“This… I implore Your Grace to reconsider!” Aegor had, of course, caught the Queen’s implication, but he had to feign ignorance to properly make his case. “You are the sole legitimate ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, the head of the Targaryen Empire, the center of all policy and power—indeed, even the prophesied ‘Prince That Was Promised’ in the eyes of R’hllor’s followers and the soon-to-be-established new faith. You are sacre...
2025-01-29 21:50:19 +0000 UTC View PostAfter eliminating Petyr and Varys, there was no longer anyone qualified to compete with him for the position of Imperial Hand—but his continued tenure was contingent on one condition: remaining at court rather than retiring to his lands.
This arrangement was not some spur-of-the-moment decision. The granted lands and the territories beyond the Wall were vast, but sparsely populated—far too insignificant to match Aegor’s contributi...
What’s next?
Daenerys was the Queen of Westeros, the first Empress of the Targaryen Empire. As the highest leader of her faction, the one steering the ship, she should have been the one contemplating and answering that question herself. But the truth was, her plans for the future of her reign had only been detailed up to the unification of the Seven Kingdoms. Beyond that—breaking the wheel, liberating all of humanity, and the like...
The sheer number hit Daenerys like a hammer.
For a moment, she completely forgot about the collateral damage suffered by the people of Braavos. She simply sat upright, her violet eyes wide with shock.
Then, catching herself, she relaxed slightly, leaning back into her chair. After a pause—one that betrayed a rare moment of hesitation—she asked a question that a queen probably shouldn’t have asked.
“…Is that a goo...
Aegor did not invent finance. But years ago, when he first arrived in King’s Landing, he had coined a new term—combining the words for gold and flow—while convincing Tyrion to issue Night’s Watch Bonds.
No one could have predicted that this offhand invention, meant to entice investors, would one day become part of the Common Tongue.
And even more unlikely—
It had now become the name of a major street in King’s ...
Unlike the other workers, Plassi and Moody had known each other for over a decade. There was no formality or deference between them—only familiarity. Plassi casually walked over to Moody’s side and leaned against the railing beside him.
“What’s on your mind?”
They both glanced toward the ruins of the Titan. Something was off.
----
Moody took a long drag from his pipe, exhaling slowly as he stared at the we...
The morning mist shrouded the Hidden City as it always did, but on this day, Braavos—normally a bustling metropolis—was deathly silent.
Everyone was terrified.
Jaqen’s words aboard the Queen Daenerys had been incomplete. The Titan of Braavos was not just a landmark—it was also the city’s most important watchtower, lighthouse, and fortress.
The great statue could roar to announce the hour or signal approaching shi...
A Faceless Man… Jaqen H’ghar!?
This was not entirely unexpected. The possibility had been accounted for in Aegor’s initial invasion plans. Orders were swiftly relayed, and without hesitation, the fleet adjusted its course. Sails furled, anchors plunged into the depths, and the once-advancing warships slowed to a halt.
Only Jaqen seemed genuinely surprised by this reaction. “Commander, the Titan of Braavos is the city’s ...
The waves lapped against the hull, seagulls wheeled and cried overhead, and the sunlit sea shimmered like polished glass. The scent of salt and brine filled the air as, looming on the horizon, the world-renowned Bronze Titan of Braavos finally came into view.
More than two months had passed since the fall of Volantis, and now, at last, Aegor had led his fleet to the doorstep of Braavos.
The voyage between the two cities had not t...
“This... is a cannon?” Robb Stark asked, his voice hoarse as he struggled to suppress the tremor in his tone.
“For now, it’s not for sale. But if any lord here is truly interested, I’d say... one million gold dragons would be a fair price.”
Tyrion never once mentioned the Bloody Gate by name, but he didn’t need to. The message was as clear as day to the two Vale nobles and every other Northern and Riverlands lord pr...
Tyrion was extremely busy.
After taking Nina on a tour of Flea Bottom’s ruins, issuing her appointment, and delegating her tasks, he wasted no time in climbing into his carriage, heading westward for yet another meeting.
Ever since the Queen’s army had stormed King’s Landing and seized the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, the Vale’s regency council—previously huddled behind the Bloody Gate, maintaining strict neutrality...
Aegor had already told Nina the story Tyrion once shared with him, so there was no need to explain what banknotes were. The dwarf stood with his hands on his hips, head held high. “Look, opening up government bond trading not only conceals the unreasonable act of handing cannons directly to the navy, but also stabilizes the economic policy of the newborn empire and improves public perception… This is what we call killing three birds with o...
2025-01-29 21:47:19 +0000 UTC View PostDescending along Flour Street from the Rhaenys Hills in the northeast of King’s Landing led to a labyrinthine maze of unpaved alleys and tangled intersections—a sprawling slum of filth and squalor. The buildings here were low and dilapidated, pressed tightly against the narrow streets, their foul stench a heady mix of pigsties, stables, and tanneries, mingling with the sour reek of wine cellars and brothels. If one knew where to look, they...
2025-01-29 21:46:59 +0000 UTC View Post"Lower your crossbows."
Messin Vyslis pressed down the weapons of his nearest men while issuing a low command to the rest.
He recognized the red robes instantly.
The cut of the fabric and embroidered patterns were unmistakable—this was no ordinary priest.
This was a High Priest of R’hllor.
----
"Good."
Messin turned to his men.
"Listen up, boys—officers, remain in place. The rest of...
A distant rumbling echoed through the night as Messin Vyslis quietly counted on his fingers.
One. Two. Three...
Right on time. He felt the faint tremor through the ground as the cannonballs struck the city's fortifications.
For every slave and freeman alike within these walls, tonight would be a night they never forgot.
Valyria’s First Daughter—the oldest and most powerful of the Free Cities—Volantis—was und...
With the combined strength of the North, Riverlands, Westerlands, and Dorne, the overwhelming firepower of royal artillery, and House Tyrell’s eager cooperation in guiding and persuading surrender, resistance in the Reach was swiftly crushed.
The clever ones had already traveled to King’s Landing as "honored guests." The diehards, who refused to yield, were buried neatly in the earth. As for those captured and exiled beyond the Wall...
When a person dies, their soul is brought before R’hllor for judgment. Those whose pursuit of truth outweighed their sins are granted reincarnation, returning to the material world once more. But those whose sins outweigh their virtues are cast into the Furnace of Souls, where they serve as fuel to power the universe’s order, enduring untold suffering until their transgressions are purged.
Not all of these principles may apply to th...
When a person dies, their soul is brought before R’hllor for judgment. Those whose pursuit of truth outweighed their sins are granted reincarnation, returning to the material world once more. But those whose sins outweigh their virtues are cast into the Furnace of Souls, where they serve as fuel to power the universe’s order, enduring untold suffering until their transgressions are purged.
Not all of these principles may apply to th...
A wise man adapts to the times.
In its original meaning, this phrase praises those with the intelligence and foresight to recognize shifting tides and align themselves accordingly. But in literature and drama, it has often been tainted by its association with the words of traitors and turncoats persuading others to surrender.
Whether one admires or despises those who "recognize the times" depends entirely on which side of history...
At its core, this was about eliminating entrenched elites to make way for new powers and policies. The redistribution of power and wealth meant that this revolution could never be a polite affair—it would be a bloody, violent struggle, rife with collateral damage and unintended casualties.
So, rather than persuading or negotiating with the new High Septon, Aegor had chosen to ignite the revolution first.
But by the time warning...
Across Oldtown, King’s Landing, and throughout the Seven Kingdoms, a massive crackdown on assassins and spies had begun.
At the same time, across the Narrow Sea—more precisely, in the eastern waters of Blackwater Bay—a fleet from Essos was bearing down on Dragonstone with overwhelming force.
The southeastern trade winds billowed the sails as the prow of the Queen of the Rhoyne sliced through the sunlit waves. Under the vast...
The grating sound of Valyrian steel scraping against itself filled the street, setting teeth on edge. Ernst launched a storm of rapid, relentless dagger strikes within mere seconds. Aegor, shielding his head, moved like a ship battered by raging waves, retreating under the onslaught—but not a single strike managed to cut even an inch of his skin.
"Pull… pull me out!" Ernst shouted through bloodied lips, his words garbled. He hoped h...
Oldtown, once the largest city in Westeros and now its second, was naturally covered in a dense web of overlapping intelligence networks, each serving different factions. The most powerful, of course, belonged to the ruling Hightowers, while the second most influential was largely sustained by the grain of their overlords, House Tyrell.
As for the third? That had once been an open question. But after the successive collapses of Aerys II...
Today, he was headed to the port to inspect the first stage of loading cannons onto the fleet.
"I’m fine," Myrcella said, a little guiltily. She was riding in the same carriage as Aegor and Melisandre. The two adults were unconscious, while she remained unscathed—not by luck, nor by sheer resilience, but because she had used the Prime Minister and the Red Priestess as human cushions to avoid being thrown around and knocked out like ...
The streets outside buzzed with life, but inside, all was silent.
Ernst Ubi stood by the second-floor window of a townhouse overlooking the street, a book in one hand and a Valyrian steel dagger in the other, flipping the blade idly as he observed the outside world through a narrow gap in the shutters.
Not far away, the Hightower loomed over Oldtown, its presence undeniable. Below, the streets teemed with merchants, townsfolk, an...
The reason was simple—personal interest and collective interest were not always aligned. The Supreme Septon had long been an arrogant and domineering figure within the Faith, making enemies of several High Septons. Luchen Frey, born a noble of House Frey, harbored ambitions for power and influence. Given the right incentives, his betrayal was inevitable.
----
Under the watchful eyes of a four-to-five-hundred-strong search party...
As the sky gradually brightened, Oldtown’s first citywide curfew in over a decade ended without incident. Vendors wheeled their carts from storehouses to the market, and common folk stepped out of their homes with baskets in hand. Soon, the streets were alive with the usual morning bustle, though the air was thick with speculation about the sudden, unexplained lockdown.
“So… I guess what that ragged septon said about the Hand and ...
"Hmm…" Aegor pondered for a moment. Once he was certain that the defensive measures were in place, a cold smirk tugged at his lips.
"For now, that will do. Now, bring me Lord Mace Tyrell and Lady Margaery. It's time for them to start earning their keep."
But—
----
"Then, issue orders to all forces: full alert, Level One security. A citywide curfew will be enforced tonight. Western Expedition soldiers are to rema...
The sea and sky were shrouded in gray, the cold wind whipping against the tattered kraken banners atop the castle walls.
Winter had ended, but the morning on Pyke remained bleak and bitter.
Asha Greyjoy stood atop the high terrace of the Great Keep, gazing down at the harbor far below.
She had set out the moment Aegor led his army west from King’s Landing—traveling with the few Ironborn who had followed Victarion to Me...
The moment he heard "Lord Hand," Aegor knew the man had surrendered. He rolled his eyes internally but chose not to expose the obvious lie—after all, he did need a messenger right now.
House Redwyne, founded by Gilbert, son of Garth Greenhand, was of pure and ancient lineage, only slightly beneath the Hightowers in status (having never crowned themselves kings). Outside of House Tyrell and House Hightower, they were the most powerful ...