Born the son of King Arlon V, Argilac Durrandon grew into a strong, courageous, ferocious
fighter who turned back a Dornish invasion while still a boy.
In decline for many years, the Kingdom of the Storm underwent a resurgence in power
and prosperity under his bold, aggressive leadership.
Ruling throughout the final years of the Century of Blood, Argilac joined a great alliance
against Volantene expansion in Essos, personally leading a host to liberate the city of Myr
in the disputed lands.
Though they were enemies in later life, Aegon Targaryen of Dragonstone was another member
of this alliance, using his dragon Balerion to burn the enemy fleet, liberating the city
Lys.
A grizzled veteran with a passion for war, Argilac continued to personally lead his men
into combat, winning another great accolade when he killed King Garse Gardener VII of
the Reach in the Battle of Summerfield.
Despite his military prowess, the power of the Stormlands could not compete with their
northern neighbour, thus everything Argilac won throughout his reign was threatened when
it was learned Harren the Black, ruler of the Kingdom of Isles and Rivers was nearing
completion of Harrenhal, a seemingly impenetrable fortress, and would therefore soon seeking
new lands to conquer.
Therefore, he sent a message to the dragonlord Aegon Targaryen, proposing a marriage between
the Lord of Dragonstone and his daughter Argella, offering dowry lands which once belonged to
the Kingdom of the Storm but were currently held by the Isles and Rivers.
Argilac hoped this would give him a buffer state to act as a shield and ally to strike
at his enemy.
However Aegon had 2 wives already and so offered a counter proposal seeking more land while
offering the hand of his best friend and possible bastard half brother Orys Baratheon.
King Argilac, later known the Arrogant, was so insulted by the offer, he cut off the envoy’s
hands and sent them to the Targaryens with a note that read “These are the only hands
your bastard shall have of me.”
Aegon then led a small army to the mainland and declared himself King of Westeros, using
their three dragons and dragonriders to quickly win territory and raise a larger host.
After conquering the Riverlands and burning King Harren alive, Aegon sent Orys Baratheon
to take the Stormlands, supported in the air by his sister/wife Rhaenys atop her dragon
Meraxes.
Unwilling to be burned alive in his castle like his old enemy, Argilac gathered his full
strength to march against the invaders, winning an early victory when they killed a thousand
Targaryen men in an ambush at Wendwater.
Yet when the Stormlanders retreated into the Kingswood forest, they were burned alive by
Rhaenys on Meraxes, killing many including one of the three noble lords who led the Ambush
at Wendwater.
Seeking to end the conflict, the two armies faced off in a viscous final battle fought
during a storm, when the Targaryen host strategically set up their forces on hills near bronzegate.
King Argilac, who led twice as many men and noticed the rain was blowing in the direction
of the enemy, believed these two advantages might make up for their weaker position, and
ordered the charge, sending his warriors into the Last Storm, where their infantry fared
well, while mounted fighters struggled to charge up muddy hills.
The Storm King nevertheless took two hill and personally led the charge that broke the
Targaryen center, only to find the dragon Meraxes waiting on the other side, engulfing
them in dragonfire.
Though the King survived he was thrown from his horse and injured.
Even so, Argilac was a warrior to the end, refusing to submit, even in defeat, and raised
his weapon to fight Orys Baratheon in single combat.
Though each took wounds from the other, Argilac the Last Durrandon King was defeated and killed.
With her father dead, Argilac’s daughter Argella retreated into Storm’s End and declared
herself the Storm Queen, following in the likeness of her father by refusing submission
to the Targaryens.
But she was soon betrayed and captured by her own men, who then delivered her to the
enemy camp.
In recognition of his service, Aegon named Orys Baratheon Lord of the Stormlands, and
he in turn chose to honor and embrace the legacy of his predecessors by marrying Argella
while adopting the Durrandon sigil and words to form House Baratheon.