invariable

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

STORMLANDS, NIGHTSONG, NOON

"Well..."

A few heads turned in expectance. Lord Royce Caron sat a while thinking, then dismissed their attention with a quick gesture.

Truth was, he could not abide this anymore. The Hall of Nightsong had always been larger than its attendants accounted for, even with all Carons present. Of late, though, its useless enormity had been more obvious than ever. Royce had even called Ser Denestan Masterson with the guard to join their table, hoping to fill the emptiness in their Hall and hearts both. It did no good - after a few similarly clumsy attempts to begin a conversation, they had given up, and absolute silence claimed all. It was an odd sort of silence, too. It wasn't the sheer lack of talk, nor the short, muffled breaths they drew. The song of birds was no longer heard from outside, neither that of silverware from inside, yet that was not where it was at. The thing about this silence was the tension in it, stark, strangling, almost alive. Like everyone was constantly at the verge of saying something, and then thought the better of it.

Guyard had served hot pork stew, with bread and several salads, as well as cheese and fruit. Yet no-one appeared to mind the food. Lord Royce Caron sat at the head of the table, with Ser Masterson at his left. The man sat staring at his plate, working open a wound on his lips. Then followed the household guard, and Hubard, with his harp on one side and the lad Justin on the other. Across them sat Ser Thomas Lane, chewing bread under his thick, greyish moustache, and then Petyr Pickle with his daughter Kella seated by Septa Cedra. Finally, his stare fell on his own children.

Ser Reynard Caron was a rather comely lad, broad of shoulder and tall of stature. He used to be a happy one, too. However, the war had certainly robbed him of his broad smile and jolly demeanor. He was full of a ghost anxiety, always checking his surroundings in a hasty and wary manner, looking at everything and nothing in particular. Royce was worried about him, yet not as much as for his other sons. There was still no word from Eldric - after the Muddy Mess, he had gone amiss, and as days and ravens came and went by, Royce was growing more and more desperate. As of Jason, he was still in King's Landing, and with all the remaining armies of Westeros descending upon it, he was not quite likely to survive the fortnight.

And then there was Elenda, with her big sad widow's eyes that no father should ever have to look upon. Royce had always been thinking that Elenda among his daughters had had the best marriage, staying close to her home and taking the lord of a Great House to husband. Yet the course of events proved him wrong.

Lady Ashara was silent as well, her worrisome, wrinkled face giving away her troubled thoughts. I have failed her, thought Royce, and poured himself a cup of wine.

"My lord, a letter just arrived".

Maester Justin was young for his office, yet his heavy chain of many metals doubtlessly proved his worth. In four quick strides, he stood by his lord, clutching a letter with his long fingers.

"Is it from Eldric? Is he alive?", Royce asked, full of sudden hope.
"I'm afraid not, my lord. It is from King's Landing."
"Jason then! Give me!"

He teared it open and read:

To Lord Royce Caron of Nightsong,

We regret to inform you that King Aegon Targaryen, the second of his name, is dead. By rights of birth and law of heritance, the eldest male offspring of the royal family, King Aegon Targaryen, the third of his name, son of the late Prince Daemon Targaryen and the late Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, has ascended to the Iron Throne. We request that House Caron send a delegate to swear fealty to the new king, so that you may be properly restored to the King's Peace.

May the king reign long and prosper, in peace and justice.

The Small Council

Beneath, a list of names and signatures continued to the end of the page.

One more wrinkle was added to the many upon Royce's face. Aegon was dead? And Rhaenyra was referred to as a Queen by the council that had served him? That could mean but one thing.

"Whatever happened, sire?", asked Ser Lane.
"We lost the war", said Lord Royce, and forced a spoonful of stew in his mouth.

Hubard had began to play a slow, sweet melody on that harp of his when Maester Justin reappeared with another letter.
"Another one?", Royce asked.
"This one is from Storm's End, my lord."

The letter read:

To Lord Royce Caron of Nightsong,

Following the death of Lord Borros Baratheon, by right of age, Lord Steffon Baratheon has succeeded him as Lord of Storm's End and the Stormlands. As ritual demands, you are expected to plead your fealty to your new liege lord.

As of the matters of war, Lord Steffon shall return the Stromlands to King Aegon's III Peace, yet requires that his vassals remain armed and prepared. Specifically, he orders that the following measures be taken:

-provisions be gathered and stores be filled with food, building materials and toolware
-water be gathered in the castles' reservoirs
-army be raised and armed

May your summers be long and your crops plentiful

,followed by the Baratheon seal.

That caught Royce by surprise. So, Steffon Baratheon would put an end to his uncle's war? Quite peculiar, for a Baratheon to end a quarrel rather than start one.

He knew the time had come to act.

"Well", he announced loudly, "it appears that Steffon Baratheon is the new Lord of Storm's End, and quite an eager pacifist as well. According to this letter, he intends to accept Aegon the Third as his king and be done with it".

Now, that turned some heads!

"That would probably be a wise thing to do, my lord", commented Maester Justin, and at the same time Reynard yelled: "Is he insane, father? Were all these lives given away for nothing? Did I have Terro bleed to death in my arms for no purpose at all? And what about the right of our cause? Can we forsake our rightful king and just bend the knee to the wench's nestling?"

"We can, and we will", said Royce, finally feeling his way out of this haunted dead-end. "Maester, send a letter to King's Landing, pledging the eternal fealty of our House to King Aegon the Third and House Targaryen". Reynard and Ser Lane tried to say something, but he cut them off.

"Send another to Jason. Tell him to bow that stiff knee of his, and the Starks are sure to spare his head". That he trully believed. The lad had fought no fights and done no crimes.

"And, Maester, send a third one to our lord of Baratheon. Write him to expect me within the fortnight, so that I may renew our vows to Storm's End and his House".
"My lord", said now unhindered Ser Thomas Lane, "no need for such a long trip. You could send a letter instead, as everyone".
"A Caron of Nightsong is not as everyone, ser", answered Royce Caron. "The Marches are the spine of the Stormlands, and House Caron is the spine of House Baratheon. My son-in-law respected me and cherised my counsel. I would have the same treatment for our House from our new liege."

"After all", he continued, "I would much like to see Steffon Baratheon again from close up. I've heard that this little fawn has grown to be a stag of a different demeanor."

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Seriously, Sini? Crab Patty?

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Chett of Lannisport

Name: Chett of Lannisport
Age: three-and-fifty
Affiliation: House Lannister of Lannisport

Biography and Personality:

Chett was born in 78 A.C. Lannisport to a carter and a farrier's daughter, the first of three children. Since his family could scarcely make a living with his father's meagre earnings, young Chett had to work as his grandfather's assistant so as to sustain himself and his siblings. The boy worked hard and dedicated, but his master treated him harshly and paid him little. Those long years of hard work at his grandfather's small, filthy workshop he still remembers with resentment, and may well be the reason why he still has a certain dislike for horses and similar livestock.

At age ten, he went to work for Roll, an acater and family friend. Struggling to leave his life of poverty behind, Chett worked to the point of obsession and spent as little as possible. He worked nonstop for five years, sparing not his young body the strain, until he gathered enough money to leave Roll's service and open his own little food store.

Chett was not yet eighteen when he took his very first hard lesson about the fudamental politics of economy. One merry morning, two men entered his store, claiming to be Addam Lannister's representatives, and asked to buy the shop. He turned them down then, but a long period of ridiculous price damping from Lannister's local stores damadged awfully his ledgers and finally convinced him otherwise.

Although disheartened from the course of events, Chett had a quick merchant's mind and found a way to replenish his accounts. He started dealing in linens, calicos and silks, a very promising business at the time. In a couple of years, he could afford to open a second store, and within ten he owned eight cloth shops, effectively controlling cloth trade in Lannisport.

He had one-and-thirty years of age and was already a rich and successful merchant when he first met the woman he would take to wife. Baylee was but a shoemaker's daughter, yet Chett was not of noble heritage himself, and her beauty all but dazzled him. He married her the very same year and got her with a son, later to be named Conn.

Chett soon obtained control over other fields of trade, among which that of fur and leather. Still, he couldn't antagonize Addam Lannister. There was great enmity between the two, but Chett's keen trade sense was no match for the Lannister's political power and useful acquaintances. Thus, most quarrels between them usually ended badly for the lowborn merchant.

In the meanwhile, Conn was becoming a fine young lad, and in 112 A.C., Chett's twin children, Devan and Gill, were born. The very same year, Addam Lannister died (murdered, some would say), and Lord Tyland Lannister himself came in contact with Chett of Lannisport, offering him the opportunity to serve House Lannister as a member of the Argent Path, Lannisport's greatest merchant guild, an honor he graciously accepted. Chett still tells the tale of how the fates coallied for his profit that lovely, joyous year. Later, in 127 A.C., he would become the guild's First Steward.

As time went by, Conn began helping his father at work, proving himself a clever, cautious and hardworking man and Gill grew up and flowered, becoming a beauteous maiden. Devan, on the other side, was rather the adventurous type. At age seventeen, disregarding his father's advice, he took arms to fight for the throne of Aegon Targaryen. Devan fought valiantly at Burning Mill, Stone Hedge, Rook's Rest and Lakeshore, where he earned his spurs. He also fought in the first Tumblestone battle. As a knight, the boy took the name "Chetling", and for his sigil a golden tooth over red, rippled silk.

Now, after the war's end, Chett of Lannisport has set to protect the empire he's been building for a lifetime with his blood and sweat. Whatever lordlings may now hold King's Landing interests him little - in the town that brought him up as a mother, he, too, is a king of sorts, by means of roguery and law of conquest.

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Jeren Hewitt

Name: Jeren Hewitt
Age: twelve
Affiliation: House Caron

Biography and Personality:

Jeren Hewitt was born in Southfay Town, just six miles from Nightsong, and from the moment he took his first steps, he's been living to serve the Carons. His father, Zachery Hewitt, is a hedge knight sworn to the Lord of the Marches. It was Royce Caron himself that knighted the man, formerly a sellsword from Summerhall, for saving Reynard Caron's life, not yet fifteen at the time, from a nasty group of highwaymen. From that day on, the Hewitts have been loyal subjects of the Carons, ever aiding them in all their endeavors.

Jeren met his mother but briefly - she died at his birth, thus leaving him motherless and siblingless. According to his father, she was a Storm herself, daughter of a renowned Stormland lord.

Zachery Hewitt brought up his son with all the care he could muster, and a heavy hand as well. He taught the boy whatever little he knew of letters and sums, and trained him to fight with spear, shield and sword. At age ten, he sent the boy to Nightsong to be a ward for the Carons and then left to fight Aegon's war. Young Jeren Hewitt was further educated by Ser Thomas Lane in the art of war, and by Maester Justin in matters of academia. His father, sparsely, would come to visit and check on his progress. Ser Lane praised the boy's cleverness and quickness in training, but Jeren's restless spirit was never confident at science and spiritual pursuits.

With the end of the Dance of Dragons and his coming of age, Jeren was naturally chosen as the new squire of Ser Reynard Caron. After years of meticulous preparation, Jeren Hewitt is a confident, self-indulgent youngster full of dreams and hopes. The world's a merry place, after all - and, once he's knighted, it'll be his.

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Well, I ain't gonna use any other Caron character but Royce, so if anyone wants some Stormlands action, they are welcome to join House Caron.

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Royce Caron

Name and Title: Royce Caron, Lord of Nightsong and the Marches
Age: eight-and-fifty
Affiliation: House Caron

Biography and Personality:

Being the firstborn son of Wilem and Shanon Caron, Royce was brought up as a lord ought to. From an early age he was taught the ways of the sword and the harp, soon proving himself to be quick with the former and sweet with the latter. He also learnt letters and sums, history, riding and archery, as well as law and etiquette. He showed signs of great cleverness and boldness, and squired for Boremund Baratheon in many a tourney. At sixteen years of age, he was wed to Ashara Rogers, two years his senior, and soon got her with child. Elenda was his first child to be delivered, and five more would follow.

At the end of the Second Quarrel, Lord Wilem Caron was appointed Master of Laws of King Jaehaerys' Small Council, and Royce followed him, staying in King's Landing for a couple of years before returning to Nightsong. In King's Landing, young Royce Caron got his first harsh lessons about politics. From 96 A.C. to 103 A.C. he ruled Nightsong in place of his much-too-occupied lord father. In 98 A.C. he took part in the great tourney of King's Landing, placing second at the melee (beaten by Baelon Targaryen) and first at the singers' tourney. As his prizes he requested, and received, a dragon's egg and a solid silver harp. The egg never hatched, but the harp has served him and his breed for years. It is somewhat of a family heirloom now, bearing the name "Silverwind".

In 103 A.C., Jaehaerys the Conciliator died, and Wilem Caron was dismissed from the council and replaced with Daemon Targaryen, only to die as well a year later. Thus, Royce Caron, already a father of four, became the new Lord of the Marches.

For the next fifteen years, Royce Caron led a peaceful and pleasant lord's life. He fathered two children, knighted three sons and had his daughters married to lords, the eldest to Borros Baratheon himself. Borros cherised Lord Caron as his vassal, friend and consultant and the Baratheons and Carons were strongly bonded.

During the Dance of Dragons, Royce Caron raised his banner for the greens. When Aegon II took over King's Landing, Royce sent there his heir Jason to serve as assistant to Jasper Wylde, Master of Laws of the green council. At the battle of the KIngsroad, it was Ser Eldric Caron that led the left side of the host. At that battle, Lord Caron lost a grandson and many loyal men, as well as his son-in-law and liege lord, Borros Baratheon.

The years, along with his recent defeat, have made Royce Caron wary and precautious. He is less bold now, and quick to take slight. Still, he is a loving husband and father of many, and will resort to any means to defend his kin and his House.

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

House Caron

Name: House Caron
Seat: Nightsong
Words: "No song so sweet"
Affiliation: House Baratheon

Description: House Caron is one of the principal noble houses in the Stormlands. They are sworn to House Baratheon of Storm's End. They rule from Nightsong and bear the title "Lord of the Marches". They are a proud family of great heroes and singers, dating back to the days of the Storm Kings of House Durrandon. They claim that their sigil has been present in a thousand battles. Their lands once spanned from Nightsong to Horn Hill.

History: The Carons have been sworn to Storm's End since time immemorial. When Orys Baratheon slew Argilac the Arrogant and seized Storm's End, he also gained the Carons' loyalty. The Carons defended the iron throne against the first Vulture King, and fought the king's wars for centuries. They aided the Targaryens at the First Dornish War, which resulted in Nightsong's being burnt down by the Fowlers and rebuilt again after the war's end. During the Dance of the Dragons, they followed their liege lord, Borros Baratheon, in declaring for the greens. They remained relatively active throughout the war, and took part in the Battle of the Kingsroad, paying a heavy blood tax and falling back to the Marches when the Stormlands host was defeated by the supporters of Rhaenyra Targaryen. They are currently struggling to restore their broken realm to peace, and their broken house to honor.

Members of the House: -Lord Royce Caron, Lord of Nightsong and the Marches
-his wife, Lady Ashara of House Rogers
-their children:
-Lady Elenda, Borros Baratheon's widow
-Ser Jason, heir to Nightsong
-his wife, Lady Meredyth of House Frey
-their children:
-{Bryon}, a squire, killed during the Dance of Dragons
-his baseborn son, Osmund Storm, a babe at breast
-Ravella, eleven years of age
-Albar, nine years of age
-Amanda, two years of age
-Ser Eldric,
-his wife, Elenna Prester
-their children:
-Myrena, eleven years of age
-Carolei, eight years of age
-Rubert, four years of age
-Lady Eleanor
-her husband, Lord Renly Pryor
-Ser Reynard
-Lady Lysanne
-her husband, Lord Mors Manwoody
-their household
-Maester Justin, a maester of the citadel
-Petyr Pickle, steward of Nightsong
-Denestan Masterson, called Sour Den, captain of the guard
-his daughter, Kella
-Archibald, Boy Denzil, Lem, Kenned, Del, Edric, Bennet, Kemmett, Bald Meribald, Bradamar, Daryn, guards
-Ser Thomas Lane, master-at-arms
-Septa Cedra
-Septon Eddison
-Mikken, master of horse
-Hubard, master of bards
-his son, Justin
-Old Brad, kennelmaster
-his son, Luke
-Guyard, the cook
-Erik, armorer and weaponsmith

OOC

So, dibs on house Caron. I'll present my characters as soon as possible.

Game of Thrones - a Song of Ice and Fire

Hello, there! I'll post my characters later on today.

A Game of Thrones - A Song of Ice and Fire

Count me in, good sir.

Changeling - The Lost: "Of fate and lucky fellows"

Certainly, and sorry for the delay, as I've already said, I wasn't in town. Your characters have already escaped from their Keepers, months or even years past the current events. Contemporarily, you all live in Kingman, Arizona, and perhaps have joined some of the freeholds that I have brought up in the interest check, as well as a Court. The freeholds of Kingman are the following: -Thornfort, housed in the abandoned Palo Christi Elementary School. An entrance to a most rough and wild part of the Hedge can be found deep in the school's apothecary. This freehold is mostly comprised of wizened and darklings. The Leaden Mirror is the most influential Court of Thornfort. -The Ghastly, found in an old saloon in the town of Oatman. The Ghastly is not connected to Fae by any means. The Winter Court holds most power in this freehold, whose members are in their great majority darklings. -Gerard's Place, found in the Hualapai Mountain Reacreation Area, is a haven for many diverse changelings, including beasts, elementals and fairest. There's an entrance to the Hedge nearby, conceiled as a rabbit hole. The Spring Court reigns supreme in Gerard's Place. -Faebane, in the Grand Canyon Caverns, is joined mostly by ogres and beasts. In Faebane, the change of the ruling Court by season has ceased happening, and the freehold is solely governed by the Crimson Court. Faebane contains a powerful trod to the Hedge. For the time being, I expect you to establish your everyday life posing as humans and to post your character sheets. I also expect a hint on whether you are members of a freehold or a Court and which. Then the story will proceed.