as Bloodraven[/*]
[*]Master of Coin, Lord Sandor Celtigar, also called Lord Crab Patty due to his corpulence, suffers from indigestion[/*]
[*]Master of Laws,[/*]
[*]Master of Ships, [/*]
[*]Lord Commander of the Kingsguard,[/*]
[*]Grand Maester,[/*]
[/LIST]
[u]The Kingsguard[/u]
[LIST]
[*]Lord Commander,[/*]
[*]Ser Roland Crakehall[/*]
[*]Ser Willem Wylde[/*]
[*]Ser Donnel of Duskendale[/*]
[*]Ser Robyn Tully, the Scaled Knight, the Silver Shark (Phoebas)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1020908]Ser Gwayne Corbray[/url], wielder of Lady Forlorn, owes his life to Daemon Blackfyre and Redtusk (Joytex)[/*]
[*]Ser X[/*]
[/LIST]
[u]Crownlanders and King's Landing Denizens[/u]
[LIST]
[*]Ser Lothar Borell, Commander of the City Watch, called Strongclaw because of his house’s sigil and large posture.[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-991087]Ser Willem "Willie" Morningwood[/url], assistant to Lord Sandor Celtigar the Master of Coin (Sini)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1000971]House Brune[/url] (Cold)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=7#post-1178976]House Velaryon[/url] (Zach & Vanq) - WIP[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Riverlands[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=2#post-1000370]House Tully[/url] (Phoebas)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-984507]House Frey[/url] (Sini)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=2#post-993825]House Lothston[/url] (Dreamshell)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1009720]House Bracken[/url] (Sini) [/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Westerlands[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-986124]House Lannister[/url] (Zacharius and Ruby)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-992481]House Sarwyck[/url] (Gowi)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1037666]House Reyne[/url] (EthanJory)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Vale[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-988209]House Arryn[/url] (Vanq)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=6#post-1128763]House Royce[/url] (Squrmy) - pending approval[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=5#post-1096533]House Templeton[/url] (EricRP)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=6#post-1138066]House Sunderland[/url] (Joytex)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The North[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=4#post-1067305]House Stark[/url] (Gowi)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1023701]Ser Baelor Manderly[/url] 7th son, pious knight errant (Sini)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=5#post-1109442]House Bolton[/url] (Kingfisher)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Iron Isles[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=7#post-1189300]House Greyjoy[/url] (Falcon)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Stormlands[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1001586]House Baratheon[/url] (babbysama)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]The Reach[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=1#post-987214]House Tyrell[/url] (Flagg)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1020783]Lady Elyn Tarly[/url] (Vanq)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1043858]House Redwyne[/url] (Squrmy)[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]Dorne[/B][/u] (nominally part of the demesne of the Iron Throne)
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=2#post-994543]House Martel[/url] (Ruby)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=4#post-1061194]Erryk Yronwood[/url], in exile with the Golden Company (Squrmy)[/*]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=6#post-1138066]House Dayne[/*] (Cider) - WIP & pending approval[/*]
[/LIST]

[u][B]Other groups/exiles/Essosi/...[/B][/u]
[LIST]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/33295/posts/ooc?page=2#post-1000436]Ascario Cosca[/url], Commander of the Bright Banners (Sini)[/*]
[/LIST]