A/N This chapter is going to be all about the sun festival from the flashback to the first one to the explanation of the evolution of the festival over the course of what has now been 6 years since the conquering of Essos and a year since leaving Kings Landing to return home after having established strong ties with the kingdom. Also Rhaella is ruling as a Regent until Daemon comes of age he is after all going to be barely a year old at this point. Also the family tree for Rhaella and Aerys is in order from oldest to youngest Rhaegar, Viserys, Daenerys, Rhyanna, Daemon, Aelyx, Aemon, Vaemond, Maekar, Aethan, and three yet to be named females. This means they have 13 children 5 girls and 8 boys. Me and my husband currently have Wilhelm, Maya, Nadia, James, Sigurd, Kenton, and three as of yet to be named females.
History of the Sun Festival of the New Essosi Empire.
Every year in the hottest season people from all over gather to commemorate the day the New Essosi Empire was truly settled into place. This festival serves as a serious money maker for the empire as well as a way to foster good relations between all of the now noble families. The nobles are all given portkeys for their families and a few servants and guards to attend. Common folk who live far enough away can file to pay for a portkey as well. Those within one moon of the capital were offered other various forms of transport. Attendance is mandatory for nobles and those of certain station to be able be a part of the grand counsel meeting the was immediately before the festivals start. The festival also served to show the continued greatness and combined wealth of the New Essosi Empire. Performers practically begged to be selected for what was know as the Pyramid Parade which was a marching parade of over 3000 performers who were chosen about a moon or so after the sun festival so they have almost the whole year before the next sun festival to prepare themselves.
Many contests are held throughout the city for everything from simply baking bread to full melees. Men throwing axes, spears, and pretty much anything that could give a challenge. Women compared needlework and knife-throwing alike with every contest having decent prizes for all participants. The Joust, The Melee, And the Sword Tourney all had high wins but only for the top ten participants everyone else got simple prizes like a few loaves of bread to a bag of rice flour. The 3rd place winner got 10,000 gold pieces 2nd place got 20,000 gold pieces 1st place got 30.000 gold pieces and to name a boon that may or may not be granted.
Merchants were set up throughout the city and were strictly regulated. If you didn't show your registration seal you were forced to take down your goods as people paid to set up for this event. It cost 10 silver pieces to purchase a small seal which would allow for a small stand to be set up for three days of the week long festival. 20 silver got you a small stand for the week. 30 silver got you a medium stand for the week. 40 silver got you a large stand for three days. 50 silver got you a large stand for the week. 100 silver got you and extra large stand. 150 silver got you a small stage and set up crew for small performances. 200 silver got you a medium stage and set up crew. 250 silver got you a large stage and set up crew. All performances were limited to one day and one stage per paying troupe to keep things fair. Shops were limited on how high they could raise their prices during this time although most lowered them and gave large sales while still bringing in massive profits.
The festival itself was a week-long event culminating in a party at the palace for all the nobles and the top performers and winners of various contest. Everybody vied for the spots all week and invitations were issued alongside the first and second place trophies for each event. Everyday before this ended in massive feasts throughout the city and as the party in the palace went on the commoners all got roaring drunk and partied hard throughout Meereen. Prizes were provided by nobles and high ranked commoners mostly by simply setting aside the gold to the sun festival vault throughout the year.
The First Sun Festival
Soon after deciding to have such a festival I began planning it immediately. I knew I wanted it to be in three stages and to be more than just a massive week-long party. So I decided the day before the festival is kicked off a Grand council meeting of all of the noblemen of the New Essosi Empire. From there it would be a grand feast and performance on the Emperors walk that led to the great pyramid where I and my family lived. From there the festival would spread out into the city with different contests but only so many major events. 22 stages of different sizes would be put up throughout the city to be rented day by day and even some by the hour. 7 Massive stages were set up along with the others to be used by only serious troupes to put on all day and night performances. One of these was on the Emperors walk and wasn't just paid for but you had to audition for the right to that particular stage. The second to last day would give announcements of all the various winners and would have the major tourneys as well. The last day was to be the party in the Pyramid to celebrate all that the week had accomplished. It would likely take a fortnight to clean up the mess from the city but that was quite alright.
I walked around the city with my festival advisor board and a group of festival staff helping with the massive efforts of the set up crews. We walked around checking permits and comparing placements of stands to a drawn up chart on the map of the city. Many arguments over stupid things broke out and were fairly easy to settle as we made our way throughout the city. As we walked we sent different staff members to aid each area in their set up and to keep everyone orderly. I sent an aid to have the guards rotate and have an extra 1000 brought from the various guardhouses to keep order in the streets. As I went I cast charms on pretty much everything in sight to make it fire proof, stable, and put a basic childproofing charm on all stands to prevent splinters, cuts, and head knocks. The days of the week before the festival blurred together with one administrative task after another. I gave orders to the cooks for the various meals for the week and to the servants for the various changes of decorations and plates and everything else they would be in charge of taking care of. I charmed the grandest ball room of the great pyramid readying it for the grand party at the end of the week. I went with a very bright and colorful theme whilst also somehow making the whole room seem to have an inner glow. I laid down runes to aid the guests in feeling happy and content as well as festive. My husband made and sent out all the portkeys using a transport object spell we found. It was rather tricky to work as you had to know exactly what you were sending and where it was going. It took us both a moon to get it right but it was well worth it in the end.
The day before the grand council saw me and my festival staff performing final checks on everything from tablecloths to contest areas. I also took this time to reinforce all of my charms on the festival stuff as well as put down the runes around the various fire and cooking areas to keep them safe and operational. I made sure everyone who was selling food had the supplies they needed and gave them contacts for if they needed more. I also ensured the quality of all of the beverages being sold had to force a few merchants to dump some bad barrels of various drinks. I was nice and even gave them a small bit of coin for compensation and some supplies to at least replace the fruit juices if they so wished. I knew they would have to burn the midnight oil to even make those but that wasn't really a me problem. I went around casting preservation charms like mad to prevent having to pay any other idiot who brought something that wasn't entirely sustainable in such a hot environment. I also set up a quick Ice house where people could buy large quantities of ice as well as big blocks of it and warded it to the nines to keep everything both frozen and in the warehouse unless sold. I made a small coin for the shopkeeper that he would have to press to the symbols on each ice block and made it to where only the approved shopkeeper could use it. The pressing of the symbol would allow the ice block to leave and show that it had been sold. I proceeded to set up two more one on the emperors path and another near the main gates as this one was fairly central in the city.
All in all the planning was hectic but I was about to find out if it was worth it. I woke early the day of the Grand Council meeting and looked over the list of nobles one last time. Each area had a Magistar and at least three noble families. Some areas like the Dothraki sea, which were now settled by civilized peoples, had multiple Magistars to ensure the larger areas were taken care of properly. This meant a total of 40 Magistars and some 150 noble families across Essos. I luckily hadn't formally met all of the nobles this would be the first time and as such I would not have to remember everybody's name this time. I knew it was going to be a pain to learn them all let alone for my whole family to learn them all plus some base traits for each one but it would be done eventually. I knew the most important ones at least the nobles of Qarth, Asshai, Yunkai, Astapor, Braavos and the like. I knew I would do just fine it would just be a matter of ensuring that everything was handled efficiently during the Grand Council meeting. I was pulled from my thoughts by my servant informing me and my husband it was time to head to the council chambers.
I walked calmly down the stairs and hallways of the grand pyramid until I reached the council chamber hall. It was built like one would expect a lecture hall to be except with a podium box to one side with two thrones in it and a speakers podium in the center with benches making a semi-circle behind the speakers podium. Both faced what we decided to call the royal seats. The benches were ordered based on your level of nobility/place within the council. The lesser members were closest to the door and furthest from the podium. These included lesser nobles and heads of departments for the country. The benches in the middling section contained most of the noble class and a few Medal of the Dragon, our countries highest honor, owners. The front two benches contained the Magistars and highest nobles of each area. The speaking podium was put into play to ensure it didn't become a bickering bitchfest, and the royal seats were two thrones at the front of the room. Next to the Royal seats was a small writing podium and seat for a scribe to sit. Me and my husband walked in gracefully taking our seats and indicating the assembly to do the same as well. I quickly called the meeting to order.
In a quiet voice I indicated to the scribe to prepare themselves. After giving them a moment to do as such I began speaking. Welcome to the First Grand Council of New Essos. It is my great pleasure to meet with all of you wonderful individuals on this fine morning. I would start the morning with hearing the Magistar reports and I will assume you all read your council etiquette requirements as well as the laws of New Essos the were distributed 6moons ago for your perusal. Now Magistars one at a time come to the podium in order of smallest area to largest area Magistar and give your report. I spoke to the room and a young woman stood and came forward to begin what was a 4hour long endeavor to appear interested in the tediousness of the reports. I was glad that I forced them to all only give the most major of issues at these meetings or to summarize a bunch of small issues in 5 minutes. I will say that a lot of them could really speed talk. At the end of that I had the various lords and ladies put forth any projects or proposals that they may have for either laws or improvements. By the time that was done I called for a luncheon to be brought to the council chambers.
As we all ate me and my husband also looked through the various proposals of projects and laws to determine which would be approved today and who would have to come and make their cases before the Meereen Royal Council in three months. That was when I met with any who wished to be heard for a whole moon. It was rather exhausting but eh that's royal life for you. We agreed the project to have a naval outpost in Braavos would be approved. We would also approve at least 15 ships, 5 small 9 medium 1 large, for Pentos, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lys, Elyria, Port Yhos, and Asshai. All of these areas would be better with having a protective sea force and it would mean that someone trying to cripple the New Essosi Navy would be in trouble for sure. With the added it would bring our total navy to 180 ships most were smaller and that number included all our merchant vessels as they were all outfitted for combat as well as trade. That and the new and enforced basic self defense for all citizens as well as a minimum education requirement had seen to a lot of change in the past year. Most of the reports were positive and most of the projects proposed were simple enough but many didn't have enough details to get approved. I pointed out a few of those while we finished up eating.
After Luncheon we did a final review of the projects and told most of them to return with more details in their projects. Then we called a vote for the rest of the projects. The ship building endeavor was approved as was an elite military force to be trained in Meereen. The name was to be The Dragons Claws and it would be made of 500 elite warriors to be trained till they were the best of the best. A road making project was also approved to make Valyrian roads throughout Essos. It was put on a 10 year plan and a 10year tax was approved to pay for it. A law requiring all animals/familiars to be registered to their owners at a 1 copper piece fee per animal was passed. A law requiring consent for marriage was passed and a law that prevented arranged marriages to your own family members. Incestuous relations and marriages were also outlawed. Incest was given the clear definition of siblings, parents, grandparents and pairing of the three or similar. Cousin marriage was allowed provided at leas two degrees of separation were maintained. A few laws to protect the rights of the small folk were passed as was a law to check if a man/woman was able bodied before they entered into guard/military services. Also a law to allow for soldiers to be levied but only those of able body and no first born sons or only child's could be levied. Anyone could volunteer for service as long as they were able bodied and not the last of their line. Last of lines would have to have at least 2 kids before service could be rendered. A few laws to protect the noble class to a degree were also passed. All in all everyone was exhausted come dinner time.
We all enjoyed a feast in the hall to the side of the council chamber hall and chatted about the successful meeting. It was rather easy to keep arguments from starting when only the persons in the podiums were allowed to speak and voting went fast with me and my husband holding the right to veto anything we wished. Like the one who thought that the careful wording of the noble protections act as it was called would stop me from seeing the attempt to legalize the rape of commoners. I forced them to either remove the clause or have no protection rights at all. All in all it was still a fruitful day and at the end of the session I tied all of the idiots to a magical oath to serve the land before themselves they all knew it would be a truly binding oath but they still took it and all lived so even the ones who were trying to pass that idiocy within the noble protection act were only doing it because they were used to having it like that.
The supper went over well and we all retired for the evening to kick off the festival in the morning. I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow and didn't wake until it was time for me to get ready. I got ready for the day just before dawn and joined the gathering at the city gates. As the dawn broke the sky I jumped on the back of my Griffin Nightmare and led the parade through the city kicking off the Sun festival. The performers outdid themselves with acrobatics, fire tossers, sword swallowers and throwers. Massive beautiful floats and dancing women made their way to Emperors path with me and my husband on griffins leading the whole debacle. Furystorm and Bloodstorm waited at the end of the path like two impressive backdrops as the parade came to the end of the path. Me and my husband quickly took to the stage to announce the beginning of the festival.
I stayed on Nightmares back as I announced the festival to the crowd. Welcome everyone I hope you all enjoy your week here in the capitol. We are all grateful to have you here to celebrate the New Essosi Empire's founding and continued success. Yesterdays Grand Council met with great success and many projects for the progress of the empire and its people were approved and now we shall celebrate this new improvement. Enjoy and welcome to The First of Many Festivals of the Sun. Explore the city in the coming week and try your hand at the many contests. All who win shall get one of the coveted seats at the Pyramid Palace Party at the end of the week. Prizes can be won all over the place for various games many artists await to ply you with their various crafts. So go my people and begin the wonders of greatness that shall become the Sun Festival of New Essos! The spoke passionately to the roar of cheers of the city as I had used a sonorous maxima to ensure all heard me.
Almost immediately different plays and musicians started up on the various stages and the the main stage began a play as well. All around people enjoyed festival foods and various rides and games that had been constructed. I smiled from atop nightmare as I made my way through the city enjoying the various sights and sounds of merriment abounding all around me. I stopped and tried pastries, wines, and liquors alike. I allowed a young woman to paint dragon scales on my face and left them there for the day. My husband had retrieved our son and was taking him on the various hand crank rides we had been able to set up. The rest of the week passed in the same vein with only the tourneys really staying in my mind.
The final day brought much partying all day and night from all. Those who were on the invitee list for the Pyramid Palace Party found themselves the envy of many as they were treated to a truly wondrous night as the hall seemed to glow as if it was inside the sun itself. Everyone was cheerful and partied till the dawn broke it took a fortnight to clean up.
The Sun Festival (Present Day)
This years festival was important as it was the first to involve the Westerosi peoples. I had invited all the nobles and of course Rhaella and all 13 of her kids plus her grandchildren. Daemon and his set had had their first nameday and were all excited to join in the festival. Rhaella named her daughters Baela, Elaena, and Alysanne. I named my three newest daughters Dahlia, Vydia, and Fiona. They were a moon younger than Rhaella's daughters. I was excited to see my friend again and the hectic bits of the festival setup didn't even phase me anymore. I made sure everything was as it should be everyday in the weeks before and exactly three days before the festival getting everyone settled into place.
The Grand Council meeting went smoothly with no real need to bring up much in the way of anything. A project was proposed to find better ways of food storage in the desert heat it was approved with full support. A few nobles put forth laws to help with city cleaning and clarify a few bylaws on what is and is not considered litter and what is considered appropriate compost material. Mostly it was boring other than the report on the new allies within Westeros. All trade agreements were approved and provisions made as well as a law to enforce a set tax on both sides for import and export arrangements. It took until dinner as usual as it was the review of the various areas of New Essos and it's trade allies also were welcome to come now as well to update agreements. The day ended with all parties happy and full of food.
The next morning as the dawn broke we rode forth leading the parade while riding on a group of Zouwu as the performers put on impressive displays of sword handling, knife-spinning, knife-juggling, fire jugglers with beautiful women doing acrobatics and dancing around them, and fire artist who wore special gloves to put on awe inspiring displays of fire magics. We paraded through the city to the cheers and awed gasps of the crowds littering the streets other than the main pathway to the Emperors Path. We came to the path and finished the performance and announced for the merriment to begin.
I spent the day showing Rhaella around the city after putting the Zouwu in their preserve trunk. We chatted and gossiped all throughout the city as I showed her everything there was to see about my home from the best bakery to the sleaziest inns. We both enjoyed our day immensely. The next few days passed in much the same vein with me showing her different areas of Meereen and how much it has improved since the empire was founded. Saturday saw us sitting together watching the various knights begin The Joust.
So Rhaella who do you favor to win the joust today? I asked with a smile on my face. I would have to say that I favor Gregor Clegane even if I do not like him personally. She said with a grimace. Ahh yes The Mountain that rides most say he is a beastly man is this truth? I asked her curious I would have to say so Rayna as I have always found him to be as such. She responded a distasteful look on her face. His horse seems jumpy today have you noticed? I questioned to her. She said nothing simply observed the field and nodded as she noted what I had noted. I think I will not be favoring the Mountain today Rhaella. I said with a smirk when I truly noticed why his horse was misbehaving and a quick check of the roster showed he was screwed. The first several jousts passed by quickly. It didn't take long to reach the finalists Ser Morgaine Seawatch of Braavos, Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Gregor Clegane, and Ser Jhaqo of Dothrak. Ser Jhaqo lost to Ser Gregor and had to be hauled to a medic bay for treatment as he nearly died when Ser Gregors lance snapped and a piece went into his neck. Ser Gregor was forced to use a lance charmed to never break or forfeit his place in the tournament. He was also banned from participating in the melee and sword tourneys when it was found his personal lance had been filed to break. He looked rather thunderous at this declaration but a quick compulsion charm and he did nothing. Ser Morgaine lost her joust to Ser Loras as her horse wasn't behaving quite right. Ser Gregor and Ser Loras were to be the final round of the joust.
Both men got into position mounting their horses and putting on their helmets. Ser Gregor was forcibly given then charmed lance and was told again either use it or forfeit. He took the lance eventually and looked unhappy at having to do so. His horse was also showing signs of being slightly jumpy. Both charged down their lanes lances aimed at each other. They came closer and closer hooves hammering the ground dirt flying up as the horses galloped towards each other. BAM! Ser Gregor went flying as his horse wasn't angled right and had jumped slightly at the worst possible moment. Ser Loras was declared the winner of the tourney and given his invitation to the Pyramid Palace Party. He rode around on his horse and gave a rose to red headed maiden who blushed furiously and smiled at him as he rode away. Ser Gregor proceeded to lose his damn mind. If not for a quick shield charm he would have beheaded his horse, a serious crime as killing of anything not being marked as food was punished by hard labor, if not for a shield charm against physical objects from my husband which put him back on his ass. He then attempted to attack Ser Loras only to be stunned by me. I had the guards take him to the cells to cool his temper for a few. This decision was met with cheers from many of the crowd as his misdeeds were fairly well known even here.
Well that was rather interesting. I told her as the people participating in the melee got themselves readied and all were given a portkey that would take them outside of the arena if they were disqualified for any reason. The portkeys had been specialized to even take people who thought the melee to be a good chance to assassinate someone out of the arena instantly to avoid unnecessary deaths. This year two peoples portkeys activated upon touching them, meaning they were here to kill a directed target or simply hoped to kill someone in the melee, they were instantly taken to the dungeons without anyone's notice. Indeed it was. What do you intend to do with Ser Gregor? She asked politely, yet firmly. He broke the law severely and everyone attending signed the same contract to abide by the laws of New Essos as much as they could whilst here. He attempted to kill an animal not marked for eating and attempted to attack and potentially kill a fellow knight all because he lost a joust. I would see him to trial Rhaella. I told her emphatically. I agree I shall have to attend this trial to prevent any issues when I return home. She said with a sigh.
All of the men crowded in and a gong was rung to begin the melee. It was pure and utter chaos as the men stabbed, slashed, kicked, punched, dodged, and parried all vying to be the best. I thought I briefly saw Melisandre the Magistar of Asshai in there but I couldn't be sure. I grabbed the roster and sure enough she was participating in the melee. After a while the number of people dwindled down to five or six with Melisandre still in the ring with the rest of what appeared to be five or six big men. She outpaced them all eventually winning against the hound Sandor Clegane by gaining first blood with a speedy dagger to his thigh before he could even raise his sword at her. Everyone was treated and both Melisandre and Sandor were given the invitations for the Pyramid Palace Party along with one other made a fabulous showing.
The Sword handling tourney took the a few hours of the day and many matches took place. The rule was to first blood or yield no killing. Everyone fought tooth and nail to get to the top but in the end it came down to Robert Baratheon and Syrio Forel. The duel between the two was intense and awe inspiring. The danced around each other with deadly grace trading blows a scowl on the face of Baratheon and a grin on the face of Forel. Back and forth they went for what felt like hours everyone was hooked watching every parry and thrust like it may be the last of the fight. Men and women alike were betting all over the place. Me and Rhaella were no exception as Forel blocked a particularly vicious strike I turned to her and said Five gold pieces says that Forel wins. Against that hammer no way he's barely keeping up I'll take your gold at the end of this match. She said in a very matter-of-fact manner. But it was not to be for Forel put Robert onto his back after another ten minutes of fighting. Robert yielded and Forel was announced the winner both were invited to the Pyramid Palace Party and given their winnings. That wrapped up the tourneys for the day and me and the rest of my large entourage went about getting some food for ourselves and heading back to the pyramid I called home.
The party the following night was nuts. Several people tried to sneak in just to get knocked out by the wards and fined for attempting to break into the royal palace. The Grand Ball room looked like a ball of light had exploded everywhere in it and overall it was pretty good. The music flowed as did the alcohol and many were happy. I made sure to hit a few people whom I knew were rather desperate for an heir with a new version of my fertility potion that made it to where they would have a safe pregnancy and birth as well as get them pregnant. Not gonna lie I was nice and hit them with the one that would give them triplets all boys to all of the desperate womenfolk's who were currently wanted heirs. I also made sure to hit their appropriate husbands with keyed lust and attention potions to make sure no accidental dalliance happened. But the party raged on and everyone got massively drunk. At one point I was sure I saw the Queen disappear with Loras Tyrell of all people I didn't see either the rest of the night so I kept my mouth shut being pretty sure I was one of few that saw that happen. I collapsed into my bed beside my husband and we both fell asleep quickly being very very drunk.
The next morning dawned and the cleanup of the city began Rhaella and her family were invited to stay until after the trial of Ser Gregor Clegane, which would be after cleanup was done. It took a fortnight to clean up the city and another to organize the trial proper, but in the end Ser Gregor Clegane was charged with attempting to kill an animal not marked to be as such. Attempting to kill a horse because of his own loss. Attempting to kill Ser Loras Tyrell because he won the joust instead of him. The day of the trial was hectic as fuck. Many people had gathered outside of the court to chant put him down and other slurs at The Mountain as he was dragged in chains before the court.
Ser Gregor Clegane you stand accused of attempting to kill an animal not marked during the Festival of the Sun, attempting to kill a horse over your own failings, and Attempting to kill Ser Loras Tyrell over his success in beating you in the joust. How do you plead. I spoke clearly out to the courtroom as this was an international matter I saw to the trial personally with Rhaella in attendance along with the Tyrells who portkeyed in. Everyone looked on eager to hear what he would say.
Fuck you that's what I say. The horse that fails dies and that stupid flowery fuck cheated and you helped him by giving me a shitty lance. I should cut your head off to bitch. he said with a mad look in his eyes. Looks like a moon in the cells did nothing for his attitude.
First off that was a professional grade lance that most of the knights were using to avoid using a personal lance as most who do are often accused of cheating. Secondly he beat you fair and square as its not his fault you knew your horse was misbehaving all morning and should have used a your secondary horse who looked fine by the way. But I will take that to mean you are pleading guilty unless you say otherwise. He said nothing just glared at me with a bloodthirsty look in his eyes. As you are not my citizen I shall leave the punishment up to your Queen. Your Grace if you would come here and sentence your man.
She walked up calmly and then spoke words that surprised even me as even though I knew she didn't like him I thought she would still play politics and have him take the black or something the like. Nope she did not. She opened her mouth and said thus, Ser Gregor Clegane you come before me today a man out of control. You attempt to harm anything around you when you do not get your way. You act like a small child denied a sweet in everything you do and the way that you live. You would have killed a fellow knight over a simple joust. An act like that is not the act of a knight. It is the act of a madman. For this I have no choice what you attempted is unforgivable and unforgettable. I Queen Rhaella of the seven kingdoms, protector of the old gods, and protector of the people of Westeros, sentence you to death by beheading. The sentence will be carried out by Ser Ilyn Payne immediately.
He was hauled outside and forced to kneel before Ser Ilyn the royal executioner. He struggled hard it took four men to force him down and chain him into place. He spewed curses and vile words at all around calling us all cheats and traitors. Traitors of what we did not know nor did we know how we were cheats. The litany of profuse swearing was suddenly cut short as his head was cut cleanly from his shoulders. The crowd cheered as his body was paraded through the streets and then left on a pike outside the city with the full permission of Rhaella.
A/N Gods this was hard as all to type up. But here it is the Sun festival as promised But I am going to take a break from this one I may start a new one I may continue Dahlia Academy I haven't decided yet but either way hope you all like this chapter. Ill be continuing this one in the new year most likely as I just am not sure what is the next step I want to take.