Content Warning: The source material in this section includes suicide, sexual assault, other forms of gender-based violence, and ableist language.

Helaena, Aegon II’s wife, died of suicide. According to rumors, she was murdered. Rhaenyra’s taxmaster imposed a tax on children born out-of-wedlock to fund the war and maintain Dragonpit, and the city revolted. Mobs of smallfolk killed many of the City Watch, and three powers rose up: Gaemon Palehair, likely a son of Aegon II born out of wedlock; Trystane, a teen hedge (masterless) knight that Ser Perkin the Flea claimed was the son of Viserys I; and the Shepherd. The Shepherd gained control over larger crowds by pointing to the dragons, which he claimed must be destroyed for the lives of the common folk to be saved. Rhaenyra and her household retreated to Maegor’s Holdfast when the crowd overran the Dragonpit to kill the dragons. Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey slipped off on Syrax, Rhaenyra’s dragon, to intervene, but Syrax threw the boy off. The mob tore Joffrey apart and killed Syrax.

Rhaenyra, Aegon the Younger, and some officials slipped away from the city. The Shepherd’s so-called lambs whipped Mysaria through the streets and killed her. The remaining City Watchmen surrendered to Ser Perkin.