Evaeline Targaryen

Evaeline Targaryen of Lys was the eldest daughter of Saera Targaryen and her husband, Orenn Rogare. Born in the year 353 AC, she would follow in her mother's footsteps, learning the finer arts of love and companionship for which the city of Lys is so famed. Years later, ambition would see her rise to the council of magisters, a seat she held for seventeen years before falling ill.

Appearance and Character
Though she never knew her grandmother, the famed Eireni of Lys, many commented upon the familiar resemblance. Though relatively petite, standing barely over 5'5" at maturity, Evaeline's silhouette boasted an hourglass most could only envy. As her hair shone a silky pale blonde and her eyes smoldered lavender, complemented by high cheek bones and an angular jaw, few could doubt her Targaryen ancestry despite the commonality of similarly Valyrian features in the city.

She may have been her grandmother in appearance, but in character, she was every bit her mother, the late Saera of Lys. She was driven, tempered, and had a knack for political subtleties. A proud woman, and firmly rooted in her lineage, Evaeline sought for little else than to see her family rise once more among the echelons of the Free City. With her sharp wit and uncanny ability to read the motives and underlying emotions of those with whom she interacted, she was well equipped, even from an early age, to see her ambitions through.

Early Life (350 AC - 364 AC)
Evaeline was born during a period of relative peace and climbing prosperity for her family and the city in which she resided. In Targaryen tradition, the only remaining Leviathan egg was placed in Evaeline's crib. A pale blue as clear and bright as the sunny Lyseni skies with which the girl would grow so accustomed, accented with silver like fine jewelry, the egg quickly became her prized possession. She guarded it fiercely, spending upwards of hours at a time polishing and running supple hands over the textured surface.

For her, though, it would never hatch.

Perhaps it was because of this that she got it in her mind that House Targaryen of Lys, in its present position, was unsatisfactory. Her childhood was similar to that of any other noble-born daughter. A great deal of time and energy was spent by her mother - and the slaves and tutors sent to work with her - to educate her in a variety of subjects. In order to articulate herself and maintain communication with House Targaryen of the Sunset Kingdom, as well as other notable Families of Lys, she mastered her letters; to balance the books, and oversee proper functioning of the various family businesses, she tackled her numbers; to offer variety in conversation and an enigmatic presence as a companion, she practiced her tongues, and absorbed stories and literature from every corner of the Free Cities and Seven Kingdoms.

Above all, she pursued every grain of knowledge she could regarding the various branches of Targaryen, the lineages and associated tales.

A Dance with a Dragon (365 AC - 369 AC)
Upon the cusp of her womanhood, Evaeline received an unexpected visitor. His arrival was heralded quite some time in advance. Long it had been since the city had seen a winged beast, especially one that so reminded them of the Leviathan that had made a home of the fair city. He was handsome, tall, broad-shouldered, and boasting traditional Valyrian features, he looked resplendent; a prince of silver if ever there was one. And for one reason or another (for he never fully explained himself), the youth had come seeking her out, simply to make her acquaintance.

In contrast, she was as beautiful as her grandmother, talented and articulate, and had a voice to rival that of her mother's Siren title. The two fell passionately in love. But of course, their love could never be. Though the visited on occasion over the next few years, he was betrothed to another. When finally he was married, he ceased to make the trips, focusing instead upon his wife, family and duties.

A Shred of Doubt (370 AC - 374 AC)
For many years she saw him not. Out of concern - though many would argue it was a touch of dragon madness that drove an unhealthy obsession - she began to cultivate a network of informants in King's Landing where she had come to learn that the man had taken post. It was as such that she observed his actions, quietly and from a distance, simply keeping an ear open to the whispers that he was yet safe, yet alive, yet happily living as he so chose.

Evaeline did not allow herself to wallow. She understood his responsibilities, even admired the tenacity that he showed as he tended to familial obligations. And like him, she had her own duties to attend. Since his departure, she had fully come into her womanhood, and with it came the expectations to carry herself as one. As her mother had before her, and her mother's mother before that, Evaeline began accepting clients and with them, she found some measure of happiness and acceptance. A farce it may have been, but it served to distract her sufficiently from he for whom she longed.

For many years, Evaeline functioned in that capacity, contributing to her family income through the gradual build-up of a steady clientele; managing one of her family's pleasure houses; acquiring, breeding, training and seeing to the health and happiness of the pleasure slaves in her employ. Though it afforded her the opportunity to hone her intellectual and social capacities, these duties were never ones in which she found deeper satisfaction. She understood their necessity, and was never miserable per say, but it was beneath her, in her mind. Dragons were meant to soar, not scrabble in the grass among the flock.

And then, in 374 AC, Saera of Lys passed away at the age of forty-six.

Veiled in Shadow (375 AC - 379 AC)
Few, if any, questioned Saera's passing. Tonics, tinctures, and alchemical formulations had been a common sight in her private boudoir. She had been relying upon these substances for years to treat the lingering symptoms of an illness that had long since been cured. In reality, she could have had many a year remaining to her, and perhaps would have, had it not been for the deliberate tampering of her medicinal treatments that went unchecked and unnoticed.

Regardless, as the only surviving Targaryen of the Baelon line, Evaeline was forced to assumed the mantle of Head of House, however prematurely. Where many would weep, grieving for the loss of their kin, Evaeline maintained a mask of neutrality. In her mind, her mother had been too preoccupied with her profession, herself caught in the enigma of her own fame and renown. As far as Evaeline was concerned, Saera's direction in life no longer coincided with the best interests of House Targaryen. And without her mother, she was finally free to direct the line upon a path of her choosing, one that befit its name and heritage. Whether it was because of this untethered liberty, or because whispers from Westeros had informed her that a familiar face was once again roaming the lands of Essos, Evaeline thrived.

For the years following her mother's death, Evaeline distanced herself somewhat from the courtesan lifestyle, though she by no means ignored the profession entirely. She had long since learned the value of information, and how easily one might - in a moment of passion - persuade men to speak of those things they normally would not. She began to broker this information, and with its profits, she invested in the modernization of existing family businesses, as well as the acquisition of others. In some cases, a pleasure house or trading company would be absorbed quite unexpectedly in the opinion of the common masses. But the securement of knowledge and secrets was not limited to her clientele. Rather, she had slowly expanded her network to a point where she could denote a target and learn quite a bit about them, using it to subtly twist from them that which she desired.

Gradually, like Eireni of old, her wealth and influence within the city grew.

A Rekindling (380 AC - 381 AC)
In the year 380 AC, in the midst of her expansion, Evaeline received a visit once again. Whether out of curiosity, or perhaps a desire to prove to himself that he was committed to his wife and his wife alone, she would never know. Regardless of the reason, her old flame had seen to arrange a meeting with her once again, and it became evident very quickly that time and distance had done nothing to dampen their feelings, and had only allowed their affections to simmer. His presence was a fan to that flame, turning their meeting to that of a heated inferno.

The result came nine months, in 381 AC, with the birth a daughter, whom Evaeline named Selenya. In a break from custom, Evaeline chose not to place the as yet unhatched Leviathan egg into her daughter's crib - as far as she was concerned, that egg belonged to her. Only death would see her parted from it. Nor would the child ever receive confirmation as to the identity of her father; of that, Evaeline and her lover had agreed. But Evaeline would regale the young girl with tales of his prowess, sharing in detail every triumph and feat of strength, every show of courage and embodiment of pride. In answer to the frequent question that her daughter would pose over the years, Evaeline would tell her, "Your father is one of the greatest warriors in Westeros. The blood runs deeper in you than you realize, darling."

From the Depths (382 AC - 387 AC)
Unlike her own childhood, Evaeline involved herself personally in the development of her child. Not one willing to allow her accomplishments to be overturned in later years, she was careful to cultivate desired values and characteristics in her daughter. Not only that, but the time spent developing a relationship with her offspring would be a bond that would run deeper simply than blood. Nobility had a tendency to withhold displays of affection and attention for their own brood, she knew. And too easily could a child grow to resent their parents, willing to cast them aside should opportunity or motive present itself.

In spite of this maternal dedication - or perhaps inspired by it - Evaeline continued with her previous ambitions. Through her paternal lineage, she renewed ties with House Rogare. Investing once again in their bank, she reaffirmed the alliance between the two families. The action, though nevertheless mutually beneficial, was made with an ulterior motive. With the backing of banking policies and procedures, Evaeline was able to have pressure applied to those few remaining pleasure houses that had thus far eluded her efforts to purchase, all the while continuing to build her network of influence.

Such it was that when a seat became available in 387 AC, Evaeline Targaryen was appointed to the council of magisters, and House Targaryen of Lys regained a measure of public power once again.

A Draconic Appetite (388 AC - 394 AC)
Though spurred by selfish ambitions, Magister Evaeline was unmatched in her desire to see Lys flourish. After all, the prosperity and security of her own House is proportional to general wealth and success of the city. Thus, with her daughter healthy and well on her way to developing into a bright young woman, Evaeline invested herself to achieving her political agenda. For the first few years, she simply made use of her various rings of informants for the benefit of the city. With them, Lys was able to capitalize upon a number of opportunities to stake claims in the disputed lands, and minimize losses in inevitable conflicts. In addition, the Lyseni fleet rooted out a number of piracy rings, selling them their own freedom for a cut of their profits.

It was through these same rings that Evaeline learned of the protesting peasants in Westeros, of the farmers refusing to plant or harvest. It was with this stroke of luck and foresight that Evaeline convinced the magisters of Lys to put an emphasis upon agriculture. Likewise, she reached out to the similarly mercantile-minded Free Cities to withhold exports of imperishable food items, with the mind that the value of such items would increase exponentially should the trend in Westeros continue. In a show of faith, she invested in a vineyard outside the city walls and orders the results of wine production be stored until further notice.

It seemed her lust for wealth and power was met with an equally tenacious appetite for the physical as well, or so rumour would tell. During these years of preparation, Evaeline became laden with child once more, giving birth to a son in 391 AC whom she named Aeryn. From 390 AC - 392 AC, Evaeline was forced to relinquish her title of magister to tend to her maternal duties.

In 392 AC, Evaeline's council was well rewarded when Lys receives word that Westeros had been hit with the beginnings of the Great Famine. As citizens of Westeros took increasingly desperate measures to stave off starvation, Evaeline - and by extension, the conclave of magisters and House Targaryen of Lys - were only too eager to provide what assistance they could. For a fee. An exorbitant, blistering fee. Even before trade was reopened, Evaeline encouraged the conclave to act upon one last momentary opportunity. After Baelon's fall, Lys arranged to pay a fee to the monarch of the Sunset Kingdom as recompense for the damages incurred by his conquests.

For over fifty years, the city had been funneling off a portion of their profits to a faceless king like one of his vassals. No longer. It was clear already that much of Westeros would fall to any measure to obtain any level of nutritional security. The monarchy were no different; especially after it somehow became known to the masses of small-folk that the Crown need only relinquish a negligible profit and an influx of life-giving sustenance would soon arrive. With the stroke of a pen, fruits, nuts, wines, cured fish, and more, were all exported by the shipload, and merchants all over the city experienced a level of prosperity of which many had only dreamed.

Evaeline found very little resistance when she desired once more to sit upon the conclave following her son's development from infancy, and was reinstated as a magister.

For these prosperous years, Evaeline hired a band of sell-sword led by a rather rotund man to protect her trade wares and returning profits.

Sights Lysene (395 AC - 401 AC)
As Westeros recovered from its widespread famine, the Sunset Kingdom turned its sites to Lys yet again. Coincidentally, as the War of the Three Thieves waged on, one of her associate magisters from the Ormollen family was gravely injured, becoming incapable of continuing his magisterial duties. With the remaining members of the conclave, Evaeline elected the head of a different notable family to take his place. Aside from that, there was little impact on Evaeline or the city in which she lived. If anything, it only served to increase the family's prosperity yet again. The presence of Westerosi fleets in the Stepstones forced many pirating vessels to flee, lest they be rooted out and destroyed altogether. Trading galleys experienced relative freedom during this time, though word would occasionally be heard of harassment and "taxing" from Westerosi ships.

Within the city walls, House Targaryen of Lys experienced a particularly bountiful harvest. In 395 AC, Evaeline was met with a most generous and peculiar offer. A young man, barely out of his youth, arrived in one of her pillow houses, offering half a year's salary as a successful sell-sword for a maid of no experience. After having vetted the client - unbeknownst to him or his companions - Evaeline deemed her own daughter to be most appropriate for the match. It was an odd thing. Despite believing whole-heartedly that such a business was beneath her, beneath the blood of the dragon, Evaeline had been required to go through the process, and would see that her daughter did as well.

As far as Evaeline could tell, Selenya's introduction into the profession was successful, and the gold that had been exchanged with it had been no less welcome. With the warring in the Stepstones spanning for so long and with Lys so very near... many men found themselves away from home, away from the comforts of their wives and beds, and into the welcoming embrace of the Lyseni pillow houses. Over the years, Evaeline would teach her daughter the finer art of vetting and selectively accepting and entertaining clients, while maximizing profits. In the years that followed the war's conclusion, Evaeline would allow Selenya to take control of a small number of pleasure houses to hone her micro-managerial and social skills.

These weren't the only profits Evaeline chased during the time of the Stepstone hunts. The carnage that had been left in the wake of the stolen dragon had left many a men seeking comfort, but the arms of a woman weren't the only comforts found. Over the years, Evaeline had converted many of her pillow houses to fronts. Though still successful businesses in their own rights, the real profits were made in high-stake games in lavishly decorated rooms below the street surface.

Scarlet Tears and Frozen Hearts (402 AC - 405 AC)
In 403 AC, Evaeline received word through her networks that Selenya's father had died. What was worse - he had been dead already for nigh on a year. For all her charm and enigma, for all the effort and energy she had invested into her House and city, and for all the successes and wealth she had accrued, nothing could have prepared Evaeline for that moment. It should have been nothing to her, a passing curiosity and nothing more. And yet, the world as she knew it shattered. Colour lost its luster, the charm of the city, its appeal. Her favourite foods seemed flavourless, and the music she had once adored became a cacophony of noise. She began to lose focus in her political endeavors, and lost interest in her businesses. Though the steward of House Targaryen stepped in as proxy to take her place, she was eventually deposed from her seat upon the conclave in 404 AC.

After that, she no longer left the manse.

For hours at a time, Evaeline sat perched upon her vanity seat at the window, statuesque as she peered out to the peaks of the tall city walls, as though searching for something amidst the clouds that spanned the vast sky. Day and night, at times, she would sit there in silence, watching as the unusually profound winter saw frosts creep over the grounds even there in Lys. Her daughter would come to see her, to try to get her to converse, or bathe, or even eat. But the sight of Selenya was too much for Evaeline, so much did the girl remind her of her lost love. She had at least seen enough sense - with the prompting of her steward - to confirm both Selenya and Aeryn as her children, naming the former as her heir. Likewise, in the only display of affection in her final years, she relinquished her prized possession, the Leviathan's first-laid egg, to her daughter's care.

Gradually, she wasted away, eventually losing the energy even to rise from from her bed. Life had lost its value for her. And in the early months of 405 AC, Evaeline's heart finally gave way.

Family Tree

 * Baelon "Prince of Lys" Targaryen (305 AC - 334 AC)
 * m. Eireni of Lys (306 AC - 350 AC)
 * Saera "the Siren" Targaryen (328 AC - 374 AC)
 * m. Orenn Rogare
 * Evaeline Targaryen (353 AC - 405 AC)
 * Selenya (b. 381 AC)
 * Aeryn (b. 391 AC)