House Velaryon

Lord of the TidesMaster of Driftmark

House Velaryon of Driftmark rules the island of Driftmark, the largest island of Blackwater Bay in the crownlands. Their castles include Driftmark and High Tide. The head of House Velaryon is titled Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark. The Velaryons are sworn to Dragonstone.  Their arms depict a silver seahorse on sea green.

## **History**

Steadfast allies of House Targaryen before and after the Conquest, the Velaryons are a proud, noble house of Valyrian blood and rule from their seat on the Island of Driftmark.

Having served nobly as Master of Ships for the early reign of House Targaryen (a title almost seen as hereditary), old Lord Daemom Velaryon served as Admiral of the Royal fleet under King Maegor the Cruel. He had also suggested the King marry Princess Rhaena Targaryen.

In 48 AC, the Lord of the Tides rectified his mistakes when he declared against Maegor the Cruel, raising his banner against the mad tyrant and setting the example for others to declare themselves in rebellion as well. When Lord Regent Jaehaerys took power, Daemon was confirmed as Master of Ships, which he served ably in. He bore three sons and four daughters. His sons being Corwyn, Jorge and Victor.

Daemon resigned in 53 AC to witness the birth of his grandson, Corlys Velaryon and remained in Driftmark until 55 AC, passing alongside his youngest daughter of the Shivers.

Taking control of Driftmark, Corwyn Velaryon ruled steadfastly and loyally for many years. Taking his eldest son Corlys alongside him every time he went aboard his flagship Wilt and Blush. The seeds of the Sea Snake were laid here, the boy becoming an accomplished sailor at an incredibly early age. Corwyn Velaryon’s rule also saw the expansion of House Velaryon’s influence, with his only daughter becoming the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as his one of his sons Aethan serving on the Kingsguard after the Hook Rebellion. Though this ascension was also marred with tragedy, with the death of his brother Jorgen in Braavos, which was soon followed with the death of his youngest brother Victor during a War with Dorne. Both predeceased their sons.

After the deaths of his brothers, Corwyn slowly began to shirk from his duties as Lord, more often than not taking Corlys with him on long seafaring adventures across the Narrow Sea, a trend his heir would amplify and continue. With Lord Corwyn and his heir Corlys more often gone, the island of Driftmark was typically run by Lord Corwyns second and third son,  Malentine Velaryon and Ser Vaegon Velaryon. This deeply soured the relationship between the brothers and their elder Corlys.

In 75 AC, Corwyn Velaryon fell deathly ill and became bedridden, incapable, while his heir was away, which led many to think of a dangerous fight for succession. However, such things did not come to pass.  Malentine Velaryon did not seize Driftmark as many feared he would, but waited patiently his elder brother to return. Corlys finally returned from Essos to claim his seat in early 78 AC. Corwyn died later in 78 AC and Corlys took his seat before departing for his ninth expedition east. This lasted from 80 AC to 90AC, almost eleven years. His tenth tenth voyage began in 91 AC and continues to this day. His daughter Daella was born in 79 AC as well.

### **The Sea Snake**

Adventurer, sailor, captain, and now Lord. Those were the words that described Lord Corlys Velaryon the Sea Snake. Already famous for his exploits in Westeros, his expeditions East brought wealth to House Velaryon like no other, rivaling and eventually surpassing House Lannister and Hightower. His ninth voyage east on Sea Snake brought him ship-fulls worth of gold and spices. In 79 AC, Corlys the Sea Snake had his first and only child. A girl named Daella Velaryon. Soon after her birth, he left for her another voyage. He periodically returns to Driftmark, most notably in 90 AC to construct a new seat for House Velaryon known as High Tide. Most of his time however is away from his lady wife, his home and his daughter. Much to her dismay.

### The **Regency of Driftmark**

In his stead, the Lord of the Tides saw fit to name his brother, Malentine Velaryon as Lord Regent of Driftmark. While legally the title belongs to Malentine, he shares its duties as Co-Regent with his younger brother, Ser Vaegon Velaryon, the more martially minded of the two. Together they rule the island and were the ones mostly responsible for raising young Daella alongside the maesters and septons.

When the Rosegold Rebellion broke out in 93 AC, House Velaryon stood with the crown as always. Ser Daemion Velaryon, the (arrogant but skilled) Red Sword of Hull, led the Velaryon forces in the war, and was cut down in his prime at the Slaughter of Bitterbridge. Malentine remained at Driftmark to rule, being less suited to battle than his brother Vaegon. Ser Vaegon fought valiantly at King’s Landing, being one of the commanders in the Dragonpit.

### **The Trade of the Narrow Sea**

In 92 AC, with the massive amounts of gold and spice brought to Driftmark by Corlys and the construction of High Tide, trade coming into Spicetown and Hull exponentially increased. While always an important player in the trade of the Narrow Sea, Driftmarks wealth grew greater through the increase of merchants flowing onto the island.

With this fact, Malentine Velaryon sought to expand this control on trade further. With support of many merchants guilds on Driftmark and even in King’s Landing, Malentine Velaryon charted a trade league with the intent to protect Westerosi merchants, specially those in the Narrow Sea. Named the Spicetown Guild, or the League of Hull, based off the towns the documents were signed making it official. Merchants that were part of the league were guaranteed low import dues on Driftmark over Kings Landing or Duskendale, exclusive privileges in the selling of their wares and fishing rights in the Gullet. The league would also protect its merchants from piracy and work to garner privileges in other ports and cities in the Narrow Sea. In exchange, all goods going from Westeros to Essos are required to be transshipped on Driftmark and pay a tax to do so. Dorne however, was left carefully out of any documentation, as Malentine did not intend to involve himself with Dornish merchants, no matter how fine their wine was. Despite this, northern merchants from White Harbor had a silent invitation, through a single line mentioning “neighboring kingdoms” in the charter.

Despite the war, by 95 AC, almost all the guilds in Driftmark were involved with the league, as were many merchants in various towns and ports in the Crownlands. The Hull League went as far as securing shaky, but present, trade rights in the city of Myr. Any merchant vessel with a customs record from Driftmark were given lower customs dues and exclusive right to sell incense from Westeros. As of 98 AC, the Spicetown League encompasses all of Driftmark, and has merchants involved even as far Gulltown. While Lord-Regent Malentine is officially in charge of the trade league, he leaves its day to day administration to Maelys Velaryon, who hears the petitions of various merchants and guilds.

## **The Velaryon Fleet**

### **The flagships of the fleet**

*Wilt and Blush, captained by Lord Vaemond Velaryon*

*Pride of Driftmark, captained by Ser Maekar Velaryon*

*Daemon’s Courage, captained by Addam Velaryon, currently in the Royal Fleet, commanded by his First Officer.*

### **The fleet proper**

*Queen Saerys*

*Lady Luck*

*Queen Alyssa’s Beauty*

*Golden Wind*

*Stardust*

*The Phantom*

*Drowned Havoc*

*The Black Dread*

*Shadow of Intent*

*Forward into Victory*

*Mercy*

*Delver*

*Damnation*

*Seahorse*

*Aegon’s Fury*

*Balerion*

*The Sleeping Slave*

*Dolphin’s Kiss*

*Requiem*

*Silver Sword*

*Daemion’s Pride*

*Ser Aethan*

*Iron Rhaegar*

*Prince Daeron*

*King Viserys’s Might*

*Jahaera’s Blessing*

*Wisdom*

*Willow*

*Poxy Jennelyn*

*The Purple Haze*

*The Fist of Hull*

*Merchants Malice*

*Spicetown*

*Revenge*

*Traitors Bane*

*Wroth of Valyria*

*Dragon’s Fury*

*Second Breath*

*Mother’s Blessing*

*Virtueless Maiden*

*The White Snake*

*Over Heavens*

*The Scared Monster*

*The Purple Hermit*

*Beckoning*

*Tytos Lannister’s Folly, captained by Aerion Velaryon*

*Treason’s End*

*Princess Helaena’s Kiss*

*The Crimson King*

*Bastards Voyage*

*Fate Breaker*

*Morning Tide*

*Lord Corlys’s Honor*

*The Mailed Fist*

*Red Rose, captained by Ser Jonothor Bar*

*Winters Howl*

*Black Crown*

*Yellow Death*

*Justice*

*Nightmare of the Gullet*

*Purity*

*Royal Flame*

*Moonslice, captained by Jacelyn*

*Blushing Maiden*