Daeron III Brightflame

Daeron III Brightflame, also known as Daeron the Dauntless and Daeron the Conqueror to some, is the twenty-first King to sit the Iron Throne, and the second monarch from House Brightflame, being brother to the late King Baelor II. He is best known for his part in his brother's conquests and for his own conquests of the Riverlands, Reach and Iron Islands.

Appearance and Character
Like his late brother, Daeron is tall, muscular, and clean shaven - but unlike his brother, who tended to keep his hair long and flowing, Daeron tends toward keeping it shortly cut and neatly arranged.

Before he ascended to the throne, he was known for having lived a carefree, pleasurable lifestyle. He slept with whomever he wished whenever he wished, leaving a wake of bastards from Volantis to Braavos, and was also known to be fond of battle and fighting. However, with the death of his brother, he has been forced to mature with the weight of kingship having been unexpectedly placed on his shoulders. He has had to be much more careful and has had to suppress his lust for whores.

Early Life
Born in 281 AC, Daeron was the middle child of his parents and the youngest son. He has two siblings: an older brother, Baelor, and a younger sister, Rhaenys.

When he was three years of age, Daeron's mother died giving birth to his sister Rhaenys. Five years later, when Daeron was eight, his father would pass away as well, leaving Daeron and Rhaenys orphaned and in the care of the family servant Privat and Daeron's brother, the now-sixteen-year-old Baelor.

As the younger son, less care was taken with Daeron's education. He rejected many scholars as tutors, instead favouring fighting instructors and strategists. Despite his strong friendship with his brother, Daeron often rebelled against his will, and would often sneak off during diplomatic missions to visit a whorehouse or tavern.

Time with the Forgotten Sons
After his brother founded the mercenary company known as the Forgotten Sons, Daeron joined as second-in-command to his brother. Together they and their sister Rhaenys made a name for themselves laying waste to Tyroshi lands and destroying Tyroshi patrols. During their time in Essos, Baelor decided to reward Daeron for his loyal service by obtaining a Valyrian steel mace for him, named Coldbringer. Daeron would use this weapon to great effect in the future

Invasion of Westeros
Daeron would follow his brother over the Narrow Sea to invade Westeros. He would fight by Baelor's side against Baratheons, Starks, Lannisters and the Golden Company, as House Brightflame slowly rose to dominance in the War of the Seven Kings. When his brother was anointed with the seven oils, and after their sister Rhaenys placed a new-forged golden crown on Baelor's head and proclaimed him Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Daeron was declared Prince of Dragonstone - a title which he was confirmed in when Dragonstone itself fell soon after - making him the heir apparent to the Iron Throne. However, Baelor was killed in late 300 AC at the Second Battle of the Whispering Wood, and Prince Daeron himself took serious wounds as well.

Ascent to Kingship and Resumed Conquest
After the disastrous battle and their brother's cremation ceremony in the nearby village of Lambswold, Princess Rhaenys led the demoralised Golden Host back to King's Landing. Once he awoke, Prince Daeron was offered the crown and reluctantly accepted, ascending to the throne in a hastily-done coronation before returning to the Riverlands to destroy the remaining Lannister armies and seize Riverrun. Daeron then marched North over the Trident to drive the Ironborn out of the Riverlands, before carrying on to the Iron Islands themselves to force King Balon to bend the knee.

The Small Council
Whilst at war with the Kraken, Daeron hastily put together a Small Council to manage his Kingdom whilst he warred. He selected Jory Redwater (a man he admired, and captain of one of the three divisions of the royal war party) to be his Wartime Hand of the King, a newly-created position. Daeron chose his family servant, Privat Kalukho, as Master of Laws. He then selected Ian the Oculus, a known Targaryen loyalist, as Master of Whisperers because of his many connections. He also chose the Northman Shamus Blackwolf to be Master of Coin. For the position of Lord Commander of the Kingsguard he picked the renowned Vale knight Ser Edric Royston, who had been appointed to the Kingsguard under King Baelor. For the position of Master of Ships, Durgeon Muiriaxos was chosen. Finally, Ser Jory's cousin Robin Redwater was picked to be Court Herald, another new position.

Defeating the Stag and the Rose
With the Riverlands and Iron Islands secured, Daeron marched his army south to defeat Renly once and for all, defeating and capturing him in battle. However, the Tyrells still stood against him, and so Daeron turned his rage on Highgarden. However, the war did not last near as long as expected, as the vast majority of the remaining Reach lords decided to bend the knee - led by Ser Garlan Tyrell, Mace Tyrell's own son. Lord Randyll Tarly was one of the few who was left to defend Lord Mace, but unfortunately for the Tyrells, Lord Tarly was captured at Bitterbridge and stripped of his Valyrian blade Heartsbane, leaving the road to Highgarden open. The last remaining rebel Tyrells were defeated soon after, and Lord Mace fled to exile in the safety of the Free Cities.

Producing an Heir
Seeing as the Princess of Dragonstone - the last Brightflame - was King Daeron's only heir, he was soon urged by his Small Council and court to wed as soon as possible, to preserve and continue the male line of House Brightflame. Many choices were brought up and passed around in discussion - most notably among them, a daughter of House Hightower whom King Daeron actually courted for a time - until at last the lady Desmera Redwyne was decided upon. The King decided her beauty was sufficient enough and agreed to court her with permission from Lord Paxter Redwyne. So far he has made progress, but is not yet close to wedding her.

War in Dorne
After a War Council was called and many options discussed, Daeron chose to secure the South by conquering Dorne, a Kingdom notorious for its little water and vast expanses of sand. Learning from the mistakes of Aegon the Conqueror and his namesake Daeron the Young Dragon, his armies launched a naval invasion on eastern Dorne, whilst he directed Lord Paramount Garlan Tyrell to invade through the northern mountains. However, Ser Garlan ignored the King, preferring to pick off Dornish raiding parties and raid Dornish villages for loot himself. So, after securing the castles around Sunspear and the capital of Dorne itself, Daeron marched his army back to King's Landing then back to Dorne, invading through Kingsgrave in the North.

Quotes by Daeron
"Ask me to count the number of women I bed, dear brother? May as well ask me to count the number of ale goblets I drain."

Quotes about Daeron
"He's no King, he lived the life of a sellsword and knows no different. He knows nothing of justice or rulership."

- Berengar Parren

" He's a fine warrior, one of the greatest alive today. But as King, he's Robert Baratheon come again."

- Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully