The Mad King was overthrown a generation earlier by an alliance of House Stark (Kings in the North) and House Baratheon iduring "King Robert's Rebellion". Robert Baratheon became king (although it's implied that Ned Stark could have been but didn't want to be). Robert's rule held the kingdoms united (although the Iron Islands did try to rebell). And all of the Targaryens were killed in the uprising (except a few that you meet over the course of the novels, the most prominent being Princess/Queen/Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen(icon) who was born and has lived her entire life in exhile "across the narrow sea".
During all time time since 'the ancients' magic has been on the wane. In fact, I'd say that most Westerosi don't believe in the existence of magic and consider things associated with it to be sheer superstition. Which is where the books start. However, the reader realizes from the beginning of the novels that the Wight Walkers are real mosters who appear to have the ability to raise the dead into a zombie-esque army. And one Targaryen is actually successful in bringing dragons back to the world. Whether this is cause or effect, who knows, but magic slowly seems to be on the rise.
And with King Robert's death... absolutely everything begins to come unravelled...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 03:27 pm (UTC)The Mad King was overthrown a generation earlier by an alliance of House Stark (Kings in the North) and House Baratheon iduring "King Robert's Rebellion". Robert Baratheon became king (although it's implied that Ned Stark could have been but didn't want to be). Robert's rule held the kingdoms united (although the Iron Islands did try to rebell). And all of the Targaryens were killed in the uprising (except a few that you meet over the course of the novels, the most prominent being Princess/Queen/Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen(icon) who was born and has lived her entire life in exhile "across the narrow sea".
During all time time since 'the ancients' magic has been on the wane. In fact, I'd say that most Westerosi don't believe in the existence of magic and consider things associated with it to be sheer superstition. Which is where the books start. However, the reader realizes from the beginning of the novels that the Wight Walkers are real
mosterswho appear to have the ability to raise the dead into a zombie-esque army. And one Targaryen is actually successful in bringing dragons back to the world. Whether this is cause or effect, who knows, but magic slowly seems to be on the rise.And with King Robert's death... absolutely everything begins to come unravelled...