The Game World

A Song of Ice and Fire is set in a fictitious world reminiscent of Europe in the Middle Ages, except for the fact that in this world, seasons can last as long as a decade.

King's Landing
King's Landing is the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, and the seat of the Iron Throne.

King's Landing is surrounded by a wall, manned by a city watch known as the Gold Cloaks. The city has seven gates:

• Dragon Gate
• Gate of the Gods
• Iron Gate
• King's Gate
• Lion Gate
• River Gate (Mud Gate)
• Old Gate

The interior of the city is dominated by three hills, named after the Targaryen conquerors:

• Aegon's High Hill
• Rhaenys's Hill
• Visenya's Hill

Other significant places within the city include:

• The Red Keep (the Royal Palace)
• The Great Sept of Baelor
• The Grumpy Feline, an inn on the edge of Flea Bottom
• The Blackwater Rush, the river to the south
• Flea Bottom, the seedy end of town
  

The Iron Throne
The Iron Throne is the throne of the monarchs of Westeros. It was created by Aegon the Conqueror, the founder of House Targaryen, using the swords of his defeated enemies. He made the throne sharp and difficult to relax in, reportedly because he believed that no ruler should ever sit comfortably.
 

House Targaryen
The Ruler of Westeros, who lives in the palace in King's Landing, is Aegon IV of House Targaryen

House Targaryen have, at this point, ruled Westeros for nearly 200 years. Their seats are King's Landing and Dragonstone. Their sigil is a three-headed dragon breathing flames, red on black, and their words are "Fire and Blood."

History, traits and customs
The Targaryens are not native to Westeros, but originally hailed from the freehold of Valyria on the eastern continent. Before the Doom of Valyria, the cataclysmic event that destroyed the ancient civilization, the Targaryens departed for the island citadel of Dragonstone off the Westerosi shore, which was at that time the westernmost Valyrian outpost. Here, the Targaryens abandoned the Valyrian gods and converted to the Andal faith of the Seven Gods, then the predominant religion in Westeros. A century after that cataclysm, Aegon I, styled the Conqueror, began his conquest of mainland Westeros, landing with dragons and an army at what would later be called King's Landing). Six of the seven kingdoms fell before him.

Uniquely among noble Westerosi families, the Targaryens follow the Valyrian practice of incestuous marriage, wedding brother to sister. The phrase "blood of the dragon" refers to a number of typical Targaryen features: silvery-white (or platinum) hair and violet eyes. Some Targaryens also have a high tolerance of heat, though they are by no means immune to fire.

The Targaryens are known as dragonlords, and seem to be closer to dragons than other men are. Aegon I introduced dragons to Westeros when he conquered it, and dragons were kept and ridden by the Targaryens until the last one perished in the reign of Aegon III Dragonbane.

Probably due to their incestuous practices, the Targaryens are prone to madness; King Jaehaerys II said that with the birth of a new Targaryen the gods tossed a coin to decide whether the child would be great or mad. 

Timeline
All dates are given relative to Aegon's Landing (AL).

before ca. -200 AL
House Targaryen of Valyria relocates to the island of Dragonstone, off the coast of Westeros.

The Doom of Valyria (ca. -200 AL)
The Doom destroys the freehold of Valyria.

The Wars of Conquest (ca. 1 AL)
Aided by his three dragons, the armies of Aegon the Conqueror invade the seven kingdoms of Westeros, sparking the Wars of Conquest. In the battle known as the "Field of Fire," Aegon's army conquers the combined forces of the Rock and of the Reach; the three dragons kill nearly four thousand men. Many other kings bend the knee to Aegon, and in the end, only Dorne in the South remains unconquered.

The Dance of the Dragons (ca. 131 AL)
Aegon II's claim to the throne is disputed by his elder sister Rhaenyra; both perish in the resulting war.

Conquest of Dorne (ca. 157 AL)
Aged 14, Daeron I conquers Dorne, but is unable to hold it.

Aegon IV succeeds to the throne (172 AL)
 

Notable Targaryens in The Will to Win

Aegon IV
Called “the Unworthy,” Aegon is viewed one of the worst kings of the Targaryen dynasty. Handsome in his youth, and an infamous womaniser, he has fathered countless bastards on his many mistresses. As yet he has no legimimate children, although his delicate wife, Naerys, is rumoured to be pregnant.
 

Aemon the Dragonknight
The second son of Viserys II, Aemon joined the Kingsguard at the age of seventeen. A popular song (now banned by the King) speaks of his doomed love for his brother's queen, his own sister, Queen Naerys. Prince Aemon has been referred to as the noblest knight who ever lived. Prince Aemon bears the Valyrian longsword, "Dark Sister."
 

Naerys
The sister of King Aegon the Unworthy and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight is beautiful as well, but hers is a very fine and delicate beauty, almost unworldy. She is a wisp of a woman, very slender, with big purple eyes and fine, pale, porcelain skin, near translucent. Naerys had none of Dany's strength, however. She was sickly as a child and almost died in the cradle; thereafter she has found most physical activity to be very taxing. She loves music and poetry, plays the harp very well, enjoys sewing and embroidering. She is devout as well, and often finds solace in the pages of The Seven-Pointed Star. Naerys dresses well, but simply, and seldom wears her crown or any other jewelry. Though she has the silver-gold hair of the Targaryens, she often binds it up beneath a hair net or concealed it beneath a cowl. Her marriage is a very unhappy one, and it is said that only her brother Aemon knows how to make her laugh.
 

Other notable characters:
Lady Barba Bracken
Fifth mistress to the King, she has a young son (Aegor Rivers), and is bitterly jealous of anyone else who enjoys the King's favour - but especially Missy Blackwood, who has succeeded her in the King's bed.
 

Lady Mylessa ('Missy') Blackwood
A beautiful young widow, and the King's latest mistress. She is pregnant, and - it is rumoured - has ambitions to displace the Queen and take her place.

Ser Morgil
Brother to Lady Mylessa Blackwood, and determined to see her succeed in her ambitions.

Ser Frenses Toyne
A romantic young knight, a member of the Kingsguard, and hopelessly in love with Lady Barbra Bracken.

Ser Barryon Flawbitt
A hedgeknight, who served in Ser Morgil's household - lately killed in a tournament.