[Center][u][B]House Bracken[/B][/u]

[B]Seat:[/B] The castle of Stone Hedge lies east of Riverrun and south of the Red Fork, and therefore between High Heart and the Inn of the Kneeling Man.

[B]Sigil:[/B] [img=https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6205/6041989552_966c435843_z.jpg]
They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown.

[B]House Words:[/B] With Thundering Hooves[/Center]

[B]Recent Events:[/B]
During the Blackfyre Rebellion, Lord Bracken sided with his kinsman Aegor Rivers whom was called Bittersteel. Barba Bracken was Aegon’s mistress until she was replaced by Melissa Blackwood. When Barba joked that Melissa was flat as a board, Aegon had the Teats renamed from Barba's Teats to Missy's Teats to honor his new mistress. While her son Aegor grew up alternating between Stone Hedge and King’s Landing, she remained at Stone Hedge to nurture her grievance.

After Melissa Blackwood’s disfavour with Aegon IV, Barba hoped to regain the king’s favour, only to be passed by for Aegon’s eye had fallen on her younger sister, Bethany Bracken.

When the time of war came, Lord Bracken travelled to Essos to hire mercenaries to aid in Daemon Blackfyre’s bid for the throne. However, he and the contingent of Myrish crossbowmen were delayed by storms, and so did not make it to the Battle of Redgrass Field in time. As such, House Bracken did not suffer too many losses, until the time of reckoning came. Some of the Brackens and knights sworn to Stone Hedge opted to leave with Aegor Rivers to the Free Cities, joining up with the Second Sons and later the Golden Company. Others stayed in Westeros and submitted to the mercy of the Crown.

Pardons were extended, and the Brackens forgiven. Lord Tully functioned as a jugde and conciliator and guided Stone Hedge back into the King’s peace. As the realm calmed down and order was reestablished, Simon Tully, the heir to Riverrun, married the young Helena Bracken, who was no older than thirteen but already shapely.

When in 205 AL Ser Otho Bracken unhorsed and slew Lord Quentyn Blackwood of Raventree, the old rivalry between the two houses reignited. Ser Otho also participated in the tourney at Ashford, and was present when Baelor Breakspear spoke his last.

[B]House Members:[/B]
[List][*]Lord Raymund Bracken[/*]
[*]Ser Otho Bracken, the Brute of Bracken, his son and heir[/*]

[*]Ser Luthor Bracken, his younger brother, with Aegor in Essos[/*]
[*]Barba Bracken, fifth mistress of Aegon the Unworthy, mother to Aegor “Bittersteel” Rivers[/*]
[indent][*]Aegor “Bittersteel” Rivers, in exile in Essos, Commander of the Golden Company[/*][/indent]
[*]Bethany Bracken, seventh mistress of Aegon the Unworthy[/*]
[*]Helena Bracken, married to Simon Tully the heir to Riverrun[/*][/List]

[Hider=Lord Bracken of Stone Hedge]
[B]Lord Raymund Bracken, Lord of Stone Hedge
Age:
Appearance:[/B] [Img=http://pthumb.lisimg.com/image/6871654/250full-feed.jpg]
[B]Personality:[/B]
Strong-headed like most of the Brackens and bristly like an old boar, Raymund has had his aggressive nature somewhat tempered by age. He is an experienced administrator and was considered a battle-commander well-versed in warfare. A slowly angered man, he is however known to harbour grudges for a long time. Raymund often glowers and blusters, using his physical bulk to intimidate people.

In his youth, Raymund was boisterous and wild, often engaging in petty squabbles. He repeatedly went looking for a fight, and crossing the Red Fork into Blackwood lands became a favourite pastime for him. In order to remove Raymund from the eyes of Raventree, the late Lord Bracken had his heir brought into the retinue of Aegon IV the Unworthy. It was via this way that Raymund’s sister Barba caught the dragon king’s eye.

After his sister Barba was cast from the royal bed, Raymund removed himself from court as a protest against Aegon’s rule. Some say though it was because otherwise he would have tried to kill the Unworthy due to the way he had treated his sister. Instead of returning home to the Riverlands, Raymund went to Essos and fought on the Stepstones and in the Disputed Lands for Myr.

When he became the lord of Stone Hedge upon his father’s death, Raymund calmed down considerably. It seemed responsibility suited him well enough to halt the feud with the Blackwoods, at least for the time being.

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, Stone Hedge supported Daemon Blackfyre’s claim to the throne and threw its full support behind the Black Dragon. This proved cataclysmic, since Daemon was slain by the Blackwood bastard Bloodraven and the future of Raymund’s House became obscure. He was not present at the Battle of Redgrass Field due to leading a contingent of Myrish crossbowmen that were delayed in Essos by storm.

Though he holds no love for the Iron Throne, Lord Raymund Bracken is a loyal bannerman to Riverrun. Nevertheless, he is patiently awaiting to rise ever further if possible, for he and his have to move cautiously as the label ‘traitor’ looms forever over them. Indeed, many might argue that Raymund is keeping a foot in both camps, for his younger brother Luthor is with Aegor Rivers in Essos.

Lord Raymund is a careful man, ever since the Blackfyre Rebellion, for he had sided with the pretenders due to his kinship with Aegor “Bittersteel” Rivers. After the death of Daemon and his eldest sons at the hands of the craven Bloodraven, House Bracken was about to lose a lot of its influence and lands. Fortunately Raymund could count on Lord Janos Tully, whom petitioned for mercy with King Daeron II on his behalf.

Pardoned by Daeron the Good, Raymund devoted his time to rebuilding Stone Hedge and the influence of his house. When his son, Ser Otho, killed the lord of Raventree Hall in a joust in 205 AL, he was quick and decisivie to exploit the situation to take Blackwood land. Brynded “Bloodraven” Rivers’ intervention through Lord Janos Tully put an eventual end to the fighting the second year.
[/Hider]

[Hider=The Brute of Bracken]
[B]Ser Otho Bracken, the Brute of Bracken, heir to Stone Hedge
Age: 29
Appearance:[/B] [img=http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdla1huP0L1qj87qa.jpg]

[B]Personality:[/B]
Ser Otho is well-known for his size, brutality and prowess in battle. The Brackens have always been a rather burly breed, but Otho is certainly one of the largest and brawniest members of the house. He is built like a bull and fierce as a mastiff, with a jut of jaw and arms thick with muscle. He advocates that sharp steel and strength is what rules the world.

Otho likes violence, good food, wine, women and killing things. Fortunately he has been blessed with a physique like the warhorse on his house’s sigil. Stubborn and known for his irascible temper, Otho dominates and terrifies others. Behind his back, he is often accused of being a slave to his base desires, though insulting him to his face might cause loss of limb. He has reputedly put men and women in the ground with his bare hands.

Because of his hulking bulk, the Brute of Bracken is ofttimes dismissed as witless and dumb. However, beneath his crude face resides a more than average intelligence, sharpened by ambition, hatred for the Blackwoods, and a penchant for cruelty. He hates weakness.

Otho’s redeeming qualities would be the devotion to his family, and that once his loyalty has been earned, it is practically impossible to imagine him to stray. He has his own corrupted sense of honour. Favours are never forgotten, nor are slights.

The Brute’s weapon of choice is a heavy mace, though he is an able swordsman and excellent lance. He finds ranged weapons to be cowardly and despises bowmen. Brynded Bloodraven Rivers (a bowman and a Blackwood) is unsurprisingly someone who the Brute of Bracken hates with a passion that it is almost adulation.

[B]Biography:[/B]
Otho grew up at Stone Hedge, squiring for his uncle Luthor Bracken. While his sister was introduced to the world of numbers and letters, Otho found his love for weapons and warfare. Together with his uncle he would travel around Westeros to compete at tournaments.

After the Battle at Redgrass Field, Ser Luthor fled Westeros with Aegor Rivers. Otho had been captured following the battle, and it was only due to the fact his traitor father was backed by the Lord of Riverrun that he was ransomed and returned to the Bracken seat. Though his house has been pardoned, Otho is still resentful towards the Iron Throne and to Bloodraven in particular.

After earning his knighthood at a tourney in Darry, Otho began travelling the tourney fields of Westeros on his own. His ferocity and savage style of combat earned him the moniker ‘the Brute’. Once Otho starts fighting or brawling, some bones have to be broken ere he can be brought to a stop.

When in 205 AL he killed Lord Quentyn Blackwood at a tourney in King’s Landing, he single-handedly reinvigorated the feud between Bracken and Blackwood. In the following year, he led several raids into the Blackwood lands and fought in numerous skirmishes with men from Raventree. For a time, it seemed the Brackens had the upper hand, until Bloodraven intervened and Lord Tully ordered the conflict to stop.[/hider]