Peake Restoration - A Roleplay CK3AGOT - AAR

[ImNoOne]

Introduction
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First things first, I would like to apologize as this is my second AAR. Please forgive me if it is lackluster. Second, I will try to play according to my character's traits. However, it can be impossible to know what someone would do in any given situation. As such, I will use my best judgment to decide the course of my character's actions. Of course, this could clash with some people's perceptions, and all I can say is please forgive me if you think something I did wasn't what you think a character would do in that scenario.

This will be a Peake Restoration campaign starting in the aftermath of Robert's Rebellion. We will start with Mervyn Peake and follow his and his descendants' journey. I will also try to highlight any important happenings and characters that shape the world we are in. Please forgive me if I don't catch a certain important scenario. Sometimes, I can get laser-focused on my gameplay and forget to check what is going on.

Anyway, after all this blabbering, here is Part 1 of this campaign. I hope you enjoy it!

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Part 1 - Mervyn's and Titus's Time
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Image 1 : Mervyn (center) and his son Titus (right) some of the Last Peakes after the failed debacle at Starpike.

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The Peakes are an ancient house that once ruled the castles of Starpike, Dustonbury, and Whitegrove. Their arms have these three castles represented. After the Blackfyre Rebellions and the Starpike Rebellion, the house has been left as a shell of its former self. Only the hatred for the Manderlys is still ever-present.

Nonetheless, the lord of Starpike, Mervyn, is a content, albeit cynical man. Married to a Leygood, he sees no need to bring much attention to his house. He instead prefers to sharpen his dagger and wait for the moment his strength is at its apex. His entire life he has been diligently building up Starpike back to its glory days. He has one son and heir, Titus, who is married to Margot Lannister. The boy is strong and capable and is already a skilled tactician at a mere 17 years of age.

Much of Mervyn’s life has been spent participating in feasts, tourneys, and hunts, with the rest of the money being invested in the surroundings of Starpike. Still, he has made many friends and secured a smooth succession for his son. One of these prospective friends is the Lord Paramount Mace, a good thing, for the Lord Paramount of the Reach was a fearsome ally.

The year 286 was a great one as he had finally become a grandfather. Dalia Peake was born, a beautiful baby girl, securing the Peake lineage would continue. However, not everything was good news, an assassin tried to take Mervyn’s life. Clearly, it was one of the Manderly’s dogs, but he failed as Orson Lannister intercepted and killed the assassin before he could do his dark deed.

Beesbury apiaries were built in Starpike to ensure honey would be one of the products they had to exchange with the many houses that arranged trade deals with the Peakes. Still, in the year of 289 after the conquest, Mervyn Peake died. He asphyxiated after a violent coughing spree.

Then came the reign of Lord Titus of Starpike, a brilliant but deceitful commander. This would be the time the house would see its beginning of reclaiming their lost territories, starting with the vulnerable Ambroses to the east. A deal was made with Lord Paramount Mace. In exchange for more levies, many families were relocated to tend to the new fields of Starpike, improving its development and securing the prosperity of the region.

In the year 290, Mervyn Peake was born, having his mother's hair and Titus’s nose. The boy would surely lead the Peakes to a brilliant future! Still, those Manderly dogs kept sending their spies and assassins to Starpike. Soon, however, retribution would arrive at those dogs' doorstep!

But first, Lord Titus participated in the Tourney of Hornhill, where he felled the Oldflowers' lord, Mern, with a swift strike. Next, came Victor, the Lord of Grave’s Ridge. He was an ill and one-eyed man, but he had managed to upset many in this tourney, becoming an underdog and fan favourite. Initially, Titus committed the same mistake many of Victor’s adversaries had repeated, he underestimated the Lord, receiving a lance to his midriff and almost letting go of his saddle. However, on the second bout, he smashed through Victor’s shield and put the upstart on the ground, securing his victory.

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The final bout came, an uneventful one, as Titus' opponent was less than ideal; he had lucked out on his bracket. The joust ended as quickly as it had started, with Titus' opponent on the ground, covered in dirt. Titus had become the winner of the small regional tourney at Horn Hill, receiving honors from Randyl Tarly himself, bearer of Heartsbane and Protector of the Westmarch.

Riding back to Starpike, Titus prepared to lead his men to battle with 2000 levies and 200 trained bowmen who had experience in fighting bandits and Dornish raiders. The Counts of Torrentpeake were flabbergasted when Titus broke the King's Peace, but due to his father's arrangements, the Reach did not intervene, and Torrentpeak was taken by the Peakes. However, the news of his wife's pregnancy brought great joy. Unfortunately, the Manderly retribution failed, as Wyman sniffed out the assassins, and Titus had to pull back his dagger in the shadows. To worsen the mood, Margot had a spontaneous abortion, and Titus never knew whether she had done it on purpose, but he chose to believe in his wife.

Military camps were established in Starpike, and his bowmen were equipped with longbows, ensuring they would be the best retinue on this side of the Palemarch. Another pregnancy followed after many tries, and Borys Peake, a beautiful boy, was born in the Twelfth moon of 294. Titus' reign had just begun, and much had to be done to restore the Peake's power in the Palemarch.

 

[HistoryDude]

I wonder if the Peake hatred for the Manderlys will lead to conflict with the Starks...

Where in Westeros do the Peakes reign, anyway? The North?

 

[ImNoOne]

I wonder if the Peake hatred for the Manderlys will lead to conflict with the Starks...

Where in Westeros do the Peakes reign, anyway? The North?

The Reach. They are Marcher Lords. A conflict in the Starks could happen but it is long ways away due to certain developments.

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 2 – Titus Trials



In the year 296, a Tourney at Wasselvare was called, and Titus was invited, since he was a famous tourney winner. The first bout was against the lord of Beesbury, The poor lord stood no chance and Titus secured a quick victory and some coin after betting on himself. The next one was Jon, one of the Green Apple Fossoway’s , who had split from the main branch due to the happenings at the infamous Ashford Tourney. Jon of New Barrel was a fearsome opponent, still Titus, the ever brave, albeit foolhardy, Lord of Starpike decided to try his luck and bet on himself. Unfortunately the weight of a mountain slammed into his chest, shattering his vision into a thousand pieces. He was sent flying in the air and out of the tourney, being sent to the enfirmary and riding home in shame.

One day while relaxing in the evening, lord Titus was approached by a hedge knight, impressed by his temperament and skill with the blade Titus hired this knight, named Gesmund Somberlyn, and employed him in his retinue. Soon, the 47 year old managed to marry a beautiful sloane after some coins were exchanged.




Unfortunately, while visiting his apiaries Titus swatted a bee away and incurred their wrath, being stung until he fainted, being rescued by his maester who was passing by. Luckly the wounds didn’t fester and the lord swore never to mess with bees again. Besides this unfortunate accident, the year 297 was joyous as a third son was born, Samwyle Peake, years later they would notice he was a quick boy that surpassed his peers in intelect, sometimes even evading his dumb bodyguard Orson Lannister, to play unsupervised in the forest, were his elder brother was studying under maester Willifer.

In the year 298 Mace Tyrell died and his soon, the smart Willas ascended, a compassionate and forgiving liege, the Reach was poised for a time of prosperity. Titus son Mervyn was bethroted to the third daughter of the Hutchenson’s, this was a shrewd move as a sucession crisis was about to happen, as the old lord had three daughters, all that were married not retaining their names, as such a new dynasty would take hold of Bendtiling and Titus hoped it owuld be a Peake.

In the year 300 Wyman Manderly finally died, that was Titus best year of his life, still with the announcement that the crown wouldn’t tolerate any more wars between vassals the future of the Peakes would have to involve much more cloak and dagger than bow and arrow.

Later, Titos had to deal with his rowdy subjects, as while visiting Torrentpeak, man was dragged in chains before him, accused of stealing crops, the man was declared guilty and sent to be a Black Brother, may he rpeent for his sins by protecting The Wall and becoming a ranger.

Still, with the peace in the Reach estabilished, Titus hoped to convince his liege into investing in his land, hoping to leverage his father’s good deeds he travelled to Highgarden and was marvelled by it’s highwalls and exquisite labyriths. Upon reaching Willas’s court he awaited the entire day to be heard by his liege. Instead, Willas was impressed by Titus militarize expertise and decided to appoint him as his marshall, much to the chagrin of Randyll Tarly.




However, before he could commemorate ravens were sent all over Westeros. The Iron Islands had declared independence, led by the madman Euron Crows Eye, who had usurped his brother Balon he had unleashed the Ironborn raiders and had disrupted trade all over the continent. Never before Titus had felt so safe in the middle of the Marches, far away from any coastline.

Good news arrived at Starpike a few days later, his daughter had married the Mullendore’s, a storng ouse underneath the Hightowers, this gave Starpike a strong alliance it could rely upon should any unforeseen happenings come upon the Peake’s stronghold.

The Peake and Tyrell friendship continued as Titus son Borys was now being trained by Garlan Tyrell, a sibling of Willas. Blindsided by an invite to joust in Highgarden, Titus would visit for a second time the magnificent city, unfortunately, he was long past his prime and like in many other tournments his fame preceeded him, for his lance couldn’t find his opponent and he was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

Months later he was approached during a meeting by Lord Axell of Meres Mine, he too held contempt for the Manderlys and they both bonded and estabilished a friendship in hatred. Later he received the good news of his son being knighted and finishing his educaiton, the boy was a nexpert i nmany fields and would surely guide the Peake’s into a prosperous future.

A warhammer was built to equip Titus and terrible news reached the lord, Hisson Samwyle contracted consumption while visiting one of his peers, worse, his maester failed t ocure the poor boy and instead agravated his wounds. Titus considerod imprisoning the old coot, but his son intervened on behalf of his guardian. Now they could only hope the seven would have pity on Samwyle.

In the year 307, while Samwyle battle against death Titus was invited to a Tourney at Horn Hill, filled with Nostalgia for his glory days and imbued with the Fury of The Warrior himself, Titus surprised everyone and snatched the trophy, receiving much glory and riches for his unforeseen success. Still when he came back he was met with the news his beautful orchards were blighted, as a fool of an errant maester decided that mixing branches would create a tree that could produce two fruits, instead it only cursed the land and drastically reduced it’s yield, he started considering if The Citadel had a vendetta against his family.

In a twist of fate, Randyll Tarly saw something in his sickly son Samwyle and decided to take the boy as his squire, Titus couldn’t defy the much stornger Marcher Lord and decided to abide, after all they were in good terms and there was no reason for Randyll to be unreasonable.

In the year 308 it was a joyous occasion, as his son mervyn had a son himself, Steffon Peake, however the boy was cursed with a clubfoot, a congenital defect that made sure the poor boy’s future would be hampered by his maldeformity, a shame , but that didn’t stop the house to be filled with festivities.

The days passed uneventfully, with Borys reaching adulthood and marrying a crane, while the Projects in Starpike and Torrentpeak were intensified, bringing much needed tax revenue to Lord Titus pockets. The news of one of his friends sending a gift elated the lord, as he could fund a feast to commemorate his son finally recovering from his bout of Comsumption.




Finally, years later the construction of a Temple could begin near Starpike in the Fool’s Approach. This was a joyous ocassion as it would enhance Peake prestige and bring more coin to the crown. The septon in charge of the region had already been warned about the construction and he began fervorently preaching the Peake’s good name to the people.

However, not all was good news as his son Borys died from his wounds sustained in a accident, leaving behind his 4 year old son Ronnel. The Crane’s where quick to pull back their alliance and now Titus would have to deal with the grief of losing a son.

The grief was too much for the feeble old man, he soon died in his sleep, leaving the future of the relam in the hands of his beloved son Marvyn. An era had ended and a new one shall begin, the learned and shrewd Marvin has much work to do to restore his houses glory, but it will not be an easy task as Willas has a stranglehold in the Reach, while Robert carefully manages the Iron Throne.

Image: Mervyn Peake, Heir to Starpike.​

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, you're doing okay.

Those Ironborn look like a threat, but I imagine that a unified Westeros can destroy them and kill Euron.

 

[ImNoOne]

Well, you're doing okay.

Those Ironborn look like a threat, but I imagine that a unified Westeros can destroy them and kill Euron.

Definitely would be able to smash them, but Robert refuses to get his fat ass of the throne.

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 3 - Peace Reigns


With Willas Tyrell’s iron grip on The Reach, the times were incredibly peaceful, save for some Ironborn raids in the Shield Isles and Oldtown. Mervyn dedicated himself to reading books and debating topics that most maesters had little knowledge of. It seemed the young lord would have been a fine Citadel member if his duty with his house didn't precede him. Still, most days went by with few accidents, the most egregious being the blind chancellor tripping and falling off Starpike. While the Iron Throne was peaceful, the Ironborn had a new king. Euron died in his sleep, and his young son Tristifer ascended to the Salt Throne at 11 years old. This new development was sure to shake the situation in the isles.

Following in Willas's steps, Mervyn increased his vassals' taxes and used the funds to finance a pilgrimage to the Starry Sept. The deeply religious Peake had always wanted to visit the magnificent building where the High Septon once resided. This was a troublesome journey, as Mervyn's stubbornness made him refuse to ask for directions, resulting in him wasting weeks wandering the Ring. Eventually, he found his way to the Starry Sept and gazed upon one of the marvels of Oldtown.

After returning from his pilgrimage, much had to be done. The temple on Fool's approach was delayed as modifications were introduced to ensure it would resemble the glory of the Starry Sept. Piles of complaints also had to be resolved as his absence had delayed the realm's management. Still, one day, Mervyn received surprising news: Willas requested that his nephew tutor Steffon Peake. Mervyn felt compelled to accept as he couldn't displease his Lord Paramount.

Steffon returned to Starpike a changed man. He was much more content with his situation in life. Although he resented the Seven for cursing him with a clubfoot, he became an adequate bargainer, leveraging his diplomatic education to ensure that Peake objectives would be achieved. Mervyn then managed to convince the Vyrwells of Darkdell to marry Jeyne, the Lord of Darkdell's eldest daughter, to his son Steffon, securing a strong alliance to support his endeavors.

A few months passed similarly as Mervyn pushed to have better relations with his liege while deploying his spymaster to search for secrets in Highgarden. There was much to be leveraged from the knowledge gained there. Finally, after a few more weeks, his son Steffon had a daughter. As such, Mervyn became a grandfather, doting on the little Elmeria like the daughter he never had.

And then, the most unexpected thing happened. Mervyn's wife, at 42 years of age, became pregnant once again. Steffon would soon not be an only child anymore. This confused Mervyn as he knew that the older a woman got, the rarer her chances of being fertile became. Toppled with almost 18 years of fruitless attempts, it seemed his wife would never be pregnant again, and yet a miracle had been provided. He made sure to pray to the Seven every night until his baby was born. It was a joyous evening when his daughter Floris was born. A holiday and a feast were prepared to commemorate the momentous occasion.

Yet, after his daughter was born, Mervyn had a terrible premonition, as if calamity was about to strike. And it surely did. One night, Mervyn received confirmation that his son and wife were lovers and had been seeing each other behind his back. Horrified, he prayed to the Seven for guidance and decided to cover up their liaison as he couldn't afford to disgrace his house. However, as the vengeful man he was, he vowed to send his wife to the Stranger, as she surely must have been the one to seduce Steffon. His first decree was to arrest the woman and put her under house arrest, making sure she wouldn't see anyone else besides a deaf and blind maid who would take care of her necessities.

During these bleak days, he turned back to his studies, only pausing them to interact with his beloved daughter Floris, who had taken to mischief, using a wolf pelt to ambush unsuspecting servants. A pastime Mervyn found hilarious and even partook in once, making the poor servant stumble and fall flat into a pile of dirt. Still, he had now created a rift in his family as his son Steffon refused to have an heir to the family, while his mother was under arrest. This headache was a cause of concern for Mervyn as there were no male Peake's that could marry Elmerria and continue the line. Nonetheless, his plan to join the council of Lord Willas succeeded, and he was granted the title of Steward of The Reach, raking in much gold and profit from his new position.

But this happiness did not last as his son Steffon had another daughter, this time a clubfooted one. Mervyn had become very suspicious of his ex-spymaster and now steward Myles, who was a good friend of his wife and also had a clubfoot. Surely that couldn't have happened? But alas, even if Myles hadn't made him a cuckold, his Knight Ector had. It seems only he hadn't enjoyed much of his forgiving and compassionate wife, for she had slept with many of his vassals and knights. The ever-vengeful Mervyn vowed to correct this slight and proceeded to attempt to imprison Ector. But the snake escaped to the Westmarches. Nevertheless, Mervyn would pursue this foe to the ends of the earth and would kill him no matter the cost.


After dispatching the traitor, Mervyn became even more of a recluse, refusing even to do much of his duties as the realm’s steward, maintaining his position only because of the good graces of his liege, Willas. As he turned to books and the Seven, he feared he had been living a life of disgrace without even an inkling of his knowledge. All those studies and hours accumulating wisdom just to fail to pick up the slightest of clues of his wife's sordid affairs. This fixation on revenge was transmitted to his daughter, who emulated her father in her hatred for all who had wronged him.

And yet, this wasn’t all. He discovered his best friend was a cannibal, a Manderly Lord he befriended at a feast, for he was one of the only Manderly’s who had some common sense. However, his ancestors were right, no Manderlys were innocent, souring his mood even further. Luckily, he never developed into a depressive state, for his daughter and granddaughter were the shining beacons of his life. Thanking the Seven for their existence, Mervyn managed to convince his liege to build a temple in Cressmont, a hill next to the Torrentpeake. But at the same time, he was inspecting the foundations of the new church, he received grave news that someone wanted to kill him. Unfortunately, for Mervyn, the number of enemies he had was huge, so it wasn’t possible to determine who could be behind this atrocity.

Determined to put an end to this misery, Mervyn marched over to the tower where he kept his wife and whipped her until she spilled the beans. The whore had slept with his friend and Septon Edric. Enough was enough, and in his fury, Mervyn continued whipping the woman until his hands were bleeding on the coarse leather of the whip. He immediately arranged for the Septon's arrest and on account of his friendship, he was only banished to the Night’s Watch. The continued stress of this kerfuffle left Mervyn exasperated, searching for a method to escape this farce until he found a new passion - gardening. Even with the initial setbacks and the back-breaking work, he persisted and found a new love for botany and biology.

As soon as his daughter and granddaughter were of age, they were married into Houses Beesbury and Cupps. These were unorthodox arrangements as the prole would bear the name of House Peake instead of the father’s house, but to ensure the continuation of the line, it had to be done, and there were no shortage of candidates who wanted to be related to the Lord Paramount’s stewards.

All of these responsibilities and stress took a toll on Mervyn, who ended up becoming infirm and feeble in his later years, leaving much of the realm to be managed by his son Steffon, who would promptly free his mother. And at last, at 56 years of age, Lord Mervyn Peake, second of his name since the Conquest, died in his sleep, tormented by nightmares. At the same time, the new King, Prince Howard, had come of age. He was just as strong and ambitious as his late father. The kingdom held its breath, for the new ruler wasn’t to be trifled with.

Shortly thereafter, Lord Paramount Willas died, leaving the Reach in the hands of his capable son Halbert. Fortunately, Steffon was content with his kingdom's situation and didn't have his father's ambition of expanding his realm. He focused solely on enriching what he had. The Lord of Starpike spent his days hunting and feasting. During one of these hunts, a boar managed to injure him severely. He was saved only by his Maester's skillful medicinal training.

Image: Steffon(right) and his wife Jeyne(left).

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, let's hope that the Ironborn suffer from some internal conflict...

It would be such a shame if the parental incest became public... for the Peakes. It might get them Cersei's support, though. She loves incest

 

[ImNoOne]

Well, let's hope that the Ironborn suffer from some internal conflict...

It would be such a shame if the parental incest became public... for the Peakes. It might get them Cersei's support, though. She loves incest

Unfortunately, Cersei died really early and only gave Robert daughters.

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 4 – Steffon’s Misadventures

Things took a turn for the worse for Lord Steffon when he was caught having an incestuous affair with his mother. The gossip and rumors that followed dismantled much of the Peake reputation. However, he was saved by the outbreak of war in the kingdom. Lord Paramount Mychal of the Riverlands rose up in rebellion against the oppression of the Iron Throne, citing his grievances and lack of liberties as justification for this treachery. The majority of the Lord Paramounts agreed with Mychal, and as such, an all-out civil war broke out again in Westeros.

Lord Mervyn decided to maintain his neutrality, opting to watch the bloodbath rather than throwing his hat into the ring. However, it seemed this war would end just as quickly as it began, for King Howard was prepared and completely smashed the rebel army at the gates of King’s Landing, obliterating any support and troops Mychal had.

In the meantime, Steffon strengthened his relations with the Tarlys by marrying his daughter to one of the relatives of Samwell Tarly, Lord of Westmarch. Unfortunately, his mother and lover died in her sleep. This prompted Steffon to resume his marriage with his wife, who ended up being pregnant a few months later. However, in an unprecedented manner, Dorne and Casterly Rock rose in rebellion against the tyranny of King Howard. This time Steffon decided to support the King, hoping to get some scraps and recognition.

In the middle of these troubling times, Gormon Peake was born, a true heir to the throne of Starpike and the future of the house, named after the infamous Peake who was said to be one of the finest warriors of his time. The war against the tyranny of King Howard ended inconclusively as Leo Lannister died of old age. As such, Howard’s imprisonment of him couldn't be implemented.

Steffon fell ill at the age of 46, barely clinging on to his life, but he knew he must survive for his son was much too young to rule in his stead. Fortunately, he managed to recover, taking an interest in herbs in the meantime as he had contact with many ointments prepared by his physician. Still, the Iron Throne continued to be in turmoil as House Tyrell now found itself at a crossroads. Halbert had only daughters, who had taken their spouses' names. As such, the Lord Paramountcy would pass to some lowborn barons. This was a contentious topic as many Tyrells still lived and claimed to be the rightful successors, contrary to Halbert's wishes.

Nevertheless, Lord Steffon had his own problems. He acquired a rival after making rude comments in a bathhouse, and the rival was swiftly dispatched as a mob of peasants attacked him. In the meantime, Gormon was growing into a fine diplomat, taking after his father who had managed to turn around much of the perception of his house after his incidents in his youth. His political acumen allowed him to make many powerful friends, but due to his content nature, not much was done with this power. Still, it was leverage he had against his Lady Paramount, who refused to invest in her subjects' lands and preferred to attend maid parties and balls. Gormon started his knight tutelage under Ronald Peake, one of the most skilled men-at-arms in the family. Concurrently, House Ashford and Peake established the betrothal of Gormon Peake to Olenna Ashford, a bright young girl who would secure an alliance between these ancient houses.

Sometime later, a madman began burning the farmlands around Starpike, probably someone hired by the neighbors, the Hunts, who had developed envy and hatred for Starpike's prosperity. Still, this ploy did minor damage as Steffon managed to leverage his relationship with many builders and farmers who reconstructed and reseeded the lands and infrastructure destroyed.

With Steffon's health failing, more responsibility was delivered to the shoulders of Gormon, until the day Steffon passed away in his sleep, content with his dog Shadow in his arms. Now, the future of House Peake rested on the shoulders of Gormon, who was more charismatic than his father but not as experienced. One of his favorite hobbies was in fact journaling. Many of his glories and defeats were cataloged and described in his books.

Image: Gormon Peake (Heir to Starpike and astute diplomat)

Image:Jorence Hungerford (Heir to The Reach and known Evildoer)

 

[HistoryDude]

Nobody likes the Iron Throne. When will a rebellion finally succeed?

 

[ImNoOne]

Nobody likes the Iron Throne. When will a rebellion finally succeed?

Not anytime soon I fear. Becauss of the Cersei issue, Robert's son is just as strong as his father and got brains to boot. His son as well is incredible so it seems unlikely anyone can topple them (both are one of the top characters for total stats in the game...)

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 4 – Steffon's Misadventures

Things took a turn for the worse for Lord Steffon when he was caught having an incestuous affair with his mother. The gossip and rumors that followed dismantled much of the Peake reputation. However, he was saved by the breakout of war in the Kingdom. Lord Paramount Mychal of the Riverlands rose up in rebellion against the oppression of the Iron Throne, citing his grievances and lack of liberties as justification for this treachery. The majority of the Lord Paramounts agreed with Mychal, and as such, an all-out civil war broke out again in Westeros.

Lord Mervyn decided to maintain his neutrality, opting to watch the bloodbath rather than throwing his hat into the ring. However, it seemed this war would end just as quickly as it began, for King Howard was prepared and completely smashed the rebel army at the gates of King's Landing, obliterating any support and troops Mychal had.

In the meantime, Steffon strengthened his relations with the Tarlys by marrying his daughter to one of Samwell Tarly's relatives, Lord of Westmarch. Unfortunately, his mother and lover died in her sleep, prompting Steffon to resume his marriage with his wife, who ended up being pregnant a few months later. However, in an unprecedented manner, Dorne and Casterly Rock rose in rebellion against the tyranny of King Howard. This time, Steffon decided to support the King, hoping to gain some scraps and recognition.

In the middle of these troubling times, Gormon Peake was born, a true heir to the throne of Starpike and the future of the house. He was named after the infamous Peake, who was said to be one of the finest warriors of his time. The war against the tyranny of King Howard ended inconclusively as Leo Lannister died of old age, rendering Howard's imprisonment plans futile.

Steffon fell ill at the age of 46, barely clinging to his life. But he knew he must survive, for his son was too young to rule in his stead. Fortunately, he managed to recover and developed an interest in herbs during this time, as he had contact with many ointments prepared by his physician. Still, the Iron Throne continued to be in turmoil as House Tyrell found itself at a crossroads. Halbert had only daughters, who had taken their spouses' names. As such, the Lord Paramountcy would pass to some lowborn barons. This was a contentious topic, as many Tyrells still lived and claimed to be the rightful successors, contrary to Halbert's wishes.

Nevertheless, Lord Steffon had his own problems. He acquired a rival after making rude comments in a bathhouse, and the rival was swiftly dispatched as a mob of peasants attacked him. Meanwhile, Gormon was growing into a fine diplomat, taking after his father who had managed to turn around much of the perception of his house after his incidents in his youth. His political acumen allowed him to make many powerful friends, but due to his content nature, not much was done with this power. Still, it was leverage he had against his Lady Paramount, who refused to invest in her subjects' lands and preferred to indulge in maid parties and balls. Gormon began his knight tutelage under Ronald Peake, one of the most skilled men-at-arms in the family. Concurrently, House Ashford and Peake established the betrothal of Gormon Peake to Olenna Ashford, a bright young girl who would secure an alliance between these ancient houses.


Sometime later, a madman began burning the farmlands around Starpike, probably someone hired by the neighbors, the Hunts, who had developed envy and hatred for Starpike's prosperity. However, this ploy did minor damage as Steffon managed to leverage his relationship with many builders and farmers who reconstructed and restored the lands and infrastructure destroyed.

With his health ailing, more responsibility was placed on the shoulders of Gormon until the day Steffon passed away in his sleep, content with his dog Shadow in his arms. Now, the future of House Peake rested on the shoulders of Gormon, who was more charismatic than his father but lacked experience. One of his favorite hobbies was journaling, and he cataloged and described many of his glories and defeats in his books.

Image: Steffon Peake, the Grandson of Steffon and heir to Gormon.

 

[HistoryDude]

That's a convenient distraction from Steffon's... strange hobbies.

At least the farmlands weren't permanently affected? Still, such a provocation needs to be avenged!

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 5 – Flight or Fight

Conflicts started arising with the Tyrells of Highgarden as Gormon saw an opportunity to invest in a city near a profitable trade route. However, his request was denied, and he was humiliated when proposed to do the bidding of the Lady Paramount. The headstrong Gormon vehemently refused and was promptly shunned from the castle. Angered and humiliated, Gormon began plotting his revenge, making alliances and agreements with many discontented lords to secure his position.

Then, ravens carrying news reached all corners of the Iron Throne. King Howard was mobilizing all able-bodied men to invade the Iron Islands and bring it back under the control of the Iron Throne. The Ironborn had been raiding and pillaging much of the Westerosi coast for far too long, and now that the internal stability of the Kingdom was secure, Howard saw fit to subdue these savages.

One of the lords Gormon had become acquainted with was Morgil Redwyne, one of the biggest opponents of Yrma Tyrell. However, Gormon had to recognize that his liege wasn't as bad as he had initially thought, although they were still at odds regarding the direction The Reach should take. After a few more months of relative calm, Gormon's spies brought him joyous news: Lady Yrma was implicated in a murder. Using this information, Gormon managed to blackmail the old woman into guaranteeing his war declarations.

Thus, Gormon moved swiftly and declared his support for his Aunt's claim on Benditiling. The war was fierce as his foe hired mercenaries and refused to yield, but with the help of the Ashfords, they were ultimately defeated, and his aunt Floris Peake was installed on the throne, securing another holding for the glory of House Peake.

Gormon's son, Steffon, had become as much of a glutton as his father, although the latter had exaggerated and become as rotund as the late King Robert. Still, this didn't hinder the Lord from feasting and engaging in diplomacy, securing many deals and favorable negotiations.

However, a golden opportunity presented itself. The Vrywells had been good allies of the Peakes, and with the death of the late Lord, Gormon was in a prime position to install himself in the Duchy of Darkdell, securing a High Lordship for his family, something they had lost more than 600 years ago. A tourney provided the perfect excuse to survey the area, and despite being the subject of laughter due to his difficulty in riding a horse, he managed to gather the desired information. A few gold coins in the hands of his allies, and surely Darkdell would be his. The only obstacle in his way was the King's Peace imposed by Willas many years ago. Fortunately, the future Lord Paramount of The Reach was unpopular, and upheaval was expected soon. Unfortunately, grave news came from the Stormlands: a supposed descendant of the Targaryens had landed on Griffin's Roost, plunging the Iron Throne into civil war once again.

Gormon's inability to attack the Vrywells cost him dearly, leading to depression in his later years. He became even more vengeful than before and developed a rivalry with Lady Jeyne Tyrell. Simultaneously, he developed a preference for eating grotesque rotten fish, a very unpopular move. Steffon Peake, the heir to Starpike, was also severely injured during his training as a squire and had to stay in bed for months, with his survival uncertain. This further worsened Lord Gormon's condition, as he was already overwhelmed while trying to manage the Faction to lower the crown authority.

Fortunately, some favorable news reached Gormon, alleviating some of his concerns. He was granted more than a thousand gold coins and the castle of Marchrise as the long-time barons had exhausted their bloodline, resulting in their riches and lands reverting to their Lord, Gormon. These newfound riches helped Lord Gormon secure a marriage and alliance with the Arbor, bolstering his position in the Reach.

However, before Gormon could execute his plans, news arrived from King's Landing: King Howard had been defeated, and the throne was occupied by a Blackfyre. It seemed that all Targaryen supporters had been deceived, as this supposed Targaryen was nothing more than a mummer's dragon, a Blackfyre. A revolt immediately broke out, further plunging the Iron Throne into chaos. This rebellion was swiftly crushed, and now, after a 6th Rebellion, a third dynasty finally assumed the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, in The Reach, despite Gormon's best efforts, Lord Paramount Jorence solidified his rule and firmly entrenched himself in Highgarden. The many years of planning within the liberty faction were destroyed in an instant, relegating Gormon to settle for petty grievances and small-time plotting for the rest of his life.

That is, until the unexpected happened. Lord Paramount Jorence used his newfound popularity to wage war against the Stormlands. The Cadet Branch of the Baratheons, the Brightstags, descendants of Renly Baratheon, betrayed their overlord Howard and declared neutrality in the 6th Blackfyre Rebellion. As a result, they were allowed to keep the Stormlands when the rebellion eventually succeeded. However, this move was widely unpopular with their vassals and left them in a much weaker position that was now being exploited by the Reach.

This conflict dragged on for many years, as the Marches offered many guerrilla opportunities for the Stags. However, the Reach's Summer Knights overwhelmed their feeble attempts, and Lord Paramount Kennard managed to achieve what his father Jorence had failed to do before he died of age and the fatigue of the extended campaign. Lord Gormon was drafted to be the bodyguard of Jorence and Kennard, fighting in many battles and sieges, winning honor and glory for his family. It might have been this previously unseen warrior-like disposition of the Lord that drove his second son, Reynard, to declare for the Kingsguard, refusing marriage and extensively training to be selected.

Lord Kennard was a much more reasonable person to the Peakes and bestowed upon Gormon the honor of being his chancellor. However, this did not dissuade the vengeful and stubborn old man, who had decided to seize the day and push for the relinquishing of the Lord Paramount's authority. He used the many secrets he had learned over the years to force many to join his faction, as well as his incredible diplomatic skills to rile up and convince other Lords to join his cause.

With the death of Aegon VII, his underage heir assumed the throne, becoming a shadow puppet controlled behind the scenes by his mother and counselors. This naturally led to trouble, as House Longwaters, a cadet branch of the Velaryons, claimed the Iron Throne for themselves, igniting the realm into rebellion once again. This presented an opportunity for House Peake, as the Queensguard had openings to be filled, allowing Reynard to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a member.

In his later years, Gormon became much more infirm and, seeing the futility of his defiant stance against the crown, gave up on the Liberty faction after the Hightowers, their strongest supporters, dropped out. Instead, he sought a position on the council, for Kennard had rescinded his chancellorship when he failed to persuade Gormon of his folly. Steffon, for a while, tried to rebel against his father and elope with a common woman, longing for adventure after failing to produce a son. However, on his deathbed, Gormon made Steffon promise to abandon that foolish idea and make him proud by living a fulfilling life at home, ruling Starpike.

Image: Queen Rhanea, Only child of Aegon VII Blackfyre, and her husband Aelyx Velaryon (They were married patrillineally, but I fixed that cuz AI dum dum)

Image: Gedmund 'The Impaler' Peake and his wife Maggei Ashford

 

[ImNoOne]

This has been pretty insane, I think the devs have tweaked personality inheritance from educaiton, because from Ck3 vanilla my guys get random stuff, but it has been 6 generations of Vengeful Gluttunous Peake's by the point I am in, pretty insane...

 

[HistoryDude]

Ah, get your revenge on your liege by making them support your conquests. Nice move.

Also, why was the female Blackfyre named Aegon (a male name)? Is that just a feature of the AGOT mod?

 

[ImNoOne]

Ah, get your revenge on your liege by making them support your conquests. Nice move.

Also, why was the female Blackfyre named Aegon (a male name)? Is that just a feature of the AGOT mod?

I am just a fum dum and forgot a comma, It should be read as: This image has Queen Rhaena and her husband Aelyx, she was the only child of Aegon.

 

[Midnite Duke]

@ImNoOne, thank you for this AAR. As far as roleplay, even as humans not all our decisions follow the same path. I will try to paraphrase a playthrough that I watched. The traits guide and the stats decide the success. Thank you

 

[ImNoOne]

Part 6 – Unprecedented Wealth

Following in his father's footsteps, Steffon's rise to power was relatively smooth. He quickly amassed great wealth and prestige, which earned him the position of steward of The Reach—a fitting role for someone as avaricious as him. However, this relentless pursuit of riches led to conflicts with his wife, who hailed from the esteemed Redwyne house, and disapproved of his questionable money-making ventures. Disregarding her concerns, Steffon continued to accumulate wealth, even resorting to selling titles to those with deep pockets.

Driven by his relentless ambition, Steffon managed to amass enough money to construct a castle near Millfield. Additionally, he cunningly persuaded his liege lord to commission a city in Torrentpeake. He also convinced his brother to take his son, Gedmund, under his wing, providing him with the best education as a squire to a Kingsguard.

However, Steffon's single-minded focus on his own interests and the development of his fiefdom caused friction with his vassals and colleagues. This animosity culminated in an assassination attempt on the Lord of Mole Hill, who had been openly critical of Steffon and compared him unfavorably to his late father, Gormon. In response, Steffon orchestrated a mob to eliminate the man, but the plot was exposed, branding Steffon as a murderer. Undeterred, he continued his plans to expand his control over the region and increase his house's revenue. In an attempt to improve his image, Steffon took his grandson as a squire, after much persuasion and a generous bribe.

Furthermore, Steffon managed to secure a marriage alliance between his third son and his granddaughter, Arwen, further solidifying his position within the council, despite the murder accusations. Everything seemed to be progressing according to his plans—his house grew stronger through strategic marriages, and his son received an excellent education. However, Gedmund's interests lay in intrigue and deceit rather than martial pursuits. He returned to Starpike as an accomplished spymaster.

Following Gedmund's advice, the rotund Steffon bribed the Lord of Cockleswhent to arrange a marriage between Gedmund and his one-eyed daughter, Maggei. Despite her harsh upbringing, Maggei possessed a callous and paranoid personality, which complemented Gedmund's vengeful and just nature. Together, they formed a formidable and valuable alliance. However, their joy was short-lived as a rebellion erupted in the region. Dissatisfied vassals rose up, demanding more autonomy, and Gedmund was compelled to fight and defend his newfound ally. At the Battle of Willows Wood, they suffered a resounding defeat, but managed to regroup and defeat a small mercenary band at the Dornish Marches. Both armies hesitated to engage directly and resorted to besieging each other's holdings, prolonging the war for months. Fortunately, Starpike's formidable defenses deterred any attacks from the Targaryens, ensuring the stronghold remained untouched throughout the conflict.

Sadly, the rebels proved to be too strong and, with deep pockets, outlasted both Steffon and his ally. House Peake was forced to submit to their vassals, and the war proved inconsequential. However, it showcased the effectiveness of the Peake longbowmen on the battlefield, highlighting their need for greater numbers and support—a realization that Steffon reluctantly had to accept.

With the death of the Lord Paramount, his son Corwyn assumed the throne. Despite Steffon's pledge of allegiance, Corwyn refused to entertain any discussion about his steward position, leaving him humiliated and ignored. Vowing to focus solely on his precious money, Steffon found himself limited in his options. A few days later, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, having left behind a prosperous and strong Starpike. It was now up to his son, Gedmund, to carry on the legacy and propel House Peake to even greater heights.

Image: Reynard Peake the Peake Kingsguard.

Image: Unwin Peake, Son of Gedmund and heir to Starpike.