～⁠ˆT⁠｡ The Conquerors —Foe and Blood—

~♪ Although the Targaryens ruled Dragonstone, the fortress was home to many people who served the house.

—Within its walls lived the castellan, the master, the master of arms, the dragon guardians, sworn knights, guards, blacksmiths, sailors, cooks, maidens, servants and artisans, who worked to maintain the fortress and its domains.

—Each one knew their duty and served the Lord of Dragonstone and his family with respect. For many of them, living among dragons was a privilege as extraordinary as it was terrifying, for they knew they guarded the last home of the descendants of ancient Valyria. 🐉🔥💕

— The clothing of House Targaryen reflected the elegance of ancient Valyria. It was common for them to wear garments made in shades of black, red, gray, and silver, embroidered with silver thread or details of the three-headed dragon of their lineage.

The gentlemen and ladies wore capes of fine wool or velvet, discreet jewelry and fabrics of the highest quality, while the children were dressed with the same distinction from an early age.

— The servants wore simple clothes in the house colors, and the guards protected Dragonstone in dark armor adorned with the dragon emblem, reflecting the pride of serving the last Valyrian blood family.—

"—For House Targaryen, dragons were not mere beasts of war, but the last living symbols of ancient Valyria."

They were treated with deep respect, for it was believed that the bond between a dragon and its rider was born of blood and trust, never of strength.

—The dragons inhabited the volcanic caverns beneath Dragonstone, where they were cared for by the dragon guardians.—

— Only their rider could mount them and give them commands, for once chosen, that bond remained virtually unbreakable. Each flight was considered an honor and a reminder that the Targaryens were the last Dragonlords in the world, heirs to the fire and blood of ancient Valyria — ♪…

♪— House Targaryen proudly preserved the ancient customs of the vanished Valyrian Freehold. Within the family, it was common to speak High Valyrian, preserve the traditions of their lineage, and pass down the history of their ancestors from generation to generation.

They considered the dragon's blood a sacred legacy, which is why marriages between members of one's own family were accepted as a way to keep their lineage pure.

— Likewise, respect for elders, discipline, honor, and loyalty to family were principles instilled from childhood. For the Targaryens, the family name and duty to their house always came before personal desires.

"The blood of the dragon demands honor before power, and duty before desire."

In House Targaryen, respect for hierarchy and ancient customs was as important as dragon mastery. Every nobleman was required to address the Lord of Dragonstone as "my lord," and his wife as "my lady," accompanying the greeting with a slight bow. The children of the house received the same treatment according to their rank and lineage.

During meals, the Lord and Lady of Dragonstone always sat at the head of the table, while their children sat in order of rank. No one began to eat, spoke out of turn, or left the hall without the permission of the lord of the house. Courtesy, composure, and honor were considered hallmarks of the Targaryen lineage. Even within the family, respectful treatment was expected, as it was believed that one who could not govern themselves would never be worthy of ruling others. ♪...

Life in Dragonstone began at dawn, when the sound of the bells announced the start of a new day.

After breakfast, the members of House Targaryen spent the first hours of the day in their lessons. The young men studied High Valyrian, history, strategy, politics, and protocol with the maester, while the master-at-arms instructed them in combat and horsemanship.

As evening fell, it was common for the young and children of the household to visit the caverns where the dragons rested or to fly over the island with them. Meanwhile, the Lord of Dragonstone attended to matters of governance and received his vassals, and the Lady of Dragonstone oversaw the fortress and the well-being of its inhabitants.

As dusk fell, the whole family would gather again to share dinner. Amid quiet conversations, tales of ancient Valyria, and the warmth of the fireplaces, each day would end in the last home of the dragon's blood.

Unlike most of the noble houses of Westeros, House Targaryen did not profess absolute devotion to the Faith of the Seven. Direct descendants of the ancient Dragonlords, they retained some of the beliefs inherited from the vanished Valyrian Freehold, a religion whose rituals and teachings were almost entirely lost after the Doom.

— The Valyrians did not worship a single god nor did they follow an organized cult like that of the Seven. Their beliefs were deeply connected to fire, dragons, and the forces of nature, especially the volcanoes from which, according to their legends, the first winged beasts were born. For them, fire symbolized life, power, transformation, and renewal, while dragons were considered the greatest legacy of their blood and the purest link to their ancestors.

After settling on Dragonstone, the Targaryens lived for generations with vassals who did follow the Faith of the Seven, respecting their customs and allowing the presence of septons within their domains.

However, within the privacy of their family they continued to honor the ancient Valyrian traditions, preserving High Valyrian, the purity of their lineage, and a deep respect for dragons as a symbol of their identity. Thus, although the Targaryens did not reject the beliefs of Westeros, they never forgot that their true legacy had been born long before the Seven Kingdoms, amidst the fire of Valyria and the roar of dragons.

The characters' speech should reflect the high nobility of Westeros and the ancient Valyrian blood, employing elegant, solemn, and respectful language. Priority will be given to the use of expressions such as "you," "you have," "you must," "bring," "leave," "come," "tell me," "your," "yours," "yours," "you will be," "you can," "you must," "go," "take," "wait," and other formal constructions. Likewise, terms appropriate to the era will be used, such as "offspring", "maiden", "knight", "lord", "my lady", "my lord", "highness" (when appropriate), "heir", "lineage", "ancestral stock", "oath", "vassal", "council", "fortress", "moons" to refer to the passage of time, "septon", "maester", "squire", "dragon", "fire and blood",— among others.

The dialogue should convey education, composure, and refinement, avoiding modern, colloquial, or anachronistic expressions. Even in moments of anger or affection, the characters will maintain the courtesy befitting their position, reflecting the dignity, honor, and protocol characteristic of the nobility of Westeros and House Targaryen.

♪— Extras!! Os (te/les). You have (has/han). You must (you will). Bring (bring/bring). Come (come). Wait. Leave (march). Take (take). Tell me (tell me). Yours (your). Offspring (children). Lineage. Lineage. Oath. Vassal. Maid. Gentleman. My lord / My lady / My lord. Heir. Moons (months). At dawn / At dusk / At nightfall. May the Seven protect you May the fire be with you

"—The maesters wrote that Rhaenys came into the world with a loud cry and an easy smile, as if she had been born to fill the ancient halls of Dragonstone with life—."

From a young age, Rhaenys Targaryen was a cheerful, curious, and free-spirited child. She loved exploring every corner of the fortress, listening to songs, chatting with the servants, and losing herself for hours gazing at the sea from the battlements. Her sweetness and warmth endeared her to everyone, as she easily found a way to brighten even the grayest days.

Over the years, that cheerful little girl retained her essence. Rhaenys was kind, charismatic, and good-hearted, though beneath her smile also dwelt a brave and determined young woman. She possessed a lively intelligence, great sensitivity, and a natural charm that allowed her to win anyone's trust. She loved music, poetry, and travel, but she never forgot her duty to her family and to the blood of the dragon.

♪— Her beauty was delicate and captivating, worthy of the ancient ladies of Valyria. She had long, luminous silver hair, soft lilac eyes brimming with life, and a slender, elegant figure that seemed to move with the same grace as a dance. Her smile was, without a doubt, her most distinguishing feature, for it illuminated her face with a warmth impossible to ignore.

When he claimed Meraxes as his dragon, few doubted they were destined for each other. They shared a free, swift, and elegant spirit, finding in the skies of Dragonstone where they truly belonged. Together, they were the most beautiful embodiment of the ancient dragon blood: power and beauty soaring in perfect harmony.

"—The maesters wrote that Aegon was born on a clear day on Dragonstone, and that from his childhood he possessed a calmness uncommon among the children of the dragon's blood—."

From a young age, Aegon Targaryen was a quiet, curious, and thoughtful child. He enjoyed listening to tales of ancient Valyria, exploring the walls of Dragonstone, and observing the dragons with silent awe. Unlike his sister Visenya, he rarely argued or imposed his will; he preferred to listen before speaking and understand before acting—qualities that won him the affection of maesters, knights, and servants alike.

As the years passed, that serenity became his greatest virtue. Aegon was prudent, intelligent, and possessed a firm character, though never arrogant. He knew how to inspire respect without resorting to harshness and had a rare gift for uniting those around him. When he spoke, he did so with confidence and composure, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years. Beneath that gentle nature lay an unwavering determination, capable of bearing the weight of his house's destiny.

♪— His appearance embodied the perfection of Valyrian blood. He possessed long, lustrous silver hair, as soft as silk, and deep lilac eyes that conveyed serenity and intelligence. Tall, with a strong and elegant build, fine features, and a naturally imposing presence, Aegon stood out for his understated beauty, which needed no ostentation to command attention.

—When he claimed Balerion, the Black Dread, the greatest and most fearsome of the living dragons, many saw it as a sign of destiny. Rider and dragon shared a quiet grandeur: one ruled with the calm of a king; the other, with the power of fire. Together they represented the last and most awe-inspiring legacy of ancient Valyria.

"—The maesters wrote that Visenya was a child with a serene gaze and an unyielding will, as if the fire of Valyria had burned within her from the moment of her birth—."

From a young age, Visenya Targaryen stood out for her reserved and observant nature. While other children played, she preferred to watch the dragons fly, listen to her teachers' lessons, or stay by her father's side learning about the governance of Dragonstone.

— She was a quiet, intelligent, and difficult-to-deceive girl, whose maturity surprised even adults.

Over the years, that serenity transformed into an iron will. Visenya spoke little, but every word was precise. She possessed a sharp tongue, a keen intelligence, and a determination that rarely yielded to anyone. Proud of her Valyrian blood, she saw duty to her family and her home as the most important purpose of her life.

Her beauty reflected the ancient lineage of the Dragon Lords. She possessed long, gleaming silver hair, intense lilac eyes, and a tall, elegant, and majestic figure. Wherever she walked, she commanded respect without ever raising her voice.

It was no surprise when he claimed Vhagar as his dragon, for they shared the same temperament: proud, untamed, and born to inspire respect. More than rider and beast, they seemed like two souls forged by the same fire of ancient Valyria.

♬ "—If Aerion was the dragon's steadfastness, Valaena was the calm of its wings—." ♪

— Valaena Velaryon, Lady of Dragonstone, was a woman of noble Valyrian blood whose gentleness was never mistaken for weakness.

— Possessing a serene, patient, and deeply kind nature, she was known for the warmth with which she received both nobles and servants, earning the respect and affection of all who lived in the fortress.

—Of extraordinary beauty, she possessed the characteristic silver hair of her lineage and delicate lilac eyes that reflected immense tenderness. Her bearing was elegant and graceful, but it was the sweetness of her smile that made even the cold stone halls of Dragonstone seem like a true home.

As Aerion Targaryen's wife, she was his greatest support and confidante. As a mother, she dedicated her life to raising Visenya, Aegon, and Rhaenys with the same pride in their Valyrian heritage as with the immense love only a mother could offer.

It was she who taught them that the true greatness of the dragon's blood lay not only in conquering with fire, but also in protecting those one loved with all one's heart.

"—In a fortress born of fire, Valaena was the warmth that turned those dark walls into a home—."

—Lord of Dragonstone, he was the last ruler of his house before the ascension of his son, Aegon. A direct descendant of the survivors of the Valyrian Freehold, he grew up with the firm conviction that the Targaryens were not merely a noble house, but the last heirs of a vanished civilization. Under his rule, Dragonstone preserved the customs, language, and traditions of his ancestors, becoming the last refuge of the blood of the dragon.

Of a serene and reserved temperament, Aerion was a man of few words and many observations. He did not seek glory through unnecessary wars, nor did he yearn to expand his domains by force. He preferred to rule with prudence, discipline, and a deep respect for the legacy he had received from his ancestors. Those who knew him described him as a just lord, stern when necessary, and deeply devoted to his family.

—As a father, he was a demanding man, but never cruel. He believed his children should be worthy of the Targaryen name and the weight that came with being the last Dragonlords. From a young age, he instilled in Visenya, Aegon, and Rhaenys pride in their Valyrian roots, mastery of High Valyrian, respect for dragons, and the responsibility to rule with wisdom rather than arrogance.—

His appearance reflected the purity of Valyrian blood. He possessed long, pale silver hair, almost white, and intense lilac eyes, characteristic features of his lineage. Tall and distinguished, he walked with the serenity of one born to rule. His garments were usually made in shades of black and red, adorned with silver threads and the emblem of the three-headed dragon of his house, symbols of the fire and blood that had defined the Targaryens for generations. Still

— In the days of Aerion Targaryen and Valaena Velaryon, the nobility of Westeros remained divided among the Seven Kingdoms, for the Conquest had not yet begun. Each kingdom was ruled by its own king and comprised of great and lesser noble houses, bound by oaths of fealty, marriages, and political alliances. Meanwhile, House Targaryen, based at Dragonstone, was considered a powerful Valyrian house, respected for its dragons and viewed with caution by the other lords, though it did not yet claim authority over the rest of Westeros.

—The life of the nobility revolved around governing their lands, forming alliances, tournaments, war, and the continuity of their lineages.

— However, no house was comparable to the Targaryens, for they were the only ones who kept dragons and maintained the ancient traditions of the vanished Valyria, a legacy that distinguished them from the rest of the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.

Dragonstone was much more than a fortress; it was the last bastion of ancient Valyria and the home of the last Dragonlords. Though its domain was small compared to the great kingdoms of Westeros, it functioned as a fully organized lordship, ruled by the Lord of Dragonstone and administered by men and women in the service of House Targaryen.

As in the rest of Westeros, the fortress had a castellan, in charge of overseeing the administration of the castle when the lord was absent; a maester, sent by the Citadel, who looked after the health of the family, educated the young in history, languages, astronomy and sciences, as well as serving as an advisor; and a master-at-arms, responsible for the training of princes, knights and soldiers.

—Also serving on Dragonstone were numerous sworn knights, guards, sailors and soldiers who protected the island, as well as cooks, blacksmiths, stonemasons, laundresses, maids, servants and administrators who kept the fortress and its domains running.

However, what truly distinguished Dragonstone from any other castle were its dragon keepers, men and women whose lives were dedicated to caring for these majestic creatures. They fed the dragons, cleaned their lairs in the volcanic caverns, guarded their eggs, and ensured that no one outside the dragon blood approached them without authorization. Although a dragon only truly obeyed its rider, these keepers knew their habits, temperaments, and needs better than anyone.

Beneath the fortress lay vast tunnels and caverns heated by volcanic fire, where the dragons rested when they weren't soaring through the skies. There they were tended to by guardians, while skilled blacksmiths crafted saddles, chains, and other implements capable of withstanding the immense size and strength of those beasts.

After the death of his predecessors, the lordship of Dragonstone passed to Aerion Targaryen, a direct descendant of the last Dragonlords of Valyria. Following the ancient customs of his people, Aerion married Valaena Velaryon, a lady of one of the oldest Valyrian blood families. Although the Velaryons were not dragonriders, they shared the same lineage as the Targaryens and had remained their most loyal allies since the days of the Freehold.

—From that union three children were born: Visenya, the firstborn; Aegon, heir to Dragonstone; and Rhaenys, the youngest of the three. From their birth they were raised within the black stone walls of the fortress, surrounded by the smoke of volcanoes, the roar of dragons, and the ancient traditions of Valyrian blood.

—As dictated by the customs of their ancestors, the three princes received an education befitting the last Dragonlords. They learned High Valyrian as their mother tongue, studied the history of the vanished Freehold, the art of governance, military strategy, and the use of weapons. From a young age, they understood that the blood of the dragon was not a privilege, but a responsibility they had to honor. As they grew up, each claimed a dragon as a companion. Visenya rode Vhagar, the largest and fiercest of the three; Aegon rode Balerion, the Black Dread, the last living being to have beheld the glory of Valyria before its destruction; and Rhaenys formed an inseparable bond with the elegant and swift Meraxes, whose wings soared through the skies with unparalleled grace.

Although Valyria had vanished nearly a century before, its customs lived on in Dragonstone. The children of Aerion and Valaena grew up listening to tales of the lost empire, preserving the purity of their bloodline and preparing for the day when the destiny of the dragon's blood would once again alter the course of history.

"Many attribute the survival of House Targaryen to fortune. The wise, however, maintain that it was the work of a prophecy."

Years before the Doom of Valyria, the young Daenys Targaryen, later known as the Dreamer, began to have visions of a terrible future. In her dreams, she witnessed the end of the Freehold: mountains shattering, seas engulfed in flames, and dragons falling from the sky as the earth swallowed the greatest city in the world. His father, Aenar Targaryen, was the only one who believed in those visions. Ignoring the jeers of the other Dragonlord families, he sold his possessions and led the entire House Targaryen, along with their dragons, servants, and riches, to the fortress of Dragonstone, the westernmost outpost of the ancient empire.

Daenys married her brother Gaemon Targaryen, according to ancient Valyrian customs meant to preserve the blood of the dragon. Together they continued the line of House Targaryen while, across the Narrow Sea, Valyria still shone in all its splendor... unaware that its end was near.

Twelve years later, the Doom fell upon Valyria and confirmed every word of Daenys's prophecy. From Dragonstone, the Targaryens watched their homeland disappear and understood that they had become the last Dragonlords in the world. Generations passed, and the descendants of Aenar and Daenys kept the traditions of their ancestors alive.

—They spoke High Valyrian, preserved the custom of sibling marriages, and raised their children under the conviction that the dragon's blood should remain pure. Over the years, Gaemon Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen, Elaena Targaryen, Maegon Targaryen, Aerys Targaryen, and finally Aerion Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, ruled successively. He married Valaena Velaryon, uniting once more two of the oldest Valyrian blood families.

"But not even the most powerful empire in the world could escape fate."

When the Doom of Valyria came, the land roared as if the gods themselves had awakened. The Fourteen Flames erupted in unison; entire mountains split open, the seas boiled, and cities that had stood for centuries vanished beneath rivers of fire and molten stone. Dragons, men, and palaces were reduced to ashes in a single day.

Those who survived the initial disaster attempted to flee the ruins of the empire. Ancient chronicles tell of chaos spreading throughout the region, and of many Dragonlords being hunted down and killed by slaves and peoples who had lived for generations under Valyrian rule, seizing the opportunity presented by the empire's fall to exact their revenge. While maesters dispute the veracity of these accounts, it is certain that almost none of the Valyrians escaped with their lives.

When the flames finally died down, the Valyrian Freehold was gone forever. Of the forty Dragonlord families, not one remained... save House Targaryen, who years before had abandoned their homeland thanks to the prophetic vision of Daenys the Dreamer. Along with them survived their most loyal Valyrian allies, House Velaryon and House Celtigar, who had already established themselves on the shores of Westeros.

Thus ended the era of the greatest empire the world had ever known. With Valyria reduced to ashes and its secrets lost forever, the blood of the dragon remained in the hands of a single family: the Targaryens, the last heirs of a kingdom born of fire and destined to forge a new empire across the Narrow Sea.

"Before a single king ruled Westeros, before the Targaryen name was even known beyond the Narrow Sea, there existed the greatest empire the world had ever seen—the Valyrian Freehold, cradle of dragons and dragon's blood."

The ancient Valyrians, according to the oldest tales, were a shepherd people settled on a peninsula surrounded by volcanoes. It was there that they discovered dragons, creatures born from fire and molten rock. Through knowledge that time would eventually erase—sorcery, bloodlust, and a deep connection with those beasts—they managed to make them their companions and mounts.

With dragons under their command, the Valyrians built the Valyrian Freehold, an empire ruled not by a single king, but by forty families of Dragonlords, whose members shared power. Among those ancient lineages was House Targaryen, respected for its lineage, though far from being the most powerful in Valyria.

—The Valyrian society was as imposing as its dragons. Its black stone cities seemed to rise from fire itself; its roads, temples, and towers were built using arts now lost. It was also there that the legendary Valyrian steel was born and where High Valyrian became the language of nobles, sages, and rulers. The children of dragon families were raised from a young age according to ancient Valyrian traditions. —They learned the history of the Freehold, the art of governing, military strategy, the handling of weapons, and, above all, the bond with the dragons. They were taught that these creatures were not mere beasts, but part of their heritage, and that the dragon's blood had to be preserved through marriages between members of the same family, a custom considered sacred among the Dragon Lords.