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Jorick Magnificent Bastard
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House Information: House Caron is sworn to House Baratheon. Their seat of power is Nightsong, a stronghold located in Dornish Marches in the Stormlands, north of the Prince's Pass. House Caron is the leader of the Marcher lords of the Stormlands, and the head of the House holds the title of Lord of the Marches alongside the traditional title of Lord of Nightsong.
Since the death of Lord Rennifer Caron in the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, during which he had marched under the flag of Rhaenyra from early in the war all the way to the Second Battle of Tumbleton where he died by dragonfire, the House has been headed by his only surviving child: his daughter Cyrenna. Though there were many rumblings of discontent at the idea of there being not a Lord of the Marches, but rather a Lady of the Marches, Cyrenna has used political maneuvering and displays of sheer competence to earn the fealty and respect of the great majority of the Marcher lords.
House Caron has enjoyed a moderate growth in wealth and power in the past few decades under Cyrenna's rule, though that has only really translated to better trained and outfitted men at arms and somewhat less bickering from other Marcher lords. The recent increase in Dornish activity in the Marches has been a huge thorn in House Caron's side, and their hate for Dornishmen is a point of pride for them just as it is among all Houses in the Marches of the Stormlands. Cyrenna, and thus House Caron, has remained firmly loyal to the Targaryens of Rhaenyra's line, up to and including young King Daeron. All of this together means that the banner of black nightingales on a yellow field will certainly be among those marching south in the near future, perchance to conquer Dorne once and for all.
Name: Lady Cyrenna Caron, Lady of Nightsong, Lady of the Marches, called Lady Carrion in recent years
Age: 51
Appearance:
The above plus ~25 years of fairly kind aging, because finding good art of women who actually look like they're in their late 40s to early 50s is hard.
Image borrowed from anneballaran on deviantart.
Personality: Lady Cyrenna is a hard woman, possessing little mercy and even less patience for fools. She is rather arrogant and vain, and her cynicism has been remarked upon by many. Cyrenna harbors a deep hate for the Dornish (especially in recent years) that could easily be called racism, and she has no qualms about expressing these feelings. As if all this wasn't enough, when pushed she has a very volatile temper that could be expressed in thrown objects or physical assults as easily as by words. Despite her off-putting exterior, the Lady Caron is a deft political operator who has used her wits and skills to keep the Marcher lords in line under her leadership; proof of her skills can be found in the facts that she has earned the fealty of these battle-hardened lords and that she has maintained leadership of House Caron even though by law the titles should have been passed down to her son once he came of age. Lady Cyrenna is also a prolific bookworm, preferring tomes of politics, history, and war tactics to those one might think more suitable for a woman. Though she has never been foolish enough to lead her soldiers into battle, what with the lack of training for combat and all, Cyrenna is the type of woman whom nobody would be surprised to find leading a charge nonetheless.
Biography: Cyrenna was born to Lord Rennifer Caron and his wife Gwin, formerly of House Swann. Though the Lord and Lady Caron tried and tried again to have many children, they were only ever able to conceive a single son, Petyr, and their one daughter. Being somewhat forward thinking and practical, Lord Rennifer had both of his children trained in the ways of ruling and leadership rather than relegating his daughter to sewing and other ladylike uselessness, and he would come to be very glad of that decision. Lady Gwin passed away shortly before Petyr came of age, and Petyr died a couple years later in a bandit raid (presumably of Dornish origin) as he was out riding with some friends. Though he tried to find her a suitable husband to carry on his House's lineage, Lord Rennifer was unable to do so before being caught up in the civil war, leaving Cyrenna as the Lady of Nightsong in his absence; his subsequent death in 130 AL, in the Second Battle of Tumbleton, gave her that title in permanence alongside a new one: Lady of the Marches.
Cyrenna was 24 years old when she became the head of House Caron. She used the continuing turmoil of the war to her advantage, finding herself a husband before one of the lords of the Stormlands could pressure her into marrying one of their heirs in order to acquire the lands and power of House Caron for their descendants; it would be for her own good, of course, because a woman needed a strong man to do all the ruling and such. Rather than letting herself become the last true Caron, Cyrenna struck an unorthodox marriage agreement with one Criston Wylde, who was seventh in the line of succession for his own House and had previously thought he'd be lucky to marry anyone of higher standing than a tavern wench. Criston was a rather pliable and easygoing man, the type who would (and did) gladly allow his wife to do all the lording and ruling, and who was quite happy to marry into the name Caron; he quite fancied the alliteration of his new name, truth be told.
Cyrenna and Criston were reasonably happy with one another, which was all that could really be expected of a political marriage. The Marcher lords weren't impressed with Criston, who was passable at best with a sword, but they were assuaged by their mistaken assumptions that the man would take over and be a tolerable Lord of the Marches whom they could manipulate to their own benefit. The years rolled by and House Caron found itself with three additions: Rennifer (named after his grandfather, of course), Lyonel, and Bryce. Two years after the birth of his third son, Criston died rather suddenly of an illness that also took young Rennifer and two dozen others in Nightsong and many more around the Marches. By this time the Marcher lords were coming to accept Cyrenna as the Lady of the Marches, though not enough to prevent them from aspiring to wrest power from her by marrying her to one of their sons. Unfortunately for them, their observance of the respectable period of mourning gave Cyrenna time to arrange her own second marriage much like her first.
This second husband, Damon Lannister of the Lannisport branch, was another fellow with little to no chance of inheriting his father's title, so it took very little convincing to get him to marry into Caron rather than keeping his own name; it also helped that he had met Cyrenna a few times at tourneys and other events she attended in King's Landing and that he was rather smitten with her; it further helped that he didn't care for his family and was happy to cut ties with them however possible. Though Damon was no Stormlander, he was a tried and trained knight who the Marcher lords would have at least grudgingly called Lord of the Marches, but alas it was not to be, for he was wrapped around the Lady Caron's little finger. Cyrenna had two children with Damon: a son they named Tybolt and a daughter they named Allyria, both with the blonde hair and fair features of their father. Damon gladly adopted Cyrenna's other sons, all with the dark hair of their Stormlands stock, as his own both in name and in his heart, and so they made a happy little family for many years.
Tensions in the Marches rose in 150 AL, which saw Dornish raids increase dramatically. By then Cyrenna had solidified her position (by way of poltical maneuvering and arranging beneficial marriages for her sons) as Lady of the Marches to the point that it had been years since she'd last heard of mutterings from Marcher lords about how a woman shouldn't be ruling over them. Damon and Lyonel led the Caron banner forth to fight off the encroaching Dornishmen, with Bryce tagging along as a squire looking to become a knight sooner rather than later. By 155 AL, Damon and Lyonel had both fallen in battle, Tybolt had died in a Dornish raid that set upon a riding party made up of many sons of noble houses, and Bryce was a seasoned knight and was now the leader of the Caron men at arms at the fairly young age of 21; his betrothed had also died in the raid that took Tybolt, and neither he nor his mother had found any interest in finding him a new wife. Allyria was a beautiful young woman who had the eyes and hearts of many young lordlings, but she too found herself disinclined to marry, much to the regret of said lordlings.
Cyrenna had been a stony woman before the rise in Dornish hostilities, but her losses turned that stone into hardened steel tempered by a burning desire for revenge. Though she let Bryce retain command of the men, both for the political reason of wanting him to become a strong leader and for the personal reason of not wishing to emasculate and embarrass her son, Cyrenna frequently rode out with them and acted as an advisor, which she was quite good at due to being rather well read on the subjects of war and strategy. She even had a suit of light armor crafted to fit her, and she wore a sword whenever they were out in the field, but they were mainly for show since she had no combat training and was wise enough to know that it would be utterly moronic of her to attempt to learn and put such skills to use. This happy medium between warrior and lady seemed to please the Marcher lords as well, who looked to her for leadership in these trying times.
Fighting and destroying the Dornish has become Cyrenna's sole cause, to the point that she has been neglecting her role as Lady Caron (leaving her daughter to look after things, just as her father did when he marched off to war) in favor of being the Lady of the Marches and bringing the fight to the Dornish encroachers. Her merciless ferocity in this pursuit in recent years has earned her a new appellation, spoken with proud respect by Stormlanders and spoken with fearful respect by the Dornish; they call her Lady Carrion, so named as a play on her House name and as a namesake of the heaps of corpses, both Dornish and Stormlander, left in the wake of her bloody campaign. Cyrenna herself likes to think of it as a prophetic name, foretelling the Dorne's future state after her lust for vengeance is finally sated: a bloody desert littered with piles of corpses, inhabited only by a newly thriving population of carrion eaters gorging on the remains of every last piece of Dornish scum.
Age: 51
Appearance:
The above plus ~25 years of fairly kind aging, because finding good art of women who actually look like they're in their late 40s to early 50s is hard.
Image borrowed from anneballaran on deviantart.
Personality: Lady Cyrenna is a hard woman, possessing little mercy and even less patience for fools. She is rather arrogant and vain, and her cynicism has been remarked upon by many. Cyrenna harbors a deep hate for the Dornish (especially in recent years) that could easily be called racism, and she has no qualms about expressing these feelings. As if all this wasn't enough, when pushed she has a very volatile temper that could be expressed in thrown objects or physical assults as easily as by words. Despite her off-putting exterior, the Lady Caron is a deft political operator who has used her wits and skills to keep the Marcher lords in line under her leadership; proof of her skills can be found in the facts that she has earned the fealty of these battle-hardened lords and that she has maintained leadership of House Caron even though by law the titles should have been passed down to her son once he came of age. Lady Cyrenna is also a prolific bookworm, preferring tomes of politics, history, and war tactics to those one might think more suitable for a woman. Though she has never been foolish enough to lead her soldiers into battle, what with the lack of training for combat and all, Cyrenna is the type of woman whom nobody would be surprised to find leading a charge nonetheless.
Biography: Cyrenna was born to Lord Rennifer Caron and his wife Gwin, formerly of House Swann. Though the Lord and Lady Caron tried and tried again to have many children, they were only ever able to conceive a single son, Petyr, and their one daughter. Being somewhat forward thinking and practical, Lord Rennifer had both of his children trained in the ways of ruling and leadership rather than relegating his daughter to sewing and other ladylike uselessness, and he would come to be very glad of that decision. Lady Gwin passed away shortly before Petyr came of age, and Petyr died a couple years later in a bandit raid (presumably of Dornish origin) as he was out riding with some friends. Though he tried to find her a suitable husband to carry on his House's lineage, Lord Rennifer was unable to do so before being caught up in the civil war, leaving Cyrenna as the Lady of Nightsong in his absence; his subsequent death in 130 AL, in the Second Battle of Tumbleton, gave her that title in permanence alongside a new one: Lady of the Marches.
Cyrenna was 24 years old when she became the head of House Caron. She used the continuing turmoil of the war to her advantage, finding herself a husband before one of the lords of the Stormlands could pressure her into marrying one of their heirs in order to acquire the lands and power of House Caron for their descendants; it would be for her own good, of course, because a woman needed a strong man to do all the ruling and such. Rather than letting herself become the last true Caron, Cyrenna struck an unorthodox marriage agreement with one Criston Wylde, who was seventh in the line of succession for his own House and had previously thought he'd be lucky to marry anyone of higher standing than a tavern wench. Criston was a rather pliable and easygoing man, the type who would (and did) gladly allow his wife to do all the lording and ruling, and who was quite happy to marry into the name Caron; he quite fancied the alliteration of his new name, truth be told.
Cyrenna and Criston were reasonably happy with one another, which was all that could really be expected of a political marriage. The Marcher lords weren't impressed with Criston, who was passable at best with a sword, but they were assuaged by their mistaken assumptions that the man would take over and be a tolerable Lord of the Marches whom they could manipulate to their own benefit. The years rolled by and House Caron found itself with three additions: Rennifer (named after his grandfather, of course), Lyonel, and Bryce. Two years after the birth of his third son, Criston died rather suddenly of an illness that also took young Rennifer and two dozen others in Nightsong and many more around the Marches. By this time the Marcher lords were coming to accept Cyrenna as the Lady of the Marches, though not enough to prevent them from aspiring to wrest power from her by marrying her to one of their sons. Unfortunately for them, their observance of the respectable period of mourning gave Cyrenna time to arrange her own second marriage much like her first.
This second husband, Damon Lannister of the Lannisport branch, was another fellow with little to no chance of inheriting his father's title, so it took very little convincing to get him to marry into Caron rather than keeping his own name; it also helped that he had met Cyrenna a few times at tourneys and other events she attended in King's Landing and that he was rather smitten with her; it further helped that he didn't care for his family and was happy to cut ties with them however possible. Though Damon was no Stormlander, he was a tried and trained knight who the Marcher lords would have at least grudgingly called Lord of the Marches, but alas it was not to be, for he was wrapped around the Lady Caron's little finger. Cyrenna had two children with Damon: a son they named Tybolt and a daughter they named Allyria, both with the blonde hair and fair features of their father. Damon gladly adopted Cyrenna's other sons, all with the dark hair of their Stormlands stock, as his own both in name and in his heart, and so they made a happy little family for many years.
Tensions in the Marches rose in 150 AL, which saw Dornish raids increase dramatically. By then Cyrenna had solidified her position (by way of poltical maneuvering and arranging beneficial marriages for her sons) as Lady of the Marches to the point that it had been years since she'd last heard of mutterings from Marcher lords about how a woman shouldn't be ruling over them. Damon and Lyonel led the Caron banner forth to fight off the encroaching Dornishmen, with Bryce tagging along as a squire looking to become a knight sooner rather than later. By 155 AL, Damon and Lyonel had both fallen in battle, Tybolt had died in a Dornish raid that set upon a riding party made up of many sons of noble houses, and Bryce was a seasoned knight and was now the leader of the Caron men at arms at the fairly young age of 21; his betrothed had also died in the raid that took Tybolt, and neither he nor his mother had found any interest in finding him a new wife. Allyria was a beautiful young woman who had the eyes and hearts of many young lordlings, but she too found herself disinclined to marry, much to the regret of said lordlings.
Cyrenna had been a stony woman before the rise in Dornish hostilities, but her losses turned that stone into hardened steel tempered by a burning desire for revenge. Though she let Bryce retain command of the men, both for the political reason of wanting him to become a strong leader and for the personal reason of not wishing to emasculate and embarrass her son, Cyrenna frequently rode out with them and acted as an advisor, which she was quite good at due to being rather well read on the subjects of war and strategy. She even had a suit of light armor crafted to fit her, and she wore a sword whenever they were out in the field, but they were mainly for show since she had no combat training and was wise enough to know that it would be utterly moronic of her to attempt to learn and put such skills to use. This happy medium between warrior and lady seemed to please the Marcher lords as well, who looked to her for leadership in these trying times.
Fighting and destroying the Dornish has become Cyrenna's sole cause, to the point that she has been neglecting her role as Lady Caron (leaving her daughter to look after things, just as her father did when he marched off to war) in favor of being the Lady of the Marches and bringing the fight to the Dornish encroachers. Her merciless ferocity in this pursuit in recent years has earned her a new appellation, spoken with proud respect by Stormlanders and spoken with fearful respect by the Dornish; they call her Lady Carrion, so named as a play on her House name and as a namesake of the heaps of corpses, both Dornish and Stormlander, left in the wake of her bloody campaign. Cyrenna herself likes to think of it as a prophetic name, foretelling the Dorne's future state after her lust for vengeance is finally sated: a bloody desert littered with piles of corpses, inhabited only by a newly thriving population of carrion eaters gorging on the remains of every last piece of Dornish scum.
Name: Bryce Caron
Age: 23
Appearance:
Image borrowed from charro-art on deviantart.
Personality: Bryce is a very practical and patient man. He is dutiful, intelligent but not well-learned (despite the best efforts of various adults through his early years), and possesses a rather dark sense of humor. He was once a very passionate lad with a zest for adventure, but that has been considerably dulled after years of fighting and seeing the people he cares about die painfully and bloodily. Bryce has wrapped a shield of duty and pragmatism around himself as a defense mechanism to protect what little is left of that young boy who dreamed of becoming Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, looking at the world with a cynicism nearly world-weary enough to match that of his mother. Where his mother has a fiery hate for the Dornish, Bryce simply sees them as enemies that need to be dealt with for the safety of his people; his practical mind frequently reminds him that the people of Dorne are just the same as anywhere else, that the men he cuts down are mostly there because some powerful lord told them where to go, not because they actually want to be fighting. He can relate to this sentiment in a very personal way, but he would never speak these thoughts aloud. Bryce keeps his feelings tucked safely away nowadays, instead presenting the world with the dull visage of a career soldier who has seen far more than he ever wanted to.
Biography: Bryce Caron was born in 134 AL, third son to Lady Cyrenna Caron and her first husband, Criston. He never truly knew his father, as he and the eldest of his sons died of illness when young Bryce was only two years old. Luckily he was not without a father figure for long, for shortly after an acceptable period of mourning had passed his mother married Damon of the Lannisport Lannisters, who took Bryce and his older brother Lyonel as his own in short order. The loving man taught them, and his own son Tybolt, all the lessons of manhood and honor and how to wield a sword as they grew into strapping young lads. Lyonel was something of a prodigy with the art of swordwork and upstaged his younger siblings for many years, though Bryce later found himself fairly adept and able to keep pace with his older brother once the Nightsong Master-at-Arms, Ser Leo Storm, had him try out a mace, which better suited his wide-swinging style of fighting. He had no patience for learning from books and sitting listening to lectures, so although he possessed the brightness everyone said he got from his mother he never actually cultivated his intellect, leaving himself simply a generally smart fellow rather than one with a scholarly intellect that would have Maesters suggesting he head to the Citadel to join their ranks. Young Bryce was simply not interested in intellectual pursuits, preferring to instead go on "adventures" around Nightsong and get into trouble whilst pretending to be some great knight of yore.
Since Lady Cyrenna didn't care for the notion of fostering her children elsewhere, Bryce found himself squire to his father (as he'd called Damon for as long as he could remember, despite knowing there was no blood relation) and older brother in 150 AL when Dornish encroachment on the Marches called House Caron to battle. After two months in the field, with the Caron host having dispatched half a dozen groups of bandits and outlaws and Bryce himself having two kills under his belt, he was knighted by his father, which was witnessed and approved of by a handful of other Marcher lords and numerous knights who were present. A few months later, a Dornish night raid on their encampment killed Lyonel as he was rushing out of his tent with no armor on and a sword in hand. That was only the beginning of the horrible losses to come, but Bryce soldiered on and managed to feel a level of pride upon being elevated to take his brother's place as Damon's right hand man. A year later Damon was also dead, and Bryce had built up his emotional defenses such that his grieving was a wholly internal affair. A year and a half after his adoptive father's passing, Bryce's last remaining brother (Tybolt, who hadn't been old enough to accompany the warriors) and his bride to be were killed in a Dornish raid that stabbed deep into the Marches, much farther than anyone thought the bastards were capable of. He did shed tears at this news, but only a few and only in the privacy of his own tent. A handful of months later, a mere week after his nineteenth birthday, Bryce was elevated to leadership of the Marcher host when the Swann lord who had been leading them since Damon's death also fell in battle.
Lady Cyrenna asked to join the war party next time they returned from the fringes of the Marches, early in 155 AL. She assured Bryce that she was not usurping his role as leader of the warriors, just that she wanted to destroy the Dornish scum and that her advice would be very valuable to him. He knew very well that this all was code for "I'm coming whether you like it or not, and I shall be in charge regardless of how it appears, so agree to this surface arrangement and I won't have to make you look like a child in front of your men." Bryce accepted her arrangement, secretly relieved to have the burden of leadership lifted from his shoulders. Though they never spoke of it explicitly, they dealt with potentially contentious matter of the passing of titles (as should have been done once Lyonel came of age, which would have passed to Bryce upon his death, making him technically the rightful Lord Caron) in their own oblique way: Bryce complimented her on her skill at leading strong-willed men, and Cyrenna said that one day he would need that same skill so he ought to watch and learn. That was that and the matter was never even hinted at again, which pleased both of them for their own reasons.
Bryce's life since the Lady of the Marches took charge has been rather simple: most days spent riding around the Marches looking for Dornishmen to kill, then leading his men into battle once targets are found, most evenings spent in the company of his mother speaking mainly of battle tactics with some intermissions of lessons on leadership and politics, and every night spent struggling to sleep with the faces of dead family and comrades floating before his eyes. It's not a glorious life, and truth be told Bryce has come to greatly dislike fighting, but he knows the Dornishmen must be dealt with and his sense of duty keeps him in the battle no matter how many of his friends die around him.
Age: 23
Appearance:
Image borrowed from charro-art on deviantart.
Personality: Bryce is a very practical and patient man. He is dutiful, intelligent but not well-learned (despite the best efforts of various adults through his early years), and possesses a rather dark sense of humor. He was once a very passionate lad with a zest for adventure, but that has been considerably dulled after years of fighting and seeing the people he cares about die painfully and bloodily. Bryce has wrapped a shield of duty and pragmatism around himself as a defense mechanism to protect what little is left of that young boy who dreamed of becoming Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, looking at the world with a cynicism nearly world-weary enough to match that of his mother. Where his mother has a fiery hate for the Dornish, Bryce simply sees them as enemies that need to be dealt with for the safety of his people; his practical mind frequently reminds him that the people of Dorne are just the same as anywhere else, that the men he cuts down are mostly there because some powerful lord told them where to go, not because they actually want to be fighting. He can relate to this sentiment in a very personal way, but he would never speak these thoughts aloud. Bryce keeps his feelings tucked safely away nowadays, instead presenting the world with the dull visage of a career soldier who has seen far more than he ever wanted to.
Biography: Bryce Caron was born in 134 AL, third son to Lady Cyrenna Caron and her first husband, Criston. He never truly knew his father, as he and the eldest of his sons died of illness when young Bryce was only two years old. Luckily he was not without a father figure for long, for shortly after an acceptable period of mourning had passed his mother married Damon of the Lannisport Lannisters, who took Bryce and his older brother Lyonel as his own in short order. The loving man taught them, and his own son Tybolt, all the lessons of manhood and honor and how to wield a sword as they grew into strapping young lads. Lyonel was something of a prodigy with the art of swordwork and upstaged his younger siblings for many years, though Bryce later found himself fairly adept and able to keep pace with his older brother once the Nightsong Master-at-Arms, Ser Leo Storm, had him try out a mace, which better suited his wide-swinging style of fighting. He had no patience for learning from books and sitting listening to lectures, so although he possessed the brightness everyone said he got from his mother he never actually cultivated his intellect, leaving himself simply a generally smart fellow rather than one with a scholarly intellect that would have Maesters suggesting he head to the Citadel to join their ranks. Young Bryce was simply not interested in intellectual pursuits, preferring to instead go on "adventures" around Nightsong and get into trouble whilst pretending to be some great knight of yore.
Since Lady Cyrenna didn't care for the notion of fostering her children elsewhere, Bryce found himself squire to his father (as he'd called Damon for as long as he could remember, despite knowing there was no blood relation) and older brother in 150 AL when Dornish encroachment on the Marches called House Caron to battle. After two months in the field, with the Caron host having dispatched half a dozen groups of bandits and outlaws and Bryce himself having two kills under his belt, he was knighted by his father, which was witnessed and approved of by a handful of other Marcher lords and numerous knights who were present. A few months later, a Dornish night raid on their encampment killed Lyonel as he was rushing out of his tent with no armor on and a sword in hand. That was only the beginning of the horrible losses to come, but Bryce soldiered on and managed to feel a level of pride upon being elevated to take his brother's place as Damon's right hand man. A year later Damon was also dead, and Bryce had built up his emotional defenses such that his grieving was a wholly internal affair. A year and a half after his adoptive father's passing, Bryce's last remaining brother (Tybolt, who hadn't been old enough to accompany the warriors) and his bride to be were killed in a Dornish raid that stabbed deep into the Marches, much farther than anyone thought the bastards were capable of. He did shed tears at this news, but only a few and only in the privacy of his own tent. A handful of months later, a mere week after his nineteenth birthday, Bryce was elevated to leadership of the Marcher host when the Swann lord who had been leading them since Damon's death also fell in battle.
Lady Cyrenna asked to join the war party next time they returned from the fringes of the Marches, early in 155 AL. She assured Bryce that she was not usurping his role as leader of the warriors, just that she wanted to destroy the Dornish scum and that her advice would be very valuable to him. He knew very well that this all was code for "I'm coming whether you like it or not, and I shall be in charge regardless of how it appears, so agree to this surface arrangement and I won't have to make you look like a child in front of your men." Bryce accepted her arrangement, secretly relieved to have the burden of leadership lifted from his shoulders. Though they never spoke of it explicitly, they dealt with potentially contentious matter of the passing of titles (as should have been done once Lyonel came of age, which would have passed to Bryce upon his death, making him technically the rightful Lord Caron) in their own oblique way: Bryce complimented her on her skill at leading strong-willed men, and Cyrenna said that one day he would need that same skill so he ought to watch and learn. That was that and the matter was never even hinted at again, which pleased both of them for their own reasons.
Bryce's life since the Lady of the Marches took charge has been rather simple: most days spent riding around the Marches looking for Dornishmen to kill, then leading his men into battle once targets are found, most evenings spent in the company of his mother speaking mainly of battle tactics with some intermissions of lessons on leadership and politics, and every night spent struggling to sleep with the faces of dead family and comrades floating before his eyes. It's not a glorious life, and truth be told Bryce has come to greatly dislike fighting, but he knows the Dornishmen must be dealt with and his sense of duty keeps him in the battle no matter how many of his friends die around him.
Name: Allyria Caron
Age: 18
Appearance:
Image borrowed from sedone on deviantart.
Personality: Allyria is the consummate lady, on the surface at least; she is kind and gentle, she is caring and understanding of the problems and woes of others, she is beautiful and nice to the commonfolk, and she possesses grace and poise enough to make a queen jealous. However, underneath all that Allyria is her mother's match in political maneuvering, but her methodology is that of manipulation and flirting and tempting promises rather than the blatant and blunt manner in which the Lady Caron deals in politics. Allyria is a very intelligent young woman, such that more than one Maester has bemoaned her unfortunate choice of gender and cursed the Seven for giving such a brilliant mind to a woman. She thirsts for knowledge just as much as man lost in the desert thirsts for water, taking in information on any and all subjects with great interest and able to apply that knowledge without a great deal of effort, though she often lacks interest in application and would prefer to start reading a new book rather than actually using what she learned from the last. Allyria is quite lazy when it comes to things that involve more work than holding up a book, though she would call it procrastination. She is extremely vain, very aware of her beauty and the perks it provides, and she takes full advantage of them. When not reading, Allyria is known to be horribly coquettish, often sending servants away to leave her alone in the company of men, to the point that many suspect her to be a well-practiced harlot. Her rather bawdy sense of humor also helps those rumors along. She of course doesn't dignify this slanderous gossip with a response, but her open amusement upon overhearing such rumors about her supposed loose morals leads most folks to believe them true, one and all.
Biography: Allyria is the fifth child and only daughter of Lady Cyrenna, the second child of her marriage to Damon Lannister. She was doted on by her father, and her normally stony mother had a soft spot for her sole daughter, though it wasn't obvious to those who didn't know her well. Allyria's parents took a more hands on approach to teaching her things than most noble lords and ladies would, though she also had Septa Mina to teach her the ways of being a proper lady (in which Lady Caron was a horrible instructor) and Maester Runcel to supplement her education. She experienced a lot of loss in her childhood; in 150 AL, when House Caron went off to fight the Dornish in the Marches, she was only eleven. Over the next three years Allyria had to grieve the loss of her father and two of her brothers, along with many of the men of Nightsong who had treated her like a favored niece or granddaughter and that she had thought of as part of her family. Many thought this litany of tragedy would make her turn out like her mother, hard and unforgiving, but they couldn't have been more wrong. Little Allyria came to the conclusion, subconsciously rather than by intentional deliberation, that since there was so much sadness in the world it was her duty to try to balance it out with kindness and caring. Thus she took to her Septa's teachings with gusto, figuring that being a proper lady was all about being good and nice, though she never was any good at stitching and such due to never practicing.
Aside from her ladylike pursuits, Allyria distracted herself from her sadness by reading. Where she avoided work in other areas, she found herself seeking new books to read and being happy to answer the Maester's questions about them as it gave her a chance to discuss all the interesting things she had learned. Maester Runcel was quite pleased by this, as all four of the Caron boys had been greatly disinterested in pursuits of learning and Lady Caron seemed to feel his primary job was taking care of the ravens, so he felt his knowledge was finally being put to proper use. By the time Allyria turned fifteen, he found himself no longer truly a teacher and felt more like the girl's peer in the intellectual realm, and some days he felt he was being generous by thinking of himself as her equal. By then his work on her education saw him mainly working finding new books for her to read, since she had already surpassed his knowledge in many subjects; he had to take solace in the fact that she never cared to go beyond theoretical knowledge in the areas of warcraft and smithing, as those were his two pet subjects and he would have been rather devastated if the young girl surpassed him in his realms of mastery. Maester Runcel was the first to curse the Seven for making Allyria a girl, for her gifted mind would have been greatly welcomed in the Citadel, though later a few other Maesters joined their voice to his when they heard or saw how well she absorbed information.
While many were impressed by how freakishly well-learned the girl was at the tender age of fiften, others at the time were more interested in her beauty or the way she seemed to be a model of what a lady should be. The former interest remained unabated, but the latter was quickly embroiled in controversy, for Allyria was quickly becoming known for her inappropriate interactions with men. She often told jokes and made comments that would make a sailor blush, and she made no effort to hide her amusement at hearing such things from others, which in and of itself was very improper behavior for a lady. Allyria's sense of humor may have sparked rumors and gossip, but soon enough there were much juicier things for the servants to whisper about. Through a combination of her beauty, her House's power, and her mother being far too concerned with matters of keeping the Dornish out of the Marches to bother with something so frivolous as finding her daughter a suitable husband, Allyria had many suitors come calling to Nightsong hoping to win her heart and her hand. She was an incorrigible flirt from a young age, which Septa Mina had hoped was simply the foolish young girl testing out her influence over boys and that it would stop as she matured, and she kept it up as she flowered into womanhood. It was only moderately scandalous before she turned sixteen, whereupon she started sending her attendants away to leave her alone with some of her suitors.
Allyria knew very well what kind of rumors this would spawn, and she knew exactly what the young men where silently praying for when she arranged to be alone with them, but they all had it wrong. She was not engaging in licentious behavior with these men (well, not much at least, just some teasing and kissing and a stray hand now and again), she was purposely causing rumors to distract from her actual misbehaviors and manipulating the men to build up their hopes and trust. Many of her dalliances resulted in very favorable trade arrangements for House Caron with some young lords who had hoped she would be pleased by their favor; she was, of course, but not enough to succumb to their desires. She strung them along with hints and teases, keeping them thinking she wanted them but that she was flighty and indecisive and couldn't choose between all of her lovely suitors. She did in fact have some favorites who she considered settling down with, but that would of course end the game, and she wasn't ready for that. The rumors flew and Allyria was grandly amused by the success of her ploys. Everyone was busy talking about how she must be getting up to all manner of sin in her sitting room on the days where she was alone with suitors, while in truth her naughtiness was kept to the cover of darkness; she engaged in some nightly activities with a couple of her handmaidens, and some nights she slipped quietly out of the Nightsong keep for trysts with a couple different lovers over the years, first a blacksmith's apprentice and then the son of a knight who was off fighting with the Caron host.
In 155 AL, when Bryce returned home briefly, Lady Cyrenna chose to go with the warriors and take over leadership of the campaign against the Dornish in the Marches; she was meant to appear to be an advisor only, but those who knew her and Bryce well weren't fooled at all. Sixteen year old Allyria was left to manage the affairs of Nightsong, with Maester Runcel and Septa Mina to aid and advise her (which meant the Maester dealt with the tedium and the Septa cajoled Allyria into doing necessary duties like passing judgement on thieves and the like), and this autonomy (and her mother's distraction) is what allowed her to go about manipulating young men and having night-time affairs without anyone able to step in and correct her behavior.
Allyria has done a fair job of ruling Nightsong (thanks to the previously mentioned aid) in her mother's absence, coming into her own as a lady as she sees fit, to the pleasure of some and the dismay of others. Suitors still come along frequently, though nowadays more from abroad and less from the Houses of the Stormlands as more of them send their banners to join Caron in the Marches. She's quite happy with her cozy setup, despite knowing that people she cares about are off fighting the Dornish, and currently has no aspirations other than to enjoy her lot in life, which she does indeed.
Age: 18
Appearance:
Image borrowed from sedone on deviantart.
Personality: Allyria is the consummate lady, on the surface at least; she is kind and gentle, she is caring and understanding of the problems and woes of others, she is beautiful and nice to the commonfolk, and she possesses grace and poise enough to make a queen jealous. However, underneath all that Allyria is her mother's match in political maneuvering, but her methodology is that of manipulation and flirting and tempting promises rather than the blatant and blunt manner in which the Lady Caron deals in politics. Allyria is a very intelligent young woman, such that more than one Maester has bemoaned her unfortunate choice of gender and cursed the Seven for giving such a brilliant mind to a woman. She thirsts for knowledge just as much as man lost in the desert thirsts for water, taking in information on any and all subjects with great interest and able to apply that knowledge without a great deal of effort, though she often lacks interest in application and would prefer to start reading a new book rather than actually using what she learned from the last. Allyria is quite lazy when it comes to things that involve more work than holding up a book, though she would call it procrastination. She is extremely vain, very aware of her beauty and the perks it provides, and she takes full advantage of them. When not reading, Allyria is known to be horribly coquettish, often sending servants away to leave her alone in the company of men, to the point that many suspect her to be a well-practiced harlot. Her rather bawdy sense of humor also helps those rumors along. She of course doesn't dignify this slanderous gossip with a response, but her open amusement upon overhearing such rumors about her supposed loose morals leads most folks to believe them true, one and all.
Biography: Allyria is the fifth child and only daughter of Lady Cyrenna, the second child of her marriage to Damon Lannister. She was doted on by her father, and her normally stony mother had a soft spot for her sole daughter, though it wasn't obvious to those who didn't know her well. Allyria's parents took a more hands on approach to teaching her things than most noble lords and ladies would, though she also had Septa Mina to teach her the ways of being a proper lady (in which Lady Caron was a horrible instructor) and Maester Runcel to supplement her education. She experienced a lot of loss in her childhood; in 150 AL, when House Caron went off to fight the Dornish in the Marches, she was only eleven. Over the next three years Allyria had to grieve the loss of her father and two of her brothers, along with many of the men of Nightsong who had treated her like a favored niece or granddaughter and that she had thought of as part of her family. Many thought this litany of tragedy would make her turn out like her mother, hard and unforgiving, but they couldn't have been more wrong. Little Allyria came to the conclusion, subconsciously rather than by intentional deliberation, that since there was so much sadness in the world it was her duty to try to balance it out with kindness and caring. Thus she took to her Septa's teachings with gusto, figuring that being a proper lady was all about being good and nice, though she never was any good at stitching and such due to never practicing.
Aside from her ladylike pursuits, Allyria distracted herself from her sadness by reading. Where she avoided work in other areas, she found herself seeking new books to read and being happy to answer the Maester's questions about them as it gave her a chance to discuss all the interesting things she had learned. Maester Runcel was quite pleased by this, as all four of the Caron boys had been greatly disinterested in pursuits of learning and Lady Caron seemed to feel his primary job was taking care of the ravens, so he felt his knowledge was finally being put to proper use. By the time Allyria turned fifteen, he found himself no longer truly a teacher and felt more like the girl's peer in the intellectual realm, and some days he felt he was being generous by thinking of himself as her equal. By then his work on her education saw him mainly working finding new books for her to read, since she had already surpassed his knowledge in many subjects; he had to take solace in the fact that she never cared to go beyond theoretical knowledge in the areas of warcraft and smithing, as those were his two pet subjects and he would have been rather devastated if the young girl surpassed him in his realms of mastery. Maester Runcel was the first to curse the Seven for making Allyria a girl, for her gifted mind would have been greatly welcomed in the Citadel, though later a few other Maesters joined their voice to his when they heard or saw how well she absorbed information.
While many were impressed by how freakishly well-learned the girl was at the tender age of fiften, others at the time were more interested in her beauty or the way she seemed to be a model of what a lady should be. The former interest remained unabated, but the latter was quickly embroiled in controversy, for Allyria was quickly becoming known for her inappropriate interactions with men. She often told jokes and made comments that would make a sailor blush, and she made no effort to hide her amusement at hearing such things from others, which in and of itself was very improper behavior for a lady. Allyria's sense of humor may have sparked rumors and gossip, but soon enough there were much juicier things for the servants to whisper about. Through a combination of her beauty, her House's power, and her mother being far too concerned with matters of keeping the Dornish out of the Marches to bother with something so frivolous as finding her daughter a suitable husband, Allyria had many suitors come calling to Nightsong hoping to win her heart and her hand. She was an incorrigible flirt from a young age, which Septa Mina had hoped was simply the foolish young girl testing out her influence over boys and that it would stop as she matured, and she kept it up as she flowered into womanhood. It was only moderately scandalous before she turned sixteen, whereupon she started sending her attendants away to leave her alone with some of her suitors.
Allyria knew very well what kind of rumors this would spawn, and she knew exactly what the young men where silently praying for when she arranged to be alone with them, but they all had it wrong. She was not engaging in licentious behavior with these men (well, not much at least, just some teasing and kissing and a stray hand now and again), she was purposely causing rumors to distract from her actual misbehaviors and manipulating the men to build up their hopes and trust. Many of her dalliances resulted in very favorable trade arrangements for House Caron with some young lords who had hoped she would be pleased by their favor; she was, of course, but not enough to succumb to their desires. She strung them along with hints and teases, keeping them thinking she wanted them but that she was flighty and indecisive and couldn't choose between all of her lovely suitors. She did in fact have some favorites who she considered settling down with, but that would of course end the game, and she wasn't ready for that. The rumors flew and Allyria was grandly amused by the success of her ploys. Everyone was busy talking about how she must be getting up to all manner of sin in her sitting room on the days where she was alone with suitors, while in truth her naughtiness was kept to the cover of darkness; she engaged in some nightly activities with a couple of her handmaidens, and some nights she slipped quietly out of the Nightsong keep for trysts with a couple different lovers over the years, first a blacksmith's apprentice and then the son of a knight who was off fighting with the Caron host.
In 155 AL, when Bryce returned home briefly, Lady Cyrenna chose to go with the warriors and take over leadership of the campaign against the Dornish in the Marches; she was meant to appear to be an advisor only, but those who knew her and Bryce well weren't fooled at all. Sixteen year old Allyria was left to manage the affairs of Nightsong, with Maester Runcel and Septa Mina to aid and advise her (which meant the Maester dealt with the tedium and the Septa cajoled Allyria into doing necessary duties like passing judgement on thieves and the like), and this autonomy (and her mother's distraction) is what allowed her to go about manipulating young men and having night-time affairs without anyone able to step in and correct her behavior.
Allyria has done a fair job of ruling Nightsong (thanks to the previously mentioned aid) in her mother's absence, coming into her own as a lady as she sees fit, to the pleasure of some and the dismay of others. Suitors still come along frequently, though nowadays more from abroad and less from the Houses of the Stormlands as more of them send their banners to join Caron in the Marches. She's quite happy with her cozy setup, despite knowing that people she cares about are off fighting the Dornish, and currently has no aspirations other than to enjoy her lot in life, which she does indeed.
Ser Leo Storm - 48 years old, former Master-at-Arms for House Caron, now their Commander of the Guard acting as a lieutenant of sorts in the Marcher host fighting against the Dornish.
Septa Mina - 62 years old, Septa formerly assigned as governess to Allyria, now a mix between grandmotherly figure and moral/spiritual advisor to the young woman.
Maester Runcel - 59 years old, Maester to House Caron, unofficial castellan in the absence of Lady Caron.
House Name: Baratheon
House Words: Ours is the Fury
Lord Royce Baratheon assumed rule of Storm’s End in 143 AC, his father’s death coming very late in his reign. Married to a Tarth of the Sapphire Isle, he was blessed with three children - Silas, Stevron, and Shiara. Each would have their own tics and questionable natures - but all were well-loved and very well adjusted, in their own capacity. The family was in a very peaceful place. Disputes with other parts of the kingdom were at an all time low, and the Marcher Lords even seemed to finally be dying down with Dornish tensions. Raids across the strip of sea between the two lands had virtually dropped to nil - dangers had been averted - and grand tourneys like that of 148 were held. All this changed in 150.
The ascendancy of several minor knights in Dorne to holdfasts just past the border had inflamed tensions. Chaos had come to the families of the Marcher Lords - sons and daughters killed on peaceful rides by sandy-skinned raiders. Racist slurs and spittle flew, with anger on both sides starting to swell. The Yronwood/Martell civil war exacerbated this - and conflict blew up between Dornish bandits and Marcher guardsmen. Soon enough, even his lordship Royce was forced to ride south, with a few hundred banners, to fight and defeat a host of Dornish deserters that was terrorizing the countryside. It was there, in 153 AL, that Royce Baratheon fell.
At age fifteen, Silas Baratheon rose to the Stone Drum’s throne. A boy of fifteen, he was assisted by his veteran uncle Ser Clyde in management of the keep. A man with a silent soul, keeping in horrors of war, Clyde gave only transient guidance to the otherwise increasingly strange Silas. Even in his youth, Silas was exceptionally… bored. Work in school disappeared quickly - it was as if the boy could read a book and understand it in only a few hours - something that took even Maesters weeks or months. This, still, he called ‘boring’. Often found climbing or fencing sideface like some Braavosi, his pursuits focused intently on both his duties as head of the court, and on solving and abrogating mystery.
He claims, though no one can quite corroborate, that he can deduce the exact spot where the fat king of House Durrendon was slayed by Orys Baratheon in single combat. This spot, north along the coast of the Stormlands, is now home to a small monument that Silas carved during one of his ‘bored’ stages, in between interesting cases of the court. A large stone rock with the Baratheon sigil intricately carved, Silas considers it only fitting to the founder of his noble family.
Thankfully, his siblings are considerably more normal, though not without their own scandal. Stevron Baratheon is an up and coming knight, having taken to combat training where Silas has found it dry and without interest. Quickly becoming a fan of adventure and glory, he has turned this training into a penchant for travel and exploration. A veteran of many a tourney, including those of the Rock and even as far north as the Vale of Arryn, Stevron’s short years have been full of exploring Westeros. His rumors of preferring no female company at said events are something of a scandal in and of themselves. Rumors similarly, however, abound that he is no stable fooler either. It seems as if the man is completely disinterested in the matter entirely - and that such a lack of purpose has seen him on these wide and ranging journeys.
His other sibling is… queer. In the literal definition. Shiara Baratheon is a young woman of marriageable age. She is a warrior, with determined eyes, whom loved her mother and her father more. Where Stevron is witty, Silas madly brilliant, Shiara is calculating and ruthless. She, in her youth, was not brought up traditionally. It is known that Lord Royce and his wife were of a… rather… hedonistic persuasion. Relations were something far more open, far more Dornish, in ways that many a Septon would find unacceptable within a family. The girl lost her virginity at thirteen to a very attractive handmaid. A female handmaid. Though just as into handsome men as any of her sex, it seems that Shiara’s deadliest sin is lust. One she has more than enough problems curing. Despite this, her upbringing as the most straight-edge of the three Baratheons made her the foremost political expert of the family.
When it comes to familial diplomacy, Silas deducts - Stevron laughs away - Shiara deals. If anyone is fit to rule Storm’s End, it’s her. The way she acts as orchestrator within the walls says plenty about that.
There are two remaining figures of note within Storm’s End: Ser Clyde, and Maester Grasshair. Both are characters of great skill and renown, though for far different purposes. Clyde is the Master at Arms - and alongside Shiara is the sinew that ties together the chaos that is the Stormlands. Suffering from severe war flashbacks in the Marches, having seen his brother die before him, and dealing constantly with the pain that causes - he is the one sane man left in a castle full of hard-charging and often quarrelsome family members.
Maester Grasshair is… different. Having replaced the old Maester that taught the Baratheon children in 153, he was picked explicitly for his different nature. Rumors of Baratheon madness resulted in the Citadel sending their maddest Maester, hoping that he’d be at home. All too well - all too well. Grasshair is from the Iron Isles - one of the only ones to ever visit the school. A follower of the drowned god, he never the less retains a spark of brilliance that seems to stun most - when he isn’t babbling incoherently behind feet upon feet of facial hair. A close compatriot of Lord Silas, the pair are often conducting scientific experiments that would shock even more liberal members of society. He’s a doctor of the first order, though. That’s where his usefulness is best seen.
The ascendancy of several minor knights in Dorne to holdfasts just past the border had inflamed tensions. Chaos had come to the families of the Marcher Lords - sons and daughters killed on peaceful rides by sandy-skinned raiders. Racist slurs and spittle flew, with anger on both sides starting to swell. The Yronwood/Martell civil war exacerbated this - and conflict blew up between Dornish bandits and Marcher guardsmen. Soon enough, even his lordship Royce was forced to ride south, with a few hundred banners, to fight and defeat a host of Dornish deserters that was terrorizing the countryside. It was there, in 153 AL, that Royce Baratheon fell.
At age fifteen, Silas Baratheon rose to the Stone Drum’s throne. A boy of fifteen, he was assisted by his veteran uncle Ser Clyde in management of the keep. A man with a silent soul, keeping in horrors of war, Clyde gave only transient guidance to the otherwise increasingly strange Silas. Even in his youth, Silas was exceptionally… bored. Work in school disappeared quickly - it was as if the boy could read a book and understand it in only a few hours - something that took even Maesters weeks or months. This, still, he called ‘boring’. Often found climbing or fencing sideface like some Braavosi, his pursuits focused intently on both his duties as head of the court, and on solving and abrogating mystery.
He claims, though no one can quite corroborate, that he can deduce the exact spot where the fat king of House Durrendon was slayed by Orys Baratheon in single combat. This spot, north along the coast of the Stormlands, is now home to a small monument that Silas carved during one of his ‘bored’ stages, in between interesting cases of the court. A large stone rock with the Baratheon sigil intricately carved, Silas considers it only fitting to the founder of his noble family.
Thankfully, his siblings are considerably more normal, though not without their own scandal. Stevron Baratheon is an up and coming knight, having taken to combat training where Silas has found it dry and without interest. Quickly becoming a fan of adventure and glory, he has turned this training into a penchant for travel and exploration. A veteran of many a tourney, including those of the Rock and even as far north as the Vale of Arryn, Stevron’s short years have been full of exploring Westeros. His rumors of preferring no female company at said events are something of a scandal in and of themselves. Rumors similarly, however, abound that he is no stable fooler either. It seems as if the man is completely disinterested in the matter entirely - and that such a lack of purpose has seen him on these wide and ranging journeys.
His other sibling is… queer. In the literal definition. Shiara Baratheon is a young woman of marriageable age. She is a warrior, with determined eyes, whom loved her mother and her father more. Where Stevron is witty, Silas madly brilliant, Shiara is calculating and ruthless. She, in her youth, was not brought up traditionally. It is known that Lord Royce and his wife were of a… rather… hedonistic persuasion. Relations were something far more open, far more Dornish, in ways that many a Septon would find unacceptable within a family. The girl lost her virginity at thirteen to a very attractive handmaid. A female handmaid. Though just as into handsome men as any of her sex, it seems that Shiara’s deadliest sin is lust. One she has more than enough problems curing. Despite this, her upbringing as the most straight-edge of the three Baratheons made her the foremost political expert of the family.
When it comes to familial diplomacy, Silas deducts - Stevron laughs away - Shiara deals. If anyone is fit to rule Storm’s End, it’s her. The way she acts as orchestrator within the walls says plenty about that.
There are two remaining figures of note within Storm’s End: Ser Clyde, and Maester Grasshair. Both are characters of great skill and renown, though for far different purposes. Clyde is the Master at Arms - and alongside Shiara is the sinew that ties together the chaos that is the Stormlands. Suffering from severe war flashbacks in the Marches, having seen his brother die before him, and dealing constantly with the pain that causes - he is the one sane man left in a castle full of hard-charging and often quarrelsome family members.
Maester Grasshair is… different. Having replaced the old Maester that taught the Baratheon children in 153, he was picked explicitly for his different nature. Rumors of Baratheon madness resulted in the Citadel sending their maddest Maester, hoping that he’d be at home. All too well - all too well. Grasshair is from the Iron Isles - one of the only ones to ever visit the school. A follower of the drowned god, he never the less retains a spark of brilliance that seems to stun most - when he isn’t babbling incoherently behind feet upon feet of facial hair. A close compatriot of Lord Silas, the pair are often conducting scientific experiments that would shock even more liberal members of society. He’s a doctor of the first order, though. That’s where his usefulness is best seen.
Name: Silas Baratheon
Age: 19
Personality: Brilliant, highly functioning, a sociopath. All words that describe Silas Baratheon. He holds little regard for custom, little regard for those he considers less intelligent, but retains a moral code that seems more green and yellow than red and blue. A master of deduction and logic, and detail-oriented, Silas is a master at uncovering mystery and solving puzzles - making him oddly suited to the courtly duties of a lord. He throws himself into this work with gusto - for which most are grateful. Silas possesses some skill with a sword in a Braavosi-esque style, self-taught, and regularly retreats into a mental castle where he stores swathes of information on multiple subjects. (Inspired by Sherlock Holmes)
Name: Ser Stevron Baratheon
Age: 17
Personality: Stevron is normal, compared to his family. He’s a tourney knight that loves japes, adventures, and exploring the wild countrysides of all six kingdoms. He’s even visited Dorne, as dangerous as that is for a man like himself. Having lived as his uncle had prior to his fight in the Marches, Stevron seeks a peaceable life where he fights, jousts, and drinks jollily with friends. He knows, ultimately, such isn’t going to happen. He’ll have to marry - something he personally detests. This isn’t out of dislike or hatred for women - he loves his sister, and any woman he meets… When people talk about them, though, Stevron doesn’t feel like his comrades. They’re just normal people - some might look better… but there’s no stirring in the loins like other men might have. He’s a complete contrast with his sister in that regard. Easily the best Baratheon fighter, Stevron is young, muscular, yet rather wiry. He’s more adept with the sword than the lance, though either is a legitimate weapon in his capable hands. Some say it’s a mule’s talent - never distracted. (An asexual in a land of whores and forced marriages)
Name: Shiara Baratheon
Age: 16
Personality: Shiara is the opposite of Stevron. Where he loves others too little, Shiara loves them too much. Avoid that for a minute, though - Shiara is more socially skilled than either member of her immediate family. Possessed of great social graces, perfect poise, and a stare that makes people melt, she’s something of a great communicator in her own right. Some might even call her innocent, had they no idea of her true nature. In actuality, Shiara is ruthless. She chases what she wants, is patient enough to enact plans to make it happen, and stays on top of things to make sure they succeed. This is as much so in governance, which she shares with Clyde on many an occasion, as it is in the realm of love and lust. Both are dear to Shiara’s heart. At least six members of castle staff, four women and two men, have spent ‘quality time’ with the lecherous woman. Silas doesn’t care. Stevron doesn’t understand. Clyde is too stressed and harried to have a sit-down, needing her support to keep things going. The Stag prances, mounting as it pleases, as every other beast is soon to see.
Name: Ser Clyde Baratheon
Age: 41
Personality: Clyde used to be happy. He really did. He rode the Stormlands on the back of his warhorse, smiling proud as his armor glinted in the air. He’d take his young squire of a nephew and ride for weeks at a time - climbing mountains and visiting dozens of lords, always with a smile and a wave that seemed to transcend any political issue or family rivalry. That Clyde died over six years ago, on a field northeast of the Dornish border. A band of over 1,300 deserters faced a troop of only two hundred horse from Storm’s End. Split in two, Clyde lead his force around the side, smashing into the center as Royce Baratheon rode hard frontally. His brother was thrown from his horse, a pike killing his horse, and was killed on foot in the ensuing skirmish. Clyde failed to reach his brother, surrounded by the enemy, in time. Ever since, the uncle Baratheon has been a silent, calm, and very stoic individual. His wife long passed and children dead young, he tends to all that remains of the stag’s family. It’s really to bad they’re all mad, in their own ways.
Name: Maester Grasshair
Age: 49
Personality: If Silas is Sherlock Holmes, Grasshair is a Moriarty. He bears no moral code save his vows of service, willing to do whatever he is asked. Thankfully, he’s not asked to do anything other than help people. A master medical man with skill at chemical and historical work as well, Grasshair’s primary job is to assist Silas in various tasks he derives from his basic practices of ruling. Medical examinations of slaughtered individuals - tests for various poisons in a dead knight’s work… recreating crimes with dangerous efficiency. If needs be, perhaps even committing a few. In his spare time, a strange devotee of the Drowned God - though rarely finding converts, he has a small flock at the docks of Storm’s End, whom often congregate in the massive storms that batter the castle. His reasons for these beliefs, whatever they might be, are his own.
House Name: House Tully
House Words: Family, Duty, Honor
House Decription/General Information (optional): Though it's roots lie long ago in the age of heroes, the high position of House Tully is a relatively new creation, created and cemented by the burning of Harren the Cruel. For supporting Aegon in his conquests, the Tullys were granted the lord paramouncy of the trident, ruling all lands from the God's Eye to the northern marshes. Though it commands the respect of most of the rivermen, many proud lords cannot forget that House Tully was their equal not so long ago. Despite this obstacle, the Tully spirit burns strong, and they assert their will with unmatched vitality. The family words, "Family, Duty, Honor", represent the mindset of the tullys; One must sacrifice for the good of the family, and stay true to one's word, whether it be to a servant or to the Throne.
Name: Lord Leoric Tully
Age: 55
Appearance (picture and/or words):
Personality: Leoric has often been called a fool, and it's half true. Though he tries to accomplish things, and works to aid others, he fails more often than not. Whether it be through incompetence or bad luck, he simply cannot succeed. His bitterness only increased when his nightmares began, and he was labelled as insane. He certainly does not feel mad, yet he has grown weak and timid, his position being all but taken by his brother. He desires only to live out his days in peace now.
Biography: Leoric Tully was born during the reign of Viserys I. He grew up alongside his younger brother, Karyl, and the two were rivals in almost everything, Where Leoric was kind and good-hearted, Karyl was cold and unforgiving. And while Karyl was strong, Leoric was frail, and often suffered from his frail health. Nevertheless, when the dance of dragons broke out, it was Leoric who led the riverlander army in support of the dragon queen, his brother being too young for such a task. He did not stand out during these campaigns, his only notable accomplishment being wounded at the Battle of the Lakeshore by a marbrand spear. When the war finally ended with the death of Aegon II and the ascension of his nephew, Leoric returned to the riverlands, only to find his father dead, slain by the pox, and his brother ruling from Riverrun, having managed the riverlands ever since his brother left for war and his father fallen ill.
Leoric was appointed Lord Leoric by the order of the king shortly thereafter. Though he was eager to manage the lands of the trident, he had little skill in this, and frequently caused more problems than he solved. Over the years, an unspoken agreement was formed with his brother: Leoric would rule in Riverrun, and Karyl would do all the work. Leoric eventually married Mallara Strong, daughter of Harenhal. They had great trouble begetting an heir, and for many years it seemed as if Karyl and his sons would inherit the trident, until a boy Mallara bore survived childbirth; He was named Euson Tully.
Life continued as normal for several decades, until Leoric began suffering from nightmares, sometimes even in his waking hours. He saw giants and dead dragons, and frequently saw the world from the eye of an animal. His maester declared him mad, and he was duly isolated from the rest of Westeros, his brother taking on those duties he had not already possessed. Leoric's mental degradation was accompanied by the sickness of his wife, who grew more and ill as time passed. Now, he spends his days locked in his keep, mourning his wife who still lives.
Name: Karyl Tully
Age: 49
Appearance (picture and/or words):
Personality: Karyl Tully is known to be the opposite of his brother, Leoric. Where Leoric is kind and warm, Karyl is cold and aloof. While Leoric fails at most everything, Karyl seems to succeed at everything he touches... Save attaining lordship, of course. This limitation, and the knowledge that he will always have to bow down to his brother, has embittered him considerably, and he has become more and more ruthless as the years passed. He still retains his skills, however.
Biography: Karyl Tully was born in Riverrun some years after his brother, Lord Leoric. He distinguished himself in his studies, and squired for Lord Strong of Harrenhal. When the dance of dragons broke out, he returned to Riverrun to aid his brother, only for Leoric to command him to stay behind, citing his young age. He was thus left behind, and saw none of the action. Despite this, he stood out more than his brother; While Leoric accomplished little and less during the war, Karyl deftly handled those lords who had stayed behind, and amassed another army for the black cause. After the war ended, he was shoved aside of his duties, which were taken up by Leoric, who was newly named Lord after the death of their father.
He was duly married to a Mallister wife, and had several children in the long years that followed. He watched as his noble brother bankrupted the riverlands, and failed at everything from diplomacy to economics. Gradually, he took charge once more, a process which accelerated once his brother began having his nightmares. He now is seen as the true ruler of the Riverlands... Though that authority cannot be passed to his children, as Leoric himself has a son, a troublesome sitution indeed.
House Name: House Mormont
House Words: Here We Stand
House Decription/General Information: The Mormonts of Bear Island are an old family, sworn to the Starks of Winterfell. Despite their decidedly empty coffers, the Mormonts have always served their Bannerlords faithfully and honourably - never stooping to dishonesty or illegal acts to increase their own wealth. The House is currently led by Androw Mormont, a great bear of a man nearing his Twilight years. Although Androw is still the ruler of Bear Island, his sons and grandchildren take care of much of the day-to-day running of the Mormont’s lands, with Androw spending most of his time in his personal chambers.
Name: Androw Mormont
Age: 58
Appearance:
Personality: Androw is a man bound by the importance of honour, duty and family. Raised from a young age to respect these three values, he will always put them before his own personal gain. Androw is known by the people of Bear Island to be a fair and just ruler in the way that he settles disputes between his subjects - he will always listen to both sides of a story, and mete out an appropriate punishment if there is one to be had; and, like many Northern Houses, he shares the belief that ‘he who deals the sentence should swing the sword’ - so, on the rare occasion that a death sentence is handed out, the honourable old Lord himself will be there to deliver the killing blow.
Androw is loyal to the Starks before any ‘Southron Kings’, as he gruffly puts it, as he believes that loyalty should be earnt and not freely given - and the Targaryens have never made any effort to come and visit Bear Island, at least during his lifetime.
Biography: Androw was born the first son of the late Lord Hareth Mormont and his Lady wife, and the middle child of four siblings. He had a younger brother and two older sisters, who had already been raised in the traditional Bear Island fashion - with a needle in one hand and an axe in the other.
Androw’s young life was fairly uneventful, and from the age of about six and onwards his days were so full he hardly had time to be a child anymore. Unlike many young Lordlings, Androw did not enjoy a life of luxury - he was born into a lifestyle of hard work and labour, and was happy if at the end of the day he had a warm fire and a large, hearty meal to sit down to. His father saw to it that Androw would grow up to be a warrior worthy of wielding the Mormont’s ancestral weapon, Longclaw; Androw spent hours every day practicing swordplay with the warriors of Bear Island, and by the time he was fifteen he was already a fearsome warrior.
Androw fought alongside the men - and women - of Bear Island whenever they were invaded by Wilding - or Ironborn - raiding parties, and by the time his father was on his deathbed, he handed over Longclaw - and Bear Island - to his eldest son with a fond, parting smile. His two eldest sisters had already been married off to other Lords of the North by the time Androw became Lord Mormont, and his younger brother fell defending Bear Island from a Wildling attack when Androw was in his mid-twenties.
As the only surviving Mormont left on Bear Island, Androw recognised the importance of attaining a wife - and quickly. He was wed to Alysa Dustin - a rather plain young woman, but one with a large heart - something that had become rare within the nobility. She was someone whom Androw grew to love deeply. He and Alysa had three children - a boy, a girl, and then another boy, before his wife’s passing two years ago due to a cold she had never quite recovered from.
Weighed down by grief from his wife’s passing, Androw has begun gradually passing more and more responsibilities to his children and grandchildren, and spends quite a large amount of time locked away in his personal chambers - with a keg of ale kept closeby.
Name: Garlan Mormont
Age: 32
Appearance: Like his father, Garlan is a bear of a man - standing at an impressive 6’5”, he possesses a similar physique - broad, powerful shoulders, a wide chest and impressive strength; born from a mixture of genetically inherited ability and a lifetime of near constant training and labour.
His eyes are a bright blue, and shine with intelligence and wit despite Garlan’s somewhat brutish appearance.
Despite his almost beastly strength, Garlan has begun to put on a bit of weight - due to his handing over of much of Bear Island’s more physically demanding duties to his younger siblings, as well as his own two sons and his numerous nieces and nephews. The warrior’s stomach has gradually grown larger over the last few years, leaving the man with a respectable potbelly. As well as this, his facial features have lost the chiseled aspect of a young, rugged warrior - these angular looks replaced by fat and loose skin, and a rather large beard that the man has grown out in an attempt to hide this.
His hair is dark brown in colour, and sits atop his head in a mass of untamed curls; but his hair, wild as it is, is nothing compared to his massive beard; which, combined with his large amount of body hair, makes Garlan appear rather significantly bear-like. The Mormont usually dresses in leathers or chainmail, and will never be seen without a weapon - be it a large bastard sword resembling Longclaw (which he will one day inherit) or a double-bladed battleaxe.
Personality: Like his father, Androw, Garlan is an honourable man who recognises the importance of honesty, family and duty. Although he is certainly not a knight - and is much more straightforward and abrupt than the ‘Knights of Summer’ who reside in Westeros’ Southern Kingdoms, Garlan is certainly chivalrous. He cares for the smallfolk, and does everything in his power to make sure they are protected and are able to live comfortable lives.
Although he lives a good life on Bear Island, Garlan is ambitious - and, unlike his father, recognises the value of earning the Targaryen’s favour - and the wealth and power that will come with it. If he was given the chance to advance his place - and his family’s place - in the politics of Westeros, Garlan would certainly take it.
Biography: The first-born son of Lord Androw Mormont and his Lady wife Alysa Dustin, Garlan was given the full attention of his parents - and their household staff - until the age of four, when his younger sister was born. Garlan was raised in a similar way to his father - from a young age, he was allowed to explore Bear Island, accompanied by his mother - and, as he grew older, she was progressively replaced by his father’s most trusted men - and occasionally his father himself.
Garlan was trained in horseriding, hunting and fighting - and by the time he was in his mid teens, he was very well skilled indeed in all three fields. Although he was never necessarily ‘book smart’, Garlan had a talent for physical pursuits and a good head for tactics. As a result of his father’s unconventional approach to his upbringing, Garlan had all sorts of friends in his youth - from the sons of other Lords who came to visit, to the young fishermen who plied the waters of Bear Island learning their father’s trades. A very well known - and well liked - young man, he was a favourite with the ladies of Bear Island; and is likely the father of a few unacknowledged bastards.
Androw recognised his sons frivolousness, and decided to fix the issue by marrying him off as early as he could. As a way of broadening his family’s connections, Androw sought his son a wife from the Riverlands - a task which proved much harder than he had originally anticipated. However, a wife was eventually found in the form of Shireen Haigh, the youngest daughter of the Minor House Haigh. Garlan’s galavanting came to an abrupt age when it was announced at his nineteenth nameday celebration that he would be wed to Shireen the following month, after a great deal of planning and preparation on his father’s part - kept quiet from the young man to prevent his intervention.
Garlan appreciates Shireen’s beauty, but their marriage is a loveless one - Garlan, as he says, ‘could never be tied to one woman’, but instead prefers to distribute his ‘affections’ between numerous women - of both low and noble birth. Shireen accepts her husband’s indiscreet actions as part of who he is, but refuses to allow him to acknowledge any of his bastards because of the disgrace it would bring her.
Name: Cassana Mormont
Age: 28
Appearance: Cassana Mormont was lucky enough to inherit her mother’s looks over her father’s; and although she appears rather plain, she possesses beauty in other ways. Her hair is a light blonde - the colour of sunlight, as Androw often used to tell her when she was a child sitting upon his knee.
She stands at an average height, and although her frame isn’t the most curvaceous in the world, her green eyes and bright, perfect smile are what make her attractive. Cassana is not like most Ladies - she wears similar - if not the same - clothes to her brothers, and carries a sword at her side and an axe on her back.
Bio: Cassana - or Cass, as she’s called by those who know her - was born four years after Garlan Mormont, and was doted upon severely by both her parents - and her older brother, as he grew up into a young man. Cassana’s young life was somewhat more luxurious and easier than Garlan’s, but this was not to say she didn’t work - she took care of the running of the Mormont’s household, along with her mother and the few staff her father could afford to employ.
As well as household work, Cassana - like all women on Bear Island - was taught how to defend and look after herself in the event of a Wildling or Ironborn raid. Cassana is an excellent shot with throwing knives, and knows her way about a sword if she ever needs to use one.
Visiting Lords have been somewhat shocked by the way Cass dressed, earning her the nickname ‘Lady Wildling’, which was often snickered about by boys her own age behind her back - before she punched a Lord from the Riverland’s son in the nose because he made the mistake of laughing at her when she was within reaching distance.
Cass is as yet unmarried, and it seems unlikely that she ever will be wed - her father just loves her too much to send her away.
Name: Ramsay Mormont
Age: 25
Appearance: Ramsay is decidedly shorter than his father and older brother, standing at a still very acceptable height of 5’11”. The young Lordling’s hair is blonde, like his mother and sister, but has still inherited the curly, wild nature of his father’s hair. His eyes are blue, like Garlan’s, and seem to whisper of a shrewd, careful intelligence.
Ramsay is no bear, but this is not to say that he’s not strong - he’s fit, but in a much more lean way than the other men of his family. His shoulders are narrow, his frame slender - lending the young man to a fighting style more quick and graceful than the strong, brutish attacks that most men on Bear Island practice.
He wears a longsword at his side, and often has a few days’ growth on his cheeks.
Personality: Unlike the rest of his family, Ramsay is not trusting - and nor is he honourable. He has a shrewd, calculating mind, and it is rare indeed that he’ll be truly honest with someone other than his siblings.
Despite his calculating nature, Ramsay is still quite likeable - he’s smart, witty and confident, and seems to know just what to say to keep people happy - or at least he likes to think so. Ramsay has a talent for books and mathematics, which is how he came to take up the position of House Mormont’s Steward.
Minor Members of the House
Name: Rolland Snow
Age: 48
Role: Head of House Mormont’s household guard, Androw’s deceased older brother’s bastard.
Name: Harwin
Age: 20
Role: Garlan Mormont’s right-hand man, a commoner from Bear Island - in a position of command within the fighting men of Bear Island.
I’ll add more characters to this list as they become relevant, and write proper sheets for any who become major characters.
gowia Buried in a Book
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House Name: House Ryswell
House Words: “Only the Strong Prevails”
House Decription/General Information: House Ryswell are a Banner House of the Starks and hold The Rills for the Starks. They have, for generations now, ruled their lands from the safety and comfort of Castle Storn, named for the first Ryswell lord of the Rills, Storn Ryswell . Castle Storn is a fortress that is built high in the hills, it was originally the site of 3 large Dragon Glass obelisks. These were believed to have been brought down to their resting place in the Rills by ancient tribesmen who thought the stone contained the spirit of their dead. Once order had come to the Rills and the noble houses began to divide up the land House Ryswell decided to construct their home around these stones, as a sign that they were the rightful rulers of the Rills and that the natives of the Rills would have their sacred ground kept safe. The Lord Ryswell is lord to all other houses in the Rills and calls them to arms when the Starks or the king are in need of the men of the Rills.
Lord Robert Ryswell has led House Ryswell through many troubles over the past 32 years however he has found the civil war to be one of the most trying times of his life. Robert had followed Rhaenrya since the onset of the civil war and earned honour and glory on the battlefield commanding the men of the Rills however age was ever catching up with him and he is finding the life of a lord harder and harder. With the recent call for all of his supporters Robert is yet to send any men to Daeron since he is considering stepping down for his eldest son, Roger, and does not wish there to be turmoil in the field. However not all of the lords of the Rills support Robert stepping down, his son already has a reputation as being cruel and a political hound. He has already openly shown his desire to revoke the titles of all of the under lords and make House Ryswell the single controlling house of all the Rills. Robert also has another son, Edward, and a daughter, Joanna, both of whom wish to be Lord/Lady of the Rills. They are all vying for the support of the lords of the Rills. Roger is mainly using scare tactics, in hopes that he can force the lords under foot. However the northern spirits are rarely subjugated through fear. Edward has been traveling from court to court making pacts and promises without his brothers knowledge whilst Joanna has been growing her own coffers and bribing people of power in an attempt to sway a lot of the less sexist lords towards her claim. If Robert does not make a choice soon he well risk offending the King and if he does not name a successor that the lords will rally around he will risk bring unrest and internal conflicts to the Rills.
House Ryswell has become wealthier in recent years, a lot of the fighting has been away from their lands and so their farmland, forests and mines are relatively un touched. However not so much can be said for their people. Almost every family in the Rills has one or more family member lost in recent conflicts, including the civil war, and many of the serfs will be less than happy to go to another war with their king having received no real reward for their support in the civil war. With the recent troubles with the Dorne recruitment campaigns are already beginning anew and there is a less than warm welcome for it. Hopefully the situation in the Rills can be alleviated, even if the help of the Starks or the king is needed, before the men go to war again. Be it in Dorne or fighting amongst themselves in the Rills.
House Name: House Ryswell
House Words: “Only the Strong Prevails”
House Decription/General Information: House Ryswell are a Banner House of the Starks and hold The Rills for the Starks. They have, for generations now, ruled their lands from the safety and comfort of Castle Storn, named for the first Ryswell lord of the Rills, Storn Ryswell . Castle Storn is a fortress that is built high in the hills, it was originally the site of 3 large Dragon Glass obelisks. These were believed to have been brought down to their resting place in the Rills by ancient tribesmen who thought the stone contained the spirit of their dead. Once order had come to the Rills and the noble houses began to divide up the land House Ryswell decided to construct their home around these stones, as a sign that they were the rightful rulers of the Rills and that the natives of the Rills would have their sacred ground kept safe. The Lord Ryswell is lord to all other houses in the Rills and calls them to arms when the Starks or the king are in need of the men of the Rills.
Lord Robert Ryswell has led House Ryswell through many troubles over the past 32 years however he has found the civil war to be one of the most trying times of his life. Robert had followed Rhaenrya since the onset of the civil war and earned honour and glory on the battlefield commanding the men of the Rills however age was ever catching up with him and he is finding the life of a lord harder and harder. With the recent call for all of his supporters Robert is yet to send any men to Daeron since he is considering stepping down for his eldest son, Roger, and does not wish there to be turmoil in the field. However not all of the lords of the Rills support Robert stepping down, his son already has a reputation as being cruel and a political hound. He has already openly shown his desire to revoke the titles of all of the under lords and make House Ryswell the single controlling house of all the Rills. Robert also has another son, Edward, and a daughter, Joanna, both of whom wish to be Lord/Lady of the Rills. They are all vying for the support of the lords of the Rills. Roger is mainly using scare tactics, in hopes that he can force the lords under foot. However the northern spirits are rarely subjugated through fear. Edward has been traveling from court to court making pacts and promises without his brothers knowledge whilst Joanna has been growing her own coffers and bribing people of power in an attempt to sway a lot of the less sexist lords towards her claim. If Robert does not make a choice soon he well risk offending the King and if he does not name a successor that the lords will rally around he will risk bring unrest and internal conflicts to the Rills.
House Ryswell has become wealthier in recent years, a lot of the fighting has been away from their lands and so their farmland, forests and mines are relatively un touched. However not so much can be said for their people. Almost every family in the Rills has one or more family member lost in recent conflicts, including the civil war, and many of the serfs will be less than happy to go to another war with their king having received no real reward for their support in the civil war. With the recent troubles with the Dorne recruitment campaigns are already beginning anew and there is a less than warm welcome for it. Hopefully the situation in the Rills can be alleviated, even if the help of the Starks or the king is needed, before the men go to war again. Be it in Dorne or fighting amongst themselves in the Rills.
Name: Lord Robert Ryswell, Lord of the Rills and Master of the Horse.
Age:68
Appearance:
Personality: Robert was well known for being a brutal man who was well known to hang all those who defied his law. However in recent years the vigour and strength has left him, he normally defers to his children and advisors when it comes to laws and requests. He is very docile and lenient especially when dealing with criminals and can normally be found in his chambers rather than in his great hall. He has not become such a recluse that he would turn down an invitation from the king however there would be no joy for him in the occasion. He no longer goes out on the hunt and many of the taverns he used to visit haven’t seen him for years. He is a skilled tactician and used to be a fine warrior however age has slowed his reactions and many a war wound has made him weak. After his wife passed away 3 years ago it only made these poor traits in Robert even more obvious and his only wish is to now leave the courts of men and retire to a home in the country side in the warmth of the south.
Age:68
Appearance:
Personality: Robert was well known for being a brutal man who was well known to hang all those who defied his law. However in recent years the vigour and strength has left him, he normally defers to his children and advisors when it comes to laws and requests. He is very docile and lenient especially when dealing with criminals and can normally be found in his chambers rather than in his great hall. He has not become such a recluse that he would turn down an invitation from the king however there would be no joy for him in the occasion. He no longer goes out on the hunt and many of the taverns he used to visit haven’t seen him for years. He is a skilled tactician and used to be a fine warrior however age has slowed his reactions and many a war wound has made him weak. After his wife passed away 3 years ago it only made these poor traits in Robert even more obvious and his only wish is to now leave the courts of men and retire to a home in the country side in the warmth of the south.
Name: Roger Ryswell
Age:29
Appearance:
Personality: Roger is a ruthless man, much like his father in his prime he deals with men viciously and without thought. He carries out public executions himself and has a gang of ex soldiers who are fiercely loyal to him and act as his agents. He is well known to go on the hunt often and spends a lot of his time down in the dungeons torturing prisoners. His father gave him total command of the armies only a year ago and already his brother and other lords are questioning him as a leader. He has become paranoid as he has grown and for good reason as he bears a scar along his chest from when he was attacked by an assassin. He is currently trying to remove this cruel view people have of him in an attempt to curry favour with lords and reinforce his claim on the Ryswell lordship. His relationship with his brother is frosty and he never see’s his sister since the last time he did he attacked her and tried to rape her, in an attempt to make her first born a result of incest and illegible for the Lordship of the Rills after himself.
Age:29
Appearance:
Personality: Roger is a ruthless man, much like his father in his prime he deals with men viciously and without thought. He carries out public executions himself and has a gang of ex soldiers who are fiercely loyal to him and act as his agents. He is well known to go on the hunt often and spends a lot of his time down in the dungeons torturing prisoners. His father gave him total command of the armies only a year ago and already his brother and other lords are questioning him as a leader. He has become paranoid as he has grown and for good reason as he bears a scar along his chest from when he was attacked by an assassin. He is currently trying to remove this cruel view people have of him in an attempt to curry favour with lords and reinforce his claim on the Ryswell lordship. His relationship with his brother is frosty and he never see’s his sister since the last time he did he attacked her and tried to rape her, in an attempt to make her first born a result of incest and illegible for the Lordship of the Rills after himself.
Name: Edward Ryswell
Age:24
Appearance:
Personality: Edward is widely seen as the preferable of all of Roberts children to replace him as Lord of the Rills. The years his brother spent practicing the art of torture Edward was being versed in the laws of the land and how to effectively run the Rills with the masters of the house as well as creating good relations with the smaller houses that made up the Rills. He is a big man of the people and is normally welcomed with large crowds and small feasts in the different holds. Edward believes in morals and chivalry between opponents, this makes him seem almost heroric however it also may have poorly prepared him for court politics and leaves him naive to others and their tricks.
Age:24
Appearance:
Personality: Edward is widely seen as the preferable of all of Roberts children to replace him as Lord of the Rills. The years his brother spent practicing the art of torture Edward was being versed in the laws of the land and how to effectively run the Rills with the masters of the house as well as creating good relations with the smaller houses that made up the Rills. He is a big man of the people and is normally welcomed with large crowds and small feasts in the different holds. Edward believes in morals and chivalry between opponents, this makes him seem almost heroric however it also may have poorly prepared him for court politics and leaves him naive to others and their tricks.
Name: Joanna Ryswell
Age:21
Appearance:
Personality: Joanna is the youngest child of Robert Ryswell and knows it. She has always been overlooked by her father for any state role or this is her biggest wekanes, as well as her biggest advantage over her siblings. She is able to move through the holds and courts relatively un noticed allowing her plotting and scheming which she seems so naturally talented at to be mostly unhindered. She has already orchestrated the fall of two of the lower houses and her gaining of two large farms in the southernmost part of the Rills. She has a silver tongue and is well known to twist others to do her bidding. She is a flirt however never lets men touch hr body. She finds that making a man want her but not have her has far more sway than giving him what he wants.
Age:21
Appearance:
Personality: Joanna is the youngest child of Robert Ryswell and knows it. She has always been overlooked by her father for any state role or this is her biggest wekanes, as well as her biggest advantage over her siblings. She is able to move through the holds and courts relatively un noticed allowing her plotting and scheming which she seems so naturally talented at to be mostly unhindered. She has already orchestrated the fall of two of the lower houses and her gaining of two large farms in the southernmost part of the Rills. She has a silver tongue and is well known to twist others to do her bidding. She is a flirt however never lets men touch hr body. She finds that making a man want her but not have her has far more sway than giving him what he wants.
Name: Tyril Bannon
Age:31
Appearance:
Personality: Tyril is an ambitious man and an expert in combat and tactics. He hasn’t the major war experience and so can sometimes be naïve in how troops will react and how battles fare on a national scale however he is always willing to learn and in small skirmishes is almost always the smartest man on the field. He refuses to exploit others to achieve his gains however he is not afraid to play the game if it involves maintaining the safety of House Ryswell which he now considers his home. Despite his loyalty to the King he does not wish any involvement in the invasion of Dorn and so stays at Castle Storn in the Rills keeping watch over Roberts Lands. Some say that he has designs on the House itself as many of the soldiers believe he has the military genius needed to maintain control and bring glory to the Rills. Most of the army would be willing to follow him in a coup if needs be since many have a hatred for Roger.
History: Tyril is a actually of Dornish descent. His family were slaves in a merchants house however when he was born his mother gave him away to save him from a life of servitude. He was given to the head of a villages militia. Here his adopted father taught him how to fight and how to defend a location even when heavily outnumbered. As he grew up he trained more and more becoming more adept at fighting with each passing year. When he was 15 he was considered to be the best fighter in his village. However a local warlord hiding in the hills came down and began to pillage and terrorize the people. In a bold move Tyril rallied the men of his village and beat back the bandits from their palisades. From then on his adopted father gave way to him as the new head of the militia. He began by changing the training regimes and re arming the mn. Turning a weekly group of mates looking for a thrill into hardened and grizzled men who knew how to thrust a sword. After a few years the bandits returned however they did not expect to find such a group of trained men. In just over a week of fighting Tyril had rooted out the bandits hideout and destroyed it. Bringing the loot back to the village. When he was 27 his father told him how he was actually adopted. He couldn’t stand it. He felt his whole life had been a lie and fled. Traveling from court to court training young men and sometimes settling for a time in a small village to help it against bandits. When he came to the court of House Ryswell he was in his late 20’s. He had seen a few battles and had been in charge of a small mercenary company in the Summerlands to try and raise some cash to travel to the north and the courts he hadn’t been too yet. Tyril and Robert become fast friends and Tyril’s tactics were a fresh view that Robert’s aged commanders couldn’t seem to get their heads around, being very stuck in their ways. He was offered a place in Castle Storn as Master of the Guard. He consuls Robert on almost all decisions in battle and in recent years has become the head of the house aguard, keeping Castle Storn safe.
Age:31
Appearance:
Personality: Tyril is an ambitious man and an expert in combat and tactics. He hasn’t the major war experience and so can sometimes be naïve in how troops will react and how battles fare on a national scale however he is always willing to learn and in small skirmishes is almost always the smartest man on the field. He refuses to exploit others to achieve his gains however he is not afraid to play the game if it involves maintaining the safety of House Ryswell which he now considers his home. Despite his loyalty to the King he does not wish any involvement in the invasion of Dorn and so stays at Castle Storn in the Rills keeping watch over Roberts Lands. Some say that he has designs on the House itself as many of the soldiers believe he has the military genius needed to maintain control and bring glory to the Rills. Most of the army would be willing to follow him in a coup if needs be since many have a hatred for Roger.
History: Tyril is a actually of Dornish descent. His family were slaves in a merchants house however when he was born his mother gave him away to save him from a life of servitude. He was given to the head of a villages militia. Here his adopted father taught him how to fight and how to defend a location even when heavily outnumbered. As he grew up he trained more and more becoming more adept at fighting with each passing year. When he was 15 he was considered to be the best fighter in his village. However a local warlord hiding in the hills came down and began to pillage and terrorize the people. In a bold move Tyril rallied the men of his village and beat back the bandits from their palisades. From then on his adopted father gave way to him as the new head of the militia. He began by changing the training regimes and re arming the mn. Turning a weekly group of mates looking for a thrill into hardened and grizzled men who knew how to thrust a sword. After a few years the bandits returned however they did not expect to find such a group of trained men. In just over a week of fighting Tyril had rooted out the bandits hideout and destroyed it. Bringing the loot back to the village. When he was 27 his father told him how he was actually adopted. He couldn’t stand it. He felt his whole life had been a lie and fled. Traveling from court to court training young men and sometimes settling for a time in a small village to help it against bandits. When he came to the court of House Ryswell he was in his late 20’s. He had seen a few battles and had been in charge of a small mercenary company in the Summerlands to try and raise some cash to travel to the north and the courts he hadn’t been too yet. Tyril and Robert become fast friends and Tyril’s tactics were a fresh view that Robert’s aged commanders couldn’t seem to get their heads around, being very stuck in their ways. He was offered a place in Castle Storn as Master of the Guard. He consuls Robert on almost all decisions in battle and in recent years has become the head of the house aguard, keeping Castle Storn safe.
Name: Yannin Kinnis
Position in House Ryswell: Master of the Coin
Age:28
Appearance:
Personality: Yannin seem like a kind man, he always has a smile on his face and is well known to go out for a friendly drink with friends. However he has certainly not got clean hands. He delas with competition brutaly and is well known to destroy a mans business before it even has a chance to take off. He has a young wife who mainly resides at his manor and he has been known to put her before any affairs of the hold. He also promotes the safe sale of the vices, legally monitored brothels and family controlled gambling dens are maintained, in turn reducing crime and bringing in extra coin.
History: Yannin was born in Kings Landing to a mother who was a prostitute and his father turned out to be of his mothers brothels owner. From an early age Yannin was aware of the the poverty and filth in which he lived yet it meant he did not look down on it but embraced it as a way to make a lot of money. By age 12 he would read over his fathers books with him as his father taught him reading, writing and counting. By 16 he was practically making the books for his father. He could hide money, move it and draw it out tax free without the government knowing anything. However it required a lot of good luck and eventually his luck ran out. One fateful night his fathers brothel was raided by the Gold Cloaks. His father was killed in the raid and his mother was whisked away. He himself was cut across the nose but managed to escape. In doing so he came to Lord Robert Ryswell who was on a visit to Kings Landing. Yanin was grabbed by Roberts men and had to explain himself , he came clean of everything and in doing so secured his safety. Robert had little knowledge on how to run his lands economically and Yannin was a perfect candidate for Master of the Coin.
Position in House Ryswell: Master of the Coin
Age:28
Appearance:
Personality: Yannin seem like a kind man, he always has a smile on his face and is well known to go out for a friendly drink with friends. However he has certainly not got clean hands. He delas with competition brutaly and is well known to destroy a mans business before it even has a chance to take off. He has a young wife who mainly resides at his manor and he has been known to put her before any affairs of the hold. He also promotes the safe sale of the vices, legally monitored brothels and family controlled gambling dens are maintained, in turn reducing crime and bringing in extra coin.
History: Yannin was born in Kings Landing to a mother who was a prostitute and his father turned out to be of his mothers brothels owner. From an early age Yannin was aware of the the poverty and filth in which he lived yet it meant he did not look down on it but embraced it as a way to make a lot of money. By age 12 he would read over his fathers books with him as his father taught him reading, writing and counting. By 16 he was practically making the books for his father. He could hide money, move it and draw it out tax free without the government knowing anything. However it required a lot of good luck and eventually his luck ran out. One fateful night his fathers brothel was raided by the Gold Cloaks. His father was killed in the raid and his mother was whisked away. He himself was cut across the nose but managed to escape. In doing so he came to Lord Robert Ryswell who was on a visit to Kings Landing. Yanin was grabbed by Roberts men and had to explain himself , he came clean of everything and in doing so secured his safety. Robert had little knowledge on how to run his lands economically and Yannin was a perfect candidate for Master of the Coin.
Name: Hendri Hotspur
Age: 28
Appearance: Hendri stands at a relatively impressive 6’2”, with a head of fair hair and bright, intelligent blue eyes. His skin tone is relatively light, the lighter colour inherited from his Lyseni mother, the darker touch a result of his father’s brown skin. Hendri looks to be a mixture of Salty and Stony Dorne, but any who knew him by name would know of his true heritage.
The Bastard’s facial structure is handsome; a chiseled jawline, angular cheekbones and a winning smile. His eyes are almond shaped, and shine with intelligence - somewhat diluted by an outgoing personality and an eagerness to live life to the fullest. He’s usually cleanshaven, but occasionally he can be seen with a few days growth on his cheeks and across his lips.
His hair is long and straight, hanging down to his shoulders if allowed to sit freely. Usually, however, the fair strands are tied up into a tight ponytail, a few strands falling down on either side of his face to frame his features.
He has the body of a warrior - he’s no bear, by a long shot, but he’s certainly muscular. Hendri’s abdomen is flat and hard to the touch, legs toned from a lifetime spent on horseback. The man’s most impressive muscles, perhaps, would be those of his upper back - used to draw the bow he is renowned for using.
Personality: With a Dornish father and a Lyseni mother, it was only to be expected that Hendri would inherit a taste for adventure and frivolousness. Infected with a bad case of wanderlust, one of the Martell’s most renowned bastards is a curious creature - he wants to know everything there is to know about the world, and plans to see it all before he dies; he doesn’t want to be contained in Westeros.
Along with his curiosity about the world, he also has a deep-seated urge to know all there is to know about every race’s women; just like his father, in that regard. A spontaneous man, Hendri is known to make split second decisions, apart from when they carry a particular weight. When it comes to warfare, Hendri is serious and determined; he wants to be the best of the best, and is on his way to achieving that.
Despite his spontaneous and fiery personality, Hendri is extremely grateful to the Martells who accepted him as one of their own when his father returned with him from Lys. He’s one of Prince Richard’s loyalest subjects, and plans to return to Sunspear and take up a position as one of House Martell’s sworn swords whenever he’s finished with his travels.
Biography: Hendri was born in the Free City of Lys, a product of Bolivar Martell’s relations with a Lysian woman, who’s name Hendri refuses to speak out of respect for his father’s wishes. When he was still but a babe, Bolivar decided that he wanted to take his son home with him to Sunspear - as a symbol of the love he truly held for Hendri’s mother. When they arrived back in Dorne, Hendri was two - and he quickly forgot the faces of the family he’d left behind him in Lys as he grew older; all but his mother’s.
The bastard was adopted into the Martell’s household without resentment, and was treated the same as his trueborn brothers. He was given a noble’s upbringing, and studied under the same tutors as his brothers, learning the same things they did.
When he was perhaps six or seven, and truly grasped the gravity of the kindness that House Martell had shown him, Hendri was eternally grateful - he had been given a much better shot at life than he would ever had in Lys, and it was all due to his Uncle’s generosity - Trystan, the Prince of Dorne.
As a child, Hendri played and had contact with all of the Martell’s children - from his aunt’s bastard of Florent descent to the Prince’s children themselves. He spent time with both Richard and Hugh, but had a particularly close connection with the fair-headed second-born, who would help him with his studies when he was having trouble.
When he grew older, Hendri, after watching a tournament held at Sunspear, expressed a desire to his father that he wanted to learn how to fight. Bolivar was all too happy to accommodate his bastard son, and organised for one of his old friends to begin training him. Hendri proved to have a talent for fighting, and it was discovered that he had a particularly strong natural ability with a bow.
At the age of only ten-and-four, Hendri announced that he wanted to leave Sunspear; something that his father had been expecting for years. After a few months of organisation and the finalising of Hendri’s training to his father’s satisfaction, the bastard was given clearance to leave Sunspear - after long goodbyes with his childhood friends, with whom he had shared the Martell’s Palace - and departed one morning at Dawn with an escort of six of his father’s men.
Hendri spent the next five years of his life travelling around much of Northern Westeros, participating in tournaments and learning some of the Northerner’s tactics and fighting techniques. He also joined a voyage to Lys, and was briefly reunited with his mother on her deathbed - she’d caught an illness, and died swiftly after Hendri met her again, but it was said that she died with a full heart.
The fiery bastard who earned himself the nickname of ‘Hotspur’ due to his flamboyant, fiery personality and eagerness to fight was not seen in Sunspear until he was ten-and-nine; having turned from a boy with promise into a powerful, renowned warrior, who had made his own mark on the world without his father’s guidance. He was welcomed back by the Martells with open arms, but noticed that the atmosphere of the household was somewhat more.. strained.
In his twentieth year, civil war broke out in Dorne - a result of House Yronwood’s scheming against the Prince of Sunspear, the rightful ruler. Hendri was shocked by the rebellion, and he too was torn by the division of Prince Trystan’s household. Extremely loyal to the man who had made the life he’d had thus far possible, Hendri swore that he would fight for Trystan alongside his second-born son.
After two years of bloody warfare, the war was won - and Hugh was executed. Despite his dislike for the boy because of his betrayal of his father, Hugh was still family - Hendri was shocked by the execution, but remained in Sunspear even after Richard left for Essos, serving his father until he passed away.
When Richard returned to Dorne, Hendri stayed for a year to ensure to help him secure his claim, before announcing that he would be taking off again on another adventure. Recently, he has returned to Sunspear, and serves Richard loyally.
Age: 28
Appearance: Hendri stands at a relatively impressive 6’2”, with a head of fair hair and bright, intelligent blue eyes. His skin tone is relatively light, the lighter colour inherited from his Lyseni mother, the darker touch a result of his father’s brown skin. Hendri looks to be a mixture of Salty and Stony Dorne, but any who knew him by name would know of his true heritage.
The Bastard’s facial structure is handsome; a chiseled jawline, angular cheekbones and a winning smile. His eyes are almond shaped, and shine with intelligence - somewhat diluted by an outgoing personality and an eagerness to live life to the fullest. He’s usually cleanshaven, but occasionally he can be seen with a few days growth on his cheeks and across his lips.
His hair is long and straight, hanging down to his shoulders if allowed to sit freely. Usually, however, the fair strands are tied up into a tight ponytail, a few strands falling down on either side of his face to frame his features.
He has the body of a warrior - he’s no bear, by a long shot, but he’s certainly muscular. Hendri’s abdomen is flat and hard to the touch, legs toned from a lifetime spent on horseback. The man’s most impressive muscles, perhaps, would be those of his upper back - used to draw the bow he is renowned for using.
Personality: With a Dornish father and a Lyseni mother, it was only to be expected that Hendri would inherit a taste for adventure and frivolousness. Infected with a bad case of wanderlust, one of the Martell’s most renowned bastards is a curious creature - he wants to know everything there is to know about the world, and plans to see it all before he dies; he doesn’t want to be contained in Westeros.
Along with his curiosity about the world, he also has a deep-seated urge to know all there is to know about every race’s women; just like his father, in that regard. A spontaneous man, Hendri is known to make split second decisions, apart from when they carry a particular weight. When it comes to warfare, Hendri is serious and determined; he wants to be the best of the best, and is on his way to achieving that.
Despite his spontaneous and fiery personality, Hendri is extremely grateful to the Martells who accepted him as one of their own when his father returned with him from Lys. He’s one of Prince Richard’s loyalest subjects, and plans to return to Sunspear and take up a position as one of House Martell’s sworn swords whenever he’s finished with his travels.
Biography: Hendri was born in the Free City of Lys, a product of Bolivar Martell’s relations with a Lysian woman, who’s name Hendri refuses to speak out of respect for his father’s wishes. When he was still but a babe, Bolivar decided that he wanted to take his son home with him to Sunspear - as a symbol of the love he truly held for Hendri’s mother. When they arrived back in Dorne, Hendri was two - and he quickly forgot the faces of the family he’d left behind him in Lys as he grew older; all but his mother’s.
The bastard was adopted into the Martell’s household without resentment, and was treated the same as his trueborn brothers. He was given a noble’s upbringing, and studied under the same tutors as his brothers, learning the same things they did.
When he was perhaps six or seven, and truly grasped the gravity of the kindness that House Martell had shown him, Hendri was eternally grateful - he had been given a much better shot at life than he would ever had in Lys, and it was all due to his Uncle’s generosity - Trystan, the Prince of Dorne.
As a child, Hendri played and had contact with all of the Martell’s children - from his aunt’s bastard of Florent descent to the Prince’s children themselves. He spent time with both Richard and Hugh, but had a particularly close connection with the fair-headed second-born, who would help him with his studies when he was having trouble.
When he grew older, Hendri, after watching a tournament held at Sunspear, expressed a desire to his father that he wanted to learn how to fight. Bolivar was all too happy to accommodate his bastard son, and organised for one of his old friends to begin training him. Hendri proved to have a talent for fighting, and it was discovered that he had a particularly strong natural ability with a bow.
At the age of only ten-and-four, Hendri announced that he wanted to leave Sunspear; something that his father had been expecting for years. After a few months of organisation and the finalising of Hendri’s training to his father’s satisfaction, the bastard was given clearance to leave Sunspear - after long goodbyes with his childhood friends, with whom he had shared the Martell’s Palace - and departed one morning at Dawn with an escort of six of his father’s men.
Hendri spent the next five years of his life travelling around much of Northern Westeros, participating in tournaments and learning some of the Northerner’s tactics and fighting techniques. He also joined a voyage to Lys, and was briefly reunited with his mother on her deathbed - she’d caught an illness, and died swiftly after Hendri met her again, but it was said that she died with a full heart.
The fiery bastard who earned himself the nickname of ‘Hotspur’ due to his flamboyant, fiery personality and eagerness to fight was not seen in Sunspear until he was ten-and-nine; having turned from a boy with promise into a powerful, renowned warrior, who had made his own mark on the world without his father’s guidance. He was welcomed back by the Martells with open arms, but noticed that the atmosphere of the household was somewhat more.. strained.
In his twentieth year, civil war broke out in Dorne - a result of House Yronwood’s scheming against the Prince of Sunspear, the rightful ruler. Hendri was shocked by the rebellion, and he too was torn by the division of Prince Trystan’s household. Extremely loyal to the man who had made the life he’d had thus far possible, Hendri swore that he would fight for Trystan alongside his second-born son.
After two years of bloody warfare, the war was won - and Hugh was executed. Despite his dislike for the boy because of his betrayal of his father, Hugh was still family - Hendri was shocked by the execution, but remained in Sunspear even after Richard left for Essos, serving his father until he passed away.
When Richard returned to Dorne, Hendri stayed for a year to ensure to help him secure his claim, before announcing that he would be taking off again on another adventure. Recently, he has returned to Sunspear, and serves Richard loyally.
Winston Smith
Member
Seen
1 mo ago
House Sigil:
House Name: House Swann of Stonehelm
House Words: Powerful and Cautious
House Decription/General Information: House Swann is an old house respected for its martial prowess. Seated at Stonehelm the Swanns oversee and tax all cargo flowing downriver out of the Stormlands single largest river. Sworn to house Baratheon the Swanns have guarded the southern Stormlands from raiders and pirates for generations.
Stonehelm is a coastal settlement halfway between a castle and a town,that offers Southern Westerosi merchants an alternative to the perils of Shipbreakers Bay. Stonehelm is a city that is built simultaneously on the coast as well as on little islets arranged in a triangular fashion where the homes of well to do merchants are as well as the principal markets. In addition House Swanns castle home is located on the northern-most side of the triangle islet.
Name: Marya Swann née Estermont
Age:28
Personality: Reclusive,and very cautious. She loves "her children" very much.
Biography: Nicknamed the Black Swan for having mourned her late husband for so long, she now lives a secretive life, hardly ever leaving Stonehelm. She believes her husband was killed by a poisoned dornish blade so is very wary of what she eats and drinks. Her children are not actually her own but those of her husbands first marriage. However, as her only remaining family in the world she has developed a very close bond with them taking over the after their mother when Steffon Swann’s first wife passed away. Steffon then married Marya barely half a year before dying himself. Lord Steffon Swann was killed in battle leading his forces in support of the other marcher lords against Dornish invaders. She now raises Elena and Rolland alone. Marya is currently the center of attention attention of many suitors who see her as a young beautiful widow through whom they would be able to control the young Lord of Stonehelm, yet unknown to all but her partners, Marya is not interested in the affections that men can provide, instead she occasionally spends her time with a female lover. This 'unnatural' love is a well kept secret though and she regularly plays along to the seduction games her suitors involve themselves in.
Name: Elena Swann
Age: 18
Personality: Serious, adventurous and concerned about preserving the family.
Biography: Raised as any normal noble lady would be until age 14 when her mother, Steffon Swanns first wife, passed away of a fever. She then assumed the mantle of lady of the house, Involving herself in her father’s affairs whilst her brother grew up resulted in her learning the basics of economics and diplomacy until he remarried. She grew up to be beautiful and tall though her fathers’ doting has made her vain. Her relationship with her brother can be as rocky as Shipbreakers bay at times yet the calm always return and the loyalty to ones family is the primary virtue emphasized among the members of House Swann. She understands that her younger brother will eventually seek to find her a match but the two have discussed the issue in the past and he is content to delay her wedding for as long as possible letting her enjoy the freedoms of youth as she blossoms into an ever more beautiful woman. She knows however that it is unlikely that she will marry for love considering how precarious her family's situation is right now.
Name: Rolland Swann
Age: 17
Personality: Martial, proud, cunning and cautious yet easily swayed by lust
Biography: Whilst it is said that bastards grow up faster than others this applies equally to children who grow up without either of their natural parents. Essentially raised by Stonehelm’s master at Arms and its’ maester for three years Rolland became a man well before his sixteenth name day. Like his father Rolland is a fine warrior who has proved himself against bandits and other squires alike. Although still a squire it is expected that Rolland shall be knighted his eighteenth nameday as all knew his father had intended.For now he rules over House Swann's lands extensive lands. Although lordship did not come easily to Rolland, for most young men are able to observe their fathers rule for many years before they get a chance, he was surrounded by willing teachers and a supportive sister and adoptive mother who guided him.. Maester Wex taught him much about money handling and the theory of warfare whilst Stonehelms' master of arms honed his muscles, taught him to fight with both Sword,mace and Longbow. The latter was a weapon rarely employed by nobles who saw it as a peasant weapon which was beneath them but its' range and speed more than made up for the mockery of the the other lords. Aware of his youth an inexperience Rolland did not cast off his teachers as he grew up realizing that they yet had much to teach him about his duties as Lord of Stonehelm. He recently tried his hand at sailing and navigation as befits the lord of a coastal city. He is however a young man often impressionable and prone to the pride of youth. He is particularly concerned about growing up to me a great man known and sometimes this eagerness results in caution being thrown to the wind.
Vanq The Chaos Ladder
Member
Seen
6 days ago
Age
37
Personality
Haegon is a serious man, some may even go so far as to say completely humorless. In business, in faith, in his family life, he is unwavering in his demands and expectations. The zeal and ruthless nature he showed while a young man has not broken in the wake of his faith, but been forged into something new. He sees each moment as a way to espouse his belief whether in success or failure. When he expands his business or takes out a competitor, when he makes love to his wife or tutors their daughter, it is always with the intent to serve R'hllor.
He is met with both fear and ridicule by his peers. R'hllor is not an uncommon faith in Lys, yet his fervent beliefs can even push away some priests. Those that fear him have good reason to, Haegon has made more than a few enemies due to his business practices. He does not have friends as much as he has allies and acquaintances.
He is met with both fear and ridicule by his peers. R'hllor is not an uncommon faith in Lys, yet his fervent beliefs can even push away some priests. Those that fear him have good reason to, Haegon has made more than a few enemies due to his business practices. He does not have friends as much as he has allies and acquaintances.
History
Haegon was the eldest of his parent's six children and the only son until his final sibling was born some fifteen years after him. He grew up with the heritage of a Westerosi mother, one who shared noble and royal bloodline, as she too frequently reminded the young Haegon. He was the only one of his siblings to ever see her land of birth, though he was just a toddler at the time and recalls nothing of Dorne except what his imagination dreamed up as a child listening to a mother's stories.
Having a Dornish mother may not have earned a young Haegon harassment, but he grew up knowing there was a contrast between his family and the other merchant princes of Lys. He was not so pale, none of his siblings were, though they were all more blonde than brunette, and inherited their father's blue eyes. When Haegon was older he also realized that his parents had once been truly in love, blessed by the goddess perhaps some would say. And in fact, they were married in the temple devoted to the goddess of love, so taken with each when they met. That love though had burned too hot and had extinguished itself long before Haegon could see any sign of it except in the quiet moments when his mother's expression would become far off, sad. There was no goddess of love, there were no gods as far as Haegon could tell. Only the worship of money.
He learned his father's businesses with a zeal. Perhaps in part to prove that the Westerosi blood did not dilute the Lyseni in him, perhaps simply because he had the mind for it. Baerion Vaelaros owned a vineyard that went into making one of Lys' famed red wines and several brothels. Haegon was never satisfied, more restless than his father in pursuit of gold. More ruthless.
That began to change, at least in part, when he was a young man of fifteen. Tyene Dayne fell ill during her final pregnancy; it was a birth that both she and child barely survived. While Tyene would go on to recover, the child never did. Little Rhygael was born with a crippled body, deformed. Always sickly, weak, his mind seemed just as crippled as his body. Haegon watched in disgust as even at three namedays, his young brother was unable to utter a word, or even attempt to walk. Though it was never spoken off, Haegon knew that the child's death was not natural nor accidental. He also knew that his mother's death just a week later came from her own hands. Now eighteen, he was forced to make a decision about some things, for as horrifying as he found Rhygael's life, the loss of the little crippled boy and his mother was shocking in a way he would have never guessed. For the first time in his life, he sought meaning outside of the pursuit of gold.
Vaella was the byproduct of his first attempt to find meaning. He turned back to the Lyseni love goddess. While the child he and the priestess created in their passion brought some happiness and meaning to his life, it was not enough. Rather than give the girl up to be raised as a priestess, he took her into his father's home. What was the point of raising another in an empty belief?
Haegon turned to the Seven next, his mother's religion that she had turned back to when the love between her and Baerion failed. There was no peace in it that Haegon could find. Seven facets of the same god, he found them all to be apathetic even if they were real. What great deeds did they ever do? What signs of their existence?
It was then, in his early twenties, that Haegon converted wholly to R'hllor. The Red God whose priests could see the future, the believers who awaited their savior, Azor Ahai. There was power and in proof in the belief, and Haegon became fanatical in a few short years. Though his father wouldn't allow it while he lived, after Baerion died and Haegon inherited the estates and businesses, he would bring the brothel's children to the R'hllor's temple. He funded, from his personal wealth, missions to send the Red Priests to other lands, most notably, Dorne. He still retained his lust for gold and expansion of his business, though the intent was no beyond just proving himself or getting more. It was getting more to serve the Lord of Light, to further his worship, to be ready when the long night came and Azor Ahai would be reborn.
Haegon married a fellow believer, though from a family of new wealth. Lynaera was not so pure-blooded, much like himself, but their shared beliefs has created, if not a loving marriage, one of understanding. Married only four years ago, his wife is barely older than the daughter he created in his days of youth. Lynaera has given him a second daughter, Aedra who is three, but is pregnant with their second child.
Having a Dornish mother may not have earned a young Haegon harassment, but he grew up knowing there was a contrast between his family and the other merchant princes of Lys. He was not so pale, none of his siblings were, though they were all more blonde than brunette, and inherited their father's blue eyes. When Haegon was older he also realized that his parents had once been truly in love, blessed by the goddess perhaps some would say. And in fact, they were married in the temple devoted to the goddess of love, so taken with each when they met. That love though had burned too hot and had extinguished itself long before Haegon could see any sign of it except in the quiet moments when his mother's expression would become far off, sad. There was no goddess of love, there were no gods as far as Haegon could tell. Only the worship of money.
He learned his father's businesses with a zeal. Perhaps in part to prove that the Westerosi blood did not dilute the Lyseni in him, perhaps simply because he had the mind for it. Baerion Vaelaros owned a vineyard that went into making one of Lys' famed red wines and several brothels. Haegon was never satisfied, more restless than his father in pursuit of gold. More ruthless.
That began to change, at least in part, when he was a young man of fifteen. Tyene Dayne fell ill during her final pregnancy; it was a birth that both she and child barely survived. While Tyene would go on to recover, the child never did. Little Rhygael was born with a crippled body, deformed. Always sickly, weak, his mind seemed just as crippled as his body. Haegon watched in disgust as even at three namedays, his young brother was unable to utter a word, or even attempt to walk. Though it was never spoken off, Haegon knew that the child's death was not natural nor accidental. He also knew that his mother's death just a week later came from her own hands. Now eighteen, he was forced to make a decision about some things, for as horrifying as he found Rhygael's life, the loss of the little crippled boy and his mother was shocking in a way he would have never guessed. For the first time in his life, he sought meaning outside of the pursuit of gold.
Vaella was the byproduct of his first attempt to find meaning. He turned back to the Lyseni love goddess. While the child he and the priestess created in their passion brought some happiness and meaning to his life, it was not enough. Rather than give the girl up to be raised as a priestess, he took her into his father's home. What was the point of raising another in an empty belief?
Haegon turned to the Seven next, his mother's religion that she had turned back to when the love between her and Baerion failed. There was no peace in it that Haegon could find. Seven facets of the same god, he found them all to be apathetic even if they were real. What great deeds did they ever do? What signs of their existence?
It was then, in his early twenties, that Haegon converted wholly to R'hllor. The Red God whose priests could see the future, the believers who awaited their savior, Azor Ahai. There was power and in proof in the belief, and Haegon became fanatical in a few short years. Though his father wouldn't allow it while he lived, after Baerion died and Haegon inherited the estates and businesses, he would bring the brothel's children to the R'hllor's temple. He funded, from his personal wealth, missions to send the Red Priests to other lands, most notably, Dorne. He still retained his lust for gold and expansion of his business, though the intent was no beyond just proving himself or getting more. It was getting more to serve the Lord of Light, to further his worship, to be ready when the long night came and Azor Ahai would be reborn.
Haegon married a fellow believer, though from a family of new wealth. Lynaera was not so pure-blooded, much like himself, but their shared beliefs has created, if not a loving marriage, one of understanding. Married only four years ago, his wife is barely older than the daughter he created in his days of youth. Lynaera has given him a second daughter, Aedra who is three, but is pregnant with their second child.
House Sigil: 
House Name: House Greyjoy
House Words: We Do Not Sow
House Decription/General Information:
Name: Meredydd Greyjoy
Age: 49
Appearance:
Personality: A man with an intense state of mind at almost all times the Lord of the Ironborn would not be described as soft by anyone. He has taken wholeheartedly to the Old Ways and intends to keep the Ironborn on such as path for as long as possible. He does everything he can to keep up a facade of the brutish raider but is quite clever though not as well learned as other lords. He knew the Ironborn had to change when he was younger and knows now they must change still further still. He is loyal to his god and his people but has never shown any fealty to the iron throne and does not intend to do so if he can help it. he is learning to play the long game and the political game like the green landers and knows he is playing catch up in that field and is doing so thus far and is grooming his middle child to do so as well.
Biography: Lord Meredydd Greyjoy was the only son and in fact only child of his father Yorwith Greyjoy. He grew up as a traditional Ironborn boy learning the ways of sails and steel and was drowned at a young age. As soon as he was old enough he began the reave under his father. Those were dark days for the Ironborn though as there was little shipping near the Iron Islands not under the protection of the Targaryans and fewer lands still. Their targets were generally Dornish, smugglers, and for those who dared it ships of the Summer Islands if caught becalmed.
As he grew older Meredydd saw the growing weakness of the Iron Islands and the Ironborn as a whole and new that if things did not change they would be forced to lose the Old Ways or be subjugated even further by another house. On some of his first independent reavings he launched bold attacks on Dornish villages and struck out at trading ships of the Summer Islands vigorously. Listening to advice from older sailors and more experienced warriors he began to devise plans to attack where they could not before. He went on much longer reaves as well striking areas that had never seen his kind before. Whereas before places like Ashai could consider themselves free from Ironborn Meredydd forever changed that reaving far and wide.
He set an example many began to follow in their reaves and brought new wealth to the Iron Islands and reinvigorated the Ironborn. Having wed Anwen Harlow at 19 they had their first child 2 years later securing his line's continuation as his father grew older. It was clear none would question his ascendancy to his father's position upon his death as he continued to make the Ironborn more than the shadow they once were. The idea of returning the Ironborn to the height of their glory at his hand and the naturally disinclination towards politicking allowed for him to keep an easy hold of his power when his father finally died almost 20 years ago.
His father died of the result of a sickness of the lungs and did not pass easily fighting it the entire time. There was no moot called upon his death and Meredydd came easily into power and has taken new steps to strengthen the Ironborn, almost as though preparing for something int he future. No lands outside the Seven Kingdoms was safe or new nothing of the Ironborn. From the lands north of The Wall all the way to Ashai the sails of his longboats could be seen. Despite this the Iron Islands are still but a small fraction of what they once were and Meredydd has continued to keep the Ironborn out of the politics of the green lands for now.
Name: Hywel GreyJoy
Age: 28
Appearance:
Personality: A giant of a man with a fierce temper that is slow to come to the rise. He is not as smart as his father or brothers and knows this well though is no fool. He commonly is regarded with a statement that while brains beat brawn in the end, that brain is irrelevant if separated from the body. He is very direct in all things he does perhaps as a result of being considered so direct when compared to his fathers and brothers who attempt to break away from some general stereotypes of Ironborn.
Biography: First son of Meredydd he was originally to be groomed to be his successor and in many traditional areas excelled as he was expected to. Even as a child he was large for his size and over time only got bigger by his mid teens when he was preparing to start reaving he was larger than most he sailed with and was well over his father in height. His size and strength served him well on his reavings earning him respect from the older Ironborn warriors who fought with him.
Unfortunately he never showed as inclination towards real leadership and was married young to Caragwyn of House Blacktyde. He took command of his own longship on his wedding day and has since reaved successfully though does not range far that often. His father feared that he was a follower by heart even if he was a strong warrior and thus Hywel as known for sometime that he has unlikely to inherit the throne though this has yet to be formalized.
Name: Aneuron GreyJoy
Age: 24
Appearance:
Personality: A quiet man he often thinks first before acting or speaking. He is considered a very dangerous man and is rather hidden from most of Westeros to continue the idea of the Ironborn being mindless ravagers as Aneuron seems incapable of hiding his nature. Despite being a less direct man than most Ironborn he is know less a warrior and is just as methodical and calculating in battle as he is outside of it.
Biography: The second son of Meredydd Greyjoy and appears to follow in his footsteps more than his elder brother. Smaller than him but still a fierce warrior he has grown up the Ironborn way and fiercely holds onto the Old Way and the way of the Drowned God. He quickly showed capability as a good thinker when he began to reave striking out intelligently rather than blanketly. He makes periodic voyages out to the edges of the known world to strike at unique riches.
He is the son his father always wanted and knows it, he is prideful but s careful to temper it making sure not to overreach himself and strike carefully. His father enjoys his son's dangerous streak and lets it run wild making no secret of the likelihood that he will inherit the Iron Islands and most major houses have already unofficially accepted him. He is yet unwed and various rumors exist of planned political weddings but as such thing is abnormal in the Ironborn and most outside the iron Islands know little of what happens on them there is little clue as to who may be considered for this.
Name: Siwan GreyJoy
Age: 22
Appearance:
Personality: The youngest and most unique of Meredydd's three sons while his older brother Aneuron breaks some ways from the Ironborn ways Siwan shatters them. He has a very care free attitude, perhaps because he was never as watched as his older brothers he grew up without the scrutiny of his father unlike them. He is a known joker and considers himself a bit of a comedian and explorer. Often he travels the longest away from the Iron Islands to the foreign and mysterious lands of the Eastern continent.
Biography: A true oddity among the Ironborn, as a child he was known for exploring and being a minor nuisance all around generally very carefree. The dour attitude that most Ironborn have never seemed to take hold and while would reave once he came of age as all did never showed the ferocity most others did. He seemed to always view it more as a game and never held the piety of others. It was not uncommon for him to toy with foes before defeating them. While his father does not consider him a disappointment he is far from what was expected though does do what he is called to do.
He is yet unwed though is known for taking on many salt waves from across the world. He is said to have plans to take one from each land the world over before he is done. His ship is smaller and faster than that of his brothers with a crew of ironborn similar in temperament to himself with rumors that this is due to few being willing to sail under such a man.
House Name: House Greyjoy
House Words: We Do Not Sow
House Decription/General Information:
Name: Meredydd Greyjoy
Age: 49
Appearance:
Personality: A man with an intense state of mind at almost all times the Lord of the Ironborn would not be described as soft by anyone. He has taken wholeheartedly to the Old Ways and intends to keep the Ironborn on such as path for as long as possible. He does everything he can to keep up a facade of the brutish raider but is quite clever though not as well learned as other lords. He knew the Ironborn had to change when he was younger and knows now they must change still further still. He is loyal to his god and his people but has never shown any fealty to the iron throne and does not intend to do so if he can help it. he is learning to play the long game and the political game like the green landers and knows he is playing catch up in that field and is doing so thus far and is grooming his middle child to do so as well.
Biography: Lord Meredydd Greyjoy was the only son and in fact only child of his father Yorwith Greyjoy. He grew up as a traditional Ironborn boy learning the ways of sails and steel and was drowned at a young age. As soon as he was old enough he began the reave under his father. Those were dark days for the Ironborn though as there was little shipping near the Iron Islands not under the protection of the Targaryans and fewer lands still. Their targets were generally Dornish, smugglers, and for those who dared it ships of the Summer Islands if caught becalmed.
As he grew older Meredydd saw the growing weakness of the Iron Islands and the Ironborn as a whole and new that if things did not change they would be forced to lose the Old Ways or be subjugated even further by another house. On some of his first independent reavings he launched bold attacks on Dornish villages and struck out at trading ships of the Summer Islands vigorously. Listening to advice from older sailors and more experienced warriors he began to devise plans to attack where they could not before. He went on much longer reaves as well striking areas that had never seen his kind before. Whereas before places like Ashai could consider themselves free from Ironborn Meredydd forever changed that reaving far and wide.
He set an example many began to follow in their reaves and brought new wealth to the Iron Islands and reinvigorated the Ironborn. Having wed Anwen Harlow at 19 they had their first child 2 years later securing his line's continuation as his father grew older. It was clear none would question his ascendancy to his father's position upon his death as he continued to make the Ironborn more than the shadow they once were. The idea of returning the Ironborn to the height of their glory at his hand and the naturally disinclination towards politicking allowed for him to keep an easy hold of his power when his father finally died almost 20 years ago.
His father died of the result of a sickness of the lungs and did not pass easily fighting it the entire time. There was no moot called upon his death and Meredydd came easily into power and has taken new steps to strengthen the Ironborn, almost as though preparing for something int he future. No lands outside the Seven Kingdoms was safe or new nothing of the Ironborn. From the lands north of The Wall all the way to Ashai the sails of his longboats could be seen. Despite this the Iron Islands are still but a small fraction of what they once were and Meredydd has continued to keep the Ironborn out of the politics of the green lands for now.
Name: Hywel GreyJoy
Age: 28
Appearance:
Personality: A giant of a man with a fierce temper that is slow to come to the rise. He is not as smart as his father or brothers and knows this well though is no fool. He commonly is regarded with a statement that while brains beat brawn in the end, that brain is irrelevant if separated from the body. He is very direct in all things he does perhaps as a result of being considered so direct when compared to his fathers and brothers who attempt to break away from some general stereotypes of Ironborn.
Biography: First son of Meredydd he was originally to be groomed to be his successor and in many traditional areas excelled as he was expected to. Even as a child he was large for his size and over time only got bigger by his mid teens when he was preparing to start reaving he was larger than most he sailed with and was well over his father in height. His size and strength served him well on his reavings earning him respect from the older Ironborn warriors who fought with him.
Unfortunately he never showed as inclination towards real leadership and was married young to Caragwyn of House Blacktyde. He took command of his own longship on his wedding day and has since reaved successfully though does not range far that often. His father feared that he was a follower by heart even if he was a strong warrior and thus Hywel as known for sometime that he has unlikely to inherit the throne though this has yet to be formalized.
Name: Aneuron GreyJoy
Age: 24
Appearance:
Personality: A quiet man he often thinks first before acting or speaking. He is considered a very dangerous man and is rather hidden from most of Westeros to continue the idea of the Ironborn being mindless ravagers as Aneuron seems incapable of hiding his nature. Despite being a less direct man than most Ironborn he is know less a warrior and is just as methodical and calculating in battle as he is outside of it.
Biography: The second son of Meredydd Greyjoy and appears to follow in his footsteps more than his elder brother. Smaller than him but still a fierce warrior he has grown up the Ironborn way and fiercely holds onto the Old Way and the way of the Drowned God. He quickly showed capability as a good thinker when he began to reave striking out intelligently rather than blanketly. He makes periodic voyages out to the edges of the known world to strike at unique riches.
He is the son his father always wanted and knows it, he is prideful but s careful to temper it making sure not to overreach himself and strike carefully. His father enjoys his son's dangerous streak and lets it run wild making no secret of the likelihood that he will inherit the Iron Islands and most major houses have already unofficially accepted him. He is yet unwed and various rumors exist of planned political weddings but as such thing is abnormal in the Ironborn and most outside the iron Islands know little of what happens on them there is little clue as to who may be considered for this.
Name: Siwan GreyJoy
Age: 22
Appearance:
Personality: The youngest and most unique of Meredydd's three sons while his older brother Aneuron breaks some ways from the Ironborn ways Siwan shatters them. He has a very care free attitude, perhaps because he was never as watched as his older brothers he grew up without the scrutiny of his father unlike them. He is a known joker and considers himself a bit of a comedian and explorer. Often he travels the longest away from the Iron Islands to the foreign and mysterious lands of the Eastern continent.
Biography: A true oddity among the Ironborn, as a child he was known for exploring and being a minor nuisance all around generally very carefree. The dour attitude that most Ironborn have never seemed to take hold and while would reave once he came of age as all did never showed the ferocity most others did. He seemed to always view it more as a game and never held the piety of others. It was not uncommon for him to toy with foes before defeating them. While his father does not consider him a disappointment he is far from what was expected though does do what he is called to do.
He is yet unwed though is known for taking on many salt waves from across the world. He is said to have plans to take one from each land the world over before he is done. His ship is smaller and faster than that of his brothers with a crew of ironborn similar in temperament to himself with rumors that this is due to few being willing to sail under such a man.
House Name: Velaryon
House Words: The Old, the True, the Brave
House Velaryon is an ancient and proud house, with the blood of old Valyria in its veins. They have been closely allied with House Targaryen since before the Doom and moved with them to Westeros, settling on the island of Driftmark, just west of Dragonstone. The house retained its strong allegiance to the Targaryens, many marrying into the royal family, such as the current king's mother.
The Dance of the Dragons was both glorious and calamitous for the house. The Queen's Hand Lord Corlys Velaryon and the three dragonrider heirs Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey all died as a consequence of the civil war, the heirs in battle and Corlys in imprisonment under the Red Keep, and thus the house lost its pure-blooded lineage.
Driftmark suffered heavily in the Battle in the Gullet, one of the bloodiest sea battles in history. The settlement of Spicetown was brutally sacked, the bodies of men, women and children butchered in the streets and left as carrion. It was put to the torch as was High Tide, the seat of the Velaryons, the treasures Lord Corlys had brought back from the east consumed by fire. Thousands died, Spicetown was obliterated, High Tide ravaged and almost a third of the Velaryon fleet lost. And the lives of two Targaryen princes, sent out for sanctuary in Pentos, were on the hands of the Velaryons, their escort intercepted by the Three Daughters fleet and never heard of again.
The fate of House Velaryon lay in the eight year old daughter of Lord Corlys, Merlya, and two bastards whom had been legitimised in the war, Ser Addam and Alyn formerly of Hull. Addam had even tamed his own dragon Seasmoke, which he rode into battle over Tumbleton to battle two other dragons to the death. There were no survivors, but in turn Addam protected King's Landing from the queen's foes, regaining the decimated reputation of House Velaryon.
The house was left with two members, Alyn and Merlya. After the war when Aegon III ascended to the throne, Merlya was taken for his wife and queen, leaving Alyn to the lordship of the house which he retains to this day. He was burdened with the enormous task of reconstructing Driftmark and the Velaryon fleet, earning him great and lasting respect and loyalty from his subjects. Seven years later, Alyn had a son, named for his uncle Jacaerys, and two years later a daughter named Lunaerys, securing the future line of Velaryons.
Sadly, Queen Merlya passed away from a fever six years ago after she gave birth to her fifth child Elaena. Lord Alyn and his children are all that are left of the Velaryon line, save the Targaryen royalty.
The head of House Velaryon uses the titles Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark. Members of the house often have the Valyrian features of silver hair and purple eyes. The house rules over the island of Driftmark and its two main settlements, Hull and High Tide. The Velaryons boast the largest fleet Westeros has to offer, bar the Iron Islands, with a total of 61 warships, the flagship being the Sea Dragon, a menacing triple-decked war galley with the prow of a great draconic seahorse, a broad mainsail depicting the house’s sigil and two onboard catapults at opposite ends.
Titles: Lord of the Tides; Master of Driftmark; Admiral
Aliases: The Oakenfist; Lord Oakenfist; Alyn of Hull [obsolete]
Age: 42
Appearance:
Alyn stands at 6ft 1in and has piercing light lilac eyes. Another notable physical feature of his are severe burns around his legs and all down his back.
Personality: Alyn is a strong proud individual. Courageous and charismatic, Alyn is a natural leader, respected by his subjects. Possessed of a natural martial ability and strategic mind, Alyn is perfectly suited for a role in the navy. In spite of these favourable traits, Alyn lacks social tact and tends to speak his mind, especially to those who displease him. He is quick to anger and slow to calm. Alyn has a strong sense of duty and cares deeply for the state and future of the realm, his land and his house.
Biography: Alyn was born Alyn Waters to a hedge knight's wife in the town of Hull, Driftmark. His mother was bedded on her wedding night by the promiscuous Ser Laenor Velaryon, despite his marriage to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, in a tradition known as the 'first night'. Alyn was never accepted by his hedge knight father whom resented his existence, pained by the adultery done against him.
Alyn grew up more on the streets, getting up to mischief with the local children, among which was Addam Waters, his half-brother also born of the 'first night' tradition. The two grew extremely close and became almost co-dependent growing up, sparring with each other and stealing food from the markets.
At the age of 14, there was a call to the citizens of Driftmark by Prince Jacaerys Velaryon--also Alyn's half-brother--for more dragonriders for the blacks. Alyn and Addam were instantly enamoured with this quest and devoted all their energy to finding and taming the two dragons Seasmoke and Sheepstealer that had been ravaging the island in recent months.
The first they found was Seasmoke, sleeping on the peak of Driftmark's highest point. Addam approached the dragon with an iron will, ignoring its warnings, and instantly bonded with it. Thereafter, it was easy to find Sheepstealer devouring sheep in a field. To Alyn's chagrin, Sheepstealer proved a far more stubborn beast than Seasmoke, issuing a stream of fire to seriously and permanently burn Alyn's back and legs. If it weren't for Addam and Seasmokes' intervention, Alyn would have been burned alive, something for which he was eternally grateful, knowing that many other seekers who aspired to ride that dragon ended being eaten by him instead.
Giving up on finding his own dragon, Alyn and Addam went to Lord Corlys and told them what they had done. He rewarded them richly, going as far as to petition Queen Rhaenyra to remove the taint of their bastardy, which was accepted.
Now true Velaryons, the brothers left their home of Hull for good and stepped forth onto the battlefield, the Dance of the Dragons raging in the Crownlands. The call for arms was immediate, as the Battle in the Gullet erupted just days after the brothers' legitimisation.
Whilst Addam and four other dragonriders including Jacaerys Velaryon took to the skies, Aryn was given charge of a section of the Velaryon fleet. Knowing nothing of naval warfare, Aryn was literally given a trial of fire, dragons igniting enemy ships all around him. The Lyseni fleet destroyed much of his small fleet and some managed to squeeze through his defences to sack Driftmark. Aryn saw firsthand the death of Prince Jacaerys and his dragon Vermax as they plummeted into the sea and Jacaerys overcome by Myrish arrows. It was hell and the images of burning ships and corpses still haunts Alyn's dreams to this day.
Miraculously, Alyn survived the battle, though the fleet and Driftmark were in tatters. With no time for recovery, the fleet was sent off to capture the lightly-guarded King's Landing and Addam sent off to the mainland. As the gates were opened, Alyn led a large army of Velaryon soldiers to assault the River Gate. Hightower knights held the gate for eight gruelling hours, arrows falling like rain upon their heads. Eventually, they broke the gate and the city, earning Alyn a great boost in reputation from the Velaryon men.
In coming weeks it seemed his efforts for the queen were in vain. The two mysterious traitor dragonriders from the Battle of Tumbleton raised suspicions amongst the dragonseed men. Alyn and Addam were accused by the black council. Lord Corlys, who had grown to become like a father to Alyn and Addam through the trials of war, stood vehemently against these claims as the two were brought before the queen, even saying they were the "true heirs" to House Velaryon and worthy of Driftmark, despite the last Velaryon prince Joffrey still being alive. However, his protests were ignored, and the queen commanded the arrest of Addam. Corlys, hearing of this, warned Addam, allowing him to escape. This was the last time Aryn was to see his beloved brother as he flew on Seasmoke towards the horizon. For this, Corlys was punished and sent for the rest of his days to the dungeons beneath the Red Keep, but not before telling Aryn he loved him like a son. Aryn never forgot that day and it still fills him with great sadness to think of Corlys' indecent demise.
With both Corlys and Addam gone, Alyn was left with the command of the entire Velaryon force. In a fit of rage, he told his commanders what had happened to their lord and Addam, and the Velaryons swiftly decided to withdraw their support of the blacks and back out of the civil war altogether. Alyn never lived to regret the decision, there would be no more bloodshed of his brethren for a wicked queen. His honour had been wounded but it was selfish to sacrifice lives to defend it.
Addam, it seemed, thought otherwise, and gathered an army from the Riverlands to reclaim Tumbleton. He was successful, but paid the ultimate price with his life, yet, like the true warrior he was, took two dragons with him. Alyn does not begrudge his brother's resolve, and respects him as a greater man than anyone else could ever be. He is proud his brother died with honour and his words that not all bastards need be turncloaks has been engraved in Alyn's heart.
The death of the last Velaryon prince Joffery towards the end of the war left Alyn in control of the Velaryon House and sole custody of Merlya Velaryon, the true heir. Her leadership of the house was surrendered shortly by the proposal of marriage to the new king Aegon III, building crucial bridges between the divided Targaryen and Velaryon houses. Her support over the years until her passing six years past was pivotal in the reconstruction of Driftmark and the Velaryon fleet, appealing to her husband the king to send funds and resources.
Seven years after the war, Lord Alyn was wed and had a son Jace, named for the boy’s uncle Prince Jacaerys, and two years later a daughter named Lunaerys. Alyn continues to rule over Drifmark and the Velaryon fleet, teaching his son as best he can the ways of warfare and lordship and his daughter how to be a lady and suitor. He hopes to wed his children into the Targaryen family, seeing the Conquest of Dorne as a way to prove himself, his son and his house to the crown.
Alyn captains the Sea Dragon, the greatest ship in the Velaryon fleet. He has recently been appointed an admiral by the king in preparation for the Conquest.
Alias: The Seahorse
Age: 19
Appearance:
Jace stands at 5ft 11in and has piercing light lilac eyes.
Personality: Jace is a driven and strong young man, much like his father in his talents and charismatic presence. He idolises the image of the chivalric knight and has grown in its light, developing into a brave and dependable individual. He hates to let people down, especially his father who he too idolises for his past adventures and strong leadership. Jace is proud of his heritage and wants nothing more than to impress upon the Targaryens his true Valyrian spirit.
Biography: Jace was born the firstborn son of Lord Alyn Velaryon and heir to the house and Driftmark. He was raised with the indoctrination of his father to be the best warrior and suitor he could be to win the approval and support of the Targaryens. He received the best education the maesters and septons of Driftmark had to offer and intense martial training.
By his mid-teens, Jace had already made a name for himself in the tourneys of the realm, quickly becoming a favourite for his skill with the lance and sword and his attractiveness and chivalric charm. He idolised the image of the knight since a young age and grew up obsessively trying to become the best one he could. For his prowess in the tourneys, he was knighted by the late king Aegon.
Jace’s main duty however is to the Velaryon navy. Placed by his father as the commander of the second-largest fleet, Jace commands 27 ships from his giant war galley the Drowned Horse, second only in size to Sea Dragon with a great seahorse prow and onboard ballista. Jace is yet to fight in a true battle but has gained valuable experience hunting down pirates and smugglers off Crackclaw Point and the Blackwater Bay, boosting his credibility amongst his underlings.
With his busy life, Jace has little time for women. Visits to brothels in the past have only brought him great shame and damages the image he has of himself as a true knight. Despite his feelings of self-loathing and disgust on the matter, Jace has experienced carnal feelings for his sister Lunaerys. He wishes to find a wife in one of the Targaryen princesses to escape from this lust and to do his father and house proud.
Alias: Luna
Age: 17
Appearance:
Lunaerys stands at 5ft 4in and has piercing violet eyes. She is the model of pure Valyria.
Personality: Lunaerys knows what she wants and gets it. Nothing gets in the way of what she sets her mind to. She has always dreamt of being royalty and living in King’s Landing and has modeled herself on being the perfect young lady and suitor. Lunaerys has a dangerous streak and is capable of striking like a viper from the shadows if anything gets in the way of her dreams.
Biography: Lunaerys was born the second child of Lord Alyn Velaryon. Her childhood was spent being educated alongside her elder brother by the best maesters and septons Driftmark had to offer. She focused her energies on learning and adopting the skills and sensibilities of a high-born lady in the scope for becoming a princess in adulthood.
Lunaerys has come to Summerhall with her father and brother to be displayed before possible suitors and spread word of her suitability. She is determined to flaunt all her feminine charms in this endeavour, especially towards the King.
Thomas of Spicetown – A gruff commander who proved himself alongside Alyn in the Dance of the Dragons. He grew embittered and withdrawn after the burning of his home, but it also strengthened his resolve as a warrior to protect Driftmark from further harm. He commands a squadron of 18 galleys from his double-decked war galley the Ghost of Spicetown.
Jabari Teek – A flamboyant, middle-aged Summer Islander who wound up shipwrecked out in the Blackwater Bay and was rescued by a Velaryon cog. He was offered a new life in service to the house and its navy and has grown to be a dear friend of Lord Alyn and respected commander in the fleet. His ship Green Parrot, a swanship with a parrot's figurehead, leads a small squadron of faster warships in the fleet. Jabari is always seen wearing a grand bright yellow coat of tropical bird feathers.
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