"The Year of the Red Spring"
The realm stands on the precipice of a new era. King Maegor I Targaryen, known as Maegor the Cruel, sits upon the Iron Throne, but his grip on power is shattering. After six years of tyranny, kinslaying, and a brutal war against the Faith of the Seven, the Great Houses have finally reached their breaking point.
Maegor is isolated in King’s Landing, surrounded by a dwindling number of loyalists, kinsmen-traitors, and his massive dragon, Balerion. Meanwhile, at Storm’s End, the young Prince Jaehaerys has raised his banner, declared himself King, and branded his uncle a usurper. The realm is holding its breath, waiting to see if the dragons will dance once more or if the Cruel King will fall from within.
The Capital: Paranoia reigns. Maegor executes lords daily. The Red Keep is finished, but the masons are dead.
The Faith: The Poor Fellows and Warrior’s Sons are outlawed but active, roaming the countryside in huge numbers, attacking Targaryen loyalists.
The Rebellion: It is no longer a question of if lords will rebel, but when they will publicly declare for Jaehaerys.
Ruler: King Maegor I Targaryen (Disputed)
Seat: The Red Keep (King’s Landing)
Allegiance: Maegor (By force)
Status: Martial Law.
King’s Landing is a city of fear. The Headsman’s axe never drys. Maegor has commanded all lords to present themselves to renew their vows or suffer dragonfire.[1] Most minor lords of the Crownlands—Houses Rosby, Stokeworth, and Massey—remain loyal out of sheer terror, as they are within easy flying distance of Balerion. The Dragonpit is currently under construction, a gaping wound in the city's topography.
Ruler: Lord Rogar Baratheon
Seat: Storm’s End
Allegiance: PRINCE JAEHAERYS (Rebel Capital)
Status: Open Rebellion.
Storm’s End is the heart of the uprising. Lord Rogar Baratheon rescued Prince Jaehaerys and Princess Alysanne and is currently sheltering them. The Stormlander armies are mustering at the castle, preparing to march north. This is the safest place in Westeros for anyone opposing Maegor—provided Balerion does not descend from the clouds.
Ruler: Lord Lyman Lannister
Seat: Casterly Rock
Allegiance: Undeclared / Leaning Rebel
Status: Preparing to March.
Lord Lyman is a cautious but cunning man. He previously sheltered Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaena (Maegor’s first victims), proving his distaste for the King. In 48 AC, the Westerlands have ceased paying taxes to the Iron Throne. The Lannister armies are gathering at the Golden Tooth. They will likely declare for Jaehaerys the moment the Stormlanders cross the border, aiming to be on the winning side without taking the first hit.
Ruler: Lord Bertrand Tyrell
Seat: Highgarden
Allegiance: Nominally Maegor (Secretly Neutral)
Status: Fence-Sitting.
The Reach is the center of the Faith Militant uprising, meaning the Tyrells have lost control of their own countryside to religious zealots (Septon Moon leads thousands of Poor Fellows here). Lord Tyrell is terrified of Maegor but hates him. He has kept his levies at Highgarden, claiming he needs them to "keep the peace" against the Faith, but in reality, he is waiting to see who wins.
Note: House Hightower of Oldtown is in a delicate position. The High Septon (the "High Lickspittle") supports Maegor, but Lord Donnel Hightower is quietly signaling support to Jaehaerys to avoid Oldtown being burned by dragons.
Ruler: House Tully (Lord Prentys Tully)
Seat: Riverrun
Allegiance: The Faith / Chaos
Status: Warzone.
The Riverlands are burning. This is the primary battlefield between Maegor’s forces and the Faith Militant. House Tully officially supports Maegor to avoid execution, but they have no control over their vassals. The Brotherhood of the Poor Fellows effectively rules the countryside.
Harrenhal: Held by Lord Jordan Towers, one of Maegor’s few remaining true loyalists. It is a fortress of cruelty and a major obstacle for any rebel army marching from the North.
Ruler: Lord Hubert Arryn
Seat: The Eyrie
Allegiance: Prince Jaehaerys
Status: Defensive Support.
The Vale has declared for Jaehaerys. The Bloody Gate is sealed against Maegor’s loyalists. The Arryn fleet is gathering at Gulltown to support a potential naval blockade of King’s Landing. They are staunch supporters of the Prince
Ruler: Lord Brandon Stark ("The Boisterous")
Seat: Winterfell
Allegiance: Prince Jaehaerys
Status: Mobilizing.
The North was slow to care about "Southron squabbles," but Maegor’s crimes against the laws of gods and men (specifically Guest Right and Kinslaying) have offended the Starks. Lord Brandon has called his banners. A Northern host is marching down the Kingsroad, but they are weeks away. Their arrival would likely seal Maegor's fate.
Ruler: Lord Goren Greyjoy
Seat: Pyke
Allegiance: Neutral (Opportunistic)
Status: Raiding.
The Ironborn care little for which dragon sits on the throne. Lord Goren is loyal to the crown only in name. With the mainland distracted by civil war, longships have begun "reaver drills" suspiciously close to the westerlands and the Reach. They are waiting for the realm to bleed so they can pick the corpse.
Ruler: The Prince of Dorne (House Martell)
Seat: Sunspear
Allegiance: Independent
Status: Watching.
Dorne is not part of the Seven Kingdoms. They view the Targaryen infighting with amusement. However, Dornish raiders are harassing the Marches (Stormlands and Reach borders) to test the defenses while the Lords are distracted by Maegor. Maegor has no power here.
The @The Stepstones is a region littered with pirates disrupting trade and claiming territories.
The conflict between the three cities, @Walled Myr, @Tyrosh Harbor City, and @Lys the Lovely, is still raging on in the @The Disputed Landswith mercenaries like @The Second Sons being great assets to the war effort.