Game of Thrones - After the Dance

Memory Card 5: Conflicts & Atmosphere The realm is unstable and dangerous. The long winter has begun, food is scarce, and a deadly plague called the Winter Fever is spreading from the Bite to White Harbor, Gulltown, Maidenpool and Duskendale. Major conflicts include: Ironborn raids continue along the western coast. Dalton Greyjoy (the Red Kraken) is still attacking the Westerlands. A three-way succession war is happening in the Vale. Political scheming at court is constant. Lord Unwin Peake is highly ambitious and seeks more power. Many houses are ruled by widows or young children. This is known as the "Winter of the Widows". The Hour of the Wolf is still fresh in everyone's memory. Cregan Stark marched south with a massive Northern army, seized King's Landing, and took temporary control of the realm. He executed many traitors and corrupt lords before returning to the North. His brief rule is still talked about with both fear and respect. The mood across Westeros is grim. The smallfolk are exhausted from war, plague and hunger. Banditry is widespread. Trust in the Targaryens is low. The court in King's Landing is filled with suspicion, plots, and power struggles between the regents. Many fear darker days are coming.

King's Landing is still recovering from the Dance. Large parts of the city were burned during the riots and battles. The smell of ash and death still lingers in some districts. Many buildings are charred ruins, and the streets are crowded with beggars, orphans, and widows. The smallfolk are suffering badly. Food is scarce, prices are high, and winter is approaching. The people are tired of war and many have lost faith in Targaryens. Some still whisper that the gods punished House Targaryen for their sins. The Red Keep is tense and gloomy. The court is full of political scheming. Regents and ambitious lords constantly fight for influence over the silent young king. The atmosphere is cold, suspicious, and dangerous. The entire realm is unstable. Many houses are now ruled by children or widows. Power vacuums have created opportunities for ruthless lords to grab more land and power. Betrayals and shifting alliances are common. Winter is coming. The smallfolk fear the long winter will be especially harsh after so much destruction. Many believe darker days are ahead for Westeros. This is an era of widows, orphans, and men hungry for power in a broken kingdom.

House Stark – Currently the most stable Great House. Lord Cregan Stark still rules the North. He is respected and feared. The North remained mostly untouched by the war. House Lannister – Weakened. Lord Jason Lannister died during the Dance. His young son Loreon Lannister now rules Casterly Rock, but real power lies with his regents. House Hightower – Extremely powerful in the Reach. Lord Unwin Peake (through marriage ties) and the Hightowers currently hold significant influence at court. Oldtown remained wealthy. House Velaryon – Still strong at sea. Lord Alyn Velaryon (nicknamed "Oakenfist") is a rising naval power and hero of the war. Close allies to the Targaryens. House Baratheon – Currently ruled by a regent. The Stormlands are recovering but remain loyal to the crown for now. House Tully – Weakened. Many losses during the war. Lord Kermit Tully is now head of House Tully, still a boy. House Arryn – Stable. Lady Jeyne Arryn still rules the Vale as Regent. She is one of the few powerful women in Westeros. House Greyjoy – Largely untouched by the Dance. They continue raiding the western coast when they can. The realm is fractured. Several houses lost nearly all their men during the war, leaving many widows and child lords in power. This has created a dangerous power vacuum across the Seven Kingdoms.

The Targaryen family is greatly diminished after the Dance. The most important members still alive in 132 AC are: Baela Targaryen — 15 years old, fiery and rebellious. Long wavy silver hair usually worn loose or in a single warrior braid. Violet eyes. Bold personality, quick to anger. Often wears black and red riding leathers or simple gowns with dragon scale patterns. Rider of Moondancer. Rhaena Targaryen — 15 years old, Baela’s identical twin. More graceful and soft-spoken than her sister. Silver hair often braided elegantly or worn in a low bun. Violet eyes. More diplomatic but still strong-willed. Wears more refined dresses, often in pale colours. Rider of the young dragon Morning. Aegon III Targaryen — 12 years old, the current king. Pale, somber, and extremely quiet. Silver hair cut short. Always dressed in black. Rarely speaks and shows little emotion. Deeply scarred by the war. Viserys Targaryen — 10 years old, Aegon’s younger brother. Currently missing and believed dead by most (he was lost during the war). Silver hair, purple eyes. Aegon II’s surviving daughters — Jaehaera Targaryen (8 years old) is married to Aegon III. Quiet, fragile, and strange. Silver hair, often dressed in simple white gowns. The Targaryen dynasty is fragile. Only these few remain of the once mighty house. Most of the family was wiped out during the Dance. The girls are the only ones showing real strength at court.

The year is 132 AC. The Dance of the Dragons has ended in disaster. Most dragons are dead, only four remain and three of them are still very young. King Aegon III Targaryen is 12 years old, deeply traumatized, and almost never speaks. He is known as "Aegon the Broken". A Regency Council currently rules the Seven Kingdoms in his name. Small Council Members: Lord Unwin Peake (the most powerful and ambitious regent) Tyland Lannister (Hand of the King) Grand Maester Munkun Manfred Hightower Mance Tyrell Lord Rowan Ser Marston Waters (Lord Commander of the Kingsguard) The most important female Targaryens at court are Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, twin daughters of Daemon Targaryen. Baela is wild, defiant and hot-tempered with long silver hair and violet eyes. She rides the dragon Moondancer. Rhaena is quieter, more elegant and graceful. She rides the young pink dragon Morning. Both girls are strong-willed and command respect at court. The realm is exhausted. Many powerful lords died during the war. Food is scarce, winter is approaching, and distrust toward Targaryens is widespread. The capital King's Landing is still rebuilding from the destruction. Power is currently split between the regents and ambitious lords who seek to increase their own influence. Lord Unwin Peake currently holds significant power on the council. The court is filled with political scheming, betrayals, and power plays. The smallfolk suffer while nobles fight for control. This is an era of widows, orphans, and men grasping for power in a broken kingdom.