[CHAR] Game of Thrones: The Long Night

[Sini]

Willem “Willie” Morningwood, Lame Willie, assistant to the Master of Coin
Age: 40
Appearance:

Sigil: A golden oak tree on a field of green
Words:To Rise and Shine

picture

Personality
Willem Morningwood is bitter and whimsical towards life in general, often mocking his own condition, and views steps as his greatest enemies and chairs as his greatest allies. After the accident and depression, Lame Willie became extremely cynical, capable of appreciating irony to its fullest extent. He despises his fat employer, but enjoys the influence and protection his position bestows on him.

Spat out by his peers has made Willie thrive on isolation. Instead of the strength of his sword-arm, he had to rely on his wit. He has a sly and ruthless nature, branding himself as a survivor at all costs, trying to out-think his adversaries. Being a cripple, he has resolved to ignore, even amputate, his scruples. As such, he is no stranger to strong-arming, bribing or cajoling to have things his way. These often come in handy in both the worlds of commerce and politics.

Willem has turned himself into a caricature, and likes to mock everyone and everything. Keenly aware of the world laughing at him, he has turned to a sickly mockery and laughs back. His cane made of black oak, for instance has a silver knob in the shape of a large acorn, with leaves wrapping downward alongside the length of it.

Biography:
Willem grew up as the son of a landed knight, sworn to Ashford in the Reach. As the years went by, he received a traditional upbringing, and showed some promise while being a squire and page. Like many a nobleman’s son, Willie, generous with his smile, dreamed of making a name for himself as a tourney knight. In spite of his humble origins, the son of Morningwood was a rising star in the firmament of the Reach.

His tale of glory and fame came sharply to an end when he, at the age of 18, participated in a tourney at Maidenpool. Over-confident and careless, Willem had challenged a much older and experienced knight to a bout. The subsequent exchange of tilts ended with Willem’s horse tripping, falling and crushing its rider’s leg.

For the next two months, Willem drifted between life and death for his broken, wounded leg had begun to fester. When he finally was on the mend, it became clear that his mutilated right leg would not be able to bear his full weight any longer. His old friends left him, and he could no longer bask in the adoration of fair maidens. Instead, he was shunned by most of the society and abandoned by those he held dear. Though his father did not say, it was clear he considered Willem as less than before.

Crippled, Willem experienced a period of debauchery where he consumed vast quantities of poppy-milk and passed his time with dicing and whoring. A failed attempt at suicide later, he set sail for the Free Cities where he led the life of a rogue. After spending some time in Pentos, he moved to Lys in order to escape his debts. There he was employed by a pleasure house to handle the ledgers, accounts and sensitive information. It is said he even served with a free company as its paymaster for some time.

However, eventually he returned to Westeros at the request of his ageing father. Willem agreed to pass his inheritance over to his younger brother, Ser Joss Morningwood while he took up a position as steward in Ashford, dealing with market days and financial affairs. The local lord, however, refused to recognise his talents and so Willem departed once more after helping his brother Joss.

After the final stages of the Dance of Dragons, Willie ventured to the capital and worked as a customs officer and port official, until he was selected by the Master of Coin. For the past five years, Lame Willie has toiled in royal office, and made a reputation for himself as a brilliant accountant.

Thriving in a metropolitan environment such as King’s Landing, Willem has acquired a steady income and a reputation, and works on gathering his fortune and influence. He has, ever since his time in Lys, sworn off knighthood and donned the cape of a politician, though some might call him a crook. Dealing in coin or favours, it is all the same to him.

OOC

Yes, this is meant as somewhat of a joke. In the past we have often joked about making a House Morningwood. I am making it happen.

[Meth Quokka]

House Amreth

House: Amreth of the Crownlands

Green or Black: Black

Recent History:
Situated northwest of King's Landing along the Blackwater river where it meets the God's Eye, the house lands are primarily situated in a small settlement of Forktown and the accompanying Castle Amreth which are dedicated to horse husbandry and as a trade stop for weary merchants. Little more than minor nobles, they had been of relatively little importance until the Dance of Dragons where their location saw them involved in a number of conflicts at Tumbleton, Lakeshore, the Kingsroad and God's Eye. The house is exhausted, their armies shattered, their vaults empty and their lands ravaged and now look to rebuild after the chaotic two years of war. The Lord Raynald Amreth acended to the lordship after the death of his father Lothar in 125AC. The House Amreth prides themselves on their horsemanship, their martial skills and the strength of their vows.

Family Members

Name: Lord Raynald Amreth

Age: 28

Appearance: Raynald stands at an intimidating 6'4, with powerfully built shoulders and a lean cut body which lends itself to a lifetime of training along with two years of harsh warfare. His face once reasonably handsome has been weathered and worn by the hard years and the darkness of war and is framed by a covering of stubble and short black hair on his head. His eyes are a dark blue, almost grey colour which when set deep into his now gaunt and weathered face bring a natural sense of weariness and sorrow that defy his younger years. In battle he carries the dark blue dyed armour of the River Riders of Amreth while in peace he wears relatively simple cut clothing which in turn with his house’s horse farms, give rise to the mocking pseudonym of the Stable Lord. He always carries either his monstrous greatsword or his marginally smaller bastard sword on him, being a lord lived in battle not peace.

Biography:
Raynald grew up under the firm but fair rule of his father, Lothar, who sought to continue the Amreth tradition of faithfully serving their Targaryen overlords and supplying the noble houses of the world with steeds to carry them into battle. Lothar had been somewhat simpler of mind than his son, with no ambition to improve the family holdings nor attain any great martial pursuit nor court any great lord or lady to his court. Raynald naturally chafed under this unambitious man as he grew up, being a child he desired to be the greatest warrior in the world, to court princesses and queens and of being the most powerful lord in Westeros. He had a voracious appetite for martial pursuits, both in the use of weapons and the strategy of war, which outstripped his father’s ability to teach him by the age of ten. From there on, he was taught by a variety of tutors whom Lothar could afford to pay and knights who sought to purchase a famed Amreth steed found themselves having to contribute to the boy’s education.

The one thing that his father did teach him was the worth a man’s word and the strength of a good reputation for a House. He strove to fulfil the virtue of his house and to become a worthy Lord Amreth after his father, who’d arguably a little too peace-loving for the true pursuit of martial prowess. When he turned fourteen, he squired for a prestigious tourney knight in King’s Landing and returned to his family three years later having been anointed a knight and learned much about the snake pit that is King’s Landing. He was much more appreciative of the positivity in his family’s little hamlet, the peace and relative prosperity that existed for all but the developing tension in King’s Landing over succession weighed heavily on his mind. His father, now starting to grow frail with age, his mother resigned to caring for him, left the running of the castle and the town to Raynald who felt the need to expand the military strength of the castle and improve the defences of the town. Using all he’d learned, he trained the River Knights personally, bringing in Jeroh, an experienced men-at-arms he’d met in King’s Landing. He married in the time before the Dance, to Selysa the third daughter of a minor western lord but the pairing only produced two stillborns, the second costing his wife's life in childbirth. He adopted his father’s oath, sworn at King’s Landing, to accept Rhaenyra as the next rightful ruler of Westeros, which he acted upon with the onset of civil war in the Kingdom.

He fought a number of skirmishes around his lands, trying to avoid moving too far away in order to keep Castle Amreth as far too much trouble for the potential gains of attacking it. He proved an apt commander and fearless warrior, leading his River Knights in charges at the battles of Lakeshore and God’s Eye, before he used the remnants of his once potent company to fight in the last battle on the Kingsroad which broke the power of the greens. His absence from the Amreth lands at crucial points have left it somewhat desolate from raids and negligence as the treasury was committed to keeping his army effective in the field. Having taken his brother and his two childless uncle to battle but lost them at the battle of Lakeshore, the family Amreth is kept to him, his sister and his broken mother who spends her days in a convent. He now faces the challenge of rebuilding the prosperity of his lands and to rebuild his family and army.

Name: Melara Amreth

Age: 16

Appearance:
A cute but not remarkable beauty, she has pale skin that boasts of a life of relative comfort untouched by the ravages of the weather and the trademark Amreth jet-black hair framing dark blue-grey eyes. Her face and body language speak of an innate kindness and hint at a hidden intelligence albeit somewhat dulled by the naetivity of a sheltered life. She has a lean body, kept mroe in shape by temperance than exercise.

Biography:
Born to then a relatively old Lothar, she remembered the times of peace with a fondness of the days when she would sit perched on her father's knee while being doted upon by her mother and watching Raynald and Ormond train with the fighting men of the household. She'd always got along better with Ormond who she'd been much closer in age to than Raynald. Suddenly her joyful childhood was shattered first by the passing of her father, who'd been the happiest man she'd ever known even as death drew ever closer for him. Raynald did as much he could to keep his little sister happy but she relied mostly on Ormond and her maids for comfort, finding her older brother a little too hardened.

Before the years of war, she began to entertain suitors for her hand, a daunting prospect for the sweet, young girl but Raynald did his best to ensure she found a match she could find happiness with. No suitor was found before the outbreak of the war, with many suitors being dismissed diplomatically by having to best Raynald in a friendly duel to claim her hand; none of the suitors came close to matching her brother with the blade. The second great tragedy to strike her life was the loss of Ormond, he'd not been the warrior Raynald had been but a selfish part of her had always wished Ormond had come home rather than Raynald. With the memories of her time spent with Ormond at Castle Amreth haunting her, she agreed to travel with her remaining brother to King's Landing to find a suitor and a new castle to live in.

Name: Jeroth

Age: 58

Appearance:
A grizzled, old master-at-arms, Jeroth is of above average height and an ageing athletic body that is beginning to crack under the weight of time and stress, reflected in his fading brown eyes. He carries a number of scars the signs of a harsh life of campaigning and living for the next paycheck. His short, grey hair is balding on the top and the unruly mess that is his beard grows whiter with every passing day. He keeps himself clad in a battered old iron breastplate, preferring the trappings of a simple life to the luxuries that his position could gain.

Biography:

The bastard son of a whore and a soldier, he was born in Flea Bottom and his childhood was rough, unscrupulous and unforgiving. He often treaded the wrong side of the law to get by, always avoiding trouble from the law but operating as little more than a petty thief. When he came of age he decided to gain more legal employment and served as a soldier, a sellsword and eventually a man-at-arms for minor lords throughout the realm. When a trip back to King's Landing to search for a new lord revealed that he had a bastard son, he resolved to be a father to the boy and take care of the mother, Ravella by taking employment in King's Landing.

Through a chance meeting with a somewhat skilled squire at a training field after ten years scrounging up various jobs in King's Landing, Jeroth impressed the youth by beating him with a practice sword; something the young Raynald hadn't experienced for a while. After being paid to train Raynald even further with the sword and once he was knighted by his master, Raynald brought Jeroth and his family to Amreth to serve as his man-at-arms and part of his personal retinue. Since then he served at Castle Amreth, initially taking to the field with Raynald but he was soon sent back to castle after he finally relented that he was too old to be campaigning anymore. He protected the Castle Amreth and the town of Forktown as best he could, the castle remained safe during the war but a few raids of the town could not be stopped. Since the end of the war, he has been attempting to find a replacement for him as captain of the Castle Guard but has thus far failed to find an adequate replacement amongst the men serving there.

Name: Ser Desmond of Forktown

Age: 24

Appearance:
Very much a younger version of his father Jeroth, he shares the same above average height and build of the man, blond hair and the brown eyes of his father. He appears more joyful and carefree than his lord Raynald but dresses almost identically to his lord and friend. Sharp eyed and wary, he is usually found alongside Raynald when in public and fights as his sword brother in battle.

Biography:
Born as a bastard child of Jeroth and Ravella, having spent the first two years of his life without a father in his grandfather’s tannery despite the man’s disapproving of his daughter’s amour. When his father returned, he was too young to remember not having a father and settled into a relatively happy childhood despite the odd financial struggle. He remembered there initially being tension between Jeroth and his grandfather but he never understood why, but he was happy when it dissipated over the years. It was after his grandfather passed away and that his father received an offer to be man-at-arms for Raynald that he moved to Castle Amreth at age thirteen.

Living in the castle seemed like the pomp of luxury compared to the cramped tannery he’d grown up in, even if the memories of the Red Keep dwarfed the relatively miniscule Castle Amreth. He was trained as one of the men by his father, who claimed that he’d need to find his own way of earning his worth at the castle when he came of age. He took well to the martial arts, getting along with the men of the castle and even with Raynald, who offered to take him as a squire despite his low birth. Whilst it came at somewhat of a prestige cost to the lord, Desmond poured his all in repaying Raynald’s faith and to be the best squire he could ever hope for. In the first battle of the Dance that the Amreth forces marched upon, he slew two knights and saved the life of Raynald, leading to his elevation to knighthood. He fought with Raynald in every battle, growing closer and closer to the man, eventually becoming the captain of his guard despite his young age.

[Winston Smith]

House: Grafton of Gulltown

(not my picture)

Green or Black: Black

Recent History: House Grafton is a house that earned its enviable position as the Lords of Gulltown during the Andal invasion and have never relinquished their position. House Grafton have since had several disputes with their northern Royce rivals there is a somewhat of a family feud between the two houses although armed conflict has only once broken out between the two houses. This war was promptly won by the Royces who imposed humiliating peace terms on House Grafton and sent all but the youngest generation of its’ men to the wall. For a while six shields bearing the blazon of house Grafton adorned the Shieldhall of Castle Black. Afterwards the lords of Gulltown were much more cautious in their dealings with house Royce. Occasionally House Grafton would discretely hire corsairs to raid ships heading in and out of the ports controlled by Runestone, alternatively they would deny their services to House Royce whenever the lords of Runestone would require a loan. As the principal moneylenders of the Vale, the Graftons would not usually deny their services to anyone and would make a hefty profit from the spendthrift attitudes of other noble houses. House Royce would not be extended this courtesy and frequently had to turn to the banks of the Free Cities who charged exorbitant interest rates. More recently House Grafton has loyally followed Lady Jeyne Arryn in support of her Kinswomans Rhaenyra Targaryen and the cause of the Blacks. Needless to say house Grafton drew great pleasure from the fact that house Royce had lost their Valyrian Steel Sword in the Storming of the Dragonpit less than a year ago.

Family Members:

Lord Osgood Grafton

Name: Lord Osgood Grafton
Age:71
Appearance: Lord Osgood is well past his physical prime. In his youth he had some prowess in tourneys but his mind was always sharper than his sword. Nevertheless he had remained healthy well into his fifties, due to his personal temperance and his very cautious nature. Osgood was probably helped by the fact that he had lived throughout one of the most peaceful eras of Westerosi history and was spared the need to mount his horse and charge at younger, stronger men. By the time of ‘The Dance’ he was already too old to lead house Grafton’s men into battle and passed on his military duties to his Son and Grandsons. Unfortunately his formerly sharp mind has also begun to feel the effects of old age and often wonders to happy memories of the past. Since his sixtieth name-day his eyes have become increasingly clouded and Lord Osgood is now completely blind. He now finds himself incapable of performing many of the duties expected of his position and finds himself relying ever more on his councillors and family.

Biography:
Having lived through the Reigns of Jaeherys I and Viserys I, lord Osgood has only known peace. This unprecedented period of tranquillity and the cautious and calculated rule of Lord Osgood over Gulltown was a blessing for the merchants who experienced the continued growth of their personal fortunes. His reign has been a comparatively easy one in relation to the experiences of many of his ancestors. Ever a cautious man Lord Osgood declined to opportunity to acquire fame and glory alongside Daemon Targeryen when the latter sought to carve himself a Kingdom out of the Stepstones; the former was content enough to enjoy the steady wealth that came with the rule of Westeros’ fourth largest city. During his many years at the head of house Grafton Osgood dedicated himself to his coffers and his family. In his later years, before the Seven Who Are One took away his sight he welcomed his frailty with great offerings to the seven. Many took this as a sign that Osgood feared death and that he was attempting to atone for his sins by constructing large Septs. In these septons and novices sought to emulate the diligence of The Smith through their labour. herding sheep, tending hives and maintaining bountiful orchards. In truth Osgood had sinned more than many would believe of him yet he did not build these shrines to care for his soul’s welfare but rather for his love of learning. Lord Osgood has always had a thirst for knowledge yet never had enough books to satisfy his curiosity. By offering the common folk and opportunity to learn to write as septons Lord Osgood had effectively procured himself dozens of scribes to transcribe the rare books that he had managed to find, buy or borrow so that he may have a copy for himself. Over time the works of these men of faith have filled so many volumes that Lord Osgood has had to expand the library of his keep and to employ several librarians to look after and maintain his collection that has become the envy of many a learned Lord and maester. In fact many maesters have sought to study some of the rarer books transcribed into his collection and Lord Osgood was always more than willing to permit this as long as the maester would bring along a new book of his own or from from The Citadel’s own great library for his septons and Librarians to transcribe. The septries also provided much needed foodstuffs and candles for the annual fairs lord Osgood held in the city of Gulltown during the Summer and Autumn years.

Lord Osgood relied on his memories of the books he had read as well as the advice ofhis maester who had learned to tell the signs that the seasons were turning. In fact Maester Farlin was awaiting the White Raven to arrive any week now. He was also conscious of the strain winter imposed on a city, Gulltown was not just any city it was the single largest settlement north of Lannisport and its' people would need food, fuel and safety for years. In preparation for what might be his last winter, Lord Osgood had spent much of the Dance buying up what little grain farmers were willing to part from in the Vale. The Vale had virtually been untocuhed by the Dragonfire that had burned through much of Westeros and its' fields were safe but few were farmers who would accept ready cash for their produce.Peasants sword to house Grafton were hard at work tryign to gather in one last harvest and lord Osgood had ordered the building of dozens of new fishing vessels had offered them to anyone willing to risk their harvesting the seas bounty despite the autumn storms. Ships had been sent south to buy food from warmer claimates where crops were not likely to wither and die in a few months. Lys and Tyrosh were typically safe markets but the Dance had closed their markets to Gulltown at least tempoerily. Now Merchantment were forced to sail farther to the Deep Water Port of Volantis and beyond. Osgood had also instructed his steward to oversee the salting of meat, the pickling of vegetables and the drying of fruit so that the food Gulltown did already have would last longer. If it was the last thing he would do Lod Osgood would make sure his people had enough foodto last them through the coming winter and perhaps even enough to sell to houses cursed with less bountiful lands or less prudent lords.

Ser Gilwood Grafton

Name: Ser Gilwood Grafton heir to Lordship
Age:48
Appearance: A taller man than his father, Ser Gilwood is lean and relatively muscled for his age having fought alongside The Rogue Prince in the siege of Bloodstone and several later battles against the sword and sails of Myr. Ser Gilwood shares the dark hair and strong jawline of his father as well as his mothers’ green eyes. Although a serious man in his youth marriage changed him and, having grown old alongside his beloved Megyn and cherished children he now bears laugh lines around his mouth.

Biography:
Gilwood had been one of the many Westerosi Lords who had been cautiously optimistic when the Triarchy dismantled the pirate presence in the Stepstones. Yet house Grafton's interests had also been some of the first to have been negatively affected by the extortionate fees the Kingdom imposed on those who sought to leave the Narrow Sea and sail south. At first Ser Gilwood had been incapable of doing much to oppose this use hire fast ships and sail at night to avoid detection it was Ser Gilwood's idea to provide vessels out of Gulltown with false banners and pennants to try and deceive the Myrish, Tyroshi and Lysene watchers into beleiving that the vessels passign through the Stepstones were ships in the Service of The High Council. Eventually though the 33 magisters caught on an issued a bounty for any ships caught attempting to bear false flag. This would condemn Gulltown traders to deal almost exclusively with other Westerosi ports Bravos, Pentos, Lorath and Ib. When Lord Daemon and Lord Corlys Velaryon sought to break the control of the Magisters, Ser Gilwood had been more than enthusiastic to take part in the invasion. Taking thirty vessels with him all outfitted for war Ser Gilwood Grafton joined the invasion of the Sea-Snake and the future King of the Narrow Sea.

Caraxes had made short work of the initial naval forces the Triarchy had dispatched to defend the Stepstones leaving many galleys flaming or ripped to shreds as the Essosi desperatedly sought to pierce his eyes as their Dornish allies had advised them. For the better part of three years, it was the turn of Ser Gilwood and his vessels to intercept the vessels of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and for three years Ser Gilwood effectively lived as a reaver, assaulting one holdfast after another. King Daemon had been generous to his allies, bestowing many captured heirlooms belonging to old Valyrian families that had settled in the three daughters to Lord Velaryon and Lord Grafton for he knew that he ruled over a Kingdom that overtly resented his rule and that his forces were few and spread out. Although this war meant Ser Gilwood amassed a great personal fortune in prizes, ransoms and treasure it also meant that he was never short of enemies who sought to drive a blade through his heart. By 108 AC Ser Gilwood had come to realise that despite the successive chain of Victories he had achieved with his allies their triumph seemed just as distant as it had ever been. The holdfast that he was occupying and ruling from was little more than a ruin after the siege and what little wealth that had remained on the Stepstones after the first two years of war had either been claimed by King Daemon or burnt by Caraxes, there was little more to keep Gilwood there beyond a largely hollow title as Lord of Torturer's Deep. Nevertheless Lord Gilwood stayed another year leading raids on shipping from his island fort until a Basilisk islander Corsair Captain Yarathi the Butcher, who under the employ of the Triarchy, defeated the few ships that had remained to Gilwood before besieging him in his keep. Fortunately for Gilwood, Lord Corlys's fleet appeared and engaged the Corsairs from behind,just as the they were pouring over the hastily rebuilt defences of Torturer's Deep. Corlys had effectively saved lord Gilwood from a humiliating defeat and an even more disgraceful capture and detention at the hands of the corsair Lord. Nevertheless it had become clear that it was time to leave the Stepstones and return home whilst he still could.

Ser Gilwood is restless and does not share what he sees as his fathers’ lack of ambition. Although hot-tempered and impatient he remains sensible. Ser Gilwood wisely chose to abandon the Stepstones after Daemon and Caraxes left the islands to their own devices. He has yet to inherit the Lordship of Gulltown and has grown old remaining merely a knight but has never shown any signs of wishing to act against his father, seemingly satisfied with his knighthood. This is perhaps best explained by the abrupt conclusion of his short-lived Lordship of Torturer's Deep. His true love was sailing and travelling and Ser Gilwood Grafton was a close friend of Corlys Velaryon accompanying him on several of his journeys to the east before the birth of his firstborn. An able seaman and a better merchant, Ser Gillwood helped contribute to his father’s great library by bringing back rare books and charts from as far away as Qarth and Morosh.

lader Megyn

Name: Lady Megyn Grafton (Nee Hunter)
Age:41
Appearance: Ser Gilwood’s wife is no longer the beauty she had been in her youth yet in the eyes of her husband she still has the same delicate frame and bright eyes that he fell in love with over twenty five years ago.

Biography: Lady Megyn is the daughter of the former Lord Hunter who wished to solidify his friendship with House Grafton when his debts grew insurmountable. To in echange for more lenient terms on their loans, Lord Hunter gave away his daughter to a man she had never met and only knew of by reputation. Fortunately this marriage was a happy and fruitful one.

Ser Fabian

Name: Ser Fabian Grafton (Younger Brother of Ser Gillwood)
Age:42
Appearance: Despite being the younger brother, Ser Fabian is the taller of the two. However, he does not have his mother’s green eyes but rather has inherited his father’s dark brown ones.

Biography:
Not being in any real position to inherit the title of Lord of Gulltown Ser Fabian has always been less constrained by responsibilities than his brother, being the second son of a man who has not yet inherited his title. This has left him looking many years younger than the mere four that separate him from Gilwood. His extra freedom has allowed him to participate in more tourneys, hunts and feasts. As a result of this he has become a most accomplished jouster and bowman; traits which he has endeavoured to pass on to his sons.

Alayne

Name: Alayne Grafton (nee Shett) Wife of Ser Fabian
Age:38
Appearance: Alayne has fair hair and bright blue eyes is youthful of body if her spirit has long been broken. She has taken to wearing black and her husband and children are concerned about her behaviour.

Biography:The Graftons have had an understanding, dating back to Andal invasion to frequently marry their youngest sons to the daughters of House Shett. For House Grafton this was to prevent any further bloodshed between the two houses that both shared Gulltown. Few have forgotten that King Robar Royce convinced the Shetts to rise against house Grafton and open the gates of the city to his first men forces. Therefore this tradition has served to bind the loyalty of house Shett to the lords of the city. Lady Alayne has unfortunately had a tragic life, in the first few years following her marriage to Ser Fabian she was captured by clansmen of the Painted Dogs after her escort taking her to visit her sister in Snakewood was overpowered. For many years she was believed by all to have been killed and Ser Fabian dreaded having to raise their young son and daughter motherless. However, most unexpectedly The Mother above showed mercy to him after he accidentally discovered, during a hunt, the location of a clansman village tucked away in a forest. When he returned with his men at arms to wipe out the village that had been preying upon the nearby villagers he very narrowly avoided slaying his wife… and her young bastard son that her captor had forced on her years before. Fabian buried a mace in the rapists’ chest. So overwhelmed by joy to have recovered his wife, he consented to spare her son, for, despite being the son of a rapist he was also his wife’s child. The boy had not been guilty of any crimes and his real father had already paid for his. The son would grow among the children of House Grafton but not a part of them, the dishonour of his birth would be known by all by his name: Blackstone , to reveal that he was not only a bastard but one born of rape.

Rickard Grafton

Name: Rickard Grafton
Age: 25
Appearance: Rickard has an imposing frame; being tall and broad of shoulder. His muscles have developed during his years at sea. His hair is the same dark brown of his father and grandfather and he has the green eyes of his Grandmother. He he has suffered many injuries over his body and some, particularly on his face that have failed to heal completely and have left behind small but noticeable scars. Despite his age he seems incapable of growing a full beard so often remains clean shaven.

Biography: Rickard has led a very busy life serving as a page to Lord Belmore of Strongsong from the age of 7 until his thirteenth year where he befriended the son and particularly the daughter of the Lord of the Belltower. His father had considered giving into the request of his mother Megyn to keep him closer to home and have his serve as a page to Gilwood’s brother instead. In the end Rickard’s father had decided it was for the best that Rickard should not grow up spoiled in a castle where he would be coddled by servants eager to not offend the future Lord of Gulltown. Lord Belmore was a good choice for he had sons almost of an age with Rickard and his family had the reputation of being the second most martial house in the Vale after the Royces of Runestone. Gilwood did not deal with the Royces of Runestone. Upon returning to Gulltown Rickard spent four years squiring for two household knights in service to Lord Grafton who protected family trade vessels whilst teaching young Rickard about the skills and responsibilities of a knight. These four years sailing from trade port to trade port also provided Rickard with the a worldly education on the habits of sailors, the tricks of merchants and the geography of the world. Tradition usually required that a squire be knighted by the knight to whom he served upon the completion of his fourth year of service. However, the regrettably-timed death of Ser Martyn at the hand of a Tolosi slinger meant that Rickard was never knighted until he returned from the expedition to Andalos, three years later.This holy expedition saw pitted the flower of the Vale's youth against the elements and the savage violence of the local threats. In the end Ser Rickard was one of the last survivors of the expedition alongside Artys Arryn ( who too was knighted upon his return) and became one of the three founding members of the Knights of Andalos. Shortly after his anointment he was married to Alys Sunderland the only daughter of the lord of Sisterton, a political move designed to bring house Sunderland’s interests in line with those of house Grafton two of the most influential maritime families of the east coast of Westeros. As was the case with many arranged marriages the initial unease of the couple eventually gave way to love. After only two years of marriage Lady Jeyne called her banners and Rickard left to lead house Grafton’s men into war following Ser Artys and the Black forces of the Vale. He distinguished himself on several occasions but particularly when he led his forces on foot ( his mount having been killed ) to breach through a line of Swyft infantrymen before cutting down a dozen archers who had thought themselves safe behind their own men at arms. It was in this battle where he earned his sobriquet Rickard ‘Stomhunter’ regrettabl y it was also in this battle were where he sustained the injuries that would mark his face forever. Towards the end of the Dance he received welcome news from home of the birth of his son Malcolm.

Lucille Grafton

Name: Lucille Daughter of Gilwood Grafton as of yet husbandless
Age:19
Appearance: Lucille bears the brown hair and green eyes of house Grafton but where her father and brothers care little of their appearance, Lucille has heeded the lessons of her mother, her Septa and her maids. She has taken great care in making herself as presentable as possible. The wealth of her father has meant she has grown up a little spoiled having been treated to every perfume, scent and fashion that took her fancy, but Lucille was wise enough to not appear greedy or boastful publicly.

Biography: By 16 she had acquired a trail of friends and followers, girls from House Shett, House Arryn of Gulltown and the daughters of minor nobles and houssehold who sought to bask in her influence. Many a young merchant girl idolized Lucille for her beauty but it was her knowledge her father most prized from her for she shared her Grandfathers’ love of books and was almost a scholar herself, even the maester said so. Ser Gilwood took pride in boasting that where other girls read they often read poetry and the silly tales of romance and magic whereas his daughter had a passion for languages, histories and cultures. She did not take to mathematics as readily but she was diligent and persevered when she began to appreciate the connections the subject bore with cartography and travel. Despite her large female entourage many a bold knight and lordling have sought to court her, however if the rumour mill is to be believed Lucille has already found a companion that she sees in secret.

Mors Grafton

Name:Mors Grafton
Age:17
Appearance: A younger and more cheerful version of his older brother Mors is quick to sport a smile and crack a joke. His age at the start of the Dance meant that he was spared many of the injuries that have scarred his brother’s face and body.

Biography: The Youngest of Lord Gilwood’s three children, Mors spent his early years in service as a page to house Waxley. Much as his elder brother did he currently serves as a squire to a knight in service to House Grafton aboard ‘the Mermaid’. Unfortunately for him, his final two years abroad the cog coincided with the entry of the Three Sisters on the side of the Greens which meant that despite the best precautions of the ship’s captain Mors found himself frequently fending off attacks by Myrmen and Tyroshi; intent on procuring the foodstuffs, spices, instruments and Ivory that could be found in The Mermaid’s hold. Mors has

He has yet to return from his fourth year of service.

Royce Grafton

Name:Royce Grafton ( trueborn son of Ser Fabian)
Age:18
Appearance: One of the few Graftons to be fair of hair, he takes after his mother Alayne in appearance.

Biography: Unlike his mother Royce is joyful,and relishes spending time in the company of others; both young knights and ladies alike, being very popular at court. Much like his father he is aware that he has been born into great wealth whilst being far removed from responsibility, as the heir to a cadet branch. Thus despite sharing his mothers’ appearance and fair traits he shares much of his fathers’ personality and interests. Royce Grafton is an able hunter and the best rider of Lord Osgood’s household; frequently racing his cousins on horseback. This skill is most likely due to the fact that unlike his cousins from the main branch of house Grafton, Royce did not squire for household knights guarding merchant ships but took the more common route of squiring for Lord Shett his mothers’ brother which meant spending much more time on horseback.
He is also a jouster of some repute in the Vale having most recently won the tourney at Ironoaks triumphing over Josten Royce in the final round much to the satisfaction of his family. His decision to declare Ser Josten’s young sister to be the queen of beauty in this tournament added insult to injury for the humiliated son of House Royce.

Alyn Blackstone

Name: Alyn Blackstone (bastard son of Ser Fabian)
Age:16
Appearance: It is said bastards grow up faster than trueborn heirs. This is doubly so for Alyn who has the weathered appearance of a man almost twice his age despite barely being a squire himself. He has a hard face with a pointed chin and very visible cheekbones which he presumably inherited from his father ( though Lady Alayne never discusses her captor). He keeps his brown hair short. Alyn is shorter than most boys his age despite having been adequately fed his entire life, his stature has fooled many an overbold stranger into underestimating him.

Biography: Alyn has always been resentful of his situation, feeling unjustly constrained by the manner of his birth. The old master of arms has described him as a natural born fighter which is perhaps a poor choice of words for a bastard. He received a general education but was always more focused on fighting than on thinking knowing that most lowborns and bastards distinguish themselves through their prowess at arms than through counting coppers. Having been born the product of rape he has shunned his sexual side seemingly uninterested in this pleasure in particular despite having a general disinterest in the niceties of life. He when he was younger he would spend weeks at a time hunting alone dressed in leather, armed with nothing but his longbow and a blade. Recently having made some friends among other bastards born to nobles as well as some commonfolk Alyn has began spending ever more time way from home and the maesters' lessons. Rumours imply that he and his friends have made rough homes for themselves in the wild and practice the basic arts of war such as sword fighting, archery as well as some simple strategies that Alyn can recall from his lessons. Ser Fabian has twice ventured outwith his men at arms to find his bastard son concerned that one days Alyn's playing might result in him and his band of friends being caught out by Clansmen. On neither occasion had he been successful in finding them, and took come comfort in the knowledge that if he and his brothers' best trackers and huntsmen couldn't find them, it would be unlikely that clansmen might do so. Since then Alyn has been accorded ever more freedom although Fabian has insisted that he spend more time practicing with the master at arms when he did dwell i nthe city.
Several servants and squires have suggested that his ability to live rough and disdain for the gentler aspects of life stems from his roots as a Painted Dog; clansmen who infamously have shunned the comforts of modern life and the light of The Seven to live in squalor in tribal communities. Despite his crude and cynical approach to life he remains grateful to his adoptive father for having spared his life and instead has turned his hate against the clansmen who violated his mother and cursed him to live out his days with both the stain of bastardy and rape being affixed to his name.

Thea Grafton

Name: Thea Grafton (daughter of Fabian Grafton)
Age:17
Appearance: Thea is as tall as her bastard brother making her tall for a girl. Like her trueborn brother she has the fair hair of her mother and is considered quite beautiful. All agree that her most endearing trait is the scarlet shade her face turns when she blushes.

Biography: Thea Grafton also has a passion for literature but she shares some of her bastard brothers’ cynicism regarding the tales of warrior women of old. Thea has on more than one occasion announced that she felt ladies need not strap on armour and fight men with heavy metal poles to be worthy of esteem. Nor did she conform to the belief that a woman’s role was in the pantry, kitchen or bedroom. Most girls dreamt of becoming Jonquil to some gallant Florian, fewer dreamed of becoming Visenya and waging war, Thea dreamed of being Nymeria and leading people wisely and justly surrounding herself with people of talent. Thea is currently betrothed to an Arryn of Gulltown and is due to be married by the years’ end.

Alys Grafton

Name:Alys Grafton ( nee Sunderland) Wife of Rickard Grafton
Age:20
Appearance: Alys has auburn hair and blue eyes and is of average height. She was considered one of the most beautiful women of the Sisters but on the mainland she is about as attractive as most noble ladies. She was fortunate enough to be spared being born with The Mark that occasionally manifests itself in Sistermen.

Biography: The only daughter to lord and lady Sunderland Alys was raised in a family with more sense than honour. Sistermen were infamous for being pirates, rogues and smugglers. Nonetheless this family of rogue-lords had been able to muster a surprising dowry and the marriage of their daughter brought trade more trade to Gulltown at the expense of White Harbour.

Malcolm

Name: Malcolm Grafton (son of Rickard Grafton)
Age:3
Appearance: a baby. Malcolm has brown hair and green eyes and a prodigious voice for someone so young.

Biography: A noisy child.

[Ruby]

House: Greyjoy
Green or Black: Black
Recent History:

During the Dance of Dragons, the Greens attempted to lure the Ironborn into the battle on their side with political appointments. This made the Ironborn laugh. When the Blacks countered with no more than asking the Ironborn to attack Queen Rhaenyra's enemies, among them the weakened Lannisters, the Ironborn did not laugh; they grinned, grabbed their arms and armor, and hopped into their longships. Many in the Seven Kingdoms see this ultimately as a mistake: while it certainly provided a boon to the Blacks, the Ironborn have not stopped raiding and reaving since the official end of the civil war, causing nearly every bit of Westeros' western coast to bleed. Recently the Red Kraken has disappeared; some claim murdered, others illness, still others more fantastical stories than the last.

Family Members:

The Red Kraken

Name: Dalton Greyjoy
Age: 30
Biography:

Dalton was the wild young son of the heir to Pyke. Archmaester Hake wrote he loved three things: the sea, his sword, and women. He was said to have been rowing at five and reaving at ten, sailing with his uncle to plunder the pirate towns of the Basilisk Isles. By ten-and-four, Dalton had sailed as far as Old Ghis, fought in a dozen actions, and claimed four salt wives, though he tired of women quickly. He also owned a Valyrian steel longsword he had taken off a dead corsair and named Nightfall. In his fifteenth year, while fighting in the Stepstones as a sellsail, he saw his uncle slain and avenged him, though he took a dozen wounds and emerged from the fight drenched in blood, earning his nickname of the Red Kraken. Later on the same year, he learned of his father's death and returned home to claim the Seastone Chair. Immediately he began to build longships, forge swords, and train fighters, citing that "the storm is coming" as the reason.

The Red Kraken has proven himself a living legend in too many raids and battles to name. Though he is the current Lord Reaper of Pyke, he is not the only Greyjoy that remains: and though the salt sons of his many, many, salt wives would claim to be the true heir for Dalton Greyjoy, none of the rock lords in the Iron Islands seem to care much for what the salt sons say. To address the situation, Dalton has officially named an uncle and his children as his "official" heir. At the very least that's what a parchment and a dozen captains of the Iron Fleet said, and so it was.

Though Dalton has not been recently seen, his forces and his battle plans continue to unfold, with recent Ironborn victories of Fair Isle and Kayce and Lannisport itself. (Though unable to get into Casterly Rock itself.) The latest reports to King's Landing are that the Shield Islands themselves have fallen to a large fleet of longships. Some reports claim the Red Kraken was present for the attack and the spoils, others that he was seen during the fighting but not after, and still yet others that he was never seen at all.

Andrik Greyjoy

Name: Andrik Greyjoy
Age: 51

Biography:

As a non-heir to the Seastone Chair, Andrik's life has been not but sailing and raiding as far as he dare. As a child he was prone to illness and bookishness, though most the books he read were centered on tales of military achievement, and sailing adventures. As he grew older, he grew healthier, either by the grace of the Drowned God or by sheer force of will. Ask those closest to him, and they would likely say it was sheer force of will. As soon as he was stable enough, and mayhaps a bit before in truth, Andrik was sent out upon a longship to begin his true life.

As a raider and reaver, Andrik is good, though not the warrior that his nephew, Dalton, is. But where Andrik shines is not in the fore of the fight, but in the more detached areas of command: an expert in areas rare to find an Ironborn proficient in; strategy, tactics, supply, battlefield engineering. Had Dalton given his uncle a chance during the sack of Lannisport, Andrik believes he could have found a way into Casterly Rock. Though never given the chance, Andrik still more than proved his worth during the attack.

The incident represented a fracture in the relationship, though many outside House Greyjoy itself choose to make more of the incident than those within House Greyjoy would, pointing to it as a reason for Dalton leaving much of the southern raids in Andrik's capable hands. Many within House Greyjoy know the reason for their chilled relationship to have more to do with Dalton's drunken rape of Andrik's daughter, Tessana. Dalton claimed it was no rape, and Tessana has said precious little on the matter entirely.

Andrik asked only Tessana, a reaver in her own right, to find another longship to serve upon other than Dalton's. The event is known mostly in hushed gossip, as Andrik refuses to speak of it, Dalton refuses to speak of it, and Tessana refuses to speak of it. There are theories that Andrik may have had Dalton killed in reprisal, but these theories assume the Red Kraken's death, and such assumptions are sure to be premature. Though he was not present at the attack on the Shield Islands, he was a large presence in the planning of it. Instead, he has returned to Pyke, for what purpose exactly remains to be seen.

Torwyn Greyjoy

Name: Torwyn Greyjoy
Age: 33

Biography:

Torwyn is a reaver, through-and-through, though he is not known for bloodlust. Instead he will take pauses for thought and calculation, much like his father, Andrik. Unlike his father, Torwyn's health was never in doubt, and in fact the only son of Andrik Greyjoy is tall and strong and as formidable an opponent in armor than most any. Also unlike his father, and most Greyjoy, Torwyn is known for his copper colored hair which he typically keeps long and uncut. Torwyn is not a heavily religious man, and while a follower of the Drowned God, is no fanatical.

Married to a Lady from House Botley at a young age, Torwyn already has three children, two sons and a daughter. Despite active in reaving, Torwyn has never sailed too far from the Iron Islands--most know it to be due to Torwyn's affinity for his family. While he is at times mocked for this, Torwyn has a thick skin, even for an Ironborn and much like his father does not rise to most any baiting. He is content to let his actions speak for him, claiming that the loudest are often the most foolish and likely to die come the real combat.

Torwyn played a respectable part in the raiding of Fair Isle, to moderate success. He played an even larger role in the sacking of Kayce, and even brought back a few salt wives for the first time in his life, minor nobles and sisters renowned for their youth and beauty. Both girls have grown closer to Tessana than to Torwyn himself, not that Torwyn seems to care. In the leadup to the sack of Lannisport, Torwyn's role increased initially but would wind up being less significant than his part to play in the Kayce raid.

The reasons for this are still unknown, as he would be a chief architect of the attack on the Shield Islands. Rumors have it that Torwyn clashed with Dalton over the incident regarding his sister, Tessana, and as a result was given tasks of less glory. Some claim that the conflict was not with Dalton, but with Tessana herself, though few know for certain.

Tessana Darkwater

Name: Tessana Greyjoy
Age: 24

Biography:

Lady Tessana Greyjoy is an unknown in the Iron Islands. Say the name, and many smallfolk might blink at you. Speak the name Tessana Darkwater, however, and immediate realization will wash over any man, woman, or child upon the Iron Islands. To say nothing of reservation, or even fear. Born upon the eve of a vicious storm that left many a longship shattered and many more Ironborn missing (some would later wash up on shore as far as the Crag), and the waters around the Iron Islands black, the young Lady Tessana seemed more the child of Dalton Greyjoy than Andrik Greyjoy; wanton and wild, with deeply seated love of bloodlust and violence. Maester Pellen of Pyke claims that in her youth, she could sail, ride, shoot, and fight better than most boys her age and a good bit older.

She was taken into the service of Donel Greyjoy, her uncle, her first voyage going as far as the Basilik Islands--the very same battle that would turn Dalton Greyjoy into the Red Kraken. Upon the return voyage Tessana would nearly die of illness, forcing Dalton to change his course and make an unplanned stop at the Summer Isles. Here Dalton, and most his men, drank and fucked themselves to a stupor while young Tessana was left in the care of healers and priests. Deciding he could wait to return no longer, and for a mere girl no less, Dalton left Tessana in the care of the Summer Islanders.

This did not end Tessana's education; it only expanded it. Instead of daggers, Tessana grew to love the bow, and to this day prefers Goldenheart bows to any other weapon available to her--though she is still just as lethal with daggers, and specializes at throwing them. The Summer Islanders continued her education in sailing and combat, but also introduced her to a myriad of other interests and pursuits; sex among them. To this day Tessana's attitudes on sex more closely resemble the Summer Islanders than they do the Ironborn, and especially more than they do the green lands of Westeros proper.

Tessana would return home a few years after Dalton left her, and though the new Lord of Pyke expected Tessana to be bitter and angry over having been left, he was shocked to find her anything but. While it's true Dalton and Tessana would become fast friends, the both of them claim their relationship never went past that. This is clouded because when Maester Pellen persuaded Dalton to create a list of possible rock wives, Tessana was on the list, though the Maester will not reveal where exactly she was on that list. Even more confounding, Tessana was fond of assiting Dalton in "breaking in" his new salt wives.

Their relationship fractured soon after the assault on Fair Isle, though she remained a much more central, if overlooked, player in the following raids than even her brother, Torwyn. It is noteworthy that only after this time did members of the Ironborn high born begin to officially declare interest in Tessana as a possible wife--interest Tessana has laughed at many and more times.

Most recently Tessana Darkwater has been dispatched with a small fleet of longships to King's Landing. Not to raid it, unfortunately, but to speak with this new boy king and his hangers-on.

[Lightning Fast]

House: Hightower
Green or Black: The greens

Information

Recent History

The Hightowers did not merely make the mistake of supporting the greens in the war, no: they had practically created the greens in the first place. Thanks to the desires of Queen Alicent Hightower to get her own son on the throne, the entire realm was thrown into chaos. Many still blame the Hightowers for the Dance of Dragons and think of them all as treasonous snakes. This is not an entirely unfounded reputation.

The Hightowers, even after their misfortunes, still hold sovereignty over Oldtown, as well as the lordly seat of the Hightower that is their namesake. These incomes should fill their coffers back up in time, but they are still sorely lacking in manpower, particularly seasoned knights and experienced soldiers. Their armies have been slaughtered, most of their noble line has either been found guilty of treason or killed in battle, and the lordship has fallen to a young man barely old enough to avoid a regency. Nonetheless, they still stand staunch and proud, Lords of Hightower, one of the oldest (and until recently, one of the richest and most powerful) houses in all of the Seven Kingdoms.

Members of House Hightower

• Ormund Hightower, Former Lord of Hightower, Deceased (Died at Tumbleton)
  • Ormund’s first son, Ser Renald Hightower, Deceased (Died at Tumbleton)
  • Ormund’s second son, Otto the Younger, Lord of Hightower, a man of six and ten
  • Ormund’s third son, Leon Hightower, heir to the Hightower, a boy of twelve
  • Ormund’s fourth son, Ormund the Younger, a boy of nine

• Ormund’s Uncle, Ser Otto Hightower, Deceased (Executed after the capture of King’s Landing)
  • Otto’s only daughter, Queen (now Lady) Alicent Hightower, currently held captive at King’s Landing for the crime of high treason
  • Otto’s first son, Ser Gwayne Hightower, Deceased (Died in the capture of King’s Landing)
  • Otto’s second son, Ser Tobias “Silvershield” Hightower, Commander of Hightowers’ Armies, a knight of five and forty.
    
    • Lyanne Beesbury, Tobias’ wife, Deceased (Died in childbirth)
    • Their daughter and only child, Lyanna Hightower, a girl of three and ten
  • Otto’s third son, Lord Ruben Hightower, Hightower’s Master of Finance, a man of two and thirty. Also called “Blacktower”.
    • His baseborn daughter by an Essos prostitute, Serala Flowers, a girl of eight
• Ser Bryndon Hightower, Otto the Elder’s Cousin, Deceased (Died at Tumbleton)
• Ser Hobert Hightower, Otto the Elder’s Cousin, Deceased (Poisoned himself rather than betray his fellow Caltrops)
• Ser Ronald and Ser Ryan Croaker, two twin household knights of eight and twenty
• Ser Rolf Crimson-Beard, a warrior-poet from the Iron Isles and Master of Ships for House Hightower. Not actually a “ser”.
  • Rolf’s lover and the Hightowers’ wet nurse, Sulla

Characters

Lord Otto the Younger

Though no more handsome than any other young lord, Otto's pristine cleanliness and lack of battlefield scars give him an overall pleasant appearance.
Age: 16
House/Affiliation: House Hightower

Biography:
A young man of six and ten, Otto is nowhere near the caliber of knight that his brother was, and is not taken seriously by older lords due to his age. His sworn lords have been quick to dub him “barely a man”, to the point where the mere utterance of said phrase annoys him. Otto boasts charisma and intellect beyond his young age, and can easily diffuse tense diplomatic situations, but lacks the wisdom and foresight that can only come with experience.

Though by no means a fool, Otto is easily influenced if one plays to his pride and desire to be seen as powerful a lord as his late father. He is painfully aware of House Hightower’s damaged state, and is growing tired of constantly having to swallow his pride, especially after having lost his father. Though he cares far more about the opinions of others (and the affections of women) than a man in his position should, he displays few characteristics which are truly out-of-line with what one might expect from a boy his age. As of late, he has renewed his interest in swordplay, and has dispatched men to search for his family’s ancient Valyrian steel sword, Vigilance, which was lost at Tumbleton.

Young Otto, named for his great uncle, was raised among the Hightower children by his father Lord Osmund. Being the second son of Lord Osmund Hightower, he was not groomed for heir in the same way as his older brother, but nonetheless learned courtly niceties with the understanding that he was expected to aid his brother in courtly duties and ride out on the field of battle alongside him.

That said, trips to King’s Landing were not uncommon for Ormund’s two eldest sons, particularly given the Hightowers’ strong ties to the Targaryens after Alicent’s marriage. Renald and Otto got along famously with their Targaryen cousins. He has a distinct memory of he and his brother being reprimanded for fighting with wooden swords in the presence of the royal family, only to have Prince Daeron himself join the fun shortly after. Daeron would become his father’s squire, not to mention one of Otto the Younger’s closest friends growing up. Eventually, the trio were joined by Osmund’s third son Leon, and constantly argued and boasted about who would slay the most enemies when they first went to war together.

Unfortunately, when Renald, Daeron and Lord Osmund left to fight at Tumbleton, they didn’t come back. Otto and Leon were alone now. Their father was dead, and their brother and best friend had died with him, leaving Young Otto as the Lord of Hightower and only Tobias and Ruben to take care of them. This was two years ago, and yet Otto’s grip on the lordship is still tenuous, with his own advisors undermining his authority at every turn…

Ser Tobias Silvershield

Tobias has seen five and forty namedays, though much like his sister, he has aged quite well. He wears the Hightower house sigil on his shield (which, unsurprisingly, is painted silver).
Age: 45
House/Affiliation: House Hightower (Castellian of Hightower)

Biography: Tobias "Silvershield" is an experienced and battle-hardened knight whose honour and dedication to House Hightower and keeping the King’s Peace makes him incredibly loyal and driven. Tobias will champion his house to the bitter end, but resents their recent actions which arguably caused the Dance. People are slow to earn his trust, but will scarce find a more staunch friend and ally once they have.

Tobias, being Ser Otto’s son, had the privilege of studying under one of the wisest knights in all the Reach. He and Gwayne were fast learners when it came to the ways of battle, and Tobias took to rooting out bandits from Oldtown and the surrounding areas. Though it proved too costly to maintain after the war broke out, Tobias created an equivalent to the City Watch known as the Silver Guard in order to root out crime, earning him the nickname “Silvershield”. He came to be revered highly by smallfolk and soldiers alike for his dedication to keeping the King’s Peace.

Because of his dedication to the King’s Peace, Tobias was personally opposed to his sister’s attempts to place Aegon II on the throne, as he saw it as a transgression of the realm’s laws and customs. Nonetheless, he fought alongside his his house. brothers and cousins... and of course, he was there at both Battles of Tumbleton, where he watched said brothers and cousins die.

With the death of Lord Ormund and Ser Otto the Elder, much of the responsibility to govern fell at least in part to Tobias, as he is currently the the eldest surviving member of House Hightower (excepting Lady Alicent, of course). He spent much of his time tutoring his cousin Otto the Younger, barely stopping to mourn the loss of his father and brother. He has been working constantly to prevent House Hightower’s collapse, and yet the only one who doesn’t seem to notice the toll it is taking on his health is Tobias himself. That, or more likely, he outright denies it. Tobias says defiantly that he will rest once his cousin’s lordship is secure and his sister is safe from the headman’s axe. “I will take a long, long vacation,” he has said, “And you will not see me for a year. At least.”

Ruben Blacktower

Ruben has seen two and thirty namedays, and looks particularly intimidating despite not being especially tall. His own personal sigil replaces the grey and white of House Hightower with red and black. (Sidenote: Ruben's eye is fine, but this picture was too good not to use.)
Age: 32
House/Affiliation: House Hightower (Master of Coin and Intrigue)

Biography: Ruben “Blacktower”, sometimes called “Lord” Ruben Blacktower, is the youngest son of the late Ser Otto Hightower, is far more pragmatic and selfish than his brother. He have would loved nothing more than to see his sister’s children sit the Iron Throne so that he might have his own power swell. Ambitious and cunning, Ruben stops at nothing to get what he wants. Though he can seldom be found on a battlefield, he is a highly capable duelist, using a rapier in one hand and a parrying dagger in the other as he fights. Ever graceful, even Ruben's footsteps have become silent as a whisper as a result of the mysterious training he received in the Free Cities.

Ruben’s lack of subtlety in matters of intrigue is often to his own detriment. He is charismatic and sly enough, but shrewd individuals will be able to easily catch on when he is up to something... though exactly what he’s up to is never certain. House Hightower has found good use for him as an effective diplomat, and his negotiation skills have helped to cushion the blow of the house’s more recent misfortunes. Most agree he is far, far too successful a spymaster for someone so... blunt. A few people like Ruben well enough, but almost nobody trusts him. Even if loyal to his house, he looks out for his own interests more than his brother or liege lord.

Even as a child, Ruben showed little interest in knights and chivalry, instead focusing his attention towards books. Ruben read incessantly, picking up bits and pieces of information about everything under the sun from a very young age. As a matter of fact, his first “schemes” typically involved stealing rare books and scrolls. Some he took from the Citadel, others from his fellow nobles, and some he even stole from the personal collections of the Targaryens themselves. He came upon rarer and rarer books as he grew older, developing deft, sticky fingers, a silver tongue, and an impressive personal collection of literature.

When he was twenty-three, Ruben left on “business” to the free cities for four years with three hundred gold dragons. When he returned, he had over four thousand gold dragons, a baseborn daughter by a Lysene woman, a ship of his own, and a parrying dagger made of genuine Valyrian steel. He has rarely spoken about his trip since, though his dueling skill began to excel that of every knight in House Hightower, including Tobias. Though he has returned to Lys, Myr and Braavos since, most of his time is spent tending to financial matters at the Hightower, or those of intrigue.

[Heat]

Ser Ruban Brask of the Kingsguard

Ser Ruban Brask of the Kingsguard

Age: 33
House/Affiliation: Loyal to House Targaryen/Kingsguard for King Aegon III

Appearance:
A tall, in shape man of 1.91 meters, Ser Ruban's most notable physical feature are the scars on his face. Three dash across his left eye, two other smaller scars are on the opposite cheek. His dark brown hair is cut very short, a light stubble on his face. He is almost always clad in the armor of the Kingsguard. His main weapons is a pure steel sword, on his other arm he carries the pure white shield which marks him as a member of the Kingsguard.

Personality:
Ser Ruban is a normally friendly man, one fiercely loyal to the King and all that he is sworn to protect. He takes his job extremely seriously and in general upholds what he sees as a knight's values. Though if these were to ever conflict with his duties as a member of the Kingsguard then he would always choose his duty over his values. Though with every decision he makes he wonders if his father would have approve of them, he tries to honor the man almost two decades after his death.

He still holds sort of an idealistic view of his duty, tales of glorious knights riding into battle and saving the day were what he was raised upon. He is a dedicated swordsman, someone who still trains to better himself whenever he has the free time to do so.

Biography:
A brave man from the moment he could pick up a sword, Ruban was born into a small family, the only son of a knight, Ser Deran Brask, a well respected man. He was born in Oldtown, though his mother and father did not stay there very long. His youth was spent traveling with his parents, his mother died while Ruban was very young, an event which greatly saddened his father. It was the only time he could recall seeing his father in tears.

As he grew older, Ruban was inspired to follow in his father's footsteps, he trained hard every moment and at first opportunity became a page to his father. As the years went on he eventually became a squire, he would begin to follow his father into battle, showing courage and strength on the battlefield from the start. His meteoric rise was halted for a time as he suffered an injury in battle, a sword to the leg which went right through an opening in his arm. It just missed hitting an artery which would have spelled certain doom for the young man.

He spent almost two weeks out of battle as he recovered from his wound. Though as soon as he was able to stand on his feet without too much pain he would go back to training. Ruban went back into combat ahead of schedule, rejoining his father as his squire. Tragedy would strike him a few months later, his father became ill, a cure not known for the disease, he could only take painful medication for the illness which would make him almost cry in pain. The general thought from all around Ser Deran was that he was not going to make a recovery, the ill knight while still able to stand made the decision to knight his son.

Ser Ruban still remembers every minute of his knighting ceremony, his father using all of his great strength in order to wear his armor and clench the sword with which the young Ruban was knighted with. A few days later his father died in his sleep, at his funeral Ruban cried tears of genuine sorrow.

He had to plan his next step, which he did not truly know, he had no master he had squired under his father who had no trouble finding work across the world. He was not his father, it would be harder for him. So he set out to be a hedge knight, taking up whatever work paid in hopes that he could further his reputation.

He attended jousts whenever he was able to, gradually he became better with each one he entered. Ruban also took up freelance work, fighting to get by. He was wary of his choices in this field though, he stuck to bodyguarding and escort jobs mostly, ones that paid enough and didn't involve any of the really dirty work.

He did this for years, into his late twenties. By some chance while in Westeros for a joust he was noticed by a member of the Targaryen family, a distant relative, not a king or prince, but still someone who could help him land a job. A nobleman with enough money to keep Ruban satisfied.

He managed to land a real job as a guard for the man, Ruban did a fine job, his sword quick to draw whenever it needed to be. It all changed when the war occurred, Greens versus Blacks, a war for the Iron Throne filled with dragons and armies like the stories he had been read in his youth. The reality was much darker than he could have imagined, though it was also when he shined the most as a warrior.

An exceptional swordsman and a talented tactician, Ser Ruban slayed many foes on the battlefield as he fought for the Black side, the one that wanted to put the Princess on the throne. He staked his claim as an exceptional knight during the Battle by the Lakeshore in 130 AC. Arriving with the reinforcements from the south he charged into battle, carving down Green soldier from left to right. As Lords fell in the heat of battle Ruban stood high, his armor covered in crimson blood.

(WIP, editing the bio for acceptance.)

[Sini]

Name: Callum “Callous” Greyjoy, the Butcher of Blackcrown
Age: 51
House/Affilitation: House Greyjoy, the Iron Islands

Description:
Callum is a big, physically imposing man who has a great many scars, including such curiosities as a wound through his stomach and out his back from a duel with Ghiscari champion wielding a spear. He has many scars over his asymmetrical face, a bent often-broken nose, and a big notch out of one ear. Bearded like a robber, his hair is greying at the temples and fringes, age finally catching up with him. His most noticeable scars, and the source of his name are his tormented hands and forearms - burnt, slashed, chafed. Thick marks like coiled snakes wrap around his forearms, where the coarse rope had dug into his flesh. Holding fast on the lines of the mast during a heavy storm had stripped Callum of most of his skin and flesh, but earned him a name. Even so, Callum has long clever fingers, a tangled mess of rough ginger hair, and deeply set dark blue eyes beneath a heavy brow.

Callum has led a gruelling life according to the Old Ways, raiding and pillaging from the Sunset Sea to the Spice routes of Essos. He has been to Slaver’s Bay, visited Qarth, forayed into the jungles of Sothoryos and the Summer Isles. He has berthed in all of the Free Cities and drank in every inn and fucked in every whorehouse from Lannisport to Volantis. Callum killed his first man, a Rills’ crofter, at the tender age of thirteen, when his bellicose uncles took him along as a deckhand but instead found a talented killer in him.

Ever since, Callum has contributed to the dark history of the Ironborn himself, writing entire chapters in the blood of his enemies... and as an Ironborn, the world was your enemy. There is not a coast that knows not his name, not a graveyard without a corpse that he put there. Blood, gold, booze and girls, those were the deities worshipped by Callum the Callous for decades. A veteran raider, Callum is both capable of instinctive actions during a fight and employing calculated tactics.

Now an aging Ironborn, time and his conscience are catching up with him. He has, every year, always found himself with less friends and more enemies. Blood has only led him to more blood, a fact Callum is sick of. He is hoping to become a better man than he was, serve his kinsman the Red Kraken in a different way. Since his last raid, when he and his crew sacked a sept filled with innocents, Callum has started thinking on his life. He has lost all pride and vanity, discarding all the trinkets and golden jewellery he had paid the iron price for. The veteran now dwells on his failures and regrets.