Order of the Dragon

"*I have...certain 'friends' in high places. Some who, like me, still remember the dragon.*" - Ser Richard Lonmouth, a.k.a Lem "Lemoncloak"
The **Order of the Dragon** was a secret society made up of lords, knights and smallfolk alike who wished the re-install the Targaryen dynasty as the rightful rulers of Westeros. Claiming to be "of the dragon's blood" due to the kinship between House Baratheon and House Targaryen throughout history, Robert Baratheon was able to unite the realm under his banner under the condition that those who supported the loyalist forces would be penalized with their lands being confiscated and given to more sympathetic houses. In particular, those of Valyrian descent were highly penalized and discriminated against.

At first, loyalist conspiracies were the talk of Westeros - A plot to smuggle Viserys III and Daenerys to Essos was successful, and a Dornish revenge seemed inevitable. The discrimination of Valyrians across the land led to many lords & knights supporting the king's brother, Stannis Baratheon. However, over time these conspiracies began to lose momentum over the mostly-peaceful 15-year reign of Robert Baratheon.

There were 5 main "factions" within the Order of the Dragon:

* The faction who initially wanted to crown Prince Viserys II Targaryen/Princess Daenerys.
* The faction who wished to crown Jon Snow, the bastard son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
* The faction who claim to have saved Prince Aegon VI Targaryen from the Sack of King's Landing.
* The faction of Valyrians and Targaryen loyalists who supported Stannis Baratheon as royal heir.

## Factions

### The Beggar King & The Mother of Dragons

Upon hearing of the incoming war, the family of Aerys II "the Mad King" were sent to Dragonstone for their own safety alongside trusted vassals. Queen Rhaella Targaryen died giving birth to Princess Daenerys during this time, during a historic storm that wiped out a portion of the royal fleet. Eventually news reached Dragonstone about the dreadful Sack of King's Landing, such as the rape and murder of Elia Martell and her children, and the surviving royal heirs fled in exile to the Free Cities among disloyal servants and figures such as:

* Ser Willem Darry, the master-at-arms of the Red Keep.
* Lord Owen Merryweather, lord of the Longtable and previous Hand of the King to Aerys II.
* Ser Owen Merryweather, son and heir of Lord Owen Merryweather.
* Lord Symond Staunton, lord of Rook's Rest and Master of Laws to Aerys II.

Eventually these supporters would die or leave their cause, until eventually the royal heir Prince Viserys III and his sister Princess Daenerys would be forced to sell their family jewels and flee from city to city. Under the watchful eye of Ser Willem, the children lived peaceful lives in a Braavosi manor until his death. A Marriage alliance was even being negotiated with Oberyn Martell to marry Viserys III to Arianne Martell. Lord Owen would flee back to Westeros after his family was pardoned early in the exile. Lord Symond would be assassinated shortly after Lord Owen fled back to Westeros.

Alongside the young Franklin Flowers, the siblings would eventually try to hire the Golden Company, only to be laughed at and mocked. Franklin would abandon them to join the Golden Company and earn a knighthood.

The exiled siblings would eventually come into contact with a Pentoshi cheesemonger named Illyrio Mopatis, who would keep them safe in his own personal manor. An alliance would later be brokered after a marriage between Daenerys and Khal Drogo, a powerful Dothraki warlord. Viserys III would later be executed via molten gold being poured onto his head, leaving Daenerys the last known surviving Targaryen. After the death of her unborn child and husband, she would hatch 3 newborn dragons and begin her journeys in Essos - with Westerosi exiles joining her side.

## Quotes

*"We're all loyal dragon men, up Crackclaw way"* - "Nimble" Dick Crabb