Dragon warfare will play a significant role in House of the Dragon - season 2 plot and overall theme. At the very beginning of the HBO show, Rhaenyra explains in a voice-over that the Targaryens have held the Iron Throne for nearly a century and, unsurprisingly, their might rests on dragons. House Targaryen has the ownership of ten adult dragons during the last years of King Jaehaerys I's reign and continues the pursuit of hatching dragon eggs during Viserys' time.
More dragons join the league of the Targaryen dragons over time. Rhaenyra's children bond with hatchlings, while her half-brother, Aemond, claims the largest living dragon in all of Westeros. King Viserys' children, Rhaenyra and Aegon II, who represent opposing factions viz the Blacks and the Greens, will be the first to employ dragons in this war of kin. Because it is laid out in lore, most dragons are expected to perish in House of the Dragon, but the question remains of how.
The Cannibal's Importance In House Of The Dragon, Explained
What makes the Cannibal an intriguing wild dragon and more importantly, what sets him apart from the Targaryen dragons in House of the Dragon?
Arrax
The Fight Above Shipbreaker Bay
Arrax is the first dragon to die at the outset of the Dance of the Dragons. His and Lucerys Velaryon's deaths in a midair chase serve as an inflection point for Rhaenyra. In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10 "The Black Queen," Rhaenyra sends her secondborn son as a messenger to Lord Borros Baratheon's court at Storm's End.
Lucerys' uncle, Aemond Targaryen, wins Lord Borros' support in the war by offering himself in a marriage alliance. As the young Lucerys is ushered out, Aemond goes after him and chases him on the dragonback. This encounter takes place amid a terrible storm and culminates in an angered Vhagar chomping on Arrax and Lucerys. The dragons' remains fall into the bay waters whilst Aemond looks in disbelief.
Meleys
The Battle At Rook's Rest
Though the Greens suffer heavy casualties at Rook's Rest, it is the Blacks who lose one of their most essential allies - Princess Rhaenys. The battle is planned prudently by the Greens, but Rhaenys and her she-dragon, Meleys, do not give up without a fight.
After the submission of Rosby and Stokeworth and the fall of Duskendale, the Blacks' ally, and the Lord of Rook's Rest, Staunton bars the gates of his castle. The Greens lay siege outside Rook's Rest, burn his lands and Staunton sends out a plea for help. Nine days later, Princess Rhaenys and Meleys arrive but are ambushed by Aemond and Aegon II. The combined strength of the gigantic Vhagar and Sunfyre outmatch Meleys, and she plummets to her death. Sunfyre is rendered flightless, and Aegon II is badly injured. Aemond and Vhagar, on the other hand, emerge unscathed.
Stormcloud
Ninety Warships Encounter The Gay Abandon
Rhaenyra's heir, Jacaerys Velaryon, dies a hero's death fighting the Triarchy at the Gullet. The epic naval battle is instigated by the Triarchy fleet that attacks the Gay Abandon cog that carries Jace's half-brothers, Aegon and Viserys to Pentos.
Prince Aegon escapes on the young Stormcloud's back, but Viserys is forced to stay behind. Stormcloud takes several arrows and Scorpion bolts but somehow manages to reach Dragonstone. Aegon delivers the news to the Blacks, and his young dragon eventually succumbs to injuries.
Vermax
The Battle Of The Gullet
In the naval battle at the Gullet, Jacaerys and the Dragonseeds set the Triarchy's fleet on fire. Jace's dragon, Vermax, crashes into the waters. Per Game of Thrones lore, the dragon's death could have possibly been caused by either of two reasons: he takes a crossbow bolt in the eye or is pulled down by a grappling hook. Vermax plummets into the sea, and Jacaerys makes a large jump but is killed by Myrish crossbowmen.
Dreamfyre
The Storming Of The Dragonpit
Helaena Targaryen loses her sense of self in the aftermath of Blood and Cheese. Since she is unable to warm her dragon saddle, her dragon, Dreamfyre, resides in the Dragonpit at King's Landing.
The pale blue, slender she-dragon is chained when a mob of dragonslayers storms into the pit. She manages to break free but is injured in the eye. Consumed with rage, she flies up above and knocks herself into the great dome above. The structure comes crashing down on her and scores of attackers below.
Vhagar And Caraxes
The Battle Above The Gods Eye
Mighty and lean, Daemon's Caraxes is a force to be reckoned with. The King Consort is eager to ride his beast into war to bring the Greens to their knees. Early on in the war, he flies Caraxes to the Kingspyre Tower of Harrenhal and captures it in the name of his wife, the Black Queen Rhaenyra.
During the Dance, Daemon atop Caraxes and Aemond atop Vhagar clash above the Gods Eye lake, located south of the Trident. Vhagar tears off Caraxes' wing with her teeth and claws his belly open, while the latter has his opponent in a chokehold. Caraxes and Vhagar die, and so do their riders. The Greens and the Blacks take heavy losses at Gods Eye as two large dragons, and two skillful combatants are wiped from the map of Westeros.
Moondancer
The Fall Of Dragonstone
In the aftermath of Rook's Rest, Aegon II recuperates at King's Landing while Sunfyre, with half a torn wing, remains near Rook's Rest. He heals and takes flight in time, and fights the attackers sent by the Lord of Maidenpool, Walys Mooton. Eventually, the dragon makes it to Dragonstone, where he partially eats the wild dragon, the Grey Ghost, for which the Cannibal is blamed.
Aegon II reunites with Sunfyre in a lair on the Dragonmont. After the fall of the Black bastion - Dragonstone. Baela Targaryen and Moondancer fight the duo. In the end, Sunfyre blasts Moondancer with his golden flames and kills him on the ground. Aegon leaps free but breaks his legs in the crash, while Lady Baela becomes a war captive.
Syrax
Dies In The Aftermath Of The Storming Of The Dragonpit
Rhaenyra's youngest legal child from Laenor, Prince Joffrey Velaryon, tries to mount Syrax during the Storming of the Dragonpit. Although Syrax takes flight, she pushes the prince off her back, and he crashes on the ground. The dragon then flies to the place of action, where a riotous mob of dragonslayers is wreaking havoc. Although accounts of Syrax's death differ, what's certain is that she died fighting the dragonslayers at the Dragonpit.
Sunfyre
Dies Of Wounds From His Battle With Moondancer
Sunfyre is in a pitiful state after battling Meleys at Rook's Rest and Moondancer at Dragonstone. He is unable to heal or fly, and Aegon II sets him on Rhaenyra Targaryen after her capture.
Sunfyre pours flames on Rhaenyra and devours her arm and shoulder first. He himself succumbs to traumatic wounds, and Aegon II becomes more bloodthirsty than before.
Seasmoke, Vermithor And Tessarion
The Second Battle Of Tumbleton
The Dragonseeds, Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White, who ride Vermithor and Silverwing on behalf of the Blacks, defect to the Greens. After sacking Tumbleton, Hugh and Ulf stay back with the Green army. Ser Addam Velaryon, also from the Dragonseeds league, decides to retake Tumbleton from the Greens. He and his newly amassed army of the Rivermen launch a surprise night attack against the enemy.
Addam atop Seasmoke fights Prince Daeron the Daring's Tessarion, and Vermithor enters the fight. The bigger dragons perish first, but Tessarion takes grievous wounds. In the battle's aftermath, she is mercifully killed by three arrows in the eye.
House of the Dragon - season 2 arrives on HBO in June 2024.
House of the Dragon
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- August 21, 2022
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
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