CK2AGOT - Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons

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The Westerlands​

Located along the far western coast of the Seven Kingdoms is a land of hills and low mountains, riddled with mines. Gold and silver is mined here in vast quantities, enriching numerous families, none more so than the Lannisters of Casterly Rock. The Westerlands roughly match the Vale in size, but are more populous, more fertile and, by far, form the richest lands on the continent in terms of wealth.

The Westerlands occupy a stretch of the west coast of the continent, with Ironman’s Bay located to the north and the Sunset Sea to the west. The region’s borders to the east are formed by the headwaters of the Red Fork of the Trident and to the south by the headwaters of the Lesser Mander and the northern plains of the Reach. The eastern and southern borders are somewhat flexible, resulting in frequent and long-standing border wars with the Riverlands and the Reach in ancient times, although since the Targaryen Conquest the borders have been settled. The Westerlands measure roughly 300 miles from east to west (with the Kayce Peninsula adding another 140 or so miles to that) and about 550 miles from north to south.

The Westerlands are roughly estimated as being home to between five and six million people, making them the second-most populous region of the Seven Kingdoms, behind only the Reach to the south. They can also field the second-largest (but easily the best-equipped) army, with a strong emphasis on heavy cavalry, pikes and crossbowmen.⁹

Houses of the Westerlands​

Lords of the Westerlands swear their fealty to the Lords Paramount of House Lannister. They rule from the stronghold of Casterly Rock.

Casterly Rock and Lannisport by Félix Sotomayor​

Major houses of the Westerlands, and their vassals, include:

House Hetherspoon of Heather Field House Lannister of Brightwall House Lannister of Lannisport House Pouncalot of Goldbarrow House Kingslayer of Gold Hollow House Clifton of Horncliffe House Broom of Oxcross House Vikary of Goldengrass Hills House Clegane of Fang Tower House Crakehall of Crakehall House Falwell of Falwell House Hawthorne of Hawthorne House Yew of Greenmont House Swyft of Cornfield House Jast of Lonmont House Greenfield of Greenfield House Lydden of the Gold Road House Hamell of Dancastel House Drox of Drox Castle House Sarwyck of Riversping House Peckledon of Peckledon House Payne of Payne Hall House Serrett of Silverhill House Turnberry of Redbramble House Myatt of Myatt

House Brax of Hornvale House Estren of Wyndhall House Westford of Westford House Moreland of Moreland House Ruttiger of Ryehill House Sarsfield of Sarsfield House Garner of Goldshire House Yarwyck of Tendering House Lefford of the Golden Tooth House Foote of Nun’s Deep House Bettley of Pendric Halls House Marbrand of Ashemark House Stackspear of Brent Brook House Lorch of Glitterdell House Doggett of Red Hills House Ferren of Thurrock Houser Westerling of the Crag House Algood of Golden Hills House Banefort of Banefort House Reyne of Castamere House Tarbeck of Bramhope House Farman of Fair Isle House Kenning of Kayce House Prester of Feastfires House Plumm of Maunhill

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⁹ Atlas

 

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Notable Events in the Westerlands​

The Lion Hunt​

The Great Lion Hunt, as it is now known, started in the reign of the usurper Robert of House Baratheon after the treachery of his queen and one of his kingsguard was discovered and brought to light.

The Disgraced Queen and the Kingslayer​

It all began with the investigation by Lord Paramount of the North, Lord Eddard of House Stark, prompted into it by Lord Paramount of the Vale, Lord Jon of House Arryn. The investigation resulted in the discovery of numerous bastards sired by the Usurper, all of which shared the same physical characteristics as their father. As none of the allegedly legitimate children of then king and queen possessed those qualities, it was concluded that the Usurped cannot be their true sire.

The queen was accused of adultery and imprisoned along with her household.

After rigorous questioning the maids revealed that the queen's lover is none other than her own brother, Ser Jaime the Kingslayer. He was immediately apprehended and thrown into the black cells beneath the Red Keep.

The trial was held and the accused were proven guilty.

All of their progeny was declared illegitimate, stripped of their family name and no longer considered as children of the Usurper nor the members of House Baratheon.

The Usurper wanted to execute them all, including children. For that purpose the great gallows began construction in front of the Sept of Baelor. That notion prompted Prince Doran, who presided over the trial of her mother, to smuggle Mircella on one of his ships bound to Dorne while the boys were disguised as squires to the many knights of House Lannister that were hastily leaving the capitol for the safety of the West.

Their parents were also spared the block as their father organised another smuggling operation to take both of his children to Essos. In truth the escape was made only for his dotted on son, Sr Jaime, but he refused to leave without his twin, so they were both taken to Pentos.

When the news reached the Usurper he considered waging war on both regions and the foreign state, but was ultimately dissuaded by Lord Eddard. It is known that he did however hired numerous spies and assassins to murder the reminders of his ineptitude as a husband, but their attempts turned out futile and stopped with the fall of the Usurper.

The Old Lion​

After the disgrace that was bright to House Lannister by the twins, Lord Tywin barricaded himself and his relatives inside the Casterly Rock, awaiting the wrath of the Usurper. He was stripped of all of his privileges and honorary titles but ultimately saved his head as Lord Petyr of House Baelish, then the Master of Coin, convinced the Usurper to put a heavy annual fine on the West instead.

It all changed when the Queen arrived as she did so in tow with Lord Tywin’s beloved son, Ser Jaime. The Old Lion came to the capitol himself to greet the Queen and his prodigal heir. But his disappointment was almost palpable when he found out that his son left the Kingsguard just to become a part of a Queensguard. That disappointment became then truly immeasurable as he was promptly arrested for the crimes committed during the Rebellion.

Tywin Lannister by Ertaç Altınöz​

He tried to call for a trial by combat and named the Mountain That Rides as his champion, but Gregor Clegane was disqualified from being anyone’s champion due to him being declared a criminal and an outlaw himself.

Therefore the great trial was organised. Great many witnesses both of high and of low birth were called, many grievances heard. The Old Lion was ultimately found guilty, but due to Her Grace’s respect for both of his sons he was spared and sent to the Wall. He betrayed that gesture of mercy though and fled to Essos on his way North. He made a mistake of going to Pentos where the Queen still had many connections so he was swiftly recaptured and brought back in chains. He was then packed and sent towards the Wall again, but still a lot of people knew that Lannisters always pay their debts, so he was smuggled out again, this time to Braavos. It take significantly longer for him to be recaptured again, but he was eventually brought back to King’s Landing. The Queen famously said: “Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. And I will not be a fool again.” Thus ended the life of an Old Lion, Lord Tywin of House Lannister, and his son whom he hated all his life succeeded him.

A Cat of a Different Coat​

Perhaps the second most happy people after the Martells to bear witness to the trial and fall of the Old Lion were two men named Malcolm and Harys. They presented their cases during the Lion Drama and presented evidence of being direct descendants of two houses that were presumed extinct due to the deeds of the accused Lord Tywin.

Malcolm claimed to be a direct descendant of Ser Robb of House Rayne through his bastard son, Ser Daemon Hill, that he beget somewhere during the First Blackfyre Rebellion. After the Restoration of Castamere he became Lord Malcolm, the first of his name, later in life called the Trickster for his dubious antics.

Harys claimed descent from Lord Adrian of House Tarbeck through his bastard-born oldest son, Ser Gerold Hill. After the Restoration he became Lord Harys of Bramhope, the first of his name, later in life called the Rash as a jest about his timid nature.

The Fall of the Mountain​

After years on the run, the Mountain’s Men were finally captured and brought before the Queen in very heavy chains.

Gregor Clegane by Nordheimer​

I will not bore you, my dear reader, with the details of the trials and executions of the pebbles and focus all my energy on the boulder himself. He was in the year 307AC. The news of his capture reached Dorne while the prisoner was still on the road, so the Red Viper arrived shortly after to accuse him of murder of his sister and her children. The Mountain demanded a trial by combat. The Queen went pale as her husband’s direwolf’s fur, but she could not deny him that right nor the eager dornish Prince his dream. And so it came to pass that on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month of the year 307AC the Viper fought the Mountain.

I was not there to witness that gruesome and glorious ordeal, so I will refer you to the works of a contemporary. Albeit not a maester but a mere Ser, I find that particular author to possess a great deal of talent.

An excerpt from A Storm of Swords,
an amateur collection of stories
witnessed and written down
by Ser George of House Martin,
keeper of the Dragon Pit
at the time of trial:

He looks as though he was chiseled out of rock, standing there. His greatsword was planted in the ground before him, six feet of scarred metal. Ser Gregor's huge hands, clad in gauntlets of lobstered steel, clasped the crosshilt to either side of the grip.

The Red Viper was lightly armored; greaves, vambraces, gorget, spaulder, steel codpiece. Elsewise Oberyn was clad in supple leather and flowing silks. Over his byrnie he wore his scales of gleaming copper, but mail and scale together would not give him a quarter the protection of Gregor's heavy plate. With its visor removed, the prince's helm was effectively no better than a half-helm, lacking even a nasal. His round steel shield was brightly polished, and showed the sun-and-spear in red gold, yellow gold, white gold, and copper.

A platform had been erected beside the Tower of the Hand, halfway between the two champions. A dozen trumpeters blew a fanfare to quiet the crowd. The High Septon shuffled forward in his tall crystal crown, and prayed that the Father Above would help them in this judgment, and that the Warrior would lend his strength to the arm of the man whose cause was just.

Two servants brought Clegane his shield, a massive thing of heavy oak rimmed in black iron with the hounds of Clegane painted over.

There were fifty yards between them. Prince Oberyn advanced quickly, Ser Gregor more ominously.

When the two men were ten yards apart, the Red Viper stopped and called out, "Have they told you who I am?"

Ser Gregor grunted through his breaths. "Some dead man." He came on, inexorable.

The Dornishman slid sideways. "I am Oberyn Martell, a prince of Dorne," he said, as the Mountain turned to keep him in sight. "Princess Elia was my sister."

"Who?" asked Gregor Clegane.

Oberyn's long spear jabbed, but Ser Gregor took the point on his shield, shoved it aside, and bulled back at the prince, his great sword flashing. The Dornishman spun away untouched. The spear darted forward. Clegane slashed at it, Martell snapped it back, then thrust again. Metal screamed on metal as the spearhead slid off the Mountain's chest, slicing through the surcout and leaving a long bright scratch on the steel beneath. "Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne," the Red Viper hissed. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

Ser Gregor grunted. He made a ponderous charge to hack at the Dornishman's head. Prince Oberyn avoided him easily. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

"Did you come to talk or to fight?"

"I came to hear you confess." The Red Viper landed a quick thrust on the Mountain's belly, to no effect. Gregor cut at him, and missed. The long spear lanced in above his sword. Like a serpent's tongue it flickered in and out, feinting low and landing high, jabbing at groin, shield, eyes. Prince Oberyn could scarcely miss, though none of his blows penetrated Ser Gregor's heavy plate. The Dornishman kept circling, jabbing, then darting back again, forcing the bigger man to turn and turn again. The Mountain's helm had a narrow eyeslit, severely limiting his vision. Oberyn was making good use of that, and the length of his spear, and his quickness.

It went on like that for what seemed a long time. Back and forth they moved across the yard, and round and round in spirals, Ser Gregor slashing at the air while Oberyn's spear struck at arm, and leg, twice at his temple. Gregor's big wooden shield took its share of hits as well, until the raw oak showed through. Clegane would grunt from time to time, but otherwise he fought in a sullen silence.

Not Oberyn Martell. "You raped her," he called, feinting. "You murdered her," he said, dodging a looping cut from Gregor's greatsword. "You killed her children," he shouted, slamming the spearpoint into the giant's throat, only to have it glance off the thick steel gorget with a screech.

All around the yard, the throng of spectators was creeping to get a better view. The Kingsguard tried to keep them back, shoving at the gawkers forcefully with their big white shields, but there were hundreds of gawkers and only six of the men in white armor.

"You raped her." Prince Oberyn parried a savage cut with his spearhead. "You murdered her." He sent the spearpoint at Clegane's eyes, so fast the huge man flinched back. "You killed her children." "The spear flickered sideways and down, scraping against the Mountain's breastplate. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children." The spear was two feet longer than Ser Gregor's sword, more than enough to keep him at an awkward distance. He hacked at the shaft whenever Oberyn lunged at him, trying to lop off the spearhead, but he might as well have been trying to hack the wings off a fly. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."

"Be quiet." Ser Gregor seemed to be moving a little slower, and his greatsword no longer rose quite so high as it had when the contest began. "Shut your bloody mouth."

"You raped her," the prince said, moving to the right.

"Enough!" Ser Gregor took two long strides and brought his sword down at Oberyn's head, but the Dornishman backstepped once more. "You murdered her," he said.

"SHUT UP!" Gregor charged headlong, right at the point of the spear, which slammed into his right breast then slid aside with a hideous steel shriek. Suddenly the Mountain was close enough to strike, his huge sword flashing in a steel blur. The crowd was screaming as well. Oberyn slipped the first blow and let go of the spear, useless now that Ser Gregor was inside it. The second cut the Dornishman caught on his shield. Metal met metal with an ear-splitting clang, sending the Red Viper reeling. Ser Gregor followed, bellowing. He doesn't use words, he just roars like an animal, Tyrion thought. Oberyn's retreat became a headlong backward flight mere inches ahead of the greatsword as it slashed at his chest, his arms, his head.

The stable was behind him. Spectators screamed and shoved at each other to get out of the way. One stumbled into Oberyn's back. Ser Gregor hacked down with all his savage strength. The Red Viper threw himself sideways, rolling. The luckless stableboy behind him was not so quick. As his arm rose to protect his face, Gregor's sword took it off between elbow and shoulder. "Shut UP!" the Mountain howled at the stableboy's scream, and this time he swung the blade sideways, sending the top half of the lad's head across the yard in a spray of blood and brains. Hundreds of spectators suddenly seemed to lose all interest in the guilt or innocence of Tyrion Lannister, judging by the way they pushed and shoved at each other to escape the yard.

But the Red Viper of Dorne was back on his feet, his long spear in hand. "Elia," he called at Ser Gregor. "You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. Now say her name."

The Mountain whirled. Helm, shield, sword, surcoat; he was spattered with gore from head to heels. "You talk too much," he grumbled. "You make my head hurt."

"I will hear you say it. She was Elia of Dorne."

The Mountain snorted contemptuously, and came on... and in that moment, the sun broke through the low clouds that had hidden the sky since dawn.

The Red Viper crouched, squinting, and sent his spear darting forward again. Ser Gregor hacked at it, but the thrust had only been a feint. Off balance, he stumbled forward a step.

Prince Oberyn tilted his dinted metal shield. A shaft of sunlight blazed blindingly off polished gold and copper, into the narrow slit of his foe's helm. Clegane lifted his own shield against the glare. Prince Oberyn's spear flashed like lightning and found the gap in the heavy plate, the joint under the arm. The point punched through mail and boiled leather. Gregor gave a choked grunt as the Dornishman twisted his spear and yanked it free. "Elia. Say it! Elia of Dorne!" He was circling, spear poised for another thrust. "Say it!"

Prince Oberyn had circled behind him. "ELIA OF DORNE!" he shouted. Ser Gregor started to turn, but too slow and too late. The spearhead went through the back of the knee this time, through the layers of chain and leather between the plates on thigh and calf. The Mountain reeled, swayed, then collapsed face first on the ground. His huge sword went flying from his hand. Slowly, ponderously, he rolled onto his back.

The Dornishman flung away his ruined shield, grasped the spear in both hands, and sauntered away. Behind him the Mountain let out a groan, and pushed himself onto an elbow. Oberyn whirled cat-quick, and ran at his fallen foe. "EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA!" he screamed, as he drove the spear down with the whole weight of his body behind it. The snake has vaulted over the Mountain. Four feet of spear jutted from Clegane's belly as Prince Oberyn rolled, rose, and dusted himself off. "If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells," he promised.

Ser Gregor tried to rise. The spear had gone through him, and was pinning him to the ground. He wrapped both hands about the shaft, grunting, but could not pull it out. Beneath him was a spreading pool of red.

Prince Oberyn moved closer. "Say the name!" He put a foot on the Mountain's chest, grabbed the spear with both hands and twisted it with a push.

Clegane's hand shot up and tried to grab the Dornishman behind the knee, but the Viper kicked it away and twisted the spear again, leaning onto the shaft.

"Elia of Dorne," they all heard Ser Gregor say. His deep voice boomed with rage within the helm. "I killed her screaming whelp." He tried to thrust his free hand into Oberyn's unprotected face, his steel fingers aiming into his eyes, but the Prince quickly straightened up and gave the spear a good twist. "Then I raped her." He tried to grab at the Viper’s leg once again, when he remembered, too late, that snakes had no legs. "Then I smashed her fucking head in. Like this." Clegane slammed his fist into the ground beside him.

There was a sickening crunch. The tip of the spear finally went all the way through his enormous body and shattered his spine. The pool of blood around him seemed to smoke in the cold dawn air.

The Mountain was dead.

The Mountain and the Viper by therealmcgee​

 

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The Fate of the Pride​

The Queen is a firm believer that the children should not be held accountable for the deeds of their fathers and everyone agreed that the Lion Trial was fair and just, so no hard feelings developed between Houses Targaryen and Lannister.

Small Man with a Large Shadow​

After his succession, the Queen and King became fast friends with Lord Paramount Tyrion, the Warden of the West, and named him to be the Hand when the need for a new one arrived.

Tyrion Lannister by JakeMurray

Early years of his reign were controversial. Lord Tyrion started on a poor note of a scandal. And adultery, as it happens (a lot in this family, it would seem). It was revealed that he became involved with Lady Melesa Crakehall, the wife of Ser Lyonel Frey, the second son of Ser Emmon Frey and Lady Genna Lannister, the aunt of Lord Paramount Tyrion. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Ser Lyonel himself had a mistress, the daughter of a hedge knight, and that mistress was pregnant with his child at the time. So the natural solution was found in a special dispensation by the Queen granting the annulment of the marriage of Ser Lyonel and Lady Melesa. Ser Lyonel then did the right thing and married his mistress, saving their child from the fate of a bastard. Lord Tyrion followed suit and married Lady Melesa.

His further reign was uneventful as the marriage proved very beneficial for his character and the realm as well. After Lord Paramount Tyrion’s peaceful death in the year 339AC, his wife clung to her sorrow for just over a year and followed her beloved lion in the year 341AC.

Do You Drink Wine? by Ertaç Altınöz

This tender and loving union produced four children: a daughter and three sons.

Lady Aressa’s marriage to the Lord Paramount of the Reach Richard the Bladesman is covered in the previous chapter on the Reach.

The brilliant second son of Lord Paramount Tyrion, Lord Herrock, married a woman from the main branch of his mother’s House, Lady Myranda, a sister to the famous Lord Rollam, the White Boar of Crakehall.

They only have a daughter, Lady Jorelle. She Married Lord Symond of House Marbrand, Lord of Ashmark. They have two sons.

Lord Paramount Turyon’s third son, Lord Kennet, married Lady Sherei of House Clegane, granddaughter of Lord Sandor of Fang Tower, brother of the infamous Mountain That Rided.

They also have only one daughter, Lady Farena. She is married to the young Lord of Kayce, Lord Leo of House Kenning.

The current Lord Paramount of the Westerlands and Protector of the West, Lord Paramount Damion, Lord Tyrion’s first son, succeeded his father after his death in the year 339AC. He is married to Lady Elona of House Rayne, daughter of Lord Malcolm the Trickster of the Restored Castamere. The union helped to heal the old wounds and prevent further bloodletting.

Their daughters, Ladies Adela, Tya and also, for some reason, Tya, are all married into great houses of the Westerlands and all have children.

Lord Paramount Damion’s second son, Lord Kevan, is married to Lady Melene, the granddaughter of the famous Ser Brynden the Blackfish of House Tully. They do not have any children yet.

Lord Paramount Damion’s youngest son, Lord Tymond the Red Lion, is married to the beautiful Lady Elinor of House Kingslayer. They do not yet have children either.

Lord Paramount Damion’s firstborn son and heir, Lord Tytos, was married to Lady Barbara of House Tully, the sister of Lord Paramount Waltyr the Bladesman, daughter of Lord Paramount Bywin the Bladesman and the granddaughter of Lord Paramount Edmure the Confessor of the Riverlands. They managed to produce two sons and one living daughter before Lord Tytos’ untimely death at the age of just three-and-thirty. The excessive love of drink proved too strong even for this brawny giant of a man. Lady Barbara did not remarry and stays with her children in Casterly Rock.

The current heir to the West is Lord Tytos’ firstborn son, Ser Eldon, is married to Lady Ilyse, the woman of his mother’s House Tully main branch. They have two sons.

Lord Tytos’ second son, Ser Damion, is married to Lady Elyn of House Baratheon, the granddaughter of Lady paramount Shireen of the Stormlands through her late firstborn son, Lord Orys. Ser Damion the younger and Lady Elyn have a daughter.

Lord Tytos’ only daughter, Lady Jamylla, is married to Lord Grover, the youngest brother of Lord Paramount Waltyr the Bladesman, son of Lord Paramount Bywin the Bladesman and the grandson of Lord Paramount Edmure the Confessor of the Riverlands. She accompanied her husband all the way to Dorne only to see him become involved with Lady Nerissa, the heir to Dorne, a woman almost twice his age.

 

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The Queensguard​

This would be the perfect place to talk once more about the peculiar tale of Ser Jaime the Kingslayer, formerly of House Lannister. Born as an heir to arguably the most prominent lord of all Seven Kingdoms, he was knighted at a very young age for a great deed done. He then was called upon to cast aside his family name, his inheritance and, if need be, his own life as a part of the Kingsguard for a Mad King. He then betrayed his vows to protect one life to save the lives of hundreds and all he got for that was a shameful name and contempt of his peers. He then became a Kingsguard to another king, the one who waged rebellion on the former. He loved the wrong woman and made the wrong choices and almost lost his life by the decree of that second king. He fled and ended up in service of a daughter of that same Mad King that he himself did kill. She listened to his story and embraced him, for that he pledged his whole self to her to do with as she pleased. She asked him to guard her from evil, even if that evil came from within herself, the same he did for her poor father. And so he did, dutifully, until his last breath. Long shall be remembered the tale of Lord Commander Jaime the Kingslayer, a true knight and a good man.

Jaime Lannister by dalisacg

The Cubs​

The children that came from those wrong choices were deemed innocent of any wrongs by the Queen as well, so they did not need to hide anymore.

Lady Myrcella’s life was already covered in the previous chapter on Dorne.

Ser Joffrey was granted a castle near the city of Lannisport that later became known as Gold Hollow. He declared that he and his are now a branch of House Lannister descendent from the great kingslayer and in defiance made his coat of arms a Lannister golden-on-red lion, but with two tails intertwined, to spite all those who tried to belittle him for the consequences of his birth. He also made bad choices in love.

His first wife was Jeyne of House Slynt, daughter of the disgraced Janos Slynt and sister to the Lord Commander of the Queensquard Danos. She gave Ser Joffrey two sons. The second wife, Lady Myrcella of House Lannister of Lannisport, did not have any children with Ser Joffrey, although she did have children of his House for she was a widow of Ser Joffrey’s grandson.

But let us gradually get there.

The family life of Ser Joffrey's second son, Ser Osney, is a problematic one. It so happened that Ser Osney is married to Lady Olenei of House Lannister of Lannisport, oldest sister of the aforementioned Lady Myrcella. They have two sons together. He also openly entertained a paramour, a lowborn woman named Calynne. But what makes this one infidelity stand out among the rest is that when said Calynne died (it is rumoured that from a poison), Ser Osney was adamant about her being buried as entombed as his legal wife. Despite already having a living legal wife who is still furious about the whole ordeal.

Ser Osney’s sons turned up as men of better judgement at least.

His first son, acolyte Rollam, a man with a brilliance in all things martial except for actual battle, was a great help during the writing of this same book, a deed that I want to praise him for on these same pages.

Ser Osney’s second son, Ser Ossifer, a truly masterful warrior, is happily married to equally gifted Lady Nesella of House Westford. They have one living daughter.

The first son and heir of Ser Joffrey, Ser Janos, unfortunately died from bloody flux in the year 335AC at the age of just nine-and-twenty. He was married to Lady Lanna of House Broom. They had two sons and two living daughters together before Ser Janos’ untimely death. Lany Lanna later remarried to Lord Martyn of Northmarch; their marriage is covered in the previous chapter on the Reach.

Two of their youngest daughters, Ladies Cerenna and Domella, are happily married to the men from prominent houses and have children of their own.

Ser Janos’ first son, Ser Amory, unfortunately died young as well and under very suspicious circumstances. It is his wife that later married Ser Joffrey, her first husband’s grandfather.

Ser Amory had left three daughters, all married into prominent or even great houses.

It was Ser Janos’ second son, Ser Jon, who finally succeeded his grandfather as master of Gold Hollow in the year 354AC. He is married to Lady Shiera, daughter of a merchant from the town of Westwood on Fair Isle. They have two daughters and a son.

Ser Tommen was also granted a castle not far from his older brother’s, named Goldbarrow to sound similar to his. As Ser Tommen was just a child back then, he just copied his brother’s coat of arms as well, although his lion became white to honour his unclefather. And then he decided to honour his favorite kitten as well, thus the House of Pouncalot was born.

Ser Tommen married twice. His first wife was Lady Leona, a Tyrell from a distant branch and a young widow; her first husband died when they both were only four-and-ten. Ser Tommen and Lady Leona had three children: a son and two daughters. After Lady Leona’s death Ser Tommen married Lady Edmaria of House Farman. They had a son together. After Ser Tommen’s death Lady Edmaria had a bastard daughter whose father she never revealed.

Ser Tommen’s daughters both married into respected houses and each had one daughter.

Ser Tommen’s second son, Ser Marq, was married to Lady Tyshara of House Reyne, granddaughter of Lord Malcolm the Trickster through his second son, Ser Tywell. They had a son together before Ser Marq’s untimely death caused by a tumour. Lady Tyshara remains unmarried and lives in her father’s castle.

Ser Tommen’s first son, Ser Symon, succeeded his father in the year 339AC. He was married to a very promising woman from House Clegane, Lady Cerissa, granddaughter of Ser Sandor the Hound through his second son, Ser Walder the Strong. The pair had two children together before Ser Symon found himself imprisoned by his liege, Lord Tytos of Lannisport. The paper trail is surprisingly thin and we do not know the exact contents of the accusation, but based on the mutilation of the genitals that Ser Symon received before being broken on the wheel suggest that it had something to do with carnal pleasures.

Ser Symon’s daughter, Lady Eleyna, is married to Ser Tommard of House Lorch. They share a peculiar interest in the people of the Free Cities and their beliefs.

Ser Symon’s son, Ser Caspor, is the current master of Goldbarrow. He is married to the very tall Lady Edrina of House Kingslayer. They have a son together.

The Queen Once More​

Of course we should not talk about the children while forgetting their mother, infamous Light of the West, Cersei of House Lannister. Not much is known about her time in Pentos where she fled with her brother after the trial, but it is apparent that the pair had a major falling out and separated for good somewhere around the time our beloved Queen returned to her rightful place. While Ser Jaime came back with her, his sister remained in Essos. It is unclear exactly how did she met the equally infamous scoundrel and pirate Lord Euron of House Greyjoy, the one called Crow’s Eye, but it is a known fact that she did indeed meet him and eventually even married him, although it is unknown whether it happened before, during or after his “conquest” of the Basilisk Isles.

She bore him three children, two of whom decided to flee their father’s “kingdom” and came back to Westeros.

Her daughter, Ana, married Lord Gorold of House Goodbrother, Lord of Great Wyk island in the Iron Islands region. Unfortunately she died at the age of just seven-and-twenty shortly after giving birth to their second child. Their first child and the heir to the Great Wyk also died very young in a reaving gone wrong.

Cersei’s and Eruon’s second son, took after his mother both in looks and in customs. He came to the Westerlands and pledged his services to the Lord of Fair Isle. He eventually married said lord’s sister and was granted a small castle of Gisburn as a wedding gift. Sery Denys decided to honour both houses of his parents and became the founder of House Greylion with a grey lion with golden claws on a black sail. He has two sons and a daughter (all married and with children).

Cersei’s and Euron’s firstborn succeeded his father as the “king” of Gogossos as is the current ruler of that wretched place.

We will of course talk more about the shady dealings of those Isles of Tears, but for now let us have a brief look.

“King” Boremund took after his father with great enthusiasm. He married twice, both times he wed a princess. His first wife was the daughter of a Naathi queen. She managed to escape and went back to her home island but was unfortunately murdered, most probably by the agents of “king” Boremund. Their daughter is currently involved in an armed conflict disputing the succession of Naath.

“King” Boremund’s second wife is a Ghiscari. He also had numerous salt wifes and ordinary lovers over the years and his brood is as big as his father’s.

Cersei herself stayed with her husband until the end and styled herself as the “Queen of Basilisk Isles”. As far as we know, she died of natural causes at the age of five-and-seventy in the year 341AC, although it is rumoured that it was either her love of drink or the fits of madness that came with it were the actual cause of her death.

Cersei Trading Card ©Fantasy Flight Games by Resh DarkStar

 

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Minor Events​

Three Dogs’ Night​

After the fall of the Mountain, his brother, Ser Sandor, became the Lord of Fang Tower. At that time he was serving as a personal bodyguard to Lord Paramount Tyrion of House Lannister and was present on the trials of both the Old Lion and the Mountain (the latter made him both very happy but at the same time very bitter, although it is rumoured that the Mountain was barely but alive after the trial and his brother was the one to end his life for good afterwards). While staying at the Red Keep, Ser Sandor met the personal bodyguard of the Queen (the one that was not wearing a white cloak), a former slave and a pit-fighter from Meereen, Lady Barsena. Violent people both, they quickly formed a friendship that grew into intimacy. And after the Mountain’s fall now Lord Sandor was free to do whatever, so he married his blackhaired paramour and they proceeded to have four sons and two daughters together.

The fate finally caught up with Lord Sandor in the year 338AC as he perished at the age of seven-and-sixty while getting his people out of the fire that erupted in the castle’s kitchens. His beloved wife followed him four years later.

One of their daughters, the kind Lady Amarei, married Lord Raynald of House Swyft, the Lord of Cornfield. They had a son, future Lord Humfrey of Cornfield, and four daughters (all married and with issue).

Lord Sandor’s other daughter, Lady Parena, was not so lucky in marriage, She was married twice. Her first husband, Ser Harwyn of House Broom. was the heir apparent to the Lordship of Oxcross, but he unfortunately was taken by the tumour at the age of only one-and-thirty. Their son, Lord Tyrion, became Lord of Oxcross but died under very suspicious circumstances and the age of just seven-and-ten. Lady Parena’s second husband, coincidentally named Lord Sandor of House Charlton in the Riverlands, was also a widower and with children from his first wife. Nevertheless they had two daughters and a son together, although after the death of Lord Sandor (Charlton) at the age of just six-and-forty the Lordship of Mistlewood went to his son from his first marriage.

Lord Sandor’s (Clegane) second son, the strong Ser Walder, married for love. His wife was a lowborn woman named Amarya.

The marriage of Lady Cerissa, Ser Walder’s only daughter, is already discussed earlier in this chapter (see Ser Symon Pouncalot).


Lord Sandor’s third son, Ser Jon, also married for love. His wife was Rosalind of Fieldsview, daughter of a hedge knight in the service of Ser Jon’s father.

They had a son that they named after his grandsire. Ser Sandor the younger married Lady Jonara of House Roote, granddaughter of the Usurper through his bastard daughter Lady Bella Stonebell.

Their son, Ser Tommard, also married a commoner, but the poor woman died while carrying their second child. Ser Tommard remains unmarried.

His sister, Lady Melissa, married into House Westford. This marriage yet remains childless.

Lord Sandor’s last son, Ser Garth, chose to abandon his family name so another one would live on. He married Lady Falyse of House Vikary, the sister of the barren Lady Janei of Goldengrass Hills, and agreed that all the children would be of their mother’s House. They managed to produce two living children, a daughter (married, with issue) and a son, Ser Donnel of House Vikary, the heir to the Lordship of the Goldengrass Hills.

Lord Sandor’s brilliant firstborn, Lord Willam, succeeded him in the year 338AC. He, as his two other brothers, was married to a lowborn. The union resulted in two sons and two daughters.

Their oldest daughter, Lady Sherei, married the youngest son of Lord Paramount Tyrion. Their marriage was already covered in this chapter.

The youngest daughter, the Golden Hound Lady Corianne, married into House Westford. Her daughters are married into houses Kingslayer and Crakehall.

Lord Willam’s second son, Ser Maynard, was first married to Lady Jeona of House Stackhouse from the Reach. After her suspiciously early death at the age of just three-and-thirty, Ser Maynard went mad and is still not recovered, although he remarried to Lady Celyria of House Westford and managed to have a son with her.

His daughter, Lady Rohanne, married Lord of Branstone, a Riverlander on the Westerlands-Riverlands border. They have a son and two daughters. A strong and skilled opponent, Lady Rohanne serves as her husband’s master-at-arms.

Her brother, Ilyn, is married to Margon of House Prester. Poor girl lost her mind after witnessing her beloved father’s gruesome execution. The pair's only son is afraid of his own mother, and his father is rumoured to be equally terrified of her as well.

Lord Willam’s first son, Lord Tyrion, succeeded his father in the year 344AC. He was married to Lady Rohanne of House Crakehall.

Their first daughter married Ser Alyn of House Hogg, a legitimised second-born son of the late Lord of Sow’s Horn in the Crownlands.

The second daughter is married to a knight from House Blount in the Stormlands.

Lord Tyrion’s second son is just yet a boy, but his strength and height make people recall the name of the Mountain again, albeit in whispers.

Lord Tyrion’s oldest son and the current Lord of Fang Tower, Lord Philip, succeeded his father in the year 353AC. He is married to Lady Salene of House Inchfield. The pair has two living sons and a daughter.

 

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Another Dog’s Story​

Around the same time as the Restoration of Castamere was taking place, a messenger arrived at Castle Black with a special request, plea and pardon from the Queen for a man named Mors the Butcher. He was acquitted for all crimes he might have committed and invited back to the service of a dragon queen.

Lord Mors took the offer and came back to take his place as the Lord of Westford. He married Lady Cerelle of House Lannister, the sister of Lady Joanna, Old Lion’s wife athe the mother of Lord Paramount Tyrion.

Their second son, Ser Lyman, was married to Lady Lianna of House Lydden. He died peacefully in the year 345AC. Lady Lianna mourns him still.

Their daughter, Lady Celessa, married Ser Vardis of House Egen, the heir to the Lordship of Crown Crag in the Vale. They produced two sons and two living daughters before Ser Vardis’s accident.

Lady Celessa’s brother, Ser Horys, is married to Lady Corianne, the Golden Hound of House Clegane. Their daughters are married into houses Kingslayer and Crakehall.

Lord Byron succeeded his father in the year 332AC. He was married twice. His first wife and the mother of his five children was Lady Alysandra of House Brax. His second wife was Lady Alysanne of House Prester, although it is debatable whether he actually acknowledged that it was a different woman or in his grief he mistook her for his first beloved wife.

Poor Lady Alysanne was married a lot, for some reason. She is now on her husband number four.

Lord Byron’s youngest daughters, Ladies Lucinda, Domella and Parena, all married into various prominent houses and had children.

Lord Byron’s oldest daughter, Lady Melesa, married Ser Jonnel, the lowborn son of a mayor from the North.

Their oldest son, Ser Bertrand, took a lot of things after his father, one of which is the northerners’ pride and respect for the then yet functioning Night’s Watch. He took the black and is still serving there as a guard.

Lady Melesa’s only daughter Celyria’s marriage to Ser Maynard of House Clegane is covered in the previous chapter.

Her brother, Ser Jonos, is married to Lady Darlessa of House Swift, a widow of Ser Imry of House Chester, who was burned at the stake by his own father. Lady Darlessa’s son stands to inherit his grandfather’s title. Ser Jonos and Lady Darlessa do not have children together yet.

Lady Melesa’s youngest son, Ser Lambert, is married to Lady Hamina of House Foote. They do not have children yet either.

Lord Byron’s only son, Lord Tyrek, the current Lord of Westford, succeeded his father in the year 339AC. He was married to Lady Domella the Red Badger of House Lydden until her death in the year 356AC. They have three sons and one daughter. Lord Tyrek did not remarry. There is something strange about Lord Tyrek for he is never seen without his full armour and helmet, but his family insists that his erratic behaviour is due to his deep sorrow that he drowns in a lot of wine.

Lord Tyrek’s only daughter, Lady Hamina, is married to Ser Otto Flowers, the bastard first-born son of Lord Maryn of House Willum of Smallwood, Lord Treasurer of the Reach. They have a daughter.

Lord Tyrek’s firstborn son and heir, Ser Addison, is married to the lusty Lady Tasene of House Selmy. They have two sons and two daughters.

Lord Tyrek’s second son, Daven, is married to Lady Melissa of House Clegane. They do not have children yet.

Lord Tyrek’s youngest son, Ser Joffrey, is married to Lady Sharra of house Yarwick. They have a daughter.

 

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The Boars Most Fierce​

Speaking of the Westerlands at the end of the 350s, one simply cannot ignore the boars of Crakehall.

Their current patriarch, Lord Rollam the White Boar, supposedly takes his colours from his mysterious mother, a Lyseni his father met on his years-long sabbatical to Lys that he undertook after the death of his first proper Lannister wife.

White Boar’s older sister, lady Mylana, took after her father not only in colour, but in her approach to marriage as well.

She was briefly married to a proper Ser Bertram of House Brax, late Lord Robert of Hornvale’s second son (and the Queen of Trader Town’s nephew, but more on her later). Lady Mylana bore Ser Bertram a son, bid her husband farewell as he went on to play knight in The Maiden’s Men sellsword company, arranged his funeral mere seven years later and promptly ran away with a mad sellsword captain who also died shortly after. Lady Mylana then married her late second husband’s master-at-arms and bore that man four other sons.

After a certain recent development in the sellsword company in question, Lady Mylana’s youngest son was sent to Crakehall for safekeeping. He was then married to his kin and sent to the Casterly Rock to be tutored by his half-aunt.

The recent development of course being a total takeover of the company by the Crakehall family.

Lady Mylena’s second son Quenton is the current captain of the company. He is also married to his kinswoman like his youngest brother.

In order to consolidate his power and strengthen his position, Captain Quenton surrounded himself with his loyal brothers.

Ser Richard, the third son, is serving as his right hand man. He is married to Idara, daughter of one late captain of the hedgeknight company.

Lady Mylena’s fourth son Gwayne recently came back from his voyage to the fledgling colonies in the Valyrian peninsula and brought along a pretty silverhead by the name of Bhaenyra.

Even the eldest one is with the company now. He too is a boar in all but name and it is widely known that he was most eager to leave the court of his hated Brax cousin.

His daughter Edrina closed the circle when she married her close kinsman Antario, White Boar’s son and heir.

 

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By the way I'm amused that GRRM's video game self lived to a ripe old age of 107, and to die of depression at that, really amusing. Though I'm curious as to what his bloodline looks like.

So, about GRRM's lot.
His first daughter was married to the Master of Flea Bottom.

Thei son was murdered and his wife died of a heart attack because of it.

So the current Mistress of Flea Bottom is GRRM’s granddaughter, married to a Longwaters bastard.

GRRM’s second daughter was first married to a Kettleblack of Cobbler’s Square and then remarried to a bastard of a Night’s Watch brother from House Hewett.

Interestingly enough, their first son went back to the Night's Watch. Full circle and all that.

Kettleblack girls are… well…
The elder is a Mistress of Cobbler’s square. Her first husband, a Frey bastard, died young and childless. Her second one is from a line of hedge knights and mayors and had bastard daughters before this marriage.

The younger is married to another Frey bastard, and said bastard is a double bastard because he sleeps with his wife’s sister.

The result of that stands to inherit.

But let’s move on. GRRM’s third daughter is married to a Darkhart of King’s Landing, I think I wrote about those in my Crownlands chapter.

Martin’s youngest daughter married quite above her station and now her sons are in line to inherit a High Lordship.

Martin’s first son was murdered when he was just a toddler.

So it’s the second son’s turn now. He is married and also has a paramour and it is apparently not enough and he wants another lover despite not even being lustful and being shy.

Also I'm curious, any chance we can get a screenshot or at least a brief footnote on what happened to Podrik Payne and Bronn in this wacky timeline?

Let’s stark with Pod.
Pod unfortunately died quite young, at 33. He was married to a Lannister of Lannisport, she later remarried, but I forgot to take screens about that.

Pod’s first daughter married late, as a second wife to Onion Knight’s son, and never had kids.

His second daughter married within family, so her son is also a Payne.

He is married to a Lannister, a descendant of Kevan.

And now to Bronn.
There never was any battle of Blackwater, but I gave him his bloodline anyway, just ‘cause I like him (I don’t know why his last name and shield are like that though).

He then matrimarried Lady of Great Fork, firstly because she needed a husband and also because the chain and water on Bronn’s bloodline’s image go very nicely with Bourney’s COA.

I think he actually loved that woman or at least he loved their children, because he died of depression not long after their deaths (I personally think it was his son’s death in a tourney, he was only 18).
Bronn’s first daughter is married to the son of Ser Lyonel Frey, the very same whose wife Tyrion stole.

Bronn’s firstborn succeeded as Lord of Great Fork, but died of what seems like everything.

The current Lord of Great Fork is named Bronn, and I really like that. He has two sons by a Vance girl.

So, if anyone else peeks interest, don’t hesitate to ask

 

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The Iron Islands​

Please note that the island of Lonely Light is depicted closer for convenience.​

The smallest and least-populous of the Seven Kingdoms, the Iron Islands span forty-four small islands located in two distinct archipelagos in the Sunset Sea to the west of Westeros. Most of these islands are too small to appear on maps, but eight are large enough to hold reasonable populations.¹⁰

Houses of the Iron Islands​

Lords of the Iron Islands are sworn to the Lords Paramount of House Greyjoy. Their seat is located on Pyke, the closest island to the mainland.

Pyke by FelixSotomayorArt​

Major houses of the Iron Islands, and their vassals, include:

House Greyjoy of Krakenrock House Ironmaker of Ironmaker Keep House Botley of Lordsport House Wynch of Iron Holt House Codd of Codd Hall House Saltcliffe of Saltcliffe House Sunderly of Saltford House Goodbrother of Great Wyk House Goodbrother of Corpse Lake House Goodbrother of Hoare Castle House Farwynd of Sealskin Point House Sparr of Faroar House Merlyn of Pebbleton House Blacktyde of Blacktyde

House Drumm of Old Wyk House Goodbrother of Shatterstone House Stonehouse of Stonehouse House Orkwood of Orkmont House Tawney of Nettlebank House Harlaw of Harlaw House Harlaw of Grey Garden House Harlaw of Glimmering Tower House Stonetree of Stonetree House Myre of Hangmyre House Volmark of Volmark House Kenning of Shield Row House Farwynd of Lonely Light

---

¹⁰ Atlas

 

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Notable Events in the Iron Islands​

The Many Limbs of a Kraken​

Lord Paramount Balon of the Iron Islands, called the Brave for his berserk-like reaving tactics, navigated the waters of the Iron Throne’s new administration with a wavering success, but ultimately the stress of it all took it’s tall and Lord Balon died in the year 314AC at the age of seven-and-fifty.

Balon Greyjoy by Ryan Valle

Alannis Harlaw by Henning Ludvigsen

His only surviving son, Lord Paramount Theon took his place. Lord Paramount Eddard of the North did not try to hinder this transition of power and new equals parted as friends.

Unfortunately Lord Theon did not take anything from his foster family and grew up to be a man full of vice that gained him the reputation of a trickster. Envious of his sister, he commissioned an axe to be made from a lump of metal he acquired in one of his raids to the east. The axe later became known as a Finger Eater for it’s peculiar hunger for that particular part of the human body.

Lord Theon the Trickster finally died in the year 337AC from a tumour in his groin.

Theon Greyjoy on Pyke by Mike Hallstein

In his life Lord Theon went down the same road that his uncle Euron took as well and left behind many children, both legitimate and not.

Let us start with the illegitimate ones.

The Arm of Volantis​

Lord Paramount Theon’s first salt wife was a woman captured during his reaving in Volantis. She bore him four children and later married a man from House Harlaw only to be burned at the stake by his cousin soon after the wedding.

Her first child with Lord Paramount Theon was a son named Quenton. He was not granted full status of a lordling so was disqualified from succession. He married twice. His first wife was Lady Alannys of House Harlaw, the daughter of Quenton’s own step-father. Unfortunately she perished under very suspicious circumstances not long after the nuptials, so Quenton remarried to a lowborn woman named Thalvi. She bore him a son and a daughter.

Lord Theon’s other son by Vaeranei was named Roggon. He also was not acknowledged as a potential heir. He was first married to the granddaughter of Lady Asha the Kraken’s Daughter through her daughter Lady Beony of Last Refuge. Lady Syganna unfortunately died very young on a reaving gone wrong, so Roggon came back to Pyke with nothing but a nickname to show for it. He remarried to a lowborn woman named Illenia. They have a daughter.

Lord Theon’s and Vaeranei’s first daughter, Jonella, first married a very promising young Lord Dale of House Saltcliffe, but he caught pneumonia during their wedding festivities and died shortly after. Jonella later remarried to a man named Cromm and bore him a son.

Cromm’s father, Hilmar, was a member of the houseguard on Hangmyre island. When the Lord of Hangmyre was executed with only a pregnant granddaughter as an heir, Hilmar seized an opportunity and usurped the island for himself claiming it to be a regency until a proper son of House Myre would be born. He was promptly imprisoned by his overlord of Harlaw and died in his dungeons. The lordship of Hangmyre returned to the Myre family and is ruled by Lord Noroquo, the same proper son of House Myre that Hilmar claimed to wait for. He now also has two brothers in case something was to happen to him.

Lord Theon’s and Vaeranei’s last child, a daughter named Millga, first married Ser Greydon of House Goodbrother, grandson of “King'' Euron of Gogossos and his lioness and the heir apparent to the Old Wyk at the time of his birth. Unfortunately he also died young perishing in the glorious reaving at the age of just nine-and-ten. Millga later remarried to another knight, this time from House Sparr, an interesting pattern of choosing such a rarity amongst the ironborn.

The Arm of Norvos​

Lord Paramount Theon’s second salt wife was a woman from Norvos named Ferrega. She bore him three living daughters and outlived her captor.

Their first daughter, Myrielle, married a peculiar member of House Farwynd. He openly worships the Old Gods of the North, practices the arcane arts and is often seen in the company of a sea lion. Myrielle and her husband Erne have a son who also worships the Old Gods.

Lord Theon’s and Ferrega’s two other daughters, Ladies Syri and Syganna, made a pact to honour their mother by dying their hair the same shade of blue. They continue to do so.

Lady Syri was lucky in marriage. She married the honorable Lord Dunstan of Old Wyk. This loving and respectful marriage resulted in three healthy sons.

Mistress Syganna cannot boast about much love in her own marriage, but it is not a complete disaster either. She married Master Syricho on Nymolis castle all the way in Myr. Master Syricho is the grandson of “king” Euron of Gogossos and one of his salt wives, a myrish bard. Masters of Nymolis also have three sons.

The Arm of Yi Ti​

The last salt wife of Lord Paramount Theon was named Yen. She was brought from the distant lands of Yi Ti. She bore Lord Theon four sons. She also outlived her captor.

Their first son was named Harrock. He married Lady Falia of House Harlaw, became a knight and promptly died in a poorly organised turney. Lady Falia remarried to a man from house Goodbrother and died herself shortly after giving birth to their daughter. Her husband later remarried.

Lord Paramount Theon’s and Yen’s second son was named Robin. He married a woman of his own house, Ghauda of Krakenrock, the granddaughter of “king” Euron. She bore him a daughter before being captured and beheaded by her cousin, “king” Boremund of Gogossos. Robin was captured as well and lost his mind from the torture he endured. For his own safety he is currently held under house arrest by his brother, Lord Paramount Theon the Hunter.

It all befell them because of the folly of Ghauda’s father, Master Alton of Krakenrock, the only son of “king” Euron’s that was born to a salt wife that was granted a full status of a lorling (although he is still widely considered a bastard by his peers). A big and brave man, he got it into his head that he was his father’s true heir, so he came to his ancestral seat to gather a fleet and take back what he considered as his birthright. Instead he was granted a castle near Pyke as a strong incentive to not go through with his plan. He did anyway. He gathered a meager fleet and went out to meet his doom. Said doom personified by Master Alton’s brother came on his tail all the way back to his home, sacked it and brought death and madness.

Master Alton’s beloved wife fled Krakenrock at the time of the attack with her grandchildren, so they at least were spared, but the remaining family did not fare so well.

Master Alton himself was captured, brought back to the Basilisk Isles and lost his mind in the dungeons of Gogossos. He is not expected to come back from them.

His eldest daughter, Gysella, and her husband were also captured and tortured. He did not make it out alive and she was sent back home broken and mad as a living reminder of the fate of anyone who dares to challenge the power of this new “kingdom”.

Fortunately both sons of Gysella’s and Ghauda’s daughter are alive and well.


Lord Paramount Theon’s and Yen’s third son, Sigrin the Red Reaver, was the only one who grew up to resemble his mother. He married the eldest daughter of Lord of Blacktyde. All five of their children are considered to be from their mother’s House. Sigrin also brought a salt wife for himself from one of his bloody reavings in the east.

Lord Paramount Theon’s and Yen’s fourth son, Harrald, married the granddaughter of Lord Loron of the Northern Stepstones (himself a son of “king” Euron of Gogossos). Their son and any future children belong to their mother’s House.

 

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The Kraken’s Body​

For all the time he whored and reaved, Lord Paramount Theon was married to Lady Ferny of House Orkwood. He brought his poor wife nothing but sorrow and disease she tried to drown in wine, but that only made her cruel and butter. The wine does not heal, so in the year 347AC Lady Ferny died from the sickness her husband had brought from some port brothel or another. Before that she managed to bear five living children to her ungrateful husband.

Their first daughter, Lady Varana, was sent to Riverrun to be fostered alongside her future husband and lord paramount of the Riverland, Lord Waltyr the Bladesman. Their marriage will be covered in the next chapter.

Lord Theon’s second legitimate daughter, Lady Larya, was married to the young Lord Norne of Harlaw, but perished in their first reaving. Lord Norne was hastily married again but died in the same year from injuries.

Lord Theon’s youngest daughter, Lady Dags, married Lord Ralf, a man from her mother’s House Orkwood. He was still a boy when he came into power, so his vassals called him “the young lord” and the name is still stuck despite the fact that Lord Ralf is not so young anymore.

Lord Theon’s second son, Lord Gelmarr, was found dead in the year 354AC. It is still unknown who or why wanted him dead for he was a brave and charitable captain at sea and on land a shy and bookish man content with his lot in life. He was first married to Lady Shierle from House Goodbrother and had two sons and a daughter with her. After her death during another reaving at the age of just three-and-twenty, he hesitated for years before remarrying to another Goodbrother, Lady Lyssa. They did not have any children and Lady Lyssa remarried to the Lord of Faroar after Lord Gelmarr’s demise.

Lord Gelmarr’s first son, Lord Harlon, is considered effeminate for his neat and stylish appearance. Ridden with gout from a young age, he struggles to perform in his marital duties, so his marriage to Lady Syansa from House Stonehouse remains childless.

Lord Gelmarr’s daughter is married to the heir of Great Wyk, Lord Victarion from her mother’s House Goodbrother. They have a daughter.

Lord Gelmarr’s second son, fittingly named Lord Euron, is married to “princess” Syrana of Gogossos, granddaughter of “king” Euron the Crow’s Eye and daughter of “king” Boremund the Unworthy and his first wife, princess Chataya of Naath. This marriage is childless yet.

Lord Paramount Theon, the second of his name, Lord Theon the Trickster’s first legitimate son, succeeded his father in the year 337AC. An all around good man, albeit a bit cynical after all the sorrow he endured, he spends his lonely days governing his realm or hunting sea creatures with a spear.

Lord Theon the Hunter was married twice, and both times it ended with disaster.

His first wife was a brilliant girl from House Merlyn, Lady Riga. Shebore him a son soon after the wedding and then accompanied her husband on one of his reavings. A brave woman, but a poor fighter, she died in a battle at the age of just seven-and-ten.

Lord Theon was bereft with grief, but some years later he gave into his counsel’s pressure and married again. His second wife was Lady Mhaegen from the isle of Torturer’s Deep, his cousin once removed, a granddaughter of Lady Asha the Kraken’s Daughter. She bore him two sons and despite his initial protest he finally went to the reaving with him. He was not her grandmother though so she too perished in a battle at the age of seven-and-twenty.

Lord Theon was inconsolable. He forsworn any relations with women from that point on and holds this belief to this day.

Lord Urrigon is Lord Theon’s heir apparent. He is married to Lady Asha’s another granddaughter, Lady Tansa, one of the five daughters or Lord Tyler of Little Tyrosh. They have a son.

Lord Theon the Hunter’s second son, also named Lord Theon, was first married to Lady Errya, a quick-witted girl from House Farwynd, but she died from pneumonia shortly after giving birth to their daughter. He remarried to Lady Yasha from House Stonehouse. They do not have children yet.

The last son, Lord Jon, just married a bright young Lady Ela from House Orkwood. She is being trained by her new brother-in-law to hold her own in a possible reaving, despite that the mere notion of her participation in one fills her father-in-law’s heart with dread and despair.

 

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When You Gather Your Apples with a Scythe, Some Apples Would Fall Very Far from the Tree​

Let us now look at another prominent House from the Iron Islands that had an interesting and very tumultuous development.

Lord Rodrick of Harlaw, a widower and a father to two dead sons, did not expect to wed ever again.

Midjourney by me

To his surprise he found himself enamoured with a woman from House Volmark, so he wed her. She bore him two sons and a daughter and followed her husband to the afterlife after a year of grieving.

Their only daughter wed Lord Alyn of the same House Harlaw, son and heir of her father’s cousin, Lord Harras the Knight of Grey Garden. She bore her husband two daughters and two sons and died at the age of two-and-forty from a nasty cold. Her husband remarried to the former salt wife of Lord Paramount Theon the Trickster, but she was executed soon after for a forgotten offence. Lord Alyn also had a salt wife named Haena, a woman from the faraway lands of Lorath. She bore him two living daughters and a son and then managed to escape. She snuck on a merchant’s ship bound for the Reach and ended up at the gates of the Citadel itself. Your humble servant here was the one to grant her asylum. After years of mistreatment by her cruel “husband”, her spirit was broken and she died tormented by the memories of abuse she endured.

But let us trace our way back to Harlaw. Lord Rodrick’s son and heir, Ser Dalton, was married to Lady Ora of House Goodbrother. They managed to have one son before Ser Dalton’s glorious death in one of his raids. Lady Ora later remarried twice, first to the Lord Of Old Wyk with whom she had another two sons and then to the Lord of Volmark.

Lord Dalton’s only son, Lord Norne, succeeded his grandfather in the year 328AC. He married Lady Larya from House Greyjoy, daughter of Lord Paramount Theon the Trickster. They quickly fell in love and with a notion that “the pair that reaves together stays together” they ventured out to their first raid. Lady Larya died in the ensuing battle and her husband came back missing an eye, a leg and a will to live. He also developed a dependency on the wine on his voyage home. In an attempt to salvage the succession he was immediately married to his cousin right after his landing, but died from his injuries in the marital bed. His wife soon remarried but was murdered by an unknown party just four years after.

And this is how the Lordship of Harlaw fell into the bloody hands of a Monster.

Lord Gunnar was a horrible man even by the ironborn standards. He whored a lot whenever chance he got and soon his mind was eaten away by an unmistakable sickness. He also delighted in carving up the captives from his reavings, cooking their flesh and eating it in from of them (or with them, on occasion).

No sane man wanted to give their daughters away to such a man, so Lord Gunnar took lowborn women as his brides, whether they wanted it or not.

His first wife was a whore from a brothel in the Great Harbour of Volmark. A beautiful ambitious woman with a brilliant mind, “Lady” Suna knew how to play her cards with a mad Lord and soon became The Lady. She bore her husband two daughters before catching a cold after one of the frequent storms and dying at the age of just three-and-thirty.

She was quickly replaced with another, physically unremarkable but very sly woman, Lady Mhaegan. She quickly cemented her place with two sons and a daughter and outlived her lunatic of a husband despite a tumour that ravages her body.

Apart from his somewhat legitimate children, Lord Gunnar had a couple of bastards pop up here and there.

His firstborn was Rodrick, who briefly held the Lordship of Volmark when there was a little crisis of succession. He was married to Lady Tralmi Redscythe of his father’s House Harlaw. They had a son and then Lord Rodrick was promptly poisoned, probably by his wife who fled to the Lordship of Moroggos in Braavos and serves as a bodyguard to it’s lord.

Their son, Ser Stygg, grew up to be a decent man and a knight. He is freshly married to a girl from House Goodbrother.

Lord Gunnar’s next bastard, Odd, married a woman from House Stonetree. Their daughter and their unborn child are considered to be members of their mother’s House.

The last bastard, Roggon, dropped dead at the age of six-and-ten. It was brushed off as a result of “poor health” and soon forgotten.

Lord Gunnar’s first more or less legitimate child, a daughter from his whore-turned-lady wife, was named Falia. He first married Ser Harrock, a son of Lord Paramount Theon the Trickster and his yitish salt wife Yen. He died in a disaster of a tourney at the age of eight-and-ten. Lady Falia remarried to Lord Veron of House Goodbrother, Lord of a newly resettled Hoare Castle, but died of pneumonia soon after giving birth to their daughter. Lord Veron remarried to a woman from House Sparr.

Lord Gunnar’s next legitimate-ish daughter, Lady Narrsa, was married to her cousin, Lord Sargon from Grey Garden. They had only one son together before Lord Sargon’s death at the age of eight-and-twenty. Lady Narrsa is still so bereft with grief that she often even refuses to eat.

The Monster’s children from his second wife are doing much better.

Their daughter, Lady Ryka, is married to Lord Yohn from House Drumm, son and heir to the Lord of Old Wyk. They have a daughter.

Lord Gunnar’s second son, Lord Cadwyl, is married to Lady Meredyth from House Goodbrother. They have a daughter together, despite the fact that Lady Meredyth had a bastard son before that. It would seem that Lady Meredyth took a little bit more than the colour of her hair from her grandmother, the Lioness of Gogossos.

Lord Will, the Monster’s oldest son and the current Lord of Harlaw, somehow grew up to be an almost complete opposite of his father. An honorable, just and charitable man, he is faithfully married to Lady Utmara from House Botley and utterly adores their three children.

His second son is called Gunnar though. Let’s hope that history does not repeat itself.

 

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The Riverlands​

The Riverlands lie at the very heart of the Seven Kingdoms. They are sometimes said to be “halfway to anywhere” or “halfway to everywhere”. Travellers and merchants from one of the end of the kingdom pass through them to get to the other and they have been divided between other powers many times in their past. Many of the great wars of Westeros have been fought in the Riverlands, and their soil has been bloodied by many battles.

The borders have changed over the years, but today they are generally held as the Neck to the north, the Mountains of Moon to the east, the Harrenhal to the south and the western hills and mountains to the west. The Riverlands has borders with the North, the Vale of Arryn, the Crownlands, and the Westerlands, along with naval borders with the Iron Islands; counting the latter, it borders more other regions than any other part of the Seven Kingdoms. The border with the Westerlands is arguably the most porous, especially as the hills and mountains north of the Red Fork are also held by the Lannisters, forming a salient into Riverlands territory.¹¹

​

Houses of the Riverlands​

Lords Paramount of House Tully are the current overlord of the Riverlands. Their main seat is located at the near-impregnable stronghold of Riverrun.

Riverrun by Félix Sotomayor​

Major houses of the Riverlands, and their vassals, include:

House Bigglestone of Maidstone House Chambers of Turnbridge House Perryn of Branstone House Deddings of Deddigton House Piper of Pinkmaiden House Grey of Stoney Sept House Harlton of Castlewood House Vance of Wayfarer’s Rest House Smallwood of Acorn Hall House Blanetree of High Heart House Bracken of Stone Hedge House Goodbrook of Goodbrook House Lychester of Lychester House Blackwood of Raventree Hall House Strong of Fieldstone House Paege of Fairmarket House Shawney of Blackrush

House Grell of Martlet Bay House Keath of Gravesham House Mandrake of Blue Fork House Vypren of Stillfen House Mudd of Oldstones House Pemford of Rushmoor House Mallister of Seagard House Mallister of Cape of Eagles House Charlton of Mistlewood House Frey of The Crossing House Haigh of Freylands House Erenford of Erenford House Ryger of Willow Wood House Terrick of Wycombe House Wayn of Chiltern House Cox of Saltpans

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^{11 Atlas}

 

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Notable Events in the Riverlands​

A School of Fish​

Lord Paramount Hoster of House Tully was instrumental and integral part of The Coup, but tragically he did not live to see the fruits of his labours. He died earlier that same year.

Lord Hoster Tully last voyage by SvetoslavPetrov

The lives and marriages of Lord Hoster’s daughters will be covered in the next two chapters.

His only surviving son, Lord Paramount Edmure, succeeded him and saw his father’s vision through. For his stalwart support he was granted a long Valyrian Steel bastard sword, with ripples of a blood red colour running through the blade, the crossguard is composed of a pair leaping trouts with a large sapphire nestled between them. He named this new heirloom Duty and matched his reign accordingly. For his valiant and honorable rulership and support of the Faith he became known as Lord Edmure the Confessor.

Lord Paramount Edmure was married to the oldest daughter of the False Knight of Stone Hedge, Lady Barbara of House Bracken. It was a loving marriage that resulted in six children, all of them survived to adulthood.


Their only daughter, Lady Serra, is married to the gallant Lord Clement Piper of Acorn’s Ridge. They have five fiery-haired daughters.

In the last attempt to sire a son and with an apparent blessing from his wife Lord Clement beget a bastard who turned out to be another daughter.

Lord Clement then accepted his faith and named his oldest daughter as his heir. She married her uncle, half-brother of her father, the son of his mother and his uncle (after Lord Clement’s death his uncle married his brother’s widow). They have two living sons and a daughter.

The second son of Lord Paramount Edmure, Lord Harys, unfortunately died at a relatively young age of fourty.

With his widow, Lady Janei of House Mudd, he had only one son, Ser Bradamar, who lives in a childless marriage with Lady Rhonda of House Tyrell and serves as a Chief General at the court of Master Tycho of Moonsbrigde in Braavos.

Lord Paramount Edmure’s third son, Lord Hoster, was unfortunately killed at the age of four-and-forty in a tourney joust by his own nephew. His widow, Lady Derwa of House Roote (granddaughter of the Usurper through his bastard-born daughter Bella Stonebell), lingered in anguish for the rest of her life.

Their only daughter, Lady Walda, was married to Lord Karyl Vance of Wayfarer’s Rest, but he unfortunately perished from severe stress at the age of just three-and-thirty without an heir of his body. Lady Walda did not remarry.

The fourth son of Lord Paramount Edmure, Lord Lymond, was married to Lady Liane of House Piper. He died from the most severe case of gout at the age of nine-and-forty.

His only daughter, Lady Ilyse, is married to Ser Eldon of House Lannister, the heir to the Westerlands. They have two sons.

Lord Paramount Edmure’s youngest son, Lord Cleos, is alive and well, as is his wife, Lady Ilyse of House Grell, although her mind had unfortunately suffered from the burden of age.

Their only son, Lord Donnel, forsworn his family name and any claims on any titles as a penance for accidentally killing his uncle in a tourney. He married Lady Tysane Mandrake of The Trident. They have five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom belong to their mother’s house.

Lord Paramount Edmure died peacefully in the year 342AC. His wife followed him in the same year.

Lord Paramount Bywin, their firstborn, succeeded his father. For his military prowess he became known as the Bladesman. He was married to Lady Elinor Tyrell, daughter of Lord Paramount Willas the Wise. It was a tender and loving marriage that resulted in six children, all surviving to adulthood.

Lord Paramount Bywin’s eldest daughter, Lady Maegelle, has had a tumultuous life. She was married as a child to the heir of House Mallister and sent to Seagard to be fostered there. But her little husband, Lord Petyr, died from pneumonia at the age of two-and-ten. Lady Maegelle remarried to Lord Lucas Mudd of Oldstones, but he was mysteriously killed at the age of just seven-and-twenty. Their only daughter succeeded him. Lady Maegelle then remarried again as a second wife to Lord Varion Roote of Harroway’s Town, the grandson of the Usurper. Lady Maegelle gave him a son, a spare heir to his older son from a previous marriage. Her marriage duty fulfilled, Lady Maegelle then ventured to pursue her passion, fencing. With the blessing of her adoring husband, she traveled all the way to Braavos to study under the masters there, but unfortunately some kind of tragedy struck and she perished there at the age of four-and-forty. Lord Varion took it hard and is still in mourning.

The second daughter of Lord Paramount Bywin, Lady Barbara, was married to Lord Tytos of House Lannister, the heir to the Westerlands, until his death at the age of three-and-thirty. Lady Barbara did not remarry and resides at Casterly Rock with her sons.

Lord Paramount Bywin’s third daughter, Lady Wenella, is married to Lord Paramount Dennard Arryn of the Vale. Their marriage will be covered in the next chapter.

The fifth-born child and the second son of Lord Paramount Bywin, Lord Edmure, married twice. His first wife was Lady Lianna of House Velarion. She gave Lord Edmure two sons before her untimely death at the age of just five-and-thirty. Lord Edmure later remarried to Lady Tyshara of House Reyne, a widow herself. They do not have children together.

Lord Edmure sons, Ser Ronald and Olyvar the Whitefish, are married to ladies Corianne of House Kingslayer and Elera of House Mudd respectively. Both are yet childless.

Lord Paramount Bywin’s youngest son, Lord Grover, lives in Dorne in a proper dornish scandal. He is married to Lady Jamylla of House Lannister and has a daughter by her, although he also has a bastard daughter from his lover almost twice his age, Lady Nerissa, the oldest child of Lord Paramount Doran and therefore the heir of Dorne.

Much more prudent and loyal than his youngest brother, Lord Paramount Waltyr, Lord Paramount Bywin’s firstborn, succeeded his father in the year 352AC. He is also called the Bladesman like his late father, but for the opposite reason for it is a cruel jest about his poor swordsmanship.

He is married to Lady Varana of House Greyjoy, the firstborn child of late Lord Paramount Theon the Trickster of the Iron Islands. The match was brokered by the Queen herself when both were mere toddlers. Lady Varana was then sent to Riverrun and thinks of herself more as a woman of the rivers than the seas. Quick friends from childhood, it is not surprising that the marriage turned up to be full of love and mutual respect. And six healthy children.


The only daughter of the bunch, Lady Neria, is married to Ser Richard of House Blackwood, grandson of Lord Larys Blackwood, the King of the Woods.

The second son of Lord Waltyr, Lord Bywin, is known for his magnificent beard and his disinterest in his wife, Lady Morya of House Mandrake. Nonetheless they still managed to produce a daughter.

The only son of Lord Paramount Waltyr to inherit the Tully’s look is his third son, Lord Maegor (surely named in a peculiar attempt to please the Queen). He is married to Lady Ellyn of House Baratheon, granddaughter of Lady Paramount Shireen of the Stormlands through her fourth son, Lord Orryn. They have an auburn-haired son.

The fourth son, Lord Petyr, is married to Lady Aleona of House Bracken. They do not have children yet.

The youngest, Lord Bradamar, is a boy of three-and-ten. He is a squire to his own nephew.

Lord Paramount Waltyr’s heir apparent is Lord Gyles, his firstborn. He is married to Lady Wella of House Warfield. Despite the fact that they seem to be complete opposites of each other, the pair already has six children, five sons and a daughter.

Their firstborn is Ser Waltyr. He is married to the beautiful Lady Allara of House Stark, daughter of the current Lord Paramount of the North, Lord Eddard, the Direwolf of Winterfell. She is the granddaughter of the ironworded Lord Paramount Robb of House Stark and his Rose, Lady Margaery of House Tyrell. Despite all that, she considers herself a proper riverwoman and follows the Seven rather than the Old Gods of her forefathers. She also has a pet eagle that seems to obey her without any spoken commands. Ser Waltyr and Lady Alarra have two living sons.

Lord Gyles’ second son, Ser Raymond, is married to Lady Arwaya of House Mallister. They do not have children yet.

Lord Gyles’ third son, Tristan, just married Lady Zhoe of House Paege. They both are children themselves.

Lord Gyles’ three youngest children, lords Horas and Mathis and lady Barbara, are also mere kids. They all are squires, including the little lady, who is rumoured to become a betrothed to the heir to the High Lordship of Seagard.

 

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Some Fishes Have Black Scales​

Lord Paramount Hoster’s legendary brother, Lord Brynden the Blackfish, served amicably as commander of The Bloody Gates for many years and was awarded with a sword that later became known as the Swordfish in his honor. He was also granted a newly built castle of Havercroft not far from Riverrun. Despite his stubborn refusal of marriage, apparently he did eventually marry in his later years, although records seem to be incomplete about the name or House of his wife, or if she even had one at all. It is known however that he reluctantly left his post to his son, Ser Igon, and relocated with the rest of his children to live out his twilight years near his childhood home. He died in his bed in the year 318AC at the age of five-and-seventy.

Brynden Tully the Blackfish by Miguel Regodón Harkness


Lord Blackfish’s only daughter, Lady Hostella, was married to Lord Robert the Hunter of House Grell, Lord of Martlet Bay. Known as a formidable fighter in his youth, Lord Robert became increasingly obese later in life, which understandably hindered his prowess. He fell into despair about this development, but instead of dieting and training he turned to the bottle. In one of his drunken fits of self-pity and an apparent attempt to “show everyone he still got it”, Lord Robert cut his leg with his own sword. The wound festered and Lord Robert died at the age of one-and-forty in the year 343AC. Lady Hostella, who loved her stubborn husband despite his flaws, mourned him for two year and followed him at the age of six-and-forty in the year 345AC.

After the death of Lord Blackfish, he was succeeded by his second son, Ser Oswald. He was married to Lady Rhialta of House Staunton until her death at the age of one-and-fifty. Ser Oswald did not remarry and this loss seems to have a tragic effect on Ser Oswald’s mind.

His firstborn son, Ser Brynden, is the current heir to the castle of Havercroft. He was married to Lady Jocelyn of House Manning until her untimely death at the age of just three-and-thirty. They have a daughter together. Ser Brynden then married his long-time lover, a lowborn woman named Maia. Their two children are now considered legitimate.

Lady Rosamund, Ser Brynden’s daughter by his first wife, is married to her cousin, Ser Humfrey.

A skilled fighter and a bright and honorable man, Ser Roderick, Ser Oswald’s second son, showed a lot of promise from his earliest years. He married Lady Darla of House Hogg, a true giant of a woman. But the tragedy creeped in when the pair’s second son turned out to be a stillborn. Ser Roderick, always a family man, took this blow too hard. He fell into deepest grief and finally ran away from it all the way to Essos where he joined The Iron Shields, a sellsword company led by Captain Lothorio. After his death the company’s scribe sent a letter to Havercroft. Apparently Ser Roderick threw himself into the heat of every battle with such a passion that his fellow company men considered him a lunatic. He fell ill after one of those rages and died because he fiercely denied every attempt of treatment.

His only son, quick-witted Ser Edmure, grew up to resemble his father in many aspects. An honorable, kind and family-oriented young man himself, he married an orphaned girl from House Bulwer from the Reach. Despite their differences, they seem to genuinely love each other.

Ser Oswald’s youngest son, the tall Ser Geremy, eloped with Lady Dianessa of House strong, oldest daughter of Ser Tytos Strong of Kilpin. Her father was enraged and disinherited his daughter, barring her from succession. Ser Geremy and his strong Lady Strong did not really care. They are still in love and have two children.

Their son, Ser Humfrey, is married to his cousin, Lady Rosamund.

His sister, Lady Sallei, is married to Ser Stevron of House Darry, the oldest son of the heir to The Bay of Crabs.

Lord Brynden’s third son, Ser Edmyn, lived at Havercroft castle until another castle was finished nearby. A rather paranoid man, Ser Edmyn sarcastically named the castle Greetland for it’s position was perfect to become the first stop point for any party travelling to Riverrun. He then relocated there with his wife, Lady Perriane of House Mandrake and their three children. After his beloved wife’s death in the year 348AC, Ser Edmyn went into mourning. The sudden death of his firstborn son and heir, Ser Jonah, and the subsequent death of Ser Jonah’s wife, proved too much for Ser Edmyn’s grieving mind. He gradually deteriorated to the point that at one minute he would proclaim his eternal mourning and at the next he would insist that a servant girl named Maegelle was his new wife and Lady of the castle. His heart finally gave out in the year 355AC. Poor Maegelle actually mourned him. It is also rather concerning that she is stated to “have died from natural causes” in the very same month as Ser Edmyn despite the fact that she was only nine-and-twenty years of age and was not reported to have any apparent health concerns.

Ser Richard, Ser Edmyn’s youngest child, is the current master of Greetland. He is married to Lady Falora, a bastard born into the family of distant relatives of the ruling House of the Vale.

It is also worth noting that Ser Richard's beautiful and graceful older sister, late Ser Jonah’s twin, Lady Perriane, is married to Ser Lomas Baratheon, the heir to the Stormlands. They already have three sons.

Lord Brynden’s youngest son, Ser Raymund, married Lady Eldrane of House Royce.

Their oldest daughter, Lady Melene, married Lord Kevan of House Lannister, the second son of Lord Paramount Damion of the Westerlands.

Ser Raymund currently resides with her family at Casterly Rock while his wife remains at Havercroft with their son, Ambrose, and his pregnant wife, a lowborn woman named Agnes. A kind-hearted and honorable man with strong notions of importance of familiar duty, Ambrose bravely went against any notions of impropriety and married Agnes right after taking her maidenhood in a heat of young passion. Many cruel tongues talk about it all being an evil plan concocted by a lustful temptress, but the girl seems like an amateurish plotter at best, so this whole situation is highly unlikely to be anything more than a happenstance.

The youngest of the three siblings, Lady Esmene, is married to the heir to the castle of Sky Keep, Olwyn of House Arryn (of the Fingers, another distant branch of the ruling House of the Vale).

Meanwhile in the Vale, Lord Brynden’s firstborn son, Ser Igon, did not see his position as an honor at all. He considered himself to be denied his birthright (both the sword and the castle) and felt grievously offended by that. He took his sorrows to the bottle that led to the malignant growth in his brain that first took his mind from him and then his very life. He died at the age of four-and-fifty in the year 350AC. His wife, Lady Cersei Stone, a bastard of House Hardyng, mourns him still.

Their son, Ser Addam, is the current Commander of The Bloody Gate. He is married to Lady Lyseria of House Hersy. They have two daughters and a son. It is yet undecided whether his son would succeed him or not.

Ser Addam’s sister, Lady Eleanor, was married to Lord Medger of House Woolfield, the cruel lord of Ramsgate all the way up North. They had one daughter. She did not succeed her father, her uncle is the current Lord of Ramsgate. Lady Eleanor is plagued by the same malice that took both her father and her husband and is too weak to travel, so she resides in Ramsgate to this day.

The youngest child of Ser Igon, Ser Bennifer, considers his brother to be his best friend and lives at his court at The Bloody Gate with his wife, Lady Jessamyn of House Redford, and their two sons.

 

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From Kings to Dirt, from Dirt to Mudd​

As it was already spoken above, the royal pardon for House Blackfyre also covered the descendants of those who followed them into exile. The first of those houses was House Mudd.

At the time of the pardon, two apparent descendants of said House, Lorimas and “Young” Jon, were found in the employ of the Golden Company. They came back to the Seven Kingdoms along with their “Young Griff”.

Lorimas married twice but unfortunately died quite young, at the age of five-and-thirty. His first wife, Lady Jayne Rivers, was a bastard of House Frey born to the Late Lord Walder of The Crossing. She died shortly after giving birth to the pair's second daughter. Lorimas then married a lowborn woman from the Westerlands named Lanna. She was already a widow at that point. She will become a widow three times more after that.

Lady Lanna’s first husband was Lord Othell Bettley of Pendrik Hill. They had a daughter together. He died in the first month of the year 300AC. In the same year Lady Lanna would marry and become a widow of the aforementioned Lorimas Mudd. In just two years she will lose another husband, Lord Rodrick of Flint’s Finger, to whom she was a second wife. She will then finally marry her fourth and final husband, Lord Theonald Woods of Wolfswood. They will proceed to have four living children together. After Lord Theonald’s death Lady Lanna declared an indefinite period of mourning. She held it until her death in the year 345AC.

“Young” Jon Mudd lived long enough to see the ruins of Oldstones come back to life as the recolonization project went forward. He was then finally granted a dominion over the area and became Lord Jon of Oldstones. He was already married by that time, but the archives seem to be scarce so we unfortunately do not know the name of his wife. It is only known that she was a beautiful woman of low birth who gave Lord Jon two sons and a daughter.

Said daughter, Lady Janei, was married to Lord Harys of House Tully. Their marriage is covered in the previous chapter.

Lord Jon’s younger son, Ser Otho, was granted a castle of Silkstone near Oldstones. He married his kinswoman, Lady Minisa, second daughter of the ill-fated Lorimas. They managed to have a son before Ser Otho’s mysterious death at the age of just two-and-twenty. On account of their son’s tender age, Lady Minisa was granted dominion over the castle. She promptly remarried to Ser Edwyn of House Pemford, now vassals of the Mudds. He was already a widower with three children to his name. For his new bride he forsworn his family name, so their son that followed is considered a proper Mudd.

Lady Minisa held Silkstone for less than ten years. She died at just thirty years of age.

Ser Jordan finally became the master of Silkstone in his own right. He married Lady Riona of House Pemford, a woman from his step-father’s house.

Their daughter, who was named Minisa after her grandmother, married Ser Raylon Roote of Godwall.

Ser Jordan’s heir, Ser Garrett, married Lady Jirelle of House Frey.

In the year 325AC old “young” Lord Jon himself, then already called Lord Jon the Black, was found guilty of extortion and tyranny inflicted upon his subjects, stripped of his titles and sent to the Wall.

His firstborn son, the generous Lord Franklyn, succeeded him. He was married to his kinswoman, Lady Jeyne, the oldest daughter of poor Lorimas. It was a marriage of love and all five children that came from it lived to adulthood.

Tragedy struck at the year 340AC when Lord Franklyn was found dead without any apparent reason. His wife, besotted with grief, took her own life in the following month.

Lord Lucas, Lord Franklyn’s firstborn son, succeeded him. Although there was no evidence, he was the prime suspect at the time, for he was selfish and obviously had the most to gain from his father’s demise. His ambitious wife, Lady Maegelle of House Tully, also has had her fair share of sideway glances. But all that suspicion was dropped just two years after, when Lord Lucas himself dropped dead much like his father before him. Lady Maegelle remarried (her life and death after that are covered in the previous chapter).

Their only daughter, the just Lady Andacey, succeeded her father as the Lady of Oldstones. She married her kinsman, Lord Brus, the second son of Lady Minisa of Silkstone. The pair appears to be inseparable. Together they raise their three children, a son and two daughters.

The murders of Lord Franklyn and Lord Lucas remain unsolved. Most people either don’t care or blame someone from the family.

The least suspicious is Ser Luthor, Lord Franklyn’s second son. Kindhearted and honorable, Ser Luthor is the true embodiment of a true knight. His selfish and rather unpredictable reachman wife, Lady Margaery of House Footly, is somewhat another matter, but at her core she is as soft as her husband.

Lord Franklyn’s third son, Ser Raymund, and his wife, Lady Alerie, another Footly from the Reach, are also under suspicion for their whimsical nature. But Ser Raymund seems to be an honorable and honest man and his wife’s heart is in the right place despite her fiery temper.

There is also Lord Franklyn’s youngest son, Ser Jon, and his ambitious and cunning valeman wife, Lady Janyce of House Grafton. But Ser jon is as honorable as his older brothers and his wife holds justice and loyalty above all else, so they also don’t seem very likely candidates.

Finally, there is Lady Barbara, Lord Franklyn’s only daughter and, frankly, his most spoiled child. Lazy, greedy and undereducated, it seems almost unfair that a woman like that is married to a man like her husband, Lord Dorren of House Manderly, the heir of White Harbor. But even if Lady Barbara might have it in her character to resort to foul play, she is so far back in the line of succession that she would be too lazy to go through all of them, thank Seven for that.

Might be that we will never know the truth. But the deaths seem to have stopped so let us and House Mudd at least have solace in that.

 

[Thaiga]

Back to the Roots​

Ser Marq of House Mandrake was another sellsword in service to the Golden Company who was pardoned and invited to come back with the Blackfyre supporters. He was eventually granted the lordship of The Trident.

He apparently was married at some point, but the notes about his wife, if ever they existed, were lost. We know that she was a lowborn woman with a strong build and even stronger will. Five of their children survived to adulthood.

Their first daughter, Lady Ammara, married the King of the Woods, Lord Larys of Blackwood. Their marriage will be covered in the next chapter.

The second daughter, Lady Perriane, was married to Ser Edmyn Tully of Greetland. Their marriage is covered in one of the previous chapters.

Lord Marq’s second son, Ser Hastyn, was married to Lady Rowena of House Coldwater from the Vale.

Their only surviving child, Ser Petyr, is married to his cousin, Lady Lysa.

Lord Marq’s youngest son, Ser Aemon (no doubt an homage to the ruling dynasty), was married to Lady Merianne of House Paege.

Their first daughter, Lady Morya, is married to Lord Bywin of House Tully. Their marriage is covered in one of the previous chapters.

Ser Aemon’s second daughter, Lady Anwyn, is married to Ser Endrew of House Egen in the Vale. Ser Endrew has a bastard son he beget on a lowborn woman before this marriage took place.

Lord Maq’s life as a slave and then a sellsword predictably took its toll. Poor Lord Marq tried to get rid of the tumour that grew out of his face in his last years, but died disfigured and maimed under the maester’s knife at the age of seven-and-sixty.

He was succeeded by his oldest son, Lord Farlen. He was married to Lady Marissa of House Vypren, the newly established vassals of House Mandrake. Her father and grandfather, bitter about this development, refused to obey their new liege and were both beheaded by the late Lord Marq. Lady Marissa herself was disinherited by her family for that match. But the pair truly loved each other, they worked tirelessly to reconcile their Houses, and Lady Marissa is still in mourning for her husband who died in the year 336AC at the age of two-and-forty.

Lord Farlen and Lady Marissa had three daughters.

Their youngest, the quick-witted Lady Mellara, is married to Ser Lymond of House Thorne, the heir of Rayonet, and serves as a spymaster of her father-in-law.

The middle daughter, Lady Lysa, is married to her cousin, Ser Petyr.

Their oldest daughter, Lady Tysane, is the current Lady of The Trident. She is married to Lord Donnel, who abandoned his claim to the Tully’s blood as a voluntary penance.

Their oldest son and heir, young Ser Garth, is already a knight at the age of five-and-ten, but the fact that his swordsmanship is as good as his young wife’s makes one question the value of this knighthood.

 

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The Unkindness of the Old Gods​

Lord Tytos the Protector of Blackwood was one of the most prominent lords of the Riverlands. Under his rule House Blackwood undertook many new projects and rose in both prestige and wealth.

Dark Omen's Morgan Bernhardt by Jonas Jensen


Lord Tytos left behind seven descendants.

His only daughter, Lady Bethany, was married to Ser Marq of House Cox until his death at the age of eight-and-thirty. She is still in mourning after all those years.

While their second daughter, Lady Morya, is happily married, the story of their firstborn is a tragic one.

In her youth Lady Sabitha got pregnant and eloped with a lowborn man named Lyman. They were eventually found when they turned for help after Lady Sabitha’s stillbirth, and Lyman died shortly after under very dubious circumstances. The whole ordeal left Lady Sabitha with an enormous grief that eventually enslaved her whole mind. Nonetheless she was hastily remarried to Lord Jaymond Wydman of Wycliffe.

A true legend as a swordsman, but notoriously ruthless and cruel as a man, Lord Jaymond accused his wife of being “a willing vessel of evil” and with the blessing of his septon put the poor woman under arrest. It is said that when her body was taken out of the dungeons, she looked so emaciated that her treatment could not be called anything but torture.

Oddly enough, Lord Jaymond’s second wife, Lady Wylera of House Harding, was accused of the same thing and with the blessing of the same septon she was literally burned at the stake.

Lord Jaymond then married for the third time. His last wife, Lady Alina of House Pryor, was haunted by the legacy of her predecessors and trained every day with a sword as if in a futile hope to defend herself if such need would arise.

This whole situation just does not feel right. It would seem that none of the families of the dead women tried to claim justice for their daughters. No wonder Lady Alina feels trapped. I cannot in good conscience leave that poor woman to her faith nor can I let the last cries of the murdered go unheard. Therefore I took it upon myself to bring Lord Jaymond to court. And while I continue my toil over this work of my life, the agents from the Citadel are gathering all the information about these cases as they can so I will be able to present their findings to the Queen along with this book. I just hope that poor Lady Alina will be able to hold on just a little bit longer.


Now let us get back to our ravens.

Lord Tytos’s second son, Lord Lucas, was married to Lady Bess of House Bracken in yet another attempt to reconcile two families. After her death Lord Lucas enjoyed the company of a lowborn girl with a pretty face and a crooked back. On his deathbed he proclaimed her to be his wife to secure her future, but she conveniently died that same year, presumably from health problems brought by her hunched back or a carefree lifestyle.

It would seem that fate decided to be especially cruel to the daughters of the flock.

Lord Lucas’ first daughter, Lady Elerra, was married to Lord Owen Upcliff of Witch Isle, a man more than twice her age and a ruler of a tiny isle in the Vale, all the way to the east coast of Westeros. Lord Owen was married before to a lowborn woman, but for her adultery she was forced to become a silent sister and the marriage was annulled. Lord Owen also suffered from the late stages of the dreaded tumours and expectedly died at the age of six-and-fifty. What was unexpected is his young wife’s reaction, or maybe an overreaction even. She fell into a deep grief and died from a broken heart still in mourning two years after her husband.

Two younger daughters of Lord Lucas, the twin sisters Dalla and Sharra, also had their fair share of grief, but also joy.

As a child Lady Dalla was afflicted by the infamous greyscale. She managed to survive, but was left forever disfigured by the illness. The experience hardened her soul and finally she fled into the night. She somehow ended up on an island of Qrimbroz, one of the newest colonies in Valyria, and even married a brother of its Lord. They have two healthy sons together and seem to be in a freely chosen and respectful marriage.

Whereas Lady Dalla was lucky enough to have a few happy years of healthy childhoodm, her twin, Lady Sharra, was born a dwarf. Despite that and her horrible personality she managed to marry and hold onto a marriage with a truly great man, Ser Tion, the heir of House Moreland. It would seem that Ser Tion heard somewhere that the Lord of Light can cure any ailment, and now Ser Tion is a zealous follower of R’hllor. It is unclear though if he hopes to cure his wife, his own inexplicable obesity, or both.

Life was not so kind to Lord Lucas’ only son too. Ser Benedict was married to Lady Teora of House Breakstone from the Vale and had a daughter by her, but tragically died from a festered wound at the age of just five-and-thirty. His wife never remarried.

His daughter Lady Rosamund, on the other hand, married three times.

Her first husband was Ser Leowyn of House Shett from the Vale. They managed to have a son together before Ser Leowyn’s sickness from the brothels ate away his sanity. He then promptly got involved in some insane dealings and had his head chopped off by Lord Paramount Robert of the Vale.

Lady Rosamund was then briefly married to Lord Terrance Lynderly of Snakewood until his peaceful death at the age of three-and-sixty.

Lady Rosamund then married her current husband, Lord Manfryd Smallwood of Acorn Hall, as his second wife. They have a daughter together.

It is peculiar that all three of Lady Rosamund’s husbands are rumored to have a particular interest in people of their own sex.

Lord Tytos’s third son, Lord Hoster, was a tall but very thin man. He was married to Lady Roslin of House Frey, daughter of Late Lord Walder. They had one son together before Lord Hoster died at the age of four-and-thirty, most probably because of his poor disposition. Lady Roslin then quietly left the Raventree Hall and resurfaced all the way North, married to a lowborn man named Edwyn. They lived a quiet childfree life and died roughly two years apart from each other.

Lord Hoster’s only child, Ser Tytos, first married Lady Amarei of House Falwell from the Westerlands. They had a daughter together and then Lady Amarei died from what looked like a brothel-born disease. Ser Tytos remarried to Lady Leona of House Moreland, a widow herself. They did not have any children together and just kept each other’s company until the end.

Ser Tytos’ daughter, Lady Maegelle, was married twice, both times as a second wife.

Her first husband was Lord Robert Brax of Hornvale. They had a daughter and a son together before Lord Robert’s death at the age of five-and-fifty.

Lady Maegelle then remarried to Ser Merton oh House Royce, then the heir apparent of the Runestone. Both of their attempts for a child resulted in stillbirths and then Ser Merton died at the age of six-and-fifty. Despite his age, he was still a strong and healthy man, so foul play was highly suspected, but nothing has been proven to this day.

Lord Edmund is the fourth son of the Protector. He eloped with Lady Carellen of House Smallwood and angered her family so much that they disowned her. Apparently it did not really bother any of them and they lived together at the Raventree Hall until her death from a tumour at the age of one-and-forty. Lord Edmund then relocated to the household of his younger brother to get away from the shared memories, but they seem to stress him out still.

The pair had two children.

The daughter, Lady Jenna, is married to Ser Ellard of House Crane. They have one daughter together.

The son, Stevron, died at the age of just nine-and-twenty under very suspicious circumstances. He left behind a daughter by his homely wife, Lady Cynthea of House Templeton. Lady Cynthea later remarried to Big Ben Bushy as his second wife. She outlived him too and died drowning her sorrows in a bottle.

Lady Cynthea the daughter married her kinsman, Ser Olyvar, who was several years her younger. They had two living children together before a tragic stillbirth. The stress and grief were too much for poor Lady Cynthea and she died at the age of nine-and-thirty. Ser Olyvar remarried to a kind and shy woman from House Frey.

The fifth son of Lord Tytos is Lord Alyn, the Knight of Muddy Hall. He relocated to the castle after the death of his wife, Lady Catelyn of House Mooton. He did not yet remarry.

The pair's only living child, Ser Hugo, is married to Lady Kerelle of House Grafton.

Their daughter, Lady Catelyn (after grandmother), was first married to Lord Samwyle Moore of Stonyhead. They had a daughter together before Lord Samwyle’s death at the age of two-and-fifty. Lady Catelyn then remarried to Ser Tymond of House Lefford and died shortly after giving birth to their son Gregor.

The sons are doing somewhat better.

Ser Olyvar’s situation was already covered above.

His brother Willam is also married to a Frey. Lady Jocelyn though was born and raised in the Westerlands. She is already a widow to a man from House Osgrey with whom she had two children, although unfortunately only one is still alive. She also already managed to give three children for House Blackwood.

Ser Robert was the last child of Lord Tytos the Protector. Ironically he was first married to Lady Cersei of House Frey and had two children by her before she proved to be akin to her namesake and died from an illness of lust at the age of just thirty years. Ser Robert then remarried to Lady Arsa of House Long from the North. They did not have children together but Lady Arsa remained at Raventree Hall after Ser Robert’s death at the age of one-and-sixty.

Ser Robert’s daughter, Lady Zia, was married to Ser Denly of House Thorne. They had a daughter together, but for some reason that peculiar grief that sometimes strikes new mothers this time targeted the father. Ser Denly was so bereft with it that he stopped eating and actually died at the age of just twenty years.

Lady Zia then remarried to a northman, Damon of House Waterman. They have three sons together.

Ser Robert’s son, Ser Lucias, is married to Lady Amerei of House Pemford.

Their only daughter, Lady Cersei, is married to Ser Gunthor of House Tollett.

After the much-lamented death of Lord Tytos, his oldest son, Lord Brynden, succeeded him. He was married to Lady Melantha, one of the three bastard-born daughters of the famous Brandon Stark. It was a loving marriage with six children all surviving to adulthood.

But to survive until it is just one part of life. Another one is to live through it.

Lady Della, the oldest daughter, seems to be doing a relatively good job with it herself, although her husband, Ser Albar of House Lynderly, was killed in a duel more than ten years ago. She did not remarry and now she spends her twilight years in a bitter rivalry with her older brother.

Their son, Ser Mathos, once went to Tyrosh and came back with a summer-islander-looking but tyroshy-raised woman named Torma who turned out to be his lawfully wedded wife.

Their daughter, Lady Idona, is married to William, an orphan from House Darry. William’s younger brother Jordan was sent to the Citadel as soon as it became apparent that there was something very wrong with his mind. Young man is now convinced that he is in fact a bodyguard to none other than yours truly, a situation that can be rather annoying but on the other hand it occupies his restless mind and gives him a sense of purpose, so I do not discourage it anymore.

But we digress again. Let us talk about Lord Brynden’s three younger daughters.

Two of them are dead and the youngest roams the world with a sellsword company.

Lady Alynne was the first to try and marry for love. Her first husband was a bastard-born boy named Roger. He died of greyscale at the age of just eight-and-ten. Lady Alynne remarried to Ser Gerold of House Serrett, gave him a daughter and died of gout at the age of two-and-forty. Ser Gerold remarried and has a son.

Lady Darla was next to try her luck. Her first husband was the son of a sellsword infantry’s captain and he died of the grey plague at the age of nine-and-twenty. Lady Darla went the same road her sister took before her (and one of her kinswomen will take after her) and remarried to a man from the Westerlands, Ser Tymond of House Lefford. Their son was born dead and his mother followed soon after at the age of just one-and-thirty.

In between those husbands she managed to have a bastard son with the Lord of Ninestars. Ser Allard of House Templeton, the father, actually legitimised the boy and now Ser Endrew of House Templeton is expected to inherit his father’s title.


In the meantime the youngest of the ill-fated daughters, Lady Ryella, is still called the Young Raven despite the fact that she is not that young anymore. She is also a widow of Lord Josmyn of House Peckledon with whom she had three children before his horrible accident that tore him all to shreds. Lady Ryella then eloped with a sellsword named Karlon, the Captain of The Company of the Rose. His men call him Karlon of Pentos, presumably for his deed during the many Pentosi conflicts. Lady Ryella and her Captain have a son together.

Lord Brynden’s sons are faring much better.

His second son, Ser Sandor, was married to Lady Ammara of a young House Treeguard. After her death he refuses to remarry and lives peacefully with his son at his older brother’s household.

Ser Sandor’s son, Harys, might be married a little bit above his station though. His wife, Lady Meera of House Reed, is the daughter of Lord Roderick, the Bear of Greywater Watch, and his wife, Lady Jocelyn the Cunning Wolf. It makes her the granddaughter of the famous Lord Jojen the Confessor and even more famous Lord Paramount Robb the Ironworded.

A match like that might have been more appropriate with someone from the ruling branch of House Blackwood.

 

[Thaiga]

Right now the head of House Blackwood is Lord Larys, for his ever-present menagerie called the King of the Woods. With his wife, Lady Ammara of house Mandrake, he has four children, all grown up and married.

Their only daughter is married to Ser Edwyn of House Blunt.

Their only son, Ser Armond, is married to Lady Rylene of House Clegane. They are already expecting their first child.

The King’s second son, Lord Kennoth, is married to Lady Lyra of House Darkhart. They have a son and a daughter.

The youngest “prince”, Lord Bennifer, is married to Lady Belle of House Hartford. They also have a son and a daughter.

The heir apparent, Lord Brynden, is married to his kinswoman, brilliant Lady Marianne. She is the daughter of Ser Roger, nephew of Lord Tytos the Protector and the very man under whose guidance the long-dead weirwood tree at the Raventree Hall began to bloom again.

The pair has five healthy sons.

The eldest, Ser Richard, is married to Lady Neria of House Tully, daughter of the current Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.

The second son, Franklyn, is married to Lady Lyene of House Seaworth from the Stormlands.

The third son, Ser Larys, is married to Lady Hostella of House Paege. They already have a daughter.

The fourth son, Jorah, just married Lady Melene of House Rollingford. They now both consider themselves as squires in search of a knight to serve.

The youngest son, Hoster, is a boy of nine. He is studying the Old Gods legends so he could one day take care of the newly invigorated Tree.

 

[Thaiga]

Coming Back Strong​

While talking about House Blackwood, we cannot leave out their newly acquired bannermen from House Strong.

The two brothers, Ser Duncan and Ser Denys, came to the Seven Kingdoms along with the Golden Company following an overarching pardon for any Blackfyre supporters that were ready to give up arms.

The younger brother, Ser Denys, was married to Lady Catelyn of House Bracken, sister of the False Knight.

Their only daughter, Lady Anwyn, married her cousin. Thei marriage will be covered later in this chapter.

After the death of his wife Ser Denys never remarried and sought a woman’s touch in other places until he had to come from one of those places not with an empty ballsack but a handful of child. Despite his known selfishness and a capricious nature he not only acknowledged the child but petitioned for him to be recognised as his legitimate son, which was granted in the following years. His apparent mission fulfilled, Ser Denys died from a heart failure at the age of nine-and-forty and left his little son in his uncle’s care.

And to everyone’s surprise Ser Duncan did indeed care for the child. It was common knowledge that the new castle of Kilpin was built specifically for the boy, or rather a knight in his own right by then, Ser Tytos (named by his mother after the Lord of Blackwood no doubt). He is married to Lady Sharra of House Terrick.

They have two daughters, although the older one, Lady Dianessa, is now considered disowned for her marriage with Ser Geremy of House Tully (their marriage is covered in the appropriate previous chapter).

The younger daughter, Lady Tysane, is married to Ser Lyonel of House Frey. He forfeited his family name for her, because he is “so far in line there is nothing left to inherit anyway”.

But let us now talk about Ser Duncan. He was married to Lady Alysanne of House Blackwood, sister of Lord Tytos the Protector. The pair was granted a castle of Fieldstone and its surrounding villages as a wedding gift. Despite his cruelty and ruthless cynicism, Lord Duncan cared deeply for his wife and mourned her death to the end of his days.

The pair had two children together.

Their daughter, Lady Alynne, was married to a man named Colmar Rivers, a bastard-born son of the infamous False Knight. Colmar was not recognised until Lord Jonos’ infamous trial. He was born to an unnamed peasant woman after the False Knight evoked the most definitely outlawed “right” of the first night. His birth and parentage was an open secret among the smallfolk so Colmar was known among them as the Stongstallion, although he hated his father with a fiery passion. After Lady Alynne’s death Colmar does not seek to remarry and is content to serve as a spymaster of his nephew’s son.

All the children from this marriage were raised to consider themselves to be Strongs.

Their only daughter, Lady Dianessa, is married to Ser Whalen of House Lolliston. Tragic death of their firstborn son at the age of just nine-and-ten makes their doting on their younger one much more understandable.

Lady Dianessa’s younger brother, Ser Stanton, also tragically died at the young age of just one-and-twenty after an unfortunate encounter with a rabid fox. His wife, Lady Alys of House Langward, remarried to Ser Albin of House Chelsted, the heir of Bramsfort. After Lady Alys’ death at the age of just two-and-thirty, Ser Albin became unconsolable in his mourning and still refuses any notion of marriage despite his apparent notion of importance of a male heir.

The oldest child of this trio, Ser Oswald, is alive and relatively well (if being morbidly obese could be considered well enough). He is married to Lady Lenylla of House Gaunt, a known beauty in her youth.

The pair has two sons, both married but yet childless.

Ser Kirth is married to Lady Oselya of House Shawney. A follower of the Seven after her mother, Lady Oselya actually comes from a family of an Old Gods’ priest. Her father and both of her brothers hold the Old beliefs.

Ser Manfred is married to Lady Alina of House Royce.

After Ser Duncan’s death, his firstborn, Lord Borick, succeeded him. He was married to his cousin, Lady Anwyn, daughter of Ser Denys and his lawful wife. Lady Anwyn holds her mourning since Ser Borick’s death at the age of eight-and-thirty.

The pair has four daughters and a son.

The oldest, Lady Emphyria, is married to Ser Melwys of House Cox. They have a grownup son (married and has issue).

The second daughter, Lady Shirei, is married to Lord Karyl Charleton of Mistlewood. They have three sons and a daughter (all married and with issue).

The third daughter, Lady Catelyn. was married to a man from House Hollard until he was accused of an improper worship of the Stranger and sent to the Wall. The actual merit to these accusations as well as the impartiality of the court is debatable but the deed is already done. Lady Catelyn resides with her two sons at the seat of their House.

The youngest daughter, Lady Eleyne, is married to Lothar of House Rollingford. They have two sons.

Ser Borick’s only son, Lord Oscar, succeeded his father after his death, and is the current Lord of Fieldstone. He is married to Lady Ellenei of House Keath.

The pair has only one child, Ser Bywin. He is married to Lady Alarra of House Charlton. They are expecting their first child.