[hider=House Hightower]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5ghMlFu.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][color=gray][h1]We Light The Way[/h1][/color][/center]
[Center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F237zQsDP0][♫][/url][/center]

House Hightower is truly an ancient House House that has existed since the dawn of days when they were kings. They founded the city that eventually would become Oldtown, one of the five cities of Westeros, and they allied with the Andal invaders instead of fighting them which led to the Hightowers adopting the faith of the seven. Oldtown was chosen to house the Starry Sept which was to be the center of faith in Westeros until the Great Sept was built in King's Landing. Also housed within their city is the High Tower itself which is the tallest building in Westeros. Interested in trade, and knowledge the Hightowers helped found the Citadel where all of the Maesters of the realm train.

History has shown the Hightowers have a talent for playing to their strengths despite being bannermen. They serve loyally but aren't afraid to move to a winning side if they feel their chances are better. They were loyal bannermen to the Gardeners but did not march with them to the fields of fire, and when the Tyrell's were raised as the new Wardens the Hightowers transferred that loyalty to the Tyrell's with no resistance. Slowly they gained favor with the new rulers of the Seven Kingdoms and eventually served as Hand to the King to King Jaehaerys and Viserys. It was around this time that the House fully mobilized its power to support Queen Alicent Hightower during the Dance of Dragons. 

In recent times the Hightowers spend their days learning from the mistakes of the past. A much more serious sense of what could have been resounding within them. The family is strong, united, and is once again looking to make a name for themselves in the Kingdom. Jon Hightower has recently passed, and his son, Lord Ryam Hightower has now taken hold and has already enacted many new changes. The City Watch was given better training, equipment, and greater power while mercenary commanders were brought in to help drill a standing force of five thousand troops. Beyond that, messages were sent to find allies new and old as the new generation of Hightowers add to the rich history behind them.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/l71STAH.jpg[/img][/center]

[b]House Members:[/b]
[list][*][url=https://imgur.com/xKv3dA5]Ryam Hightower[/url] (47, born 155 AC), Lord of the Hightower, Beacon of the South, Lord of the Port]
[list][*][url=https://imgur.com/fGnmVRw]Lady Alys Hightower née Mullendore[/url] (48, born 154 AC), his wife
[*]Ser Addam Hightower (26, born 176 AC), Heir of House Hightower
[*]Leo Hightower (23, born 179 AC), Scholar, and Secondborn Son
[*]Ashton Hightower (19, born 183 AC), Swordsman and squire to Ser Ryon Dayne, Wielder of Vigilance
[*]Gerold Hightower (18, born 184 AC), Currently abroad in Braavos, is a known prankster and troublemaker, an excellent duelist 
[*][url=https://imgur.com/nxN4ZFy]Lady Alicent Hightower[/url] (19, born 183 AC), Twin to Ashton and administrator [/list][/list]
[list][*][url=https://imgur.com/XbBrTMH]Ser Otho Hightower[/url] (57, born 145 AC), Master at Arms and Lord Commander of the City Watch of Oldtown. Brother to the late Jon Hightower
[*][url=https://imgur.com/XUagFuf]Maester Lonnard[/url] (82, born 120 AC), Maester of the Hightower
[*][url=https://imgur.com/C9atPDe]Septa Tredare[/url] (69, born 133 AC). Septa of the Hightower, chief advisor to Lord Ryam.[/list]


[b]House members[/b]

[hider=Ser Addam Hightower]
[b]Name:[/b] Addam Hightower, Heir of the Hightower, Heir of Oldtown

[b]Age:[/b] 26 (born 176 AC)

[b]Appearance:[/b]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ziZzOSc.jpg[/img][/center]

Decently tall at exactly six feet, Addam is, like most of the Hightowers, a good example of looks being deceiving. He has medium-length brown hair that is usually styled to the right and is one of the few children of the current Lord to boast brown eyes. Appearing lanky and thin those that spar with him quickly realize that he is all hardened sinew, and exceptionally wiry. Handsome, with a quick and bright smile his features seem perfectly proportioned. Addam is fond of simple dress when not in his armor, preferring coats emblazoned with the Hightower sigil. His weapon of choice is the hand-and-a-half sword which he wears on his left hip opposite a gauche knife on his right.  

[b]Biography:[/b]

The firstborn child, Addam came quickly after the marriage celebrations of Ryam and Alys. As a baby and young child, Addam seemed destined to be a perfect firstborn child. He was patient and respectful, intelligent and perceptive, and cared more about making his mother and father happy. 

When he was six years old he began training with various Maesters of the Citadel where he learned math, history, and so much more. A bright child, Addam managed to retain the information but never fell in love with the prospect of finding more knowledge. Not that he had any time to study more anyway as he was also passed to Otho Hightower, the brother of the boys' grandfather who commanded the City Watch of Oldtown and served as Master at Arms. Like his studies, Addam was decent at martial skills and found he had a talent with a dual-bladed style using a traditional longsword and a gauche knife. He was also a talented rider. 

Addam grew up knowing that one day he would more than likely be the heir to Oldtown and so always carried himself with pride and distinction. He became a seasoned diplomat for one so young and went on a tour of the realm when he was six and ten to meet other Houses and to perhaps even find a young lady to court. Thus far it seems that his efforts bear no fruit but the young Hightower doesn't worry, instead figuring that when the time comes he will do his best to reassure his betrothed that he would do whatever he could to make her more comfortable and would truly care as he went about his duties as a husband. 

When his father became Lord Hightower, Addam easily slotted into the role of heir. He sits at his father's side during meetings, discreet conversations, and open council sessions and has taken a heavy hand in the administration of the workings of Oldtown. Recently he has been tasked with standing up a ready and drilled force of men with the help of foreign officers. All the blocks are in place to ensure a smooth transition should anything happen to Lord Ryam. 

[/hider]

[hider=Leo Hightower]
[b]Name:[/b] Leo Hightower

[b]Age:[/b] 23 (born in 179 AC)

[b]Appearance:[/b] 

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0stgvAN.jpg[/img][/center]

Tall, lanky, and thin Leo stands at six feet exactly but unlike his older brother does not boast the sinew of a warrior. His features are softer and sharper though it's subtle. Curly dark brown hair is usually untameable though he only has to run his hands through it a few times to get it to fall decently. He never lets it grow too long so it never covers his eyes which seem to change colors with the light from light blue to light green. He is always devoid of weapons as he was never any good with them and is instead accompanied by two guards at all times. Leo is fond of the fashions of the realm and can often be spotted in the latest colors which he has easy access to in Oldtown. While not a fighter, Leo does have good balance and is an excellent dancer, singer, and musician.

[b]Biography:[/b]

An inquisitive child even as a babe, Leo has always been obsessed with the hows, and whys, of the world. His nose was almost always stuck in a book after he learned to read and he showed a natural aptitude for maths, history, and even more advanced learning. Scores of Maesters were brought in to help sate the boy's thirst for knowledge and Leo ate it up. On the other side of the coin, however, Leo was not much of a swordsman and abhorred training in the yard. He would run away for hours, hiding in some nook or cranny for hours with a large tome to read and escape physical training. Despite this, he grew tall and thin and developed an appreciation for exercise at least after reading about its benefits in a Maesters recording. 

Leo was named after the Lord Paramount of the Reach and Warden of the South, a man recently deceased but still a gesture from Ryam, Leo's father, of the loyalty of House Hightower. And many times Leo considers how his namesake would take him. This pressure to do well has always existed even as a second-born son and Leo is hyper-aware of his flaws while rarely acknowledging his strengths. Luckily his family is always there to remind him of his idyllic memory, intelligence, and quick wit. 

When he was ten while visiting the docks he was witness to a Brawl. He was protected, after his house guards were swallowed by the mob, by two unlikely men wearing simple leathers and rapiers. The two men ensured no harm came to the boy and afterward swore their swords and lives to Leo. Cosimo and Phario had been one-time merchants, one-time mercenaries, and often guards for Volantene highborn and so the Braavosi easily transitioned to the guarding of Leo. Now the three are hardly seen without each other and some have taken to calling them the triarchs. 

Keeping with his tradition of not training, Leo has never been knighted nice shown any interest in starting the process. Nor has he shown interest in joining the Citadel as a Maester. He instead serves as his father, and older brother's left hand. Advising and offering his insights into issues plaguing the family. Routinely he can be found in the library, a study, or walking the city. 

 
[/hider]

[hider=Ashton Hightower]
[b]Name:[/b] Ashton Hightower, Blade of Oldtown

[b]Age:[/b] 19 (born in 183 AC)

[b]Appearance:[/b] 

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iGBxT8I.jpg[/img][/center]

The tallest of the Hightowers just so happens to also be their best swordsman. Six foot two, Ashton is a merging of his two elder brothers. His features are sharp yet soft, and almost chiseled they are so precise. Quite handsome, Ashton has been known to cause a few double-takes and has had many a maiden attempt to woo him. His hair is a softer lighter brown than his brothers and it even takes a soft shine when in the sun. His eyes are a piercing bright blue which shines brighter when he is thinking or concentrating. Those eyes become cold and calculating thoughts in combat which is where Ashton thrives. Exceptionally quick, and intelligent Ashton develops his fighting style after analyzing the style of his opponent. The Valyrian sword Vigilance is always on his left hip even with the lad being ambidextrous.     

[b]Biography:[/b] 

Born third, his parents were now quite used to the routine. However, fate is never happier to twist those routines. Ashton was born exactly five minutes before his twin, Alicent. And the expected easy delivery was made complex. Luckily the skills of the Maesters and the Fortitude of Lady Alys, Ashton, and Alicent's mother, a tragedy was averted. The twins became the delight of the High Tower and were showered with visits, fawned over by servants and Highborn, and served to cause smiles from the citizens of Oldtown. The twin delights they began to be called. 

As they grew the twins were inseparable and while attempts had been made to give them their personalized learning it was hopeless and so Lord Hightower ordered that a merging of learning would have to take place. As such, Alicent was present during Ashton's martial training and Ashton was present during Alicent's lessons with the Septa. The two caused a great stir but still the twin delights often just caused smiles and small chuckles. Ashton was fiercely protective of his sister and often would get into fights to defend her honor from perceived insults from the other boys. 

As the twins grew older, however, they did begin to form their own identities and begin to separate. A good thing as it was when Ashton was twelve that he was sent to Squire for Ser Ryon Dayne, the current Sword of the Morning. It was still difficult to say goodbye but to this day Ashton considers it one of the best moves he could make. Ashton flourished as a Squire, trying to always go above and beyond what was expected. He was a patient and attentive learner and took to the intricacies of being a Knight well. He was a natural talent with the sword, and while he would be trained and was proficient in most weaponry it was the sword where he was the most deadly. 

His style of fighting was not flashy or glory-seeking, instead serving as exceptionally efficient and patient. Ashton never made the first move, instead always watching and adapting based on what he saw his opponent do. He never underestimated his opponent and when he was beaten he always attempted to speak with the opponent after and learn from the defeat. Now at nineteen, he was an exceptionally dangerous swordsman wielding the Hightower Valyrian blade, Vigilance. 

More than willing to wait for his moment, and not in any rush to leave Ryon's side, Ashton has still yet to be Knighted and so continues to serve the Dayne in his duties as a Knight. He has also struck up friendships with other Knights, though for the most part keeps to himself as he's somewhat awkward in social situations.


[/hider]

[Hider=Gerold Hightower]

[B]Name:[/b] Gerold Hightower

[B]Age:[/b] 18, born 184 AC

[B]Appearance:[/b]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/yIuAzVE.jpg[/img][/center]

The shortest of all of the Hightower lads Gerold still stands at a respectable five foot nine. A rogue at heart, Gerold has long light brown hair which falls to just his shoulders. His eyes are a deep blue that you could get lost while staring into and he is very thin. Preferring speed over all else Gerold prefers the Rapiers and the water dancing styles of Braavos. Extremely talented in the art, Gerold physically represents the form with easy flowing movements and speed. He is handsome, but his cockiness and arrogance are always shown on his face with a smirk that many have said they wish to smack off the boy. Gerold is usually seen in a simple white linen shirt sprinting down the docks after playing a prank on someone or challenging some poor merchant to a duel. He can be respectful however and cleans up well, being an impressive and charming noble son in court settings.

[B]Biography:[/b]

Born to the Hightowers on a bright summer day, Gerold was destined to be a firecracker.  Doted upon by all Gerold learned quickly how to use his charms to his advantage. A prankster, no one was safe from the young lad when in the High Tower and he had to be watched constantly when guests visited as even they could be potential targets. Gerold always got along with the regular people more so than other highborn and he had countless friends in Oldtown where he would run off to and away from his lessons.

Gerold became Streetwise and worldly, combining his charm and wit with shrewd experience. He adopted a cockiness and was the instigator of numerous fights. Despite this, he did truly love his family and always regretted his wayward ways. More than one time he wished he had been born a simple commoner. 

Eventually, a compromise had been settled. Gerold was to be betrothed to the Sealord of Braavos's daughter and live in Braavos itself. And within that city, he truly thrived. He was taught the art of water dancing and took to it like a fish to water. A natural fencer Gerold has become more Braavosi than Westerosi and fits into the crowd. He has grown to be a competent diplomat for his age and while his arrogant smirk remains, it is now serving as more of a mask instead of a weakness. Within Braavos he remains, awaiting the time that his betrothal is requested by his father to the King.[/hider]

[/hider]