Baelor II Brightflame

Baelor the Bold

Baelor the Brave

**Baelor II Brightflame,**also known as **Baelor the Bold** and **Baelor the Brave**, was the Captain of the Forgotten Sons Mercenary Company and eventually the first Brightflame King on the Iron Throne. He is most famous for defeating other claimants including Stannis Baratheon and 'Aegon Targaryen'.

## Appearance and Character

Baelor was tall and well built, with long silver hair and calculating purple eyes. He was known to be very thoughtful, often sitting alone for a period of time to think and contemplate. Baelor was widely respected for his sense of justice and his understanding of law and Kingship. He was also mostly merciful and forgiving, however those that did him real wrong were dealt with brutally. Furthermore, his friends and family noted his great desire to sit the Iron Throne and that he was willing to do anything to take it.

## History

### Early Life

Born in 273 AC, Baelor was the eldest child of Vaegon Brightflame and his sister. He had two siblings, a brother, Daeron, and a sister, Rhaenys.

Baelor was born in his family's manse in Lys, to relative comfort. His father, Vaegon, and their family servant, Privat, worked tirelessly to ensure he was well educated and well equipped to be King should he take the throne one day. Baelor was trained by some of the best instructors money could buy and the wisest tutors were brought in from all over Essos.

At the beginning of Robert's Rebellion, Baelor's father hastened his preparations to invade Westeros. But this slowed as their funds began to dry up. Then, the new year brought both the birth of Baelor's sister and the death of his mother. With 'the Bright Mother's passing, their father's brutal training intensified, as did his desperation. Over the course of the next 5 years, Baelor and his father took various contracts in an effort to build up their reputation. One day though, in a skirmish off the coast of Volantis, Vaegon fell overboard and drowned. Some claim it to be an accident, whilst others believe it to be foul play on the part of Baelor.

### Preparations for War

After his father's death, Baelor assumed leadership of his house and resumed preparations for an invasion of Westeros. Whilst Privat maintained Brightflame properties and incomes back in Lys, Baelor and Daeron (Once the latter was old enough) travelled the Free Cities hiring sellswords and seeking help from Essosi nobles. Whilst Daeron was whoring, Baelor was able to employ the services of a sellsword named Garret Longley and several other groups of independent sellswords. However, he was laughed at when he tried to obtain aid from the nobility.

### Foundation of the Forgotten Sons

Together with his newly hired sellswords, Baelor founded the Forgotten Sons Mercenary Company, of which he was captain. For a time, to raise funds for his invasion, Baelor had contracts with a few of the Free Cities, his final contract being with Lys in their war against Tyrosh.

### Baelor of the Bryrepatch

Baelor decided to travel to Westeros under the guise of a Hedge Knight, Baelor of the Bryrepatch, to earn more coin for his invasion in Westerosi tourneys. He travelled to one at Saltpans, which he lost, and one at Gulltown, which he won by defeating Yohn Royce. He also attended the tourney at Ashford, which he lost as well. After his tournament failures, Baelor made his way back over the Narrow Sea

### Invasion of Westeros

On his return to Essos, Baelor lead his mercenary company against the Tyroshi again, crippling the Free City for Lys. With his wealth secured and his army large enough to be effective, Baelor decided it was time to invade Westeros. So, he sailed across the Narrow Sea to war with Stannis Baratheon. Baelor found victory in the Siege of Dragonstone where he captured Stannis then went on to secure the rest of the Baratheon's holdings.

Baelor went on to defeat Renly Baratheon in battle, capturing him briefly. And after defeating the stag, Baelor clashed with another Targaryen claimant, a boy claiming to be Aegon Targeryen, son of Rhaegar. In this legendary war the Brightflames fought the Golden Company and Baelor even fought Aegon himself, however nearly died doing so. But, like with Renly and Stannis before him, 'Aegon' was defeated by Baelor. Who marched north to the Crownlands and to war with House Lannister and House Baratheon of King's Landing. After a bloody siege, Baelor sat the Iron Throne and the former King Joffrey lay six feet underground.

### Death

Baelor went on to destroy Tywin's army in the Battle of Saltpans, capturing the Proud Lord himself. Following his victory, Baelor conquered the southern RIverlands and the Westerlands before marching onto Riverrun. However, the Golden Host's path was blocked by the Last Lion, Daven Lannister, and in the ensuing battle in the Whispering Wood, Baelor was surrounded, his horse killed under him and slain. He was succeeded as King by his reluctant and vengeful brother Daeron.

## Quotes about Baelor

**"**He would have been a great King, perhaps one of the best.**"**

- Privat Kalukho

**"**The man rivaled Tywin Lannister in rulership and Jaime Lannister in swordsmanship. I thank the gods that I will never have to face him.**"**

- Robb Stark

*"A king needs intelligence, skills in warfare and patience; Baelor was the only man in the Seven Kingdoms with these qualities, and now he's gone... A damn shame."*

- Daniel Youngflower