Following Aegon II’s death and the ascension of Rhaenyra I Targaryen, Lord Borros Baratheon struggles to maintain Stormlander unity as many houses resent the loss of lives in support of a failed cause. House Caron begins rebuilding its strength, focusing on fortifications in the Dornish Marches. House Tarth reopens trade routes with the Reach and the Crownlands.

House Tarth, despite its naval strength, faces a devastating storm in Shipbreaker Bay that sinks two of its largest galleys. This setback limits their ability to control the straits and allows pirates to threaten Stormland shipping lanes. To fight this, House Tarth secretly funds mercenaries to expand the naval strength they have lost, resulting in a minor uprising in the Stormlands.

However, Houses Morrigen and Caron are quick to assist Storm’s End in quelling the rebellion. Boremund Baratheon allows Orys Tarth to continue hiring mercenaries, in exchange for a part of the trade profits they have gained.

Now that House Tarth has regained its strength and has managed to rebuild its maritime might, Orys Tarth focuses on overseas. He allows his brother Cameron to sail to Tyrosh and secure a trade agreement between House Tarth and the Tyroshi merchants. Cameron succeeds...and brings back his wife, Phirelle of Tyrosh only a few months later.

Borros Baratheon, the current lord of Storm’s End, fathers a bastard, XY Storm, during a brief affair with a minor noblewoman, Maris Grandison. The boy is raised as a trueborn son and it later turns out that Borros' wife, Argelle Dondarrion is barren.

Jacaerys I Targaryen ascends to the throne amidst widespread rumors questioning his legitimacy, leading to a divided realm. The conflict between Jacaerys' Blue faction and his half-brother Aegon's Red faction, intensified by internal Lannister rivalries, plunges Westeros into further chaos and civil strife. The houses in the Stormlands, having seen what their disloyalty to Rhaenyra’s line can do, support Jacaerys. 

Cerysse first crossed paths with King Baelon at the lavish feast of Princess Daenys and Prince Trystanne Martell The two instantly rekindle their flame, their connection undeniable, and when her family readied themselves to return to Storm's End, Cerysse chose to remain at court, having her son vaemond brought over in secret, under the guise of becoming a lady-in-waiting to Queen Jorelle Celtigar. As the years passed, she grew closer to the king, eventually becoming his royal mistress together with her bitter rival Ilyn Serrett.

Pirates from the Stepstones raid the coasts of Tarth and Evenfall Hall. House Tarth, with assistance from House Connington, mounts a naval counterattack, driving the raiders back and reestablishing their dominance over the Straits of Tarth. To do so, the two houses form a marriage pact. At the age of thirteen, XX Connington is wed to Selwyn Tarth’s son.

The harsh winter devastates the Stormlands, bringing snow and famine. Houses struggle to survive, and both House Baratheon and House Connington lose two generations of leaders.

XY Storm, legitimized as XY Baratheon, takes control of Storm’s End and leads relief efforts.

House Caron, desperate for food, raids the lands of House peake in the Reach. Lord Robert Caron is captured.  XY Baratheon crushes the rebellion, strips House Caron of part of their lands, and redistributes resources among loyal houses.

Due to the harsh winter, the Stormlands see a lot of new generations picking out the reigns of uncles, fathers, and grandfathers. Inexperienced, XY Baratheon and his new wife Rhaenys Velaryon, call upon the lords to meet in Storm’s End. Using one of the newly renovated halls of Storm’s End, the lords sit together behind closed doors and discuss matters. It is also at that time, the matter of House Caron’s crimes against House peake is revised. XY Caron, Lord Robert Caron’s young grandson who had been awarded to the Lord peake to keep as a ward is deemed worthy of taking his father’s seat and becomes lord of Nightsong, surpassing his father, Steffon.

Queen Alerie Redwyne dies at 41. In a surprising move, King Baelon I Targaryen legitimizes his children by Cerysse Baratheon and names Vaemond Waters as his heir. This sparks unrest among the Stormland nobility, many of whom view Vaemond's parentage as a stain on the royal line. However many protests are quelched when Baelon grants Vaemond the name Targaryen and Vaemond, in order to honor his mother's heritage uses a golden dragon as his sigil 

As King Baelon I’s health deteriorates, he defies all advice and orders his carriages to be prepared for a journey to Harrenhal, despite being bedridden and gravely ill. With his court in tow, he sets off to confront his estranged son, Prince Jacaerys, who has remained isolated in his crumbling fortress for two years.