Game of Thrones primarily follows those at the top of its society. The movements of kings, knights, lords, and nobles command attention, while millions of less fortunate souls run around anonymously. The Starks and the Lannisters enjoy the spotlight even among those high-born houses. House Baratheon performed one of the most significant acts in the franchise's history shortly before the narrative started. Robert was right to rebel, but the Targaryen dynasty gave him Storm's End.
House Baratheon's presence in Game of Thrones is somewhat laughable. After King Robert dies, Stannis and Renly spin their wheels for almost a decade and accomplish almost nothing. Stannis's most notable achievement was having his brother killed shortly before narrowly escaping death at the Battle of the Blackwater. Melisandre was House Baratheon's MVP, and even she didn't get them close to their old seat of power. At least they still have Storm's End.
Game Of Thrones: House Baratheon, Explained
Game of Thrones lore says that Aegon's closest aide, Orys Baratheon established House Baratheon during the Conquest and left behind a rich legacy.
What is Storm's End?
Storm's End is a mighty fortress located on the southeastern coast of Westeros. It's among the most heavily protected castles on the continent. It sits as the capital of the Stormlands, a region named for the frequent and overwhelming tempests that batter its shores. The stronghold features an 80-foot thick stone wall facing the sea with a 150-foot sheer drop into its cold waters below. This makes it almost impossible to take by force. Some say Storm's End's founders wove spells into their walls to protect against magic. Storm's End has never fallen to an invader in its multi-thousand-year existence. It weathers every storm. In A Clash of Kings, Catelyn Stark's inner monologue describes Storm's End, stating:
The nightfires had burned low, and as the east began to lighten, the immense mass of Storm's End emerged like a dream of stone while wisps of pale mist raced across the field, flying from the sun on wings of wind.
Storm's End was constructed during the Age of Heroes, an era shrouded in mythology and mystery. The distant past is told in songs and tall tales, making every detail more fanciful than the franchise's usual tone. The epic of Storm's End's construction is generally treated like the story behind Giant's Causeway. It's more of a campfire tale than a historical record. It's said that Durran Godsgrief, a mythic hero among the First Men to come to Westeros, won the love of a mermaid named Elenei. Elenei was the daughter of the god of the sea and goddess of the wind. When she and Durran consummated their love, Elenei gave up her godhood and became mortal. Durran earned the gods' wrath that day. They sent a storm to destroy his keep and kill his family. Durran declared war, building a new castle over Shipbreaker Bay. The gods shattered it again. They went through this cycle six times. Durran built his seventh home with the help of either the indigenous Children of the Forest or the young Bran the Builder. This keep survived the gods' might and became Storm's End, making Durran the first Storm King and Elenei his Storm Queen.
How did House Baratheon take Storm's End?
Durran's ancestors, House Durrandon, held Storm's End for thousands of years. Storm Kings ruled the Stormlands as an independent kingdom until the days of Aegon the Conqueror. Aegon's Conquest unified the nine constituent regions of Westeros under the Iron Throne, establishing one sovereign over the continent for the first time. Though Aegon was known for accomplishing impossible invasions, he didn't successfully storm Storm's End. Aegon sent his future Hand and rumored bastard half-brother, Orys Baratheon, to the Stormlands. Argilac Durrandon ruled the keep at the time. He would come to be known as Argilac the Arrogant for his catastrophic pride.
Argilac reached out to Aegon to propose a partnership. He'd borrow the Targaryen armies, and Aegon would marry his daughter. Aegon refused but offered to wed the young lady to Orys. Argilac had Aegon's envoy's hands hacked off and sent back to him. Unfortunately, the Conqueror had been looking for an excuse to wage war. Argilac started Aegon's Conquest because he didn't like the idea of his daughter marrying a bastard. When Orys came to attack Storm's End, Argilac could have stayed within its impregnable walls and survived for a generation. Instead, Argilac the Arrogant met Orys's army in open battle. He wanted to avoid an attack by dragons that could have seen him burned in his hall. The battle became known as the Last Storm. It ended when Argilac was thrown from his horse after a jet of flame from a Targaryen dragon. Orys gave Argilac a chance to surrender, then killed him when he refused. Orys Baratheon took Storm's End without entering it. He then took their sigil, house words, and Argilac's daughter as a final insult. Aegon legitimized Orys, establishing House Baratheon as the new Storm Kings.
In a way, the legacy of Durran Godsgrief lives on in Storm's End. House Baratheon married into House Durrandon, making its issue the descendants of the legendary builder. Like Durran, Orys wanted to marry someone and declared war against seemingly unbeatable odds to secure his bride. House Baratheon was born in Storm's End, and it remains theirs even after they lost the Iron Throne.
