IdentityMychel Mudd, dubbed 'Mychel Sapphire'
AgeFifteen.
RoleHeir to Harrenhal
Squire under Carolei Tarth
CharacterizationTall and fair, Mychel is more sapphire than mud. It is a truth most uncomfortable to his mother, but proudly acknowledged by his Tarth cousins. He and his twin brother, Jacelyn, were born from Lady Catelyn's matrilineal union to her second husband, Endrew Tarth. A marriage of love, the influence of the Sapphire Isle was quite apparent in their progeny from the very beginning. The blue eyed boys of the Lady of Harrenhal quickly outgrew their older sister, Lyra, born from Catelyn's previous marriage to the late Mors Tallhart.
The twins were also quite remarkable in terms of their characters. Where their mother and sister were incurious, set in their ways and concerned with keeping the traditions of the ancient river lords, Mychel and Jacelyn were fascinated by tales of their Tarth ancestors' chivalry and yearned to visit their father's legendary homeland. Mychel in particular, being the more sensitive and imaginative of the two, developed a fondness for poetry and plays. He would spend entire days in the woods and fields of the Gods Eye reciting and reenacting his favourites with his twin or with their low-born second cousins, the descendants of Lorimas' bastards.
Mere months before their eleventh nameday, however, tragedy struck the Mudd household. During one of their trips into the woods, a terrible storm broke out. Mychel and Jacelyn got lost as the downpour changed the shape of the land around them, and wandered blindly in search for a way back to Harrenhal. While trying to cross a raging stream, Jacelyn slipped and his leg was impaled on the branch of a fallen tree. Unable to stop the bleeding, Mychel desperately dragged his dying twin towards what he thought would be the edge of the forest, only to find that he had led them even further astray. In his guilt and despair over dooming his brother, he lay down by Jacelyn's side and held him as he passed away, wishing that the storm would kill him as well.
A searching party under his uncles' command found him the afternoon after, alive but weak, still clinging to his twin's corpse. It took Harrenhal's maester weeks to get Mychel back in good health. The boy that came out of his chambers once he was deemed fit to walk again was a pale reflection of the cheerful child he had once been. After months of mourning, realizing that Harrenhal had soured in her son's heart, his mother decided to send him away, to serve as his aunt Carolei's squire in Tarth.
In Tarth, in the company of his sapphire kin, Mychel regained some of his lost spark, but remained prone to melancholy. Under his aunt's tutelage, he demonstrated great skill with the sword and a precocious talent for command. He also found plenty of loving friendship and comradery in his Tarth cousins. Although his passion for poetry and theatre remained, he became more and more enamored with the more tragic tales and songs, and took to writing and singing his own. Talk spread over time of how he would dress in House Tarth's colors and how his cousins had given him the name 'Mychel Sapphire', to signify their close kinship. His good character and comely looks attracted the attention of a dozen suitors, all of which he kindly rejected, preferring the company of his relatives and the smallfolk instead. Much like his grandfather Lucas, he also took an interest in gods and customs beyond those of his ancestors.
If courtly rumours are to be believed, it was his lady mother's intent to keep him in Tarth until he came of age, both for his sake and to focus on raising Lyra as her successor. After that, she would have allowed him to roam the world as he pleased. Unfortunately, whatever plans Lady Catelyn may have had were unexpectedly demolished by Lyra's death during childbirth. With her heir dead, and the resulting child stillborn, the Lady of Harrenhal had no choice but to summon her wistful son back to the Gods Eye to assume his place as her successor.
Mychel is defined by his experiences with love and loss, and that makes him value compassion far more than coldhearted duty or tradition. His sensitivity makes him quite popular with the smallfolk, of whom he is very protective, as well as a remarkable judge of character and a good ally, even if it also makes him wont to let his darkest thoughts fester within. He rejects cruelty whenever possible, however, and is not one to abuse his power or scheme from the shadows. His sense of honour and justice is more defined by his ideals than by the traditions of the First Men, and his devotion to the Old Gods has waned with the passing of the years. As for his imagination, it has made him perhaps the only Mudd in many years to think about the future of their house and the realm beyond their decades-old commitment to the Targaryens and Tullys.
Attributes & TalentsThe Marshall and the Maid
The blood of many great soldiers courses through Mychel's veins. From Lorimas Mudd to Brienne of Tarth, their famous legacies converged on the day of his birth, and have only been reaffirmed throughout his life. The heir to Harrenhal is strong, fast and precise with his sword. He has performed exceptionally well in his first few melees and jousts. Should he pursue knighthood, his lady aunt suspects that he could become one of the finest knights in the Seven Kingdoms.
The Art of War
A vivid imagination, if well-cultivated, can be just as deadly in the field of battle as a robust body and a good sword arm. Mychel's innate creativity, fostered by a childhood spent memorizing intricate war poems and years of rigorous tutelage under the Lady of Tarth, has made him into a very promising tactician. What he may lack for in cold calculation, he more than makes up for in inventiveness, an aptitude which he has constantly demonstrated to his friends and family through games of cyvasse.
Sapphires are prettier than mud
Mychel's delicate beauty has been spoken of, and sung about, in more than a few courts and inns. It is the first of many things that lords, ladies and smallfolk alike find bewitching about him. His allure is only heightened by his character, as people lose themselves in the soft sound of his voice while he sings or recites, or they witness his tenderness and rectitude. This comes at a cost, however, for many see in his pretty face and compassionate nature signs of an unmanly vulnerability.
Wisdom of the Heart
It is a popular notion among some lords, those bountiful in ambition but lacking in scruples, that a man who lets himself be guided by sentiment is a gullible fool, easily manipulated and betrayed. Yet it could be just as easily argued that the right kind of sensitivity can be a weapon against treachery, a way of knowing what lies hidden in people's hearts. Mychel may not be able to know if someone is lying to him by way of a mere glance, but he can often tell the true nature of the people he meets, beyond their words and courtesies.
Riversblood no more
Few would dare say it aloud, but there is little doubt in some that Mychel is no longer considered a 'proper' Mudd by some of his kin. His long stay in the Stormlands, and news of his fondness for his Tarth relatives, have driven some of his Mudd cousins to embrace his new name of Mychel Sapphire as a peyorative. To them, Mychel becoming Lord of Harrenhal would be tantamount to a betrayal of their bloodline. In a family as closely knit as the Mudds, such a rejection could spell disaster for their family and the Gods Eye.
A Nameless Affliction
Some maesters have long argued that there are diseases which only affect, and are rooted in, the human spirit, and not the body. They have written of diseases of emotion, rather than simple madness, where the afflicted can perceive reality as it is, but they experience it through a dark fog of despair. Mychel's melancholia has been with him since his twin's death. Indeed, it would seem that its presence is now an intrinsic part of his nature, something that remains with him even in his moments of joy. It casts its shadow over every waking hour of his life, and often in his dreams as well.
The meaning of a peach
It is not uncommon for young lords and squires to be curious about the pleasures of the flesh before they are bewedded. It is not uncommon for them to seek out those pleasures in the company of serving girls or whores. It is quite uncommon, however, for a young lord such as Mychel to befriend the serving girls instead of bedding them. It is uncommon for one to only visit one oddly specific brothel once, without ever mentioning to anyone but his closest friends who he bedded. It is also uncommon for the heir of a prestigious house to openly refuse several suitors, many of them from very prestigious houses of their own, without even consulting with his guardians or parents on the matter. The lords and ladies who have heard of this mystery have devised a few scandalous answers to it, but only one has been deemed believable. It is an answer which has reminded many storm lords of one of their former lieges.
Immediate FamilyHis mother, Catelyn Mudd. Forty-two years old.
His father, Endrew Tarth. Forty years old.
His sister, {Lyra Mudd}. Died in childbirth in 379 AC at the age of twenty-three, along with her child.
His twin brother, {Jacelyn Mudd}. Died in an accident in 375 AC at the age of ten.
His maternal aunts and uncles, Alyssa Mudd, Leslyn Mudd, Brynden Mudd and Cassandra Mudd. Forty, thirty-eight, thirty-five and thirty-four years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Alyssa, Emphyria Mudd, Celia Mudd and Tristan Mudd. Twenty-two, nineteen and fifteen years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Leslyn, Lucias Mudd, Jon Mudd, Loras Mudd and Aegon Mudd. Twenty-one, eighteen, fifteen and thirteen years old, respectively.
His maternal cousin by Brynden, Garrett Mudd. Seventeen years old.
His maternal cousins by Cassandra, Melantha Mudd and Olyver Mudd. Sixteen and twelve years old, respectively.
His maternal grandmother, Barbara Vance. Sixty years old.
His maternal great aunts and uncles.
His maternal second aunts and uncles.
His maternal second cousins.
His paternal aunt, Carolei Tarth. Forty-nine years old.
His paternal cousins.
Personal RelationsCatelyn Mudd - Mychel loved and admired his mother once, but with the souring of his love for Harrenhal after Jacelyn's death, so did his love for her sour after he was sent away. The years apart and their growing differences in character have made the chasm between them grow larger, although her diligence and his caring nature have ensured that they at least share a mutual respect.
Endrew Tarth - It is not only the colour of their eyes that father and son share, but also a lifelong yearning for the world outside of the Gods Eye. During his years in Tarth, Mychel kept a close correspondence with his father and eagerly awaited his every visit. Endrew, for his part, always encouraged his son's curiosity and imagination, and found joy in training him for battle before the boy was sent off to his sister.
His maternal aunts and uncles - Time and distance did much to distance Lady Catelyn's siblings from her sweet Mychel. However, his uncle Brynden has kept a constant interest in the boy's martial training, having been the one to teach him his first swings as a child, and Mychel has always looked up to him. And his aunt Alyssa, an avid reader and patron of the arts like her father, is known to be fond of Mychel's songs and poems.
Emphyria Mudd - There has always been something strange about Emphyria, something that, apparently, only Mychel noticed. Something about the way she looked at people, how she flattered them, how she convinced them to see things the way she did, and how easily she could lie. His eldest cousin was always charming, witty, confident and made friends with ease, but Mychel was never entirely comfortable in her company and that remains the case to this day. He has not spoken to her since he left for Tarth and she has not sent him a single letter.
His other maternal cousins - The one common thread among Mychel's Mudd cousins is their stalwart dedication to the old ways and the Old Gods. To them, Mychel's long stay in Tarth, and the stories that circulate of his behavior among the storm lords, speak of someone who has abandoned proper tradition and may well be on his way to abandoning the family entirely. Such being their attitude, their behavior towards him has become more and more hostile in recent years. The one exception is Garrett, his uncle Brynden's only son, who was quite fond of both Mychel and Jacelyn when they were children and deeply mourned the loss of both.
Other Mudds - Mychel's great aunts and uncles, second aunts and uncles, and second cousins were a constant presence in his childhood, although not all of them welcome. He got along quite well with Lysandro and his descendants and continued to share letters with them during his years in Tarth. With the rest of the Mudds, however, things were more complicated. His great uncle Lomas and his great aunt Dyanna were kind to him but clearly favoured his sister over him. His second uncle Horas was once a rambunctious man who always enjoyed Mychel's recitations and cheered for his childish singing in every feast, but became a boorish drunk after the untimely death of his son and never again showed any love for the other Mudd children. Those among his second cousins who were closest to his sister were respectful and welcoming, but those more aligned with his cousin Emphyria were wont to mistreat him for his delicate personality.
Barbara Vance - His grandmother has always played the part of the all-loving matriarch, balancing her daughter's less forgiving nature with her caring, nurturing character. She still dotes on Mychel as much as is possible, as she does for all her grandchildren, while she tries to find him a suitable match through her network of noble widows.
His Tarth kin - Tarth became his home in the years he spent as a squire under his aunt, and the ruling family of the beautiful island became his family at heart. To his aunt, Mychel is like a son. To his cousins, he is like a brother.
Brus Baratheon - Over the course of his years as Lady Tarth's squire, the heir to Harrenhal came to see his visits to Storm's End as a common but much anticipated occurrence, mainly because of one of Lord Lyonel's children. Of all the people Mychel has met in the Stormlands, Ser Brus Strongstag is a clear favourite of his, given how much he openly enjoys the young Baratheon's company despite their markedly different temperaments. Some of his fondest memories are those from the days he has spent with Brus and his squire, Aemon Velaryon, drinking, fighting, singing or riding. Though Brus has a penchant for teasing him, it is clear that Mychel admires and appreciates him, and that Brus cares for him in turn.
Aemon Velaryon - Where the Strongstag goes, Aemon often follows, and Mychel is glad for it. As much as he openly enjoys Brus' boisterous nature and antics, he also makes no secret about the fact that he is rather sweet on Brus' squire. Mychel has been known to be protective of him, knowing how many storm lords despise the boy for what his family did.
Edmyn Tully - The just and honourable Lord Paramount of the Trident has no shortage of friends in Harrenhal, and Mychel would count himself among them. He saw enough of Edmyn growing up to appreciate his good character and share his mother's sentiment that, out of all the lords that they could have been sworn to, it is a blessing that he was the one.
Felix Blackwood - The historical ties between the Mudds and the Blackwoods meant that, as a child, Mychel thought of Lord Blackwood's son as close family. Even though they were not even second cousins, Felix was honest and likeable enough that he had no trouble favouring him over some of his fellow Mudds. Jacelyn's death and Mychel's departure to Tarth, however, worked to sever that bond they shared. That does not mean that Felix and him do not still have some things in common. For one, although Mychel is not fond of gambling or drinking, their shared interest in tourneys and swordsmanship, and their shared lack of interest in lordship, has encouraged them to keep a sparse but amiable correspondence.
Cassandra Blackwood - When the Mudd twins were children, their mother floated the idea of promising one of them to Lord Blackwood's prodigious daughter. In her mind, enough generations had passed since Lorimas Mudd' marriage to Bethany Blackwood that it was time to renew the blood tie shared by their houses. Both Mychel and Jacelyn liked Cassandra well enough, specially the latter, but that betrothal never came to fruition. Jacelyn's death and Mychel's ensuing melancholia deterred their mother from pressing the matter. Ever since then, Mychel has only really known of Cassandra through her brother's correspondence.
William Stark -
Loreon Lannister - It would be difficult for any squire not to feel some admiration for a knight as skilled and gallant as the heir to Casterly Rock. Though they are no more than acquaintances, Mychel sees in Loreon a good man and an exemplary fighter, someone he could aspire to be like someday. On the few occasions where they have met, Loreon has reciprocated Mychel's admiration and shown interest in his potential to become a fine knight in his own right.
Skilled Tactician - By no means the best there ever was, still, Edmyn has attained an adept understanding of war, the flow of armies, supplies, and how terrain and perceptions play into the logistics of war. Furthermore, he is a skilled fighter, having been trained by Ser Axel Tully himself on numerous occasions, and other skilled fighters.
Quick - Edmyn has shown to be a smart man, quickly understanding concepts and studies, and applying them to everyday life. More than most, he had to learn to rule with all due haste after the death of his elder brothers. Lord Edmyn displays a keen ability to be taught something, and then carry out that teaching without needing further help.
Groomed - Always clean shaven, bathed, and clean clothes, Lord Edmyn takes pride in his personal appearance, and the general improvement to his overall health that comes with taking care of ones self.
Attractive - More than money and power, than the titles, Edmyn is considered to be an attractive man, standing six feet and two inches tall. His strong chin, cheeks, face, and perhaps the warmth of his smile, has earned him on more than one occasion the fawning of women.
Stategist - War has been a part of the Riverlands for centuries. Even more so, is the lack of geographic boundaries to protect the Riverlands, something that Edmyn has studied greatly, to learn how best to use these weaknesses to his own strength and benefit. After becoming Lord Paramount, Edmyn spared no expense and time to be educated in the art of war and strategy.
Diligent - None can say Edmyn, once he puts his mind to something, gives up. He sets his goals, and steadily works towards attaining those goals. 
Ambitious - Edmyn desires to set himself above and beyond the previous Lord Paramounts of the Riverlands, he seeks to permanantly cement his name, and his family's name in the history books. Good enough is not in his vocabulary, to Edmyn, best to do it right, or not at all.
Just - The law is the law, however it is not blind nor without heart. Edmyn holds court often to hear of his subjects disputes, complaints, and crimes. The law treats all men equal, no matter their birth, and it is something he has placed great faith in.
Scarred - Some wounds never heal, and the cut Ser Axel recieved on the Stepstones is worn with honor and pride. The man who gave it to him has long since passed, but it serves as a reminder as to Ser Axel's line of work, and his duty to protect the Queen.
Formidable Fighter - The skill with a sword Ser Axel posses is rivaled perhaps by a few others who currently live, but for those who saw him upon the fields of battle during the Stepstones Rebellion, it took six men against him for him to even recieve a wound, and all six of those men lie dead. He chooses to fight from the ground, on his own two feet, rather than atop a horse. Some might think this a weakness, yet to him, it just means his foe has a longer fall to the ground.
Brawny - Ser Axel has spent years of his life devoted to protecting and serving the Iron Throne, his body a weapon in its own right. He is no small man, nor some pushover.
Duelist - A sword and shield is all he needs, and his foes will fall before him like freshly cut wheat. Ser Axel, perhaps, could be counted among those that are considered the greats who have served within the Kingsguard, and worn the white.
Brave - Let no man doubt Ser Axel Tully's bravery, for he would charge a thousand foes if it meant saving the Queen or the Princess.
Stubborn - The last of Ser Axel's notable traits, is his stubbornness. Ever the last to leave, and the first to enter, he rarely if ever gives in, save for a direct order from the Queen, and depending, the Princess as well. Ser Axel has been jokingly referred to as the trout ever jumping up an endless waterfall. 
