[COLOR="#FF8C00"][SIZE=3]The Prince of Dorne[/SIZE][/COLOR]
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Name:[/COLOR] Prince Richard

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Age:[/COLOR] 26

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Appearance:[/COLOR]
Richard has his mother's distinct Stony Dornishmen appearance, manifesting in the colour of his hair and eyes. His eyes are green and not blue, though. However, his skin is darker than the general Stony Dornishmen, having a more tanned hue to it. The Prince has a tall frame, and though wide of shoulder and chest, he does not look particularly brawny.


[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Personality:[/COLOR]
Richard, in spite of his controversial past, is a beloved Prince, for his reign has been one of security and prosperity, in dramatic contrast to the final troubled years of when his father had ruled. Richard, schooled by Westerosi and Essosi tutors, the latter at his mother’s wish, regards himself a learned man, lover of culture and literature, often toiling away over large volumes of ancient wisdoms and history. Richard has a strong sense of what he considers to be just, and to that end aspires to control his temper and more frolicsome tendencies, for the time of responsibility is now.

However, his worldliness has given him a frivolous reputation, which was true in his youth but no more since he ascended the Dornish throne. In spite, perhaps, of his father’s expectations, the teachings of devotion to the dynasty and country have not been in vain. Like most Dornishmen, Richard is a tolerant person, who mostly respects every person’s individuality and character, taking into account their background and gender. ‘t Is only once his anger is roused that one might expect punishment.

The Prince is a prove battle-commander and leader of men, able to inspire them to acts of greatness due to his fair appearance and reputation. Militarily, Richard has a well-equipped skill set. He is a skilful organizer in matters of logistics and in overcoming the challenges of moving a large body of men from one point to another. Paramount, both are in the inhospitable regions of Dorne. Furthermore, the Dornish Prince has a way of reaching directly into the hearts and minds of the soldiers on the battlefield, and not just with a sword. As an inspiring leader, Richard is practiced at enhancing his army’s morale and resolve. A favoured element of the Dornish and thus Richard, is misdirection, and so he will often feint an attack from one direction only to suddenly charge from another. This has earned him the reputation of being a trickster. The proud mounted tradition of the Dornish cavalry have not gone to waste for Dorne, as its monarch is a notable cavalry leader, excelling at leading men to war on horse-back.

Richard can be passionate about a great many things, though lethargic about others. The death of his elder brother, for which he feels responsible, and the wrongs that his mother, whom he loves dearly, has had to endure at the hands of his father, haunt him still. As such, he is prone to cynicism and bouts of melancholy. His actions during the rebellion weigh heavily on his conscience, and the troubled nature of his family plagues him greatly.

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Biography:[/COLOR]
Prince Richard grew up mainly at two locations, Sunspear and Yronwood, under the watchful eye of his mother, Nymeria who also organised his tutelage. Richard enjoyed his time at the Water Gardens particularly and made many friends among its resident children. A well-cultured woman, she assured her son would come into himself under the guidance of not one source of knowledge, but many. To that end she hired tutors from the Free Cities, as well as entrusted the Maesters with imparting him with wisdom.

From early on his life, he realised he was far brighter than most of his peers and took pride in his intellectual abilities, burning to prove himself in witty discussion and theories. He spent many an hour with his tutors, discussing the importance of this historical figure’s act and that, trying to ascertain the logic and process behind it.

While most of his father’s attention laid by Hugh, who was distinguishing himself one way or another, he was blind to the accomplishments of the second son, though no less admirable. During his teenage years, Richard displayed skill of arms worthy of ballads and practiced with spear, bow and sword alike. He was, however, not one to pursue martial fame through tourneys, unlike Hugh who started to make a name of himself.

Left in the shadow, Richard started keeping company with members of the more illicit parts of society, adopting scoundrels and swindlers in his retinue. This brought him in conflict with his father’s justiciars, and thus, in turn with his father himself. More than once they had a fall out, or row, much to the pleasure of his mother, Nymeria Yronwood. For she was plotting against her lord husband by now, due to the sickened ambience in the Martell household.

It came as a great surprise to both parents, when Richard sided with his father in defence of his principality. During the swift war that followed, he displayed himself as an able battle commander, capable of employing the Dornish hit-and-run tactics, as well as winning a fully pitched battle.

After capturing his rebellious family members, Richard brought them back home to Sunspear for judgement. However, said judgement appeared to be harsher than any of them had considered. With Hugh executed and his mother goaled, Richard made for the Free Cities, wanting nothing to do with his father’s choler and rancune. He had won the war, but lost a part of himself. In Essos he stayed until the passing of his sick father, upon which he ascended the Dornish throne with support of his uncle Bolivar and aunt Obera.

Once in place as ruler, Richard set about to appease the wronged lords and make right his father’s slights. He did so with good equity, for none of those punished were innocent themselves, having risen up against their rightful liege. The message he gave Dorne was that of wanting to make tabula rasa.

In the years since, Richard has rekindled the flames of friendship and unity across Dorne, for while he is his father’s son, he is not his father.

OOC notes: TBD

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Name:[/COLOR] Nymeria Yronwood, mother
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Age:[/COLOR] 50
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Appearance:[/COLOR]
[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Personality:[/COLOR]
Lady Nymeria Yronwood is a wise, older woman with a good mind for politics but possessing of a rather sharp tongue. A lover of poetry, during her youth she made sure to become cultured and knowledgeable about the world, traits she passed on. Nymeria isn’t the most patient of people, and easily annoyed. She loves her children dearly, especially her youngest, Myriah Martell. While some might call her vain, it is mostly based on the fact that she takes good care of herself.

[COLOR="#FF8C00"]Biography:[/COLOR]
Nymeria was groomed from an early age to become a great heiress, even though she was not the direct heir to Yronwood. The prestige of her name was enough to attract Prince Trystan’s attention when he started looking about for a spouse. She had difficulties adapting to marital life, especially since it meant she largely stayed in the same spot for prolonged periods of time, whereas before she had been free to roam the cities of Westeros and Essos.

Nonetheless, Nymeria found great joy in mothering her six children. Husband and wife did not get along well, and as the years progressed aversion grew into animosity. Eventually that meant a struggle for their offspring occurred.

When Trystan slighted his wife in 150 by barring her from seeing her youngest and favourite, Myriah, and insulted her in front of the entire court, Nymeria had had enough. She stole away in the night with her supporters and made for her eldest who was residing at his wife’s family seat, Sandstone in west Dorne. From there she instigated a rebellion against her lord husband, currying favour among the western houses where Yronwood held larger influence. She was perplexed Richard, her Richard, had decided to side with his father instead of her. Had she not nurtured him from birth while Trystan fawned over Hugh? Hugh who now was her most adamant supporter.

After the battle at the Vaith, just north of Red Dunes, Nymeria was faced with an ignominious defeat. Richard had defeated his elder brother in personal combat and captured him and William, her third son. Additionally, her daughter-in-law was apprehended whilst attempting to flee back to Sandstone. Nymeria herself did what she believed was the only thing she could do: hand herself over.

Trystan’s wrath was incomprehensible, and led to Hugh’s execution and her own imprisonment in the Spear Tower, where he could keep a close eye on her. Though Richard was the one who had turned the tide in the civil war, grasping victory for Trystan Martell from the jaws of defeat, she could not bring herself to blame him.

After Trystan’s death, and Richard’s return from the Free Cities, Nymeria was released from her quarters in the Spear Tower and reinstated in her dignities. With her lord husband gone, so were her conflicting feelings towards the Martell line. Though she is an Yronwood by birth, her children are Martells and she holds their interests close at heart. The princely mother is also content with her second son, for he appreciates her advice in matters secular and personal. She now mostly resides at the court in Sunspear, or in its immediate environs in one of the quieter palaces.
OOC notes:

Name (and if needed, function/title): William Martell
Age: 23
Appearance:
Personality (skills, traits):
William is a great mind, a thinker through and through. As such, he studied at the Maester’s Citadel in Oldtown, exploring history and medicine. In spite of being calculated, he is passionate in his friendships, but inveterate in his hatreds, as his sentiments seem to bubble and ripple just under his skin. Yet, he is confident, not given to self-doubts. Though still young, he displays far more maturity than his other brothers did at that age, and certainly his uncle and his sons.

William Martell inherited his mother strong will and obstinacy, but seems able to keep himself in check when dealing with his older brother. As a third son, he has found some difficulty in ascertaining what his inheritance will be in this world, which left him with a cynical sense of ambition. It is difficult to guess what William’s ambitions are, though, as he is an excellent trickster with a talent for figuring people out. Where Richard trusts men and women, William, clever as he is, does not, questioning their motives and background.

Biography:
Born fifteen years before the Dornish Civil War between Nymeria and her husband Trystan, William grew up at Sunspear, enjoying a similar tutelage as his elder brothers did. He was the fourth child and by now educating their children had a certain routine to it.

Nonetheless, the Martell Household was growing more vicious with every year passing and sickened William’s humour more than once, for his parents incessant squabbling made him choose between the two of them. So it was that he often left the castle in search of peace and quiet, finding refuge in the gardens or in the Shadow City.

Then, when conflict turned to war, William joined his eldest brother Hugh’s side for he had chosen to defend their mother’s right to see her youngest. Too young to do any actual fighting in the first year, William acted as squire to Hugh and earned a reputation of offering acute advice in war councils, despite his age. When he turned sixteen, he earned his spurs in battle, managing to subdue one of the Santagar knights and his squire.

When Richard crushed their army at the Vaith, William felt his honour tarnished, for his horse was struck with a javelin, which caused him to topple and fall. He still holds a minor grudge against his brother, for he believes he could have taken Hugh’s place at the helm of Nymeria’s cause and continue the war effort. Yet, that is not the only reason why William is envious of Richard.

Richard Martell, with his gilded locks of hair and green eyes, is sometimes referred to as the Golden or the Sun of Dorne, whereas William has little of that external splendour. He is pale for a Dornishman, and has the raven hair of the Salty Dornish. Additionally Richard has made a splendid name for himself during the war and his rule is a popular one among the smallfolk and lords alike, for the Prince has a likeable, charitable personality. He had been too young to compete with Richard’s battlefield heroics, though defeating a knight at sixteen is quite a feat, it hardly measures up to winning a war. It feels, to William, as if he was being eclipsed by his elder brother and every turn, pushed into being the moon to Richard’s sun.

Therefore, when Richard returned from Essos to take up their father’s seat in Sunspear, William begged leave of him to travel. Though he loves his brother, Richard was glad to accommodate Will’s wish, for it would remove him from court long enough so that he might consolidate his reign. As such, William followed in his family’s apparent tradition to visit the Free Cities, from Braavos to Volantis, until touching down in Oldtown where he studied for two years at the Citadel. Afterwards, he returned, reconciled with his elder brother and served as a justiciar and later Lord Treasurer to Richard.

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.

Dorrhen Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, called the Grey Wolf.
Age:
Bio:

Lord Dorrhen Stark was born the third son to his grandsire's second son. Often overlooked in his youth, at the age of eight Dorrhen was sent to the Dreadfort by his grandsire's Arryn mother for 'fostering'--a Southron practice that had then long fallen out of favor by the Lords of the North. After less than a year young Dorrhen decided he liked the Boltons and their Dreadfort not at all, and simply rode out one day on his own without a word to his hosts or back to his family in Winterfell. For this reason Dorrhen Stark was called the Lone Wolf in his youth.

He would not be heard from again until his grandsire's first son, then Lord of Winterfell, called on the Northern Clans to assist in battling Ironborn. Dorrhen rode to battle with the Clansmen, a shock to his family that he was even still alive...let alone having spent near a decade with the mountain clans of the North. After the repelling the Ironborn the Lone Wolf would again leave the crowded Winterfell, this time on his own volition. Where he went and what he did, few seem to know. And those that seem to know never speak of it.

Dorrhen's path to Lord of Winterfell is paved in the blood of his grandsire, the blood of his grandsire's first son, the blood of the first son and his son, and the blood of his own father and Dorrhen's own two elder brothers; blood all spent defending the North from over a decade of Ironborn and Wildling attacks. Dorrhen's ascension to the throne of the Kings of the North ended the pattern of Stark Lords dying in battle.

Beron Stark, Heir to Lord Dorrhen Stark, called the Night's Wolf.
Age:
Bio:

Lord Beron Stark was born to Lord Dorrhen and Lady Elsa Cerwyn immediately after their marriage. Beron is made of the rougher parts of Lord Dorrhen, so much so that Dorrhen called on old Mountain Clan allies to help oversee Beron's education as a warrior. Fond of hunting, fighting, and drinking. Beron finds his brother Edderion and sister Vittoria to be bookish and too fond of Southron pleasures for his liking. As such Beron was always much closer to his father, and found it difficult to understand when Lord Dorrhen ordered him to leave Winterfell in order to "discover himself." Unlike Lord Dorrhen's quest of self discovery that took him far from Winterfell and the North, Beron 'discovered' himself with the men of the Night's Watch; where Beron would spend many years with the rangers of the Watch. Due to his fondness of the Black Brothers and time with them, Lord Brodrik has been called Night's Wolf by the brothers of the Watch and men of the North.

Though he still finds his brother Edderion and sister Vittoria odd for Starks, their roles in saving the life of Beron's clanswoman wife Elsa, with Edderion's lightning fast horsemanship delivering her to Vittoria's near magical healing, has forever endeared both to the Heir of Winterfell. Beron is best known for carrying a war axe into battle much like his father, and the warriors of the Mountain Clans.

Brodrik Stark, Lord Dorrhen's second son, called Giantsbane by men and Rikki by his younger siblings.
Age:
Bio:

Lord Brokdrik was born to Lord Dorrhen and Lady Elsa shortly after his elder brother Beron. But while Beron is made of the rougher bits of Lord Dorrhen, Lord Brodrik is made entirely of the independent streak that marked Lord Dorrhen's unique path to overlordship of the North. Given Brodrik's penchant for the quiet, dramatic, statement it can be easy for those with intimate knowledge of the Stark clan to see why Lord Dorrhen would feel that Brodrik is most like himself. Especially given Brodrik's fondness for mummers, though he never joined a mummer's troupe as Lord Dorrhen so secretly did during his quest for self discovery.

Instead Brodrik grew up with a Lord's education, preferring the teachings of Ser Rory Cassel's elegant swordsmanship to the savage brutality that marked the Clan style combat of his elder brother Beron. It was due to this, and his second son's natural skill with a blade, that Lord Dorrhen gave stewardship of the House Stark ancestral blade Ice to Brodrik. Unlike his siblings, Brodrik was robbed of the chance for a quest of self discovery when a Wildling horde led by the giant Bur Bon Mor Tok Tal forced Lord Dorrhen to keep Brodrik in the North and at his side for battle.

When the Night's Watch reported that the Wildling horde had separated into a large vanguard and a small force sent to sneak beyond the Wall, the Lord of Winterfell decided that his large host, with Beron leading the van, would ride north of the Wall and meet with the larger of the Wildling forces. Meanwhile the Night's Watch force of mostly Rangers, with Brodrik, would turn and meet the smaller force of Wildlings that had scaled south of the Wall.

Lord Dorrhen anticipated the Wildling horde's Giant leader would be at the head of the Wildling main force. Lord Dorrhen was wrong; the Giant and a group of elite Thenn fighters instead lay waiting for the smaller force, intending to overwhelm the small Night's Watch force with their superior skill and ferocity before riding for Winterfell before Lord Stark and his host could defeat the larger Wildling host and give chase.

Instead Brodrik Stark would face Bur the Bad in single combat, the Giant with his massive club against the second Stark son with Ice. Some accounts say it was Brodrik's incredible swordsmanship that killed the Giant, others that it was a lucky strike with a blade such as Ice that did the Giant in. Regardless, the Giant was slain and the Night's Watch began to call Brodrik by the name most men in the North would eventually know Brodrik by best: Giantsbane.

Despite his bloody accomplishment, to most Northern Lords Brodrik is best known for his overseeing of growing seasons and his ever even-tempered nature, in contrast to the fiery natures of Lord Dorrhen and his brother Beron.

Edderion Stark, Lord Dorrhen's third son, called Eddi by his younger sibling.
Age:
Bio:

Born long after Beron and Brodrik, and just a few years before Vittoria, Edderion Stark is half wolf, half horse, goes the gossip in Winterfell. A slight, shy lad best known for his quickness in avoiding the rough teasing of his father and elder brothers, and his quickness is stealing sweet treats from the Winterfell kitchens. Rarely, if ever, would Edderion Stark stop and simply stand up for himself. Much more often he would turn the taunting of his brothers and other boys into ongoing japes with himself the butt of each joke. This worked in charming the older boys into picking on him for laughter's sake, instead out of sheer boyhood cruelty. It also provided Edderion with the ability to charm nearly any Lord or Lady, man or woman, small or high born.

Despite these charms, Edderion remained distant and quiet by nature, always preferring his own company to the company of anyone else, with the occassional book of adventures or tales of Creation beyond Northern borders. That is, until the day Edderion nearly died from being tossed by an unruly horse during a hunt. Beron killed the horse, the Stablemaster found a horse with a temperment much closer to Edderion's temperment (solitary and stubborn), and Lord Dorrhen commanded Edderion to spend more time ahorse to become a better rider.

The young black Courser, solitary and stubborn, and Edderion became fast companions. Even now Lord Dorrhen curses the day he forced Edderion to ride more, seeing as no one but Vittoria has had much success getting Edderion off a damned horse since that day. Lord Dorrhen has had to build a second stable on Winterfell grounds to house Edderion's growing collection of various horses, including Edderion's prized red Dornish sand steed; a gift from his sister on his three and ten nameday.

Though too young to participate in the last battle seen by House Stark, Edderion has seen more of the North than every other Stark combined. He is too often seen mingling with the 'wrong sort'; the sort that horseraces and gambles on it. Though he's always won enough races to keep him out of trouble with cutthroats looking to settle racing debts, those close to him have always been afraid one day Edderion Stark's luck will run out.

In a surprise to him, Lord Dorrhen ordered Edderion out of the North: in part to remove him from Northern racing circles, but mostly to resume Lord Dorrhen's determined tradition that his children would, like him, go into Creation on their own to discovery for themselves just what sort of man they are. What Lord Dorrhen never expected was that Edderion Stark would head straight for Dorne to find an unbeatable sand steed...just when King Daeron of House Targaryen would call on an invasion to conquer Dorne.

Few, if any, are aware that Edderion Stark isn't simply still in underground racing circles in the North. Including his own family.

Princess Vittoria, Lord Dorrhen's daughter, wife to Prince Viserys of House Targaryen, called the Healer.
Age:
Bio:

Bookish does not begin to describe Princess Vittoria. With an unquenchable thirst for books and knowledge, and with a talent for healing since her earliest days, Lord Dorrhen's only daughter exhausted every library in the North before she reached her three and ten nameday. To date, she is the last known woman to enter the vaults of the Night's Watch, and one of the last to do so--be they man or woman. Before her tenth nameday she had taught herself to speak High Valyrian, using texts from Winterfell, White Harbor, and the Wall as well what Valyrian the Maester at Casterly Black and the Maester at Winterfell knew. Though she grew up with the education Lord Dorrhen felt a highborn Lady ought to have, Lady Vittoria soon became inseparable from her Lord Father after the death of her mother when she was no more than eight years in age: the very same age Dorrhen was when he left the Dreadfort.

In some ways, no child of Lord Dorrhen's reminds him more of himself than his daughter. Fiercely independent and known for her turns in mood, just like her father. And just like her father, Vittoria seems capable of charming nearly anyone--be they Mountain Clans or Archmaesters of Oldtown. In other ways, such as her obsession with ancient Valyria and dragons, nothing could be further from Dorrhen and his resentment for House Targaryen, and their bloody dragons--of which Dorrhen is convinced Aegon would have buggered himself to death against Moat Cailin without before forcing the Kings of the North to knee and call the Conquerer overlord.

When Prince Viserys visited Winterfell with no announcement, Lord Dorrhen's worst fear seemed to be turning into reality before his very eyes: the dragon Prince and his little Lady of Winterfell, unable to take their eyes off each other, whispering in that 'damnable dragon tongue' to each other every moment he turned his head from their direction. Though Vittoria knew better than to ask her Lord Father to arrange so much as a trip to King's Landing, let alone the marriage she held in her private dreams, Lord Dorrhen was certain the nine years age difference (and the fact they would never see each other again) would ensure that would be the end of his little girl's obsession with the dragon Prince.

When Vittoria, and near every Maester north of the Neck, finally persuaded her Lord father to agree to send Vittoria to Oldtown to learn whatever the Maesters of the Citadel would and could teach her, Lord Dorrhen never thought at Oldtown that scheming little shit of a dragon Prince would find his Vittoria once more. But certain as sunrise, in Oldtown Vittoria Stark and Viserys Targaryen found each other again, with word of a highborn Lady's unrivaled skill at learning and memory having reached even the heights of the Red Keep.

While some Archmaesters called her prodigy and saw past her gender, and others called her a product of the Stranger and a Lady that should accept her role in society, the dragon Prince heard only strange tales of highborn Lady that could only pique his curiosity. When the Prince discovered the rumored highborn Lady to be none other than the Stark girl that had absorbed every Valyrian word and tale of his ancient House he could tell her in Winterfell so many years ago, it seemed almost fated that love would follow.

Until certain Archmaesters reported the time Lady Stark spent with the Prince to the Maester at Winterfell, who in turn reported it to Lord Dorrhen Stark. Enraged, Lord Dorrhen ordered Vittoria back to Winterfell immediately. 'Immediately' turned into a delay of half a year, a fact that boiled Lord Dorrhen's anger to the point where it was Brodrik and Beron who had to stop their Lord father from punishing now a fully grown Lady Vittoria with the back of his hand when Vittoria finally returned to Winterfell. It's rumored the first person Lady Vittoria healed upon her return to Winterfell...was herself.

Shortly thereafter Lord Dorrhen arranged a marriage between Lady Vittoria and the recently widowed Lord Dustin, Lady Vittoria far past the age of marrying at nine and ten. On the morning of the wedding, the banners of House Targaryen appeared at the gates of Winterfell, Prince Viserys Targaryen requesting a private audience with the Lord of Winterfell. Afraid of what might come to House Stark should he deny the Prince, and not because it was what his daughter wanted, Lord Dorrhen Stark painfully broke the marriage pact with Lord Dustin (who was all too happy to ingratiate himself with the Royal House) and gave Lady Vittoria's hand to the Prince. The very same day, under the blood red canopy of the Winterfell Godswood, Lady Vittoria became Princess Vittoria of House Targaryen.

As much as they are alike, the incident has created a rift between father and daughter that persists to this day.

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.

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.

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.

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 Dayne of Starfall is a Dornish noble house sworn to House Martell. The Sword of the Morning is a title given to a Dayne knight who is considered worthy of wielding the greatsword Dawn, a blade said to be created from the heart of falling star. A cadet branch of House Dayne are the Daynes of High Hermitage. In appearance, members of the family are stony Dornishmen whose characteristics mostly resemble the rest of the Seven Kingdoms in look, customs and traditions. Unlike the rest of the more Rhoynish-looking Dornishmen they have pale skin with hair ranging from dark brown to pale blond and that they often have violet eyes.

Their land in the Red Mountains of Dorne is not a wealthy land, but offers the Dornishmen inhabiting it access to the bountiful lands of the Reach, particularly the lands of the Oakhearts. The men of House Dayne have lead many a raiding party into those lands, though the current generation has not raided on the scale of it's predecessors, turning especially more insular in the years leading up to and following the Dornish Civil War.

The late Lord Edric broke tradition with those before him and was rarely found in Starfall once he had come of age and even after inheriting his title and lands from his father. Instead he spent his time in Sunspear, a wild youth that never truly matured into leadership. His younger brother, Gerold, ruled the Red Mountains in his stead, a fact Edric was content with while he fostered a friendship with the Martells and eventually came to serve as an adviser to the Prince. He also found and married his wife in Sunspear, a cousin of the ruling Prince, Sarella. Edric was a handsome enough man, his pale blonde hair and deep indigo eyes a rarity in Dorne. He and Sarella shared a marriage with little strife but somehow less love. Sarella gave him only three children, although Edric fathered several bastards, four of whom he had brought up by his family remaining in Starfall.

Gerris took after his father, in physical appearance and personality, though he was the only one to do so of Sarella's children. Lewyn and Tyene were very much their mother's children. Lewyn was a swarthy fellow, albeit with hair a few shades too light to give him a true Salty look. He also proved to be a hot blooded man, always eager for a fight; it landed him in hot water more than once. Tyene, small and wild, was Sarella's favored child, a fact not well hidden from the other two. Edric had hoped to marry Tyene to the Prince's son Trystan, but his plans were soured by Tyene's impetuous nature. At fifteen, while enjoying a tour of Lys with Sarella, she met and married a pretty-faced Lyseni merchant prince. Sarella returned without their daughter, one of the few times in her long marriage that she and Edric had an explosive argument.

Sarella died just a few years later from a wasting sickness at a still relatively young age of 46. Edric, however little time he spent grieving the loss of the woman, did not marry again. The Lord did take several woman to be his paramours in the later years of his life, with one final child being born before he passed away in 132.

Lord Edric left behind eight children, three trueborn and five bastards. Gerris had been molded into a decent enough man although a bit too soft hearted for rule. Lewyn would eventually come to be the master of arms in Starfall and die during the Dornish Civil war. Tyene rarely crossed the Narrow Sea, her last visit being when she was still a young woman. The various bastards Edric sired fared well. The eldest, Quellon, tutored well by the Maester, lead Starfall when Gerris was in Sunspear. He lives still, though his health is failing. Gavyn would lead the infrequent raids into the Reach's lands although he ultimately found himself taken with a minor knightly house's daughter from the Reach. He did not return to the Red Mountains until his wife had died in childbirth, and he brought with him his three children. He was slain in the Dornish Civil War. Perros, the youngest of the bastard children, now bears the title Sword of the Morning though he has become an anger-filled man and prone to rage. Myranda and Adiana have long since been wed to other houses in Dorne.

Quentyn, age 17: Fostered by House Blackmont
Ellaria, age 15: In Sunspear, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia
Ryon, age 11: Fostered by House Fowler

Mariya Fowler, 36: Lord Gerris' Paramour
Perros Sand, 32: Sword of the Morning, Gerris' half-brother
Quellon Sand, 57: Gerris' half-brother
Allyria Dayne, 15: In Sunspear under her father's hopes and wishes that she be chosen as a wife for the Prince

Name:Knossos Argider
Age: 32
Appearance:

"The world and all its parts are the only gods there are."

Personality: Knossos is a very straightforward and serious man. He hates idle talk, and he hates wasting time that could be spent working. He has little appreciation for material possessions or wealth, and only goes out of his way to care for materials and objects he needs to do his job. He has no sense of humor, is irritable and morose. Combined with how little patience he possesses, he can often snap at people or bluntly tell them to go away. While he can often be rude and act annoyed, he very rarely gets angry. His only apparent passion is chemistry, or 'alchemy.' He has memorized the properties and appearances of dozens of materials, and is constantly tinkering and experimenting with Guild stocks to try and discovery new chemical secrets. His greatest pleasure is discovering a new reaction or developing a new concoction, which is just as well since that happens to be his job. The only thing he values other than work appears to be merit - he greatly admires the Blackwatch for their duty (whether they care or not), respects the Targaryen lineage for their accomplishments, and has expressed awe at the architectural wonders of Westeros from the wall to the Eryie.

Biography: Knossos was born is Lys, one of the free cities of Essos, and by all accounts led a normal life there, working for his family amongst the many docks. Both his parents were killed one day by a Faceless man, who took a small measure of pity on the boy and anonymously made him into an apprentice for one of Lys many alchemists. Having nothing in his life - no parents, no home, and no true friends - Knossos could only have food and shelter to live for as long as he worked. So he worked, as an assistant and an errand boy. When he could not work he would speak with alchemists, begging them to teach him their craft so that he did not have to spend the night out on the streets.

Years went by in this fashion, and Knossos eventually became a proper assistant to his master and began to practice alchemy in earnest. Knossos spent more than a decade living inside the same building, working with noxious fluids and fine powders, applying fire and measurement, and saw few living people other than other Alchemists and their assistants. He surpassed his master in time, and surpassed the skills of many of the other alchemist's in Lys - and when they told him there was no more to discover, that he had mastered every secret of Alchemy, he laughed at them and told them they knew nothing if they thought there was nothing more to learn. Around this time, the Guild of Alchemist's in Westeros had reached the height of its power and had sent an envoy to Lys to recruit new members from the Alchemists there. Having grown disillusioned with the practices in Lys, and after briefly discussing terms with the envoy, he leapt for the opprotunity. Knossos has worked for the Guild of Alchemists ever since, although since his move to Westeros he has taken a scholarly interest in architecture and has left the Guild on many occasions to travel Westeros and observe its wonders.

Name: Micia Verbera
Age: 30
Alias: Old Flame
Appearance:

"The truly honorable serve to upbraid the powerful."

Personality: Micia is akin to fiery embers. Warm and pleasant to look at, but liable to burn those that touch them. She presents a facade of coy and coquettish behavior, armed with a vocabulary of barbs and scathing aphorisms. Underneath, Micia is deeply bitter and resentful, being dissatisfied with the way Noble houses and lords reign over Westeros and its people and suffering from mild depression and a perceived notion of helplessness to change the situation. Micia has bad days when she can barely drag herself from her home, weeping from dawn until dusk, but usually has good control of her senses and takes insults and setbacks in stride. She is not afraid to have others hurt and beaten for crossing her, and she is infamous in the King's Landing markets for her threats. Very heavy handed in business, Micia nonetheless has certain soft spots for orphans, bastards, and knights, and she has many patrons who visit her for advice and help - usually provided for free.

Biography: Micia is a lowborn from Heart's Home of the Vale. The ruling house of Corbay was always a poor one, though its nobles eeked all they could from their claim to nobility. While the Lord Corbay was an honorable ruler, many members of his family and court frequently flaunted their heritage and tormented the peasantry. Micia grew up believing that nobles were like the gods - without mercy, and powerful. At the age of fifteen, she was kidnapped in a raid by the Black Ears mountain tribe and vanished for six months only to reappear a ways off the High Road, where she was rescued by a Knight from the Reach, traveling back to his homeland from a visit to the Eyrie. While he volunteered to return her to Heart's Home, she begged to follow him back to the Reach, saying she would take her life if she was forced to remain in the Vale. Troubled, the knight took Micia back to his hometown of Ashford, where he housed her for several months while she recovered from her ordeal in the wilds of the Vale.

Determined to repay the knight for his kindness and to be productive, she eventually became a healer, using her knowledge of herbal remedies learned through living by poor means in the Vale. Despite saving many lives, she became disappointed by the scale of her efforts, and at the age of 19 started a market stall to help procure medicinal materials and distribute them cheaply, petitioning many knights to sponsor her efforts. By the age of 22, Micia operated a respectable and fairly large operation which saw many remedies and medicinals become more widespread throughout the Reach. By training assistants and children amongst the town, she was able to cut several corners and eliminate many of the costs normally associated with producing medicine, earning her a reputation as a reliable trader amongst merchants as she was always willing to purchase simple supplies in bulk at fair prices, and amongst the people for her selflessness.

At this time she began to court several knights, and when her polyamory was discovered she lost many of her sponsorships, resulting in the near collapse of her trade and abandonment by many of her assistants. Micia contemplated and nearly attempted suicide, but received an invitation by the Alchemist's Guild to join them in King's Landing as a provisional quartermaster due to her reputation, with word of her polyamory not having spread beyond Ashford. Seeing as she no longer had a future where she could meaningfully influence the lives of the people in the Reach, Micia moved to King's Landing and has been with the Alchemist's Guild since. She contributed little to their knowledge of medicine and herbal remedies, but provided valuable business and mercantile experience which the Guild sorely lacked. Today, she serves as the man spokesperson for the Guild, its services, and its products, and she manages the logistics and distribution of alchemical goods in King's Landing, as well as the acquisition of supplies and materials needed by the Guild. No longer in the land famed for its adherence to chivalry, her practices and methods became harder and ruthless, and she is considered one of the keenest traders in the city. Her enemies and rivals gave her the name 'Old Flame,' mocking her past polyamory, though few dare say such to her face. The Guild has dwindled in recent years and its profit margin has grown slim to none, but Micia has remained as efficacious as ever, not letting the guild wane due to lack of effort.

Name: Fabrice Iscart
Age: 57
Alias: The Other Fool
Appearance:

"Alchemy can change and reshape all things - and we have the power to change the world."

Personality: Fabrice is a proud and snobbish man, having fully embraced the mysticism of the Guild of Alchemists. He insists on being referred to by his proper title of 'Wisdom,' and takes great pleasure in expounding upon the knowledge possessed by members of the Alchemists guild while disparaging the ignorance of others. He can become easily angered if others do not acknowledge his skill and talent, and he bemoans how far the Alchemist's guild has fallen due to the apathy of 'indolent pissants.' He is fond of reminding people that he's their better, in one way or another, and becomes bitter and forlorn on the occasions when he actually speaks with a superior. He is also faintly lazy, preferring to put off work in favor of pursuing his own interests. He is not an uncommon sight at the court of the Red Keep, associating with the highborn members of society in attempts of gaining sponsorship and raising interest in the guild - his demeanor and ragged appearance have led to his derisive nickname, with many members of the court considering him to simply be the second of the King's fools.

Biography: Fabrice is a native of winterfell, a lowborn with carpenters for parents. While normally this would have seen Fabrice locked into a life of peasantry, gathering wood in the forest one day led to his stumbling upon the Maester of House Stark, who had fallen from his horse and sprained his ankle when it became spooked and ran. Helping the Maester back to Winterfell, the scholar offered to teach Fabrice to read and write for his kindness. Fabrice's parents, knowing that those who could read had much better prospects than those who couldn't, encouraged Fabrice to accept the offer. Fabrice spent two years learning to read and write from the Maester, learning much about the political climate of Westeros in the process in addition to history and religion. Eventually it became apparent that the Maester was grooming Fabrice for an education at the citadel, but when the time came he declined the offer.

Fabrice had spent his early life as a lowborn peasant, and while learning with the Maester had seen nobles coming and going about their business. Coupled with his learned knowledge of Westeros politics, Fabrice had become power-hungry and desired more than the citadel could give him - and he had no intentions of ever pledging himself to the realm or to anybody else, if he could help it. Instead, he elected to become a clerk so he could retain access to the Winterfell library. He spent years studying there, looking for ways to gain power quickly. The Maester, recognizing that the man who had been his student was listless with his current duties, informed him that the new Alchemist's Guild in King's Landing had proven very popular with the people there, and that his learning and proficiency for organization would see him do well there.

Taking this to heart, Fabrice made the move to King's landing and began to work for the Alchemist's guild as a clerk, while also apprenticing himself to a chemist in order to properly learn the art. He became a proper chemist a mere five years after the guild's inception, and recognized the potential usefulness of chemistry for refining and purifying various substances. Fabrice's studies in those areas contributed significantly to the guild's rising prosperity, and after a decade had passed he fully embraced the guild's adopted policy of obscuring themselves in Mysticism. For a brief moment, he had everything he had ever wanted - respect, a title, wealth, and knowledgeable authority over others. However, he pushed too hard. His adamant insistence upon veiling his profession in mysticism and his over-inflated opinion of his own status made him unpopular both within the guild and by his patrons. Although he did eventually become High Master of Transmutation, his demeanor lost the guild many clients, leading to a dip in business which contributed to the guild's decline is prosperity. Now Fabrice is old, without the respect he used to have, his coin dried up, and his only surrounding friends equally knowledgeable in Alchemy as he within their specialties. Having become dour and resentful, he longs for the days when he had everything he so rightfully deserved.

Ryon Yronwood
Lord of Yronwood, Warden of the Stone Way, Master of Laws of Dorne, The Bloodroyal

Also Known As: Ryon the Tyrant, The Rebel Lord, Ryon Wrongside

Age: 54

Appearance:


Personality:
Ryon Yronwood has a reputation of being ambitious, ruthless and without morals. There is little he will not do to further his goals and is rumoured to be behind the deaths and disappearances of dozens of nobles and courtiers. Years ago Ryon was interested only in power, but with age he became more concerned with his family and his legacy. His greatest concern is to leave a powerful Yronwood to his daughter and a well-taught daughter to his precious Yronwood. Before the war Ryon dreamed of an Yronwood as Prince of Dorne, but this has become only a distant memory. His defeat left him broken and turned him into a bitter man filled with regrets and resentment. He is as ruthless and dangerous as he used to be but all passion seems to have disappeared. In Sunspear, away from Yronwood, he feels his control over Dorne slipping but he remains determined to restore his ancestral seat to its former glory. At the same time he is conflicted by his desire to take revenge against an enemy that has been dead for five years, leaving in his place only a son that has been nothing but generous to Ryon.

Biography:
Lord Ryon of Yronwood, eldest child of Daron and brother of Nymeria, grew up in a time of relative stability. Most of his youth he spent in Yronwood where he was tutored and taught so that he could one day succeed his father. He never became much of a fighter despite the efforts of dozens of different teachers but showed a great interest in literature and poetry. After completing his education Ryon travelled through Dorne and even visited the Summer Islands where he claims to have found the goldenheart bow that now adorns the wall in his chambers in Sunspear. It was also during these travels that he met Ormond Deepwell, the man who would become his best friend and later his most trusted advisor.

At the age of 35 Ryon inherited the throne of Yronwood as his father passed away in his sleep. By then he had already fathered two children with his wife Myrena Manwoody and was nothing like the young man he used to be. He had lost his lust for adventure and poetry and had become a man of politics and power. Quickly after the start of his reign it became apparent that though he shared his father’s sense of politics, he was nothing like his father. In public Lord Ryon was friendly, respectful and merciful, but this it did not take long for even the commoners to see through this façade. Through careful scheming, bribery and even assassination Ryon destroyed dissent and ensured loyalty through fear.

In the early years there had been considerable opposition but as Ryon grew wiser and more experienced his grasp over Yronwood tightened and his influence in Dorne grew. In 150 AL, when the tensions between House Yronwood and House Martell had been rising for some time already, the power of Yronwood was considerable. When Nymeria Yronwood called on her brother to rise up against her husband Prince Trystan, Lord Ryon answered. Often Ryon would think back of the day he rose up against his liege lord, trying to find where he went wrong. It was painful to accept that he made a mistake. He was a calculative and patient man and ensured that all his plans were executed perfectly. Incompetence to Ryon was a sin greater than any other, doubly so since he never hesitated to murder, bribe and torture when it was beneficial. Perhaps it was his reckless sister, perhaps it was the cowardice of his allies, or maybe it was his pride.

In the first few engagements the rebels won and in for a time the tide of war seemed to be in their favour. However, as the war effort continued and more and more men marched to war, the treacherous Marcher Lords started their raids on Dornish lands. In 150 AL Dornish incursions into the Marches increased but as the civil war raged on they were beaten back by the Marcer Lords. Over the course of the year the rebels and loyalists were on even footing but gradually Prince Trystan began to gain ground. Defeated in the Marches the support for Ryon started withering away and finally in 152 the civil war ended after the decisive battle near Godsgrace.

Ryon was imprisoned but when Prince Trystan died his successor released him from prison. Ryon was appointed as the Master of Laws of Dorne, a position that meant both honour and shame for the rebel lord. It was a generous, not to mention dangerous, gesture of the Prince to appoint Ryon but it kept the peace between the two houses and, as Ryon was well aware, kept Ryon in Sunspear where his every move could be watched.

Neora Yronwood
Regent of Yronwood, Heiress of Yronwood

Age: 25

Appearance:


Personality:
The burden of leading House Yronwood when her father passes away weighs heavily on Neora but nothing in her behaviour gives that away. Unlike her father Neora shows little interest in politics and instead occupies herself with the passions for which she has become infamous throughout Dorne. Only the finest gowns and dresses with the most expensive fabrics can satisfy her taste, and only the rare and the exotic manages to sate her appetite. Neora is not simply spoiled, but profoundly decadent, spending vast sums on clothes, jewellery and lavish feasts. Though her vices are what first meet the eye, underneath Neora is patient, strongheaded and unrelenting. Before the civil war Neora was seen by most as a naïve and spoiled brat, but during the war she matured quickly. In the field at her father’s side a true gift for strategy and tactics was revealed and after the war her obsessive interest in battles and war never diminished. As the regent of Yronwood she relies on her ability to convince and persuade to make others do her bidding, rejecting the tyrannical ways of her father.

Biography:
When Neora was a child the ties between the Martells and Yronwood were still close and she often travelled between Yronwood, Sunspear and the Watergardens. Maester Norren, her tutor, followed whenever she was sent to Sunspear or the Watergardens where she often remained in the care of her aunt Nymeria. Neora got up to a lot of mischief in her youth but as the precious daughter of the Lord of Yronwood, she got away with nearly anything. To her father’s and tutor’s displeasure Neora was a bad student and only seemed to develop a great eloquence that helped her talk her away out of trouble. Despite the Maester’s efforts to turn Neora into a worthy heiress, the young girl turned into a teen with eyes only for clothes, jewellery and boys.

Her youth had been mostly carefree and she fostered healthy relations with her close kin, but she was well aware of the rising tensions between her aunt Nymeria, and in extension her father, and Prince Trystan. The visits to her relatives in Sunspear became less frequent until that fateful day that Nymeria rebelled against her husband and a civil war erupted. As the heiress of Yronwood, Neora joined her father in his military campaign and it soon became apparent that she had been paying attention to her lessons after all. When the treasury of Yronwood was still full, Neora never wanted for luxury, even in the field. A train of servants and carts filled with the necessities of a lifestyle of decadence followed along with the marching soldiers.

The bannermen of Yronwood resented the young heiress, but it soon became apparent that she had a gift for military tactics. Recognising her talent, Lord Ryon gave her more and more authority and after a few successful engagements even gave her the command of her own army. The nobles and troops first resented her, but after she had to forgo her luxurious lifestyle and emerging victorious from her first battle as general she regained their respect. Though never bloodying her sword once, she would be remember long after for the battle at the Scourge where she beat back a loyalist army despite being outnumbered. As the tides of war turned Neora’s illustrious career of command was cut short by her father who insisted she go into hiding. In the last major engagement between the rebels and loyalists that ended the war, her father and brother were captured and Neora was left to rule Yronwood as regent until their release.

Hefty war reparations were to be paid, but Prince Trystan did not order Neora’s arrest. Even though the coffers of House Yronwood were almost empty, the young regent sought to recreate her life as it had been before the war. Though her ways displeases many, she is generous to those around her, especially the knights that fought with her during the civil war. During her regency Yronwood has been far from stable, with many ambitious nobles vying for power, but due to good relations with her officers and the reputation of Lord Ryon the Tyrant few dare question her rule openly. Neora does not feel great resentment towards her cousins as her father does, but she too struggles with consolidating the power of House Yronwood while staying loyal to those who crushed her aunt’s rebellion.

Edgar Yronwood

Also Known As: Edgar the Bloodletter

Age: 23

Appearance:


Personality:
Edgar cares greatly for his family and would do anything to serve their interests. He can be cold-hearted and ruthless but manages to hide it well. Only under stress does his true nature come out and can he lose his temper. He admires his father to the point of worship while he sees his sister as a naïve child that needs his protection. Because he spends much time travelling, Edgar lost the refinement associated with his name and developed a healthy taste in drink and women.

Biography:
As the only son of Edgar meant more to his father than Neora ever did. However, being the favourite and the only male child came with great expectations. While his sister was given everything she desired, Edgar was raised more strictly and was not allowed to indulge in the ‘womanly’ weaknesses like Neora. He spent most of his days in Yronwood where he was tutored and only visited his relatives when Lord Ryon travelled to Sunspear. Because of how differently he and his sister was raised there was always a strong rivalry but this, along with the resentment he felt towards his parents, faded with age.

In time he decided that his parents expected more from him because he was superior to his sister. The more he saw Neora indulge in her excesses, the more he became convinced that she would one day need his counsel and guidance. Because of this the old sibling rivalry turned into a close bond to the point where Edgar was one of the few who could change Neora’s mind. Edgar truly admired his father and in many ways became just like him, or even surpassed him. He was ruthless and underhanded, capable of anything to achieve his goals. Proud of his creation, Lord Ryon involved Edgar in his political affairs and soon realised that the boy had another useful talent that could be exploited.

In the tradition of his house, Edgar was trained in swordplay and had become a skilled fighter. In the civil war Edgar, 16 years of age, was just a squire to Ser Alfryd but managed to distinguish himself in battle by slaying Ser Philip Umbar of Hellholt. At the final battle at the Vaith Edgar was captured and imprisoned along with his father, when he was released the bitter young man became violent and vengeful. His father, naturally, found the perfect use for his son’s anger. Edgar, followed by a group of men he called his friends, became his father’s fist and blade. He would put down revolts, hunt bandits and dispose of troublesome nobles. As word of his acts spread he became known as Edgar the Bloodletter, not because of his many victims, but because of how most of them met their end by having their throat slit. Edgar was a true artist with his dagger and would quickly and nimbly find gaps in the armours of less skilled opponents.

As the years passed Edgar became more calm and composed and would rely on stealth rather than brute force to accomplish his tasks. With his family’s interests split between Yronwood and Sunspear Edgar travels throughout Dorne with the merchant caravan of his close friend Baros Deepwell. In Sunspear he has not once reached for his blade, but away from the seat of the Martells he still does his father’s dirty work.

Lady Myrena Manwoody (49), third child of the late Lord Franklyn Manwoody, spouse of Ryon Yronwood,

Ser Ormond Deepwell (60), knight of Deepwell's Keep, counsellor, close friend of Ryon Yronwood

Baros Deepwell (29), son of Ser Ormond, a prominent Dornish merchant, close friend of Edgar Yronwood,

Maester Norren (68), counsellor and tutor,

Ser Alfryd (38), distinguished knight and military advisor.

Daeron II Targaryen, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Six Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm
Age: 14
Appearance:

Personality: Daeron is possessed of the gift that his father never knew, the force of personality that can manipulate and charm men and women alike, be it in person or through and impromptu speech, the kind that just comes to the young man on the spot, low born and high will die on Daeron's commands, not just because he is King, but because they believe him to be right and just. Daeron considers himself the greatest hero of his dynasty since Aegon and frustratingly, he might be right. Alongside his headstrong ways and overbearing arrogance is a martial skill that far belies his age. While his uncle may be more skilled in the art of grand strategy, there are no tacticians like Daeron, the same uncle once joking he could take the Red Keep with his toy painted soldiers. Beneath his supreme confidence, Daeron possess insecurities much like any other fourteen year old, he feels, very strongly, the shadow of both his father and uncle, the men who fixed the realm. More personally he struggles with social interactions, although all but his closest relatives would think the exact opposite, while he can hold any conversation, he finds being close to people difficult and the very thought of sexuality makes his skin crawl as much as it makes his heart beat faster.

Biography:

As the eldest of Aegon III's children, Daeron is the only one to have really known their father before his collapse into depression. While Aegon was never a warm man, he retained enough sensibilities to be a father to Daeron, if only for his earlier memories, playing toy soldiers with the man of cold steel. When Daeron was eight, his father began to slip away, something the young child could hardly understand, let alone come to terms with. At first Daeron rejected Viserys' attempts to provide an alternative father figure, retreating to quiet quarters to read books about the heroics of the Targaryens, the lives of the dragons, and to play with his knights. Time passed and Daeron became increasingly focused on the achievements, and failures, of the people of House Targaryen, not the dragons. They were mounts, nothing more, Aegon and his sisters were still great without them. Daeron could be great to. At the same time, he grew closer, once more, to the rest of his family, accepting both Viserys and his younger siblings, who remembered little and less of the man their father had been.

Upon taking a more active role in the life of both his family and the court, Daeron began to realise his gift with people. His uncle could terrify people, or make the oddest of friends, Baelor could sit for hours and listen, but none of the could inspire like he could, even at a young age. Daeron didn't exactly have friends, but he always managed to convince the servant children to come on adventures with him, to storm the palace. Even once to break into his uncle's study, which was met with a combination of anger and quiet approval. Daeron spent an increasing amount of time honing his skill with the blade and lance, although he was still more interested in studying the art of commanding men, with his uncle whenever the man was free, he was still determined to be able to fight himself. Although not quite as outstanding, it was clear he would eventually become one of the better knights in the Kingdom.

Now in his early teens, Daeron picked up on Viserys' somewhat subtle hints that the time for him to rule may be coming sooner than anticipated. The Hand of the King became increasingly involved in Daeron's education, pushing him to achieve even greater heights in all of his studies, even in ones Daeron had no real interest. Unlike the typical spoilt child, Daeron took gladly to this new pressure, galvanizing him into action. With his uncle over his shoulder, he began to listen in all of his classes, even in things that had previously bored him no end. By night, he planned what he would do once he was King of the Six Kingdoms. With that thought, his mind turned to Dorne. The existence of the independent southern Kingdom seemed wrong to the young Prince, a blight upon the success of the greatest dynasty to set foot on Westeros, one that he would fix, and forever write his name in the annals of history, to do what even the Dragon riders could not.

When Aegon was finally reported dead, Daeron coronation was delayed some weeks for the funeral, the process slow, for in a generation a Targaryen had not been given the honour of a royal funeral, the battlefields of the Dance claiming their ashes. The coronation was no less spectacular. Held at the gates of the Red Keep rather than the traditional location of the Dragon Pit, the affair drew crowds from far beyond the capital, for the Prince, despite his youth, had already made an impact on the smallfolk of the realm. Daeron named Viserys his Hand, respecting his uncle's abilities at such a role, but nevertheless ignored his advice over Dorne, in secret calling his banners shortly after his rule was secure.

Viserys Targaryen, Hand of the King, Scourge of the Summer Isles, the Clever
Age: 32
Appearance:

Personality: Viserys isn't a great man, at least, he would never accept such a label. He doesn't have a mind that can process a million things in a minute, nor is he a knight worthy of the tales of yore. Everything he has was won through trial and tribulation, his academic knowledge built on endless hours of study, his quicksilver ability with blade earned through training and combat (although, he cannot joust to save his life). Funnily enough for royalty, Viserys never became accustomed to having anything simply provided to him, growing up in civil war and then captivity. An easy man to get on win, Viserys has many friends, although few he can honestly claim to be very close to, those that Viserys does permit himself to love, notably his family and wife, find themselves under his steadfast protection. Few, if any, minds can match the Hand of the King's in the matters of strategy, something rebels and Summer islanders have learned the hard way, their defences picked apart as if they weren't there, supply lines cut and forces surrounded. The easy-going, somewhat 'geeky' Viserys has a darker side however, a side which made his name feared as well as celebrated once he finally returned to Westeros. When angered his eyes burn with an inner fire, and entire families have been totally stripped of all title, if not their lives, upon betrayal of the King's realm.

Biography:

A young child during the Dance of the Dragons, Viserys was yet to hatch his dragon when the war begun and during the height of the fighting, was sent away, along with three dragon eggs, in the company of his elder brother, with his dragon, aboard a galley to Pentos. Unfortunately for the two brothers they were intercepted by a fleet loyal to King Aegon II. Their vessel was captured, Aegon managing to escape on his dragon, leaving Viserys and the eggs aboard. Cunning even at such a tender age, Viserys disguised himself as one of the sons of the ship cook, but was betrayed by another child aboard the ship, looking for a reward. What became of said child Viserys does not know, the result was simply that he lost the eggs he was charged to protect, and taken to a trader's household, loyal to the cause of Aegon II, in Myr.

There Viseryes lived as a combination of prisoner and slave for many years, growing up in the foreign land of the Free Cities, his ability to forge easy bonds with others developed as he and the other servants gathered together, waiting for an opportunity to escape or reap revenge. At this point Viserys had not illusions of returning home to a kingdom, instead he simply dreamt of no longer being a slave. Such dreams came to fruition shortly after Viserys' 12th name day (the young boy had managed to keep track of such things, that, or no one else was there to tell him differently). With the disaster which was the dance of the dragons, it had become somewhat of a burden for his 'master' to keep a clearly High Valyrian servant around the manor, dealing with westerosi clients as he was, and so, sort to send Viserys out among a large bundle of servants to be sold at market. Despite only being children, with the improvised weapons Viserys had helped them all to conceal, they overpowered their life long captors as soon as they were free of the manor, and escaped into the city.

Once the description of the escaped servants spread around the city, it became clear this was no ordinary group of escapees. Viserys was eventually discovered, attempting to sneak aboard a large galley, by one Ser Gedron Strong, a descendent of the family which had supported his mother's claim during the Dance. Disbelieving at first, once no amount of washing rid Viserys' hair of its silver-gold hue, Gedron took it upon himself to bring the young Prince back to Westeros, to his rightful home. To say Viserys' spirits were lifted was an understatement, and Ser Gedron's tale of the reception that would await the rediscovered Prince did much to inflate that. For a while, after he returned, reunited with the brother whom he had lost, matters were just as he had hoped. The smallfolk adored the story of the returned Prince, especially when he turned out to be skilled with the blade and generally pleasant. Internal family matters became more troubled and events took place to forge a rift between the brothers, even if Viserys remained close and loyal to Aegon, even the most absent-minded of courtiers could notice the young Prince flinch at his brother's anger. To deal with whatever it was that plagued them, Viserys, already bookish, became increasingly interested in academic studies, visiting Oldtown on many occasions to further an interest in a certain subject on many occasion. His work on such was never lauded as brilliant, he would not have maesters doting over his work or describing him as brilliant, for Viserys never shared his knowledge, never attempted to stand out in his studies. He quietly learned what he wanted, before slipping away to some other duty.

The peak of Viserys' conflict with his brother occurred during while he was nineteen years of age, having increasingly developed the will to stand up to his oppressive brother, when rumours reached the court of a new King of the Summer Isles, one preparing to unleash a fleet of pirates upon the narrow sea, Viserys not only planned a response, he put himself at its head, to excuse himself from court for its duration. Unknowingly, Viserys set about the circumstances that would keep him from his home for another two years, in a terrible armed conflict which would earn himself the name 'Scourge' by the local people. It was not that his foreign invasion was viewed as such by all, many preferred the Prince to the tyrannical rule of their local monarch, but his invasion sparked two great years of bloodshed across the steaming jungle islands, and none who passed through that storm remained unchanged. Viserys himself came back a dour man, burdened by the toils of war. While his returned brought about much celebration throughout King's Landing, he did not remain long, instead choosing to tour the Kingdom of the Iron Throne for the next year, many who had known him before the war noticing a remarkable change in the man.

What brought him back was when his journey eventually brought him to Winterfell. It wasn't the scenery, natural or constructed, impressive as it was, that helped him so, but the inhabitants. To find his respite among the supposedly cold people of the Starks was not something he anticipated, but the young, sharp, amazing mind of one Vittoria Stark instantly awoke his old self, so swiftly that, and perhaps something he remains thankful for, she never saw the man he had hidden his true self behind for a year. Despite the years separating them, they were drawn to each other, the young girl practically falling upon his stories of his lineage, of Old Valyria and in doing so, he inferred to her all the advantages the learning available at the Citadel could bring a mind like her's. He wasn't the first or last to say so, he would find out, but he would late become very glad of her decision to follow such advice. Nevertheless, the Targaryen Prince was accepted less favourably by her family, that combined with her youth and an inability to try to bring such a precious individual into the perceived torture of his own family, he left, leaving only whispered Valyrian promises to write.

Viserys returned to King's Landing a rejuvenated man, and the balance between the two brothers was restored. He was named Hand of the King formally, assisting in both matters of the realm and court, even raising the royal children, the number of whom was beginning to grow even as Aegon slipped further into his darker thoughts. Viserys now too old and self assured to take the burnt of his pain, the King drew within himself, although it would be years before he became practically incapable of rule. It was during this period that Viserys' ability as the Hand of the King really flourished, becoming somewhat of a famed affair, Viserys always feeling somewhat exaggerated, as the realm began to show general signs of recovery. One major challenge that awaited such a rule was the issue of Dorne, and increasing hostilities between the two nations of Westeros, thus, when Viserys became aware that William Martell was studying at the Citadel, he took another extended break to visit Oldtown. Equally, although less publicly, he chased rumours of a certain northern lady, wowing her way through the academics of Westeros' largest city.

He met both, befriended the former, in the process picking up on several Dornish customs which would rather aid in diplomacy, striking one of those unusual friendships, persisting across international relations, and fell in love, properly this time, with the latter. The years that had passed had only sharpened Vittoria and now free of the constraints of the North, he was free to be open with her, as best he could. For once the maesters of the Citadel remembered who he was beyond his title, he was the one who seemed inseparable from their prodigy. For a Targaryen Prince of a humble, being in the shadow of someone for a change was deeply refreshing, and he felt no trace of jealousy for her success, particularly as he had never truly sought it himself. When she was 'summoned' North, their building relationship being reported on, Viserys took their time apart to apply himself to diplomacy with Dorne, securing some iota of peace amongst the dreadful raiding that had cost many lives of both sides, before once more assisting, or actively steering, his brother's rule. The death of his brother saddened him deeply, despite their conflicts, and rumours that he had been a part of some conspiracy as to the matter only hurt him further. He was present for his nephew's coronation, but left during the festivities, riding on dire news from the North.

He had never set out to strain any bonds between the now-Princess Vittoria and her family, but losing her was a worse prospect. He is still remembered in the North for holding the whole of House Stark 'hostage' to win Vittoria, not that any peasant would dare say such a thing to Lord Stark himself, or Viserys would ever claim such a thing. Private celebrations of the marriage were cut short by Daeron's call to arms, contrary to any advice Viserys had imparted. Now the Hand of the King prepares to win a war he never wished for, and to serve another King of his blood.

Prince Baelor Targaryen of Dragonstone
Age: 14
Appearance:

Personality: Of all the current Targaryens, it would be very easier to argue that Baelor is the worst affected by their supposed curse of madness. He is completely withdrawn from all matters but the Faith of the Seven, although he does connect it to all aspects of life. Unlike his sister Rhaena, who could simply be considered devout, Baelor is fanatically so, finding anything contrary to the tenants of the faith a personal affront, never mind that the teachings of one High Septon to another can often contradict themselves, various logic blocks in the young Prince's mind refuse to be called up on such things. He lacks all physical ability expected of a prince, and there is some debate as to whether his obsession with the faith is due to his inability to succeed at 'mortal' activities, or if his time spent buried in sacred text has simply resulted in him neglecting physical pursuits. Despite actually being married to one of them, Baelor is very distant from the rest of his family, having rejected the somewhat cynical trend that has spread across the dynasty.

Princess Daena Targaryen
Age: 12
Appearance:

Princess Rhaena Targaryen
Age: 10
Appearance:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Name: Steffon Lannister


Age: 43
Biography: Steffon Lannister was born of Ser Hendry Lannister, the second son of Lord Lothar Lannister, who served for a time as a captain of the Lion's Gate in King's Landing under the command fo Prince Daemon, who would become the husband of Queen Rhaenrya. As Commander of the City Guard of Lannisport, and in conjunction with the Lannisters of Lannisport, he worked to raise the Westerlands against his brother, Lord Jason, with whom he had an antagonistic relationship. He was caught and executed, but young Steffon, the son of his marriage to Lady Lysa Crakehall, managed to escape, as he was a ward of House Marbrand, who sided with the Blacks, following suit after Ser Lorent Marbrand of the Kingsguard.

While Lord Joffrey Marbrand was part of the blacks, much of the Westerlands were in support of Lord Jason and the Greens, and the Ashemark was put under siege by a force led by Lord Matthis Crakehall, though a young Ser Donnel Lannister, son of Jason, was a young knight in that force.

The Ashemark held. but it seemed a matter of time before it would fall, except the Battle of the Lakeshore, known as the Fishfeed, where Lord Lefford, in command, dawdled and much of the Lannister strength was killed in a disastrous defeat for the Greens. Meanwhile, Lord Jason tried to reinforce the Ashemark siege, only to be slain by turncoats in the Westerlands that decided that the Blacks, under Daemon Targaryen's able command, seemed most likely to prevail. With the newly-knighted Ser Steffon at the van of the attack, the Blacks broke the Greens and sent them in retreat.

Steffon's forces gathered strength while Lord Donnel licked his wounds, but soon a new season of war was upon the Westerlands, a back and forth over hills while diplomatic entreaties were made to familiy members who were induced to betray blood, in some cases, while other deals were struck. Steffon, eager for vengeance, and Donnel, eager for a reckoning, seemed to play out the larger animosities of Daemon and Aemond Targaryen

By the end of the Dance, the final battle happened in a muddy field near Silverhill, a holding of House Serrett; Steffon came upon Donnel's encampment using a forced march that allowed him to strike without warning, but Donnel's encampment was in good order and able to hold well enough to turn the battle into an hours long war of attrition, neither side willing to concede. Finally, the two cousins met in battle's chaos, their retinues clashing around them as they hacked away with each other, Blackmane with a halberd and Donnel with a Valyrian steel axe and shield; Valyrian steel seemed to settle the score, as Donnel landed a hit on his cousin's leg that neatly sheared through the mail and plate and into the muscle and even the bone itself, leaving his cousin bleeding badly and lamed in the mud. And yet, the bloody mud was also his undoing, as he tried to pry open his cousin's visor to stick a dagger in, he lost footing and was quickly finished by an opportunistic strike from one of Steffon's men at arms.

But for the ministrations of young Marissa Serrett of Silverhill, and the maesters, Steffon might have died from his wounds. But instead, he emerged from fever and pain wiser and Lord of House Lannister, though rueful of it; he'd lost the ability to walk, but gained wisdom.

His rule of the Westerlands marked him as a different man -- he sought to reconcile rather than avenge, and the battle-weary Lannister bannermen were convinced to put down arms and seek to their own battered lands. In Aegon II, he found a similarly war-weary soul that wanted a peaceful, prosperous rule and was, eventually, made Hand of the King for a some years, before stepping aside to allow Viserys to ascend the post, rather than create tensions between siblings. In the meantime, he sired children, raised children and lost a wife. The thought of putting the Kingdom through another war haunts him -- he's seen enough of it to know that it's a wanton waste.

Despite the accusations in King's Landing by some friends of the King and supporters of the war that he is an old man done, the Lords of the West tend to respect Steffon -- they remember Blackmane more than the Lame Lion, and while he has been even-handed, he is more than capable of carrying out justice; he demonstrated that capability as Hand and in his own lands after the Dance. While Steffon is Lord in Casterly Rock, the West is fragile, but stable and, above all, prosperous.

Name: Martyn Lannister


Age: 16
Biography: The young, impetuous son of Steffon, Martyn wishes to live up to his father's reputation for prowess in the Dance of Dragons without considering the costs or what went on. He is, like most young lads just recently knighted, eager to prove his mettle. While there is little doubting that he has a great deal of potential, the truth is that the young Heir to Casterly Rock is still a green boy with more courage than sense, For many of his years, he was fostered at King's Landing as a companion to Daeron and is one of his staunchest supporters and companions. When Daeron takes the field, Martyn expects to fight in the van. This enthusiasm for the war compels Steffon to put more resources into Daeron's conquest than he would otherwise commit.

Name: Elaena Lannister


Age: 17
Biography: (WIP - or one of you players can even take her over.)

Name: Hendry Hill

Age: 24
Biography: The bastard son of Lord Steffon, he was born and raised in King's Landing; he has been given good training in arms and serves as a goldcloak captain of the Lion's Gate. While he is far fairer-haired than his father, who favors his Crakehall mother, he retains Blackmane's prowess from the younger days, which is why he left Oldtown -- he was set on being a maester, but his heart wasn't in it. He isn't sure he wishes to spend his days toiling as a goldcloak, though a man can rise fairly high in the city guard, and he has a reputation for capability as a leader of men, which perhaps draws some eyes to him. He's had to make his own way in the world, but his father has quietly helped see to it that he has been educated as well as given training at arms.

Name: Willem Lannister (son of Tyland, and a younger cousin of Lord Steffon)


Age: 32
Biography: The son of Tyland, who died under torture ordered by Queen Rhaenrya after she captured King's Landing, Willem was a seven year old boy by the end of the hostilities, and Blackmane was not about to become a kinslayer by murdering an innocent young cousin. All the same, Willem was raised in Lannisport, away from Casterly Rock and found it preferable, upon attaining manhood, to take himself to Braavos and thence to the Disputed Lands, where he's sold his sword since, signing up with the Second Sons and serving much of his career with them, eventually rising to high officer status within the company. Sometime in the last few years, he's used connections with the Iron Bank of Braavos and the mercenary community to move into the role of a merchant and provisioner of mercenaries, finding arms, provisions and transport for mercenary companies.

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.

:

: