Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 and George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.House of the Dragon season 2 is set to introduce new characters who will play major roles in the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. In the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, both the greens and the blacks have begun to mobilize their forces to fortify their respective monarch’s claim. A fatal mistake on Aemond Targaryen’s part, however, sets up season 2 to expand the scope of the conflict and its casualties.
Although the show will continue to center around the Targaryens, House of the Dragon season 2 will feature many more supporting characters. At the end of season 1, the green and black councils each strategize to send messengers and secure strongholds for their respective rulers. In the scramble to assemble their armies, both teams will call on support from lords, ladies, bastards, and common folk alike from around Westeros.
Cregan Stark
Forefather of the Starks of Game of Thrones, Cregan Stark is the Lord of Winterfell and head of House Stark, one of team black’s most powerful allies during the Dance of the Dragons. In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, Rhaenyra sends Jacaerys and his dragon, Vermax, to Winterfell to gain Cregan’s support for her claim to the throne. According to George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, Cregan and Jacaerys strike up a strong friendship, winning House Stark’s loyalty pledge to Rhaenyra.
While at Winterfell, Jacaerys and Cregan make the Pact of Ice and Fire, the condition of which is that Jacaery’s firstborn daughter, a Targaryen princess, will marry Cregan’s firstborn son and heir of Winterfell, Rickon Stark. However, the Pact of Ice and Fire never comes to pass between Jacaerys and Cregan but is eventually fulfilled in the union between Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark in Game of Thrones. The Pact of Ice and Fire also brings the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire to pass in Game of Thrones, delivering the “Prince (and Princess) That Was Promised,” Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, who together vanquish the White Walkers.
Simon Strong
Simon Strong is the uncle of the late Hand of the King, Lyonel Strong, and the great-uncle of the Lord of Harrenhal, Larys Strong, and his brother Harwin. Simon Strong is next in line to inherit Harrenhal, since Larys Strong is unwed, has no living siblings, and is without children. At the end of House of the Dragon season 1, Simon is residing at Harrenhal as its castellan while Larys resides at King’s Landing.
Historically, Harrenhal is known to be unkind to its ruling houses. After being burned by Balerion “the Black Dread” during Aegon’s conquest, Harrenhal is said to be cursed because of its frequent change of masters; each house or individual that resides and rules over Harrenhal meets a terrible end. Simon Strong, being the defender of Harrenhal in Larys’s absence, is no exception to the curse. His loyalties, yet to be declared, will play a large role in the blacks’ strategy in House of the Dragon season 2, as Harrenhal is the next stronghold that the faction intends to seize.
Blood and Cheese
Blood, a former serjeant in the City Watch, and Cheese, a rat-catcher in the Red Keep, are recruited by Daemon through the White Worm, Myrasria, to avenge Lucerys Velaryon’s death at the end of House of the Dragon season 1. Daemon swears to Rhaenyra that he will take “a son for a son,” therefore sending Blood and Cheese through the secret tunnels in the Red Keep to exact his revenge. Blood and Cheese’s success evens the score for the blacks and greens but escalates the division and completely wipes out any prospects left for peace.
Hugh Hammer and Ulf White
Hugh Hammer, a bastard with Valyrian blood residing on Dragonstone, is one of the men who answer Prince Jacaerys Velaryon’s call for dragonriders after the loss of a few dragons and dragonriders on team black. Of the men who attempt to mount the six riderless dragons at Dragonstone — many of whom die trying — Hugh successfully claims Vermithor, the late King Jahaerys’s dragon. Audiences have already had a first look at his size and ferocity, as HBO confirmed that Vermithor is the dragon that Daemon sings to in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, and can look forward to seeing the dragon and its rider in battle in season 2.
Ulf White, like Hugh Hammer, is a bastard with Valyrian blood on Dragonstone who answers Jacaerys’s call for dragonriders. He successfully claims Silverwing, the Late Queen Alysanne’s dragon, and fights alongside his fellow dragonriders in battle. Although both Hugh and Ulf’s exact ancestries are unclear, they are known to have Valyrian blood from either the Targaryen or Velaryon bloodline, making them viable dragonriders. Both Ulf and Hugh, being bastards, gave themselves last names according to what they were known for. Hugh, formerly known as Hugh the Hammer, is strong enough to twist steel with his bare hands, and his father was a blacksmith. Ulf White, formerly Ulf the White, is known for his white hair, a signature trait of the Targaryens and Velaryons.
Addam and Alyn of Hull
Addam and Alyn of Hull, brothers and bastard sons of Velaryon blood, are among the men who answer Jacaerys’s call for dragonriders in House of the Dragon. Addam successfully claims Seasmoke, Laenor’s former dragon, but Alyn fails to mount Sheepstealer and never becomes a dragonrider in his lifetime. Although Addam and Alyn’s mother claim that they are both fathered by Laenor Velaryon, it is more likely that the brothers are fathered by Corlys Velaryon. Corlys eventually petitions for Addam and Alyn to be legitimized, and Rhaenyra grants them the names of Addam Velaryon and Alyn Velaryon. With Lucerys Velaryon dead, Addam is named Corlys’s heir and is set to inherit Driftmark. Addam’s unwavering loyalty to Rhaenyra Targeryan eventually becomes his marking characteristic.
Nettles
After Alyn of Hull attempts to claim Sheepstealer and fails, Nettles, a young bastard girl on Dragonstone tames Sheepstealer by bringing it sheep every day, successfully bonding with the dragon and becoming its rider. Like Hugh Hammer and Ulf White, Nettles’s ancestry is uncertain, but based on her ability to ride a dragon, she is said to be of Valyrian descent, perhaps a few generations removed from her ancestor. Although Nettles is a loyal fighter for the blacks, she is rumored to be more than a loyal follower of the King Consort Daemon Targaryen, and her appearance in House of the Dragon season 2 may cause issues of trust between Rhaenyra and Daemon.
Ormund Hightower
Nephew of Otto Hightower and cousin to Queen Alicent, Ormund Hightower is the Lord of the Hightower in House of the Dragon. He comes to the support of his cousin and her sons during the Dance of the Dragons, leading his troops into battle. With Ormund’s appearance in House of the Dragon season 2, a heavier emphasis will be put on the Hightowers’ involvement in the Targaryen civil war.
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