#dragonpit

Their dragons are their most important asset. So why not build ... dragon rooms ... treat them with the upmost respect and freedom. My girl Rhaenyra drops an absolute truth:

"Everyone says Targaryens are closer to gods than to men, but they say that because of our dragons. Without them, we're just like everyone else." ―Rhaenyra Targaryen

So why is there even a dragonpit?? Dragons can look after themselves, especially the older ones... wait is there a fear they'll somehow become a wild dragon?

guess what i finally finished? e.e not sure why but my sims4 has been saving just fine today, so ive actually been able to build today without issue, huzzah!!!

i really like how the exterior of the dragonpit turned out, i did try to be faithful to how it looked in the show, though i did take some liberties for details ofc. below are some shots of the interior. i ended up just winging it rather than sticking to references due to the size limitations of the build and made it up as i went, but i think it turned out good enough ^.^

and i of course added some dragons inside; vermax, moondancer and dreamfyre!

i have also added an underground section for the dragons roosting below the pit!

not 100% done yet, as i will be adding small details, torches, stuff in the 6 small dens n all that, and finish the two side areas for dragonkeepers to warm eggs, but wanted to share how it turned out cus im really happy with it <3 i also have stairs leading to another level below for the larger dragons to roost in much larger dens, but ive only got a little done down there so it will look better in future, but may as well include it too while im posting my dragonpit pics~

Just a bunch of random thoughts on the nature of the Dragonpit:

The thick walls of the Pit have numerous rooms and chambers to store saddles, whips, and so on. Dragonkeepers and the rider assigned to the Dragonpit in the event of an attack on the city have small apartments set in the walls, with a view of the Pit floor.

The dragonkeepers have strict protocols for moving dragons, and even princes have to be accounted for when a dragon is loosed for feeding time or to clean their lairs. Usually any Pit visitors are required to remain in the stone benches high above the Pit floor.

The floor's sand layer is often blackened and turned to glass in places from dragonfire. Animal bones and dragon waste is carted off daily. It is not a task that is ever slacked off on, because the dragons are symbols of Targaryen power and must be kept in immaculate conditions.

Because it was made and designed by Free Cities architects, it has a distinctive aesthetic compared to the rest of King's Landing. More like a giant temple than a stable, very flowing carvings in the walls for adornment. Loads of dragon motifs.

The stony walls are often blackened by dragonflame, and the dome is crusted with ash and smoky residue, obscuring the flying dragons carved into it.

The walls have windows, tall and narrow ones that let in bars of sunlight and make the Pit feel less oppressive than it is.

It's BIG. The Dragonpit is the single biggest structure in Westeros aside from the Rock and Harrenhal. It's the first landmark that ships or dragonriders can make out when approaching the city. Inside, it makes Balerion look undersized. It's almost like Erebor from the Hobbit films, just completely absurdly voluminous.

The dragon lairs are also huge, two hundred feet tall at the apex of the arched ceiling, a hundred feet wide, and black with ash. Most of the lairs went unused, as there was forty chambers and only ever about twenty dragons in total- and no more than fifteen or so ever nested under its roof at one time in Targaryen history. The lairs have a half dozen chains for each dragon, with links as big as a man for the adults, and links as big as a human skull for the small ones.

The dragonriders never left through the Main Gate. They always departed and landed at the entrance to each dragon's lair.

The lair entrances are flanked by huge dragon statues, which stood guard over huge signal braziers to denote which lair the dragons should land at. Dragonkeepers would use banners to wave in returning Targaryens.

Visenya’s Hill was crowned by the Great Sept of Baelor with its seven crystal towers.

Across the city on the hill of Rhaenys stood the blackened walls of the Dragonpit, its huge dome collapsing into ruin, its bronze doors closed now for a century.

The Street of the Sisters ran between them, straight as an arrow. The city walls rose in the distance, high and strong.

And above it all, frowning down from Aegon’s high hill, was the Red Keep, seven huge drum-towers crowned with iron ramparts, an immense grim barbican, vaulted halls and covered bridges, barracks and dungeons and granaries, massive curtain walls studded with archer’s nests, all fashioned of pale red stone.

Aegon the Conqueror had commanded it built. His son Maegor the Cruel had seen it completed. Afterward he had taken the heads of every stonemason, woodworker, and builder who had labored on it.

Only the blood of the dragon would ever know the secrets of the fortress the Dragonlords had built, he vowed.

The Princess and the Queen & Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Ehm... reading comprehension anyone?