'Our Strength Gathers'
[ ⚔ ]Synopsis
House Blackwood of Raventree Hall is an old house from Raventree Hall in the riverlands, one of the main families sworn to House Tully. They once ruled the riverlands as kings during the Age of Heroes. They blazon their arms with a flock of ravens on scarlet surrounding a dead weirwood upon a black escutcheon.
[ ⚔ ]Military Strength
As an important vassal within the river lands, the host of House Blackwood is formidable in both size and armament. Kept sharp by constant skirmish with House Bracken of Stone Hedge and the internal strife of their home lands, the troops under Blackwood banners hold more experience than most levy from neighboring lands. The host is estimated to number four to five thousand swords, with one fourth of this number mounted on horseback. The men of Raventree Hall are renown throughout the kingdoms for their prowess as archers, the likes of which also holding a significant presence in their ranks.
[ ⚔ ]Members
Brynden Blackwood [55] & Melina Blackwood Née Piper [41]
--Draedon Blackwood [23]
--Falina Blackwood [16]
--Edmund Blackwood [12]
[ ⚔ ]Recent History
With the fall of the Lannister regime and rise of the dragonlords to the Iron Throne, House Blackwood too gained a semblance of strength back. With the Freys ousted from Riverrun and a Tully once again, Lord Tytos Blackwood made to right the wrongs which had occurred during the war of five kings. In particular, the return of lands stolen by House Bracken during their turn to the Lannisters were of Paramount importance. While he managed to return the Woodhedge and Crossbow Ridge to Blackwood hands, the Buckle, Lord's Mill, and Honeytree remained in their rival's hands as chaos consumed the river lands in the advent of Essosi migrants brought with the newly crowned Queen.
Lord Tytos would pass away in his sleep in 306 AC, leaving the House to his eldest son, Brynden. Brynden was a more reasonable man than his father, whom worked tirelessly to try and settle peace with the influx of these immigrants from a land far away and quell the cultural clash, to less than stellar avail. His patience did not extend to the neighbouring Brackens, whose feud over territory now extended to the Essosi, with both sides driving groups of the newly christened citizens onto the other's lands. Brynden managed to form a good relationship with House Tully by way of his brother in law, one Marq Piper, a close friend of Edmure Tully.
Through this bond, Brynden both secured the return of the Buckle and Lord's Mill, to the Bracken's ire, as well as the fostering ofhis son and heir, Draedon, at Riverrun. He had hoped of providing a stable home for the rambunctious boy. As quickly became apparent, however, the presence of the easy going Edmure in his life only helped to encourage the vices present in the lad.
Currently, the House is still ruled by Brynden, but his health is purportedly failing in his old age. His heir, Draedon, is a daring and cocksure young knight and sits poised to accept the lordship in the event of his father's demise. The feud with the Brackens remains strong to this day, with skirmishes in recent months heating under the implication that the scion of House Blackwood raped a daughter of Lord Bracken, something the fiery knight vehemently denies.
[ ⚔ ]POV's
Ser Draedon Blackwood
Lady Falina Blackwood