Bonus at 150 stones
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Dragonstone, The Chamber of the Painted Table.
Dragonstone sits in the Narrow Sea, guarding all sea routes out of King's Landing.
The entire island seems to be black. And that Dragonstone castle stands on the highest cliff of the island.
This is not a castle that mortals could have built.
Back then, at the peak of the Valyrian Freehold, fused black stone technology was used to build this castle, making it a springboard for the planned invasion of Westeros.
The walls are black stone, the towers are black stone, yet no seams can be seen, no traces of masonry felt, smooth and cold.
After the Doom, this craft disappeared.
In the castle, dragons carved from black stone crouch, hold their heads high, or spread their wings to fly. They are embedded in the castle, baring their fangs and claws.
There is only one path up the mountain, the Dragon's Back stairs.
It is a narrow path carved out of hard rock, only wide enough for two people to pass through to the castle.
Beside the narrow path is a void, a thousand-meter drop, with reefs below like fangs.
And, beneath the castle, there is a path leading to the dragon nests by the volcanic vent.
The council chamber of Dragonstone was immersed in a heavy atmosphere.
On the incredibly hard black stone throne sat Rhaenyra Targaryen, wearing a red dress embroidered with gold thread symbolizing the family crest.
Rhaenyra looked at the two people in the hall, Daemon and Lord Corlys, who had come for the meeting.
"Over four thousand people," she murmured.
"Overnight, the City Watch changed their banners. And that Red Keep guard has long been the dog of the Greens."
"Now the whole of King's Landing, along with the Crownlands, is in Alicent's hands."
"In her son Aemond's hands," Corlys interrupted grimly.
She paused, her throat tightening slightly.
"My father... is under house arrest in Maegor's Holdfast. All state affairs have been handed over to her."
Rhaenyra closed her eyes helplessly.
"The Greens have already intermarried with the Rogars of Lys. Once war breaks out, the Triarchy will surely join the fight. By then, we will be attacked from both sides."
Daemon Targaryen leaned against the black wall, a faint smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
"No need to be so pessimistic, Rhaenyra."
Rhaenyra shook her head.
"Jace, Luke, Joffrey... their dragons are all detained in the King's Landing Dragonpit."
She looked at Corlys Velaryon.
"Lord Corlys, tell me the truth. Now, we only have three dragonriders. How can we win this war?"
Corlys frowned and said, "I don't know how to win either, Princess. But I know that not fighting means death."
Corlys felt uneasy in his heart; he could sense Aemond's hostility.
Now, the Velaryons can only help Princess Rhaenyra. In this war, if they don't win, the foundation of House Velaryon might very well be destroyed by his own hands.
Rhaenyra stood up, her long dress trailing across the floor.
"We don't have the ability to confront the Greens right now. Aside from my vassals, no noble dares to openly side with us. They are terrified of offending the Greens."
"My dear brother Aemond. One day, when he's in a bad mood, he'll hang us all on the walls of the Red Keep!"
She sighed deeply.
"I'm going to write a letter to Alicent."
Daemon straightened up. "What?"
Rhaenyra was somewhat exhausted.
"I said, I don't want to fight anymore. I will renounce my claim to the Iron Throne and only keep Dragonstone."
"Let her give me peace. Even if it's a humiliating peace."
Corlys's Adam's apple moved, wanting to say something to persuade the currently pessimistic Rhaenyra.
But Daemon walked up to Rhaenyra.
"Rhaenyra. Look at me."
She raised her eyes.
"If we surrender... We are handing your life, mine, and the lives of all our children over to the Greens. Everyone who is still loyal to you will also abandon you because of your weakness."
He stepped closer.
"Do you think this is a game you can quit just because you want to?"
Hearing what Daemon said, Rhaenyra's body trembled slightly.
Daemon held her trembling hand.
"But I have a way."
He turned and pressed his palm against the dragon-eye relief on the stone wall behind the black stone throne.
Click.
The mechanism turned, and a secret door slid open silently.
"We have another path." Daemon stepped aside.
"Please come in, my distinguished guest."
A woman stepped out from the secret door.
She was about thirty years old, with silver hair like a waterfall woven from moonlight hanging to her waist, adorned with small black pearls.
Her skin was as pale as first snow, and her indigo eyes were bottomless.
Dressed in a white robe with a black base and gold trim, the high collar was tightly fastened, and the hem of the robe trailed on the ground without looking cumbersome.
She bowed gracefully.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
Her voice carried a rhythm unique to the eastern coast of the Narrow Sea.
"I am Eluna Lanther, from within the Black Walls of Volantis, one of the three Archons of the Blood Council."
Corlys stood up and looked at Daemon in confusion.
"Volantis?!"
Daemon smiled. "Since the Greens dare to collude with the Triarchy to have us attacked from both sides... Then why should we still stick to the old rule of not interacting with Volantis?"
Daemon looked at Rhaenyra.
"Are we to sit here and wait pessimistically? Wait for Aemond to come on his dragon and lead an army to surround Dragonstone like an iron barrel?"
Eluna took over.
"Princess Rhaenyra, Lord Corlys, please allow me to speak plainly. You are thinking about how to win the Westerosi civil war. But what we see in Volantis is a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity."
"An opportunity to rebuild the Valyrian Freehold."
"Freehold", the word struck the stone hall like a thunderclap.
Eluna's voice became low and distant.
"Hundreds of years ago, the Fourteen Flames consumed our homeland. The surviving dragonlords were scattered everywhere, only to be torn apart by the uprisings of slaves and servants in Qohor, Norvos, Lys..."
"Only we in Volantis preserved the Valyrian bloodline, texts, and laws within the Black Walls. Although we do not have the bloodline to ride dragons or the methods to tame them, we have always been the legitimate successors of the Freehold."
Fanaticism flashed in Eluna's eyes.
"During the Century of Blood, a hundred years ago, we were almost successful. Our great army swept through the Disputed Lands; Lys and Myr fell in succession, and Tyrosh was tottering."
"At that time, we also sent envoys to Dragonstone to seek the help of the Targaryens."
Eluna's smile turned cold.
"We promised that as long as Aegon the Conqueror joined us with his dragon, our council would honor the Targaryen family as the common sovereign. But your ancestor Aegon refused, instead allying with those rabble city-states and riding the 'Black Dread' to burn our legions to ashes."
There was only the sound of breathing in the stone hall.
"But that is the past." Eluna took a deep breath.
"Now, the opportunity has come again."
"We in Volantis still possess the largest land army in the Eastern Continent. Our treasury is piled high with gold, and our shipyards never rest day or night."
She looked directly at Rhaenyra.
"Princess, you need an army. We need the help of dragons to unify the Eastern Continent; this is a mutual complement for both sides."
After a long silence, Rhaenyra spoke.
"Tell me your plan."
"Short-term: Alliance." Eluna held up one finger.
"The Volantene fleet and the Driftmark fleet will join forces to launch a surprise attack on the Lysene navy. At the same time, Prince Daemon, you, and Lady Rhaenys, three dragons will raid the navy docked at the port of Tyrosh."
"Next, Volantis's land army will launch an all-out offensive on the Disputed Lands. With Lys and Tyrosh losing their navies, they won't be able to cross the sea to support Myr."
"Then, we will take Myr, and finally, the navy will press directly to the gates of Lys."
Corlys's eyes lit up; striking first to gain the upper hand... the Triarchy would never expect Volantis to join forces with them.
"Mid-term," Eluna held up a second finger.
"Rebuilding the Empire. After the collapse of the Triarchy, we will reclaim the three cities in the name of restoring Valyrian legitimacy."
"At that time, the Targaryens will become the nominal supreme rulers. All daily affairs and governance will be handled by our council."
"Supreme rulers?" Rhaenyra asked sharply.
Eluna smiled and held up a third finger.
"You, and your heirs, will hold the title of Emperor of Valyria."
"In accordance with ancient traditions, administration, taxation, and laws will be discussed between the Dragonlords and the Council."
Rhaenyra felt a sense of dizziness.
"What about Westeros?"
"The future target of the Empire's conquest," Eluna said nonchalantly.
"Managed by someone you trust. A unified Valyrian Empire's territory will stretch from the Sunset Sea to the Shadow of Asshai."
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