Game of Thrones: King of Harrenhal, starting with a blue hand stat panel

Conquest of Blackwater Bay in 287 AD.

With each stroke of the wooden oars, Dragonstone Island grew larger and larger.

Dragonstone is a lonely fortress in the sea, with a damp and cold wasteland that is surrounded by storms and raging waters all year round.

With volcanic smoke trailing behind, the atmosphere was undeniably gloomy.

"This used to be the Crown Prince's fiefdom, and it was very lively," said the short, pink-haired Earl of Paiber, pointing to Dragonstone.

"Although it's a fiefdom, they don't really live here much after the dragons disappeared. Being a prince of Dragonstone is more of an honor," the tall, thin Earl Tytus Blackwood retorted.

A somber place needs joy, not solemnity.

Arthur looked at Dragonstone.

Longshan is steep and precipitous; there might really be dragon eggs hidden here.

Since the Blood Dragon Dance and the disappearance of the Demon Dragon, Dragonstone Island has gradually declined.

Although he still holds the title of Prince of Dragonstone, the Crown Prince usually resides in the Red Keep.

The exception was Rhaegar Targaryen, whose decision to move out of his home caused a huge uproar.

The once bustling land where dragons soared is now nothing more than a desolate island in a vast ocean.

The Duke of Dragonstone governs several territories, including Dragonstone, Tidehead, Crab Island, the tip of Marseille Point, Stonedance, and Wonderland, without the financial support of King's Landing.

"We've arrived at Dragonstone!"

"We've arrived at Dragonstone!"

The feudal lords of Hejian cheered, for their journey had come to an end.

This kind of trip isn't considered troublesome.

Because of the shorter sailing time, Blackwater Bay is now relatively quiet.

For the feudal lords, short trips were both novel and comfortable.

Now Arthur can not only see the outline of Dragon Mountain, but also the Black Stone Castle with its gargoyles and dragon-shaped towers.

In Westeros, Dragonstone Castle is the only representative of the Blackstone magical architectural style.

This place was originally the westernmost military outpost in Valyria.

The bronze figurehead of the Miss Lyanna cuts through the waves, splashing seawater like outstretched wings.

The mountains grew higher and higher, shrouded in pale smoke, and the air smelled of sulfur and sea salt.

The sails sing, the drums continue to beat, and the oars move smoothly.

After a while, the port of Dragonstone Island came into view.

The place where the three-headed dragon breathed fire a few years ago has now been replaced by the crowned stag banner of House Baratheon.

Every dock was crowded with boats, which swayed gently along the breakwater.

The best berths were occupied by the warships of the royal fleet, and the most beautiful was the flagship of the First Lord of the Navy, Stannis, the "Fire".

As the Miss Lyanna entered the harbor, the river lords disembarked in droves.

"My lords, this way!"

"This way! King Robert, Lord Stannis, and Lord Jon are all waiting for you on Dragonstone."

The older Count Adrian Setiga, nicknamed "Red Crab," and the seventeen-year-old Count Morford Valerian greeted the guests at the dock on behalf of Stannis.

They were also vassals of the Duke of Dragonstone, the two most prominent of Stannis's meager vassals.

The ill-tempered Count Setiga was getting on in years, and his cloak was adorned with crabs carved from garnets.

The handsome young Earl Valerian chose a sea-green silk blouse, the platinum seahorse adorning his throat perfectly complementing his long, bright gold hair.

"Good day, Earl Adrian! Earl Morford!"

The two earls of protocol were dealing warmly with the princes of the Riverlands, but their brows betrayed their inner frustration.

Although a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, their political influence has plummeted.

They were once vassals of the Prince of Dragonstone, the ironclad of House Targaryen.

Now it is merely an appendage of the Minister of Naval Affairs.

Earl Morford's father, Earl Lusris, nicknamed the sycophant, was one of the Mad King's three favorites in the royal council and served as the Minister of the Navy.

But Count Luthris was destroyed along with the royal fleet in the great storm that occurred when Daenerys was born.

Many of the Valerian family's own warships were also destroyed, which further contributed to the family's decline.

Arthur must have felt a great sense of disappointment looking at the two of them.

The Valerian family, in particular, fell from being a top-tier powerful family to a second- or third-tier one.

When I saw Arthur, William Mouton, and Raymond Derry.

Valerian and Setiga were very enthusiastic, probably because they were in the same boat.

A phoenix in distress is no better than a chicken.

"Gentlemen, let's head straight to Dragonstone Castle."

The lords of the Riverlands followed the soldiers of Dragonstone.

The path from the dock to Dragonstone Castle is an uphill climb.

The castle on Dragonstone is a small fortress situated on the surface of Dragon Mountain.

"Duke Stannis's distinguished guest has arrived! Make way!" Stannis's standard-bearer shouted from the front.

So the sailors, soldiers, naked children, and pig herders on the dock all made way.

Arthur surveyed Dragonstone, studying its conditions as he traveled.

It's no wonder Stannis was so dissatisfied with this territory.

This place is truly a godforsaken place.

Apart from the pier, the only other part of Dragonstone Island is a small fishing village at the foot of the mountain.

The outer island territories are mostly rocky and rugged, sparsely populated, and difficult to recruit soldiers.

"We've arrived at Dragonstone Castle."

On the walls of Dragonstone Castle, thousands of black, ferocious stone beasts have replaced the ordinary battlements.

The gargoyles looked down at the people, each one different.

Wyverns, griffins, demons, scorpion-tailed beasts, minotaurs, stone lizards, hellhounds, chicken-snakes, and thousands of other even more bizarre monsters emerged from the city walls, as if they had grown there themselves.

Dragons are everywhere.

When Arthur saw the thousands of gargoyles, he felt his trypophobia was about to flare up.

"The woman in the red robe said she could awaken the dragon in the stone? Is it true or false?" Arthur looked at the terrifying and strange gargoyles.

It's unclear whether the dragon in the stone refers to a gargoyle dragon or a dragon egg.

The only thing Arthur could confirm was...

If it really is a gargoyle dragon, then it must be an artifact activated by blood and fire.

The fake dragon that spews shadow fire is no match for a real dragon.

Pale grayish steam rose continuously from the geothermal vents of Longshan behind the castle.

More importantly, it's Longshan, where Arthur can see the entire landscape.

Dragon Mountain, behind Dragonstone Castle, is steep on both the east and west sides.

The eastern side is relatively steeper, and many wild dragons used to inhabit the eastern side.

"If there are dragon eggs, then they should be on the eastern slope of Dragon Mountain, in the dragon's lair," Arthur thought to himself.

The gates of Dragonstone Castle are already wide open, welcoming all lords.

"Lord Edmure Tully, heir to Riverrun, has arrived."

"Ser Stevieren Frey, Heir to the Twins, has arrived."

"Young Master Arthur Hoan, heir to Harrenhal and Earl of Whitewall, has arrived."

"Lord Tytos Blackwood, Earl of Raventree City, has arrived."

. . . .

After the herald announced the names and titles of the lords and noblewomen in turn, he called out loudly, "Please, gentlemen."

Dragonstone Island appeared desolate; this time, the people from the Riverlands were mainly men.

At the gates of Dragonstone Castle, Arthur saw several more of Stannis's vassals and generals.

Count Balemont, with his pointed horns, was a fat, frail young man, dressed in layers of purple velvet clothing adorned with white sealskin.

Sir Yacel Florence, the brother-in-law of the man with big ears, could not change his plain appearance even though he was wearing a fox fur coat.

The Earl of Sangras, a devout believer in the Seven Gods, wore moonstones on his neck, wrists, and hands.

Sir Justin Marseille was a tall man with pink cheeks, blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair as white as flax.

Only Sir Davos the Onion Knight was dressed simply, wearing a brown coat and a green wool cloak.

Arthur calculated that Stannis's main vassals had all arrived.

After all the calculations, only these people could serve him.

"We can go to the castle courtyard first, where the knights are training, until the banquet officially begins," said Sir Justin Marseille.

So all the lords of the Riverlands went together to the courtyard on Dragonstone.