Location: Sunspear, on the beginning of the 1st week of the 7th month of 21 AC, Event 01, Chapter 1
After having given her guests a couple of days to arrive, settle in and rest after their long and arduous journey, the Ruling Princess of Dorne then assembled everyone in the magnificent throne room housed within the Tower of the Sun. As the hum of whispers and conversation finally quietened down, the highly respected Princess Deria finally arose from her seat of gold inlaid with the Martell spear on its back and addressed the crowd of nobles and Targaryen royals. Sunlight streamed in through the many coloured glasses of the room casting almost an ethereal glow around the Dornish beauty and making the glossy marble floor of the room seem luminescent.
Her naturally calm and elegant face uplifted into a beaming smile as she began to speak in her usual regal and warm manner. "My esteemed guests, it is with great honour and gratitude that my family and I welcome you Sunspear; where the sun never forgets to shine, even after the longest of shadows. We gather not merely for celebration, though there is much to celebrate. Today, we stand at the meeting point of histories long set apart. Of paths that have crossed in fire, in grief, and in pride—and yet, still lead us here.” She paused briefly as she quickly glanced through the assembly, before she continued in her composed tone though there was an unmistakable gentleness now in her gaze and voice. “There are those among us who remember when our banners faced one another across the field. When loss was counted not in numbers, but in names. Such memories do not vanish simply because we wish them to.”
“Nor should they. For it is only by remembering the cost of division that we may understand the worth of unity.” She then turned slightly to her firstborn Crown Prince Qoren Martell, and to Princess Viserra Targaryen beside him. “These two stand before us not as symbols alone, but as a promise. A promise that the future need not be bound to the wounds of the past. That what was forged in conflict may yet be remade in purpose.” Her gaze lifted once more to the gathered court.
“Peace is not the absence of strength. It is the discipline to wield it wisely. And alliance is not born of convenience, but of choice, renewed again and again.” Her hands folded lightly before her. “Let it be known that Dorne does not forget who she is. Nor do we ask any of you to forget who you are. But we ask this—” Deria inclined her head slightly as her voice lifted. “That you stand here, today, not as remnants of what was… but as stewards of what may yet be."
"With the union of my son, Qoren Martell, and Princess Viserra Targaryen, we do not simply bind two houses. We lay the foundation for something stronger than either alone: an alliance not easily broken, not lightly shaken. Let the past be honored—but not obeyed.”
“And let the future begin here.” And with that Deria turned with a loving smile towards her firstborn daughter Arianne who then gracefully got up from her seat before starting to brief the crowd on what festivities they could participate in during the celebrations.
1. The Desert Race
At first light of tenth day, riders will gather beyond Sunspear at the Sandgate Fields, where the desert begins and the race takes form.
Spanning roughly thirty to forty kilometers, the course winds through open sands, towering dunes, rocky crossings, and heat-warped stretches that test both instinct and endurance. This is no simple race of speed: riders must pace themselves beneath the rising sun, navigate treacherous terrain, and choose wisely when to push forward or hold back.
The course moves from the Ember Reach into the Vaith River March, then continues through the Broken Steppe and the Red Dune Expanse, with designated checkpoints marking each stage of the race. Riders are tested at every stop, where pace, endurance, and control are reassessed under increasingly punishing conditions. The route then leads into the Shimmering Hollow before a final return via the Sunline approach to Sunspear, where the last checkpoint transitions into the final sprint home.
Minimal interference are allowed such as bumping, blocking, cutting off paths. No lethal sabotage but clever tricks are admired. Water stations in large tents constructed for a brief rest exist but are limited.
The race is expected to last about three to four hours, with victory awarded not to the swiftest alone, but to the rider who best masters the desert itself. In Dorne, survival is as worthy a triumph as speed, and only those who endure both will cross the line to claim the title of the Sun’s Chosen Rider.
The winner will also be awarded with a prized desert horse and gold.
Participants are encouraged by Princess Deria Martell to make use of their famed and exquisite Dornish sand steeds loaned out for the purpose of the race, though they are also welcomed to use their own horses if so desired.
2. Traditional Dornish Dance Lessons
Guests are warmly invited to immerse themselves in one of Dorne's oldest artistic traditions beneath brightly colored pavilions within Sunspear's palace gardens.
Skilled Dornish dancers and musicians will guide participants through a variety of traditional Rhoynish and Dornish dances, ranging from slow, elegant partner dances to lively group performances.
Musicians playing lutes, drums, flutes and hand cymbals will accompany each lesson, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
Throughout the session, refreshing citrus drinks, chilled wines and light Dornish delicacies will be served.
3. Desert Caravan Ride
Guests will journey atop gentle, well-trained camels led by experienced Dornish guides familiar with every dune and trail.
The route winds through rolling golden sands, scattered rocky outcrops and hardy desert flora, offering breathtaking views of Dorne's unique landscape.
Along the way, guides will share stories of Rhoynar history, local customs and the many plants and wildlife that thrive within the desert.
Several shaded rest stops will allow guests to enjoy cool drinks and fresh fruit while admiring the scenery.
The ride is intended as a relaxed excursion suitable for riders of all experience levels rather than a competition.
4. The Starlit Desert Banquet at Lemonwood
From Day 3 to Day 5, and in 3 separate batches, guests will depart Sunspear for the lovely location of Lemonwood, the seat of House Dalt. Unforgettable evenings awaits amidst fragrant lemon orchards and beneath Dorne's brilliant night sky.
Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed with chilled lemon water, citrus wines and sweet lemon pastries before being escorted through the estate's renowned orchards, heavy with ripening fruit and perfumed with the fresh scent of citrus blossoms.
Long banquet tables draped in vibrant Dornish silks will be arranged between the orchard's shaded avenues and open desert sands, illuminated by hundreds of lanterns as the sun sets.
An extravagant multi-course feast will showcase the finest of Dornish cuisine, an abundance of celebrated Dornish wines and citrus-infused delicacies.
Before retiring for the night, guests may wander the moonlit lemon groves, where the cool evening breeze carries the delicate fragrance of blossoms and ripening fruit.
Rather than returning to Sunspear, guests will spend the night in luxurious desert pavilions erected upon the outskirts of the orchards. Each richly furnished tent will feature fine bedding, carpets, lanterns and attentive servants, allowing guests to enjoy the serenity of the Dornish countryside beneath a canopy of stars.
5. Grand Bazaars:
Bazaars like you've never experienced before would be set up within the Winding Walls. Dornish trade wealth is on full display with silks, spices and gemstones.
Merchants from far and wide have been invited, including several from Essos and some from Yi Ti, to peddle their highly varied range of exotic and extraordinary wares.
6. Feasts & Performances:
Every night, the vast feasting hall in the Old Palace would host feasts featuring tropical, native Dornish delicacies many of which are accompanied with well-known Dornish spices.
Guests with different talents are also invited/ encouraged to perform on stage during the feasts as part of their wedding gifts to the betrothed royal couple.
7. Water Gardens:
In celebration of the wedding, the favorite private oasis retreat of the Martells are now fully opened to all guests. The tranquil gardens have been expanded with more pools and new artistic fountains and waterworks have been added to make the experience there even more pleasurable and awe-inspiring.
OOC info:
The festivities would last for 10 days in-character whilst threads can take place till the 27th of July. Though there will be a few plot drops happening during the event so keep your eyes peeled for them hehe
The official wedding ceremony and reception will happen on the 7th day but for now please refrain from writing anything to do with the wedding ceremony and reception feast as a few special things might happen on that day! ;)
Your threads may take place anywhere and at any one of the mentioned festivities at any time. You don't need to follow day by day.
Please tag all starters with the tags of tc.event01 & tc.starter
Most importantly have fun & be inclusive! If you have any questions, at all please do not hesitate to ask the main!
In the days following the Lemonwood Affray, those found to have instigated and participated in the violence were summoned before the Martell court, where they were compelled to offer a public apology to House Dalt for desecrating their hospitality during the royal wedding festivities. In addition to their apologies, the offending nobles were ordered to jointly bear the cost of restoring the damaged pavilions, furnishings, orchards and other property, ensuring House Dalt suffered no lasting financial burden from the night's disorder.
The Qoherys–Mallister Union
To preserve the honour of House Qoherys and spare Lord Quenton's daughter and her unborn child from lifelong disgrace, a settlement was reached between the two Riverlands houses. With his younger brother ( a sworn brother of the Kingsguard) —still missing and responsible for the scandal, House Mallister's unmarried secondborn son agreed to wed the young Lady Qoherys in his stead, accepting both her and the child as his own. Though born from unfortunate circumstances rather than courtship, the marriage served to mend relations between the two houses and restore a measure of dignity to both families whose honour had been so publicly shaken.
