TO chime in, as one of the Targaryen players, here is a full abridged version of the events thus far.
Well, I'll start from the beginning and work to the present. It started off pretty hot, with most of the major houses being filled up. As the usual, a decent number of folks dropped out, leaving a void. House's Stark, Tully, Arryn, and Martell are all open for sure. Minor houses are also fair game, and if you wanted, you could always make your own minor house out of the blue.
So, on to other things. I'd say we currently have five/maybe six dedicated folks roleplaying in the rp right now. That includes myself. We have House Tyrell, House Crakehall (in the timeline, House Lannister was deposed at the conclusion of Daenerys conquest, their lands given to the Crakehall's. The male's were sent to the wall, and the females married off to other families), House Targaryen (Played by me and another, I am the cadet branch while the other player is the main line.), House Baratheon (he is dealing with a full scale rebellion, lucky him), a House Harlaw (The Greyjoys for the most part were recently wiped out by the Crakehall's.)
So, onto the plot, in a somewhat abridged version. Daenerys and Aegon VI join forces, and reconquer the Seven Kingdoms, yey. Lots of violence, killing, etc, followed by a few decades of instability. Targaryen forces march and eradicate the Whitewalker threat once and for all. Or, so we think/thought. Lots of Targaryen baby making and incest, plus other families marrying in, brings us to the current timeline.
We have King Aegon IX, and his two sons, Aegon X and Daenys Targaryen. As with old folks, King Aegon IX croaks, dying of old age. His son takes the throne, only to be poisoned by his brother, Daenys, in the hopes of taking the throne himself. Surprise, the will of King Aegon IX or X, states that Daenys is not chosen in the line of succession. Low and behold, a scramble for the Iron Throne ensues.
The Crakehall Leader throws his hat into the ring, claiming right through intermarriage. Daenys claims the throne, as he is the son of Aegon IX, but he is said to be a mad, homosexual crazy man, so, his support is tenuous at best. My characters, Targaryen sisters decendant from a young brother of Aenys Targaryen III, father to King Aegon VIII, say their claim is best. Tyrell forces and other forces loyal to the thone declare of Daenys son, Aerys Targaryen III, who as it turns out, is just as much a despicable human as his father, who is not eligible for ascending the throne. ((IN other words, a big ol cluster F to see who will take the Iron Throne.))
Well, all this instability creates a massive fight between the Crakehalls in the Westerlands, and the Tyrells of the Reach. Daenys loyalist forces try their best, but end up being defeated. My Targaryen forces try to put me in power, and try to convince the Tyrells, who refuse, and put Aerys on the throne instead. During this time, the Greyjoys declare their independence, and start raiding and burning everything along the West coast of Westeros. The other major houses remain neutral (their players dropping out before any real action could take place.) The war is mainly between the Tyrell forces in the Reach and the Crownlands, with sporadic help from the Baratheon forces in the Stormlands, who are contending with a full scale rebellion.
I choose to leave with all my forces, and conquer the Stepstones, declaring my character Queen of the Stepstones, uniting all these islands under her rule with the help of her younger sister, and the two dragons they have. Big power struggle back on Westeros, no side able to really take full control. Aerys III takes a blow to the head, and goes into a coma. Viola, the kingdom is semi-without a king again. The Tyrells also end up getting the aid of 20k Yunkish slave soldiers, which to me, is vile and wrong. Cue Tyrell's coming to the Stepstones to broker a new deal.
The Tyrell main lord and the Targaryen younger sister are betrothed, and are working to convince the Cadet branch Targaryen leader to come back to the mainland, to take the throne. Long story short, we messed up, picked the wrong guy, and please come back and fix things for us. Figures. So, that leads to the current alliances.
You have Rhaenyra Targaryen II (that's me) and her loyalists forces, who are comprised of the houses of the Northern Crownlands. House Tyrell and all the Reach houses. House Baratheon, though it is severely hindered at the moment due to a civil war/rebellion. This comprises Team Purple.
Then, you have Lord Crakehall, and all the houses of the Westerlands. Its pretty much just him and his loyal subjects, they make Team Brown.
You have the Aerys Targaryen III loyalists, which without the Tyrells, is not much. The only saving grace for them is Drogon, the Black Dread reborn. Team Red.
Some last little tid bits, House Greyjoy got steamrolled, and is now replaced by House Harlaw as the primary leader of the Iron Islands. The Greyjoys are still alive, but their power is greatly reduced. War has only touched the lands of the Reach, Westerlands, Stormlands, Crownlands, and small border skirmishes with Dorne/the Reach.
I am greatly enjoying the roleplay, and I am actively working with the GM and Co-Gm to flesh out the lore, give more info, etc. (Family Trees, battles, alliances, so on.) We are mainly relying on the Books for the lore, but anything after book Five is all us.
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
