Viserys Targaryen (son of Visaera)

[Work in progress.]

Viserys Targaryen is the third born son of Aemon and Visaera Targaryen. He was born during the Fourth Moon of 402 AC, in the Red Keep, as the War of the Three Thieves reached its climax. In 408 AC, when the Mummer’s War threatened his newly crowned mother and his siblings, the young Prince was sent to be warded in Pentos in the household of Magister Moredo Mopatis. He would remain in said Free City until 415 AC, when he at last returned to the Seven Kingdoms and his Queen Mother.

Like many other members of House Targaryen Viserys is a dragonrider, and rides the dragon that was ridden by his namesake, Starfyre.

Appearance and Character
Like the rest of his royal family, Viserys also sports the tell-tale purple eyes and silver hair of House Targaryen. Visibly gaunt and diminutive in stature, the Prince does not seem a fearsome sight to those who come across him-- at least at first. Behind his pretty violet eyes can be seen an ever-present vindictive fire, coaxed on by deep-rooted and venomous malice. His skin, on the other hand, is a deathly, cadaverous and pallid hue, like the first snowfall of winter. The young Targaryen will almost always be found dressed in the finest silks and fashions that are often imported from the Free Cities… unless, of course, he is making a concerted effort to go somewhere unnoticed.

Vicious, cruel, arrogant, and with a fiery temper not to be underestimated, Prince Viserys harbours nothing but loathing for most of his Mother's people. More at home in an Essosi Magister's pleasure palace than a Westerosi Lord's Keep, he holds the men and women of the Seven Kingdoms in a haughty state of contempt, and considers them wholly inferior to those born with the blood of the dragon within them. Few and far between are the Lords and Ladies of Westeros that the young Prince considers worthy of his time, preferring instead the company of the various sycophants and lackeys he has accumulated over his years spent living a spoilt existence in a constant state of luxurious decadence. A true scoundrel and fiend, Viserys has been known to associate himself with a number of shady, nefarious characters.

402 - 408 AC: Early Life in King's Landing
Viserys was conceived whilst his parents fought in the Stepstones, in the War of the Three Thieves. He was born at a time of death, destruction and dragonfire: an ominous sign that some might say prophesied what the young Prince would later become. From the very start Viserys seemingly had a sense of duty and destiny thrust upon him: Visaera, his mother, had him named after her late father, one of the greatest men the Realm had ever seen. The shadow of his namesake would long cloud his life, even after it became clear to all that the young Prince cared little for serving the Realm or honouring his Targaryen kinsmen and women.

His early years were, for the most part, quiet and peaceful. With the War now over, a new Winter fell upon the Realm. The Scarlet Winter was harsh and brutal, but sheltered amongst the royal court in the Red Keep Viserys was kept away from much of the suffering. However, the Winter saw a deterioration in the relationship between his parents, and by 405 AC they had left for Dragonstone with an infant Viserys in tow.

Faint, fleeting memories are all that Viserys can recall of his father. Aemon's disappearance in 405 AC whilst travelling to Essos to conduct diplomatic business on the behalf of the King left the young Princeling fatherless, but too young to truly understand what had happened. Only later would he come to terms with the loss, learning quickly to function independently of his parents even at a young age. This was especially the case as Visaera grew more and more concerned with helping to govern the Realm, thanks to her newfound position as the King Aenar's heir.

Over ten years separated Viserys in age from his other siblings, most of whom were already adults by the time he was saying his first words, and had little in common with the toddler Prince. He was therefore afforded with a full set of royal caretakers, by order of his mother. They would cater to his every whim, ensuring he was brought up as a true prince ought to be. Soon enough, however, Viserys came to regard with hatred and disdain his nursemaids and attendants, who on his mother's bidding looked after him night and day. He cared little for his studies, and even less for lessons on his duty as a royal prince. Septas were boring, and Maesters even more so.

In time, the small Prince began to find that he took pleasure in the suffering of others. At first, he played harmless practical jokes on the maids and servants of the Red Keep. He hid important items from advisors and courtiers, knowing all the various nooks and crannies of his home better than most. Then, he began to tease the other boys and girls of his age that lived within the castle. He would chide them about their inferior status at court, or about the impurity of their blood in comparison to that of the dragon. Teasing, however, soon became bullying. Harsh words became threats, and then even beatings. Then, when a number of the Red Keep's cats began to vanish, vile rumours began to circulate that the young Prince was involved in their disappearances. Even at an early age, Viserys began to develop a rather... unsavoury reputation.

408 - 415 AC: The Prince in Pentos
In 408 AC, King Aenar Targaryen was taken by the Stranger. Shortly after his passing the Mummer's War began, as rebels sprung up across the Realm against the rule of his mother. The youngest of the new Queen's children at just six, Viserys was of little military use. Instead of keeping him confined to the Red Keep, Visaera elected instead to send him to Pentos: to keep him safe, absorb some of eastern culture, and further strengthen relations with House Mopatis. So it was that the young Prince left Westeros with his dragon, Ser Sunglass of the Queensguard, and little else.

The years Viserys would spend in Pentos would be some of the most formative of his life, and they would mould the little Targaryen into the man he would later become. The household of Magister Moredo Mopatis was lavish, opulent and liberating. Far from the constraints and pressures of the royal court, Viserys was able to truly come into his own. His every demand would be met and his every need satisfied,by what seemed like a veritable army of servants - every one at his beck and call. Pampered and charmed by the Magisters of Pentos, who in turn sought to improve relations with the Dragon Queen of Westeros, Viserys soon came to love his new home far more than he ever did the stifling, drab corridors of the Red Keep or Dragonstone.

He would remain in the Free City for seven continuous happy years. During this time he would make a great many friends from amongst the crowds of sycophants and merchants who banqueted and feasted at the Mopatis manse every day. Relishing in the praise with which they showered him and his magnificent dragon, Viserys quickly became adverse to any who dared challenge him. With no responsibilities, and little sense of 'duty' instilled within him, the young Princeling indulged in whatever pleasures he so desired. Spoilt beyond his wildest dreams, he quickly came to enjoy the finer things in life: heaps of silk clothing, dozens of sumptuous dinners and a wide variety of exotic entertainments. What little energy he devoted to 'work' was poured solely into the study of a new 'art' he had become fascinated with: that of the water dance. Surrounding himself with the finest bravos one could find, the Prince soon discovered he had a talent for the subtle movements and deadly skill exhibited by water dancers.

But Viserys did not confine himself to the higher echelons of Pentoshi society. As with many of the other Free Cities, corruption ran hand in hand with wealth and commerce in Pentos. Smugglers, pirates, sellswords, thieves, assassins: all could be found, if one knew where to look. And Viserys, already adept in moving stealthily through the shadows in order to escape detection, knew exactly where to look. It took little time, and soon hefound many new distractions with which to occupy his time in the shady crevices and corners of Pentos, and quickly involved himself in a dark world of vices.

415 - 418 AC: A Return to the Realm
The good times could not last forever, however. In 415 AC word came from King's Landing: it was time for the wayward son of the Queen to return to Westeros.

Family

 * Prince Viserys Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone and Hand of the King b. 342 A.C. d. 398 A.C.
 * m. Lady Gwynesse Lannister b. 345 A.C.
 * Queen  Visaera I Targaryen , Lady of the Seven Kingdoms b. 369 A.C.
 * m. Prince Aemon Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone b. 371 A.C. d. 405 A.C.
 * Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone b. 387 A.C.
 * w. Lady Selenya Targaryen b. 381 A.C. d. 408 A.C.
 * Lady Visenya Silvermoon b. 408 A.C.
 * m. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Princess of Summerhall b. 387 A.C.
 * Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen b. 408 A.C
 * Prince Aegon Targaryen b. 411 A.C.
 * Prince Aemond Targaryen b. 412 A.C.
 * Prince Daemon Targaryen b. 415 A.C.
 * Prince Aerion Targaryen b. 416 A.C.
 * Prince Laenor Targaryen, Prince Consort of Dorne b. 388 A.C.
 * m. Princess Meria Martell b. 381 A.C.
 * House Martell
 * Princess Aelinor Targaryen, Lady of Storm's End b. 389 A.C.
 * m. Lord Gwayne Baratheon b. 385 A.C.
 * House Baratheon
 * Prince Viserys Targaryen b. 402 A.C.
 * Prince Aerys Velaryon b. 409 A.C.