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House Velaryon

"The Old, the True, the Brave."

A family that, like the Targaryens, dates all the way back to Old Valyria, and is said to be even older. They are the richest House in Westeros and own the realm's biggest fleet. Seated at the island of Driftmark, the largest island of Blackwater Bay at the Crownlands, the heads of House Velaryon traditionally hold the position of Master of Ships for the Targaryen Kings, both families frequently intermarrying. The Velaryons sit at the Driftwood Throne at their newly constructed keep of High Tide, having previously been seated at the keep of the eponymously named Driftmark keep.

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In General

Animal Motifs: The Velaryon sigil is a seahorse—albeit portrayed as a hippocampus (i.e. essentially a horse with mermaid-like tail) rather than the actual thing. Seahorses are associated with dragons, tying into House Velaryon's close relationship with House Targaryen, as well as their importance as Lord of the Tides (In Classical Mythology, hippocampi were what drew Poseiden's chariot).
Always Second Best: The Velaryons are from Valyria, but they weren't dragonlords (at least until Rhaenys Targaryen introduced the practice in the family with her children following suit): they were one of the lower-ranking families of the minor nobility. Instead, they went out to Driftmark, one of Valyria's distant fringe colonies, to seek their fortune from fishing and sea trade. Since before the Targaryen Conquest, they've always served the Targaryens as faithful allies and admirals of their fleets. Depending on how you look at it, however, they're either the Targaryens' right-hand supporters, or always in their shadow.
Ascended Extra: Outside of a mention of them supporting Stannis Baratheon in his struggle for the Iron Throne, they were absent from Game of Thrones (and said mention was not even in the series proper, but in the "War of Five Kings" Blu-ray special feature). They play a much bigger role in House of the Dragon.
Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Commanding the biggest fleet of Westeros naturally translates into great political influence by itself, but they are also a family of dragon riders, increasing their political standing even more.
Badass Family: By the time Rhaenyra is about 18, House Velaryon has reached such a zenith of power that not only does Viserys personally go to them to make amends and arrange Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor, but Corlys also feels confident enough to play power games with his own king. By this point, still shining with glory from their successful war against the Crabfeeder, House Velaryon has:
- At least two dragons thanks to Rhaenys Targaryen, herself an experienced warrior,
- An heir in Laenor, who has a reputation for command—having both come up with the plan to defeat the Crabfeeder and carried it out with his own dragon, Seasmoke,
- The most powerful fleet in Westeros and the Narrow Sea,
- The most productive and constructive relationship with Daemon, the most dangerous of the Targaryens,
- And a Badass Normal Father Neptune Action Dad in Corlys himself.
Big Fancy Castle: House Velaryon is notable for having two:
- High Tide, first seen in "We Light the Way". The newer castle, its deceptively-straightforward facade houses the seat of the Lord of the Tides, the Driftwood Throne. It is also home to the Hall of Nine, Corlys's Trophy Room.
- Driftmark, the original and larger ancestral castle shown in the eponymous episode—as well as the previous home of the Driftwood Throne. Built atop a craggy cliff facing the sea, it hosts a seaside port where the deceased of House Velaryon are granted a Burial at Sea. It also has command of a larger stretch of coastline beaches.
Big, Screwed-Up Family: Played with. The main branch of House Velaryon under Corlys Velaryon are all deeply loyal to each other, and Lord Corlys notably has a stable and mutually supportive relationship with his wife Rhaenys. And while Corlys is consternated by his son Laenor's homosexuality, he isn't angry about it and believes it's just a phase and he'll grow out of it, instead of disowning him, etc.]] The Velaryons are a very ancient and wealthy family, however, so there are numerous minor branches, who don't always agree with Corlys — condensed into the form of Corlys's younger brother Vaemond.^{From the books}
Bling of War: Both an indicator of the house's wealth and their martial disposition. Corlys's armor◊ is elaborately engraved, with both plate armor and metal scales that evoke his maritime affiliation. This motif is even shared by the other Velaryon leaders◊ and even their foot-soldiers, helping contrast them to the drab armors of House Greyjoy (the only other naval power of Westeros seen previously in Game of Thrones).
Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: Silver and blue.
Cool Chair: The Driftwood Throne, which was apparently crafted from a ship hull and, according to legend, gifted by the Merlin King.
Dragon Rider: The house, as a whole, historically averted this. They were not dragon riders during the age of the Freehold, which is why they built their status and fortune out of naval power and trade. However, having Targaryen blood in their family thanks to Corlys marrying Rhaenys allowed them to tame and ride dragons in current times.
Fiction 500: Due to multiple successful trading voyages by Lord Corlys the Velaryons are even richer than the Lannisters.
Glory Days: Similar to the Targaryens, the Velaryons' proximity to power under the leadership of Corlys is at its height at the start of the series, and so is their wealth (the largest in the kingdom), though it rapidly goes south in less than twenty years. By the time of Game of Thrones, House Velaryon is only mentioned in supplemental material.
Leitmotif: "House Velaryon". It aptly includes a wind instrument sounding like a conch, and Ramin Djawadi based it off the melody of "It's Always Summer Under the Sea", which was sung by Shireen Baratheon in Game of Thrones.
Last of Their Kind: The series mentions that the Velaryons are the sole remnants of Valyria alongside the Targaryens.^{From the books...}
Mystical White Hair: Like the Targaryens, their white hair is a definitive feature of Valyria-descended aristocracy.
Nouveau Riche: Played with. Courtesy of Lord Corlys, the Velaryons reap the benefits of his travels which established trade that made them fabulously wealthy, enough to be a naval and political powerhouse in Westeros. They already had ties with the Targaryens as fellow Valyrians with frequent familial liaisons, but their wealth raised their status considerably, being second in power only behind the Targaryens.
Race Lift: The Velaryons are described as having traditional Valyrian features in the book (pale skin, white hair, purple eyes), but are portrayed by black actors in the adaptation. They are still described as having pure Valyrian blood, regardless of their skin color, and retain the white hair (even whiter than that of the Targaryens, though curly instead of straight) of their book counterparts. These features are also quite persistent, as their progeny retain said features even when generationally intermarried with the Targaryens.
Significant White Hair, Dark Skin: They retain their book counterparts' Mystical White Hair (a visual indicator of Old Valyrian ancestry) and are played by brown-skinned Black British actors. As a result, its members have a striking and unique phenotype among the rest of the mostly-white cast.
Wooden Ships and Iron Men: They are famed explorers and traders and command over large contingents of seafarers and naval infantry.

Corlys Velaryon

Lord Corlys Velaryon

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hotd_corlys.png

"Our worth is not given. It must be made."

Played By: Steve Toussaint

Dubbed By: Jean-Paul Pitolin (European French)

"What is this brief, mortal life if not the pursuit of legacy?"

The Lord of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon. The most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros, Corlys' leadership has built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world. He serves as the Master of Ships on the Small Council when the series opens.

Adaptational Personality Change: Comes off as a lot more assertive and active than his book counterpart; he also has shades of The Resenter.
Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Being the successful supreme commander of the largest navy in the world grants and warrants Corlys some heavy political weight.
Birds of a Feather: Believes this about him and Daemon and he has a point. Both of them have high standings in society, sure, but their reputations are mostly built on their actions, not their birthright. Both are very prideful and are determined to get their wives on the Iron Throne. For all of their ambition and pride, they will lay down their lives for their families.
Character Development: Nearly dying has made him realize how much he's lost pursuing his ambitions, especially those involving securing the Iron Throne for his family. This makes him initially want to declare neutrality in the Dance. Unfortunately, he is dragged into the war anyway when Rhaenys reminds him that their "grandsons" are in the greatest danger.
Contrasting Sequel Main Character: Prequel character of course, but like Otto Hightower, he invites comparison to two notable Great House patriarchs in proximity to the Crown in Game of Thrones, combining their best attributes.
- In contrast to Otto, Corlys shares the positive martial and administrative reputation Tywin Lannister has—especially since he is the richest House (even richer and with a larger fleet than House Lannister, in fact) during this time. His ambition and desire for proximity to power ("backdoor influence", as his actor Steve Toussaint describes) is very plain. His daughter Laena being spurned by Viserys I (leading to his resignation) is identical to Tywin's unsuccessful attempt to marry off Cersei to Rhaegar Targaryen (albeit Aerys II's reasons were much pettier). And much like Tywin's relationship with his eldest son Jaime, Corlys butts heads with Laenor because he lacks his father's ambition and desire to rule. Unlike Tywin, however, Corlys is by all accounts a very honorable, straightforward and good lord and father—as exhibited by the general warmness and unity of his house (his belligerent brother Vaemond notwithstanding).
- These positive attributes also invite comparison with the Decoy Protagonist of Game of Thrones Season 1, Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark. Throughout his stint in the Small Council, Corlys has demonstrated an interest in good governance, smallfolk, and border security (the issues that preoccupied Ned as Hand). Furthermore, despite his children still serving as actors and pawns in his political ploys, Laenor and Laena seem to have been raised in a positive environment, ensuring they grow to become very eligible and good noblefolk. (The fact that he doesn't worry a lot about Laenor being gay and Laena being a Tomboy Princess also harkens to Ned's acceptance and support of Arya's more warrior-like pursuits). Finally, Ned's Papa Wolf tendencies (especially for his bastard son—actually nephew—Jon Snow) are also reflected in Corlys' sheer willingness to protect Laenor's "sons", even if they are plainly not biologically related to him.
Doting Grandparent: Corlys is a loving grandfather to Rhaenyra's sons, especially her second son Luke, whom he has groomed as his heir. Even though he is (privately) well aware that they are not biologically Laenor's, he refuses to consider disinheriting Luke in favour of Laena's daughter Baela (who is his biological grandchild), stating that a sudden disinheritance would put the boys in an even more precarious position than they already are. He even is willing to go into the fray one last time and declare for the Blacks for the safety of his adopted grandsons.
Dreadlock Warrior: Out of the Velaryon men, Corlys embodies this the most, especially as he himself fights the final assault on the Stepstones during his Big Damn Heroes moment.
Education Mama: Steve Toussaint claims this of him in the official podcast, and elements of it do persist in the show. This can be seen in selected background moments where a) he is visibly irritated whenever Laenor is behaving beneath his station; and b) in those moments where he verbally clashes with Rhaenys about how his Altar Diplomacy matches are risking Laenor and Laena. That said, his general acceptance of their character, willingness to protect them and their grandchildren, and overall lack of sliminess compared to Otto Hightower makes him look far better. To quote:
Steve Toussaint: That's a hard one because I want to say, "He's great!" But he's not. He's not good. ... He is one of these fathers who is like, "I know what's best for you, shut up and listen to what I say." ... And we see that mid-way through the season how he is with his son, particularly. He's a little hard on his son. I think he loves his children, but he's basically, "You're gonna do this thing 'cause it's good for the family, and I don't care about who you are and what you think." ... He's not the listening father.
Establishing Character Moment: A very subtle one. When Rhaenyra is filling the cups of the small council, Corlys puts his hand over his when she comes to fill his. The look on his face makes it clear that he wants his wits to remain sharp, even during a time of ostensible peace.
Everyone Has Standards: Compared to most of the Small Council and everyone around him (save his wife), Corlys's behavior is usually the most reasonable.
- He is clearly unimpressed by the sight of the pointless violence that follows during the loss at a tourney, even noting it's highly disrespectful to do so because they're meant to be celebrating the birth of Viserys' son.
- Out of everyone in the council, he's also very reluctant to talk about inheritance so shortly after Viserys loses his wife and son. (Admittedly, the question of his wife Rhaenys's role in the succession does get a rise out of him.)
- He also clearly disapproved of Daemon's "purge" of criminals in King's Landing — while at the same time noting that the show of force from the City Watch does seem necessary at least this one time.
- He's disgusted by the Crabfeeder and the horrors he's inflicting upon the people in the Stepstones and is more than ready to do something about it personally.
- While he knows full well that Jace, Luke, and Joff aren't his biological grandchildren, he refuses to disinherit Luke in favor of Baela, because he knows that calling the boys' legitimacy into question will put them in more danger than they're already in, and they've suffered enough for something they had no control over.
Fatal Flaw: Pride, it's not as bad as his brother Vaemond, but Corlys is a proud man and is clearly still miffed about him and his wife Rhaenys being passed over for being the king and queen of Westeros. While he generally doesn't let it get in the way of his business sense and pragmatism, it clearly still bothers him and influences him to make decisions he'd not do otherwise. Even Rhaenys tells him to get a grip and that she's come to peace with it.
Father Neptune: In the show (especially because of his more pronounced hair and beard), this is a bit more played up in contrast to the books. While not to the point of obsession or coarseness, Corlys's time as a naval adventurer informs most of his actions and choices—militarily and politically. His private advice to the king seems to sum it up very well.
Corlys: To elude a storm, you can either sail into it, or around it. But you must never await its coming.
Four-Star Badass: He is the veteran victorious seafaring front line commander-in-chief of the mighty Velaryon navy.
Frontline General: Corlys Velaryon himself enters battle to rescue Daemon during his one-man assault on the Crabfeeder. He is shown fully-armored and slaying his opponents in one-on-one combat.
Happily Married: He and his wife seem very happy together. They're seen exchanging wry glances to show they're on the same page. They come together as a family unit, despite the tension that is arising among the Targaryen rule. He's also quick to defend her honor when others bring up her moniker of "the Queen That Never Was." They're also still horny for each other after all these years. While Corlys should take his son's homosexuality more seriously, part of the reason he doesn't is kind of sweet—he's projecting his own experience marrying a Targaryen princess. For Corlys, it was the best thing that ever happened to him and he's completely attracted to his wife, even after all these years.
Ignored Expert: He tries to warn Viserys about the Free Cities taking control of the Stepstone islands and thus gaining a monopoly on valuable trade routes. Viserys brushes off his concerns as the Triarchy simply killing some pirates and prefers to discuss the upcoming tournament to celebrate the upcoming birth of his son.
Intrepid Merchant: He's sailed all over the world and made his family rich on trade in the process. His celebrated nine voyages are evocative of Sinbad's seven.
Irony: One of the driving motivations for his playing the game of thrones is that he doesn’t want to be forgotten by history. The nine voyages he’d already completed became immortalized in an In-Universe book that was still beloved over a century later (at least in the book series).
Lady Macbeth: A rare male example. While the memory of being Passed-Over Inheritance in favour of Viserys still irks Rhaenys, she's put it behind her. Her husband is the one scheming, pushing and seeking restitution.
Corlys: By all rights, you should be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. You were robbed of the crown by—
Rhaenys: I never wore the crown because the realm would not have it so.
Corlys: And I would remedy that... small-minded error by any means necessary—
Rhaenys: I myself have put the business behind me, Corlys.
Married to the Job: His wife accusses him of being always sailing away from his family in some adventure or another. He doesn't deny it, just retorting that the sea is his only refuge.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Particularly with the Race Lift, the Corlys of the series is a comparatively original character. However, some of his background and character do evoke parallels with some personalities:
- As father-in-law to the Empress Matilda Expy in Rhaenyra, he is closest to Fulk, King of Jerusalem and former Count of Anjou. Fulk also happened to be a transcontinental magnate (holding Anjou and Jerusalem, compared to the two Velaryon keeps and later on the Stepstones) and has used Altar Diplomacy to expand his cause. He also had a very politically savvy wife in Queen Melisende, whom he would bow to on multiple occasions (mostly due to Melisende outplaying him in politics). Unlike Fulk, however, Corlys was by all accounts a better military commander, administrator and husband.
- The closest analog to Corlys's "nine voyages" (which built the Velaryon wealth) would be the Ming Dynasty's seven "treasure voyages" led by Admiral Zheng He, who would in turn draw comparisons to the later literary Sinbad the Sailor.
Not Quite Dead: After being gravely injured everyone presumes that he's going to die soon, and his brother even plots to be named as heir before Viserys denied his petition. He eventually recovers in time to declare for Rhaenyra in the Dance.
Old Soldier: A grizzled veteran of several wars, he's still out in the field during the last days of Visery's reign.
Only Sane Man: In nearly every Small Council meeting under Viserys, Corlys (instead of the king, ironically) almost always tends to be the most business-oriented and sensible.
Outliving One's Offspring: His daughter ends up committing suicide to be able to die on her own terms after pregnancy complications cause her fate (and the child's) to be sealed regardless. Then his son is apparently murdered soon after his daughter's funeral. He's actually Faking the Dead, but Corlys believes both his children are now gone. By the end of season 1, Corlys has also outlived his grandson Lucerys, who he loved and cared for despite not being biologically related.
Papa Wolf: For Jace, Luke, and Joffrey. While he is well aware they're not his grandsons by blood, he's fiercely protective of them, especially Luke. When Alicent attempts to stab Luke for cutting out Aemond's eye and Rhaenyra gets in the way, Corlys can be seen physically shielding all of his grandchildren and pushing Luke behind him. What spurs him to defend Rhaenyra’s claim when all he wants to do is retire and be happy with his wife and all of his grandkids is the boys' safety.
Pet the Dog: When he approaches the Small Council demanding that something be done to resolve the Stepstone problem, he's the only one in the Small Council who acknowledges Rhaenyra's attempt to pitch in, if only for the reason that she is the only one who is advocating for firmer action against the Triarchy.
The Power of Legacy: He is dead set on making one of his descendants a future king of Westeros.
"What is this brief, mortal life if not the pursuit of legacy?"
Pride: A sympathetic example, and Corlys tries to hide this, but it becomes clear in "Driftmark" that his obsession with Rhaenys not being crowned Queen is because it denied him the position of King Consort. His anger towards any injustice towards her ultimately comes second to his own wounded ego, and a deep-seated fear that he will be forgotten by history. This is also apparent in his desire to have Lucerys inherit the Driftwood Throne instead of his biological granddaughter Baela, because Lucerys has the family name. His throne room is also partly used as a museum dedicated to himself and his achievements.
Reasonable Authority Figure: While it's unclear if he has goals of his own within the court (save perhaps his very reasonable — if a bit self-serving — concerns over the Triarchy's control over the Narrow Sea), he's easily the most level-headed and reasonable of the king's council and the first one to endorse Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne. The latter may have something to do with his wife's misfortune in the past.
The Resenter: Harbours resentments over his wife being passed over for queenship — these only intensify when Viserys marries Alicent instead of Laena.
Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: After Viserys rejects the marriage proposal to his daughter Laena in favor of marrying Otto's daughter, Corlys feels his family has been scorned once too often, resigns from his seat on the Small Council, and abandons King's Landing to form an alliance with the disgraced Daemon Targaryen.
Selective Obliviousness: Rhaenys is very aware their son Laenor is gay. Corlys also knows, but is quick to pretend otherwise, both to himself and others, because it would be much more convenient if that were true.
Self-Made Man: Only by comparison to other high lords, by his own estimate. Unlike the Targaryens, who are dragonlords and thus were higher than the Velaryons on the social ladder in Old Valyria, as well as the lords of Westeros who were born into wealth, everything Corlys enjoys is something he worked for during his naval adventures. This informs his priorities and is the source of his resentments.^{From the books}
Slashed Throat: During the war in the Stepstones during the time skip between episodes 7 and 8, his neck was sliced open during an ambush on his forces, leaving him in a state of survival unstable enough for his line of succession to be brought into question in case he could not pull through.
Social Climber: The Velaryons were a B-list noble house before Corlys' seafaring exploits brought them vast wealth. Now he's set his sights on getting his descendants on the Iron Throne and weds both his children into the royal family. In "Driftmark" he refuses to disinherit his illegitimate grandsons to keep the Velaryon name alive and associated with glory^note. Rhaenys accuses him of using her being passed over as Queen as an excuse for his ambitions, as she had given up on that dream "a generation" ago.
Corlys: History does not remember blood. It remembers names.
Sworn in by Oath: He pledges fealty to Rhaenyra Targaryen when she's made Crown Princess at the end of Season 1's first episode, but his alliance with Daemon at the end of the second episode following what he perceives as betrayal when Viserys chooses to marry Alicent Hightower instead of his 12 year old daughter Laena suggests he might not be keen on respecting that oath. The subsequent marriage of Rhaenyra and Laenor, not to mention Daemon and Laena, belatedly sustains this—and the fact that the children of those marriages (Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey, Baela and Rhaena) became well-beloved to him and Rhaenys cements their allegiance.
The Teetotaler: Chooses not to drink during Small Council meetings to keep his head clear.
Trophy Room: The Hall of Nine in High Tide is decorated with the spoils of his famous nine voyages across the Narrow Sea. As of the War of the Stepstones, he's put the Crabfeeder's mask on proud display as a Battle Trophy.
Vicariously Ambitious: Similar to Otto Hightower, he too aims at winning the Iron Throne for his descendants.
Weapon-Based Characterization: His weapon of choice is an axe — plainly adorned but still stylishly shaped. In contrast to Daemon's Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister, his actor Steve Toussaint states that Corlys's weapon indicates his own preference for the simplicity of battle over the politicking at King's Landing.

Rhaenys Targaryen

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hotd_rhaenys.png

"Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne."

Played By: Eve Best

"I gave up the idea of wearing a crown a generation ago."

A dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon. Nicknamed "The Queen Who Never Was" because she was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.

Adaptation Dye-Job: Had black hair in the books that she inherited from her Baratheon mother. She's silver-haired here, presumably to make her visibly Targaryen for viewers not super familiar with the Targaryen family tree. The dye job also makes the status of her supposed grandkids, all of whom possess dark hair, as Strong bastards far less ambiguous than it is in the books. ^{From the books...}
Adaptational Villainy: She burns dozens, if not hundreds, of smallfolk and courtiers who attended Aegon's coronation alive with Meleys. Such an incident never occurred in the books.
Ancestral Name: She is named after Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, the younger of Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wives and the ancestor of the majority of Targaryen kings.
Bling of War: The Dragon Rider armor she wears in "The Green Council" is the second of its kind of Targaryen nobility armor (after Daemon's armors) shown on-screen. Its design is every inch practical, stylish and screams the red-and-black colors of her house (together with dragonscale patterns). Notably, it even harkens/echoes many fan-made portrayals of Conquest-era Targaryen armor—notably that of her ancestress and namesake, Queen Rhaenys.
Brutal Honesty: She tell Rhaenyra that her father is dead and Aegon II is named king.
Contrasting Sequel Main Character: In this series, Rhaenys' position affords her several comparisons with characters of the Game of Thrones, some of which was not originally apparent in Fire & Blood:
- As the elderly stateswoman of the court with a very withering snark, she invites comparisons to Lady Olenna Tyrell. Much like her, Rhaenys represents the belief that women can (and should) be given the opportunities to rule—as per her lingering resentment over the succession and her active administration of Driftmark while Corlys is away. Unlike Olenna, however, Rhaenys being a Targaryen Dragon Rider even as a grandmother means she can be (and has been) directly involved in war, as witness her symbolic strike against Aegon II's coronation. She also has a better marriage than Olenna had with her husband Luthor Tyrell, especially as Corlys is an amazing lord and husband, his ambition notwithstanding.
- With Corlys's comparability to Ned Stark, she is a close comparison to Catelyn Stark, as the matriarchs of their house who lose their family members and (initially) resented having bastards brought in their family—the way Catelyn treated Jon and how Rhaenys intended to favor Baela and Rhaena over the "Strong boys". Unlike Catelyn (who was killed at the Red Wedding and never managed to reconcile with Jon), she manages to come around earlier and commit House Velaryon to protect her "grandsons", the same way Corlys would.
Conspicuous in the Crowd: She the only one who didn't kneel when Rhaenyra was coronated.
Coordinated Clothes: A downplayed example. She's married into House Velaryon and wears the top of her hair in twists much like her Velaryon family members, which suits their hair texture.
Deadpan Snarker: Bitterness over being denied the throne then having to endure the death of her children has given her a very dry wit.
Doting Grandparent: Rhaenys is very close with her granddaughters. Most conspicuously, in the aftermath of the children's fight after Laena's Burial at Sea when all the parents come in, it's her, not Daemon, who acts like the twins' parent. Alicent is standing with her boys; Rhaenyra comes in and runs to her sons; Rhaenys and Corlys arrive and the girls run to Rhaenys. It's her they hug, it's her they're talking to, it's her who stands with them throughout the whole scene. When Daemon arrives, he stands in the corner and makes no move to reach out to his daughters, nor them to him.
Dragon Rider: She still rides the dragon Meleys, one of oldest dragons in Westeros.
Grande Dame: A dignified noble aging lady with a sharp tongue and a cynical view of the world.
Happily Married: She and her husband Corlys seem very happy together. They're seen exchanging wry glances and come together as a family unit, despite the tension that is arising among the Targaryen rule. Corlys is also quick to defend Rhaenys' honor when others bring up her moniker of "the Queen That Never Was."
Honor Before Reason: In "The Green Council", she has the opportunity to prevent the Dance by roasting the Greens with Meleys, but doesn't do it. According to Word of God, Rhaenys is fully aware that killing the Greens would end any possibility of war and ensure peace, but she doesn't take the chance because she doesn't want to be responsible for killing another mother and her children. When Daemon calls her out for it in the next episode, she retorts that she didn't want to be the one to start the war.
I Coulda Been a Contender!: She had a chance to be chosen as the first queen regnant of the Seven Kingdoms and is known as "The Queen Who Never Was." She had a strong claim, but was passed over in favor of Viserys on the basis of sex. When Viserys decides being female isn't actually an issue after all and makes Rhaenyra his heir to the throne, it makes the whole thing pointless and frustrating for her.
In-Series Nickname: She's called "The Queen Who Never Was" in recognition of her claim to throne being rejected at the Great Council.
Kick the Dog: There is honestly little reason to roast dozens, if not hundreds, of smallfolk with Meleys at Aegon's coronation.
Kingmaker Scenario: Ironically for a person who was ruled out in the kingship election to succeed King Jahaerys, she finds herself in situations where her support can determine who the lords, kings or queens will be.
- Viserys gives her the final word on the crisis of the Velaryon succession, and she confirms Corly's wishes to make Lucerys and not Vaemond the heir to Driftmark.
- She ultimately casts her lot with the Blacks on the crisis of the Targaryen succession after Otto Hightower's coup crowns Aegon II. It's even discussed in-universe beforehand and brought up as part of the reason for the Hightowers imprisoning Rhaenys and Meleys as quickly as possible following Viserys's death. With Rhaenys, Rhaenyra has a clear advantage and thus a good chance to strike first, making war a certainty; without Rhaenys, Alicent is hopeful that Rhaenyra can be persuaded to negotiate instead.
Know When to Fold 'Em: She refuses to play the Passed-Over Inheritance card during the negotiations to wed Laenor and Rhaenyra when Corlys wants to reclaim the crown for her using their son, pointing out she never lost something that she never had in the first place. The marriage happens anyway.
Mama Bear: Unlike Corlys, she doesn't want to put Laenor in danger by marrying him to Rhaenyra and making him eventual king consort, given that a conflict with those would instead support Rhaenyra's half-brother Aegon for the throne is clearly brewing.
Mystical White Hair: A definitive feature of her family's ancestry and one of her most notable physical features.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: A bit more downplayed to make her more original, but Rhaenys's background (as the scion of a more illustrious house who married a comparatively-less prestigious, but very influential, lord) evokes Queen Melisende of Jerusalem, the previous heir of the Outremer who had to marry Fulk, Count of Anjou. Melisende technically has a higher social standing as heir to Jerusalem's throne, and has shown herself to be a more astute political brain than her husband. The key difference is that Rhaenys had a far more loving marriage and family. However, whereas Melisende was able to rear her son Baldwin III into a fantastic king, Rhaenys would have to content herself with her grandchildren instead.
Outliving One's Offspring: Her daughter ends up committing suicide to be able to die on her own terms after complications with pregnancy 'cause her fate (and the child's) to be sealed regardless. Then her son is apparently murdered soon after her daughter's funeral. He's actually Faking the Dead, but Rhaenys believes both her children are now gone (and she breaks down very understandably upon seeing what she believes is the corpse of Laenor).
Pragmatic Adaptation: Strictly speaking, Rhaenys was not the actual front-runner besides the future King Viserys I during the Great Council of Harrenhal (as recounted in Fire & Blood)—that would have been her son Laenor. Presumably, she was elevated towards being the actual contender as it is easier to a) emphasize how she became "the Queen That Never Was" in the one pivotal opening scene; b) the fact that she was passed over for the previous deceased heir, her uncle Prince Baelon (despite being the child of the original heir, Prince Aemon) will require tracking back to the previous generation; c) it helps highlight the realm's rejection of her (and the frustration of House Velaryon's ambitions) over Viserys, who is the same generation as her; and d) it holds her up as a mirror to Princess Protagonist Rhaenyra, as was made explicit throughout Season 1.
Pretty Princess Powerhouse: She interrupts Aegon's coronation by bursting out of the ground with her dragon. She could have wiped out the whole faction of the Greens in one go but decided to spare their lives, merely having Meleys let out a Mighty Roar on them.
The Resenter:
- Downplayed. While she doesn't necessarily blame Viserys and is shown to still love him, it's clear she's bitter about being passed over as heir to the throne simply because of her gender, especially when she possesses an aptitude to leadership that her cousin fundamentally lacks. Because of this, she comes across as somewhat spiteful towards Rhaenyra and the king, especially when the subject of royal lineage comes up. However, she later reveals to Corlys that she got over being denied the crown a long time ago, and that Corlys is the only one still angry about it. She also doesn't bear any ill will towards her cousin, Viserys, and shows clear care for him. Her grievances with Rhaenyra seem to stem from annoyance at how she takes her position for granted rather than any sort of envy.
- She is a bit more straightforward about this when it came to Laena's death — feeling that Daemon's tarrying with their family in Pentos directly led to Laena's breech-birth-turned-dragonfire-suicide. Hence, she also seems keener in seeing her Velaryon granddaughters by Laena inherit the Velaryon holdings instead of Laenor's "sons".
Red Herring: Early on, Rhaenys was seemingly set up as someone who will be a key player against Rhaenyra, due to her implied status as The Resenter and the dialogue she had in which she warned a young Rhaenyra ("Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne"). However, it later turns out that Rhaenys has no interest in taking the throne (as she confesses to Corlys), and actually ends up becoming an ally of Rhaenyra, seeing the Targaryen-Hightower family side that staged a coup to put Aegon on the Iron Throne in the same light or worse than proponents of the Heir Club for Men that chose Viserys as king over her to succeed King Jaehaerys.
Too Broken to Break: She is dissonantly calm regarding the bloody death of her brother-in-law, having been dulled to the shock of death after losing her parents, both her children (to her knowledge), having her cousin on death's door and her husband fighting for his life after a severe injury.
Orwyle: It is ill luck to look upon the face of death.
Rhaenys: The Stranger has visited me more times then I can count, Grand Maester. I assure you... he cares little whether my eyes are open or closed.
Trauma Conga Line: She loses her daughter and her son in short order, unaware that the latter was forced to fake his death. Then her husband gets severely wounded in combat, with the Maester expressing uncertainty that he would survive.
Well, Excuse Me, Princess!: She's quick to puncture Rhaenyra's feelings of security about being declared her father's heir, but she does speak with the authority of someone who's been rejected as ruler due to her gender, and warns Rhaenyra that if Viserys goes on to have a son, the lords of the realm will expect him to be the heir, not her.

Laenor Velaryon

Ser Laenor Velaryon

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laenor_3.jpg

"To do our duty and... yet explore happiness. But there are times I think when these things cannot mutually exist."

^{Click here to see him as a young adult}

Played By: John Macmillan (Adult), Theo Nate (young)

"The wise sailor flees the storm as it gathers."

The son of Corlys and Rhaenys and older brother of Laena.

Adaptational Badass: In the novel, Laenor never engaged in any form of combat and was a bit of an Upper-Class Twit who earned his knighthood wholly due to Nepotism. In the show, he doesn't fight face-to-face, but he does participate in the Stepstones war by riding his dragon into battle and burning enemy soldiers. He also shows some strategic insight by coming up with the plan to use Daemon to provoke the Crabfeeder's forces into leaving their caves.
Adaptational Sympathy: Laenor's background and character are presented far better than the In-Universe history of Fire & Blood gave him:
- His portrayal as an Upper-Class Twit in the book is pretty straightforward, especially as he never served combat in the Stepstones. Here, it is instead portrayed as the upper-class equivalent of a Jaded Washout's depression (not unlike Robert Baratheon's centuries later)—both for being unable to move on from The Lost Lenore and dissatisfaction for giving up a naval career to serve as, essentially, a trophy husband.^note
- As shown below, he seems to be a relatively good husband to Rhaenyra and a loving father figure to her sons with Harwin, even if he isn't exactly the best model or protector for them—something which Rhaenyra clearly appreciated, calling him "an honorable man with a good heart". In the books, Laenor had a good relationship with Rhaenyra's children, though his status as a father figure for them is not disclosed.
- Laenor's purported pederasty from the books, which is a malicious rumour allegedly started by Ser Criston Cole, is absent from the show. As stated in the previous example, Laenor had a good relationship with the Velaryon princes, which was used by the Greens to paint a picture of the princes as amoral/aberrant due to their closeness to Laenor.
The Alcoholic: In Episode 6 he's clearly intoxicated, and it's implied this isn't uncommon.
Age Lift: Downplayed, Laenor was born in 94 AC and is the younger brother to Laena (born 92 AC), but the show switches the birth order by aging Laena down to 12 at the start of the show's timeframe. This also compresses the War in the Stepstones from starting in 106 AC to starting in 112 AC, meaning he can serve in the war as a Dragon Rider and Frontline General, which he wasn't in Fire & Blood. This also raises his profile as a prospective husband for Rhaenyra as Lord Lyonel Strong suggests.
Batman Gambit: His plan to use Daemon as bait to lure out the Crabfeeder's forces largely depended on the Crabfeeder deciding to commit his entire garrison to kill Daemon and, more importantly, Daemon avoiding being lethally wounded by a lucky arrow from the Crabfeeder's archers. It only just succeeds after the Crabfeeder becomes fully convinced that Caraxes isn't lying in wait to ambush and incinerate his men once they were all out in the open.
The Beard: He's homosexual and is arranged to marry Rhaenyra, with them mutually agreeing that their union is strictly political (though there is some genuine platonic affection in there as well) and they can both pursue their preferred partners on the side. According to a discussion in Episode 7, the two of them did have sex at least a few times in an attempt to conceive legitimate children, but nothing came of it, presumably due to their incompatibility.
Big Brother Instinct: He allows Laena to hold his hand when she expresses discomfort at the violence displayed at the tourney Viserys held to commemorate his son's birth.
Blood Knight: He never actually kills any men himself, but in the battle against the Triarchy, he's shown letting out thrilled cries, and eagerly shouting "Dracarys" to his dragon as he burns their forces. This later ends up negatively impacting his relationship with Rhaenyra. Ten years of being tied down in King's Landing to serve as Rhaenyra's Trophy Husband has left him deeply dissatisfied and he longs to go back to fighting in battle, missing the thrill and sense of purpose it gave him.
Brilliant, but Lazy: Laenor is an excellent warrior and dragonrider, but he derives little joy and motivation from his lordly duties. As he's a figurehead as Rhaenyra's husband, most of Laenor's conversations with her can be summed up with the stuff he'd rather be doing instead.
Dragon Rider: While the Velaryons are historically known for being seafarers instead of dragonlords, Laenor is a notable exception as he is revealed to be the rider of the dragon Seasmoke, which he uses to provide air support during the Battle of the Stepstones. This is presumably possible because of his Targaryen heritage, courtesy of his mother.
Faking the Dead: After receiving a bribe and some encouragement from Daemon, Qarl stages a swordfight with him, where he is seemingly killed, but in actuality, he shaved his head and escaped with Qarl to the Free Cities. To maintain the ruse, Daemon killed a guard, dressed his body in Laenor's clothing, and dumped it in the fireplace such that the corpse's face was burnt beyond recognition.
Fatal Flaw: Much like with Viserys, he never really got over the death of his beloved Joffrey, becoming a shell of himself over the years. His desire for adventure also meant that he was never meant for the life of a lord.
Frontline General: Personally leads the Velaryon army into battle from atop his dragon after Daemon lured the Crabfeeder's forces out into the open
Gayngst: He expresses discontent with his sexuality because he wasn't able to sire legitimate children or be the husband that he thought Rhaenyra deserved. Rhaenyra reassures him that he is a good man regardless.
Has a Type: Both of the lovers we see him take on-screen are battle-hardened warriors who bear handsome and youthful features in spite of being footsoldiers in active conflicts.
Heartbroken Badass: He cries over his lover Joffrey's body after he was beaten to death by Criston Cole at the welcome feast for his wedding, and is still crying later that night while reciting his marriage vows to Rhaenyra.
Important Haircut: He shaves his hair to a buzzcut right after he fakes his death and flees with Qarl to the Free Cities.
Like Brother and Sister: To the public, he and his wife are a loving couple; though in reality, their relationship is more akin to this. They bicker sometimes, and they're not sexually attracted to each other; but Rhaenyra earnestly admits to Daemon that she loves him platonically, and he cares a lot about her opinion.
Manly Gay: Physically, he's a Pretty Boy with delicate features and he behaves very gentlemanly; but his interest in war and bar songs aren't unlike a stereotypical "Man's Man" like Robert Baratheon.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Laenor's position as the eligible and handsome bachelor (who Rhaenyra is initially reluctant to marry) is similar to Empress Matilda's second husband, Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou. This is made more apparent by his Adaptational Badass. Whereas Matilda did conceive successfully with Geoffrey (even as they remained primarily political partners instead of genuine lovers), Rhaenyra did not but passed off her children as Laenor's all the same. The only real differences would be that a) Geoffrey was far younger than Matilda—in contrast to Laenor being a few years older (even before the Age Lift from Fire and Blood); and b) his direct involvement in Matilda's war for succession—while Laenor was declared dead in the In-Universe history of Fire & Blood, but Spared In The Adaptation here.
Parents as People: Adoptive, as he does claim the boys and certainly seems to love them even if Harwin is their biological father. He even gifts Joffrey in particular a name that’s very dear to him. Laenor himself admits that he hasn't been the best father and husband and needs to step up.
Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Played with. His homosexuality and his status as his house's heir make it impossible for him to truly be with a person he loves. With Rhaenyra, however, he does share an amicable bond and she's, not without personal interest, extremely proactive about them keeping a discreet open marriage. If it wasn't for the unpredictable temperaments and political power plays rampant in the Targaryen court, this would be the best arrangement a man in his situation could realistically hope for. However, some tensions arise after rumours regarding the paternity of Rhaenyra's children begin spreading.
Pretty Boy: Daemon, while flirting with his sister Laena, remarks that she is "almost as pretty as [her] brother".
Really Gets Around: Implied. Laenor apparently spent the 10-year time-skip between the fifth and sixth episodes indulging in lots of sex and alcohol. Given he still loves Joffrey enough to name his "son" after him a decade onward, this is implied to be brought about by the pain of losing the man he really loved.
Rhaenyra: For ten years, you have indulged yourself at court—bought the finest horses, drunk the rarest of wines, fucked the lustiest boys. This was our agreement; I have not begrudged you.
Spared by the Adaptation: In the source material, Laenor was killed by Qarl Correy in a fight. This appears to happen in the seventh episode as well, only for it to be revealed that Laenor and Qarl actually fled together, purposely leaving behind the charred corpse of a guard that people believe is Laenor's.
To Win Without Fighting: The little dialogue we see him give (particularly during a tense conversation with Rhaenyra) seems to suggest this is his preferred method of fighting. His strategy that won the fight in the Stepstones is also reflective of a more defensive and creative style instead of Attack! Attack! Attack! or defensive tanking. This is in contrast to his father Corlys, as discussed above.
Rhaenyra: [Y]ou do not desert your post when the storm lashes.
Laenor: The wise sailor flees the storm as it gathers.
Twofer Token Minority: In addition to having his homosexuality which was implied in the book be confirmed, he also, along with the rest of his family, has a Race Lift to be dark skinned.
Who Will Bell the Cat?: After countless failed attempts to trounce the Triarchy due to Craghas Drahar creating a chokepoint where his men can easily retreat into the nearby caves to avoid dragon bombardment, Laenor comes up with the plan to send somebody in alone that can bait the Crabfeeder and his men into leaving their fortified positions. When his uncle Vaemond bitterly asks who among them would be insane enough to carry out such a suicide mission, Laenor nominates Daemon without hesitation.

Laena Velaryon

Lady Laena Velaryon

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laena_5.jpg

"We are the blood of Old Valyria. We don't belong here."

^{Click here to see her as a teen}

^{Click here to see her as a child}

Played By: Nanna Blondell (Adult) Savannah Steyn (Teen), Nova Foueillis-Mosé (young)

"I want my child to be born where I was born, on Driftmark, in my lord father's castle. I want my daughters to be raised in their homeland with their family according to their birthright. And at my end, I want to die a dragonrider's death."

The daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys and elder sister of Laenor.

Age Lift: In Fire & Blood, she was born in 92 AC and would have been 20 by 112 AC when the show takes place and Vhagar's rider since she was a child, but she's aged down to 12 and not yet a dragon rider. This is because Laena was 12 when she was offered to Viserys as a prospective second wife following Aemma's death in 105 AC, but Viserys rejected the marriage because of her age as he does in the show. With the timeline moved forward seven years, Laena had to be taken along for the ride.
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Laena instantly became attracted to Daemon as soon as he entered the throne room uninvited for Rhaenyra's and Laenor's pre-wedding feast. She eyes Daemon and wastes no time to flirt with him during their Mating Dance.
Laena: A Targaryen prince, a dashing knight, and a dragon rider. You appear to be every young maiden's dream.
Better to Die than Be Killed: Hearing that she will almost inevitably die in childbirth, she decides to go out on her own terms by walking into the courtyard and ordering Vhagar to immolate her.
Death by Childbirth: Defied. Much like her late sister-in-law, she develops a fatal complication during the birth of her latest child. Rather than be subject to Aemma's fate, she walks out to the beach and orders Vhagar to kill her instead.
Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the original novels, Laena plays the Death By Chilbirth trope straight as she dies from complications after giving birth to a stillborn son. In the show, she chooses to have Vhagar immolate her rather than suffer from the same fate that Aemma did.
Dragon Rider: Laena has bonded with Vhagar, the oldest and largest of the Targaryen dragons, and enjoys races on dragonback with her husband Daemon.
Driven to Suicide: Facing the certainty of Death by Childbirth, Laena opts to die by dragonflame instead, tearfully ordering a reluctant Vhagar to burn her alive.
Establishing Character Moment:
- Little Laena starts her conversation with Viserys by curiously asking him what it was like to ride Balerion, and about Vhagar’s current whereabouts, before segueing, however awkwardly, into a rehearsed speech about how she'd make a good queen and wife. It highlights that she has an intense personal interest in great dragons, is a loyal daughter... and is still very much a child, to Viserys’s consternation.
- She gets another one when she reappears at her brother's wedding feast. She remains proper and well-mannered, but immediately takes notice of Daemon and makes moves to get closer to him. Much like her mother Rhaenys, she knows her duty, but also isn't afraid to seek out what she wants for herself.
Happily Married: Played With. She has a loving relationship with Daemon and they're good parents to their daughters Baela and Rhaena. However, deep down she knows that Daemon's heart is still with Rhaenyra.
The Heart: Subtle, but Laena does have shades of this. She is the glue that holds her family together, with her husband and children loving her deeply; Daemon even considers granting her wish of returning to Driftmark to make her happy. Her daughters also loved her greatly and she had a much stronger bond with them than Daemon (as her death made it hard for him to connect with his daughters afterwards, despite his love for them) and House Velaryon started to wither very quickly upon her death. Laenor even contemplated suicide after her funeral and Rhaenys and Corlys began having more frequent arguments, though mostly about matters of Driftmark's succession, which was an issue even before her death.
Irony: She ends up suffering from a fatal complication while giving birth to her youngest child, much like Aemma, the first wife of the man she originally was meant to get married to. Unlike Aemma, however, Laena is able to choose to die on her own terms instead of having her death decided for her by other people.
Kissing Cousins: She ends up married to Daemon, who as her mother's cousin, is her first cousin once removed.
Morality Pet: She seems to have become one to Daemon during their marriage, to the point he's willing to consider giving up on his ambitions in Westeros entirely and live a cushy, peaceful life with her and their children.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Laena's storyline in both books and series is relatively original (and even briefer due to her reduced screentime), but her general situation (a noblewoman counted multiple times for her political weight) is comparable to Matilda of Anjou, sister to Geoffrey Plantagenet (Laenor's prototype). This Matilda was almost queen consort due to her marriage to Henry I's son William Adelin—whose death nixed it and caused the ascent of Empress Matilda (Rhaenyra's prototype) as heir. This is reflected to some extent in how she was offered to Viserys I as prospective queen following Queen Aemma's death—and her Age Lift also coincidentally makes her close enough in age to Viserys's stillborn son Prince Baelon. Much like Matilda of Anjou, she would spend the rest of her life peacefully. Unlike her (who took religious vows and died an abbess), however, Laena would die by dragonfire on her own command.
Regal Ringlets: She's a noble lady whose mother is a princess and she has long tightly-curled hair.
Second Love: She becomes this to Daemon. While their relationship is mostly loving, she does have a few quiet insecurities that he still longs for Rhaenyra even years later.
She's All Grown Up: She's introduced when she's still a child, but after a Time Skip she's grown into an attractive young woman, such that Prince Daemon immediately starts hitting on her when they run into each other at the feast for the Rhaenyra/Laenor marriage.
Trade Your Passion for Glory: Laena's life in Pentos with Daemon and their children is very comfortable—especially since they afford their own keep, a library, and servants, tied to their status as guest Dragon Rider hired firepower to the Pentoshi. Considering Daemon's previous Cowboy Cop attitude and seeming-mutual free spirit, this is indeed as free and self-determining a life as they could ever have. However, Laena does miss Driftmark and Westeros—and she knows Daemon is far more alive, passionate, and driven as the Rogue Prince than as a gentleman swashbuckler family man.

Vaemond Velaryon

Ser Vaemond Velaryon

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vaemond.jpg

"Salt runs through Velaryon blood. Ours runs thick. Ours runs true."

Played By: Wil Johnson

"My house survived the Doom, and a thousand tribulations besides! And Gods be damned, I will not see it ended on the account of this..."

Corlys' younger brother.

Adaptational Context Change: The Race Lift of the Velaryons gives a marked racial subtext to Vaemond's claim over the Driftmark succession. He's a black man seeking to protect his patrimony from the state-sanctioned legal theft by white interlopers — something difficult to ignore for anyone from a place impacted by the Atlantic slave trade. Him being Corlys's brother as opposed to his nephew in the books also makes his claim to Driftmark reasonable on the basis of male primogeniture (over those of Baela, who is a girl, and Lucerys whose Velaryon heritage is dubious). These changes give him a cause that is more sympathetic to modern sensibilities, even if he isn't exactlyt nice about it.
Alliterative Name: Vaemond Velaryon.
Ambition Is Evil: When it appears that Corlys will die in the Stepstones, Vaemond petitions the royal court to make him the new heir to Driftmark over Lucerys. While it's understandable that he would want to protect his bloodline and he officially presents his claim in those terms, he still presses his claim after learning that Laena's children are betrothed to Rhaenyra's, which preserves both the Velaryon name and its blood. It's a risky move to begin with, since Corlys isn't in the ground yet and does eventually recover, which would have created a huge mess for Vaemond.
Brutal Honesty: His actor and the showrunners describe him as someone who always speaks the truth, even at the cost of alienating everyone against him. This ends up costing him his life.
Commander Contrarian: Downplayed. Laenor accuses him of being this when he argues with his brother and nephew over their strategy on the Stepstones, blames Daemon for their troubles, and tries to get Viserys to send aid and even take over the operation. His armour being relatively clean in contrast to Corlys and Laenor's grime-covered ones reinforces this, though he does partake in the final battle. To Vaemond's credit, they have been at war for three years with little progress, and his view of Daemon is mostly accurate.
Composite Character: With the Velaryon cousins who repeat the book Vaemond's claims to Viserys after Daemon and Rhaenyra kill him. ^{From the books}
Cultured Badass: A veteran of the Stepstones and the one most keen in upholding Old Valyrian customs — including their succession and racial purity. Fittingly, he presides over Laena's Burial at Sea in accordance with Velaryon traditions — not unlike the priests of the Drowned God of the Greyjoys (only, he invokes the Merling King of the Narrow Sea).
Defiant to the End: Vaemond ultimately realizes that questioning the legitimacy of Rhaenyra's children in front of the king will result in his death, but goes through with it, loudly shouting that they are bastards, and maintaining a smug smile even as Viserys threatens to take his tongue. Right before Daemon cuts off the top half of his head.
Everyone Has Standards:
- When Daemon nearly beats a messenger from Viserys to death because he told him Viserys was bringing reinforcements, thereby taking away from Daemon's achievements in Daemon's head, Vaemond helps Laenor restrain Daemon before checking to see if the poor guy is still alive.
- At Laena's funeral, when Corlys furiously tells Qarl to get Laenor not to kill himself, likely furious at their close relationship, Vaemond tells Corlys to calm down and let him go.
Fatal Flaw: Pride, much like his brother Corlys, except it might be even worse in Vaemond's case. As much as he has a claim to be his brother's heir since Rhaenyra's kids are clearly not Valeryon, much of his motivation comes from the fact that it besmirches his pride to think that a couple of clearly illegitimate children are going to steal his birthright from under him. Instead of simply taking the loss and moving on, he decides to air out the fact that they're bastards, then goes a step further by calling Rhaenyra a whore. Unsurprisingly, this gets him killed. His brother isn't even shocked that he went out the way he did.
Honor Before Reason: He knows Laenor's "sons" are actually the bastard offspring of Harwin Strong and thus seeks to claim Driftmark even after Viserys threatened to de-tongue people for questioning their parentage. The only reason he doesn't lose his tongue is because Daemon decides to take his head first.
It's All About Me: During his eulogy at Laena's funeral, he can't help but subtly pusing his complaints about legitimacy in the middle of his speech. Daemon can't help but smile at his boldness and lack of decency, this not being the time or the place to pull off that shit.
Jerkass Has a Point: He might have said and gone about it in the most bluntest manner imaginable, but he is understandably miffed that Rhaenyra's children who are clearly not related to him are going to get what he rightfully is owed.
Knightly Sword and Shield: He goes into battle in the Stepstones wielding a traditional sword and shield as befits a knight.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Vaemond's Composite Character nature coincidentally makes him akin to Geoffrey IV Martel, the previous Count before Fulk V (Corlys's basis)—a brother who contended the rule of his house and is more traditionally revered (as witness his upholding of Velaryon traditions and his alliance with the outwardly-religious Hightowers). His bid for power is also much shortlived—although unlike Geoffrey Martel (who is alleged to have been assassinated under Fulk's auspices), Vaemond dies at the hands of Corlys's ally Daemon with no bidding whatsoever.
Off with His Head!: Daemon slices off the upper half of his head for publicly insulting Rhaenyra and her children. His lower jaw and tongue are still attached to his body afterwards.
Protagonist-Centered Morality: Vaemond is a heavy victim of it. He's completely correct that Rhaenyra's sons are bastards born out of wedlock and thus have no birthright to anything related to the Velaryons. He's not interested in Rhaenyra's compromise of marrying Luke and Rhaena — and why would he be? The compromise boils down to publicly protecting and reinforcing Velaryon power while affirming their subservience to Targaryen oversight, as well as coddling the woman who has openly lied and usurped the family's seat. Yet he's framed as a Jerkass — maybe a Jerkass Has a Point at best — for daring to say, "Her children are bastards and she is a whore."
Rage Breaking Point: Once his claim to Driftmark fails due to Viserys's unexpected arrival, Daemon's goading was all it took for him to proclaim in front of the royal court that Rhaenyra's sons are bastards, which ends up costing him his life.
Related Differently in the Adaptation: He's Corlys' nephew in the books, and his brother in the show.
Slut-Shaming: Calling not only Rhaenyra's eldest sons bastards in front of everyone (knowing full well that the crime for such outrage before the King is the loss of his tongue) but even openly calling Rhaenyra herself a whore makes him killed by Daemon as soon as his eyes are focused on Viserys.
Stealth Insult: During his funeral speech for Laena, he begins to speak about the importance of the Velaryon bloodline while throwing a pointed glance at Rhaenyra and her sons.
Too Dumb to Live: Downplayed. First, he all but roars out that Rhaenyra's eldest sons are bastards in the Great Halls itself for all of the realms to hear. Need we be reminded that said boys are the king’s grandchildren and their mother is the crowned heir?! Then he calls Rhaenyra a whore, in front of her father and her husband. Said father (who, mind you, is also extremely gravely ill, barely able to stand under his own power, and nearing death) immediately pulls out his dagger, declaring he will have Vaemond's tongue for that. Daemon saves him the trouble by slicing off the upper half of his head. However, Word of God states that Vaemond knew he was a dead man after Viserys showed up, and that he decided to go out with some dignity while also making the rumors about Rhaenyra as public as possible.

Velaryons on other pages

The Blacks: Jacaerys Velaryon, Lucerys Velaryon, Joffrey Velaryon, Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen.

Velaryon Household and Retainers

Maester Kelvyn

Played By: Haqi Ali

A maester of the Citadel in service to House Velaryon.

Bearer of Bad News: He announces the severe wounding of Corlys to Rhaenys in "The Lord of the Tides".
Court Physician: As a trained maester, he serves as this to House Velaryon.
The Medic: He fixes the wounds Aemond Targaryen and the children of Rhaenyra sustain as a result of their fight the night of Laena's Burial at Sea when they are guests of the Velaryons. Despite doing his best however, he can't save Aemond's eye.

Ser Joffrey Lonmouth

Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, the Knight of Kisses

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joffreylonmouth.jpg

"Ser Laenor is quite dear to me as I know the Princess is to you, and we should swear to guard them and their secrets. If those are kept safe, so are we all."

Played By: Solly McLeod

A household knight of House Velaryon and constant companion of Ser Laenor Velaryon. He served in the War for the Stepstones, and would have been elevated to Kingsguard as Laenor's sworn protector.

Adaptational Badass: Downplayed. While we never actively see him fight at the Stepstones during "Second of His Name", he is part of the war council, wears dirtied armor and appears roughed-up, suggesting he has been fighting at least as hard as his men and fellow officers.
Agent Peacock: Appears even more stylish and foppish than Laenor. Yet as noted above, he is a survivor of the War for the Stepstones.
Joffrey: Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, or the Knight of Kisses, they call me, though I don't know why.
Bludgeoned to Death: Ser Criston kills him by punching his head repeatedly (with his metal gauntlets on) to the point it becomes an unrecognizable bloody mess.
Bystander Syndrome: Not him, but the ceremony goers who all simply watch as Criston Cole beats him to death. Even the guards fail to intervene and allow Criston to walk free when he finishes. That being said, it's clear that most of the observers are unsure who started the quarrel or why, and Criston is still a Kingsguard.
Cruel and Unusual Death: He's unceremoniously beaten to death by Criston Cole until his face is no longer recognizable. Bits of his brain can be seen in the pool of his blood.
Defiant to the End: Even after being beaten severely enough by Ser Cole to leave his face covered in blood, he pulls out a knife and attempts to fight him off, ultimately to no avail.
Didn't Think This Through: He approaches Criston Cole with presumably amicable intentions to keep each other's masters' secrets, and live and let live. He didn't quite count that, under peril of being executed and teetering on wrathful despair, Criston would take his words as a threat. Criston ends up pummeling him dead for his hubris.
Facial Horror: By the time Criston is finished with his beating of him, the left half of his face has been completely caved in.
Innocently Insensitive: He decides to chat up Cole about his affair with Rhaenyra, figuring Criston is probably a fellow content paramour. Unfortunately for him, Criston is not happy about it and is currently teetering precariously over the Despair Event Horizon for having sullied his honor. Joffrey's deduction of his dirty secret instead becomes the final straw and causes him to beat him to death in a fit of madness.
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Uniquely, especially for being a homosexual paramour whose romantic liaison with Laenor is a potential political scandal. While Laenor does agonize somewhat to being married to Rhaenyra, Joffrey is surprisingly encouraging—pointing out that as King Consort-in-waiting, Laenor will enjoy the prestige and proximity to command he otherwise wouldn't have. He also points out that as far as their Forbidden Love is considered, the agreement Laenor and Rhaenyra made that both spouses will pursue their own separate physical desires is "better than [they] could've hoped for".
Meaningful Name: His surname sounds an awful lot like "long mouth" or even "loud mouth". His inability to keep his thoughts to himself is what ends up getting him killed.
Offing the Mouth: Downplayed. While they do establish that he's quite nosy and presumptuous, he dies because he attempted to offer his friendship to Criston, with whom he felt a sort of kinship because of their situations. Criston, who was going through a Despair Event Horizon at the time, was not amused.
Small Role, Big Impact: He only lasts two episodes (he was present at the Velaryon war council in "Second of His Name" but had few lines), but his violent death at Criston Cole's hands drives the wedge between Rhaenyra, her former lover and Alicent ever deeper.
Too Dumb to Live: Brazenly gossips about Princess Rhaenyra's affairs at her wedding ceremony. This isn't what gets him killed. It's approaching her distraught paramour and discussing their common, dangerous predicament with him in a way that could easily be read as an implied threat that does him in. Plus, Criston has armored gauntlets while Joffrey doesn't wear any protection.
We Hardly Knew Ye: Gets killed after two episodes.

Ser Qarl Correy

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qarlcorrey.jpg

Played By: Arty Froushan

A knight of House Velaryon, who serves as a soldier in their warring with the re-unified Triarchy.

Adaptational Heroism: In Fire & Blood, he was the killer of Laenor in a lovers' quarrel, with suspicions he agreed to assassinate him in order to get money from Daemon to pay off gambling debts. In the show, the quarrel is staged and the "murder" is a Faking the Dead trick to allow Laenor and Qarl to flee to a happy life together. Technically nothing absolutely rules out that this happened in the books, but it's never alluded to.
Gold Digger: During the preparation of the plot surrounding him and Laenor, Daemon jibes at his fine outfit, suggesting he's with Laenor for the money. Subverted Trope. The fact that he willingly joins Laenor in his flight and Faking the Dead—even at the expense of his reputation as he will go down in history as a murderer—does at least imply otherwise.
Daemon: I've heard about your exploits in the Stepstones, Ser Qarl. Said to be a knight of remarkable skill. ... But alas, common-born. You're a landless knight with a lord's taste.
My Nayme Is: His name is phonetically identical to the name "Carl", only with a Q in place of a C.
Second Love: After 10 years, Qarl seems to have become Laenor's paramour to replace Joffrey. At the very least, they're shown to be discreet enough only to be seen as drinking buddies and sparring partners—even as rumors of it spread nonetheless. It also seems genuine enough for him to risk his life and reputation to engage in Faking the Dead together with Laenor.
Shout-Out: His name is a reference by George R. R. Martin to "Carl Corey", an alias used by Prince Corwin in The Chronicles of Amber.
Spared by the Adaptation: In Fire & Blood, he was rumoured to have been killed off by Daemon after Laenor's death, so as to clean up any loose ends. In the show, due to him now faking Laenor's death, they are both alive together somewhere in the Free Cities.

Characters / House of the Dragon - House Velaryon

House Velaryon