- Posts:
- 344
- Group:
- Admins
- Member
- #1
- Joined:
- Sep 14, 2010
|
- Houses of Dorne
-
- House Martell of Sunspear:
-
History of House Martell:
- House Martell is the greatest house in Dorne, and until they joined the Seven Kingdoms through treaty, this ancient family ruled the deserts and mountains and all its people. Prior to the arrival of the Rhoynar, Martell was one of many petty kings that had carved up Dorne, but with the added strength of ten thousand shiploads of people, including craftsmen, warriors, and more, Martell rose in power and esteem, joining with the warrior queen Nymeria to become rulers. The union of their peoples saw the Martells abandon many of their older customs in favor of those of the Rhoynar. Specifically, they began to call themselves princes instead of kings, and their lands and title passed down to the eldest child and not just the eldest male. By binding themselves to the Seven Kingdoms, House Martell averted years of bloodshed, but the murders of Elia and her children have seeded the lands with unrest, especially within their own house.
Members of House Martell:
- Prince Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, Lord of Sunspear.
- Doran Martell is Prince of Sunspear and ruler of House Martell. A man of peace, he is sick of death and war and sorrow. Now, just fifty years old, he’s feeling the onset of gout. Rather than face the strain of ruling from Sunspear, he left the city to his daughter and heir Arianne and reigns from the Water Gardens in the hopes of rejuvenating his spirit and his health.
- Doran is familiar with what impulsive action brings and has taken his life lessons to heart. He’s a cautious man who carefully considers his options, much to the frustrations of his daughters who see him as being indecisive and even afraid to take action. In truth, Doran is brilliant, tactically minded, and not given to taking risks, making him the exact opposite of his brother Oberyn. He has plans, deep and convoluted, but he chooses not to share them until he is ready.
- Aging before his time, life has been hard on his body, and his legs and feet have begun to swell. He conceals his gout with silks and long robes, but it’s clear he suffers with each step.
- Lady Mellario of Norvos, Wife of Prince Doran. [Returned to the Free Cities.]
- Princess Arianne Martell, Prince Doran's daughter and heir.
- Arianne Martell is the eldest daughter of Prince Doran Martell and, by Dornish custom, is heir to Sunspear. While she presents the face of the dutiful daughter to the world, she is a cunning schemer and dangerous force in the aristocracy of her lands.
- Whether there is truth to her beliefs that her father would have preferred a son instead of a daughter is uncertain, but Arianne believes it, and this knowledge has defined her life. Instead of crippling her with doubts, however, it has made her fiercely independent and tears away any reservations about using the full extent of her resources to get what she wants, including using her physical treasures to seduce and dominate her lovers. She is calculating and clever, a devious player of politics, using lust and love as her weapons and twisting information to suit her ends.
The wedge created by Doran’s perceived intentions aside, Arianne is equally distraught by her father’s methods of rule. She sees him as a weak prince, a ruler who would rather appease his rivals or think to inaction, rather than respond to affronts made to their family. The years under his rule, in Arianne’s eyes, have made Dorne weak, and his inaction shames them all. Arianne believes that her father’s withdrawal to the Water Gardens will possibly give her a chance to prove herself. But as Doran has also given more responsibility to a number of his lesser servants, including his steward and castellan, will Arianne find the influence and power she seeks over Sunspear, or will she feel impotent to take action on behalf of her people?
- Arianne is a striking woman, fully grown, and the object of desire for many suitors. She has long black hair that falls in ringlets to the middle of her back. She is short, just a bit taller than five feet, having inherited her diminutive size from her Norvoshi mother. When attending to matters of politics, she conceals her lush and curvaceous body with flowing silks, jewels, and other ostentatious displays of wealth.
- Prince Quentyn Martell, Prince Doran's eldest son.
- The eldest son of Doran Martell but not his heir according to Dornish tradition, Quentyn was fostered with Lord Anders Yronwood of Yronwood. This fostering created the rift between Doran and his wife that ultimately led to her return to Norvos. Quentyn has remained in Yronwood throughout much of his life, and despite correspondences with his father, he has come to see Lord Anders as more of a father. Quentyn served as a page and is now a squire nearing knighthood.
- Prince Trystane Martell, Prince Doran's second son.
- The younger son of Doran Martell, Trystane is a boy of ten. He has olive skin and straight black hair. Deemed a clever youth, he is likely to be married to a girl of one of the great houses to create a strong political alliance.
- Princess {Elia Martell}, Prince Doran's sister. Killed during Robert's Rebellion.
- Prince Oberyn Martell, Prince Doran's brother. Known as the Red Viper.
- The younger brother of Prince Doran Martell. Prince Oberyn is one of the most infamous members of the Martell family. Known for his underhanded tactics, he’s called the Red Viper for his penchant for coating his weapons with poisons, and his rash and unpredictable manner, he’s a wild card in the Seven Kingdoms, and wherever he goes trouble seems to follow.
- According to Oberyn, a septon once claimed that he was proof of the gods’ goodness, for if they were cruel the Red Viper might have been born before his brother Doran and been heir to Sunspear. Oberyn can be cruel or fickle, but above all, he is vicious. He is like an unbroken stallion, a free spirit that goes and does what he pleases. He cleaves to his own principles, seeing life and living in ways few others can match or even understand. If there’s one constant to this mercurial man, it’s his hatred of House Lannister and his thirst for revenge for the death of his beloved sister. The Red Viper has bided his time, but the season for caution is long past and now he plots to exact the price for her death.
- The Red Viper is a tall and slim man approaching his middle years. He moves with a liquid grace, with fluid movements suggesting an uncanny ease and perfect familiarity with his body. His features are melancholy, with lines wrought by the loss of his beloved sister, Elia. He has thin arched eyebrows above large black eyes, a narrow pointed nose, and black hair streaked with silver, which is receding, emphasizing his sharp widow’s peak.
- Obara Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter.
- Obara is the eldest of Oberyn’s brood. A tall, long-legged, big-boned woman filled with brimming anger, she’s in her middle twenties, though her age has done little to temper her wildness. She always rides stallions and is said to be able to break any horse, and any man. She’s not attractive, her eyes too close and her hair too common, but she’s fierce and strong. Obara has a special hatred of Oldtown, where she was born, and she hungers to burn the city to ash. Obara favors the whip.
- Nymeria Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter.
- Nymeria Sand, also known as Lady Nym, is the daughter of a lady of Volantis. Younger than Obara by three years, she’s a slender woman, with black hair held back in a tight braid. Like her father, she has a sharp widow’s peak and also has his eyes. She’s a great beauty, with high cheekbones, full lips, and pale skin. Nymeria hides razor-sharp blades all over her person and has a bloodthirsty streak she conceals beneath her regal bearing.
- Tyene Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter.
- Oberyn’s third daughter is two years younger than Nymeria and in her early twenties. She’s the daughter of a septa and has an innocent air about her. She has golden hair, deep blue eyes, and a gentle voice. Although she seems almost ethereal, she is in truth a merciless poisoner who kills without thinking so frequently that even Prince Doran is unnerved when she touches him.
- Sarella Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter.
- The daughter of a trader and new captain of the Feathered Kiss.
- Ellaria Sand, Oberyn's paramour.
- Her Daughter's Elia, named for Prince Oberyn's lost sister, Obella, Dorea, and Loreza
House Martell's Household:
- Areo Hotah, Captain of the Guard.
- Hotah is a simple man, with great skill in battle, but he is haunted by the memories of his past and the life he was condemned to lead. Areo Hotah is broad-shouldered, with a shock of white hair on his head, and his hairy body is covered in scars. His voice is a thick, bass grumble, contaminated by the tongue of his people but understandable enough. His most distinctive feature is the brand of the axe the bearded priests burned on his chest when he took his vows. Although it has healed, it still itches from time to time, reminding him of the gravity of his service.
- Maester Caleotte, Councilor, Healer & Tudor.
- A short man and bald as an egg, Maester Caleotte attends Doran Martelland does his best to alleviate the pain of his master’s gout. Caleotte has been with Doran since before the prince was married and had previously served Doran’s mother, suggesting he is advancing in his years, though it his hard to tell for his smooth, fat face. Caleotte is meek but clever, and he is a serviceable ally of the family.
- Ser Manfrey Martell, Castellan of Sunspear, a cousin of Prince Martell.
- Ser Gascoyne of the Greenblood, a Household Knight charged with protecting young Prince Trystane.
- Major Houses:
-
- House Allyrion of Godsgrace:
Godsgrace Castle
- Godsgrace castle is situated near where the rivers Scourge and Vaith meet. Lady Delonne is head of the house.
House Allyrion
- Lady Delonne Allyrion, Lady of Godsgrace.
- Ser Ryon Allyrion, Son of Lady Delonne and Heir of Godsgrace.
- Ser Daemon Sand, Ser Ryon's Bastard Son.
- House Blackmont of Blackmont:
Blackmont Castle
- The eponymous seat of House Blackmont sits near the point where the two rivers flowing south from the Dornish Marches meet to form the greater Torentine. The Blackmonts have a history of being an unruly house, mounting endless raids into the Dornish Marches as well as attacks against their neighboring houses. They are considered one of the great houses of Dorne.
House Blackmont
- Lady Larra Blackmont: Lady of Blackmont.
- Jynessa Blackmont, Daughter of Lady Larra and Heir to Blackmont.
- Perros Blackmont, Son of Lady Larra and a squire.
- House Dayne of Starfall:
Starfall Castle
- The seat of House Dayne is Starfall Castle, which lies on the Torentine where it pours into the Summer Sea. The Daynes possess Dawn, a greatsword as pale as milkglass that legend tells was forged from the heart of a fallen star thousands of years ago. Both blade and star are depicted on the house’s arms. Unlike other storied weapons, Dawn does not simply pass from one head of the house to the next. Instead, only those members of the family who have proven themselves worthy are permitted to wield the weapon. These men are known as Swords of the Morning.
House Dayne
- Lord Edric Dayne, A young boy who has pale blonde hair and blue eyes so dark they may well be purple.
- Lady Allyria Dayne, Lord Edric's Aunt, betrothed to the Lord of Blackhaven, Beric Dondarrion.
- House Fowler of Skyreach:
Skyreach Castle
- Skyreach is located near Prince’s Pass, and the head of the house also inherits the title of Warden of the Prince’s Pass.
House Fowler
- Lord Franklyn Fowler, called the Old Hawk, is the current Lord of Skyreach and Warden.
- Jeyne Fowler, Twin Daughter of Lord Franklyn, considered the first born.
- Jennelyn Fowler, Twin Daughter of Lord Franklyn.
- House Jordayne of The Tor:
The Castle of The Tor
- The Tor lies on the edge of the Sea of Dorne, where visitors can witness the tug of the surf as it endlessly braids itself into the strand.
House Jordayne
- Lord Trebor Jordayne, Lord of The Tor.
- Myria Jordayne, Daughter of Lord Trebor and Heir to The Tor.
- House Manwoody of Kingsgrave:
Kingsgrove Castle
- The seat of House Manwoody earned its name when the founding member of the house slew a King of the Reach in the distant past, a deed also commemorated on the family arms. The castle lies approximately halfway through the Prince’s Pass.
House Manwoody
- Lord Dagos Manwoody, Lord of Kingsgrave.
- Mors Manwoody, Son of Lord Dagos and Heir of Kingsgrave.
- Dickom Manwoody, Second Son of Lord Dagos.
- Ser Myles Manwoody, Brother of Lord Dagos.
- House Qorgyle of Sandstone:
Castle of Sandstone
- Sandstone is located in the southwest portion of Dorne’s desert, not far from the mountains.
House Qorgyle
- Lord Jon Quentyn, Lord of Sandstone.
- Ser Gulian Quentyn, First Son of Lord Jon and Heir to Sandstone.
- Ser Arron Quentyn, Second Son of Lord Jon.
- House Toland of Ghost Hill:
Castle of Ghost Hill
- Their castle resides in the northeastern section of Dorne, near the Broken Arm.
House Toland
- Nymella Toland, Lady of Ghost Hill.
- House Uller of Hellholt:
Hellholt Castle
- Hellholt Castle earned its name from a past incident when a set of unwelcome visitors were locked in the keep’s great hall and burned to death. Their arms were also inspired by this incident, with the yellow and crimson colors depicted rayonne to mimic the deadly flames. This may also be the reason behind the saying that “half the Ullers are halfmad, and the other half are worse." Hellholt is located, aptly, near the source of the Brimstone River in Dorne’s desert region.
House Uller
- Lord Harmen Uller, Lord of Hellholt.
- Ser Ulwyck Uller, Brother of Lord Harmen.
- Ellaria Sand, Lord Harmen’s natural-born daughter, the paramour of Prince Oberyn Martell. Ellaria has borne the prince half of his bastard brood of Sand Snakes: Elia, Obella, Dorea, and Loreza.
- House Yronwood of Yronwood:
Castle of Yronwood
- The Yronwoods are one of the older houses in Dorne, having existed prior to Nymeria’s landing when they were minor kings in their own right. They fought against the Rhoynar and the houses that supported them, an effort that was ultimately unsuccessful. Because of this, the Yronwoods and Martells, who fought with Nymeria to unite Dorne, have often found themselves on the opposite sides of a cause. For instance, the Yronwoods sided with Bittersteel three times during the Blackfyre Rebellion.
House Yronwood
- Lord Anders Yronwoods. In addition to his familial title, he is also known as the Bloodroyal (most likely a reference to the house’s heritage prior to Nymeria’s landing) and the Warden of the Stone Way. The latter title refers to the Yronwood’s duty to protect Dorne from invaders traveling down the Boneway, a responsibility the house is uniquely qualified to fulfill since Yronwood Castle sits at the southern end of that route.
- Ser Cletus Yronwoods, easily distinguishable by his lazy eye and Heir to Yronwood.
- Minor Houses
-
- House Dalt of Lemonwood:
Lemonwood Castle
- Lemonwood castle lies just south of where the Greenblood River empties into the narrow sea.
House Lemonwood
- Ser Dezial Lemonwood, known as the Knight of Lemonwood. Ser Dezial is one of Prince Oberyn’s companions.
- Ser Andrey Lemonwood, His younger brother and heir. Andrey, called Drey by his friends, is a close confidante of Arianne Martell.
- House Dayne of High Hermitage:
Castle of High Hermitage
- The most well-known member of this cadet branch of House Dayne is the current Knight of High Hermitage, Ser Gerold, called Darkstar. High Hermitage is situated on the Torentine between Blackmont and Starfall.
House Dayne
- Ser Gerold Dayne, Knight of High Hermitage also called Darkstar. Ser Gerold is a charismatic man with traits similar to the Daynes in Starfall in some respects: his eyes are a dark purple, and his shoulder-length hair is silver with a prominent black streak. But unlike the other Daynes, Darkstar also has a streak of cruelty and anger just as black as the one that marks his head. He is an accomplished fighter, and he is unafraid to test his skill on anyone at any time.
House Gargalen of Salt Shore:
Salt Shore
- Located on the Summer Sea coastline almost due south from Godsgrace.
House Gargalen
- Lord Tremond Gargalen is the current head of House Gargalen.
- House Helden of Vulture's Roost:
House Helden:
- The founder of House Helden was raised to lordship for valor in the Battle of Redgrass Field and given the tower keep of Stormstruck. The House's fortunes rose steadily until the current Lord Helden was betrayed by his castellan Morne Trant during Robert's Rebellion. While Lord Cley Helden declared for King Aerys, the Trants conspired to hand Stormstruck to the rebels in exchange for a lordship.
Although Lord Cley's infamous brother Will Helden slew Morne Trant for his betrayal, things got even worse for House Helden. They fought under Lord Connington's banner when Robert Baratheon soundly defeated him in the Battle of the Bells at Stony Sept. Lord Cley Helden had enough: he lost his niece and lands to Trant's betrayal, his eldest son died for Aerys on the battlefield, and now the cause seemed lost. He turned cloak, falling on Connington's routing crossbowmen and slaying many.
Although Robert appreciated Helden's eleventh hour decision to recognize him as King, he demanded compensation for the death of Lord Trant. House Helden's lands were given over to Othos Trant, the new 'Lord of Gallowsgrey and Stormstruck'. Lord Helden had to content himself with the promise of new holdings should Robert prevail.
Fortunately, Robert won the war for the Iron Throne. His Hand Jon Arryn honored the agreement made at Stony Sept: he bestowed Vulture's Roost on House Helden, an ill-omened Marcher ruin that had been the seat of an outlaw king. Although Vulture's Roost could be a seat worthy of a Great House, its walls were crumbling and it commanded mostly barren, mountainous land. It was also a contested domain, with both the Stormlords and Dorne laying claim to its strategic position between the Prince's Pass and the Boneway.
Members of House Helden
- Lord Cley Helden, Lord of Vulture’s Roost, formerly Lord of Stormstruck
- His wife, Lady Cerenna, of House Hightower of Oldtown, died in childbirth
- Ser Carsten Helden, First son of Lord Cley and Lady Cerenna, died in the Battle of Summerhall.
- Connor, Second son of Lord Cley and Lady Cerenna, Heir to Vulture's Roose, a sickly but capable strategist.
- Bryce, Third son of Lord Cley and Lady Cerenna, known for his cunning.
- Ser Willam, Lord Cley's Brother, called Will Hang, a knight of ill repute.
- Genna Trant, wife to wife to Ser Willam Helden, executed by her uncle.
- Amma Ser Willam's daughter, executed along with her mother.
- Household of Vulture's Roost
- Cecile Barrows, a warrior maid.
- Ser Jaymes Amberley, a sworn sword, knighted on the battlefield by Ser Willam.
- Hanos, called Sharp Han, nominal leader of the Raiders of the Roost
- Jorjen Waters, steward of Vulture's Roost, a cripple
- House Ladybright
House Ladybright
- Lady Alyse Ladybright, Lady of Ladybright, currently serves Prince Doran as his lord treasurer.
- House Santagar of Spottswood:
Castle of Spottswood
- The Santagars are a family who were granted status and lands for past service.
House Santagar
- Ser Symon Santagar, Knight of Spottswood.
- Sylva Santagar, Daughter of Ser Symon, a woman in her early twenties who is known as Spotted Sylva on account of her abundant freckles.
- Ser Aron Santagar, currently serves the Iron Throne as the master-at-arms for the Red Keep at King’s Landing.
- House Vaith of Red Dunes:
Red Dunes Castle
- Red Dunes sits near the source of the river of the same name.
House Vaith
- Lord Daeron Vaith, Lord of Red Dunes.
House Wyl of Boneway Castle
Boneway Castle
- Appropriately, the Wyl stronghold, Boneway Castle, lies near the halfway point of the Boneway.
House Wyl
- Lord Damen Wyl, Lord of the Boneway.
|