Daena Rogare

Daena Rogare is the First Magister of Lys and the current head of the noble and ancient House Rogare. She was born the only daughter to the previous holder of her titles, Lysarus Rogare, and his second wife, Nesora Rogare. As two older brothers had held primacy over her in the line of succession, she was never meant to inherit much, let alone titles. The unexpected shift - unexpected at least for her family - came in the year 435 AC, when upon his deathbed, her father named her as his sole successor.

Daena claimed the despot's vacant seat without hesitation and set out to exert her influence over the city. Though at first she was met with a strong opposition from the Conclave, relying on her charms and diplomatic finesse - and indubitably the efficient delegation of her assets - she was swift to garner popularity. She gained allies, and her method of rewarding loyalty with considerable benefits and answering malice with merciless reckoning has done well to silence the voices of discontent.

Her most notable accomplishment thus far, however was the pivotal role she had played in bringing about the Alliance of the Narrows in 436 AC. It had led to an expeditious growth of her reputation outside the walls of Lys, and it was arguably the event that had simultaneously allowed her to consolidate her power as a despot.

Daena wields the Valyrian Steel sword, Truth, and rides the elusive dragon, Erinnon.

Appearance and Character
A young woman of Lysene descent, Daena carries the mark of Old Valyria in every aspect of her bearing and appearance. Whilst she does not stand out as tall at the modest height of five feet and nine inches, her svelte figure is augmented by long years of training as a water dancer, and she moves with feline grace and fluidity, wielding her natural beauty with confidence and design.

She wears only scarce make-up upon her heart-shaped visage, which is further defined by her thin upper lip lining against a somewhat fuller lower counterpart, a dainty nose in the centre, and soft angled brows above her pair of almond eyes. Pairing that, her fair and nigh flawless complexion is what one would expect from a Rogare of Lys, and the bright aquamarine of her irides - a unique characteristic as far her ancestry goes - creates a vivacious image with the silver-blonde colour of her hair.

Depending on the activity, Daena prefers to unleash her long strands over her back or keep them in a compact updo, yet not a stranger to diversity by any means, she regularly has it curled as is common in her city, and tries new styles on a near-daily basis. The warmer climate of her idyllic island leaves her with an abundance of options for clothing as well, and sparing no coin on the richest fabrics, she consumes fashion with the fervor of a spoiled princess.

Her political success can be rightfully attributed to her inherited wealth and the expert counsel she receives, but it would be unwise to deny the credit that is owed solely to the force of her personality alone. Delicate the youthful First Magister may seem on the surface, however, her pleasant smiles and genteel demeanor shadow an imperious nature. She enforces her will with words sweet as honey, and preserves her popularity as a despot just as efficiently.

She is well aware that it is her charisma, resolve, and visionary ambition that hold the machinery of her reign together, and she utilizes every tool at her disposal with deliberation. Methodical and perceptive throughout her social interactions, Daena reads emotions with effortless ease, and relates to her people with genuine empathy as she exercises her power. She has the makings of a capable leader, yet her unflinching quality lends into a fair amount of shortcomings.

Daena had been wilful as a child, and that trait barely faded as she had made towards adulthood. Stubborn to a fault, and sometimes overly reckless when her mind has already been made up, it is fair to say that she yet lacks wisdom. Having taken up the responsibility of rulership so early has done little to temper her vices; in her pursuit of respite, Daena embraced the boundless delights her elevated status had to offer, and in the years since her ascension, she has developed quite the hedonistic streak.

Conflict and Resolution
In the early 410's AC, the free city of Lys was engulfed in turmoil. Backstabbing and shifting alliances were the hallmarks of politics between her wealthiest and families, and the House of Rogare, despite the then-matriarch's efforts to claim a high ground of neutrality, was caught in the middle of it as well. At the worst time, the family was split between two rival factions furthered by a disagreement over the role House Rogare should assume in the reshaping of Lys.

The factions were spearheaded by Nyessa herself, and her cousin and head of the Rogare Bank, Lysarus. Where the former promoted the approach of prevailing in the Conclave through tested means, Lysarus - himself hailing from a more militant background - sought to exert the Rogares' influence over the city through finance and if need be, force. Words soon turned into violence, and the strife culminated in the Year of Knives, which saw to a tragedy in the murder of Nyessa Rogare, and the end of several schemes in the free city.

Lysarus was the first to be accused of the dishonourable deed, but as the culprit had never been found, he was absolved. In the following year, he appeared in public for the first time alongside Nyessa's successor, Nohia, and after an exchange of apologies between the two, the rivalry was officially considered ceased. Likewise, to demonstrate the lasting unity within their family, Lysarus was allowed to retain his position at the bank, and at Nohia's behest, he wedded her younger sister, Nesora.

Political in nature and not moved by much passion, the marriage between the sellsword-turned-banker and the sharp-witted businesswoman was unfulfilling at best, yet it nonetheless bore fruit. In 416 AC, Nesora gave birth to their only child, a beautiful girl whom they named Daena. Though only the third in line after two sons sired by her father, the newborn of House Rogare was the product of a match forged by conflict and resolution, and both sides of her parentage would leave a deep impact on her fate.

Pristine Youth
During her childhood years, Daena wasn't obliged to meet any of the high expectations that were usually set for young ladies like her. Lysarus himself paid little heed to family matters as he paved his influence as a magister, so the girl was left in the care of her mother when the latter was not busy herself, and a myriad of servants tending to her every need. Daena wasn't spared any of the luxury that came with her name, and she loved being spoiled.

Everything a child could want, Daena did have, and still, no material possession could satisfy her want. Excitable, wilful, and helplessly boisterous, the young silver-headed Rogare ran rampant in her family's manse. Characterized by a perpetual need for activity and distraction, she was always searching for trouble and much to the chagrin of her nurses and tutors over the passing years. Pulling pranks on servants and telling them lies, throwing insults and bullying other kids, she was frequently insensitive but rarely imprudent.

Her sharp tongue was an indicator of intelligence and wit, and all she needed was the right kind of distractions to contain her rambunctious tendencies. Few things interested Daena enough to hold her attention for prolonged periods of time, and it was her mother, who discovered, that in her daughter's case, the lessons had to be adjusted for the student. And so it was, that Daena's peculiar education began.

She was a quick learner, it turned out - especially when the subject at hand sparked her interest. The trivial skill of literacy was mastered with some difficulty, but once she had it, there was no pause. Daena had developed a fondness for language and its most sophisticated uses, and she would often spend hours upon hours in the Rogares' grand library to read books filled with Valyrian tales and poetry. The latter, which she would recite even to slaves on her quest for attention. As but a wee lass, however, she had discovered her true affinity for a craft far more mundane; gardening.

Beside the boundless opulence and thousand delights one could find in the Pristine Gardens, what the palace complex certainly did not lack, were gardens. And Lady Nesora's own were the most extensive; featuring greenhouses, multi-levelled terraces, long pathways amidst sceneries reminiscent of untouched nature, the rarest and most exotic flora that could be found in the known world breathed life into them, in ever so colourful patterns. Daena would find herself regularly accompanying her mother as she walked the gardens and took care of their vast content with her bare hands.

Nesora was a patient and eager teacher, and Daena enjoyed every lesson with her. Be it practical or theoretical, she drank her mother's knowledge of botany like milk, and she looked gleeful even when she thoroughly dirtied herself with the black of earth. Within a few years, she learned about the qualities and applications of dozens of herbs, and through hard and diligent work, she built a small garden of her own as well. Naturally proud of her achievement, she wanted to share her joy with others.

Daena hadn't a lot of friends as a young child, and at most times she had to make do with the company she could find within the boundaries of her home. And truth be told, that wasn't much. The one time she tried to invent herself, her father scolded her for gifting flowers to the house slaves, and had it not been for Nesora, she would have likely received a beating too. Her mother was her only true friend, and her love was the source of Daena's strength and happiness. It was unfortunate that she had to be robbed of her at such a young age.

Calamity and Reckoning
The currents of politics always eluded the minds of children, and so did Daena remain oblivious to the circumstances that had led to that terrible eve. The names Aeryn Targaryen and Phaedrus Sathmantes held no meaning to her back then, but when the sky above the Fair City rained fire by their will and folly, she learned the meaning of terror.

The shock had blurred much of her memory, but she would remember as dark wings blacked out the sky, and the hellish flames that melted tall silver spires and dozens of homes. She would remember the screams, the chaos, and the death wails, but most of all the dread she felt as she clung onto her unconscious mother amidst rubble and ash. It was the first time she saw a dragon, and she saw one at its worst. And by the time the threat was averted, the damage had already been done. Whilst cities could be rebuilt and order restored, few things could mend the fragility of flesh.

Nesora Rogare had suffered a head injury during the attack as she covered her daughter, and she never woke up from the comatose state it had imposed. She passed away in her prolonged sleep at the turn of the next year, leaving behind a fractured family. Daena came to experience true loneliness, and she wouldn't resurface from the grey depths of melancholy for long years to come. Meanwhile, her father delivered swift vengeance to the culprits in the guise of justice, and solidified his power as the First Magister of Lys. An office created solely for him by a heavily indebted Conclave.

Lys and the noble House of Rogare had changed forever in the wake of the Salamander's schemes. With Lady Nohia having perished as well, Lysarus seized the title of patriarch from the young Khorane, and Daena found herself the daughter of the wealthiest and perhaps most powerful man in the Triarchy. The Rogare Bank once again rose to prominence within and without the free city, and dignitaries from every corner of the known world visited to seek the elevated family's favour.

The Pristine Gardens became an ever busy place, and following the attack it had not only been rebuilt, but also expanded with new structures to reflect the Rogares' rising influence. It was during this time that Daena gained the acquaintance of her father's new aide, Serala Maar. Despite the nine-year gap between them, the young Rogare would become fast friends with the woman, finding in her the sister she had never had, and who would guide and encourage her throughout the coming years.

Innocence Lost
With great reverence came grave dissent, and time and again, those supportive yet lacking in true devotion, would readily turn on their betters when corrupted by jealousy. In 426 AC, adversity from within had threatened the House of Rogare. Lord Lysarus was poisoned at his own table, and falling ill immediately with a burning stomach, he came close to drawing his last breath. Most suspected Prince Aeryn to be behind the deed, but whoever sought to bring the First Magister down, they had not calculated with his daughter.

Barely past her tenth name day, Daena had already boasted a vast knowledge in botany, and she quickly recognized the cause of her father's agony. Instead of giving in to despair over losing another parent, she opted to act. Rushing to the gardens, she picked a carefully selected handful of the herbs she had cultivated, and knowing full well what they would do, she fed them to her father. At first, they seemed to make his suffering worse, yet minutes later, the old man began to omit his recent meal, and along with it most of the poisonous substance.

Daena saved her father's life that evening, and she wouldn't leave his side until he fully recovered. In those few weeks she had spoken more with the old man than in the past ten years; they talked and talked, and in spite of the dire circumstances, grew closer together. Lysarus had been too blind to see the potential in her until that fateful evening, and their relationship, at last, was like that of father and daughter. Daena's innocent perspective also proved more than valuable, for she unwittingly led her father to the culprit by pointing out the origins of the substance he had been poisoned with.

Lysarus' own son and heir, Cerion, had attempted to have him assassinated, and much to his disappointment, there was but one way forward. Betraying kin was a sin the Rogare patriarch could not forgive, so he issued the order. To the public, Cerion Rogare, Magister and Admiral of Lys, was a war hero who died in battle against Prince Aeryn in the Stepstones, but in the most private spheres of the Pristine Gardens, the truth was preserved between a select few. Daena was told by her father only way later, that her eldest brother had been murdered because he had commanded it.

Prince Aeryn was defeated for good in the very next year, and his death ended a tumultuous era in the Triarchy's history, and a peaceful epoch set in. Daena began to grow into a young woman, and following their newfound bond, her father finally gave her the attention she deserved. He employed one of the foremost alchemists in Lys to further her education, and invited her every morning to his sparring sessions, where he would teach her his favoured style of combat; the elegant and deadly art of water dancing.

The training was rigorous and exacting, and it took her quite some time to develop the physicality it demanded - but it paid off. She became quick and nimble like a cat, learned how to use her shorter stature as an advantage against larger opponents, and her proficiency with the rapier made her a formidable combatant. She came to enjoy her lessons with her father as much as she had enjoyed those with her mother so many years ago, and she realized soon that they had a greater purpose than doing mere exercise.

Lysarus wouldn't do anything out of generosity or pure love. He was a businessman first and foremost, and he sought to profit from all of his investments. When he had decided to take Daena under his wing and groom her into his successor, he invested the future of House Rogare and Lys in her. Throughout their lessons, he would gradually impart his wisdom to his daughter, and to his satisfaction, she was more than receptive of his teachings.

Seeking his approval and affection, Daena adopted her father's pragmatic views at the expense of her blissful naiveté, and moulded her best and worst qualities into the skill set of a ruler. Her childish stubbornness became persistence, and her ability to empathize a consciously utilized tool. She liked to have her way with people, and amplified by self-confidence and purpose, she would learn to enforce her will over thousands. Though she wouldn't wield real power for quite some time, by the age of fifteen she had earned enough of Lysarus' trust to become privy to his clandestine dealings.

Verses of Fire
In the second half of 431 AC, the Festival of Lights was held in Lys once again to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Triarchy's foundation. Daena had been too young to properly enjoy the festivals held previously, and she was thrilled to truly experience the sheer grandiosity of the event. Thousands of guests filled the opulent halls of the Pristine Gardens for three long weeks of revelry, and ever a social butterfly, Daena wanted to meet all of them. The only thing that darkened her mood was the request her father had made of her as part of his plans for one particular guest.

After going great lengths to ensure security from both ends, the dragon rider Balerion Otherys, then representing the Archon of Tyrosh, had accepted Lysarus' invitation with reluctance, and made for Lys to join the festivities. The First Magister had promised him political and financial support, and even a marriage between Daena and the Otherys' son, Balassor, to solidify their prospective alliance. All of that was a lie though, and only Daena had been made aware of her father's real intentions. And she had an important part to play in them too. By Lysarus' will, it fell upon her to slay Balerion in his sleep.

In truth, the concept of taking a man's life went against every bit of the person Daena thought she was. She had already felt the guilt, and she didn't want to live with it. What kept her mind from breaking was her eagerness to prove herself in her father's eyes; to prove to the old man that she had the willingness and resolution to do what was necessary. For the betterment of her House, Lys, and the Triarchy.

On the eighth night of the festival, she finally executed the plan. She entered Balerion's manse through a secret passage three of her father's unsullied in tow, but after successfully silencing most of his guards, it was an unfortunate accident that a louder-than-intended kill roused their target from his slumber - and though outnumbered, the Otherys wouldn't give in to his would-be killers easily. Not intending to risk her life against the fearsome warrior, Daena hid behind a lattice and watched in trepidation as the scene unfolded before her.

The eunuchs took on Balerion and perished one by one, but in the process had managed to fatally wound him, leaving him crying for help in a pool of blood upon marble floor, for no one but Daena to hear. She left only after his pains ceased and the silence of death had settled. She was hoping to forget what she had done, for she could not forgive herself.

Following that night, anxiety and guilt threatened to consume her being, and the solace she craved was granted to her by someone she had least anticipated to show up - someone, who was just as much in need of distraction. It had rarely been a good sign when a Westerosi prince turned his gaze toward Lys, but Aerion Targaryen came not to conquer. Like the rest of the revelers, he was there to escape his burdens and indulge in every delight the Lovely City could provide.

It had been seven years since Lys had received royal visitors, and generous as the Rogares' hospitality was, Prince Aerion was offered a treatment befitting kings. Lysarus held a masquerade in his honour amidst all the other festivities, and Daena was first to share a dance with him as his escort. She had gotten acquainted with him once when he had visited the city with his sister, Visenya, but the gallant man before her was nothing like that big bully of a boy from her scant recollections. And she recognized his charms in the present. Rivaling the most desirable pillow slaves, he was Maegor the Cruel blessed with the beauty of Prince Rhaegar, and he had a feral air about him that invited for mischief.

A maiden familiar with the ways of pleasure by virtue of her heritage, yet inexperienced still due to her sheltered youth, Daena was easy to fall for him, and it didn't take them long until they had left the ballroom to continue their enjoyment of the night in the Lady's Sigh. Aerion was the first man she lay with, and she would never forget the tenderness of his touch. There was also more to their connection than lust; between their kisses, they had shared words - and eventually found kindred souls in each other.

The prince was still mourning his queen mother, and the daughter of Rogare was smitten with remorse over something she could not ever talk about. Theirs was an odd bond to be sure, and their common interests would only make it more memorable. Gods know how many times they would get intimate in between watching plays, reading poetry, and testing one another's mettle in the ring with spear matched against sword. Daena would remember the weeks she had spent in Aerion's company as nothing but blissful, and when they finally came to an end, she didn't feel cheated.

He had given her much and left her wanting for more, but they understood well their mutual circumstances, and no promises had been made. Aerion had a destiny awaiting him in Westeros, and Daena was to inherit an empire built upon her father's gold. Perhaps they had a chance to trick fate and forge a path together, but as the years went by, Daena would look back on their short-lived affair as something she had needed right then, and could ultimately do without for the rest of her life.

Prerogative and Virtue
Orchestrating the downfall of the would-be dynasty of Otherys had been a daunting task, but she had weathered through the guilt and self-doubt, and came out the stronger person for it. She adhered to Lysarus' expectations of her, and not forgetting how to feel passion, Daena grew into a resolute young woman with her own ambitions to pursue. Although she was certain she was ready for the role her father wished for her to inherit, there was a lot she had yet to learn from him.

The schemes once devised by her father and his fellow despots had seen to the betterment of the Triarchy under their reigns, but they had also opened up the gates for new threats. Aged and accomplished, their power was fading away like their youth, and the time had come for the next generation to take the reins. Lysarus was the first to fall of the triumvirate, dying of natural causes at the height of 435 AC - though not before naming Daena as his successor over his fragile-minded son, Gaemon. The latter hardly cared, but to the rest of the family, and by extension to the Conclave of Magisters, it was startling news.

Named head of her house, and owning the majority of shares in the Rogare Bank, Daena Rogare was the wealthiest and most influential citizen of Lys, only one step away from her ascension into her late father's office. She had understandably become an object of jealousy and dissent, and some whispered that she would meet a similar end as Lysaro Rogare had centuries prior. Such whispers quickly ceased though, for when the day of the elections came, no other Rogare was nominated for the coveted seat of First Magister in the Temple of the Sacred Lady.

The Conclave was not obliged to elect Daena even if she was the only candidate, but the same way she had put her own kin in line, she likewise motivated the co-operation of the other Magisters. A short moon after her father's passing, she was elected the First Magister of Lys, the transition of power considerably smooth. The title by itself, of course, had meant only the legitimacy of the power she could have already exercised. The Lysene fleet and the city's standing mercenary army were both financed by the Rogare Bank, and even an infant could guess what that meant.

Daena had only not pressed that advantage because she understood the importance of gaining friends and allies, and she wished for her rule to preserve the sanctity of state. On the day of her induction, she graciously promised to the Conclave that she would heed their wise counsel as long as she would hold her office, and reassured them that the status quo established by her father was a continued necessity of their city's greatness and survival in the face of danger. She spoke the truth, for a resurgence of fire and blood in the Stepstones once again cast a shadow over the Triarchy's achievements.

She hadn't been First Magister for a year when the three oligarchs of those wretched isles approached the Triarchy for striking a mutually beneficial deal instead of launching another war, and the timing couldn't have been worse. Daena knew that the right course of action would've been to crush their feeble alliance before they fully grasped the power of three dragons, but the recent deaths of Moreo Sadaris and Nymon Mar Noyne left the Three Daughters more vulnerable than ever.

The year 436 AC, was all-in-all, a complete political disaster. Varonos Sandrake failed to win the Tyroshi elections despite his late grandfather's intentions, and in Myr, the Mar Noynes - close allies of the Houses Rogare and Sadaris - had been violently deposed by the once subjugated Vashars. With all three despots new in their seats, and shifting internal politics making the moving of resources difficult, Daena motioned for opening negotiations with the Stepstones, and following a simple principle, she advocated for bringing them into the fold.

The result was an uneasy alliance, which would come to dominate the Narrow Sea as a formidable presence. Daena's role in bringing it about was paramount, and she knew that time alone would test the strength of its foundation. She resolved to balance out the scales and facilitate a stronger unity or to destroy what she had created. Whatever were her true intentions though, few would know.

One thing was for certain; in the next two years, the young First Magister would turn her attention inward, and see to the prosperity of her own city before all else. She would prove herself a capable leader in the eyes of her fellow citizens, and some in her circles would even talk about a next "Lyseni Spring" in relation to her potential and future success. Under her reign, Lys would continue to thrive.

Immediate Family

 * Laena Rogare b. 355 AC d. 408 AC
 * m. Hadras Dagareon b. 354 AC d. 397 AC
 * Lysarus Rogare b. 383 AC d. 435 AC
 * m. Saera Lohar d. 409 AC
 * Cerion Rogare b. 406 AC d. 427 AC
 * Gaemon Rogare b. 408 AC
 * m. Nesora Rogare b. 396 AC d. 423 AC
 * Daena Rogare b. 416 AC
 * w. Serala Maar b. 407 AC
 * Laenor Rogare b. 430 AC

Extended Family
See the page of House Rogare.

Advisors and Officials

 * Serala Maar - Advisor and Confidante, Governor of the Rogare Bank
 * Ulysses Rogare - Commander of Lys
 * Aerillos Sathmantes - Admiral of Lys
 * Oliphas Lohar - Justiciar of Lys
 * Morzaq of Yunkai - Spymaster
 * Hamorro - Grand Master of the Alchemists' Guild of Lys

Servants and Slaves

 * ...TBD...