With King Robert dead and no clear successor, the Seven Kingdoms fracture. Five claimants declare themselves king: Joffrey Baratheon holds King's Landing, Stannis and Renly Baratheon each press their claims, Robb Stark is proclaimed King in the North, and Balon Greyjoy seizes the opportunity to crown himself. Tyrion Lannister arrives in the capital as acting Hand, struggling to hold the realm together while fending off threats from every direction - including his own family. Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys leads her small khalasar through the Red Waste, seeking ships and allies. At the Wall, Jon Snow ventures beyond into the frozen wilderness with the Night's Watch ranging party. A comet bleeds red across the sky, and every faction claims it as their omen.