House Information
Synopsis
King's blood courses still through the veins of House Mudd, for theirs is an ancient line which once reigned over the Riverlands as kings. The Andal invasion saw them lose their crown and lands, and even threatened to wipe out their line entirely as their last descendants were reduced to exiles who roamed Essos for generations. It was only through the generosity of House Targaryen that this ancestral bloodline was saved from extinction and made into the Lords of Harrenhal. From their new seat of power, the humble and devoted Mudds grew once more into one of the most powerful and influential families in the region, as well as some of the few lords south of the Neck to still worship the Old Gods of the First Men. From within the blackened walls of Harrenhal, they now serve faithfully as their homeland's first line of defense from any southron threats.
Head of House
Lady Catelyn Mudd, Marshall of the Gods Eye, Guardian of the Rivers and the Hills
Seat
Harrenhal
Demesne
From the once ruined castle of Harrenhal, the largest in the Seven Kingdoms, the Mudds rule over the vast and fertile holdings that surround the Gods Eye. Though few of the houses that inhabited the region survived the War of the Five Kings, today their remnants flourish alongside many newcomers. A variety of minor lords and landed knights serve as House Mudd's loyal bannermen, capable of providing the Marshall of the Gods Eye with a few thousand fighting men when needed. Among them are the Lollistons, Vances, Strongs, Ghostrivers and Dreadflowers.
Recent History
Once on the verge of vanishing from history, the Mudds unexpectedly found their redemption through their brave service to Queen Daenerys during her conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. Yet this redemption came at a cost. Young John Mudd, by all accounts the closest thing the diminished Mudds had to a lordly figure, had proven his mettle during the fight for the Stepstones and the Stormlands, only to die fighting the army of the dead during the Long Night. With his loss, only the much younger Lorimas Mudd remained to further their ancestral bloodline.
Born and raised in exile, knowing nothing but the life of a soldier under the Golden Company, Lorimas hardly understood the true significance of his queen's decision to make him Lord of Harrenhal. Indeed, the first years of his rule over the Gods Eye were marked by his constant need for guidance, both from his meager household and from his fellow lords. Although his presence served to diffuse tensions between Edmure Tully, his liege, and Robert Arryn, it was not of much help to his broken bannermen and the common folk of the Gods Eye. The reconstruction of the castles and villages destroyed during the War of the Five Kings was undermined by his neglectful watch over the proceedings, and while the rest of the Riverlands recovered to some extent in the following years, Harrenhal itself continued to be a half-empty ruin.
But despite his lacklustre performance as a ruler, Lorimas did prove himself to be a reliable battle commander, and a man deeply respectful of traditions who understood what was expected of him. Although he had dabbled in the worship of the Lord of Light during his life in Essos, as a descendant of the First Men he quickly embraced the Old Gods. In line with that same sentiment, and to secure his house's position in the realm, he arranged an alliance with House Blackwood by marrying Lord Tytos' daughter, Bethany. Their union yielded four trueborn children, who he raised alongside his two natural children, born from a freed Lyseni slave he had fallen in love with and brought with him across the Narrow Sea.
Alongside his friendship with the Blackwoods, he also sought to create ties with his liege and other major houses of Westeros, with varying degrees of success. His military leadership in service of House Tully earned him the esteem of his Lord Paramount, the title of Marshall of the Gods Eye and the acknowledgement of other lords outside of the Riverlands. However, his devotion to both the Lord Paramount and the Old Gods soon earned him the scorn of other river lords as well. The Mallisters came to resent him for his role in suppressing their revolt against the crown, the Brackens derided him as an upstart and an accomplice of the Blackwoods, and many who prayed to the Seven denounced him as an unholy influence on the land.
Lorimas did eventually learn to be a decent ruler, one who his subjects could respect if not love, in no small part thanks to the wisdom of his lady wife and his talented bastard children. And so it was that, in 331 AC, with his holdings booming, and silver and gold finally entering his coffers on steady stream, he finally undertook the enormous task of rebuilding his long downtrodden seat of Harrenhal. With some additional gold and men from Riverrun, both as a personal favour and to ensure that House Tully would one day have a truly formidable fortress in its service, he led the first efforts to restore the ruined castle to its former glory. Fallen towers rose again, great halls were refurbished and given proper roofs, and the mews and rookeries were repopulated.
To the surprise of many, who still dreaded the Curse of Harrenhal, no great ill befell Lorimas or his family during this time. His children grew into healthy lords and ladies, all blessed with their mother's beauty and their father's skill in battle, and in turn they too fathered and mothered their own comely warriors who would carry his name. The great heart tree in Harrenhal's godswood stopped bleeding, as it notoriously used to, from its thirteen carvings, and its branches filled with rich red leaves. Some of House Mudd's foes saw it as proof of Lorimas' dabbling in some manner of ancient witchcraft, while many who prayed to the Old Gods claimed that the castle's curse had finally been broken.
Lorimas Mudd grew old surrounded by a numerous and loving family, his troubles reduced to the occasional feuds between his peers and the revolts against his liege and the crown. By the time of his death, in 355 AC, he was the head of a rejuvenated family line, the ruler of a mostly peaceful and modestly prosperous land, and lord of a great castle that was, by then, only half-ruined.
Lorimas was succeeded by Jonas, his eldest, an honest if unremarkable man who diligently carried on with his father's work until his weak heart forced him to abdicate in 361 AC. Thus began the regency and eventual lordship of his firstborn, the taciturn Lucas, a man who shared his forebearers' abilities in war but not their preference for it. Instead, Lucas was a patron of singers, poets, artists and scholars, and as the new Lord of Harrenhal he turned the castle into a haven for all manner of beauty and knowledge. As he continued his father's reconstruction efforts, the Hall of the Hundred Hearths was decorated to match the exuberance of many greater houses, and his personal library came to be known for its massive and ever growing collection of rare tomes from every corner of the known world. Outside the walls of Harrenhal, his uncles, siblings and cousins acted as his envoys, enforcing his rule in the Gods Eye and speaking to other lords on his behalf. Meanwhile, his preoccupation with history, combined with his family's predilection for tradition, led to him taking for himself, and his successors, the title of Guardian of the Rivers and the Hills, a tribute to his house's heritage as kings which also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the Riverlands in House Tully's name.
In time, Lord Lucas began to take a special interest in people from far beyond the Narrow Sea, many of whom he brought into his court as his protegees and favourites. His exotic sensibilities led to ever more scandalous stories about his intimacy with the passing of the years, as talk spread among nobles and common folk of him bedding strange people and inviting red priests and shadowbinders into his court to train him in the higher mysteries. Yet many still acknowledged him as a wise and kind lord, whose cautious nature translated into a well-managed holding, content subjects and a few good friends among the nobility.
In 369 AC, however, the rumours were seemingly confirmed in the eyes of the realm when several members of the Most Devout, along with a handful of lords aligned with the Faith, formally accused Lord Lucas of witchcraft, adultery, incest and buggery, all involving his cousin Kyros the Silver, the son of his natural-born uncle and a known worshipper of R'hllor, who they had taken hostage. Lord Lucas refused to even respond to the accusations, on account of his disbelief in the Seven, and demanded his kinsman's liberation under threat of war. The incident reignited the tensions between his house and the rivals it had gained during his grandfather's rule, and the ensuing weeks saw House Mudd suffer many insults both in words and in action, including nighttime raids on his lands. The conflict culminated two months after Kyros' abduction, as Lord Lucas rode alone to King's Landing and demanded a trial by combat on Kyros' behalf, with himself as his cousin's champion. The ensuing duel was a long and vicious affair, as Lord Lucas continued to fight even after receiving a mortal injury from his opponent's blade, but in the end Lord Lucas prevailed, proving Kyros' innocence. Two days later, the Lord of Harrenhal died from his wounds on the journey back to Harrenhal, with a freed Kyros by his side.
Lucas Mudd's noble death left the rule of Harrenhal and the Gods Eye in the hands of his young daughter, Catelyn. The eldest of Lord Lucas' four children, she was not as quiet nor as gentle as her father, but instead boasted a dry wit and a relentless sense of justice. Although she did not forsake her predecessor's legacy of wisdom and sensitivity, Lady Catelyn's approach to ruling over the Gods Eye was rather different, now that the work of rebuilding Harrenhal was nearing its end and the surrounding lands had fully recovered from the wounds of the distant past. Her more aggressive nature made her ambitious and, with the support of her family, she pursued a further expansion of House Mudd's authority and prestige as heirs of the First Men, loyal bannermen of House Tully and keepers of the peace. An implacable commander and shrewd diplomat, her unforgiving attitude towards wrongdoing intimidated many of her rivals into abandoning their schemes against her family. In some cases, she even managed to force them into marrying her kin, ensuring that any action they took against House Mudd in the future would be seen as kinslaying by the realm.
Lady Catelyn's rule over the Gods Eye has left no doubt as to House Mudd's position as a respectable addition to the nobility of the Seven Kingdoms. In her hands, Harrenhal is a force to be reckoned with, and not just on the field of battle. The halls of the once dilapidated castle are filled with life once more, and noble and common folk alike rediscover their old ways under the weirwood trees and through the voices of the singers that live among them. The Gods Eye is slowly becoming a favoured trade hub for those who sail up and down the Blackwater. Ever loyal to House Tully, and to the Dragon Queen who gave them a home, Lady Catelyn and her kin care for two things above all others: preserving their past and protecting the realm from its enemies, both within and without.
Born and raised in exile, knowing nothing but the life of a soldier under the Golden Company, Lorimas hardly understood the true significance of his queen's decision to make him Lord of Harrenhal. Indeed, the first years of his rule over the Gods Eye were marked by his constant need for guidance, both from his meager household and from his fellow lords. Although his presence served to diffuse tensions between Edmure Tully, his liege, and Robert Arryn, it was not of much help to his broken bannermen and the common folk of the Gods Eye. The reconstruction of the castles and villages destroyed during the War of the Five Kings was undermined by his neglectful watch over the proceedings, and while the rest of the Riverlands recovered to some extent in the following years, Harrenhal itself continued to be a half-empty ruin.
But despite his lacklustre performance as a ruler, Lorimas did prove himself to be a reliable battle commander, and a man deeply respectful of traditions who understood what was expected of him. Although he had dabbled in the worship of the Lord of Light during his life in Essos, as a descendant of the First Men he quickly embraced the Old Gods. In line with that same sentiment, and to secure his house's position in the realm, he arranged an alliance with House Blackwood by marrying Lord Tytos' daughter, Bethany. Their union yielded four trueborn children, who he raised alongside his two natural children, born from a freed Lyseni slave he had fallen in love with and brought with him across the Narrow Sea.
Alongside his friendship with the Blackwoods, he also sought to create ties with his liege and other major houses of Westeros, with varying degrees of success. His military leadership in service of House Tully earned him the esteem of his Lord Paramount, the title of Marshall of the Gods Eye and the acknowledgement of other lords outside of the Riverlands. However, his devotion to both the Lord Paramount and the Old Gods soon earned him the scorn of other river lords as well. The Mallisters came to resent him for his role in suppressing their revolt against the crown, the Brackens derided him as an upstart and an accomplice of the Blackwoods, and many who prayed to the Seven denounced him as an unholy influence on the land.
Lorimas did eventually learn to be a decent ruler, one who his subjects could respect if not love, in no small part thanks to the wisdom of his lady wife and his talented bastard children. And so it was that, in 331 AC, with his holdings booming, and silver and gold finally entering his coffers on steady stream, he finally undertook the enormous task of rebuilding his long downtrodden seat of Harrenhal. With some additional gold and men from Riverrun, both as a personal favour and to ensure that House Tully would one day have a truly formidable fortress in its service, he led the first efforts to restore the ruined castle to its former glory. Fallen towers rose again, great halls were refurbished and given proper roofs, and the mews and rookeries were repopulated.
To the surprise of many, who still dreaded the Curse of Harrenhal, no great ill befell Lorimas or his family during this time. His children grew into healthy lords and ladies, all blessed with their mother's beauty and their father's skill in battle, and in turn they too fathered and mothered their own comely warriors who would carry his name. The great heart tree in Harrenhal's godswood stopped bleeding, as it notoriously used to, from its thirteen carvings, and its branches filled with rich red leaves. Some of House Mudd's foes saw it as proof of Lorimas' dabbling in some manner of ancient witchcraft, while many who prayed to the Old Gods claimed that the castle's curse had finally been broken.
Lorimas Mudd grew old surrounded by a numerous and loving family, his troubles reduced to the occasional feuds between his peers and the revolts against his liege and the crown. By the time of his death, in 355 AC, he was the head of a rejuvenated family line, the ruler of a mostly peaceful and modestly prosperous land, and lord of a great castle that was, by then, only half-ruined.
Lorimas was succeeded by Jonas, his eldest, an honest if unremarkable man who diligently carried on with his father's work until his weak heart forced him to abdicate in 361 AC. Thus began the regency and eventual lordship of his firstborn, the taciturn Lucas, a man who shared his forebearers' abilities in war but not their preference for it. Instead, Lucas was a patron of singers, poets, artists and scholars, and as the new Lord of Harrenhal he turned the castle into a haven for all manner of beauty and knowledge. As he continued his father's reconstruction efforts, the Hall of the Hundred Hearths was decorated to match the exuberance of many greater houses, and his personal library came to be known for its massive and ever growing collection of rare tomes from every corner of the known world. Outside the walls of Harrenhal, his uncles, siblings and cousins acted as his envoys, enforcing his rule in the Gods Eye and speaking to other lords on his behalf. Meanwhile, his preoccupation with history, combined with his family's predilection for tradition, led to him taking for himself, and his successors, the title of Guardian of the Rivers and the Hills, a tribute to his house's heritage as kings which also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the Riverlands in House Tully's name.
In time, Lord Lucas began to take a special interest in people from far beyond the Narrow Sea, many of whom he brought into his court as his protegees and favourites. His exotic sensibilities led to ever more scandalous stories about his intimacy with the passing of the years, as talk spread among nobles and common folk of him bedding strange people and inviting red priests and shadowbinders into his court to train him in the higher mysteries. Yet many still acknowledged him as a wise and kind lord, whose cautious nature translated into a well-managed holding, content subjects and a few good friends among the nobility.
In 369 AC, however, the rumours were seemingly confirmed in the eyes of the realm when several members of the Most Devout, along with a handful of lords aligned with the Faith, formally accused Lord Lucas of witchcraft, adultery, incest and buggery, all involving his cousin Kyros the Silver, the son of his natural-born uncle and a known worshipper of R'hllor, who they had taken hostage. Lord Lucas refused to even respond to the accusations, on account of his disbelief in the Seven, and demanded his kinsman's liberation under threat of war. The incident reignited the tensions between his house and the rivals it had gained during his grandfather's rule, and the ensuing weeks saw House Mudd suffer many insults both in words and in action, including nighttime raids on his lands. The conflict culminated two months after Kyros' abduction, as Lord Lucas rode alone to King's Landing and demanded a trial by combat on Kyros' behalf, with himself as his cousin's champion. The ensuing duel was a long and vicious affair, as Lord Lucas continued to fight even after receiving a mortal injury from his opponent's blade, but in the end Lord Lucas prevailed, proving Kyros' innocence. Two days later, the Lord of Harrenhal died from his wounds on the journey back to Harrenhal, with a freed Kyros by his side.
Lucas Mudd's noble death left the rule of Harrenhal and the Gods Eye in the hands of his young daughter, Catelyn. The eldest of Lord Lucas' four children, she was not as quiet nor as gentle as her father, but instead boasted a dry wit and a relentless sense of justice. Although she did not forsake her predecessor's legacy of wisdom and sensitivity, Lady Catelyn's approach to ruling over the Gods Eye was rather different, now that the work of rebuilding Harrenhal was nearing its end and the surrounding lands had fully recovered from the wounds of the distant past. Her more aggressive nature made her ambitious and, with the support of her family, she pursued a further expansion of House Mudd's authority and prestige as heirs of the First Men, loyal bannermen of House Tully and keepers of the peace. An implacable commander and shrewd diplomat, her unforgiving attitude towards wrongdoing intimidated many of her rivals into abandoning their schemes against her family. In some cases, she even managed to force them into marrying her kin, ensuring that any action they took against House Mudd in the future would be seen as kinslaying by the realm.
Lady Catelyn's rule over the Gods Eye has left no doubt as to House Mudd's position as a respectable addition to the nobility of the Seven Kingdoms. In her hands, Harrenhal is a force to be reckoned with, and not just on the field of battle. The halls of the once dilapidated castle are filled with life once more, and noble and common folk alike rediscover their old ways under the weirwood trees and through the voices of the singers that live among them. The Gods Eye is slowly becoming a favoured trade hub for those who sail up and down the Blackwater. Ever loyal to House Tully, and to the Dragon Queen who gave them a home, Lady Catelyn and her kin care for two things above all others: preserving their past and protecting the realm from its enemies, both within and without.
Realm Relations
House Targaryen
Gratitude easily turns into loyalty, and such has been the case for House Mudd during Queen Daenerys Targaryen's long rule. Any member of their family would be proud to fight for the Queen and lay down their lives in her name, and it is unlikely that they would willingly follow any king or queen who was not of the Targaryen name. Lady Catelyn herself has been one of the Queen's most ardent supporters, a vocal opponent of her incapacitation, and one of the earliest proponents of Serenei Targaryen's coronation, should Daenerys die.
House Tully
Upon becoming Lord of Harrenhal, one of the first things Lorimas Mudd did was publicly relinquish all ancestral claims to the Trident as a show of good faith to his new liege. Since then, every successive Lord and Lady of Harrenhal has done the same. Such is the commitment of House Mudd to serving their Lord Paramount faithfully, regardless of their heritage. Mudds and Tullys have called each other friends in childhood and brothers in arms in battle, and although they share no bonds of blood or marriage, it is an almost tacit agreement among Mudds that to go against the Tullys would be as shameful as going against their own kin.
House Stark
The Starks and Mudds share their faith in the Old Gods and their descendance from the First Men. Despite the vast distances and differences in rank that separate them, the Mudds of Harrenhal see the Starks as companions in spirit, fellow keepers of an ancient heritage that most great houses have long forgotten.
House Blackwood
It was sometimes jested in inns and lordly feasts that Lorimas Mudd's children had more black than brown in them. Indeed, the past two generations of House Mudd have tended to inherit the looks of their Blackwood ancestors above all others. To the Mudds, the Blackwoods are family, plain and simple. The only house which kept to the old ways after the Andal invasion, the only house that resisted the Lannister usurpers after the Red Wedding, and the first house to welcome the Mudds back to the Riverlands with open arms, the Blackwoods are loved by the Mudds, not just as brothers in blood, but as exemplars of true honour. Mudds and Blackwoods have stood and fought side by side against their mutual foes over the years, as well as against the enemies of their Lord Paramount and the Queen. Should anyone threaten her Blackwood kin, Catelyn would be the first lady in the Riverlands to march in their defense.
Gratitude easily turns into loyalty, and such has been the case for House Mudd during Queen Daenerys Targaryen's long rule. Any member of their family would be proud to fight for the Queen and lay down their lives in her name, and it is unlikely that they would willingly follow any king or queen who was not of the Targaryen name. Lady Catelyn herself has been one of the Queen's most ardent supporters, a vocal opponent of her incapacitation, and one of the earliest proponents of Serenei Targaryen's coronation, should Daenerys die.
House Tully
Upon becoming Lord of Harrenhal, one of the first things Lorimas Mudd did was publicly relinquish all ancestral claims to the Trident as a show of good faith to his new liege. Since then, every successive Lord and Lady of Harrenhal has done the same. Such is the commitment of House Mudd to serving their Lord Paramount faithfully, regardless of their heritage. Mudds and Tullys have called each other friends in childhood and brothers in arms in battle, and although they share no bonds of blood or marriage, it is an almost tacit agreement among Mudds that to go against the Tullys would be as shameful as going against their own kin.
House Stark
The Starks and Mudds share their faith in the Old Gods and their descendance from the First Men. Despite the vast distances and differences in rank that separate them, the Mudds of Harrenhal see the Starks as companions in spirit, fellow keepers of an ancient heritage that most great houses have long forgotten.
House Blackwood
It was sometimes jested in inns and lordly feasts that Lorimas Mudd's children had more black than brown in them. Indeed, the past two generations of House Mudd have tended to inherit the looks of their Blackwood ancestors above all others. To the Mudds, the Blackwoods are family, plain and simple. The only house which kept to the old ways after the Andal invasion, the only house that resisted the Lannister usurpers after the Red Wedding, and the first house to welcome the Mudds back to the Riverlands with open arms, the Blackwoods are loved by the Mudds, not just as brothers in blood, but as exemplars of true honour. Mudds and Blackwoods have stood and fought side by side against their mutual foes over the years, as well as against the enemies of their Lord Paramount and the Queen. Should anyone threaten her Blackwood kin, Catelyn would be the first lady in the Riverlands to march in their defense.
Storyline Premise
Heritage and duty are essential to the Mudds of Harrenhal, but these ideas do not always align. There is an inherent contradiction in their position, for more king's blood courses through their veins than those of some great houses, yet Lord Lorimas' legacy of unwavering loyalty to the crown has made many of his descendants modest, unimaginative, even in the face of the looming conflicts as the life of their beloved Queen Daenerys nears its end.
Lady Catelyn's rule and ambitions are reflective of this: she seeks closer ties to the increasingly isolationist houses of the North, yet she remains one of the Queen's most stalwart defenders and serves House Tully with no complaint. House Mudd grows larger under her watch, its power stretching beyond the Gods Eye, and she openly yearns for the day when weirwoods grow once more south of the Neck and lord and common folk alike remember the long forgotten customs of their ancestors. But this puts her family at odds with more forward thinking people, those who dream of a much different world.
It is within her household, however, that this inner conflict takes its most significant form. Following the death of her daughter in childbirth, it is now Lady Catelyn's oldest son, the melancholy Mychel, that stands to succeed her as Lord of Harrenhal, Marshall of the Gods Eye and Guardian of the Rivers and the Hills. And young Mychel is not at all like his mother.
Lady Catelyn's rule and ambitions are reflective of this: she seeks closer ties to the increasingly isolationist houses of the North, yet she remains one of the Queen's most stalwart defenders and serves House Tully with no complaint. House Mudd grows larger under her watch, its power stretching beyond the Gods Eye, and she openly yearns for the day when weirwoods grow once more south of the Neck and lord and common folk alike remember the long forgotten customs of their ancestors. But this puts her family at odds with more forward thinking people, those who dream of a much different world.
It is within her household, however, that this inner conflict takes its most significant form. Following the death of her daughter in childbirth, it is now Lady Catelyn's oldest son, the melancholy Mychel, that stands to succeed her as Lord of Harrenhal, Marshall of the Gods Eye and Guardian of the Rivers and the Hills. And young Mychel is not at all like his mother.
Character Information
Identity
Mychel Mudd, dubbed 'Mychel Sapphire'
Age
Fifteen.
Role
Heir to Harrenhal
Squire under Lady Tarth
Squire under Lady Tarth
Characterization
Tall and fair Mychel is more sapphire than mud, 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, and the influence of the sapphire in their blood was quite apparent even then. The blue eyed boys of the Lady of Harrenhal quickly outgrew their older sister, Lyra, born from her previous marriage to Mors Tallhart, and proved to have a character most unlike those of their fellow Mudds.
Where most Mudds 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 theatre. 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 Rivers cousins, the descendants of Lorimas' natural born children.
Mere months before their eleventh nameday, however, tragedy struck the Mudd household. During one of their trips into the woods, a 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 kept him company 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, once the storm had finally subsided, alive but weak, still clinging to his twin's corpse. It took Harrenhal's maester weeks to get Mychel back in good health, but 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'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, and he 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 male friends instead. Much like his grandfather Lucas, he also took an interest to 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, and let him spend the rest of his life wherever he pleased. Unfortunately, whatever plans Lady Catelyn may have had were unexpectedly demolished by Lyra's death as she was giving birth. With her heir dead, and the resulting child stillborn, the Lady of Harrenhal summoned 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. His sensitivity makes him a remarkable judge of character and a good ally, even if it also makes him wont to strike swiftly against those who wrong him. He rejects cruelty whenever possible, and is not one to abuse his power or scheme from the shadows. His sense of honour 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.
Where most Mudds 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 theatre. 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 Rivers cousins, the descendants of Lorimas' natural born children.
Mere months before their eleventh nameday, however, tragedy struck the Mudd household. During one of their trips into the woods, a 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 kept him company 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, once the storm had finally subsided, alive but weak, still clinging to his twin's corpse. It took Harrenhal's maester weeks to get Mychel back in good health, but 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'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, and he 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 male friends instead. Much like his grandfather Lucas, he also took an interest to 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, and let him spend the rest of his life wherever he pleased. Unfortunately, whatever plans Lady Catelyn may have had were unexpectedly demolished by Lyra's death as she was giving birth. With her heir dead, and the resulting child stillborn, the Lady of Harrenhal summoned 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. His sensitivity makes him a remarkable judge of character and a good ally, even if it also makes him wont to strike swiftly against those who wrong him. He rejects cruelty whenever possible, and is not one to abuse his power or scheme from the shadows. His sense of honour 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 & Talents
The 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, and has performed exceptionally well in his first few melees and jousts. Should he pursue knighthood, his lady aunt suspects that he would 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, and it is the first of many things that lords, ladies and common folk 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 as signs of 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, specially when Stormlanders like the Tarths used to invade the Riverlands in ancient times. In a family as closely knit as the Mudds, such a rejection could spell disaster for their family and the Gods Eye.
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, and to only visit one 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's an answer which has reminded many storm lords of one of their former lieges.
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, and has performed exceptionally well in his first few melees and jousts. Should he pursue knighthood, his lady aunt suspects that he would 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, and it is the first of many things that lords, ladies and common folk 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 as signs of 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, specially when Stormlanders like the Tarths used to invade the Riverlands in ancient times. In a family as closely knit as the Mudds, such a rejection could spell disaster for their family and the Gods Eye.
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, and to only visit one 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's an answer which has reminded many storm lords of one of their former lieges.
Immediate Family
His 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, along with her child.
His twin brother, {Jacelyn Mudd}. Died in 375 AC at the age of ten.
His brother, Sylvester Mudd. Eleven years old.
His maternal aunt and uncles, Alyssa Mudd, Leslyn Mudd and Brynden Mudd. Forty, thirty-seven and thirty years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Alyssa, Jon Mudd, Celia Mudd and Tristan Mudd. Twenty, seventeen and thirteen years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Leslyn, Lucias Mudd, Emphyria Mudd and Melantha Mudd. Sixteen, fourteen and eleven years old, respectively.
His maternal cousin by Brynden, Garrett Mudd. Eighteen years old.
His maternal grandmother, Barbara Vance. Sixty-four years old.
His maternal third cousin, Eros Rivers. Fifteen years old.
His paternal aunt, the Lady of Evenfall.
His paternal cousins.
His father, Endrew Tarth. Forty years old.
His sister, {Lyra Mudd}. Died in childbirth in 379 AC at the age of twenty, along with her child.
His twin brother, {Jacelyn Mudd}. Died in 375 AC at the age of ten.
His brother, Sylvester Mudd. Eleven years old.
His maternal aunt and uncles, Alyssa Mudd, Leslyn Mudd and Brynden Mudd. Forty, thirty-seven and thirty years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Alyssa, Jon Mudd, Celia Mudd and Tristan Mudd. Twenty, seventeen and thirteen years old, respectively.
His maternal cousins by Leslyn, Lucias Mudd, Emphyria Mudd and Melantha Mudd. Sixteen, fourteen and eleven years old, respectively.
His maternal cousin by Brynden, Garrett Mudd. Eighteen years old.
His maternal grandmother, Barbara Vance. Sixty-four years old.
His maternal third cousin, Eros Rivers. Fifteen years old.
His paternal aunt, the Lady of Evenfall.
His paternal cousins.
Personal Relations
Catelyn 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 when 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.
Sylvester Mudd - The youngest of Lady Catelyn's chilren was still very young when Mychel was sent away, and their memories together are few. Sylvester does not disdain his brother, but the two have rarely spoken to each other in all these years.
His maternal aunts and uncles - Time and distance did much to distance Lady Catelyn's siblings from her sweet Mychel, although Brynden has kept a sturdy 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.
His 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 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.
Eros Rivers - The grandson of Kyros the Silver is as handsome as he is blunt. As a boy, he always treated Mychel as his favourite cousin, and would gladly insult and fight anyone who hurt him. Now a confident young man on his way to becoming a proper soldier of House Mudd, not much has changed. During his visits, he is fiercely protective of Mychel, bordering on jealous even, and Mychel always reciprocates.
Barbara Vance - His grandmother has always played the part of the all-loving matriarch, balancing her daughter's less forgiving nature. She still dotes on Mychel as much as 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 aunt and cousins - 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.
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.
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.
Sylvester Mudd - The youngest of Lady Catelyn's chilren was still very young when Mychel was sent away, and their memories together are few. Sylvester does not disdain his brother, but the two have rarely spoken to each other in all these years.
His maternal aunts and uncles - Time and distance did much to distance Lady Catelyn's siblings from her sweet Mychel, although Brynden has kept a sturdy 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.
His 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 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.
Eros Rivers - The grandson of Kyros the Silver is as handsome as he is blunt. As a boy, he always treated Mychel as his favourite cousin, and would gladly insult and fight anyone who hurt him. Now a confident young man on his way to becoming a proper soldier of House Mudd, not much has changed. During his visits, he is fiercely protective of Mychel, bordering on jealous even, and Mychel always reciprocates.
Barbara Vance - His grandmother has always played the part of the all-loving matriarch, balancing her daughter's less forgiving nature. She still dotes on Mychel as much as 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 aunt and cousins - 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.
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.
