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Dragonstone is a castle located on an island of the same name at the entrance to Blackwater Bay. The castle was built by the Valyrians, who used arcane arts, fire, and sorcery to this end, liquefying the stone to shape the castle to look like multiple dragons. Statues of dragons can be found all over, and dragon claws hold the torches hanging from the walls. Grotesques and gargoyles serve as crenellations along the three curtain walls of the castle, shaped like a variety of creatures. The citadel is wrought all of black stone, and has a sinister reputation. The island on which Dragonstone was build had been the westernmost outpost of the Valyrian Freehold for two hundred years when Lord Aenar Targaryen relocated his family to the island in 126 BC. He took possession of the castle, making it the seat of House Targaryen. Aenar ruled as the first Lord of Dragonstone, and was succeeded by his descendants until Lord Aegon Targaryen launched his Conquest in 2 BC.

Although Aegon established a new seat for himself to rule his kingdom from, Dragonstone remained in possession of House Targaryen. Aegon’s younger son, Maegor, was raised by his mother at Dragonstone, and in time even became known as the "Prince on Dragonstone". Years later Maegor’s brother, King Aenys I Targaryen, named his heir the “Prince of Dragonstone, making it a formal title, which was later continued by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and the Targaryen kings who followed.

More recently, Queen Rhaella Targaryen and her young son Viserys fled to Dragonstone at the end of Robert's Rebellion. There, Rhaella gave birth to Princess Daenerys nine months later during a fierce summer storm. The castle was assaulted on the orders of King Robert I Baratheon shortly thereafter. With the Targaryens either dead or gone in exile, Robert gave Dragonstone to his younger brother Stannis, creating House Baratheon of Dragonstone. Stannis has begrudgingly ruled the castle and its poor lands ever since. 'Read more...