The Velaryons' Sea Battle Setup For House Of The Dragon Season 3 Explained

Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2.

Summary House of the Dragon season 2 sets up an explosive season 3 with a bloody Velaryon naval conflict brewing.

The Battle of the Gullet will be a defining moment in the Dance of Dragons, involving characters like Corlys Velaryon, Jacaerys Velaryon, Ulf White, Hugh Hammer, and Addam of Hull.

Changes in House of the Dragon from Fire and Blood include the gender-swapping of Sharako Lohar, Aemond forming an alliance with the Triarchy rather than Otto Hightower, and Rhaena Targaryen claiming Sheepstealer.

House of the Dragon season 3 will feature a bloody Velaryon naval conflict with season 2 laying the groundwork for this. For the most part, House of the Dragon season 2's ending worked as the set-up for what is expected to be an explosive season 3. Several wheels were set in motion that will lead directly into the next installment of the show, from Daemon's renewed loyalty to Rhaenyra and his army of Riverlords to the introduction of House of the Dragon's Sheepstealer.

Although many are disappointed with the lack of spectacle and forward plot progression in House of the Dragon season 2's finale, none can deny the sense of anticipation it creates for House of the Dragon season 3's story. Perhaps the most exciting tease comes in the form of a brewing conflict in the Dance of Dragons. By introducing new members of House of the Dragon's cast and moving chess pieces across the board, a key event has been teased involving House Velaryon, as the deadly future of House of the Dragon season 3 comes into focus.

Related 10 Ways House Of The Dragon Season 2's Finale Sets Up Season 3 House of the Dragon's season 2 finale sets up several key events and battles for season 3. Here's what's next in the Dance of the Dragons.

House Of The Dragon Sets Up The Battle Of The Gullet For Season 3

The Deadly Naval Battle Will Take Place Early In House Of The Dragon Season 3

The conflict in question is known as the Battle of the Gullet and is one of the defining moments in the Dance of Dragons that escalates the war. In House of the Dragon season 2, the Battle of the Gullet was teased extensively. The first hint of the conflict came early in House of the Dragon season 2 when Corlys Velaryon told Rhaenyra Targaryen that his fleet would form a blockade across the Gullet. The Gullet is a stretch of sea that leads into Blackwater Bay and is a key location for naval trade reaching King's Landing.

As such, the blockade of the Gullet saw the people of King's Landing go with less food and supplies in the midst of war. With the people of King's Landing unsettled, Aemond Targaryen - acting as Prince Regent - formulated a plan to break the blockade by allying with the Triarchy. The Triarchy is an alliance of the Free Cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh which had clashed with House Velaryon during House of the Dragon season 1's War for the Stepstones.

These scenes tease the conflict that is to come in the Battle of the Gullet, likely to take place very early in House of the Dragon season 3's story...

In House of the Dragon season 2's ending, Tyland Lannister confirmed this alliance and a fleet of Triarchy ships set out for the Gullet. House of the Dragon season 2's finale also showcased Corlys Velaryon and Alyn of Hull rejoining the bloackade, while introducing Abigail Thorn's Sharako Lohar, a Triarchy admiral. These scenes tease the conflict that is to come in the Battle of the Gullet, likely to take place very early in House of the Dragon season 3's story.

The following sections contain spoilers for Fire and Blood, and likely House of the Dragon season 3.

What Happens At The Battle Of The Gullet

The Conflict Is One Of The Bloodiest Naval Battles In Westerosi History

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The prelude to the Battle of the Gullet interestingly surrounds Rhaenyra and Daemon's children, Aegon and Viserys. In House of the Dragon season 2, Aegon and Viserys were sent on a ship called the Gay Abandon to Pentos where they could be kept safe from war. As the Gay Abandon travels to Pentos, it encounters the Triarchy fleet. Aegon manages to escape on his small dragon, Stormcloud, yet Viserys is taken as a prisoner of war. Shortly after this, the Triarchy fleet engages the Velaryon blockade on two fronts: north and south of Dragonstone.

The battle begins to rage before Jacaerys Velaryon flies out on his dragon, Vermax. Vermax begins burning several ships, but the Triarchy sailors have experience battling dragons due to the War in the Stepstones where they faced Caraxes. However, Jace is joined by House of the Dragon's new dragonriders, Ulf White, Hugh Hammer, Addam of Hull, and Nettles. The five riders and their dragons shatter sections of the Triarchy fleet, but not before Vermax is injured and Jacaerys is killed by crossbowmen.

In House of the Dragon, the character of Nettles is being merged with Daemon's daughter, Rhaena Targaryen.

After Jace's death, the battle continues raging well into the night. A section of the Triarchy fleet attacks Driftmark, burning the harbor of Spicetown and sacking the Velaryon stronghold of High Tide. Eventually, the Velaryon fleet and the dragons of Team Black push back the Triarchy fleet. Of the 90 ships that departed from Essos, only 28 remain, while the Velaryon fleet loses a third of its ships. The battle is seen as a failure on both sides as the blockade remains intact, yet Prince Jacaerys is killed and thousands were lost in the battle and sacking of Driftmark.

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How The Battle Of The Gullet Is Different From The Book

House Of The Dragon Has Made Some Changes To Fire & Blood

House of the Dragon Fire And Blood George Martin

Regarding how the Battle of the Gullet is different from Fire and Blood, the prequel to the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, House of the Dragon has changed some elements. For example, in the show, it is Aemond's idea to seek out an alliance with the Triarchy, whereas Fire and Blood depicts this as a scheme of Otto Hightower before he is removed as Hand of the King. Concerning the Triarchy themselves, Sharako Lohar is a male admiral in Fire and Blood, yet is depicted as a female in House of the Dragon season 2.

2:32 Related Where Is Otto Hightower & What Happened To Him? House of the Dragon season 2 sees Otto Hightower briefly return, though the shot is quite confusing. What's happened to him, and where has he been?

Another difference that will likely be shown in House of the Dragon's Battle of the Gullet involves Rhaena Targaryen. In House of the Dragon season 2's ending, Rhaena found the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the Vale. At this point in Fire and Blood, Sheepstealer was already claimed by another dragonseed named Nettles. House of the Dragon has merged Nettles and Rhaena's characters, meaning the latter will likely fight in the Battle of the Gullet come season 3.