The Year of False Banners

When first the Targaryens returned to Westeros, some sought to work the instability of their fledgling rule to their advantage. The anti-Targaryen sentiment and efforts were widespread by these rebels throughout the Kingdoms, albeit shortened by the threat of dragons and their riders themselves, and dubbed in the years to come '''The Year of False Banners. '''

The Riverlands
With the rise of the Vulture King in the south, and as other rebellions sprung up throughout the Seven Kingdoms, Black Walder Frey made a bold move against House Tully, his ultimate motive to kill Lord Edmure and destabilise the Riverlands. Through clever use of deception and money, the Lord of House Frey brought three powerful bandit groups to fold, and employed them against the Lord of the Riverlands.

Three years of clever tracking and planning were all that was required to root out the bandit groups. Though Black Walder's complicity was never discovered, it was revealed by his son and heir shortly after his death a decade later.

Dorne
Rife with skepticism, Dorne contributes their disbelief that Aegon is truly the son of Elia Martell, who had been believed for many years to have met his end as an infant by the hand of Ser Gregor Clegane. Distrusting of the Targaryens' return and further apprehensive of their dragons, many Dornish houses call for independence whilst others remember the Conquest that first saw them annexed.

Amidst both cries for secession and to swear fealty, another Vulture King rose from the Red Mountains to choose rebellion. Caravans flying the banner of the dragon and that of their loyalists were attacked and looted; riots were incited in protest of Dorne's inaction - one of which saw to the utter destruction of the Water Gardens, for its relevance to peace with the Targaryens.

to be cont.