Aelor Sand

Aelor Rizaldrīzes, previously known as Aelor Sand, is a Magister of Tyrosh and the rider of the dragon Rhaegal. He was born in 381 to Maegor Waters and Ysilla Dayne. After leaving Starfall, he traveled Westeros as a tourney knight in hopes of winning the approval of his father. After his father's death in the Mummer's War, Aelor fled for Essos, where he eventually become a Magister of the Free City of Tyrosh. He is married to Talisa Rizaldrīzes, the daughter of Archon Jaqen Adarys. They have four children.

Early Childhood
Born after Maegor's departure from Starfall, there was no denying the boy's parentage when he opened his eyes. Outraged that the bastard had tarnished his daughter's reputation, the Lord of Starfall, threatened to have his child thrown to the sands--a course of action he was only dissuaded from when Maegor, alerted of the situation by Ysilla, returned to give his child a name and stated, in no uncertain terms, that Starfall would be destroyed should Aelor come to harm. 

Aelor grew in contentment in Starfall. His Mother doted on him as his Grandfather resented his existence, though both kept his father's identity secret from him. He had not a care in the world.

That changed in 386, when his grandfather arranged his mother's marriage to the Lord of House Yronwood. Part of the negotiations included assurances that Ysilla's bastard be kept far away from Yronwood. Despite her protests, the marriage went through. Ysilla was sent to Yronwood, while her five year old son remained in Starfall.

With his mother's protection gone, Aelor's life became much less comfortable. Lord Dayne was never foolish enough to strike Aelor himself, realizing that to risk the ire of a dragonrider would be suicidal. Similarly, he did not remove the child from the castle, as keeping him close was the only way to ensure that no harm came to him. He did, however, ensure that Aelor was given the bare minimum. Where his own children and grandchildren received practice swords, Aelor received nothing. While the other children ate whatever they pleased, Aelor ate scraps. It was only the kindness of a select few--the Maester of the castle, Arthur, among them--that brought Aelor's life any degree of comfort.

By the time he was twelve, Aelor had began to question why he was treated in this way. Why did the other children cross the hall when he passed by? Why was he made to want for everything, when others wanted for nothing? Brought to a fit of rage by his mistreatment, Arthur took pity on him, and revealed the reason for his grandfather's malice: his father had been Maegor Waters, the erstwhile heir to the Iron Throne.

Even Aelor, as deprived of information as he was in Starfall, had heard of the Black Dragon. He knew of his victories in tournaments, his heroic nature, kindness, honor... he was everything a King should be, Aelor thought. He became obsessed with this image of his father--the heir to the Iron Throne, cast down to nothing, making something of himself despite his circumstances. He would live up to his image, he decided, and prove himself worthy of his father's affection.

Adolescence
Aelor was driven. He met the insults of his peers with vitriol of his own. When his vitriol brought their anger upon him, he drew up his owns fists--and later his own practice sword--to deal with them. In time, he grew big and stronger--stronger than any of them. That earned him some deal of reprieve. 

And provided Lord Dayne an opportunity to get rid of him. At the age of 15, Lord Dayne sent Aelor along with a party to deal with a group of bandits that had been raiding around the Red Mountains, denying trade and free passage. The party found itself caught in an ambush and only a handful of men survived, including Aelor. When all hope seemed lost a roar was heard echoing through the hills. The Black Dragon had been rumored to be in the area, and it turned out the rumors were true. Flames cleared the valley of the bandits, and a few of the surviving men at arms from Starfall, but the blood of the Dragon kept Aelor strong against the heat. 

His first meeting with his Father in 15 years was a brief affair, but it was the single most important moment of Aelor’s life. In that moment he knew that if he wished to honor his heritage, if he wished to earn the respect of men as his Father had done, and if he wished to be something, he would have to do as his Father has done. After a brief return to Starfall to gather his things and say goodbye to Arthur, Aelor left his birthplace and traveled north through the Prince’s Pass.

Tourney Knight
For the next 11 years Aelor competed in tournaments and traveled the land, gaining some notoriety, though nothing of much note.

He travels as a poor man, a life that’s written on his face, many would call Aelor a Hedge Knight, the few tourneys he was able to win rarely paid well, and he learned to live on a shoestring, sleeping outside when he couldn’t convince the owner of an inn to let him stay in exchange for stories about his Father, though few believed them, and fewer still that he was the bastard of the bastard. Despite Aelor’s loose adherence to knightly customs and traditions, he has never been knighted, often stating when asked that he is waiting for his father’s blade.

The Mummer's War
The chance to reunite with his father finally came in 407 AC. Aelor interpreted the arrival of the Red Comet as a sign that his father would at long last return to Westeros. Rumors of Morghul's return only confirmed Aelor's suspicions, and he made his way to the Tourney of Harrenhal with the utmost haste. There, he competed in the melee and the joust, besting Rhaegar Targaryen in both, though he was ultimately defeated.

It was after the melee that his father made an appearance to him. Arriving in his tent in the dead of night, Maegor summoned his oldest child to Raventree Hall, where he would outline his plan for the future. Aelor, who found the man before him a pale shade of the near-mythical figure he has built up in his head, begrudgingly agreed.

Following Maegor's council in Raventree Hall, Aelor remained while Maegor and his other bastards scattered to the wind. He found his identity in crisis; for almost fifteen years, he had dedicated his life to earning his father's approval--for his recognition. For all his efforts, he had only received the latter. He had given up so much of his life, and come so far, and had so little to show for it. Idolization of his father turned to resentment.

Rhaegal
The opportunity to be something more than some bastard practically fell into Aelor's lap. While he was residing in Raventree Hall, he heard news that Rhaegal, the dragon of his grandfather Aenys Targaryen, had settled in the ruins of Oldstones. He spared no time in riding north to meet the beast: in his mind, he would finally prove himself worthy of his father's affection, or die trying.

Aelor entered Oldstones alone, where he found the colossal beast. Rhaegal cautioned against his approach not once, but twice, with fearsome roars and searing flame, to burn Aelor alive if he did not leave. Despite these warnings--despite every fiber of his being telling him he ought to turn around to save himself--he persisted. Using nothing but the sheer power of his will, Aelor brought Rhaegal to his knees and mounted him. In the span of a moment, he went from nobody to somebody.

Flight
Aelor returned briefly to Raventree Hall, eager to learn his father's whereabouts so that he could join him in his battle to reclaim their birthright. He was once again disappointed; the banners of the Riverlands and the Vale had been raised in support of Maegor's cause, yet Maegor was nowhere to be seen. Following his trail, Aelor made way for the Mountains of the Moon, where he spent weeks searching for his father to no avail.

The brief relapse of affection for his father soon faded. Finally, he had returned, promising to remain a part of Aelor's life. And just like he had all those years before, he had disappeared in an instant. The man may have given his seed to create him, but he had done nothing to make him the man he was today. Aelor owed him nothing.

Tired of basing his life around pleasing the father who had never been there for him, Aelor set off for Essos. He would later learn that Maegor had died before he had tamed Rhaegal. Good riddance, he thought.