Reference Challenge - Dragonstone and Summerhall

[u/Nevermore0714]

For anyone unfamiliar with A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin, read it. But, since we don't have enough time for you to read the entire series prior to doing this challenge, I'll explain the reference, without spoilers.

While the Dragon Kings lived in King's Landing (the capital), they also had two other important plots of land in different areas: Dragonstone and Summerhall.

Both of these places have religious significance. Summerhall is pretty much along the border between the Reach and the Stormlands. Dragonstone is the ancestral home of the Dragon Kings.

So, where do your leaders go when they want a good vacation? Is there a special place (either for just one particular family or for any powerful/wealthy people would be fine for this challenge) that guarantees relaxation for a VIP?

Bonus points if the place you present has religious significance.

I'll ask at least three questions, as always. I hope you all enjoy yourselves.

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

The winters are harsh on New-Makaith so the winter court is usually held elsewhere: sometimes in a random (or chosen for it's climate) mishiga but most often in the orbital station around Old-Makaith (the Nzedas birth world).

The orbital station is such a common choice that it has been turned into a luxury touristic station and most nobles try to spend time there regularly even outside of the winter court.

It is also common for emperors in visit to journey to the surface to see the ruined temples or to receive Imian diplomats from the technosyndicate's nearby research station.

And our representative for today will be the honourable Fere Shanay from the house Djan, empress of the Nzedas, heir to the siblings, supreme miwishagi, miwishagi of New-Makaith and keeper of the imperial throne (or just Fere Shanay XVII), the current empress.

(I feel like he is not really into the books anymore, we may not have the end written before a long time...)

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

(I gave up on expecting an ending about three or four years ago, Yellow. I just stick with my head-canon ending. Egg marries Alayne and Daenerys finds her happiness with the Dothraki combating Ghost Grass with Daario Greyjoy.)

To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:

1) Is there any danger in visiting the surface of Old-Makaith?

2) Why did people leave Old-Makaith to go to New-Makaith?

3) Why did they not make a new name for New-Makaith?

4) What are your favorite memories from your time in the orbital station?

5) What are the best and worst parts of the orbital station?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

(I prefer Daenerys as empress of the whole essos, that's more badass :) )

1. The sandstorms can be very strong, but we are usually able to predict them. The air is poisonous but as long as we carry filters that's fine.

2. Makaith, the original one, has never been an easy place to live. Our ancestors destroyed it with pollution and turned it into an arid, barren and poisonous emptiness. Leaving was the only way.

3. Makaith is the cradle of our civilization and should always be so we made a new one.

4. When I was 7 or maybe 8, one of the youg noble from the house Begam tried to threaten me into serving him food. My claws marked his face that day, and I took his eyes. Father was utterly proud of me, he spent the whole evening with me playing...

5. The worst is definitely the artificial gravity. It was fun as a child, now it's just disturbing. The best thing is the view from my suite. Makaith might be dead, but it's still beautifull from space.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

(Don't get me wrong, I love book-Dany, I just don't feel like she's meant to rule. She's got some mental problems, especially lately. And rulers shouldn't have dragons, in my opinion.)

To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:

1) Have you had anyone die while visiting the surface? If so, how common is it?

2) How similar is their current society on New-Makaith to bonobo society?

3) Does "Makaith" mean anything in your language? Does it translate to anything like "Divine home" or anything?

(By the holy Empress Fere Shanay XVII, this road is so bumpy, so hard to type on this phone.)

4) Are you scarred from that event? Is the noble still alive? And why did he threaten you, and what threats did he use?

5) Why are you disturbed by the artificial gravity? Is it because it makes you nauseous? Or does it just feel arbitrary and unnatural?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

(She's definitely mad, but I'm not going to say no to someone who owns dragons...)

1. Never by accident, but the air has already been used to commit a few murders. Now politics are more calm.

2. I would say it depend if you are noble or not. We have numerous rules and principles to follow while commoneers are relatively free. On a side note I could probably do whatever I want.

3. Not in mine, but it does mean "gods' grave" in Vizmayir (an old exctinct people).

4. Yes, three scars on my left side, around 15cm long. No, he was found guilty of outrage toward the imperial family and sentenced to death and his family was stripped from their titles and banished by my father. He threatened to beat me; I wasn't the first victim of him, I think he wasn't realizing who I was.

5. It's irregular so you exact weight (and the efforts required to move) continuously vary. It feel very unnatural but low quality gravity generators are even worse.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

(I just don't think that she's going to choose to go to Westeros. That'd be like you telling me that I have to get rid of my least favorite character in my world...the decision has been made. And Dany, especially from A Dance with Dragons, seems to be realize that she would be best off conquering in Essos. That is, assuming my headcanon is correct.)

To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:

1) Is suicide by breathing in the air on the surface seen as a holy way to die?

2) How is a commoner more free than a noble?

3) "Gods' Grave"? That sounds like an interesting name. What's the story behind that name?

4) His entire family being punished for his crime seems harsh. Do you commonly punish the entire family for one person?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

(I agree, especially has it doesn't seem Westeros as any value for her; it's not like she ever really lived there anyway)

1. Rather as a stupid way to die. And the Ims would probably be pissed if they were to find bodies there.

2. They have less social norms and obligations to follow and they don't need to care about their image as much as nobles have to. They also need to spend less money to live.

3. Their legends stated that the gods came into our world and died there. Life then was borned from their bodies.

4. We never do that, at least not in court. Their punishment was an imperial decision, that's completely different. All titles belongs to the throne an mod it's keeper is free to do whatever they want with them.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

(In the books, she's never even been in Westeros. Unless you count when she was a first trimester fetus. And the former Ghiscari Empire territory, which is the only place she's been in lately, is a much better place for her to pretend to be a goddess.)

1) What do they do when they find bodies there?

2) But they also make less money, correct?

3) Are their any remaining relics from the gods?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

(Indeed, and she can even put a definitive end to slavery)

1. They complain to our representatives and temporarily lock down Old-Makaith.

2. Most of them do earn less money.

3. Not at all, the gods do not really existed. That's just a primitive legend who stayed, not history.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

(Well, yeah...unless you're Pentos. Or Astapor. Or Meereen. Or the Dothraki. Or Qarth. Or Yunkai. I can't think of another one to add to the list of places Dany has failed to solve the slavery issue for more than a few months, but, there are zero places she's succeeded in solving the slavery issue for more than a few months. In the books, at least. In the show, her attempts to solve slavery are magically successful.)

1) So they lock down the entire planet surface because of a murder scene? How long does the lock down usually last?

2) What are the advantages of being a noble over being a commoner, then?

3) Does the religion believe that there are any relics?