House Description: The eastern most castle along The Wall; from here The Nights Watch keeps a small fleet of galleys and lean fighting vessels to patrol for Wildlings and smugglers trading weapons across the wall. It also serves as a port for the Night’s Watch with traders from the south, across the narrow sea and even beyond the wall bringing their wares here.
Recent History: News reaches Eastwatch from ships across the world, but it’s eyes are ever pointed northwards. Wildlings are like to grow more desperate as winter approaches and thus more dangerous and there are whispers of a Raymun Redbeard calling himself The King Beyond The Wall. But there are always such rumours and for now they remain just that. In truth life at Eastwatch has been quieter these past few years, the role of it’s commander often shifting more to mercantile and acquiring goods for the watch.
Members:
Age: 63 (born 139AC)
As a bastard born to a third son of House Blackmont, Myros was never meant for much beyond perhaps the life of low-knight. But as it so happened this was to be the hour for hedge-knights and sellswords in Dorne.
Done had bent the knee to the Young Dragon in 158AC after a gruelling war of conquest. Loyalty was ensured through hostage taking leaving the nobles with little recourse against their new Targyen overlords, instead rebellion came from the smallfolk. Myors was only twenty years old, but having recently lost his father in the war of conquest (though having only rarely seen the man) was filled with the kind of anger, idealism and fervent nationalism that comes only to young men.
There was rebellion all across Dorne but Myros led his small band of outlaws from the hidden valleys and high-passes of the Red Mountains that he had spent much of his youth in. They would have probably remained just another group of robber-knights, but for the fact Myros decided to style himself the new Vulture King.
The old and infamous title long associated with House Blackmont drew support from far and wide to their lair in Vulture’s Roost as they became a focal point for the unrest. What had started as a small rag-tag group soon snowballed, men would ever fight for stories. But this was to be their downfall as it also drew the wrong kind of attention. A surprise attack on Vulture’s Roost found the rag-tag defenders no match for Reach Knights, being used to hit and run fights they were soon overwhelmed and scattered. It should have ended there but it did not. Myros’ life was spared, in a manner of speaking - he was sent to the wall.
Up at the frozen end of the world Myros fiery temper finally cooled, humbled. He was a former rebel and a bastard yes, but that was hardly remarkable in the Night’s Watch. As a trained and experienced knight though he was able to do well in his new home and taking a post at Eastwatch soon discovered he had a love of the sea.
Myers spent the next 42 years of his life in black. His adventures took him to the sea as much as beyond the wall, Eastwatch had trade with the south and across the narrow sea, even with the more tamer wildlings, so he was able to see more of the world than a normal brother might. He rose steadily through the ranks, until he came to finally command the eastern-most castle.
Myros is reaching the final chapters of his life now, one that started as a bastard outlaw and looks set to end in stark contrast to how it began.
Myros, bastard scion of House Blackmont, declared himself the outlaw 'Vulture King' and rebelled against the Iron-Throne's rule of Dorne. He was defeated and sent to the wall. Now over 40 years later he has mellowed and risen to Commander Of Eastwatch-By-The-Sea.
Not a day went by Myros didn’t think of that valley on that stinking hot afternoon back in the Red Mountains. The sword at his throat, the trickle of blood running down his neck, dripping onto the dry sand. His friends all lay dead around him, Smiling Nymor still smiled as flies danced across his empty eyes; Rass Of Ghosthill hung limply, skewered on a knight’s lance. It had been a rout.
Myros remembered the Reach knight’s sneer as he looked down at him, clearly confident his place in songs was now assured, bragging rights for the rest of his days. Though he was to die of the pox less than a year later. Myros gaze had drifted over, glared death at the young septon who had been no septon at all. Of course it had all ended in betrayal. The knight had pressed the sword against his neck, cutting into the flesh.
You any last words Vulture King?
Forty-three years and more than two-thousand miles away Commander Sand of Eastwatch-By-The-Sea scratched at the scar on his neck uneasily, bracing himself against the spray and the sway of the autumnal waves as they rowed to shore. Ever since they’d spotted the smoke rising up out of the fishing village that same feeling had come back to Myros, haunting him from all those years ago. There would be death here and more would follow.
They’d left Wormwood anchored off the coast and Myros had taken 10 brothers to see what was left. There was an unsettling stillness to the place as they pulled ashore, Eyron’s Pier had always been bustling and busy when they’d come to trade, now the silence was deafening. Swords drawn the black brothers moved cautiously on, they could see signs of fire and fighting, but no bodies. This did little to reassure Myros.
“You will keep yourselves sharp.” Myros ordered, his black hair may have turned to white and his Dornish tan long faded in his years on the wall, but he'd stubbornly clung to the accent of his homeland. When at last they found the bonfire it turned out even the battles of the Red Mountains could not have prepared him for what they saw. Teeth marks on charred bone, children upon pig-spits, rotting skulls that had been caved in and the innards eaten raw. Myros felt his stomach rise and had to steady himself against a wall. More than one of the others, hardened watch-men all, ended up spewing. They did not linger to bury the dead.
-
“Oi’ll kill tha’ bastard whoreson oathbreaker myself!!” Spittle flew from the enraged mouth of the first-mate back aboard Wormwood. Angry mutterings from the rest of the crew gathered on the main deck, looking at a cannibalised child’s skull brought back. “Sooner we find and burn ‘is ships then join with the Stark host the better!” This drew shouts of agreement. Edwin was known to frequent the brothel’s of Eyron’s pier and the rumours were he had a bastard girl off one of them in the village.
“I would not even be taking the time to spit on Torwynd's corpse.” Myros spoke quietly for the first time since returning aboard, this had the effect of silencing the men. “But that was the work of an army." The old man’s eyes seemed very far away. "Torwynd, he is no mere oathbreaker leading a band of savages - he is a king.” The words were painful to speak, but it was truth.
“I don’t give a fuck what he calls himself I’m gonna-“ Edwin flared up but the Commander cut him off.
“The Night’s Watch takes no part in the wars of the Seven Kingdoms.” Myros sternly recited the mantra. “We should never have come here.” The Commander said shaking his head, this whole expedition had made him uneasy. Lord Commander Forrester was a good man, a capable one too Myros thought. But he was young and young men had a way of seeing the world in black and white.
“Skagosi are no different to wildlings anyway!” Someone else shouted out. “Are we cravens hiding on the wall just because the wrong type of murderous fuckers are raiding?!”
“We’re not hunting an traitor, we’re fighting a war. Turn the ship around.” The Commander hated himself right then, he could see the pain on the first mate’s face, on all their faces. Of course Myros wanted to help kill this monster, but he’d tried being a hero forty years ago and that had just gotten his friends all killed. It had taken a long time but Myros had found purpose in the Night’s Watch, left the anger of his youth behind.
“We got orders Myros.” Edwin growled, dropping the ‘Commander Sand’, Myros saw Edwin's hand resting on his sword, there were angry tears at the edge of the man's eyes.
“You swore oaths Edwin.” Myros’ gripped his own sword hilt tightly, the tension on the deck was sharp, they seemed to have formed into two rough groups behind each man. Breaths all misted in the air, for a moment nothing happened. “I will not tell you again. Turn this ship around.”
“You won’t.” Spat Edwin as if Myros was Torwynd himself. The man lunged forward, steel flashing. Then all was chaos. Myros wasn’t as fast as the younger man, had to use his scabbard to meet the blow and tripped backwards, falling over. It was brother against brother, the Orders against the Oaths, more of a brawl than a battle though. He saw someone’s dagger slide into Edwin’s chest and the man went down. It was all over in moments.
Myros was helped to his feet, he was panting heavily. It seemed the oaths won it. The fight had been smaller than it had seemed, most of the crew had only watched in shock then fallen into line with the winners. The oath-breakers were bound and led below deck, some with fearful looks, others defiant. Aside from Edwin there had been only one death, young Ronnel the cabin-boy.
“What now Commander?” Someone asked. Myros thought back to the Red Mountains, the fighting, the death. He swore to himself this would be different.
- Commander Sand thinks of his past failed uprising as the Vulture King. - He and some men find the atrocities of the Skagosi in a village. - Back on the ship Myros feels they are breaking their vows and leads a fight against those loyal to Lord Commander Forrestor. They win and restrain the loyalists.
House Description: The eastern most castle along The Wall; from here The Nights Watch keeps a small fleet of galleys and lean fighting vessels to patrol for Wildlings and smugglers trading weapons across the wall. It also serves as a port for the Night’s Watch with traders from the south, across the narrow sea and even beyond the wall bringing their wares here.
Recent History: News reaches Eastwatch from ships across the world, but it’s eyes are ever pointed northwards. Wildlings are like to grow more desperate as winter approaches and thus more dangerous and there are whispers of a Raymun Redbeard calling himself The King Beyond The Wall. But there are always such rumours and for now they remain just that. In truth life at Eastwatch has been quieter these past few years, the role of it’s commander often shifting more to mercantile and acquiring goods for the watch.
Members:
Age: 63 (born 139AC)
As a bastard born to a third son of House Blackmont, Myros was never meant for much beyond perhaps the life of low-knight. But as it so happened this was to be the hour for hedge-knights and sellswords in Dorne.
Done had bent the knee to the Young Dragon in 158AC after a gruelling war of conquest. Loyalty was ensured through hostage taking leaving the nobles with little recourse against their new Targyen overlords, instead rebellion came from the smallfolk. Myors was only twenty years old, but having recently lost his father in the war of conquest (though having only rarely seen the man) was filled with the kind of anger, idealism and fervent nationalism that comes only to young men.
There was rebellion all across Dorne but Myros led his small band of outlaws from the hidden valleys and high-passes of the Red Mountains that he had spent much of his youth in. They would have probably remained just another group of robber-knights, but for the fact Myros decided to style himself the new Vulture King.
The old and infamous title long associated with House Blackmont drew support from far and wide to their lair in Vulture’s Roost as they became a focal point for the unrest. What had started as a small rag-tag group soon snowballed, men would ever fight for stories. But this was to be their downfall as it also drew the wrong kind of attention. A surprise attack on Vulture’s Roost found the rag-tag defenders no match for Reach Knights, being used to hit and run fights they were soon overwhelmed and scattered. It should have ended there but it did not. Myros’ life was spared, in a manner of speaking - he was sent to the wall.
Up at the frozen end of the world Myros fiery temper finally cooled, humbled. He was a former rebel and a bastard yes, but that was hardly remarkable in the Night’s Watch. As a trained and experienced knight though he was able to do well in his new home and taking a post at Eastwatch soon discovered he had a love of the sea.
Myers spent the next 42 years of his life in black. His adventures took him to the sea as much as beyond the wall, Eastwatch had trade with the south and across the narrow sea, even with the more tamer wildlings, so he was able to see more of the world than a normal brother might. He rose steadily through the ranks, until he came to finally command the eastern-most castle.
Myros is reaching the final chapters of his life now, one that started as a bastard outlaw and looks set to end in stark contrast to how it began.
Kai holds himself responsible for causing more deaths than all but the bloodiest tyrant of pre-FTL earth. This has given him a rather bleak philosophical outlook.
He is beyond redemption and there is little doubt that he seems a broken man, ever keen to preach pessimism. He has a droll humour and seems world-weary but in-spite of his now more pensive demeanour he has lost none of his cunning. Kai was and always has been, too smart for his own good and a ruthless pragmatism always juts out beneath the surface.
The loss of his biotic abilities as a child scarred him and left Kai ever trying to fill the hole they left.
DETAILED HISTORY
Sandman. It was once one of the most feared names in the Omega cluster - to those that believed the urban legend. Nowadays Kai spends 23 hours a day in a 3x3m cell wondering what kind of hell awaits him in the next life.
Dr Kai Chien was once one of the most promising scientists in the newly discovered field of element zero. A passion that was fuelled by the loss of his own biotic abilities as a teen. Still a largely unknown science and hell-bent on restoring his own biotic potential, it was an obsession that blinded him to morality.
After running out of funding and craving more freedom in his experiments, Kai eventually turned to the martian Triads, criminals of the old world who branched interstellar. He told himself the ends would justify the means and they liked the idea of an army of biotic enforcers. What Kai developed was much worse.
Red-sand it came to known. Harvested from element zero, it gave euphoria, brief but powerful biotic powers, an addiction that lasted a lifetime and was in the hands of precisely the wrong people. The Triads immediately saw the potential of the new drug and demanded full scale production, Kai found he could no longer back out.
It was about this time that humanity joined the larger galactic community and Kai found his escape. Rumours had reached the terminus system of the supposed new biotic martian drug. Fearing for his life Kai traded his services for protection to a mercenary outfit that dwarfed the Triads where he was welcomed with open arms. In reality he had simply upscaled.
Red Sand soon seeped it's way across the galaxy. Authorities had a bounty for any information on the illusive 'Sandman' and feeling his own position growing precarious Kai switched allegiances to a competitor organisation. By now he was hooked on his own poison, he played off buyers against each other and found that against all reason he was enjoying himself. It was no longer about survival, Sandman set his goals on becoming the next king of Omega.
The bigger the high though, the bigger the come down. He became too overconfident, humans were new to this galaxy and his naivety showed. When his sponsoring organisation fell foul of the Batarian Hegemony, the vessel he was on boarded and mass slaughter and enslaving ensued.
The wreckage of his ship was picked up later by the Alliance who found him on board as the sole surviver, Kai gave himself up passively. The raiders had laughed when they found out who he was, they joked that red sand had brought so many slaves to their people they owed him a debt of gratitude and left him alive, Kai wished they hadn't.
No one was more shocked than Kai to find himself abruptly taken off death-row. A wildcard with nothing to lose, few people had his connections and knowledge of the criminal underworld. He was given a choice King-Slayer or the chair, though he imagined they would both end the same way. Whatever they were up against must be even worse than him.
Still a bit more to do but thought I'd put it out for initial thoughts
House Highmark
Synopsis Founded by Aurane Waters a bastard of House Velaryon who stole the fledgling royal fleet during the War Of The Five Kings and set himself up as a pirate in the Stepstones. His son Aurion by way of a captured noble-wife then styled himself as King Of The Stepstones before war with Westeros eventually drove him out of his lands into exile across the seas.
Head of House Aurion Highmark
Seat N/A (formerly Torturer's Deep)
Demesne Command of a fleet and has influence with smugglers and corsairs in many ports.
Recent History After initially fighting for Stannis Baratheon then being captured and pardoned, subsequently rising to the position of Admiral Of The Royal Fleet on Cercei Baratheon's small-council, then stealing said royal fleet and turning to piracy in the Stepstones; things then started to look up for young Aurane.
Unrest of both sides of the narrow sea meant his piracy operations went unchecked and the navies of the seven kingdoms were too busy destroying each other to focus on him. Refugees attempting to flee Westeros during the winter assault provided ample recruits and raids to aid his growing power-base.
Coordinated raids against southern Westeros in 318 gave Aurane a reluctant bride in the form of Johanna XXX, daughter of Lord XXX and soon an heir. It's not known when (or even if) Aurane eventually died, but his son Aurion seemed to waste no time in mourning as he took over.
As a legitimate son of a bastard, Aurion changed his name to 'Highmark' to remove any trace of bastardry. He then crowned himself 'King Of The Narrow Sea And The Stepstones' to remove any trace of modesty. He set out consolidating and expanding power, streamlining the businesses of slaving, piracy, smuggling and aggrandising himself.
Aurion's dynasty ended in blood though when the Iron-Throne, enraged at a brazen attack on Ghaston Grey, turned their attention to his ambitious little kingdom. The War For The Stepstones lasted for over two years and while Aurion's claim of pirate kingship had initially been dubious the assault served to unify the various corsairs and smugglers under his banner, putting up a coordinated fight the Westerosi never expected.
There were strange rumours of intervention from New Valyria and even stranger rumours of how Aurion managed to secure their allegiance. Aurion fought a bloody was that claimed the lives of many noblemen including Prince Orys Targaryen whom Aurion alleged to have slain in single combat at the loss of his eye. But it was all for naught, Aurion lost the war his kingdom was divvied up between Aelyx's lords.
Most people agree that the self-styled king perished in the final days of the war, with many claiming to have done the deed. But there are rumours that he's still out there, each time a shipment goes missing men mutter darkly to each other the name Highmark. They say in the seven years that have followed Aurion drifts from cove to cove, struggling to keep the remnants of his fleet and keeping a close eye on Westerosi politics.
Realm Relations Good question...
Storyline Premise I'm hoping this will provide a potentially nice wrench in the works of the political scene and I have a few ideas about what I'd like to do with him that will hopefully mix things up nicely.
Age 44 (born 320AC)
Role Lord Of Waters, King Of The Stepstones And The Narrow Sea, leader of The Jolly Fellows
Characterization In spite of being a pirate, slaver, raider and serial womaniser Aurion has never viewed himself as a bad guy. In his world-view he's maybe more of a Robin Hood type figure and bemoans the injustice of how his rightful kingdom was taken from him.
Like any self-appointed king he has a high opinion of himself and the line between what he actually believes and the stories he tells to garner support seems a little blurred. The older he gets the more he secretly worries that his youthful flare is fading, something that troubles him and affects his actions more and more.
Attributes & Talents Describe said character's abilities and skills.
Immediate Family Shiera Highmark
Personal Relations WIP
Age 42 (born 322AC)
Role Older sister to King Aurion Highmark
Characterization Describe said character's reputation and values.
Attributes & Talents Describe said character's abilities and skills.
"the blood of the dragon gathered in one … … seven eggs, to honor the seven gods, though the king's own septon had warned … … pyromancers … … wild fire … ...flames grew out of control … towering … burned so hot that... ...died, but for the valor of the Lord Comman..."
- History Of House Targaryen By Archmaester Gyldayn
Welcome friend to Game of Thrones: Summerhall! Have you grown weary in your recent roleplays with the absense of betrayal, gratuitous gore, character death and incest? Then you've come to the right place. This roleplay is very much in the ilk of prior GoT/ASOIAF roleplays in that each player takes the role of a house or lone character operating in a sandbox environment that revolves around a succession crisis. We're always accepting new applications so don't be shy, if you're not familiar with the books then you aught to read them (you're doing yourself a great disservice) but otherwise I'd recommend a glance at the Blackfyre rebellions and the Tragedy of Summerhall on the wiki to give yourself a feel for current events.
Make yourself at home, finalise your plots, book your weddings, push overly inquisitive children out of windows, the game of thrones is about to begin.
State of the Realm
Aegon V Targaryen had a controversial and divisive rule. A man of the people, he had always been a strong proponent for the rights of smallfolk, no doubt from his years travelling as the squire to a hedge-knight. This however has left him unpopular with nobility, doubly so from how his children wilfully broke marriage pacts from houses Tully, Baratheon, Tyrell and Redwyne. By the end of his reign he lacked the support to put his proposed reforms into action and instead turned to sorcery in the hopes of bringing back dragons to enforce his rule. While the exact details of the tragedy of Summerhall are not clear the end result killed not only King Aegon himself but his sons and almost all of House Targaryen.
Westeros is without a king and across the narrow-sea Maelys the Monstrous, last of the Blackfyre pretenders, leads the band of Nine-Penny Kings in an invasion against a leaderless Westeros. Lord Gerold Dustin the former hand to the king and de-facto ruler in the capital has declared himself king and traces of Targaryen lineage return out of the woodwork to stake their claim to the Iron-Throne.
The First Blackfyre Rebellion - 196 AC
The Spring-Sickness - 209 AC
The Second Blackfyre Rebellion - 211 AC (Didn't result in military conflict) Dagon Greyjoy 'The Red-Kraken' Leads raids against the the coast of Westeros - 211 AC
Third Blackfyre Rebellion - 219 AC
Peake Uprising - 233 AC Aegon V crowned king - 233 AC
Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion - 236 AC
Current Year is 259 AC two weeks after the eponymous Tragedy of Summerhall and the Hand of the King has sent letters out across Westeros proclaiming himself the new ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Lord Gerold Dustin, Hand of the King - Joytex
You can either apply for a character or an entire house, there's no limit per-say on either but really existing characters would need to be active before applying for new ones and also avoid situations that would involve you roleplaying with yourself. Characters that are heavily established in canon are not allowed, in this time-frame the only ones that spring to mind are Maester Aemon and Bloodraven, you're welcome to play other canon characters in the timeframe. Magic isn't disallowed per say but I would be especially scrutinising to any character that has access to it and would need a good explanation as to why it is necessary.
Name/Titles: Appearance: ((Image or description))
Age:
Biography:
Personality:
House Members/Retainers: ((Depending on the player these can range from named characters only to full POV, add as much detail as you feel is necessary. Keeping spouses vague is fine as this can be added later for plotting alliances with other players))
Other: ((Anything else you feel might be relevant, welcome to put a TLDR here for people if you wish, or a rough outline for what you have planned))
Yes, far as I'm aware she was only briefly mentioned during the Great Council that appointed Aegon V where they decided not to crown her. Described as 'simple' what that means exactly I'd leave up to the applicant to interpret.
Maelys does sound juicy doesn't he? though I'll admit he needs to be handled carefully and you might not have quite as much freedom with him as other claiments, what with him being one of the most plot important characters. I'd like their to be a good buildup to his actual invasion in order for everyone to be forced into shakey alliances etc
@Joytex I don't suppose there's any chance we could get the character form layout before the OOC goes up so we can be working on characters while you're finishing that off is there?
OOC Will be up relatively shorty (aiming for today), sorry again guys if it seems like it will be released alongside Winds Of Winter, work this past week has been kind of all-consuming lol. Until I do so though below is the character App I'll be using, saying that though if it doesn't suit you then I'm ok with people using their own, as long as you're conveying your character across well to me that's what counts.
You can either apply for a character or an entire house, there's no limit per-say on either but really existing characters would need to be active before applying for new ones, also please avoid situations that would involve you just roleplaying with yourself. Characters that are heavily established in canon are not allowed, in this time-frame the only ones that spring to my mind are Maester Aemon and Bloodraven, you're welcome to play other canon characters in the timeframe. Magic isn't disallowed per say but I would be especially scrutinising to any character that has access to it and would need a good explanation as to why it is necessary.
Name/Titles: Appearance: ((Image or description))
Age:
Biography:
Personality/Reputation:
House Members/Retainers: ((Depending on the player these can range from named characters only to full POV, add as much detail as you feel is necessary. Keeping spouses vague is fine as this can be added later for plotting alliances with other players))
Other: ((Anything else you feel might be relevant, welcome to put a TLDR here for people if you wish, or a rough outline for what you have planned, but feel free to keep your cards to your chest))
