Vaelar Aergyreon
Eric Hyland
Vaelar Aergyreon is the youngest son of Lord Daegar and Lady Vysessa Aergyreon, and the fourth of their six children. The younger twin brother of Gaelys, Vaelar is a dragon rider like all of his siblings, bonded to the sun colored dragon Usathon. Despite a reputation of being more hot headed, less measured than his siblings, he still garners respect, as he (and his twin’s) fighting prowess is well known. Besting an Unsullied Commander in defense of his family’s land holding of Selhorys earned him the Moniker the Glaive of Dawn, in contrast to his twin, who is known as the Spear of Night. Though he is happy to let others think him less intelligent than his siblings, this mistaken impression often allows him to operate without scrutiny, something that suits him just fine.
Appearance And Character
A pure blooded Valyrian, Vaelar has the typical features of one of his birth; sunkissed skin, bright purple eyes and a long silver hair, hair often kept tied back to stay out of his face whilst riding his dragon. Tall and fit, Vaelar also boasts deceptive strength for one of his relatively lithe build, owing to his training as both dragon rider and warrior. Though well trained in both the art of diplomacy and intrigue, as all of his house are, Vaelar initially eschewed such pursuits, finding them to be exceedingly dull. His parents took great pains to impress upon him the importance of their ways, and though both are gone, he honors their wishes and maintains the family values, using guile to help further the family’s aims. In some ways, his reputation as being less cerebral than the rest of his family aids him, as it leads others to underestimate his cunning.
Still, he maintains his combat prowess, should guile ever fail him. As a warrior, Vaelar received training in many kinds of armaments, but favors a glaive as his weapon of choice. Protective of all of his family members, he is especially close with his twin sister Gaelys, owing to the combat training both undertook together in their youth. Despite this, he also has something of a friendly rivalry with her.
History
Early Life
Vaelar Aergyreon was born in the heart of Valyria, a thriving city nestled within the expansive Valyrian Freehold. He was born to Lord Daegar and Lady Vysessa in the summer 4826 AD, a time of great expansion and conflict within the Freehold, and within House Aergyreon, as Vaelar was not alone. A twin sister, Gaelys, also graced the family, born two minutes before her twin brother. Even from a young age, Vaelar was different from his siblings; less studious, more adventurous, and with a playmate his own age in his twin, the rowdiness on display was doubled.
Combat training was the outlet that granted the household some peace, channeling his wild energy into something more productive. He enjoyed wielding swords and axes, but it wasn’t until their introduction to polearms that he truly found his match. It was a glaive he found most natural, enjoying its reach, how his movements flowed in combat, and the complementary nature of the weapon to his sister’s favored spears.
Of course, no scion of House Aergyreon could get by on brawn alone, and Vaelar was no exception. Combat training provided a boon for his parents as well; a carrot to be dangled, with the threat of taking it away should he not focus on his other studies. It worked wonders, and though at times it bored him to tears, the young Valyrian grew up well educated and well rounded. Well equipped to carry forth the house’s motto.
Bonding with Usathon
As with all Dragonrider families, his early adolescence was an important time, the typical age when bonding was to occur. Much of his instruction leading up to his tenth name day centered upon the bonding ritual he would have to undergo, so that when the day finally came, he would be ready. A mixture of excitement and anxiety filled him as he and his sister were escorted to meet the dragons. But what if he didn’t bond with one? What if he was stuck riderless forever?
Though he and his twin were the same age, he’d always known their fortunes would be different; she was the eldest of his parents' daughters, while he was the youngest of their sons. She would always be important, valued in their eyes, but he was… expendable. And a dragon rider without a dragon, well… that would only drag his station that much lower.
At first, it seemed all his fears might come true; Gaelys bonded smoothly with a dragon; the oldest, most prestigious dragon in their family. He couldn’t help but think of the night sky as he gazed upon the magnificent dragon, scales a gorgeous hue of purple, silver flecking its body like stars. He also couldn’t help feeling envious, until his turn arrived, and to his surprise, another adult dragon would be his partner.
The dragon Usathon, though smaller and much younger, was still far older and fearsome a dragon than most children would bond with. Its color palette was the near opposite of his sister’s. Instead of the rich purple hued scales, they were a deep orange, interspersed with yellow along its horns, talons, and tail spines. Blended together, the colors were reminiscent of the sky at dawn, with the rising sun lighting up the horizon. He approached slowly, cautiously, but with confidence, his eyes locked with hers. The moment he felt his hand rest upon her shimmering scales, he felt at ease, a strange sense of familiarity, as though reuniting with an old friend. When the orange dragon did not devour or attempt to burn him, he clambered up to claim his dragon.
The next several months, stretching into years, Vaelar spent as much time with his dragon as humanly possible, his envy of his sister a thing of the past.
A Painful Loss
Tragedy struck when Vaelar's father Daegar, met his demise in a shocking accident. The loss of his father was a blow that shook him to his core, but he vowed to carry on his father's legacy and protect his family and their holdings. However, the fates seemed determined to test Vaelar's resolve further. Just two years after his father's death, his mother succumbed to a mysterious illness, leaving him orphaned, and his eldest brother Ikarys in charge. Having reached his eighteenth name day already, Vaelar did his best to support his two younger sisters, both young teenagers still, who were now without both parents.
It would have been easy to sink into despair, but Vaelar remained focused. With both of their parents gone, a new head of house in place, and uncertainty surrounding the new generation of Aergyreons, there were bound to be those who would seek to take advantage. The arrival of his aunt in Valyria provided some measure of stability, but they would be tested, and when they were, the young dragonrider intended to be ready.
Securing Selhorys
The first test would come in the form of securing their land holdings outside of Valyria. Spooked by the disaster that had struck House Valcoran, Ikarys wished to ensure nothing similar would befall them. While Vaelar’s twin sister was dispatched to the Isle of Cedars to reaffirm the commitment of their vassals in the area, Vaelar himself was sent to the west, to their far flung outpost of Selhorys. They’d had no reports of anything untoward happening, and his presence was merely out of an abundance of caution.
Bidding Gaelys a fond farewell, with plans to meet up after each of their tasks were complete, Vaelar donned his armor and rode on Usathon to the north west to check in and reinforce their outpost. After a day’s flight, the young dragonrider planned to spend the night in Volantis before finishing his trip the next morning. As he met up with Aergyreon allies in the city, he was given some troubling news; they were planning to send word to Valyria of an envoy from Astapor. One bound for Selhorys that had been attempting to cover its tracks and move in secret.
There was something about this news that unsettled Vaelar, and so, despite his fatigue, he mounted his dragon and took to the skies once more, urging his companion onward. The leisurely trip to check on their outpost had taken on a new urgency, and the dragon lord flew nonstop through the evening, arriving a few hours later as twilight set. He arrived to find things normal in the small town, at least until he went to land at the town’s keep. It was there, at the gates, that he spotted the delegation he’d been warned about. Despite their head start, there was no matching the speed of a dragon, and from their reaction as he landed Usathon nearby, his presence had not been expected.
The silver haired dragon lord dismounted his dragon and took in the sight; a well dressed man who appeared to be leading the delegation, a few attendants, and a small detachment of warriors, dressed uniformly, all sporting matching spears and shields. Warriors that Vaelar recognized as Unsullied. Usathon reared its head and let out a fearsome roar as its master approached the delegation, and it was clear his arrival had made all those present nervous, including some of his own soldiers.
Demanding to know what was happening, his query was answered by one of his house’s loyal soldiers; he had interrupted overtures from Astapor to entice those stationed here to defect. With the change in leadership, Ikarys lacked the wisdom and experience of their parents, while retaining the Aergyreon reluctance to flex their might, or so Astapor believed. And now they were here to test the waters, to try and strike while they felt his house was vulnerable. As he listened to what had transpired prior to his arrival, Vaelar felt his blood begin to boil, his face twisting into a scowl. The insult to his brother, to his family filled him with the overwhelming urge to command Usathon to immolate them where they stood. A younger Vaelar might have done just that.
But though he itched to give the command, he stayed his hand. The many lessons learned from his father flooded his mind, along with their house’s creed. Guile was most important. Perhaps there was a better way. “You think us weakened do you? Then let us put this vaunted strength of yours to the test. You have until sunrise to rest and recuperate, and then your strongest warrior will face me in single combat. Should any attempt to flee before then, or cause any disturbance, Usathon will feast upon their burning flesh.”
Vaelar spent the night resting with his dragon, and was ready and waiting outside the walls of the keep when dawn broke. Usathon’s presence kept all nearby in line as the Aergyreon pulled his glaive from his back and prepared to face off against the Unsullied commander. The sun was just making its way over the horizon, and at first light, their duel began. The Unsullied fought well, living up to the reputation of the eunuch soldiers of Astapor, and for a time, the two seemed evenly matched. While Vaelar had trouble getting through the unsullied’s shield, so too did the commander struggle to hit the nimble, spear-dancing Valyrian.
But in the end, it was Vaelar who came out on top, managing to slip past the commander’s defenses, using the curved blade to rip the shield from his arm. Evading a lunging strike from the unsullied, Vaelar swept his glaive’s shaft to take his opponent’s legs out from under him, and as the unsullied hit the ground, he found the blade of the valyrian steel glaive pressed to his throat.
Dragons had a way of instilling fear. But to best an opponent could instill something else; respect. Vaelar’s display had served its purpose; to renew and bolster the respect and loyalty of Selhorys. And the second part of his plan would now be set in motion; the delegate was given two choices: to bend the knee and submit to House Aergyreon, or Vaelar would cleave the commander’s head from his shoulders, and sic his dragon upon the rest. Nary a moment was spared in thought, with the delegate and his entourage falling to their knees in surrender.
While he stayed to oversee the fortifications of Selhorys, Vaelar had the Unsullied detained, but treated well. And while they were detained, he spent his time questioning his new Astapori prisoner. He learned all that the delegate knew of Astapor, of the Master’s plans, and any other useful tidbits of information. When his time there was up and he’d learned all he could, he sent the man back to Astapor unharmed and with a cover story; that his overtures had been refused, but that he had discovered a turncoat, who would feed Astapor information. False information, unbeknownst to them.
“What if he tells the Masters of your gambit?” One of the Aergyreon soldiers inquired of Vaelar, who simply shook his head. “After the secrets he’s spilled, it is as much in his interest that my plan succeeds as it is in mine. He will keep his mouth shut.” The situation put to rest, the valyrian departed to meet with his sister in Aquos Dhaen. The two regaled each other with tales of their exploits, including the new moniker Vaelar was excited to share. In the wake of his early morning duel against the Unsullied, he’d heard the soldiers of the garrison dub him ‘the Glaive of Dawn’. It was rather catchy, he thought, and only fitting that Gaelys had earned herself a Moniker of renown. He planned to have them stick.
Recent Times
The turmoil in the aftermath of their parents’ death settled down in the intervening years, and peace has flourished, for now. Never one to neglect his training, Vaelar has found a balance to satisfy his enjoyment of training, while still settling into the more subtle role expected of him, as is his family’s tradition. His battle with the Unsullied commander had given him a glimpse into their fighting style, something he wished to study further, perhaps even incorporate into his own. And surely there were others. For the next few years, he traveled about, learning and training in the various fighting styles of other cultures.
Of course, this was also a cover in itself, the Aergyreon not without an ulterior motive, as his travels also allowed him to make contacts, recruit loyal spies, and extend his family’s influence and information gathering apparatus in, around, and outside of the Valyrian Freehold. His travels now have mostly ended, and despite all his combat training, his glaive has still never tasted blood. One day he will take a wife, his marriage merely means to an end, a stepping stone to help his family’s ambition. But until then, he carves out his own niche in the family and in Valyrian politics. With the occasional trip to their outer land holdings, just to make sure they stay well behaved.
Is the rider of Usathan
Current Location
Year of Birth
4826 AD
24 Years old
Circumstances of Birth
Twin
Family
Children
Sex
Male
Eyes
Purple
Hair
Shoulder length silver hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Slightly Tan
Height
6'3"
Weight
210 lbs.
Aligned Organization
Vaelar Aergyreon
Strength
+1
Dexterity
+2
Intelligence
0
Wisdom
+1
Charisma
+1
Strength
+1
Dexterity
+2
Intelligence
0
Wisdom
+1
Charisma
+1
