[CENTRE] [img]http://awoiaf.westeros.org/images/c/c5/House_Darklyn.PNG[/img] [h1][i]House Darklyn[/i][/h1] [b]Seat:[/b][url=http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Duskendale]Duskendale[/url] [b]Words:[/b] From Loyalty, Strength [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Targaryen (Sided with the Blacks) [/CENTRE] [hider=Description:] House Darklyn of Duskendale has ruled the town of Duskendale and the surrounding lands in the Crownlands for centuries. Their keep is the Dun Fort, at the top of a hill that dominates the town.House Darklyn is an ancient and noble House that prides itself on it's unwavering loyalty to the Targaryen's, and maintain that they were the first to bend the knee to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. They suffered the first casualties during the civil war, their lands being attacked by the green's in the Sack of Duskendale 129 AC. Duskendale was unprepared for such an attack, and although they fought valiantly they could not stop the plundering of their lands, nor the butchering of Lord Meric. Three years after the attack and House Darklyn has recovered slightly from the attack, having repaired damages to their holdings and recouped some of their military forces. [/hider] [hider=History] The Darklyns had been petty kings of the First Men during the Age of Heroes. Their closest allies were their bannermen of House Hollard, who served them loyally and provided brides three times for the Darklyn kings of old. Even after their small realm was swallowed up by larger Andalkingdoms, the Darklyns' power sometimes reached as far as Crackclaw Point. During the War of Conquest, Aegon I Targaryen and his half-brother Orys Baratheon defeated the Darklyns of Duskendale and the Mootons of Maidenpool. The Darklyns bent the knee to the Targaryens and served their new kings as the proud Lords of Duskendale. During the Targaryen rule, the Darklyns were close allies to the dragonlords to the point that seven sons of Darklyn joined the Kingsguard, more than any other house, a fact which is referred to in the Darklyns' coat of arms. Ser Steffon Darklyn was a member of the Kingsguard of King Viserys I Targaryen and became Lord Commander of the Queensguard for Rhaenyra Targaryen when the realm was divided between supporters of Rhaenyra and supporters of her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen. Lord Darklyn attended Rhaenyra's coronation and sat on her black council; in retaliation Aegon's Hand Ser Criston Cole sacked Duskendale and had Lord Meric Darklyn beheaded during the Dance of the Dragons. Lady Meredyth Darklyn briefly sheltered Queen Rhaenyra after she fled King's Landing. [/hider] [hider=Sworn to House Darklyn] House Hollard [/hider] [hider=Members of House Darklyn] [list] [*][s]Meric Darklyn[/s], former Lord of Duskendale, slain at the hand of Criston Cole during the war [*][b]Meredyth Darklyn[/b], formerly Meredyth Hollard, aged fourty and seven years, stricken with grief over the loss of husband and child [list] [*] [b]Jasper Darklyn[/b], Lord of Duskendale, son of Meric and Meredyth a timid and shrewd man of twenty and eight years [list] [*][b]Serra Darklyn[/b], formerly Serra Crabb, Lady of Duskendale, a cruel and ambitious woman of twenty and seven years [*][b]Theobald Darklyn[/b], son of Serra and Jasper, a quiet and studious boy, age five years [/list] [*] [b]Eleanor Darklyn[/b], daughter of Meric and Meredyth, a brash and brazen maiden of twenty years [list] [*][b]Ser Olyvar Celtigar[/b], betrothed to Eleanor, a knight crippled after fighting in the Dance, a once proud man of twenty and one years [/list] [*][b]Ser Garlan Darklyn[/b], son of Meric and Meredyth, wandering hedge knight recently returned, age twenty and one [list] [*][s] Sybelle Waters[/s], deceased wife of Ser Garlan, slain by Criston Cole's men during the Sack of Duskendale [/list] [*] [s]Ser Steffon Darklyn[/s], Member of the Kingsguard during during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, Lord Commander of Rhaenyra's Queens guard, burned to death by Seasmoke the dragon [*] [b]Ser Edwyn Darklyn[/b], son of Meric and Meredyth, an aspiring knight of twenty and four years, loyal to House and Crown [list] [*] [b]Alayne Darklyn[/b], daughter of Lord Hollard and married to Edwyn, a comely woman of twenty and three years, devoted to her husband [*] [b]Rodrick Darklyn[/b], their son and twin to Myria, a mischievous young boy aged ten [*] [b]Myria Darklyn[/b], their daughter and twin to Myria, A blossoming young maiden with a silver tounge, aged ten. [*] [b]Dale Hollard[/b], squire to Edwyn, nephew of Lord Lambert Hollard, cousin to Alayne, clumsy but eager, aged ten and seven years [/list] [/list] [/list] [list] [*][b]Bryen Darklyn[/b], Brother to Meric, Uncle to Jasper, a warrior with a penchant for ale and women, aged fourty and four years. [list] [*][s]Walda Darklyn[/s]. deceased wife of Bryen, dead some five years [*][b]Arthur Darklyn[/b], his son, a scheming and calculating man of twenty years [*][b]Arwyn Darklyn[/b], his daughter, a naive maiden of ten and seven years [*][b]Clydas Waters[/b], his bastard simpleton son, a loyal but idiotic boy of ten and four years [/list] [*][b]Jeyne Rosby[/b], Sister to Meredyth, a hardened woman of fifty years [list] [*][b]Lester Rosby[/b], Husband of Jeyne, cousin of Lord Rosby, an ageing man of forty and nine years [*][b]Manfred Rosby[/b], son of Lester and Jeyne, exiled to the Wall for theft [*][b]Melara Rosby[/b], daughter of Lester and Jeyne, handmaiden in King's Landing [/list] [/list] [/hider] [hider=Other Notable Characters] [list] [*][b]Quellon[/b], Ageing Maester of Dun Fort and House Darklyn, seventy years of age [*][b]Ser Myles[/b], A loyal knight sworn to House Darklyn, aged fourty [/list] [/hider] [h3]Character Sheets [/h3] [hider=Meredyth Darklyn] [b]Name:[/b] Meredyth Darklyn [b]Age:[/b] 47 [b]Appearance:[/b] [url]http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/124/8/8/25_by_dandelion_s-d6gkted.jpg[/url] [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Darklyn [b]Personality: [/b] Meredyth was once a proud and fierce woman who would have gladly died to preserve her House and children. A quick wit and an iron will attracted Lord Meric to her, and she was fearless in the face of danger. Her free spirit was tempered only by her unwavering loyalty to House and Crown. However the loss of her husband and beloved son has taken it's toll on Meredyth. She is but a shell of her former self and is in a near constant state of mourning. She is silent and withdrawn, only speaking to call for food or water. The burning passion for which she was once known has been reduced to little more than smouldering ashes, and her wails can often be heard through the Dun Fort on the eve. She regards those around her with suspicion, and spends most of her days locked away in her room, waiting for a husband and son that will never return. On the occasions when she does emerge, she can be heard muttering about that “damned queen” who caused the deaths of those she once held dear. [b]Biography:[/b] From birth to death, Meredyth was to have her entire life planned out for her. As the niece of Lord Hollard, it was determined that she would marry into the Darklyn's to maintain the ancient bonds between the two Houses. As such, the entirety of her youth was geared towards her destined role. While her brothers played with wooden swords and learned to ride, Meredyth was confined to the interior of her home and forced to study proper etiquette befitting a lady of her standing. Her days were filled with courtesies and her nights with histories and geographies of distant planes. It was a comfortable life, but Meredyth longed for something more, something greater; she longed to carve out her own path in life, much to the chagrin of her superiors. Over time, this rebellious attitude only festered, and increasingly she would sneak out on rides with her brothers, or spar with them in the yard. Her father grew rather tired of her continued defiance, and decided that it was best she be moved to the Dun Fort to meet her future husband, before she did something that would jeopardize her chances of finding a husband. Thus, at the age of ten and eight, Meredyth was ripped from the teat of her home and family, and forced to suckle on the toxic milk of life as a noblewoman. Upon arriving at her new home, Meredyth was greeted with the first sight of her new husband. Bryen Darklyn was his name; a loud, brutish man with no love for anything but women and war. It was obvious from his smirking lips and wandering eyes that he was interested in only one thing, and Meredyth had no desire to give it to him. During the first week of her stay she avoided Bryen at all costs, talking long walks around Duskendale during the day and exploring the Dun Fort at night. It was during one such excursion that she met Meric, Bryen's brother and the heir apparent to House Darklyn. Meredyth was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Where Bryen was arrogant and slobbish, Meric was confident and elegant. They quickly grew close, but their courtship did not go unnoticed. Bryen was many things, but he was no fool. He could see that Meredyth was more interested in his brother, and he grew increasingly jealous as they spent more and more time together. Eventually he could take it no longer, and one fateful night he cornered Meredyth in her bedchambers. He was determined to take her for his own, and when he reached for her gown, Meredyth broke a vase across his face. He stumbled back, stunned, and she ran from the room. While fleeing she came across Meric and fell sobbing into his arms. When Meric learned of his brother's deed he was furious and demanded an audience with his father, the Lord, immediately. Lord Darklyn was outraged when he heard, and sent Bryen away to live with his relatives in King's Landing. The question remained as to what was to be done with Meredyth. For a time, it was suggested she would be sent back to her family, but Meric spoke out. He proposed a new marriage between himself and Meredyth, and reluctantly Lord Darklyn agreed. Their marriage was to be a long and prosperous one, and Meredyth remained fiercely devoted to her husband until his death. Even as his head lay on the chopping block, she threw herself towards him, prepared to take the blow of Ser Criston Cole's blade so her husband would not have to. Her resentment grew towards Queen Rhaenyra as the civil war drew on, and she prayed to the Seven everyday for her son's safe return. When she learned of his death, it was to be a crushing blow from which she would not recover. Since his death she has retreated into herself, and left the day to day affairs of the castle to her sons, who grow increasingly concerned by her deteriorating health with each passing day. [/hider] [hider=Jasper Darklyn, Lord of Duskendale] [b]Name:[/b] Jasper Darklyn [b]Age:[/b] 28 [b]Appearance:[/b] [url]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/058/b/b/bb447d258026326d79c9398547f003b7-d3aiuvr.jpg[/url] [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Darklyn [b]Personality:[/b] Jasper certainly defies all conventions when it comes to what personality traits one would expect to see in a Lord. Unlike his brothers and sister, Jasper is a quiet and reserved individual who is more prone to follow the ideas of others than pursue his own course of action. He is no great public speaker, and gets anxious around loud crowds, preferring to retire to his room to read. Further, Jasper is rather timid and shrewd, and prefers to seek peace and reconciliation when able. He has no great love of war or conflict, and would prefer to watch from the sidelines if the mantle of leadership had not been thrust so forcefully upon him. What he lacks in leadership ability he makes up for in knowledge, having a sound understanding of the history, geography and economics. However despite his faults, Jasper is not an evil man and genuinely tries to do the best he can in the position he is in, but given his limited abilities this has proved challenging. [b]Biography:[/b] The second child of Meric and Meredyth, Jasper was never the healthiest of children. Born prematurely and underweight, his first year of life was spent in a struggle for survival that left him physically weak and malnourished. This was certainly not helped by the fact that his mother tended to mollycoddle him, and refused to let him out of her sight during this early stage of his life. While his older brother was allowed to explore and play, Jasper was confined to the interior of his room in the Dun Fort. With age came wisdom for Jasper. A series of debilitating diseases left him bed-ridden for large parts of his childhood, and so he would often occupy his time by reading books from the House library with abandon. As the other boy's Jasper's age learned to fight with sword and shield he remained indoors poring over dusty tomes, while his mother warned him of the dangers of the world. Jasper's ill health worried Meredyth constantly, and her over-protective nature meant that Jasper was raised in an environment largely free from any obstacle or challenge. Unlike his older brother Steffon, he was not expected to someday lead the House, and so he was never groomed for leadership; most assumed he would someday become a wise Maester, but circumstances dictated otherwise. Meric, Jasper's father, became concerned that his sons had not yet produced heirs. Steffon was focused entirely on his squireship to worry about petty things such as love, and the other boys were too young to sire children. That left only one option if Meric was to secure his bloodline-Jasper. This presented somewhat of a difficulty as Jasper had so far been rebuffed during his brief attempts at courtship with the local women. Although he had been blessed with a handsome face, he severely lacked in the innate charm that seemed to come as second nature to his kin. No matter what his father tried, he could not persuade any of the Lords to marry their cherished daughters to his mild-mannered and tame son, and it seemed that Jasper would remain without wife until the end of his days. Jasper grew frustrated as time passed, as his father's machinations were holding him back from his own pursuit of knowledge; he vowed to marry the first chance he got, simply to appease the demands of his father. It was to be shortly after Jasper had reached the age of ten and nine when fate would intervene to find him a partner. Lord Crabb was visiting Duskendale with his youngest daughter, Serra, a young maiden who was discontented with her lowly status within her House. She had heard tales of the young Darklyn seeking a bride, and so desperate was she to gain power and escape her father that she was prepared to wed the weak noble. She propositioned herself to Jasper during her third night at the Fort, and Jasper leapt at the chance to be free of his father's stern gaze at last. The two were wedded the following year, and their marriage was an empty one, devoid of any great love. Serra saw Jasper as a stepping stone to power, and played on his weak nature to dominate and manipulate him. On his part, Jasper did harbour some small affection for Serra and was prepared to do what she asked of him; he did not have the will to fight her, and as long as she allowed him peace to study then he was content. The birth of a young son provided both Jasper and his father with a great deal of joy, and Jasper made an admirable effort to care for the child; even Serra's cold heart was warmed by the sight of the newborn. Jasper may have continued this simple life for the rest of his earthly years, had civil war not erupted across the four corners of Westeros. With his brother and father engaged in the war, Jasper was left to run the House under the guidance of his mother. This suited Serra well, and she forcefully pushed her husband to assume the mantle of power, despite his feeble protests. He was entirely unsuited to the position, as he would demonstrate during the Sack of Duskendale. While his father tried to muster a counter-attack to combat Criston Cole's force, Jasper was crippled with fear and retreated to the safety of his study. He watched the slaughter of his father, and raised not a single finger to stop it. It was only when he learned of his brother's death that Jasper finally realised he would never again be allowed to return to his life of comfort; he was reluctantly crowned the new Lord of Duskendale. With his mother a shadow of her former self, his siblings braying at each other's throats, and his wife whispering dark words in his ear, Jasper's role has not been made easier, and he has struggled to lead effectively thus far. [/hider] [hider=Eleanor Darklyn] [b]Name:[/b] Eleanor Darklyn [b]Age:[/b] 20 [b]Appearance: [/b][url]http://36.media.tumblr.com/f119ba3c7fadf18cf1832433b11cc02c/tumblr_narsu72h6S1r2344uo1_1280.jpg[/url] [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Darklyn [b]Personality: [/b] Eleanor certainly takes after her mother in terms of personality. A boisterous and brash young maiden, she bows to no man (or woman). She is confident to the point of arrogance, and highly competitive in everything she does. Further, she is prideful in her abilities with a sword, and takes it as a slight to her honour should anyone dare to test her mettle. Eleanor is also protective of her House and family, and is highly distrustful of anyone she suspects could upset either one. When angered she becomes very aggressive, very quickly, and often her first port of call when things get tough is her sword. She does not mince words, and tends to blurt out what she thinks, without any regard to the consequences. The game of politics is not one that Eleanor plays well. In the presence of her husband-to-be she softens somewhat, however. [b]Biography:[/b] Born the only daughter and youngest child to Meric and Meredyth, Eleanor did not lack for affection in her youth. Both her mother and father loved her dearly, but unfortunately it seemed that Eleanor had inherited her mother's rebellious streak. No amount of coercion or persuasion could force Eleanor to sit still long enough to learn neeedlework or the correct way to courtesy, and time and time again she would escape the confines of the Fort to play at soldiers with her brothers. Long summer days were spent charging wildly through the forest, laughing, shouting, yelling; the joys of youth were many for Eleanor and her brothers. As she grew older, and her brothers were squired off to knights, Eleanor attempted to follow them. Her parents denied her however, claiming that it was not her place to ride into battle; she was to remain at home and continue being instructed in the mannerism of a lady. As time passed Eleanor began to resent her parents, who she saw as imprisoning her while her brothers got to ride freely. Her mother tried her best to calm Eleanor's restless spirit, but to no avail. Increasingly she would take long rides into the surrounding forests of Duskendale, taking with her a sword and shield of Steffon's to practice her swordsmanship. Nothing could prevent her from doing what she loved, and the rift between parent and child widened with each passing day. A month before the outbreak of civil war, and Eleanor and her parents were barely on speaking terms. At that time, Steffon had returned home with one of his oldest friends, Olyvar Celtigar. Eleanor relished the chance to practice sparring with her brother and his friend, and she spent every waking moment in their company. She quickly grew close to Olyvar, and the two spent many a passionate night together. Unfortunately with the outbreak of war, Olyvar was called to fight for his House and the blacks. Before he left he vowed to wed Eleanor on his return. When her parents learned of his betrothal they were outraged, but could do little to intervene until the end of the Dance. Eleanor waited eagerly for her lover to return, but before he would arrive, tragedy stuck a double blow. Her father fell to the hands of Criston Cole, and later her brother at the hands of a dragon. Eleanor was filled with a vengeful anger and longed to ride out with a sword and shield and cut down as many of the enemy as she could. The only thing that stalled her hand was her desire to see Olyvar again, and hold him in her arms. As the war drew to a close, Olyvar did indeed return, but he returned a broken man. He had been injured in the fighting, and his legs were damaged beyond repair. Never again would he ride a horse, and he was burdened with an eternal limp. Eleanor's love did not waver, however, and she embraced him with undying affection and warmth. [/hider] [hider=Garlan Darklyn] [b]Name:[/b] Garlan Darklyn [b]Age:[/b] 21 [b]Appearance:[/b] [url]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/169/7/1/maric_by_nathanparkart-d7muxrr.jpg[/url] [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Darklyn [b]Personality: [/b] Garlan is everything his brother's are not. Relaxed and care-free at all times, he rarely allows events around him to influence his light-hearted manner. First to laugh and last to frown, Garlan is rarely serious or stoic. His animated face betrays his razor sharp wit, and he is fully prepared to trade words and well as swords with his opponents. Garlan is confident, but not to the point of arrogance. He knows his limits, and exactly how far he can push them before he will collapse. Unlike his borthers, Garlan cares little for honour or gallantry, and if he can do something that ensures his survival for another day, then you can be assured he will do it without hesitation; others have accused him of playing dirty, but he prefers to think of it as playing smart. He has little loyalty to anyone but himself, and is a free and independent spirit that refuses to be tied done by anything and anyone for too long. His carelessness has only seemed to increase after the death of Sybelle, and there are hints of cynicism in his behaviors. [b]Biography:[/b] The oft overlooked and forgotten fourth son, Garlan had to fight for every bit of affection he could as a child. While his brothers natural strength made them destined to become knights, Garlan was not so blessed. He had none of the raw power of his siblings, but instead a great agility. His lithe frame allowed him to move quickly through the Fort's halls a skill which came in useful given the mischief he often involved himself in. As Garlan grew older he became less concerned with pleasing his parents, whose pride was directed towards his elders, and more concerned with pleasing himself. Often he would pinch food from the Fort kitchens before nabbing a mount from the stables and riding into the nearby woods. Here he spent hours dancing through the trees, climbing amongst the leafy canopy far above. He had no great desires and ambitions, and was content to spend his life ignored but free. Unfortunately, his father had other ideas. Meric was disheartened when Jasper showed no signs of swordsmanship, and he became convinced that Garlan should fulfil his knightly role instead. While Garlan would have much preferred to learn to play the lute than swing a sword, he did not protest overly against his father. Becoming a knight was a tradition for the Darklyn boys, and Garlan reasoned that if he became a knight quick enough he would be allowed to return to his simple life. So it was that Garlan undertook training along with Steffon and Edwyn, and while he could never truly match their combat abilities, he had a certain skill with a blade. When it came time for his brothers to be squired off to knights, Garlan was deemed too young and inexperienced. Instead, he was to remain at Duskendale and continue his training. As it happened, this suited Garlan rather well as he recently become infatuated with a barmaid working in the town proper of Duskendale. At every available opportunity he rode into town to visit her, and tune on his lips and a whistle in his step. Garlan knew his parents would never approve of his courtship of a common bastard girl, and so he kept their relationship a secret from all. In all his fantasies he imagined sailing away with her to Bravo or Yunkai, and ridding himself of all responsibility. Truly he yearned for freedom, and as the days bled into months and weeks, he grew discontented with his future as a knight. However, circumstance intervened, and with the outbreak of civil war his training was put on hold. With the return of Edwyn to the Fort, and the preparations for war, Garlan was once again free to do as he pleased. Every night he indulged in the bodily pleasures of flesh with Sybelle, and each night he came closer and closer to asking her to sail away with him. Shortly after he reached the age of ten and eight, he finally proposed his plan to her. She was overjoyed, and the two made preparations to leave within the week. However, suddenly and without warning, their plans were dashed to a million pieces. Ser Criston Cole marched on Duskendale, and in the Sacking, Sybelle was slaughtered. Had Garlan been by her side to protect her, perhaps things would have been different, but he had taken refuge on a ship docked in the harbour during the attack. When he learned of her demise, his world crumbled around him. A void filled the space where once his hopes and dreams had lain, and he began to blame himself for her death. He could not stand to remain in the land which was soaked in her blood, and driven by guilt, he fled Duskendale. For the next three years, Garlan spent his time wandering where the winds took him. He hired himself out as a sell-sword to keep him in coin, and travelled across Westeros, and as far as Essos. He tried to forget Sybelle, and his family, but always he was plagued by the memories of what had happened. Hearing that the Dance was drawing to a close, he decided to return once more to Duskendale to face his demons; he arrived a week before the crowning of Aegon III. [/hider] [hider=Edwyn Darklyn] [b]Name:[/b] Ser Edwyn Darklyn [b]Age:[/b] 24 [b]Appearance:[/b] [url]http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/270/8/5/lord_by_dandzialf-d4b2usa.jpg[/url] [b]Affiliation:[/b] House Darklyn [b]Personality:[/b] Edwyn is the model example of a knight if both his actions and words. Honourable and courageous, he upholds virtues of dignity and respect at all times. Courteous to the extreme, he would never dare to besmirch another's honour, no matter how much they deserved it. Furthermore, Edwyn is dutiful and performs what is expected off him without hesitation. His near unlimited reserves of patience ensure that he rarely grows angry, and despite his fearsome abilities with a blade, he is a gentle and caring man. In addition, Edwyn is loyal to a fault, and will blindly follow those who have earned is trust to the ends of Westeros if they asked it of him. A devoted and caring husband, he prioritises his duties as protector of his family above all else. Only the Seven could ever come close to the reverence Edwyn holds for his family, as he is a devout follower of the faith. He takes personal offence to any attacks on his House, and is certainly not one to forget a slight. [b]Biography:[/b] Edwyn was born in the long and dark shadow of his elder brother Steffon. From a young age Edwyn was always expected to live up to the standards set by Steffon, and so for much of his youth he strived to emulate his elder brother. Where Steffon went, Edwyn followed, and the two developed the closest bond out of all the Darklyn siblings. The only person Edwyn admired more than his brother was Ser Rodrick, a noble knight from a bedtime tale his mother often read him. These two role models inspired in Edwyn the desire to become a famed knight, an upholder of the King's justice, and it was in fact Edwyn who first convinced Steffon to embark on the path of knighthood. It seemed almost natural, given their relationship, that the two brothers would undertake their training together. The two sparred against one another hundreds of times over, honing their skills and tuning their craft. Steffon was always the better of the two, but Edwyn was not deterred. He cared little for rivalry, and his only wish was to become skilled enough to enter the knighthood. During this time it happened that a tourney was being held in Duskendale, to celebrate the birth of Lord Meric's first and only daughter. The surrounding Lords were invited to attend, and Edwyn and Steffon were to participate in the dueling. As the day of the tourney arrived, Edwyn decided to take a stroll around Duskendale to see the celebrations before his fight later in the day. It was during his walk that he first met his future wife, Alayne Hollard. Edwyn had reached the harbor and was resting near the water's edge when he heard a cry. Turning, he saw a young woman slip beneath the waves, and without thinking he leapt into the blue depths to save her. Struggling, he managed to drag her to safety by the harbor, where her father had arrived, out of breath and rather red. Lord Hollard, for that was her father, thanked Edwyn a thousand times over, and asked him what he would have as reward for his heroics. He was too humble however, and would not accept a single token in return for his efforts; he was enraptured by the beauty of the woman he had just saved. Edwyn fought well in the tourney that day, and as the eve settled in, he chanced upon Alayne once more. Alayne thanked Edwyn for saving her, and asked if he would do her the courtesy of visiting her again someday. Edwyn accepted, and the two began a courtship, which after several years resulted in marriage and two beautiful children. During this courtship, Edwyn had completed his time as a squire and acceded to full knighthood. His duties kept him occupied for many months, and he spent only snatches of time with his wife and newborns, who had moved into Fort Dun. It was with a mixture of relief and disappointment then, when Edwyn learned that he would remain in Duskendale during the outbreak of civil war. While Steffon was fighting for his Queen, Edwyn remained steadfast in Duskendale, caring for his wife and preparing the House for war. All his preparations come to naught however, when the lands of Duskendale were sacked by Ser Criston Cole. Edwyn fought admirably during the battle, but was no match for the superior force of the greens; he was lucky to escape the same fate as his father. Now, as the Dance draws to a close, Edwyn remains committed to both House and Crown. While he mourns the losses of his House, he understands that these are the sacrifices of war. Never once has his loyalty faltered, and while he may not agree with everything that his brother, Lord Jasper does, he holds his tongue and does his duty as a knight. [/hider]