for High Tide (A Corlys Velaryon SI)5/1/2024 c63 
6Black Magic99
was there a way for the dance to be avoided? like if there were a best endings for both families, where does that timeline derive from?
6Black Magic99was there a way for the dance to be avoided? like if there were a best endings for both families, where does that timeline derive from?
5/1/2024 c63 1UzuShiro
veneno? recuerdo haberte preguntado sobre porque Baelon no habia muerto si su muerte fue causa "natural", supongo que no lo envenenaron entonces porque no era conveniente y decidieron que era hora de desestabilizar la corona? o hay alguna otra explicacion?
1UzuShiroveneno? recuerdo haberte preguntado sobre porque Baelon no habia muerto si su muerte fue causa "natural", supongo que no lo envenenaron entonces porque no era conveniente y decidieron que era hora de desestabilizar la corona? o hay alguna otra explicacion?
5/1/2024 c63 Tony McNucklz
The drogo addition had me wondering for a bit. i appreciate the AN.
It's amazing to me that Rhaenys really believes utting a crown on her head and issuing decrees will solve the valaryon problem. s if a crown means they wwill obey orders that hurt their house, ecause tshe isnt othering to even hide in her own thoughts that she intends to dismantle them, and she thinks having a crown and dragons means they'll do it. The arrogance of nobles that can't oncieve of the notion that others will not lay own and obey just because he expects it. dorne and the summer isls if anything seem to have given her and aegon a false sense of security, the havent had to fight, not really. to them war is still a distant thing, not something threatening to them or their family. a task that is as simple as setting things on fire with little risk then having the soldiers do the clean up. they are sed to their armies being larger, and most importantly, to being the only ones with dragons. she's in for a rude awakening.
one avenue i thought of was actually for corlys to sacrifice himself. the war is coming, he can control the opening and narrative, set a fire that will burn Rhaenys and her house to the ground. he goes to kings landing alone with some of the guard, men who have sons to carry on their name like Leonidas in 300. hegoes to meet the new queen at a council meeting. then he says a few unwelcome truths to the fools in the chamber followed by a line like "my people need a rallying cry for their freedom, so I'm going to give them one. I'm illing to die for my people, that is the difference between us." something along those lines, then one of his guards lits his throat wile he is at the table then kill each other to make sure the targaryens have no survivors to force confessions out of. he will have ordered the ship to return to he triarchy, r otherwise ensured the story returns to them that he was murdered by the targaryens. and thus for all the claims rhaenys and the targaryens may make, nobody, even their own lords will believe that Corlys wasn't murdered. with that move he will unite the entirety of his people in vengeance. baela and her sister cant argue against war after this. and for the murder of Zaldilaros while under guest rights? his armies won't balk at the targaryen dragons. y taking a peice out of King Leonidas book and using his death to galvanize and unite his people, it would do more to commit his people to the cause han anything as paltry as a trade dispute escalating, or defying unreasonable trade restrictions or even rhaenys oing something like trying to break up the triarchy by royal decrees. none of those or any other situation would drive his people and family as hard as him having been murdered by he Targaryens. And the best part is, ven while he is dying, he will get to see the realisation of how much his last act fucks Rhaenys and her aims for peacefully dismantling house Valaryon. he can throw in some lines like "i haven't cared about westeros or targaryens or the iron throne for decades, all o this is your own doing. your ride. your arrogant inability to concieve of the notion that my house rising to prominence in essos means i give any thought or care to your ugly chair or who sits upon it. i never wanted your houses ugly chair, i wanted better future for my family, i thought eing the first new loyal lord paramount of westeros by claiming the stepstones was to be my lifes rk and legacy, to hand down to my family then sail off before i was to old to see the world again. your grandsires treachery and the rest of your endless pride is the cause of all the blood about to be spilled. all the family you didnt think youd have to outlive." basically take one last chance to really eviscerate the targaryens, rhaenys thinking she has her excuse tobring the valaryons to heel with every word she lets him spill giving her a more firm justification to do it, right up until his throat id slit by his own man, while smiling triumphantely. her and the others in shock as his men kill each other the last man maybe dying of poison he already took.
that's my idea for how corlys could pull a bit of a leonidas to control the outreak of war, control the narrative, unite his people. there is no version of this war where he survives,, the Targaryens WILL target him above the rest, so why not make sure his death happens in a way that best sets his family up for success by firmly uniting them?
The drogo addition had me wondering for a bit. i appreciate the AN.
It's amazing to me that Rhaenys really believes utting a crown on her head and issuing decrees will solve the valaryon problem. s if a crown means they wwill obey orders that hurt their house, ecause tshe isnt othering to even hide in her own thoughts that she intends to dismantle them, and she thinks having a crown and dragons means they'll do it. The arrogance of nobles that can't oncieve of the notion that others will not lay own and obey just because he expects it. dorne and the summer isls if anything seem to have given her and aegon a false sense of security, the havent had to fight, not really. to them war is still a distant thing, not something threatening to them or their family. a task that is as simple as setting things on fire with little risk then having the soldiers do the clean up. they are sed to their armies being larger, and most importantly, to being the only ones with dragons. she's in for a rude awakening.
one avenue i thought of was actually for corlys to sacrifice himself. the war is coming, he can control the opening and narrative, set a fire that will burn Rhaenys and her house to the ground. he goes to kings landing alone with some of the guard, men who have sons to carry on their name like Leonidas in 300. hegoes to meet the new queen at a council meeting. then he says a few unwelcome truths to the fools in the chamber followed by a line like "my people need a rallying cry for their freedom, so I'm going to give them one. I'm illing to die for my people, that is the difference between us." something along those lines, then one of his guards lits his throat wile he is at the table then kill each other to make sure the targaryens have no survivors to force confessions out of. he will have ordered the ship to return to he triarchy, r otherwise ensured the story returns to them that he was murdered by the targaryens. and thus for all the claims rhaenys and the targaryens may make, nobody, even their own lords will believe that Corlys wasn't murdered. with that move he will unite the entirety of his people in vengeance. baela and her sister cant argue against war after this. and for the murder of Zaldilaros while under guest rights? his armies won't balk at the targaryen dragons. y taking a peice out of King Leonidas book and using his death to galvanize and unite his people, it would do more to commit his people to the cause han anything as paltry as a trade dispute escalating, or defying unreasonable trade restrictions or even rhaenys oing something like trying to break up the triarchy by royal decrees. none of those or any other situation would drive his people and family as hard as him having been murdered by he Targaryens. And the best part is, ven while he is dying, he will get to see the realisation of how much his last act fucks Rhaenys and her aims for peacefully dismantling house Valaryon. he can throw in some lines like "i haven't cared about westeros or targaryens or the iron throne for decades, all o this is your own doing. your ride. your arrogant inability to concieve of the notion that my house rising to prominence in essos means i give any thought or care to your ugly chair or who sits upon it. i never wanted your houses ugly chair, i wanted better future for my family, i thought eing the first new loyal lord paramount of westeros by claiming the stepstones was to be my lifes rk and legacy, to hand down to my family then sail off before i was to old to see the world again. your grandsires treachery and the rest of your endless pride is the cause of all the blood about to be spilled. all the family you didnt think youd have to outlive." basically take one last chance to really eviscerate the targaryens, rhaenys thinking she has her excuse tobring the valaryons to heel with every word she lets him spill giving her a more firm justification to do it, right up until his throat id slit by his own man, while smiling triumphantely. her and the others in shock as his men kill each other the last man maybe dying of poison he already took.
that's my idea for how corlys could pull a bit of a leonidas to control the outreak of war, control the narrative, unite his people. there is no version of this war where he survives,, the Targaryens WILL target him above the rest, so why not make sure his death happens in a way that best sets his family up for success by firmly uniting them?
5/1/2024 c63 12Dragon King of the West
The Velaryons unwittingly made the Dothraki more competent thanks to the indirect effects of Triunification and the upheavals inspired by it. This Khal Drogo (I see what you did there) is setting up himself to be the Genghis Khan of the Dothraki Sea. Also another hiccup was the crisis in Pentos which almost made another breach with the Targaryens because of perceived exlansion of Velaryon influence. Also I knew that Baelon would have died and I was vindicated in this chapter, his death stacks the odds against the Velaryons now that the largest dragon, Vhagar is riderless.
12Dragon King of the WestThe Velaryons unwittingly made the Dothraki more competent thanks to the indirect effects of Triunification and the upheavals inspired by it. This Khal Drogo (I see what you did there) is setting up himself to be the Genghis Khan of the Dothraki Sea. Also another hiccup was the crisis in Pentos which almost made another breach with the Targaryens because of perceived exlansion of Velaryon influence. Also I knew that Baelon would have died and I was vindicated in this chapter, his death stacks the odds against the Velaryons now that the largest dragon, Vhagar is riderless.
4/23/2024 c62 Airchampion
Ok so we have the dates for the Summer Isles conquest and the Dance. So I’m guessing that the main fighting for the dance will take place in the Stepstones and the Summer Isles.
Ok so we have the dates for the Summer Isles conquest and the Dance. So I’m guessing that the main fighting for the dance will take place in the Stepstones and the Summer Isles.
4/23/2024 c62 Dragon King of the West
The Summer Isles are going to be a priority for the Velaryons whether or not it is in the possession of the Targaryens. Especially given the region's close proximity to the Basilisk Isles as well as the worsening relations between the Velaryon province in the Basilisks and the South Sea Company. This promised vengeance for the Velaryon aligned Summer Islander exiles would manifest during the Dance of the Dragons that I am sure of.
The Summer Isles are going to be a priority for the Velaryons whether or not it is in the possession of the Targaryens. Especially given the region's close proximity to the Basilisk Isles as well as the worsening relations between the Velaryon province in the Basilisks and the South Sea Company. This promised vengeance for the Velaryon aligned Summer Islander exiles would manifest during the Dance of the Dragons that I am sure of.
4/23/2024 c62 Tony McNucklz
I still think that a scene where Dameon and Gael are, in a strange mad twist of life, find themselves counseling Rhaenys to leave the Valaryons be, that their lood is going to rule those territories anyways, so why seek war?
I still think that a scene where Dameon and Gael are, in a strange mad twist of life, find themselves counseling Rhaenys to leave the Valaryons be, that their lood is going to rule those territories anyways, so why seek war?
4/17/2024 c40 Alex1402
I think mc escalated the situation with Targaryens. He really had everything and more. Especially when he was allowed to marry a dragon rider wife, keep the dragon and allow his children to have dragons. Targaryens were basically giving their weapon of dominance in the hands of an outsider. Heck there was not even a clause that prevented the future Velaryons from using the dragons against Targaryens. Or that any new dragon rider must take Targaryen name and live with royal family.
All he had to do was wait a few yrs to then get the new king to agree with him. That was waiting 10yrs at least, maybe less if mc used underhanded techniques.
No other daughter that married outside the family was allowed to pass down dragon to her child. So she was not that special. She basically used her niece and put dominance of her family in jeopardy for her selfish gain.
Even Targaryens just had to put a clause that stated no child of her was allowed to keep dragons. Harsh but necessary. Now there is no way other families with dragon blood won’t try to steal an egg and hatch them.
I think mc escalated the situation with Targaryens. He really had everything and more. Especially when he was allowed to marry a dragon rider wife, keep the dragon and allow his children to have dragons. Targaryens were basically giving their weapon of dominance in the hands of an outsider. Heck there was not even a clause that prevented the future Velaryons from using the dragons against Targaryens. Or that any new dragon rider must take Targaryen name and live with royal family.
All he had to do was wait a few yrs to then get the new king to agree with him. That was waiting 10yrs at least, maybe less if mc used underhanded techniques.
No other daughter that married outside the family was allowed to pass down dragon to her child. So she was not that special. She basically used her niece and put dominance of her family in jeopardy for her selfish gain.
Even Targaryens just had to put a clause that stated no child of her was allowed to keep dragons. Harsh but necessary. Now there is no way other families with dragon blood won’t try to steal an egg and hatch them.
4/15/2024 c61 mathdump
You mentioned in previous chapters that Dreamfyre's children were quick to become "fully grown". I was wondering if in your fic, dragons can reach a certain size with some wriggle room as opposed to growing forever; it would certainly help the Velaryons if their dragons aren't smaller on top out outnumbered.
You mentioned in previous chapters that Dreamfyre's children were quick to become "fully grown". I was wondering if in your fic, dragons can reach a certain size with some wriggle room as opposed to growing forever; it would certainly help the Velaryons if their dragons aren't smaller on top out outnumbered.
4/15/2024 c61 Tony McNucklz
Alright, now that was completely unexpected. Given how against the Candles being used for wider purposes you were, I never bothered bringing up an idea like freaking Fire Bending, or thinking of anything else flashy, since something like spying and trying to influence a few peoples dreams seemed a far lesser feat and one more believable in the lore, since we have the dragon dreams, scrying, warlocks, warging, 3 eyed raven. All examples that make influencing dreams and scrying private places a smaller jump than friggin Fire Bending, which I'm not deep enough on the lore to think of any examples besides setting things like swords on fire. Pretty wild jump I definitely didn't see coming. Where I was at best hoping for an increase in bureucratic squabbling stretching Targaryen attention to buy more time, now I'm going to be disapointed if the Valaryons aren't slinging fireballs from dragonback. Suddenly the Targaryens having more dragons isn't as much of a flex, because they can be attacked by the Valaryons while their dragons are dueling. The Valaryons can practice maneuvering in dragonback to get themselves into a position to fire fireballs (heh) at another rider, something the Targaryens certainly won't be ready for, and won't be ready to counter, since they've never concieved of the notion that the other dragon wouldn't be the only dangerous thing up there.
Big fan of the Fire Bending. I like the build surrounding blood and obsidion, as well as the building resistance to mundane and your own flames, but not magic flames. ANd I recognized the ring, an appropriate little easter egg for sure.
I suppose it makes sense, given Baela was more believing war possible than her sister that BaBaela would come back first.
Alright, now that was completely unexpected. Given how against the Candles being used for wider purposes you were, I never bothered bringing up an idea like freaking Fire Bending, or thinking of anything else flashy, since something like spying and trying to influence a few peoples dreams seemed a far lesser feat and one more believable in the lore, since we have the dragon dreams, scrying, warlocks, warging, 3 eyed raven. All examples that make influencing dreams and scrying private places a smaller jump than friggin Fire Bending, which I'm not deep enough on the lore to think of any examples besides setting things like swords on fire. Pretty wild jump I definitely didn't see coming. Where I was at best hoping for an increase in bureucratic squabbling stretching Targaryen attention to buy more time, now I'm going to be disapointed if the Valaryons aren't slinging fireballs from dragonback. Suddenly the Targaryens having more dragons isn't as much of a flex, because they can be attacked by the Valaryons while their dragons are dueling. The Valaryons can practice maneuvering in dragonback to get themselves into a position to fire fireballs (heh) at another rider, something the Targaryens certainly won't be ready for, and won't be ready to counter, since they've never concieved of the notion that the other dragon wouldn't be the only dangerous thing up there.
Big fan of the Fire Bending. I like the build surrounding blood and obsidion, as well as the building resistance to mundane and your own flames, but not magic flames. ANd I recognized the ring, an appropriate little easter egg for sure.
I suppose it makes sense, given Baela was more believing war possible than her sister that BaBaela would come back first.
4/15/2024 c61 Dragon King of the West
I am not sure how many ASOIAF readers know this but Valyrians were originally going to be pyromancers like the Fire Nation but Martin changed his mind and made them dragon riders instead. Glad to see this chapter give that a shout out with Jace and Baela practicing pyromancy.
I am not sure how many ASOIAF readers know this but Valyrians were originally going to be pyromancers like the Fire Nation but Martin changed his mind and made them dragon riders instead. Glad to see this chapter give that a shout out with Jace and Baela practicing pyromancy.
4/10/2024 c60 Airchampion
There was a reckoning coming to Jace and Luke for their lies and here it is, the silver lining is that telling their wives now will make it hurt less than telling them right before the Dance. Even though Jace is one of the main offenders for why the Dance will happen and both he and Luke had this coming, I actually feel sorry for them. If anything I want to see Corlys and Viserra suffer more than Jace and Luke since they put them in this terrible position. Overall this was well done, good job as always.
There was a reckoning coming to Jace and Luke for their lies and here it is, the silver lining is that telling their wives now will make it hurt less than telling them right before the Dance. Even though Jace is one of the main offenders for why the Dance will happen and both he and Luke had this coming, I actually feel sorry for them. If anything I want to see Corlys and Viserra suffer more than Jace and Luke since they put them in this terrible position. Overall this was well done, good job as always.
4/9/2024 c60 6Black Magic99
Now that everyone is involved, i am interested in how this cold war will play out. Usa vs ussr, one is ready for war but doesnt want it, the other wants it but doesnt know/ isnt ready for it
There is a lot of potential there that i hope you achieve
6Black Magic99Now that everyone is involved, i am interested in how this cold war will play out. Usa vs ussr, one is ready for war but doesnt want it, the other wants it but doesnt know/ isnt ready for it
There is a lot of potential there that i hope you achieve
4/9/2024 c60 Tony McNucklz
I think this is exactly what i would expect from the unvarnished truth at this point. after what rhaenys son plotted and proposed to laena, it's clear it wasnt only his idea, plus him proving himself oathbbreaker twice over, which lends credence to their fears that with Rhaenys and her son as the future rulers, war is indeed inevitable. Baela and her sister have seen to much of the politics and the ugliness of the world to not have such a clear explanation of the situation ring true in their heads. betrayed they certainly deserve to feel, but i think with the unvarnished truth and already having recognised years ago that the targaryens are not blameless, and in fact have driven much of the conflict, the twins would also feel betrayed by the Targaryens for their part. after all, the Valaryons literally have made no moves against the throne nor westeros prior to the ironborn, and even that was merely uiding an already lit fuse to go off when useful rather than lighting it themselves. The cycle of the Valaryons succeeding t something that harms no part of westeros nor the throne followed by Targaryen punishment for non-offenses is perpetrated by the targaryens. the fact the Valaryons truly made no preparations for war until dragon dreams started screaming it was inevitable in their faces lays the instigation label firmly at thhe targaryens feet.
the tins reaction was the best could be hoped for in this situation. feeling betrayed or untrusted is understandable, hough ven if they were told now instead of when it was hatched, hey ere told when the can still use the information gainst the house. fact is they are being trusted here, since it isn't to late for them to use the information to betray house Valaryon, so their husbands are in fact trusting them, giving them the chance to make their choice.
i think the fact is they willl choose their children nd ouse valaryon. it might have been different if the twins hadn't seen the Targaryens flaws, if the truth of the situation wasn't undeniable when unveiled totally. if the twins didn't know of Rhaenys (probably her) and her son plotting to steal baelas childrens birthright, and his thrice broken oaths (once to marry by one date, then a second date, then forfeiting marrying laena at all), they might not be so quick to recognise the future rullers didn't want peace.
I'm rambling,but i think this played out right for the context. The two major factors being that house Valaryon truly is not interested in westeros, in taking power or land there. that if the Targaryens left them be, there'd be no conflict, no threat. they don't want the iron throne, laena loving the heir being convenient for peace was the only reason house valaryon nvouraged the match. they have an equal, perhaps better position in tyrosh and now the Triarchy, so why bother with Westeros when there are so many parts of the world without hostile dragonriders thouse vallaryon could explore and interact with? i think that would be what keeps he twins loyal in the end, that Westeros and the Targaryens literally have nothing house valaryon wants, which paints the current situation and state of hostilities as being firmly laid at their feet, not the wins childrens' house.
I must admit, the fact that everything the Valaryons have is Daemon and Gael's grandchildren's birthright presents a phenomenally interesting situation there. i mean, supporting Rhaenys and her sons vendetta (up until now Daemon and Gaels as well) now means plotting to take away from their grandchildrens i inheritance of what even daemon and gael now consider a worthy Inheritance for their bloodline. a better one than they would have in westeros certainly. i'm quite curious to see how that plays out. after all, to them now daemon and gael are more incentivised to defend the Valaryons, amusingly. that could be a very interesting interaction in the future, Rhaenys and aegon expecting daemon and gael to e firmly supportive of crushing the Valaryons, only or them to not want that now.
I think this is exactly what i would expect from the unvarnished truth at this point. after what rhaenys son plotted and proposed to laena, it's clear it wasnt only his idea, plus him proving himself oathbbreaker twice over, which lends credence to their fears that with Rhaenys and her son as the future rulers, war is indeed inevitable. Baela and her sister have seen to much of the politics and the ugliness of the world to not have such a clear explanation of the situation ring true in their heads. betrayed they certainly deserve to feel, but i think with the unvarnished truth and already having recognised years ago that the targaryens are not blameless, and in fact have driven much of the conflict, the twins would also feel betrayed by the Targaryens for their part. after all, the Valaryons literally have made no moves against the throne nor westeros prior to the ironborn, and even that was merely uiding an already lit fuse to go off when useful rather than lighting it themselves. The cycle of the Valaryons succeeding t something that harms no part of westeros nor the throne followed by Targaryen punishment for non-offenses is perpetrated by the targaryens. the fact the Valaryons truly made no preparations for war until dragon dreams started screaming it was inevitable in their faces lays the instigation label firmly at thhe targaryens feet.
the tins reaction was the best could be hoped for in this situation. feeling betrayed or untrusted is understandable, hough ven if they were told now instead of when it was hatched, hey ere told when the can still use the information gainst the house. fact is they are being trusted here, since it isn't to late for them to use the information to betray house Valaryon, so their husbands are in fact trusting them, giving them the chance to make their choice.
i think the fact is they willl choose their children nd ouse valaryon. it might have been different if the twins hadn't seen the Targaryens flaws, if the truth of the situation wasn't undeniable when unveiled totally. if the twins didn't know of Rhaenys (probably her) and her son plotting to steal baelas childrens birthright, and his thrice broken oaths (once to marry by one date, then a second date, then forfeiting marrying laena at all), they might not be so quick to recognise the future rullers didn't want peace.
I'm rambling,but i think this played out right for the context. The two major factors being that house Valaryon truly is not interested in westeros, in taking power or land there. that if the Targaryens left them be, there'd be no conflict, no threat. they don't want the iron throne, laena loving the heir being convenient for peace was the only reason house valaryon nvouraged the match. they have an equal, perhaps better position in tyrosh and now the Triarchy, so why bother with Westeros when there are so many parts of the world without hostile dragonriders thouse vallaryon could explore and interact with? i think that would be what keeps he twins loyal in the end, that Westeros and the Targaryens literally have nothing house valaryon wants, which paints the current situation and state of hostilities as being firmly laid at their feet, not the wins childrens' house.
I must admit, the fact that everything the Valaryons have is Daemon and Gael's grandchildren's birthright presents a phenomenally interesting situation there. i mean, supporting Rhaenys and her sons vendetta (up until now Daemon and Gaels as well) now means plotting to take away from their grandchildrens i inheritance of what even daemon and gael now consider a worthy Inheritance for their bloodline. a better one than they would have in westeros certainly. i'm quite curious to see how that plays out. after all, to them now daemon and gael are more incentivised to defend the Valaryons, amusingly. that could be a very interesting interaction in the future, Rhaenys and aegon expecting daemon and gael to e firmly supportive of crushing the Valaryons, only or them to not want that now.