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Dropping this here just to gauge interest!
Hand of the Blackwinter Princess: It is a cheerful time in Westeros. A war between the controlling families of the Stormlands and Dorne are at an end. Peace, as any peace is in these lands, remains tenuous at best. The southern most region between the Stormlands and Dorne stay relatively hostile, or are to be considered as such. Trade still ceases to exist between Dorne and many of the great houses but there are talks to resume.
Now, King Arrec V of house Durrandon has called each great house of Westeros to attend a grand tournament in celebration of this new unity. Will you attend?
-------------------------------
More on the ruling house, and other houses involved.
Ours is Fury.
No House in Westeros can claim to be more storied than Durrandon. Founded by a man who married the daughter of two gods, built the greatest castle ever known and lived for a thousand years, the Kings of House Durrandon have long been the strongest in the Stormlands. They consolidated their rule over the region centuries ago, crushing their rivals during the Time of a Thousand Kingdoms and emerging as the sole power in the Stormlands.
In later centuries, they went on to conquer parts of Dorne, the Reach and the Riverlands. Eventually, they seized the Riverlands entirely and House Durrandon ruled from the Narrow Sea to the Neck. Those gains were lost lost a generation ago with the rise of the Iron Islander Harwyn Hardhand, who seized the Riverlands for himself and drove the Stormlanders south of the Blackwater Rush. Meanwhile, Knights from the Reach have retaken the western provinces and Dornishmen have spilled over the Boneway, running rampant through undermanned lands.
Today, House Durrandon is much diminished, though their stronghold of Storm's End remains as impregnable as ever. Although King Arrec is well-liked, he lacks the respect of his peers. Many look past him to his son Argilac as the man who will return the Stormlands to greatness.
Rise the Evenstar
House Tarth have ruled the Sapphire Isle for as long as history remembers. They claim to be among the eldest Houses in Westeros, tracing their origin to the original wave of the First Men crossing the Broken Arm of Dorne into the new continent. They bent the knee to the Durrandons toward the end of the Time of a Thousand Kings, but were one of the last kingdoms to hold out against Storm's End.
House Tarth has ever been known for the prowess of her sons and the strength of her armies. Today House Tarth holds the largest army in the Stormlands, surpassing even the royal forces, who have been greatly diminished by recent turmoil. Lord Targus Tarth embodies the oldest spirit of the Sapphire Isle- a tenacious warrior who rules with ship and sword.
Powerful and Cautious
Exerting power from their seat at Stonehelm, the Swanns were kings who claim descent from Garth Greenhand, first sovereign of the Reach. They brought with them chivalry and art and in doing so forever influenced the values of the Stormlands. It was said that Stonehelm was the cultural heart of the region during the Time of a Thousand Kings before bending the knee to House Durrandon.
Today, House Swann fails to live up to half of their own words. They remain cautious, rarely provoking enemies within the Stormlands or beyond, but they cannot claim to be powerful. Their armies were crushed by the Iron Islanders and their lands pillaged by Dornish raiders in the years that followed. Ruled now by the Lady Elloraine, House Swann struggles to maintain control of the Marches.
Bring Forth the Harvest
Youngest and least of the nobility, House Selmy were until recently Landed Knights. Their short history is the tale of brave fighters selflessly serving House Durrandon and keeping the Marches safe from ravenous Dornishmen, protecting the wheat fields which feed the Stormlands. Though seen as up-jumped millers, bakers and soldiers by some, it was through valour and strength of arms that House Selmy was born.
It is perhaps no surprise that such a weak House would be controlled by external forces. Young Lord Byron is but a boy and his mother has little taste for command. Power falls then to Septon Oberon, who governs the realm with the Light of the Seven. A pogrom has been recently launched, declaring the Old Gods and all foreign religions to be heresy, their practitioners Witches and consorts of Demons. Hundreds of refugees have spilled over into neighbouring regions to avoid persecution.
Behold a Bleeding Heart
While most Houses can point to some great founding event in the past that saw them rise above other Men, few have origin stories as grizzly as House Staedmon. It was the time of King Qarlton II Durrandon, called Qarlton the Conqueror. Qarlton was struggling against Andal invaders plaguing the northern skirt of his realm. His nemesis was Torgarion the Terrible, who took the Darklyn heir to wife and claimed himself King of Duskendale. King Qarlton promised his own daughter to the man who would tear out the heart of Torgarion. A horse-thief named Staedmon presented the heart inside an oak box within the year. Staedmon was married to a Princess and given a vast swathe of the Rainwood.
The House has never risen above its sinister roots. Today they are most famous as killers, poisoners and spies. Unlike traditional Stormlanders, control of the House passes to the eldest child, regardless of gender. Said to consort with Demons, some say they have contact with the Children of the Forest, who are all but extinct. That they are governed by a woman reputed to practice blood magic does little to shatter these preconceptions. Given their queer customs and heretical beliefs, House Staedmon has few friends.
This is to be a tale of intrigue, war, and vast political corruption. In this, we will work through making our own House within this realm that is subject to House Durrandon (as they are the leading house via King Arrec V). King Arrec believes all is well, or shall be well, and that the ending of this war brings good tidings; there are none. What lays in wait will change the history of Westeros forever and what each of the houses do in response will carve a new path to power, or shatter the foundations of said house.
If you're interested, I'll drop the rules of House creation here. We can either make one together, or find another way to interact with this story! I didn't give away the whole plot, but I do have the main storybeats in my head! It's supposed to be a surprise, after all.
Oh, in addition to all that information, I also have a bunch of premade characters for each house!
Hit me up in a PM if you're interested.
Hand of the Blackwinter Princess: It is a cheerful time in Westeros. A war between the controlling families of the Stormlands and Dorne are at an end. Peace, as any peace is in these lands, remains tenuous at best. The southern most region between the Stormlands and Dorne stay relatively hostile, or are to be considered as such. Trade still ceases to exist between Dorne and many of the great houses but there are talks to resume.
Now, King Arrec V of house Durrandon has called each great house of Westeros to attend a grand tournament in celebration of this new unity. Will you attend?
-------------------------------
More on the ruling house, and other houses involved.
Ours is Fury.
No House in Westeros can claim to be more storied than Durrandon. Founded by a man who married the daughter of two gods, built the greatest castle ever known and lived for a thousand years, the Kings of House Durrandon have long been the strongest in the Stormlands. They consolidated their rule over the region centuries ago, crushing their rivals during the Time of a Thousand Kingdoms and emerging as the sole power in the Stormlands.
In later centuries, they went on to conquer parts of Dorne, the Reach and the Riverlands. Eventually, they seized the Riverlands entirely and House Durrandon ruled from the Narrow Sea to the Neck. Those gains were lost lost a generation ago with the rise of the Iron Islander Harwyn Hardhand, who seized the Riverlands for himself and drove the Stormlanders south of the Blackwater Rush. Meanwhile, Knights from the Reach have retaken the western provinces and Dornishmen have spilled over the Boneway, running rampant through undermanned lands.
Today, House Durrandon is much diminished, though their stronghold of Storm's End remains as impregnable as ever. Although King Arrec is well-liked, he lacks the respect of his peers. Many look past him to his son Argilac as the man who will return the Stormlands to greatness.
Rise the Evenstar
House Tarth have ruled the Sapphire Isle for as long as history remembers. They claim to be among the eldest Houses in Westeros, tracing their origin to the original wave of the First Men crossing the Broken Arm of Dorne into the new continent. They bent the knee to the Durrandons toward the end of the Time of a Thousand Kings, but were one of the last kingdoms to hold out against Storm's End.
House Tarth has ever been known for the prowess of her sons and the strength of her armies. Today House Tarth holds the largest army in the Stormlands, surpassing even the royal forces, who have been greatly diminished by recent turmoil. Lord Targus Tarth embodies the oldest spirit of the Sapphire Isle- a tenacious warrior who rules with ship and sword.
Powerful and Cautious
Exerting power from their seat at Stonehelm, the Swanns were kings who claim descent from Garth Greenhand, first sovereign of the Reach. They brought with them chivalry and art and in doing so forever influenced the values of the Stormlands. It was said that Stonehelm was the cultural heart of the region during the Time of a Thousand Kings before bending the knee to House Durrandon.
Today, House Swann fails to live up to half of their own words. They remain cautious, rarely provoking enemies within the Stormlands or beyond, but they cannot claim to be powerful. Their armies were crushed by the Iron Islanders and their lands pillaged by Dornish raiders in the years that followed. Ruled now by the Lady Elloraine, House Swann struggles to maintain control of the Marches.
Bring Forth the Harvest
Youngest and least of the nobility, House Selmy were until recently Landed Knights. Their short history is the tale of brave fighters selflessly serving House Durrandon and keeping the Marches safe from ravenous Dornishmen, protecting the wheat fields which feed the Stormlands. Though seen as up-jumped millers, bakers and soldiers by some, it was through valour and strength of arms that House Selmy was born.
It is perhaps no surprise that such a weak House would be controlled by external forces. Young Lord Byron is but a boy and his mother has little taste for command. Power falls then to Septon Oberon, who governs the realm with the Light of the Seven. A pogrom has been recently launched, declaring the Old Gods and all foreign religions to be heresy, their practitioners Witches and consorts of Demons. Hundreds of refugees have spilled over into neighbouring regions to avoid persecution.
Behold a Bleeding Heart
While most Houses can point to some great founding event in the past that saw them rise above other Men, few have origin stories as grizzly as House Staedmon. It was the time of King Qarlton II Durrandon, called Qarlton the Conqueror. Qarlton was struggling against Andal invaders plaguing the northern skirt of his realm. His nemesis was Torgarion the Terrible, who took the Darklyn heir to wife and claimed himself King of Duskendale. King Qarlton promised his own daughter to the man who would tear out the heart of Torgarion. A horse-thief named Staedmon presented the heart inside an oak box within the year. Staedmon was married to a Princess and given a vast swathe of the Rainwood.
The House has never risen above its sinister roots. Today they are most famous as killers, poisoners and spies. Unlike traditional Stormlanders, control of the House passes to the eldest child, regardless of gender. Said to consort with Demons, some say they have contact with the Children of the Forest, who are all but extinct. That they are governed by a woman reputed to practice blood magic does little to shatter these preconceptions. Given their queer customs and heretical beliefs, House Staedmon has few friends.
This is to be a tale of intrigue, war, and vast political corruption. In this, we will work through making our own House within this realm that is subject to House Durrandon (as they are the leading house via King Arrec V). King Arrec believes all is well, or shall be well, and that the ending of this war brings good tidings; there are none. What lays in wait will change the history of Westeros forever and what each of the houses do in response will carve a new path to power, or shatter the foundations of said house.
If you're interested, I'll drop the rules of House creation here. We can either make one together, or find another way to interact with this story! I didn't give away the whole plot, but I do have the main storybeats in my head! It's supposed to be a surprise, after all.
Oh, in addition to all that information, I also have a bunch of premade characters for each house!
Hit me up in a PM if you're interested.