House Description:
The Iron Islands rise from the stormy seas in the midst of Ironman’s Bay, west of the Neck. This desolate archipelago consists of the isles of Pyke, Old Wyk, Great Wyk, Harlaw, Orkmont, Saltcliffe, Blacktyde, and dozens of smaller crags and islets, some so tiny that they can barely host a single village. Life is hard on the Iron Islands, and the brutal conditions have given rise to a grim fatalism among the fierce, hardy folk who have dwelt on the isles for millennia. The Ironmen are as hard and cold as their homeland, and their wrath is as deep and fierce as the sea they love.

The rest of Westeros dismisses the Iron Islands as an insignificant backwater of the Seven Kingdoms. The islands are all rocky and barren, the soil is thin, and the weather is harsh to extremes rarely found elsewhere in Westeros. Damp, cold, and wind are ever present; only the interior of Great Wyk, largest of the islands, has places out of sound or sight of the sea. The thralls and common folk of the Iron Islands spend their lives in dismal toil, scraping a living from the poor soil, wrestling with the sea and the creatures in it, or tunneling under the earth as they pull their fortune from its depths.

Aside from the sea’s bounty, which is little enough, the rocky crags of the Iron Islands are blessed with one other meager source of wealth. Many of the isles, particularly Harlaw, boast deposits of metals, including lead, tin, and the iron that gives the isles their name. These ores are the only resource of note that the Iron Islands export to Westeros and the rest of the world. Trade, however, has never been a great concern to the Ironmen. They take to the seas, living as raiders and reavers. For thousands of years, the people of the Iron Islands have taken what they need to survive, letting the rest of the world thrive as best it may.

The origins of the Ironmen are lost to the mists of time. They claim descent from the Grey King, the mighty mariner of the Age of Heroes. The Grey King’s people have always been people of the sea, revering the Drowned God and plying the oceans on swift longships. They have no patience for farming, fishing, or mining (as the Greyjoy words say, “We Do Not Sow”) — such lesser work is left to the thralls taken in raids.

For the folk of the Iron Islands, the only true occupation is war. For countless centuries, all the coastlands of Westeros have lived in fear of the raiding longships of the Ironmen. At various times, bold High Kings of the Isles have conquered large sections of Westeros, while intrepid captains have sailed to Asshai and beyond. With the coming of Aegon Targaryen, the Iron Islands were brought under the sway of the Iron Throne. Septs, maesters, and other trappings of the green lands came to the isles, but the Ironmen still remembered the Old Way, and their hearts yearned for its return.

Cleverness, skill at arms, and persistence are all treasured traits to the Ironmen. They live in contempt of the weaklings of the “green lands” (their name for the mainland of Westeros), their gods, and their laws. Ship captains and warriors are revered among them; it is said that every captain is a king on his or her deck, and every king must be a captain. Captains are expected to raid, gaining wealth for their crews through plunder and pillage.

Indeed, true Ironmen only value things “bought with iron” (won by force of arms in combat), and have only scorn for those who clothe themselves in finery bought with gold. Among the Ironmen, women are usually relegated to secondary roles in society. There are, however, some women who have proven themselves in combat and become ship captains. Some say the salt and sea temper them, giving them the appetites and strength of men.

Life is short on the Iron Islands, and the harsh climate has brea harsh outlook in the Ironmen. Even their sports are brutal: most feasts see at least one “finger dance,” a game where one or more drunken warriors hurl short-hafted axes at each other. Players must either catch the axes or leap over them. The game draws its name from the fact that most dances end when one player loses some of his or her fingers. Death and pain are the expected results of a life spent reaving, and dying well in battle is seen as far better than a life of comfort.


It has been four years since Goren Greyjoy has quelled the ill-fated rebellion of the self proclaimed, Lodos the Twice-Drowned. As reward for his service to the throne he was given the authority to root out the septons and septas of the Faith of the Seven and return the Iron Islands back to the worship of the Drowned God. Tensions across the Isles are high as those who chose to serve the Seven are now hunted down and put to the sword as common criminals. Those religious fanatics on both sides are poised to instigate an all out war threatening to tear the Iron Islands asunder.

Family Members:

• Lord Reaper Goren Greyjoy
  Lord of the Iron Islands. He quelled the rebellion of Lodos the Twice Drowned and is now leading the purging of the Islands of the Faith of the Seven in an attempt to gain favor with the Drowned God. There are whispers that is secretly in the pocket of the Targaryen’s but none dare speak this in his presence.
• Rowan Greyjoy
  Goren’s son and commander of his fathers inquisition. Rowan lives for his fathers approval and follows his commands down to the letter in the hopes to keep his father’s shifting favor. He commands his own ship and is currently sailing from island to island in search of septons and septas to paint the head of his axe.
• Baelin Greyjoy
  Second son of Goren and younger brother to Rowan. Baelin is still within his formative teaching years and is still green in most areas of Ironborn life. He looks up to his brother and wants to be just like him some day. He can be found most days with a wooden sword galavanting up and down the halls of the castle harassing the guards in mock combat.
• Taeryth Greyjoy
  Twin sister to Baelin and daughter of Goren. She is the apple of all who beholds her eye. In the world of harsh and gray that is the Iron Islands she is a ray of sunshine and one of the prides of Goren’s life. She is approaching an appropriate age to marry and the anticipation of the event is on everyone’s mind.

---

Rowan Greyjoy

Age: 25 (16 AC)

Appearance:
Rowan is a rather handsome looking man, his jet black hair normally kept tied behind his head as he sails and during his conquests; his face is covered in scruff that is dangerously close to becoming a full beard which annoys him greatly. He is usually always seen in light-weight practical armor adorned with his family’s crest which is perfectly suited for his style of medium to long ranged combat. When he is not engaged in combat related activities he is seen in typical sailors attire; loose fitting sailcloth shirt, hard leather boots and tighter knit trousers. Rowan is never seen without his quiver and bow, a strong blackened wood from the mainland that he has learned with deadly precision. A dull colored ax hangs at his hip that he is ready to use at a moments notice.

Description & biography:
Rowan’s life has been dedicated to the Ironborn lifestyle, from the time that he was old enough to hold a sword he was taught how to be the greatest heir to the Seastone Chair. On his twenty-first name day, Rowan was joining his father in crushing the foolish rebellion of Lodos the Twice Drowned taking charge of a longboat filled to the brim with ironborn ready to lay waste to the enemies of House Greyjoy. As the ship docked at Great Wyk, Rowan led the charge headfirst into the fray and would eventually break the enemy lines and bring his father several members of the rebellion to be given to the Drowned God. Goren, being well pleased with his now eldest son, brought him with him when he went before King Aenys I Targaryen.

Sometime after the ill-fated rebellion on the Iron Islands, Rowan's father received a raven calling for Greyjoy longships in a Tyrell campaign, a courtesy between Great Houses. The promise of riches and supplies fueled Rowan to petition his father, to allow him to take his men and two other longships of seasoned fighters and sail into battle for the Ardent Maiden. The fresh from combat ironborn sailed posthaste to the Basilisk Isles and met this so called "King" in open water while his men were focused on the Tyrell assualt. The fight was glorious and the efficacy of Iron Island reavers was something to behold. Rowan navigated his men in targeted strikes causing chaos from the flanks while the Ardent Maiden took a hold from the front. After the battle won, and business concluded, Rowan acknowledged Vittoria Tyrell as a fighter and sailed back home with his loot brimming his three longships.

As a gift for his service, Aenys granted Goren any wish that was his to give and he would grant it, thus began Goren’s crusade to drive out the Faith of the Seven from the Iron Islands. On the trip back Goren entrusted Rowan to lead this drive, giving him command of his own detachment and longship to hunt down the septons and septa that had taken refuge among the islands. After being blessed by a Drowned Man, Rowan took to his new vocation with a zeal and vigor of a righteous man and began to hunt down those members of Seven. Rowan has spent the last two to three years sailing from island to island going and purging town after town of not just the septons but those who express devout faith in the Seven.

It's been but a full generation since the Tyrells went from High Stewards to High Lords. Much of their history since the Field of Fire and it's aftermath have been involved in conflict at nearly all sides. Lord Harlan, the man who submitted Highgarden to Aegon the Conqueror, spent his remaining years leading armies for Aegon's war of conquest, only to lose his life and his host in the sands of Dorne.

His son, Lord Theo, would be reluctant to continue any armed hostilities with Dorne. Instead, Lord Theo turned his efforts to the conflict of contestation, calling a council of septons and maesters to examine and dismiss the claims put forth by other houses of the Reach trying to claim Highgarden as their own. He married Lady Bethany from House Redwyne, a beauty, but more importantly, a Lady well practiced in the games of southern courts.

The result has been a consolidation of power in the Reach. To further that end, Lord Theo and Lady Bethany have busied themselves with raising five children; Lord Bertrand, Lady Vittoria, Lady Mina, Lord Garrett, and Lord Lorent. Lord Bertrand is the eldest, the heir, and known as a drunkard and fool. While Lord Theo has lost faith in his eldest and heir, the Gods have given him a blessing of an unusual kind: Lady Vittoria, his second eldest, is bright, charming, well read, and more accomplished than any man her age throughout the Seven Kingdoms as one of Westeros' finest Lord Commanders.

There is a gap of at least eight years between the two oldest children, and the three youngest. Lady Mina is half agony, half pride, to her parents; though she is loyal and bright, she eschews the traditional role of a young highborn Lady, more fond of horses and archery than needlepoint and courtesies. The youngest two, both young Lords, are capable and good lads. Garrett takes seriously his love of family and his duties as a Lord, even at the age of nine. The youngest, Lorent, is a charmer that can often be found at the side of one of his parents.

In a recent move that has surprised some, Lord Theo has transferred one of his hereditary titles, that of High Marshall of the Reach, to his second born, Lady Vittoria.

Garin Sands:

Name Garin Sands
Age: 35, born in spring, 08 AC.

Appearance:



Description & biography:

A man of medium height, Garin possesses a heavily muscled build, though he moves with a grace that belies his seemingly squat bulk. His shoulder-length hair is coarse, dark and lined with early grey. Though his face once had a youthful cast, years of campaigning and care have etched deep lines into his features, lending his features a grim and thoughtful cast. Though those that know him would say he is not without cause in that regard.

Garin Sands was born to a household of minor nobility in the year 8 AC. Like his peers, he grew up learning to ride, hunt, hawk, joust and the arts of the court. Unlike his peers to the north, Garin and his compatriots also learned the art of the javelin and the bow from horseback. However, as the third son, Garin’s prospects for advancement were somewhat limited. He enjoyed spending time in his father’s library, but he only ever pored books that interested him.

He enjoyed learning from the Septon, but only on certain eras of history. But as he grew older, he developed a keen interest in the knightly arts. He came to have passion for what he did and overtime he became as deadly a horse archer as he was a lance. And it was just as well too.

Though his family lived far from the Hellholt and Garin himself was not even three years old when the Princess Rhaenys was slain, the resulting devastation unleashed by the surviving Targaryens left a lasting legacy throughout Dorne. Garin's grandfather and eldest uncle were killed at the Hellholt and the younger was killed when Balerion the Black Dread passed over town, laying waste to all within. Even with the peace reached between Prince Nymor and Aegon the Conqueror, the land was a blasted shell of its former self. Whole houses had been largely wiped out, entire armies had been lost in the red sands or the charred ruins of what had been castles and towns.

Lawlessness spread as fast the dragon fire that had wreaked havoc across Dorne. Bandit cropped like a weed and it fell to those that still had the blades and the will to wield them, to restore order. As such, young Garin was in the saddle, from an early age.

By the time he was fifteen, he had already killed more than one marauder, often spending days in the saddle alongside his father and brothers. His strength increased with his bravado and he soon drew the eye of many a young woman. But Garin only ever had eyes for one. Martella was the daughter of miller who lived not far from the castle where Garin grew up.

She was no lady of the courts, no refined courtesan nor a would-be Septa. Martella was simply kind and listened to Garin. At first, it began as simple exchange of pleasantries. Garin had accompanied his older brother to oversee how taxes were collected. Martella being a peasant and the child of a miller had learned little in the way of reading. But she knew a great many poems and songs and she could play nearly any instrument.

An exchange of stories soon blossomed. Garin would sneak away at night and sit on the bluffs that overlooked the pine-shrouded valleys below. Martella learned to read from him and he learned music from her. The months passed quickly and what was between the two soon blossomed into love.

But their tryst could not go on forever. Martella was with child when they were found out. Garin refused to accept his father’s demands. Martella refused to drink moon tea and so Garin was offered a choice. He could put aside his lover and their child would be taken care of. Or he could go into exile and be forever banished from his father’s lands. Moreover, Garin had yet to be knighted and his father threatened to withhold that honor from him if he chose lover over family.

So Garin rode east with Martella and crossed the stepstones to Essos, where he introduced himself as Garin Sands. He went from war to war and in peacetime served as bodyguard of any who would have him. But the life of a mercenary was no way for a new mother to raise a child. Nor did Garin wish for his daughters to endure what he had. In the end, the same wanderlust and sense of adventure that had led him so far from home led him back to Dorne. There was a respite between wars in Essos and the mercenary companies no longer had a need for every fighting man.

But then, he was approached by a Dragonlord named Vhandyr Balaerys. The nobleman mentioned that certain noblewoman of Westeros needed Dornish and Dothraki horsemen for her efforts. He had looked for such soldiers and Garin's name had come up a few times. Garin, though having long since lost any love for Westeros and Dorne, agreed. He cared little for this Vittoria Tyrell's cause. But her gold spent the same as anyone else's. And what she offered would be more than worth his while.

So Garin chose to take what he had learned back home and strike out as his own captain. He made landfall in Dorne, with a handful of men who had followed him back across the Stepstones. Though he hesitatede, he at least agreed to bring Martella and their daughters along. But Garin didn’t return to make amends with his long-estranged family. In fourteen years, the thought had never once crossed his mind.

Instead, Garin returned to call any man who follow him north to Oldtown. For Vittoria of House Tyrell had learned much in her time commanding soldiers and knew well the value of cavalry like that of the Dornishmen or the Dothraki. Whoever she wanted killed mattered little to a man like Garin or those who followed him. But as the commander of his own company, he could stand to return to Essos with great wealth. One more war and Garin Sands would be wealthier than his father or brothers could ever be. His family would live in luxury, and he would never be beholden to another.

Age: 37, born in winter, 05 AC.

Appearance: TBD

Description & biography:

The years had not been kind to the people of Dorne. Even after Aegon reached a peace with that realm, the survivors had the arduous task of trying to rebuild their flame-scorched land. Much had been lost, but a few prospered. Martella's grandfather had built a mill over a small, but strong waterway. Though much land had been burned and the soil lost under the wind and the hammerlike heat of the sun, the mill still ground on. And so the family, though not wealthy, did not fall into poverty. As the years passed and more of Dorne was rebuilt, the mill prospered. Martella learned the old legends and songs of her people, much as her mother and grandmother had before her.

One day, the lord sent his son along to learn how taxes were collected. Martella was sitting on a low stone fence, near the mill, as she always did at the end of the day. There, as the sank and the birds took up their call, she sang and played her mother's lute.

Though neither knew it then, she had captured the heart of the lord's son. To her eyes, he was a boy that needed to learn to smile more. Martella had no real intention of marriage then, she had always thought she might become a Septa at some point. Or perhaps teach the old songs and legends.

She had smiled at the lord's son and then played a tune about a knight and a giant frog. By the end, even that solemn youth had laughed and introduced himself as Garin. They talked for a moment and she told him of the legends she had committed to memory since childhood. Garin would return from time to time, on this pretext or that.

Over the months and then the years, she taught him all she knew and in turn, he taught her to read. From one song and tale to the next, from every night spent out on the sheer cliffs that overlooked the dun-colored slopes of the forested valleys around those lands, they slowly fell in love.

By the year 26 AC, Garin and Martella had made a secret vow to marry. Shortly after, she told him she was with child. Pressured by both her family and Garin's parents, it took every ounce of courage she had to refuse the demand to drink moon tea or to give her child up to the faith. Even though she was thrown in a cell and her family threatened with harm, if they ever spoke a word of what happened, she held fast.

Garin at last came to see her and led her out of the cell. He looked grieved, but also like a man who'd just had a great weight lifted from his shoulders. He told her that his father had threatened to withhold knighting him. He could either put her and their child aside or go into exile and be banished for all his days. But he had only one question, would she come with him? Martella found her courage tested yet again, but even though she thought her heart might burst from her chest, she agreed.

Whether Garin had enlisted the aid of some of his father's more sympathetic men or smuggled her out of the castle, he wouldn't say. He never even said if he'd truly been given a choice or if this was logical consequence of his defiance. But they rode away at night and took a ship across the narrow sea to Pentos. There Garin became a mercenary and she found work as a laundress, cook, seamstress and wagon driver at turns. Like her lover, she took the last name of Sands and rarely, if ever, spoke of her family.

For fifteen long years, they went from war to war. Sometimes there was peace and then Garin took work as bodyguard, duelist, pit fighter or just a hired street tough. But then things changed when their second daughter arrived. In truth, the newest addition to their small family had been a surprise. Martella's first pregnancy had been a difficult one and the baby had come early.

Before she had a chance to speak about it, Garin revealed he was of a similar mind. Their first daughter would be old enough to marry in a few years and both their children needed more than what he could offer them. The life of sellsword was no way to raise a child. But then, an unexpected boon arrived in the form of a dragonlord of all things. He told Garin of a nobleman in Westeros. One who needed soldiers of the kind Garin could provide and this would-be employer had gold aplenty.

With the kind of wealthy they stood to gain, they could afford a fine house, guards, servants and the best tutors for their children. With that kind of background, their daughters could marry well and have good lives. Martella, though knowing how little love her husband had for Westeros or Dorne, agreed and they returned across the stepstones for the first time in a great many years.

Age: 14, born in winter, 27 AC.

Appearance:
Description and Background: TBD

In truth, none could be blamed for thinking that Rylla would survive her birth. She had been born early and even for such an occurrence, she was a small and frail thing. But as she grew, she grew strong and tall. More like her father in appearance and build, she nonetheless had her mother's love for music, stories and growing things. Never afraid to speak her mind, she took to her father's swordplay and horsemanship lessons quickly.

But the time she was 12, she could ride with the best and her father even had a suit of armor made for her, out bits and pieces he'd acquired over the years. Though she was a disciplined student, she didn't have her father's fire. Rather, it was a necessity or a task she had to learn.

Rylla wished more for the tales of courts and finery that her father would sometimes tell. Or the times King Aegon had flown into Sunspear on Balerion the Black Dread. Tales of history and great gambits for power were more to her liking, though she never complained or flinched from any task her parents gave her. But that would change when her sister was born. Rylla's childhood had been a happy enough, for one born to unwed parents in a sellsword's camp.

But she had few friends and had always hoped for another sibling. So when Myrna was born, she took what she called her duties with a grave solemnity like that of her father. She threw herself into her training with a dedication that while, not like her father's drive for excellence, meant she wouldn't rest until she could master the arts of a knight and a noblewoman. Though she was young, she was determined to do her part and see her family become one of power and wealth, like that her father had once been part of.

Age: 4, born in winter, 27 AC.
Appearance: TBD
Description and Background:

Young Myrna Sands takes after her mother, though she has her father's dark eyes. A small and shy thing, she nonetheless is a delight to her parents. Rylla is perhaps her favorite person in the entire world and she loves nothing more than being able to come with her older sister. Rylla's stories and lessons in horseback riding are her favorite part of the day. Though finding a large mud puddle is a close second.

House Description:
House Rahl has been seated in Volantis for generations and as such have excelled at being merchants. So much so that not long after they were called to a position as Triarch. House Rahl firmly set itself as an elephant at this time as their political views were for peace and trade. Members of the House have been named Triarch off and on for generations. During the Doom of Valyria, House Rahl suffered the loss of friends and extended family within Valyria. Thankfully their position in Volantis, which they had secured well before the Doom, was a blessing.

When the fighting followed the chaos of the Doom most of House Rahl was against making war on people whom they relied on for trade. House Rahl was divided and some of the young hotheads fought as well as went on a quest with Aurion never to return from Valyria. While they were mourned, particularly the second son of the House at the time, the pressing issues drove the family forward. There were others that had to survive.

This proved fruitful and the family continued to flourish. Again the House involved themselves in politics pulling for peace and trade for Volantis. With the loss of Valyria the Rahl family dug in and carved out a place in Volantis.

The Rahl holdings are quite spacious and not a generation goes by that has not added to it. There are many levels and wings to the home. It is lavish but tasteful, not over done but subtly wealthy. The gardens, aviary and greenhouses were plentiful and soothing. At the time of Aegon's conquest of Westeros the former Lord Rahl, Erasmus, had finished the aviary and left his children to stock a menagerie within. The home was not without its secrets, which were passed down via word of mouth to only the family alone.


In relatively recent times, House Rahl has begun spreading its influence outwards. Their patience and dedication to setting up a powerful and strong foundation means that their rapid expansion is also carefully planned. The first thing to happen was an increase in their ships. Twenty was a decent trading fleet but why not double that? As of this moment the Rahl fleet sits at exactly fifty-four merchant vessels, and twenty-seven escorts with more always being built and prepared. The increases and builds are done piecemeal as the current Lord is very careful with the families money.

With the fleet comes trade, which means the need for ambassadors. The Rahl household has decided that instead of sending attendants to speak on their behalf, in an effort to kill two birds with one stone the children of House Rahl would be sent instead to spread influence but also learn of the wider world they lived. The twins Lunaerys and Hespaerys were sent to treat with the Summer Islands, Dorne, the Redwynes, the Hightowers, and then the Tyrells along with the Lords of the Reach. The two youngest beneath them, Castor and Pheynix would be sent to Tyrosh, Myr, Lys, Pentos, Braavos, and finally Dragonstone and Kings Landing. They would be accompanied by younger siblings to assist and to also consider potential future matches in the now capital of Westeros. Should any family be interested in a foreign alliance?

The current divisive play is a backing of the Braavos Iron Bank. House Rahl keeps good relations with the Sealords court and supplies it with many gold and jewels it gets from favorable trade deals with Asshai. This trade, nor the business with the Iron Bank is spoken about openly and is tightly controlled. However, the family is aware that it will eventually be revealed and that many within the free cities and Volantis itself know already. They realize that it may cost them their Triarch seat in the next election. But it's a risk they're willing to take for more favorable trading rights in Braavos, and alliances abroad via the Braavosi contacts.

While disliking war, the Rahl's are nonetheless pragmatic traders. Preferably peace and good trade would reign Supreme but when wars break out. The Rahl family is quick to act. Sending a son or daughter with escort to either side and offering to ship arms, armor, food, and other supplies a military might need, all shipped in neutrally. They make a fortune off war but still do their best never to find themselves in open engagement. The Rahl's prefer to work in the shadows, and to that end employ an enormous spy network.

The creation of their spies goes back to the time of the free-hold when the Rahl ancestors served the Dragonlords. The Rahl's took Ghiscari slaves and freed them, taught them a worthwhile trade, taught them how to spy and then sent them en masse back to the Ghiscari Empire where they would report everything. Once their agreed upon time of service to the Rahl's they were left alone to lead whatever life they wished to live and pledge allegiance to anyone they wished to serve.

Today, that same recruitment of spies is done. Slaves are bought and freed instantly, taken to the Rahl lands outside of Volantis and taught a profession such as tavernkeeping, becoming a madame, etc. They are also taught the ways of spycraft, and then when ready are sent with full pockets to create a life in an area the Rahl's need information. The spy lives and acclimates to their new environment and sends back the needed intelligence. And then once the time has come, a final payment is rendered and the agent is released to do as they please.

Besides the spies, House Rahl has also built up a reputation in Volantis and the Free cities as a "fixer". House Rahl employs many trained, talented, and skilled men of the night that can handle. Delicate situations. The fact that they are so closely allied to Braavos means the whispers that they employ faceless men have begun.

The largest Westerosi contact has been with the Lannisters. No surprise considering their own merchant fleets and vessels. Lorelai Lannister in particular is a favorable trade partner and the Rahl's openly assisted the young Lion who came to visit looking for their families sword.

House Rahl is the proud owner of a single Valyrian blade, a Blade that has been passed down since the time of the Free-hold and given to them for their service as spymasters and fixers. The sword, Shadowfang, is given to the single best fighter within the Rahl family and can be won via challenge unlike many families and blades. The current wielder of Shadowfang is Castor Rahl, who won it after decimating his sister Lunaerys in a duel.

All in all House Rahl is a proud, pragmatic, and opportunistic House that has begun spreading their wings and becoming an international player. They are well loved by the small people of Volantis, secure in their position amongst the other Old blood of Valyria and interested in the go-ons of Westeros. They secretly support and assist Targaryen rule as they see the Targaryens as what remains of those they served before. What will happen next?

Family Members:

• Lord Darkin Rahl - Father - Age 55 Born 14 BC
  
  Da [+]

  The patriarch of House Rahl and the overseer of all operations, Darkin Rahl is an incredibly intelligent, shrewd, ruthless, and uncompromising man. He has a pleasant and respectable countenance in political matters and rarely speaks first. He is a man that prefers to let others speak first, to let them lead the conversation as most tend to eventually get to where they wish things to go. Darkin has a rule that the less a man speaks the less information one gives and more of an advantage they have in negotiation. But despite his lack of physical speech, he still holds a vast political voice controlling a large contingent of other Elephants. Darkin is a current Triarch of Volantis and more or less controls the Elephant party of the other Old Blood. Their influence has diminished recently due to trade deals with the Braavosi, but it’s mostly for show as all the other families can’t blame anyone who deals in shipping to conduct such things. Darkin is preparing his family for losing their Triarch seat, but to use that time out of the spotlight to once again expand themselves and this time. Truly secure their future.
  
  Darkin loses all of his teeth and intimidating countenance when it comes to his family. He loves his wife, and loves his children almost to a fault. He knows that it’s a weakness, and spends quite a bit of money ensuring the family's safety and training. He knows that he can’t protect them forever but until they reach the age of eighteen they are his to protect and he takes such a role very seriously. Darkin is also a pushover when it comes to Pheynix who he considers his favorite even if he’s not supposed to have one. Other than Pheynix, Darkin has an even more protective hand when it comes to his second born, Cephaeys. Only Lyra understands the reasoning for this, everyone else simply has to guess. His partnership and marriage to Lyra is one for the romance stories as the two form a truly formidable team that props each other up. Lyra covers all of Darkin’s faults and he does the same for her.
  
  While rare, Darkin even in his advanced age is a scary fighter, adopting a more defensive style that boasts his conversational patience and picking apart his opponents defense. Darkin is also a scholar of military strategy and spends good money to have tutors from ALL different locations to teach him and his family. In particular the lockstep legions of the Ghiscari have held his attention for some time and Darkin considers their style to be one of the best he’s seen. It is Darkin’s thought that had Dragons and magic not been born that the Ghiscari Empire would be the dominant force in the world instead. As such, the Rahl household guard is trained in the defensive maneuvers and techniques of the legionnaires. Darkin holds a professional relationship with the current ruler of Volantis, giving his total loyalty to the Dragonlord and even serving as the master of Whisperer’s for the man. This is no surprise as Darkin has continued the Rahl family business of stealth, intrigue, spying, and assassination.
• Lady Lyra Rahl - Mother from former Lys Valyrian house - Age 45 Born 4 AC
  
  Ma [+]

  Lyra Rahl née Vhassar hailing from Lys and her family took the smart way out from Lys before the destruction that Aegon I Targaryen created. She grew up in Volantis and was good friends with Calytrix and the Rahl family in general. She learned to fight alongside the Rahl family and trained to be more than just a girl. She trained to be a spy for the house. She excelled at tactics and strategy as well as poisons.
  
  At the age of sixteen she fell in love with Darkin who was ten years her senior. When they finally married it was after Darkin had established the family. By the time she had Aster it was more than evident that they were both madly in love with each other. When Aster was two Darkin came home with a beautiful baby boy that he explained was the Braavosi trading partner’s son who was the only survivor of an unfortunate accident. Lyra was moved and quickly accepted Cephaeys without question. She wanted to let the boy know that while she was not his natural mother she loved him just as much as if she were, however Darkin delayed this point. He put it off and put it off until Lyra finally brought it up one last time letting him know that if Cephaeys asked she would tell him but otherwise it was Darkin’s tale to tell.
  
  Most of her births were an easy affair. The Twins and Pheynix were the most difficult for her and it almost killed her when they thought Pheynix was still born. If Lyra hadn’t been in love with Darkin the fact that he saved their little baby girl would have cinched it for her. The sudden pregnancy after Pheynix worried Lyra and she prayed to the old Gods that they have a healthy baby for this sudden accident they were, hopefully, blessed with. When Castor arrived Lyra couldn’t help but love the babe that looked so Valyrian. While she loved all her children equally Castor had a part of her that was special since he looked like her father who had died before Aster was born.
  
  The near experience made them closer and this was evident in how they treated their family. Lyra had more of an ability to love all the children equally and was the parent that Pheynix could not get anything past. Lyra is the one that pushed Darkin to train Pheynix as a spy. She knew instinctively that while Pheynix would excel at the spying that unless pushed she would not be able to take a life easily. She was also the first to realize that Hespaerys and Cygnus could fit that bill. Hespaerys is ready to stretch his wings but once Cygnus is back from traveling he will have his test.
• Aster Rahl - First Son, Oldest Child - Age 27 Born 14 AC
  
  Aster [+]

  Aster Rahl Heir to House Rahl born during the gloaming of one evening. His quiet confidence was apparent at the moment of his birth. He was mostly silent that he panicked his parents. His natural inclination to silence made him a good listener and observer. He quickly learned that people generally like to fill silence. He was educated per the standard like every Rahl child and excelled at negotiating as well as knowing where people are best placed. Difficult arithmetic was easy for Aster and he involved himself in the family business at the age of thirteen and made a decent profit on a risky venture to Asshai. He personally went on the voyage and made the trade with the Asshai merchant.
  
  As much as his silence is unnerving, people gravitate to him naturally. He is fond of having people around and is charming even with his silence. His smile reveals dimples and it isn't hard to make him do so. He keeps his hair long and it hangs in waves just past his shoulder blades. Like his sisters Pheynix and Lunaerys as well as his brother Cephaeys, though he was adopted, as well as Aunt Calytrix have the recessive trait of dark black as night hair and like them, save for Cephaeys, also carries the birthmark of the silvery white streak on the nape of his neck. His eyes are a pale slate blue and thickly lashed. His clothes are tailored to fit his broad shoulders and athletic physique. Predominantly he wears the house colors of purple and black as well as whites and grays in various shades. He is conservative in his clothing choice and makes the statement that his clothing is more adornment to accentuate his physical appearance.
  
  When it comes to weaponry Aster took a liking to pole arms. The spear, halbert, javelins and in particular the glaive. He wields it with confidence and as if an extension of himself.
• Cephaeys Rahl - Second Son - Age 25 Born 16 AC
  
  Ceph [+]

  Unknown to Cephaeys, he is not actually a child of Darkin and Lyra Rahl. Instead, Cephaeys is the orphan boy of one of Darkin’s trading partners and good friends from Braavos. Named the guardian of the lad when he was born in Volantis during a business trip, Cephaeys, his father, and his mother had just returned to Braavos when tragedy struck. A ship that had been improperly tied down broke free and crashed into the ship carrying the Braavosi merchant lords. Despite the heroic efforts only Cephaeys was recovered, and only him due to the heroics of the lads mother. Darkin personally went to Braavos and spent a year there with the boy and to attend to his friend's estate. It is this friendship that has continued the Rahl friendship and alliance with Braavos. When Darkin returned he passed Cephaeys as his and Lyra’s own, and that matter was final. Whisperings might still exist and Darkin has promised himself that he will eventually tell his son the truth, a truth that Cephaeys has more or less pieced together himself.
  
  Cephaeys is a bright lad, and he has always known he was different from his siblings. He loves them, and they him, but something was off. Cephaeys loved the sea, loved to watch the sails from the great bridge and dreamed of a swashbuckling adventure when he was a boy. He had a great mind for math and trade and was a wonder in the warehouses of the Rahl family on the docks. When he turned eighteen, the slender and adventurous lad was given control of all Rahl assets in Braavos and even moved to the manse that Darkin had ordered built before he left. Once in the city, Cephaeys truly felt at home and began piecing things together. He took to water dancing quickly and is a deadly swordsman, his ambition to become a first blade freely spoken. But above all he conducts trade, and makes deals and he’s quite good at it. With Cephaeys running the Rahl estate in Braavos, money quite literally flows in and out with ease and the alliances of Houses that know of Cephaey’s true identity remain stronger than ever.
• Hespaerys Rahl - Twin Boy, Third Son, Eldest of Twins - Age 22 Born 19 AC
  
  Hes [+]

  First of the twins, Hespaerys is a serious fellow. As a child he was eerily calm and serious. The exact opposite of his sister in temperament it was hard to rile him to anger. However like his twin he grew into his classic Valyrian features with his mother's gray eyes. His golden blonde hair became the signature thing women and men praised him over. The attention was overwhelming to say the least. His calm nature took it in stride and now like then he gives a small smile while thanking the person. He mostly favors black but doesn't mind wearing colors.
  
  While his twin turned to the sword Hespaerys was drawn to archery and throwing weapons. Instinctually he could aim and hit his target each time. If you put something in his hand and it was thrown and it was deadly accurate. His father at the urging of his mother started to train him to not only be able to take out an opponent in combat but before combat. He was trained to be an assassin.
  
  Most of his training was done by an older man that made sure Hespaerys knew what he would be at the end of training, a dangerous weapon. Hespaerys accepted the power that can with the training. Soon he began to relax his demeanor and his severity lessened. His test came and went and was not spoken of other than to confirm his success. He now travels with his sister to Westeros.
• Lunaerys Rahl - Twin Girl, First Daughter, Youngest of Twins, - Age 22 Born 19 AC
  
  Lu [+]

  The second of the twins, Lunaerys has always been a spitfire. Even as a baby, Lunaerys was loud and obnoxious and itching for a fight. The baby Lunaerys even gave the Lord a black eye when Darkin attempted to hold her. That fighting spirit only grew as Lunaerys grew older, and despite that desire for conflict her beauty rivaled that of even her mother. Spoken of for her beauty across Volantis, Lunaerys was an obvious option for many other of the old blood of Volantis’ scions. And more and more families approached Darkin for potential alliances as Lunaerys grew into her beauty. As a teenager, Lunaerys participated in the standard education that all Rahl children were given and excelled in all things physical. She wasn’t dumb by any stretch of the imagination; she simply cared little for things other than how to knock a man off his horse and then stomp him into the dust. She suffered no one, but encouraged the looks admiring her and enjoyed shoving those boys into the mud and gently patting them on the cheeks as she pinned them.
  
  These actions put Darkin in a true dilemma. He had plenty of offers for Lunaerys but in the end decided that he would not decide his first born daughter’s fate. The girl was willful and only her twin could keep her in line and it was decided that Lunaerys would find her own way. And what a way that became. Lunaerys became famous for tavern brawling, dueling random crew members of various nationalities, and serving in mercenary companies. She claimed Shadowfang from her oldest brother Aster when she was nineteen, and then began to train in New Ghis. When she returned she lost Shadowfang to her younger brother who she loved deeply and then was instructed to take her twin and become an ambassador and potentially find what she was searching for in Westeros. Lunaerys agreed, the young woman still not really knowing what she was seeking but more than willing to explore. Her twin Hespaerys at her side, Lunaerys feels like only the gods can stop her and can’t wait for her next good fight.
• Pheynix Rahl - Second Daughter [See Below CS] - Age 20 Born 21 AC
• Castor Rahl - Fourth Son [See Below CS] - Age 19 Born 22 AC
• Cygnus Rahl - Fifth Son - Age 18 Born 23 AC
  
  Cyg [+]

  Cygnus the fifth son announced his arrival early. Lyra was not due for a week but apparently Cygnus wasn't waiting around to see the world any longer. His squalls were heard as far as the opposite wing of the household. Despite being a week early he was healthy and energetic.
  
  Growing up Cygnus kept that energy and was a bit of a handful. He was constantly getting into tight places and climbing up places he shouldn't be able to. Somehow no one saw him get into these places so they were baffled as to how it happened. Hours later he’d be finally found in his room as if not everyone in the house had been looking for him frantically. Capitalizing on these talents his education not only included the normal Rahl children education but also included a turn with an acrobat from some mummers as well as the same older man that had trained Hespaerys.
  
  Cygnus caught on quickly and is running his final test on the journey that he will be making to Westeros with his siblings.
• Pyxis Rahl - Sixth Son - Age 15 Born 26 AC
  
  Pyxis [+]

  The sixth son, Pyxis came into the world quiet and inquisitive. The boy rarely cried, and compared to his older siblings didn’t cause anywhere near the same fuss. Pyxis had an ethereal calmness about him as a baby and toddler, the boy finding contentment with even the smallest action and that action able to keep him occupied for some time. As he grew he became obviously gifted beyond his years. He had a wisdom and understanding of the world that even those well into their adult years didn’t have. He could console people with a touch, could radiate inspiration to his siblings when they spent time with him and could figure out what was bothering people without even being told. His perception, and spiritual hand at things could only be described when he was visited by a Priest of R’hllor who stated that the boy had a gift for the rarely seen things of the world and could perceive that which others could only dream.
  
  While many of his siblings preferred to stick to physical matters, Pyxis instead preferred the histories and more academic arts. He excelled at all the subjects given to him and can speak High Valyrian, Low Valyrian along with all its dialects, westerosi, old Ghiscari, Dothraki, and has even began dabbling in Asshai’i. Pyxis dreams of going to the East and exploring Yi Ti and Asshai itself but has first been requested to accompany his older brother, older sister, and younger sister on a diplomatic route through the free cities and Westeros. Despite going the wrong way, Pyxis is excited to get a chance to see how Westeros operates.
• Cassiopeia Rahl - Third Daughter - Age 12 Born 29 AC
  
  Cass [+]

  Growing up in a family that supports you can do wonders to any child but for Cassiopeia it was truly needed. A shyer child, Cass even as a baby needed a lot of attention and constant handling by her parents. She refused to let anyone but Lyra and Darkin hold her for longer than a few minutes and until she was five she constantly clung to the legs of her parents or siblings in social situations. Her reliance slowly withdrew and Cass blossomed into a young lady with a love for animals, fashion, and dreaming of fairytale love. Cassiopeia is a dreamer and while she likes to think she is ready for adventure, in reality, she needs a few more years to understand herself first. Until then her ability to work with the elephants and other animals of the House or help design new patterns has made her popular with many of the shops. She has recently been given the chance to accompany her older siblings on a tour of the free cities and Westeros, which the young Rahl is extremely excited about.
• Sirius Rahl - Seventh Son, Youngest Child - Age 10 Born 31 AC
  
  Riss [+]

  Sirius is the baby of the vast House Rahl. Doted upon by his parents AND older siblings has meant that Sirius has had it easier than any other. Each sibling has imparted something different to the impressionable lad and as such Sirius is growing to be an amalgamation of each. He has a good head on his shoulders and a love for his home. He has proven to be exceptionally adaptable and able to handle the many personalities of his family better than any other, except perhaps his mother. Out of all the Rahl children, Sirius seems to have taken after his father the most. He has the similar dead calm, patience, and ability to adapt to the situation at hand. Darkin has begun to think that it will be Sirius who next becomes a Triarch for the Rahl family and hopes his other children have prepared the way and expanded enough for Sirius's turn at the head. That is if things go to plan.
• Calytrix Vhassar - Aunt - Age 43 born 2 BC
  
  Caly [+]

  Calytrix is a strong independent woman that has lost her husband and oldest sons. She is a very proficient water dancer and assists her brother Darkin with training the newly freed slaves in tavern keeping as well as making sure that they can read and write. She is tall and slender with inky black hair that she shares with a few of her nephews and nieces. Pheynix looks most like her and could be taken for her own daughter. But in truth Calytrix looks identical to her mother Klyena and in turn Pheynix looks like her grandmother.
  
  Calytrix fell in love with Raegulus Vhassar whose family fled Aegon’s battle with the Valyrian houses there during the conquest. They married and were living happily with their five children, two of which were grown enough that they were starting to venture out to find their own niche. A terrible tragedy happened that during a skirmish with the Dothraki her two sons were killed protecting the body of their mortally wounded father. The boy's bodies were recovered and Raegulus was delivered to Calytrix only to die in agony days later.
  
  Calytrix spent days neither eating nor sleeping until her daughter six year old Andromaeda slapped sense into her. Her relationship with her daughter has suffered since and she has taken to Pheynix as more of a daughter figure. She moved on for her children though the process was difficult because her heart was broken. The realization that she was pregnant buoyed her spirits and little Caelum was born. Like her other children he was also spoiled but the boy seems to take it in stride. Probably because of the stable influence of his Uncle, Aunt and older cousins.
  
  Calytrix has recently had lovers but they fill a craving her body demands and there is no love or tears when they leave. SHe has had the love of her life. She is discreet so no one outside the family, those paying particular attention in the family, knows anything about the men she takes to bed. Doubtless certain family members like her brother and sister in law know and a few of the older nephews and nieces but none have brought it up.
• Finlay Vhassar - Cousin [Male] - Age 15 Born 26 AC
  
  Fin [+]

  Finlay is a brooder. He has experienced a lot of loss in his young life, two of the hardest losses being his oldest brothers. His heroes, and guides in life. A natural talent when it comes to dealing with people, Finlay can empathize with people and understand them. Finlay works exceptionally well with the slaves of House Rahl and is one of the main reasons they are so content. In addition, Finlay has slowly begun to take control of picking which slaves to free and to send for training as a spy. He is a struggling teenager but knows what he’s good at. He loves his mother and his siblings and struggles to do his best for Andromaeda and Caelum and to be a guiding hand like his older brothers were for him..
• Andromaeda Vhassar - Cousin [Female] - Age 13 28 AC
  
  Andi [+]

  Andi is a thirteen year old girl that wants to be a Knight. She takes after her mother in temperament, hotheaded and confident. As the only girl of Raegulus and Calytrix she is spoiled. While her mother is confident she mourned the loss of her husband as well as her oldest sons and in turn was not there for her surviving children and at the age of six slapped her mother out of it and threw a fit. This act of violence frightened Andi with how much she enjoyed it. From then on she fell into fits of rage when not given her way but was able to be pulled out of them by her older cousins. Mostly these fits would be directed toward something her mother attempted to educate her on. Andi felt more at ease with her Rahl cousins than her own family. She emulated Lunaerys and like Castor wants to be a Knight.
• Caelum Vhassar - Cousin [Male] - 7
  
  Cael [+]

  Caelum is a young boy of 7 who enjoys chasing cats all around the home. He has three cats that he considers his and only his and the felines can be found following the boy around as he goes from lesson to lesson. Caelum was young enough to bounce back from the hardships of his older siblings and hasn't felt the loss of his oldest brothers quite yet. Caelum seems to be a great student, excelling in all of his studies and still inquisitive and wanting more. Sailing and geography seem to be the boys primary passions and even small ship trips will get him excited.
• Raegulus Vhassar - Uncle - Married in from former Lys Valyrian house same as Lyra [is Lyra's brother] Died 34 AC
• Sabik Vhassar - Cousin [Male] Died 34 AC
• Astraeus Vhassar - Cousin [Male] Died 34 AC
• Cernys Rahl - Uncle Died 27 AC
• Daenyha Rahl - Aunt - Married in - From Asshai Died 27 AC
• Vesper Rahl - Cousin, Twin [Female] Died 20 AC
• Hesper Rahl - Cousin, Twin [Female] Died 27 AC
• Erasmus Rahl - Grandfather Died 15 AC
• Kleyna Rahl - Grandmother - from Asshai Died 20 AC

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Pheynix Rahl

Age: 20 Born 21 AC

Appearance: Pheynix resembles her Aunt Calytrix; and like her older brother’s Aster and Cephaeys received the rarer dark hair, as well as her sister Lunaerys. The inky black hair that is reminiscent of shadows that lie in the shadow lands. As long, knee length, and thick as her hair is Pheynix likes to keep it pulled up with intricate braids ordered around her head like a crown. She will leave it down for important occasions so that it will wave and curl. She has a silvery white streak that is at the nape of her neck and with her hair down you don't notice it. With her hair up the birthmark is in full display and is something she shares with her Aunt Calytrix, her brother Aster and sister Lunaerys. Her complexion is pale like her siblings that resemble the Valyria heritage with a sprinkling of freckles. Her eyes are a golden hazel color with long thick black lashes. Her mouth is in a soft cupid’s bow and a pale mauve.

Pheynix is a confident imposing young woman who towers over most men, other than her family. Standing at 5' 10" she is athletic and curvy. She moves with the cat like grace of a water dancer. She likes to wear light weight fabrics in a variety of colors and wears dresses as well as pants. Volantis is typically hot so outfits ride the line of decency or outright cross it. Pheynix doesn't have the latter but it's not uncommon to see people pushing past the boundaries of society because of the heat.

Description & biography: Pheynix Rahl, Second Born Daughter of Lord Darkin Rahl and Lady Lyra Rahl was born on the twenty fourth night, of the the third month, of the year 21 AC. When she was born she was not breathing until her father held her and breathed life back into her. He says that she opened her eyes and he felt an instant connection as she blinked; then shrieking like a bird of prey she let the world know she was just fine.

Pheynix, or Nix as her family refers to her, was the favorite of her family. Most obviously her father, no one held it against her but she got away with more but consequently was also sheltered a bit more than the others. When she was little her older siblings doted on the younger ones and especially on her. She took her cues from them and did the same to the younger ones as well. She grew up in a very loving home. She was especially close to Castor who would follow her around as if she were his guiding star. They would get into trouble more often than the twins and typically were instigating little adventures that would have given their mother white hair if she didn’t already have it. Needless to say that Pheynix would be able to smile at her father and all was forgiven for the two.

The family was well educated and spared no expense on education. They were taught the languages of Essos and Westeros as well as the Summer Isles. Astrology, astronomy, navigation, sailing and swimming. Weaponry and warfare, strategy and tactics. Politics, etiquette, dancing and the art of the fan. Each of the children excelled in particular areas. The areas that Pheynix particularly excelled at were languages, astronomy, navigation, sailing, swimming, politics, etiquette, dancing, art of the fan and one thing only a few others in her family were known for; water dancing. Education started early with the Rahl children and continued even into adulthood by applying skills taught at a level of thought and ingenuity that one expected from an adult fluent in their craft. Masters in areas that the Rahl children proved to be exceptional in were sought out and highered so that specialized tutoring was available to hone and refine that skill.

A few things stood out in Pheynix that struck her father as unique to her, besides the water dancing. Capitalizing on her ease with languages, politics and etiquette; her parents decided that she could learn a few more things that would benefit and further the spying that they practiced. From the age of twelve she started to hone skills to observe, move silently, recall information and listen while filtering for importance. This turned out to be a great investment and Pheynix excelled at this training. At the age of twenty she became proficient with these added skills that her father decided to put them to the test and is sending her on a mission to find out what exactly going on with the royal family.

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Castor Rahl

Age: 19 Born 22 AC

Appearance: If one ever doubted that the Rahl family came from Valyrian blood one only had to look at Castor. Ethereally handsome as if from another time Castor boasts the typical features of Valyria, a head of messy pale blonde hair, violet eyes, and pale skin. He has soft edges on the tips of his ears and nose instead of the standard sharper, while his jaw and chin blend together with his cheeks flawlessly. Everything simply seems to fit perfectly together for the young man. His eyes are piercing which changes color based on the lighting. They also shine brighter when he is thinking or concentrating, and the same eyes become cold and calculating when in combat or pushed to anger. Castor is normally seen wearing fine clothing of black and purple, his sword constantly strapped at his hip. A tall lad, Castor stands at six foot-two,and when he was in his teenage years was quite thin which did cause some health issues. But as he went from being a boy and into being a man Castor’s form filled out and his muscles from constant training and drilling turned to wire which made him deceptive in his strength. In fact his entire being seems to be misconstrued to what he is, a deadly warrior.

Description & biography: The fourth born son of Darkin and Lyra Rahl, Castor was not a planned child. A result of a celebratory feast and the forgetfulness of a serving woman for Lyra, Castor came screaming into the world later that year, the last bit of that year, the twentieth night of the twelfth month. Despite being an ‘accident’ all rejoiced at his birth and Castor even started a tradition of the Rahl family sharing their new child with the city of Volantis and feeding the hungry and giving all their slaves a day off to celebrate. Of course, this tradition was heavily protected, but it still gave the Rahl family great favor with the smallfolk and since Castor was the first, he and his Valyrian looks are always spoken of fondly and with smiles by the common folk. Castor was also the first child to be blessed by not only the old Valyrian gods but also the Lord of Light which had begun to gain popularity in Volantis.

As a young infant and toddler, Castor was inseparable from his slightly older sister Pheynix. There was stories of the two children crawling themselves into all sorts of trouble but getting out of it due to Pheynix’s ability to get their father to forget everything and the servants all covering for Castor. It could easily be said that the two were the absolute favorites of their siblings thus far and even Castor’s older brothers and sisters wouldn’t debate that statement. Aster in particular spent many a day with the young boy and taught him all sorts of things in an effort to show Cas that even though he was the fourth born son he wasn’t any less loved and cared for.

While Aster taught the young boy of many things, Cas was still given the exceptional education that the Rahl family could provide with their wealth. Like Pheynix, Castor was taught the languages of Essos, Westeros, and even the Summer Islands. Out of the many subjects that were taught, Castor cared little for Astrology, navigation, or sailing instead preferring politics, tactics, strategy, and weaponry. The sword, in particular, did the young Rahl have raw natural talent with. It was a common occurrence for Castor to forgo some of his less favorite lessons to instead sneak into the training yard and train for countless hours even when exhausted. His trainers, consisting of Westerosi Knight that once was considered for the Kingsguard, a Braavosi water dancer, a Volantene champion of the wars against the coalition of other free states, a Meerish gladiator, and a Ghiscari Legionnaire.

Despite the many influences, Castor became obsessed with the ideals of Knighthood and that of Westeros. He dreamed of fighting alongside someone like Aegon the Conqueror, Orys Baratheon, and all his Knights. He read everything he could on the continent of Westeros, hired tutors from the continent and spent a lot of time on the docks to catch information on the western land. He kept up with all the different battles and replayed them in his head and tried to come up with various ways to change the outcome. Unable to make his way to Westeros, Castor instead began to train even harder than before to the point that even his instructors began to worry. Despite his thin and tall frame, Castor’s talent with the blade allowed him to routinely beat other Volantene noble sons five and six years his senior. And at sixteen when his build finally started to fill in he beat his own sister in combat to claim Shadowfang, the families Valyrian steel sword which always went to the families best fighter.

When Castor turned eighteen, his father, Darkin Rahl, instructed his son to prepare as he would be finally getting his chance to go to Westeros. Castor and his sister Pheynix would take their younger siblings Pyxis and Cassiopeia first to Myr, Tyrosh, Lys, Pentos, and then to Braavos to continue securing the alliance with the Sealord and one particular Braavosi house. After this, Castor and his siblings would go to Dragonstone and then Kings Landing itself, able to act as ambassadors for their family and giving Castor a chance to see the land he had fallen in love with.

Description and Biography:
Tyanna was born to a Pentosi magister and one of his free bond servants - a woman known for a silver tongue and silken voice. The girl grew up in the magister's palatial estate, though was never directly recognized as his daughter. As a young child she was considered beautiful if oddly precocious. From a young age she held an unnatural interest in forbidden arts, in dark studies. She had a keen interest in alchemy, though there were was little she could pursue through official channels. After a series of mysterious deaths, mutilations, and disappearances plagued the magister's household, Tyanna was turned out; she had not yet reached thirteen namedays.

The girl was not so charming as her mother had been, but she had grown into a recognized beauty if starkly so. Pale with raven hair that fell in thick waves, there was an air of danger that only increased when her lips curled up into a knowing smile. She easily found work as a tavern dancer. Tyanna did not care for the sexuality the work demanded of her, but she enjoyed the power and access it gave to continue her craft. She dabbled in alchemy, some say she practiced sorcery. By the time she was twenty she left taverns behind and had become a widely sought after courtesan. Men would occasionally disappear after their time with her. Some were never seen again, others were found badly beaten nearly beyond recognition in dirty alleys. Where other courtesans capitalized on their delicate beauty, it was her harshness and the dangerous rumors that drew men to her like flies to a spider's web.

No matter the truth behind the rumors, Tyanna is not a woman to be trifled with. She entertains the wealthy and powerful but relies on the lowest of men and controls her network through fear. Few come to work for her willingly, driven by desperation. Some few of similar mind give themselves mind and body to her work, miscreants and deviants.

The arrival of Maegor Targaryen and his wife, Alys Harroway sent waves of rumor through Pentos. The Sorceress of Pentos watched from a distance, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and found it in the Prince's absence.

House Description:
Of all the paramount houses of Westeros, House Baratheon is the youngest with no great lineage to speak of. While several of the ruling houses of the other Kingdoms may have risen greatly in prominence following the Conquest, only House Baratheon was truly forged by its events. Orys Baratheon, retainer of the Targaryens, was granted both the right to rule the Stormlands, the Keep of Storm's End and the hand in marriage of the Last Storm Queen, Argella Durrandon. It is widely believe that Orys was the bastard brother of the Targaryen siblings, thus making the first generation of House Baratheon to be the combination of two royal lines.

The meeting of Orys and Argella may not have begun in ideal terms, but they remained united throughout their lives, helping to secure the rule of the new house, equally, their marriage was fruitful, bearing three sons. Few in the Stormlands could suggest the Seven had not blessed such a bond.

Some of this luster has worn off after the death of Orys and Argella, combined with a new generation of glory hungry Stormlords, eager from their own ambition. A spattering of small rebellions begun shortly into the reign of the current Lord Paramount, Durran Baratheon. All who might have hoped the strength of the Baratheons had faded with the passing of their founding sire were proven disappointed however, as all were put down the decisive force. The greatest and worst of these, an ill-fated scheme between discontent Stormlanders and Stone Dornish, was crushed so decisively that Durran now bears the epithet of 'Stormbreaker.'

The scions of the House may bear their mothers Stormlander features, but the blood of the dragon is still strong, and House Baratheon stand ever loyal to the royal household.

Family Members:

• Lord Paramount Durran Baratheon, The Stormbreaker,
  
  • His son and heir, Rogar Baratheon
  • His daughter, Roelle Baratheon
• Davos Baratheon,
• Raymont Baratheon, Member of the Kingsguard,
• Orys Baratheon
• Argella Baratheon nee Durrandon

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Warrior Sons

Cleanse Thy Sin

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Description:
The Noble and Puissant Order of the Warrior's Sons is an order of Westerosi knights sworn to the Faith of the Seven. They are part of the Faith Militant, and are also known as the Swords. Their counterparts are the "Stars", also called the Poor Fellows. The Warrior's Sons obey and answer to the High Septon, as they believe the High Septon speaks for the Seven.

Recent History:
Warrior Sons

Members:

• Damon Morrigen
• Ayden Darklyn
  Lord Dark [+]

  Name: Ayden Darklyn
  Age: 30 Born 11 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Ayden “Denny” Darklyn the most rounded of all the children and is the most passionate about cleansing of the Iron Throne. He is the dangerous kind of warrior, an educated and intelligent one. He doesn’t have a speciality when it comes to fighting. He has the ability to use most any weapon with no preference. His greatest talent lies in his mind. He is cunning and will do what it takes to win. He knows the flaws of his brothers in faith and where their strengths lie. While he pushes them to their perceived limits he would always be there to help when needed. He truly loves his brothers in faith and is very close with all of them.
• Olyver Blackwood
  Shield of the Sons [+]

  Name: Olyver Blackwood
  Age: 30 Born 11 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Olyver “Oly” Blackwood is a warrior to the core. He specializes in working with just a shield, unarmed and with a whip. He is the quiet one of the group but just because he is almost always silent doesn’t mean that he can’t talk or is unintelligent, though he lets people make their assumptions. Like all the other brothers he has scars and has nearly died a few times.
• Dyclan Grey
  Spear of the Sons [+]

  Name: Dyclan Grey
  Age: 27 Born 14 AC
  House/Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Dyclan “Lan” Grey has always been a man of action. He and Rhys take after their father more in looks than the twins. His instincts are honed to a fine edge and he is especially good with spears and javelins paired with or without shields. He is brutal when it comes to anyone deemed an enemy seeing the world in black and white. He loves his brothers to a fault and would die to keep them safe. He is extremely faithful.
• Rhysander Bushy
  Artisan of the Sons [+]

  Name: Rhysander Bushy
  Age: 24 Born 17 AC
  House/Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Rhysander “Rhys” Bushyis more of a thinker and liked to plan out and design really well anything. He has designed weapons as well as buildings and furniture. He’s done less fighting than his brothers but he did design their weapons. Like all his brothers he loves his faith and likes to make things for them. He is very skilled in carpentry, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, leather working and glasswork. He stayed in Braavos more than his older brothers.
• Kaylib Roxton
  Sword of the Sons [+]

  Name: Kaylib Roxton
  Age: 22 Born 19 AC
  House/Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Kaylib “Kay” Roxton is a little hotheaded Water Dancer. His arrogance extends to women as well and he has had a good share of lovers. Thankfully he is not stupid enough to have deflowered the wrong noble’s daughter. He likes to stick to the courtesans and widows so as not to get tied down. His youth and ability make him very proud. He struts around like a Summer Island bird that squawks and imitates its owners. He could be the First Sword but he doesn’t have the dedication to any but his brothers. He is especially protective of his faith which he does not see his actions are against it.
• Joffrey Doggett
• Paris Sloane
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Paris Sloane
  Age: 23 18 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Paris Sloane is a Reach native who is quick to smile and joke. He has been with the Warrior Sons for months. His speciality is spears and javelins.
• Mylo Graves
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Mylo Graves
  Age: 33 Born 8 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Mylo Graves is a Reach man that specializes in dual wielding daggers.
• Morgan Hightower
• Sabriel Errol
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Sabriel Errol
  Age: 42 Born 1 BC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Sabriel Errol is a Stormlander his speciality is the great sword.
• Gabryle Crane
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Gabryle Crane
  Age: 20 Born 21 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Gabryle Crane is from the Reach and his specialty is longsword and shield.
• Icarus Pyke
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Icarus Pyke
  Age: 35 Born 6 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Icarus Pyke is a former Iron Islander that didn’t take to the Drowned God. He decided at the age of twelve to jump ship, ending up in Essos after a few months. He joined the Warrior Sons when they started. He specializes in hand axes.
• Pyter Cargyll
  Warrior Son [+]

  Name: Pyter Cargyll
  Age: 25 Born 16 AC
  Affiliation: Warrior Sons
  Description & Biography: Pyter Cargyll is from the Crownlands. He decided at the age of twenty to adventure, ending up in Essos after a few months. He joined the Warrior Sons when they started. He specializes in water dancing.
• Lyle Bracken
• Harys Horpe
• Aegon Ambrose
• Dickon Flowers
• Willam the Wanderer
• Garibald of the Seven Stars
• Septon Etienne Warrior Sons Priest

Tytan, The Berserker

Age:28 Winters (17th day of the Evening Star/12 AC)

Appearance:
Height: 6'10
Weight: 380 lbs
Hair: Red
Skin: Pale
Body Type: Strongman

With Pale skin,that has recently been feeling the kiss of steady sunlight, the gargantuan Thenn is built heavily in favor of great strength. His body is padded with muscle, and despite lacking the pure definition that many men within the South have and are proud of, there is no doubt there are few that could match him in strength. His hair blazes red, more so when the Summer sun catches it and gives him the appearance of being wreathed in flames, all the more terrifying when he is caked in blood.

Description & biography:

He was a Thenn, that is what the Southerners called him, those at least that knew of his people. It was mostly the Crows that spoke of it, how they described him when he spoke of where he came from when he was asked. However he had always felt ‘distant’, from his people. They were content to sit and worship at the Magnar's feet. They were content to live in the mountains, to remain at the Frostfangs and only travel when it came time to claim a woman. He felt that the life they lived was not his destiny, because he wanted more. He felt a calling in his blood each time he looked at the wall, that great barrier of Ice and Stone. He needed to see what was beyond it, to experience what it had to offer. What Drink would he find, what food would he eat, what women would he lay with? These questions danced in his mind, demanding answers, demanding satisfaction. What more was there to the world?! He needed to know!

So he sought it out.

He eventually gave in to the call, and on his 22nd winter he set out, but he did not just wander out without preparation. He was not a fool, he had prepared himself well, and supplied himself with knowledge. He traveled to Eastwatch, as the Crows call it, and played his part well. He traded supplies and gifts for knowledge and language. The 'Maesters' there were easy enough, simply by trading his language for theirs he learned the common tongue of the Kneelers, and even managed to earn a fair bit of coin in the duels he had with the guard there. He offered to teach them how the Free Folk fought, so they would be better prepared in their outings, and in return they would supply him with Stags and Dragons for his work. In over a year, he had a purse of dragons and stags, and he had felt it was finally time. So on his last trip to the Eastwatch, he stowed away on an outbound ship, some other merchant vessel headed towards some port city called White Harbour.

It was there that he spent his first days within the South. He commissioned a new set of armor, clothing, and even bought a horse in order to make himself blend in more. He had seen plenty of fighting men, in armor and regalia, and the respect they had been given by the people. What better way to blend in then to become one, and to be honest he was quite entranced by the need to fight. His time however was well spent in the weeks in White Harbour, he learned much and even came to appreciate at least a portion of the Southerners faith. The Warrior seemed to be an Old God of War and Battle, honor and Courage were traits he could respect in a fighter though he did see the necessity for more dubious means sometimes.

He found himself blending quite well with the people despite the clear differences between him and a majority of the Kneelers, given he could see clear over the heads of nearly all of them. He took to calling himself 'Tytan', after a remark in the tavern from one of the Milksops there had got himself pissed off of the watery fluid they called attempted to pass off as Mead. It seems he would have to settle for this weak drink for a while, if only to blend in. He had been called 'Big as a titan' by a man who tried to get him to fight a well known brawler at the tavern, though it did not end the way they wanted. Deprived of their pride, and a handful of stags, 'Tytan' left that Tavern with a wide smile, if an unquenched thirst.

He knew he could not simply coast on the grace of luck, so he set to crafting a tale for himself. So as he traveled, he spun tall tales, each different from the last in order to test how the people reacted. Eventually he settled on the unfortunate outcome of a woman of the North running afoul a Wildling, and ending up with a massive bastard of a boy. It was a simple, and easily believable story that the people ate up and understood.

Given his talents, it should be no surprise when he found himself falling into the habit of working with the Men at Arms in the Riverlands. From Bandit hunting at the like, to the simple actions of working as a Guard from time to time within the city proper for various peoples. He eventually began doing mercenary work all across the realm, eventually ending up being swept into the fighting within the Riverlands. At first he did not know what was happening, so he ended up fighting for whichever side had paid him the most, falling under Harren the Red’s banner. Yet as he fought the warriors sent against him, he began to notice the weakness present within the commanders and the growing competence of the men he was fighting. It was clear there was a breakdown as the forces of Harren the Red were continually being pushed back. His use as both a tracker and a scout were pivotal, because they offered him value that he could negotiate with, alongside his knowledge of the area as well as key points of interest, it gave him something to offer when he approached the Reachmen. So tossing down his allegiance with his previous benefactor, he approached the Reachmen and offered his blades and the information they would need to pursue their battle all the better. The names and locations of camps he knew of, the men he knew were important, and more importantly he offered to be the man in the front in order to prove he was willing to kill those he had once fought with.

He was placed in the Vanguard of one Lady Vittoria Tyrell, and began to prove himself as a capable and dedicated warrior. Tracking down the roaming bands of his once allies, he was first in and last out when the slaughter came. Bathing himself in the blood of many, as his crude brass axes left little mercy to be had. The Days passed, and Harren was pressed further and further back until he was trapped west of God’s Eye. Upon the passing of Lord Alyn, he proved himself further by taking the village the Hand had fallen in with a storm of blood. Crashing through thin hut walls with all the force of a Berserker, he fell upon the foe as the rest of the Vanguard dived into the bloody melee. He stood over the corpses of the ones who had slain the Hand, and returned his body to his Lady, for he knew that it was important. With that in hand, Harren soon fell and he had, through his actions, earned a Knightship. It had such an impact that even his new little lady had the grace to reward him with gear, proper armor and weapons befitting a knight.

Blood Red Armor, a Brass Rune in the language of the First Men emblazoned on his chest piece, he looked more the fearsome demon than the knight. Standing near 6 '10, he was in fact a Titan of a man, as the nickname given to him in the Tavern attested. He weighed nearly a full 380 lbs, and was so strong he could carry his own horse up flights of stairs should he wish. He was a merry man, feeling the need to drink and share stories with those he fought alongside. He was known for Tall Tales, things so fanciful that the men simply enjoyed them for what they were, entertainment. Yet his horror stories of the North, of the men with skin like ice and the living dead were known to lower the temperature of rooms, and chill the blood in a man's body despite their obvious exaggeration. For there are no men that live past death in the Frozen North.

Owing much to the Brave and Bold Steel Rose of the Tyrell family, he swore an oath to follow her so long as she led the Order of the Golden Rose, his little Lady Vittoria. The ‘Ardent’ Maiden, the words themselves bringing a chuckle to his lips. He was not the most wise, nor the most intelligent, but he was learned enough to realize the double meaning of the title. The Irony of the description of Ardent being applied to his Calm and Calculating little Mistress always made him chuckle just a bit. If there was one thing his Lady was Passionate about, it was knowledge, and she continued to amaze him with the sheer scope of things she knew. And so he marched with her, at her side and in her Vanguards. He tracked her foes, he slew her enemies, and he watered the Steel Rose with a river of blood so that one day it may bloom the most brilliant red.

Rain House sits at the eastern edge of Cape Wraith, emerging from the Rainwood along the southern shore of Shipbreaker Bay. Although the Cape and the Rainwood are rainy, the land is fertile. Despite no large cities in the area, there are numerous villages throughout, especially along the coast, as well as a large and thriving port town, Mistport. The area is known for it’s large trade of fur, wood, and amber.

House Wylde is a principal house sworn to House Baratheon. Given the resources of the Rainwood and their long history dating back to the First Men, those sworn to Rain House tend to be loyal. In the wake of House Baratheon’s takeover from House Durrandon, the Rainwood and Shipbreaker Bay allowed for House Wylde to largely isolate itself and let events take their natural course.

Their current Lord, Waylon, a man in his early thirties, has maintained the path for House Wylde and Rain House that his father did. His wife is Lady Ella from House Whitehead, their two children are Lord Casper and Lady Sylvie, both children. Other notable members of the House include Ser Elyas Wylde, an older Knight that fought with renown in numerous campaigns, and Lady Mariel, widow of the Lord of Stonehelm, Myles of House Swann, known as the Lady of the Mists.

Their House motto is “Rain Must Fall.”