Editing Nine mages

The '''nine mages''' were a group of [[Magic|mages]] from [[Essos]] summoned by King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] to attempt to hatch [[dragon egg]]s and restore the [[dragon]]s from extinction. Their attempt resulted in failure.

==History==
King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] was deathly afraid of [[dragon]]s after witnessing his mother, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], being eaten alive by [[Sunfyre|one]]. Despite dreading even the sight of them, King Aegon III became convinced that dragons would counter those who sought to oppose him. At the suggestion of his younger brother, Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]], he sent for a group of nine mages from [[Essos]] who attempted to use their magical arts to kindle his clutch of eggs. The attempt would prove to be a debacle and a failure.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} The identities of the nine mages are unknown, nor is it known if their attempt to kindle Aegon III's dragon eggs was before or after the death of the [[last dragon]] in {{Date|153}}.

==Recent Events==
===''A Storm of Swords''===
Concerned with [[Stannis Baratheon]]'s affiliation with [[Melisandre]], the imprisoned [[Hand of the King]], [[Alester Florent]], decries their recent talk as madness and asks if we'd learned nothing from [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion Brightfire]], the nine mages, and [[Tragedy at Summerhall|Summerhall]].{{Ref|ASOS|25}}

Queen [[Selyse Baratheon]] tells her husband that he has more men than [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]] had when he [[Aegon's Conquest|took]] [[Westeros]] and lacks only [[dragon]]s. Stannis counters by mentioning a number of failed [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] attempts to restor dragons, including the nine mages' failure to hatch Aegon III's dragon eggs.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|Did we learn nothing from [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion Brightfire]], from the nine [[Magic|mages]], from the [[alchemist]]s? Did we learn nothing from ''[[Tragedy at Summerhall|Summerhall]]''? No good has ever come from these dreams of [[dragons]], I told [[Axell Florent|Axell]] as much.{{Ref|ASOS|25}}|[[Alester Florent]] to [[Davos Seaworth]]}}

{{Quote|'''Selyse''': Lord husband, you have more men than [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon]] did three hundred years ago. All you lack are [[dragon]]s.<br>'''Stannis''': Nine [[Magic|mages]] crossed the [[narrow sea|sea]] to hatch [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Third's]] cache of [[Dragon egg|eggs]]. [[Baelor I Targaryen|Baelor the Blessed]] prayed over his for half a year. [[Aegon IV Targaryen|Aegon the Fourth]] built [[Dragons (mechanical)|dragons]] of wood and [[iron]]. [[Aerion Targaryen|Aerion Brightflame]] drank [[wildfire]] to transform himself. The mages failed, King Baelor's prayers went unanswered, the wooden dragons burned, and Prince Aerion died screaming.{{Ref|ASOS|54}}|[[Selyse Baratheon]] and [[Stannis Baratheon]]}}

==Behind the Scenes==
The nine mages are also mentioned in a cut section from a June 2004 draft of ''[[A Feast for Crows]]''. During a lesson where [[Aegon Targaryen (Young Griff)|Young Griff]] mentions [[Maelys Blackfyre]]'s failed attempt at reviving the dragons, [[Tyrion Lannister]] thinks of the nine mages and other failed attempts that preceded [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s successful hatching of [[Drogon|her]] [[Viserion|three]] [[Rhaegal|dragons]].<ref>Reddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/10cq27q/spoilers_extended_secrets_of_the_cushing_library/ Secrets of the Cushing Library: The Grand Finale by u/gsteff]</ref>

==References==
{{References}}

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