The Swann's Bite

Gulian Swann - 40 - Lord of Stonehelm

[gulianxswann]

{ jonathan bailey  + forty + cisman + he/him/his } welcome to westeros GULIAN of HOUSE SWANN OF  STONEHELM! it is quite well known that they are MATICULOUS and CARING, though behind closed doors the people whisper that they are also CALCULATING and STUBBORN. whenever i think of them, i am reminded of a black and white cloak surrounded by forest, secret letters filled with secret schemes & immense calm under considerable pressure. may they prove their worth in the game of thrones.

Gulian was the eldest child of House Swann, born after him were several siblings. As the eldest he spent the most time with his father, learning to take over Stonehelm once he passed. He was a decent swordsman, but a better stratician. 

He was raised in the way one would expect a Swann to be, martial and seafairing. They defend the Stormlands from anyone seeking to use the Slayne to enter it. A task he takes seriously. That he still takes seriously. 

He took to secret keeping, often finding things out about others and than using those secrets to collect new ones. His father told him he spent too much time building webs, but Gulian would always tell him its how spiders caught their flies. 

His father was a close friend of Orys Baratheon and when the wore broke out the Swanns rose alongside them. Gulian still feels a deep sense of loyalty to the Baratheons, and wants to see them restored to Storm’s End. 

Gulian fought in most of battles, and earned a name for himself as a capable commander. He is someone who likes to have as little unknown details as possible, and tries to leave nothing to fate.

His father perished fighting at the Trident, and now Gulian has been deep in melancholy, he feels he failed his father, and the Baratheons. He now works to try and restore them to their rightful place, seeing the Dondarrions as enemies from within.  

BASICS.

name — Gulian Swann

nick names — tbd

titles & alias’ — Lord of Stonehelm

gender — Cis Man

pronouns — He/Him/His

romantic & sexual orientation — Bisexual, Biromantic

age — 40

place of birth — Stonehelm 

current residence — Stonehelm

PERSONALITY.

positive traits — meticulous, strong, confident, caring, and loyal

negative traits —  calculating, stubborn, reclusive, and set in his ways

likes  —  reading, swimming, riding,&  hunting

dislikes  — being bothered, those who are rude, or uncaring for no reason

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

eye color — Brown

hair color — Brown

hair style — short on the sides, hair on the top of his head to style

complexion — Caucasian 

build — Lean and Muscular

height — 5’11

clothing — dark, and simple, little to no ornamentation 

accessories & jewelry — none beyond his sigil ring

faceclaim — jonathan bailey 

RELATIONSHIPS.

parents —   Former Ruling Lord Denys Swann (Deceased), and Dowager Lady utp Swann nee Mertyns

siblings — Lord/Lady/Liege Swann x 4

cousins   — tbd

romantic interest — tbd

children — none

pets —  tbd

MISC.

religion —  Faith of the Seven

known languages — The Common tongue

[glittxeringgold]

Raela was focusing her energy on not panicking during the entire event, she almost missed Lord Swann's presence. Being forced to face every person she wronged during the ceremony was a special type of hell for her. Her plans never accounted for marrying into the family she was trying to dethrone, nor falling in love with a member of it. But everything was fine and she was sure to figure out a plan. Maybe. If they stopped caving in on her. "Prince Edmund and I are enjoying being married" Enjoying it a little too much. She supposed being in proximity to the most powerful house in Westeros came with its benefits, like having protection from being accused of starting a riot and losing control of it. How was she supposed to explain all this to her allies on the rebelling side? "My grandfather is as healthy as ever, thank you" She gritted her teeth into a smile as she hid her true emotions for the sake of proper conversations.

[gulianxswann]

"Good. It is important to enjoy ones marriage. I hear thats what makes them last, actually enjoying it. Too often I hear about lords and ladies that get wed that simply detest one another." He smiled. "I know such an arrangement would never be for me, being unhappily wed." He nodded his head when she said that her grandfather was well, and healthy as ever.

"Good. Westeros would suffer a great loss if we were to ever lose Ossifer Waynwood. I imagine there would be a good deal of people happy. A good deal of people relieved, and a small amount of people who would actually seek to mourn him." Though that meant he lived a live that was full and worth living, one should leave some enemies behind, as well as allies, friends, and family.

[bybloods]

orielle  found  wandering  in  the  gardens  of  king's  landing  to  be  far  more  of  a  undertaking  than  doing  the  same  in  lannisport.  for  one,  the  royal  gardens  were  far  more  expansive.  the  weight  of  her  lilac  gown  had  become  cumbersome  after  a  mere  five  minutes'  trek  from  the  roses  to  the  hibiscus.  she  was  grateful  that  her  hair,  which  she  so  loved  to  show  off  for  its  near  absurd  length,  had  been  piled  up  on  the  crown  of  her  head  in  a  mass  of  braids.  for  another  thing,  she  feared  who  she  might  run  into.  in  orielle's  nightmares,  the  villains  were  no  more  than  dark  shadows,  noises  in  the  night.  turning  corners  in  a  plush  garden  hardly  resembled  fleeing  from  danger  in  a  dank  cave  or  dungeon  or  what  have  you — but  to  someone  as  skittish  as  the  lannister  lady,  they  reminded  of  each  other.  "  i've  only  just  arrived,  my  lord,  "  she  reassures,  "  though  it  pleases  me  to  know  i  have  such  a  light  step.  quite  like  a  dancer,  or  a  mouse.  "  she  steps  closer,  falling  into  line  to  stand  beside  the  lord  swann.  a  small  part  of  her  remains  grateful  that  it  was  only  him  she  had  found  by  the  water  view,  and  not  something  more  sinister  —  the  things  that  all  ladies  who  had  not  been  born  in  king's  landing  had  been  warned  of.  "  and  i  abhor  being  alone.  "

[gulianxswann]

"So then you would call yourself a social creature? If you abhor being alone?" Gulian chuckled a little. "Personally I find the absence of other to not be the worst, especially when it seems these social events become more and more and more prevalent. I do believe it seems we cannot get away without everyone in all of Westeros being forced to regather together again over, and over." He leaned against the pole over looking the ocean and sighed.

"King's Landing I think is the worst of all the cities. Dirty, smelly, and too crowded without the extra people about. I for one cannot wait to get back to Stonehelm, I have much work to attend to, that this has all pulled me away from."

[gulianxswann]

COMFORT: sender is going through a break up and receiver offers to cheer them up ( from evanie )

Gulian's father was throwing a feast, and invited quite a few different lords and ladies, including quite a few of the Dornish nobles. Gulian had danced with quite a few of the ladies in attendance, but when he saw Evanie Dayne leaving the room in tears, something in him told him to follow. Chasing after he, Gulian found her looking out a window.

"They're just awful aren't they? The Carons at that dance? Brings tears to my eyes as well." Leaning up against a pillar next to her, arms folded over his chest. "Well whoever your dance partner was that has left you like this, I am quite certain a lady like you can do leagues better." Offering her his hand.

"Why don't we go back in there? Show them that we know how to have a good time? Throw it back in their face."

[gulianxswann]

❝ i've heard a few things about you. ❞ — ronan

"You have?" Gulian smiled, leaning back in his chair a little. "I never would have thought word of Gulian Swann would have reached all the way to the Iron Islands." He rubbed at his chin a little, before raising an eyebrow at him. "Or perhaps you've been in the company of the Estermonts too much, that you're starting to become more of a Stormlander."

[gulianxswann]

Gulian was enjoying a quiet, secluded spot in the garden. A game he liked to play with his siblings, stare at the ship and state where it was going, what it was carrying. Whoever was the most creative in their answer would win. He was playing by himself right now, maybe not as fun but....still an easy way to pass the time. He heard a noise behind him, and turned before giving a small bow.

"Lady Lannister forgive me. I did not know you were there. I hope you were not standing long, and that I am not intruding on a space you desire to have alone."

@bybloods

[gulianxswann]

"Lady Raela, or is it Princess now? I am sorry I missed your nuptials. I heard it was a lovely event. I hope you and your new husband are quite happy." Gulian remembered Raela's little spy games from the rebellion. He was curious, how she could go from hating the Targaryens to marrying one. Perhaps though it was a cover, another game for her. "You grandfather is well I hope, Westeros will be worse off without him."

@seahorsestars

[samoftheforest]

The passing of Lord Edric was tragic because it was so unexpected. The riots have left lasting effects on those caught in the smoke. But for Sam, the Dondarrian's passing was an opportunity. "Terrible, terrible indeed" The Dondarrian's were now unstable, which was the perfect time to try and gamble for the Stormlands back. The traitors to the Stormlands did not deserve her cousin's ancestral seat. Sam had made a plan, and hoped to execute it slowly over the coming months.

"They are weak now, just about anyone can topple their rule" Sam tried to keep her smile under a worried facade, but she knew she failed. Lord Swann was a ally to the rebellion, and perhaps one of the only houses associated that was not financially ruined. "It makes one nervous about the future of the Stormlands"

[gulianxswann]

Samantha Tarth was a known rebel, and as the months had passed since the war's end, it was known to most that she was still identifying as a rebel. She was painting a large target on her back, and Gulian worried she was playing her hands too quick, too publicly, and far too risky. To restore the Baratheons would be slow, meticulous work, that would require bridge building. He worried she only knew how to burn them.

"Topple? An interesting notion, though I doubt anyone has any desire to topple right now. And it would be in very, very poor taste to discuss toppling anyone at a funeral." He raised an eyebrow, ever so slightly as he tapped a finger against his glass. "One can remain worried, or nervous while being tasteful to their hosts. Edric's death, was after all a terrible thing." He wondered how deep Sam's sincerity actually ran in those words.

[threadedjade]

kaela  finds  her  hands  folded  in  front  of  her,  pressed  against  the  dark  pleats  of  her  skirts,  nodding  solemnly.  her  heart  is  with  the  children.  three  young  orphans.  alone  now.  the  thought  has  her  heart  in  her  throat,  choking  on  her  sympathies,  unable  to  find  words  to  voice  what  a  tragedy  it  was.  mortality  was  a  frightful  thing.  the  gods,  in  the  pissing  weather,  seemed  to  agree.

feeling  as  if  she  was  inching  closer  to  the  iron  lip  of  a  bear  trap,  it  felt  unwise  to  involve  herself  in  southern  politics.  but,  she  had  been  bidden.  "an  unexpected  tragedy  breeds  doubt  in  all  corners."  the  umber  was  beginning  to  parse  out  that  the  baratheons  had  been  more  popular  than  she  expected,  their  name  bearing  more  weight  than  the  dondarrions  even  when  the  focus  was  meant  to  be  on  them.  many  of  the  vassals  who'd  come  to  honour  the  late  dondarrion  heir  seemed  to  sour  at  the  thought  of  it,  and  there  were  some  who  pointedly  did  not  attend.  the  cold  was  an  enemy  enough,  she  did  not  wish  to  fight  family  and  bannerman  alike.  "i  can  only  imagine  its  a  shared  concern  among  the  stormlands  houses.  it  is  your  fate  intertwined."

[gulianxswann]

His drink coming up to his lips, as he listened to the Umber respond to his thoughts he nodded along. "And right now doubt is the last thing that anyone, anywhere needs." Gulian truthfully held no ill will for the Dondarrions, they did what most would have done in their position, accept the royal gift. Most who said otherwise was a liar. He had lit a candle for the Edric, in sincerity, his children now fatherless, but as much sympathy as he had for them, the family had decided to wade into the weave of politics, and now they would find targets on all of their backs for various reasons, various goals, various opportunities.

"The future of the Stormlands, and of Westeros is what concerns me, most of all truth be told. That riot in Lannisport, the smallfolk attacked everyone, regardless of which side they served under. The anger....of the people must be addressed, or it will brew over and we will all face another reckoning, and after all, all lords great or small rely on the people living within their lands to retain their status." A small chuckle left Gulian's lips, "I fear I cannot imagine someone like Lord Lorent Tyrell working the fields to make sure we keep getting our fruits."

[gulianxswann]

"Terrible isn't it? The passing of a young man such as Lord Edric?" Gulian was resting his shoulder against a wall at the funeral of Lord Edric Dondarrion. He bore the man no personal ill will, nor his family. They were puppets, pawns of the Crown....too proud to realize it, to proud or too eager for power. However, the heir's death created an....opening in Gulian's grand design for the Stormlands. It could not be allowed to remain in their hands, the mouth piece of the crown. Regardless of the rebellion, the Stormlands could not submit to a rule that did not descend from their most ancient house, the Durrandon's, who's very blood, sigil, and words coursed through the Baratheons.

"It does worry me though, that a touch of consumption would kill such a healthy young man. It makes me concerned about the health of their bloodline.....the security of our new overlord's and how well they can keep the Stormlands secure, no?" He raised an eyebrow at the person he was talking to, curious of their response, if it would be agreement or offense.

[gulianxswann]

"Has  my  tale  turned  you  speechless?  Come,  curse  me  or  kiss  me  or  call  me  a  liar.  Something." From Sam

"Not speechless no. You should always take the time to collect your thoughts. So I won't be cursing you, nor will I be condemning you as a liar, and I fear there will be no kisses either. Rather we must deduce what we are going to do with your tale, to spread it, make it known, use it to our advantage."

[gulianxswann]

There  is  a  savage  beast  in  every  man,  and  when  you  hand  that  man  a  sword  or  spear  and  send  him  forth  to  war,  the  beast  stirs. - kelvyn

"The beast might stir, but it still falls to the man to contain that beast. That is what makes him a man after all, not giving in to his darkest impulses, not allowing himself to become craven......for when we let that beast win, we're no better than the monster we fight against. And despite the history of your family name, I do not believe you to be a savage beast, Kelvyn. You have a lot of man in you."