A work in progress certainly, but it contains my name and face claims. [hider=House Mormont] [center] [color=598527][b][i][h1]House Mormont of Bear Island[/h1][/i][/b][/color] [img]https://s33.postimg.cc/ft4jaav3j/oie_02_B0f_Pe_SN7n8.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h2][i]"Here We Stand."[/i][/h2][/color] [hr] [color=598527][b][u][h3]Synopsis[/h3][/u][/b][/color] The Loyal House of Mormont is a small, but strong family situated upon a snowy island in the far northwestern lands within the Bay of Ice. Life is harsh there, and only the strong survive, giving the no nonsense people of Bear Island a reputation for being tough and hardy. House Mormont has been in power on Bear Island for generations, ever since as legend goes, the Island was first won from the Ironborn King by a Stark in a wrestling match. The lands were then granted to the Mormont family establishing them as faithful vassals to the Starks' ever since. Admittedly the island is not a bastion of wealth, and besides timber, furs, and fish there is little of natural value to ensure their prosperity. Despite this the Bear Islanders reap for themselves a well earned living from the hard earth, and thrive irrespective of their harsh environment. No matter what challenge they face, or enemies that come ashore, they stand ready to fight to the last man or women to protect themselves and their livelihood. Unlike most of Westeros the Mormont family and those of Bear Island have a tradition of Warrior Women, and train all able bodied folk in the ways of battle. Indeed carved upon the mantel of Mormont Keep is a sigil of a women in bearskin, a suckling baby in one hand, and a battle axe held high in the other. The threats there are many, from the plundering, vengeful Ironborn to the encroaching Wildlings going around the wall through the Bay of Ice. One must have iron in their hearts, and steel in their bones in order to simply survive. But here, the Bear Islanders thrive. [hr] [color=598527][b][u][h3]Ruler of Bear Island[/h3][/u][/b][/color] The current sitting matriarch of Bear Island is Brinal Mormont, the sole surviving heir of her mother Dacey Mormont, daughter of Maege Mormont the She-Bear. For nearly three decades Brinal ruled over Bear Island, a faithful vassal to the Starks, albeit a grumpy one. She was never a proactive leader, often a mere absent thought in the grander politicking of the realms. Bear Island was small, poor, and to out of the way to be of great concern, secluded from the wider world and Westeros in general. Brinal preferred this feeling of seclusion, and in most things kept the Mormont family and her people to themselves, only stepping forth to make herself heard when requested specifically by the Starks, or if the need was great. In recent years Brinal's age has caught up to her, and the general day to day ruling has fallen mostly onto her only son Daviron, who has since been granted the title of Lord of Bear Island. Nevertheless the grumpy old she-bear continues her reign as the Lady of Bear Island, for in her own words she is [color=598527]"far to tough to die."[/color] [hr] [color=598527][b][u][h3]Seat[/h3][/u][/b][/color] Mormont Keep is a great timber structure, made from the toughest oaks and pines on the island and surrounded by a squat palisade wall. It is located atop a hill near the coast of Bear Island, overlooking a moderate fishing village. Its great doors open as a place of refuge in times of trouble and war, and its halls are adorned with animal skins and heads. Due to a lack of stone quarries on the Island the Keep has never been refortified, but despite its most notable flaw being walls of wood, Mormont Keep is a sturdy bastion which stalwartly defies the attempts of both invaders and elements to bring it down. Symbolic to the folk who reside within. [hr] [color=598527][b][u][h3]Wealth & Strength[/h3][/u][/b][/color] As stated before House Mormont has never been, and for the time being never will be a wealthy house. Their economy is very self contained, with their only exports being the quality timber they produce, and the heavy bear, and mink furs which are quite popular in the North, and even for the wealthy in the distant south. The typical diet is on meat and fish, as the growing season on Bear Island is short, and subject to sudden deadly frosts at all times, even during summer. The Islanders rely almost entirely upon fish in the colder months, and have a notable fleet of smaller dinghy's, and even a few galleys designed to protect the smaller ships, and shoreline dwellings from raiders. Hardy wild mushrooms, onions, leaks, and carrots are also very popular, and a messy stew of fish or rabbit is the typical cultural dish, with roasted bear being a delicacy, as the great beasts are only to be hunted by the nobility. Despite the Mormont's wealth, or lack there of the Island fief can raise a large defensive force in a small amount of time thanks to their tradition of training every man and woman to fight. Nearly five thousands axes and spears can be levied if the entire island was brought out, though the enemy would find themselves facing more women, and old men then actual warriors. In actuality the deployable Mormont army is less then a thousand fighting-age men, with a dozen or so female warriors intermingled amongst the ranks. Of these thousand a mere two hundred are mounted yeomen, with horses being extremely rare and valuable, not something to be thrown wastefully away in combat without good reason. The Mormont soldiers are poorly equipped, more often given little more then a spear and shield with the men bringing their own wood axes and knives. Wealtheir freemen are apt to use short seax blades, axes, and throwing hatchets, and some three hundred men of the household guard are given swords and lances. There is little plate armor amongst the Mormont ranks, with every soldier garbed in either gambeson or leather with chainmail being reserved almost exclusively for the nobility and the household guard. A soldier from House Mormont can distinguished by the dark green tunics they wear over their armor, and the oval shields they carry, inscribed with the rampant black bear, the sigil for House Mormont. [hr] [color=598527][b][u][h3]Family[/h3][/u][/b][/color] [color=598527][i][u]Line of Jorah Mormont[/u][/i][/color] [hider=Jonra Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Jonra Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/398c/f/2014/307/5/7/self_portrait_day_2014_by_miles_johnston-d854l1o.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]28*210lbs*6'3"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] For having been naught but the grandson of an exiled noble lord and a wealthy merchant’s daughter, Jonra still considers himself a man of high station, and of noble birth. He is a proud man, tall and heavily built with close cropped blonde hair and an unkempt stubble around his chin. He wears the clothes of a Westerosi man, though he has lived his entire life in Essos, within the New Valyrian Empire. Much like his father, and his grandfather before him Jonra is a man of high honor, and he reacts strongly to assaults on his heritage for he is quick to anger, and sensitive to his history. He is a Mormont by birth, a house said to be of high reputation itself, rich with a history of loyalty to its liege lords. He grew up on stories of how his grandfather was wrongfully accused and banished from the Seven Kingdoms, to then ride with the rightful ruler of Westeros and show himself a capable, and honorable man. Jonra is filled with passion, here at the prime of his life to take his men, and reclaim his family’s titles and lands. Though his goals are lofty, and would require years of preparation, not to mention immense coordination with his Emperor, Rhaegar Targaryen, Jonra is patient, gathering his men, and allies, and friends together, preparing for the chance to claim his Seat back from his distant family over in Westeros. He is a natural leader, although perhaps not the most competent warrior he is charismatic, and has many friends and loyal men who can fill the gaps in his own abilities. Jonra inspires those around him, and he laughs and jests and is generally good company to have. And although his honor is easily insulted he is always politically minded enough to not be made the fool. All in all Jonra makes a good friend, a valuable ally, and a dangerous enemy. [/hider] [color=598527][i][u]Line of Dacey Mormont[/u][/i][/color] [hider=Brinal Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Brinal Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/field/image/Did-Medieval-People-Reach-Old-Age.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]57*120lbs*5'5"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] The sole surviving heir to Dacey Mormont, daughter of Maege Mormont the She-Bear, Brinal Mormont the ruling Lady of Bear Island is a force of nature to be reckoned with. Grumpy, disdainful, and scorning the aptly titled Mother-Bear spends her days limping about her keep, giving orders and telling staff members off. She is a fairly short and frail older woman, using a stick to help her walk around but that does not detract from her menacing air, and sharp tongue. She does not don the garb of a noble lady, instead preferring a more simplistic black dress, with heavy furs to help stave off the common chills and drafts. Unlike most women, at her hip Brinal carries a short sword, and it is said that in her younger days she knew how to swing it too. Since those days of bygone she has grown tired, and irritable, or at least more than before, and much of the day to day ruling of Bear Island fell to her son Daviron. And although she still officially is the ruler of Bear Island, Daviron, and consequently Taynan do the majority of the work, with Brinal only stepping in when she deems it necessary. Throughout her rule on Bear Island Brinal kept this laissez-faire attitude, actively attempting to keep her lands out of others affairs, and isolated the people of Bear Island from the political chaos of the other realms. They were far away, there in the icy and distant northwest, and Brinal saw no reason to expand her influence beyond her shores. Fearing, and not without good reason, that meddling with things beyond the North would lead the Mormont Family to ruin. A sentiment she has kept ever since inheriting the Island from her mother. [/hider] [hider=Daviron Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Daviron Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/50/c8/eb50c89b56aa4dc51634403b0ceef259.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]42*190lbs*5'11"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] Neither a large man, nor small Daviron Mormont seems to the layman to be exceedingly average, an unremarkable nobleman, of little consequence. And that is how Daviron likes it. Often referred to as the working lord Daviron shows a great deal of interest in the simplistic crafts of men. From swordplay, and husbandry, to the arts of carpentry and blacksmithing he enjoys working with his hands, and creating things. His hands and fingers are marred by thick calluses, which display a lifetime of hard effort and dedication. His skin is weather-beaten, and his beard scraggly and unkempt, hints of grey showing through the mop of dark brown. He dresses in fine clothes, but always plain and unremarkable and when he works he wears a dirty apron making him appear more as a wealthy freeman then the son of a noble house. To counter this appearance, strapped to his hip on most occasions is the inherited sword Longclaw, a Valyrian bladed bastard sword, passed down through generations by the Mormont family, it pommel a carved bear’s head. In battle however, he prefers the simple weight to a mace, a testament to his disposition. Indeed for all the world Daviron Mormont would appear the simple lord of a simple land. Stoic, hardnosed, and straightforward. All of which he is, but which also conceal the raw ambition and lust for power hidden beneath. Although he does not share the same extent of passion for authority as his wife Taynan, Daviron does not appreciate the current influence, or lack thereof from the Mormont family or Bear Island in general on the rest of Westeros. And he has put no small amount of effort into reversing the isolationist edicts implemented by his mother during her rule, actions which Brinal Mormont hotly contests. Despite his ambition, he is still a loyal man and seeks to please his Lord Stark, and lead his people dutifully. [/hider] [hider=Taynan Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Taynan Mormont/Kraust[/h2][/color] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7c/14/6e/7c146e9d48aa5b0693ec2895f7f51b9a.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]40*130lbs*5'6"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] Born with the severe misfortune of being raised by an ineffectual minor noble house on Bear Island, Taynan Kraust, now Mormont, wife of Daviron Mormont is stuck, unable to shatter the bindings of birth and situation. She was beautiful enough, and even as the years pass she has retained her feminine charm. Blonde hair, pale skin, and soft grey eyes all were natural advantages that might have aided her in taking the hand of a more powerful lord if her name and heritage had any backing to it at all. Unfortunately like most women native to Bear Island she had a few to many callous on her hands and other such side effects from battle training to be truly desirable by more persnickety lords. For all her efforts, and the efforts of her father she was wed to Daviron Mormont, an improvement no doubt, but not to the extent that Taynan hopped. She liked him well enough, appreciated his disposition to hard work, and his dedication to extending his power, but it wasn’t enough. For Taynan he was a means to an end. A stepping stone from which to launch herself upward, though in recent years she has grown affectionate towards him. Still, he is not but a simple man, with simple needs, and simple desires, none of which truly suited someone as motivated as Taynan. Beyond her ambition Taynan possess a long memory, and holds grudges indifferently. Her vengeance usually is served cold and is particularly devious. Her insatiable desire to always have more, and to never be content has led her down many wayward paths, each one either creating loyal, ardent admirers, or vengeful enemies. But then, all of that is just a means to an end. [/hider] [hider=Gordon Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Gordon Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/59/47/ef/5947ef909b8b1bfc341c4ca60c54e4ae.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]22*180lbs*5'11"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] Gordon Mormont is the first and eldest son of Daviron Mormont, and Taynan Mormont and the rightful heir to Bear Island, and the Bay of Ice. He is a young lord, and noble warrior through and through having already faced enemies on the battlefield and slain his first man. He looks remarkably like his father at first glance with his mother’s hair, and her steel grey eyes. His upper lip is marred by a deep scar given to him in a fist fight by a man more skilled at the time. He is of a strong build, handsome and with a serious face, and he garbs himself in chain armor and lordly clothes. Ever since he could first wiled a blade Gordon set himself to the task of becoming a capable warrior, and military strategist. Tutoring under Archinval and his father Gordon, he applied his sharp mind, and developed both his wits and body over the course of several years. He was all too serious, never joking, never laughing, and always thinking. Once a fisherman claimed to have seen him smile when he was a boy, but he was lauded to have been seeing things and telling tales, so great was Gordon’s lack of humor. As his family and closest acquaintances would attest he does simile on occasion, though usually it is when he is bid by his mother, or when he is successful in some endeavor of his. Gordon is a planner more than anything else. He thinks over every word he utters, making conversations with him slow and painful. Because of this he lacks any charisma to lead, though his titles and sheer capacity in battle allows him some leeway in that regard as the men under him know what he is capable of, and trust him despite his stony disposition. He is seemingly emotionless, cold hearted and merciless to his foes and those who fail him. He is in short, a man with many acquaintances, and no friends. [/hider] [hider=Stephon Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Stephon Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a6/19/36/a61936cba6926babc4a599c6feeacf28.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]16*170lbs*5'10"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] The first of the twins, son of Daviron and Taynan Mormont, and brother to Sif Mormont is the one and only Stephon Mormont. He is a carefree lad only just reaching adulthood, and preparing to take on the task of heightened responsibility. He is handsome enough, with his stubble beard and shaggy black hair, with green eyes inherited from his father. Although he is not an identical twin to his sister, they share many aspects in appearance, such as their dark hair and light builds. Stephon also parts from his sister and family in other ways, such as his desire to dress and act gaudily. He has a taste for the finer things in life, and will show it through the gold rings on his fingers, and fine clothing upon his back. He is easily the vainest and most fickle member of his family, determined to exploit his looks to their fullest and scratch away the acne that plagues him from time to time. He enjoys lauding his power, and arrogantly touting his title, which only fares well in the north and on Bear Island itself for that matter. Only commoners respect such a unfamiliar title, for obvious reasons. House Mormont is and old and respected house, but it does not carry the same weight as a Tully, or Tyrell might. This truly bothers Stephon, though he tries to pretend it does not. Instead he focuses on being the best at everything he tries. He has a knack of archery, but other then that he is subpar at everything else. Which is unfortunate as he is very competitive, and has no patience for losing, or being even second-best. As such he can become a bit obsessive over some things, before losing interest entirely for a new subject to invest all his time into. Brinal has said on many occasions that Stephon has the concentration of a fish, flitting from one fancy to the next with little abandon. He is an undisciplined, and impatient person, but a cheerful one at least. [/hider] [hider=Sif Mormont] [color=598527][h2]Sif Mormont[/h2][/color] [img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/19ad/f/2014/339/a/3/jessica_parker_kennedy__study__by_sharandula-d88razn.jpg[/img] [color=598527][h3]16*150lbs*5'7"[/h3][/color] [color=598527][b]Character[/b][/color] Sif Mormont is the daughter of Daviron and Taynan Mormont, and twin sister to Stephon Mormont. She is beautiful young women, with her curly black hair and her rounded features, all brought together by the green tunic and breeches she prefers. Pretty and smart as she might be, Sif is also a little fighter, fierce as the day is long, and tougher than an enraged bear. Her temper is short, and her tongue loose making her something of a liability diplomatically speaking especially for her father, who has been finding it difficult to find a powerful lord whose son would take her. Like most of the women on Bear Island Sif was taught to throw a hatchet, and gut a man with a spear, but unlike most women of Bear Island Sif resonates to the thrill of training and sparring, though she has never fought a foe in actual battle. She adores her eldest brother Gordon, admiring his martial prowess and learning from him the art of swordplay. She lacks his coldhearted indifference, her own fiery attitude ruling her mind when calm levelheaded discipline would be the wiser alternative. She makes up for her slighter size, and lesser strength by being slippery as eel, and craftier than a fox. She has a talent for tricks, and excels at talking and wriggling herself out of any situation. There has been an active attempt by her father and mother to mellow Sif down, and have her present herself as a proper young lady for at least long enough to trick a powerful noble father into seeing her fit for his son. Sif respects her parents, sharing their ambitions to grow House Mormont into a powerful force in the world, though she does not share their mindset on how to go forward with such an endeavor. Nevertheless she tries follows their wishes, and act as someone she is not, but containing the she-bear is no small feat. [/hider] [hr] [color=598527][u][b][h3]Household[/h3][/b][/u][/color] [/center] [color=598527][i][u]Maester:[/u][/i] - Maester Gunder[/color] A surprisingly young man, at least for a maester, Gunder is the new maester of Mormont Keep and advisor to Brinal and Daviron Mormont. He looks to be in his early thirties, with a portly face and a large nose that seems to stick out to far from his face. He claims to have been of House Ryger before joining the Maesters and forging his chain, eschewing his right to inheritance. Although he seems knowledgeable enough, and is generally accepted by the majority of the Mormont family, Taynan dislikes him heavily, and despises the influence he so easily acquired. Gunder might have made a good lord if he hadn’t been practically forced to become a maester by his own family. He enjoys his power, and is quick of mind and wit, giving sage advice whether it is asked for or not. [color=598527][i][u]Master-at-Arms:[/u][/i] - Archinval Kraust [/color] An aged veteran of countless conflicts and innumerable battles Archinval the master swordsman of Mormont is a man with a cheerful disposition, and a voice that commands its listeners to pay attention. His muscular form is crisscrossed with scars each one with their own heroic story to tell, and at his hip is his ever present sword. He is a warrior through and through, tougher then dragon scales and sharper then iron, but he is also gentle when playing with his many children and grandchildren, rolling in the grass and laughing good naturedly while tossing them into the air like they weigh little more than a bag of feathers. He is the elder brother to Taynan, and lifelong friend of Daviron, serving the Lady and Lord of Bear Island faithfully for all his long years. He commands and trains the troops of Bear Island personally, and is feared by his enemies for his prowess in swordplay. [color=598527][i][u]Steward:[/u][/i] - Steward Estalan[/color] It is said that Estalan would go mad if there wasn’t work to be done. The anal retentive steward buzzes from one task to the next like a worker bee ensuring everything his perfect. He is in his late thirties and is widely regarded by the household staff to be insufferable, but he is well respected for his capacity to get his task done, and done well. Besides Brinal, Daviron, and Taynan he is perhaps the most dominate person on Bear Island, perhaps the most in a certain sense as he is the only person who can successfully convince Brinal to do something she did not wish to do. A rare talent indeed considering he is common born. [/hider]