º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes GWYNESSE of HOUSE ( s ) LANNISTER ( by marriage ) & GOODBROTHER ( by birth ), the LADY of LANNISPORT. the THIRTY year old CISWOMAN is reputed to be ENTERPRISING and MELLIFLUOUS, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be IMPERIOUS and DESENSITIZED. when songs are sung, their verses speak of THE TIDE VICIOUSLY BREAKING AGAINST THE SAND AND SPLASHING AGAINST THE WALL, A NEVER ENDING, ALL TOO FAMILIAR CALLING ; “WHAT IF I TOLD YOU I’M SPLIT IN HALF? WHAT IF I TOLD YOU: I’M THE KNIFE?” ; PENELOPE, THE QUEEN OF ITHACA, PATIENTLY TENDING TO THE WEAVING OF A SHROUD AND OF A FUTURE OF HER OWN DESIGN. whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with HOUSE LANNISTER OF LANNISPORT / HERSELF, where they conspire to GET RID OF THE SQUABBLES ON HER SHIPYARD AND INSTAL HER HUSBAND AS RULING LORD. but in the end fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
full name : gwynnesse lannister, née goodbrother.
alias / nickname : gwyn, ness, senne, the gilded siren.
age : thirty.
gender and pronouns : ciswoman and she / her.
orientation : demisexual demiromantic.
occupation : lady consort of lannisport ( as wife of the lord heir ), secretly acting regent of lannisport.
faceclaim : naomi battrick.
date of birth : first month of the year of 270.
parents : gorold goodbrother & eydis farwynd.
siblings : eleven sisters ( two older, nine younger ) and three brothers ( all older ).
significant other : tba lannister, lord heir of lannisport.
offspring : at least five children. she does not always remember their names.
religious affiliation : the faith of the seven ( public; converted by marriage ), the drowned god ( by birth ).
inspirations : eleanor guthrie ( black sails ), jocelyn castell ( jamestown ), penelope of ithaca ( odyssey ), cersei lannister ( asoiaf ), ariel ( the little mermaid ), georgia ( ginny & georgia ), isabella the she wolf of france ( history + knightfall ), livia drusilla ( domina ), emma of normandy ( history + vikings valhalla ), nurbanu sultan ( magnificent century + history ), caroline collingwood and marcia roy ( succession ).
application ; full statistics ; tdlr and connections below the cut.
trigger warning for : toxicity ( both for her #girlboss gaslight gatekeep ways and for her actually poisoning her father in law oop. )
as the third born daughter, it seems all that she could be has already been taken by either gael ( begrudgingly, the childrearing ) or gyda ( their mother’s old chainmaille ) — straining for individuality or selfishness ( one and the same, at times, but who cares ), young gwyn would attempt to reach out for father instead, an endeavor that while others ( most of the other goodbrother girls ) would fail, she would succeed. before the rebellion made him harder, and even afterwards, she took prize in being one of the few to pry a smile out of him, and, most of all, she enjoyed accompanying him to the family mines, learning of the ores and the business and economy, while taking home whatever shiny little rock she could.
although she trained with the sword, as well as the needle ( her mother had, after all, been a notorious shieldmaiden and now she was a loyal wife who had given her lord fifteen children ), gwynesse preferred the former, if only because being a lady paired up well with what she was truly good at : cunning.
still, once she was sixteen, she asked to take a part of a crew that would travel to essos. although she cared nothing for physical exertion activities, she greatly enjoyed the trip — it made her realize that the iron islands were nothing compared to the world and, perhaps, she would rather be elsewhere. somewhere better, greater.
the realization of her wish was a double edged sword: while she did manage to go somewhere greater, she almost died ( or actually died, and was brought back to life by the drowned god who wished to set her to greatness, in her own mind ) when the ship wrecked, and she washed around westerland waters. she was rescued by the heir to lannisport, who took a liking to her and took her to his home to be cared for. there, fearing she would be killed or worse for being an ironborn, she pretended to be amnesiac and was allowed to remain at the castle out of courtesy.
during that time, she effectively managed to make the lord heir fall for her ( and if she fell for him too, it was, then, a sweet consequence ). once she fell with child, she arranged so her brothers would come retrieve her — the shot gun of sorts wedding was a good enough deal, for she did bring a big dowry, even if her father - in - law ( and possibly her husband, though he was easier to bend ) was not very pleased with having an ironborn for a daughter.
within two years after that, her husband was called to lead a part of the lannister fleet, and gwynesse remained at lannisport, bregundigly bearing babies and facing scrutiny from the westerlanders who thought of her as too foreign to be trusted — a sentiment her father - in - law shared, refusing to allow her in and aid him with anything of importance, much to her distaste. at some point, she begins poisoning him with lead ( something that has no taste, no smell and that slowly can drive one to madness and several other unpleasant physical ailments ), which leads him to become more dependent on her and, of course, she takes advantage of that to help him rule lannisport.
currently, it’s been over ten years since the poisoning started, and if anyone points at her, gwynesse is offended and can easily begin tearing up if necessary, even offering to take on his food and drink if they are so suspicious. her husband defends her, likely unbeknownst, something she is glad for. gwynesse has no qualms in engaging in falsity, and even takes enjoyment of that, of this power.
her father - in - law is greatly debilitated, of course, and she is, for all purposes, mistress and ruler of lannisport, a duty she does not take lightly and tries her best to always stay on top, either that be to know who comes into town, what goods arrive and of the deals happening in it — it is an understatement to say she is controlling, and likes things her way. while some may frown at such power being granted to an ironborn, most have come to terms that she is as westerlander as one can be, proved by her loyalty to lannisport and to the many children she has birthed and raises under the light of the seven.
truthfully, she does not feel westerlander — but also she no longer feels ironborn. this is not a sentiment that disturbs her much, however, for she is content with her position and very busy occupation, but she is growing more bothered by the day by the ironborn growing bolder around the westerlands coast and how that may disturb her security in her role. besides mother, wife, ruler, daughter, sister, she is now being pushed to be a diplomat, a position that may be all too suited to her silver tongued ways, but that she is less pleased to juggle, as it may jeopardize all that she prizes and worked so hard to build.
i’d love more goodbrothers, particularly geirdis, her twin sister ( annie has put the wc on the main with all the information but i’m glad to help out with more ideas if needed ). the goodbrothers are often around lannisport, either for business or for familial affection.
the friendship is not entirely stretched to the other ironborn, but it wouldn’t be unlikely some do come in lannisport and i think interactions between gwyn, who has definitely been ‘corrupted’ by the way of the westerosi and enjoys dealing with the gold price rather than the iron price, and her old countrymen.
anyone from the westerlands or who stops by lannisport really. this also includes people who have not come to lannisport, but do deals within the city or with the lannisters of lannisport, as she often speaks for them all
due to the children and to her duties at the realm of lannisport, she is not often away from it, but it’s possible her husband could have taken her to some nearby places, or even acquaintances from that travel over a decade ago, when she was just one out of many goodbrothers
the lannisters of lannisport! please!!! at the moment i only have her husband and his sister, but they’re both pretty interesting — there’s all sort of things to explore with her husband, his position at sea, the shift to proper lordship and how he deals with her ambitions and everything else in their relationship; his sister is rosamund lannister, who is acting as lady / doppleganger for myrcella on kings landing. i’ve sent wcs for the both of them but i’m very game to discuss or change anything if necessary!
hello friends ! i am so excited to be writing brandon, especially with you lovely group of people! it’s been two years or so since i took a crack at him, so please excuse any dust as i settle in to him once again, and i hope you enjoy him as much as i do!
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king's landing welcomes BRANDON ❛ THE YOUNGER ❜ NORREY, the HEIR of THE NORREY. news borne by a raven sends word that he bears a resemblance to ANEURIN BARNARD. the TWENTY SEVEN year old CIS MAN is reputed to be STAUNCH and ADRIOT, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be BRUSQUE and IMPETUOUS. when songs are sung, their verses speak of GENTLE LAUGHTER ECHOING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, SOUNDING LIKE A THREAT TO THOSE BELOW ; AN HEIR WHO APPEARED LIKE A SHADOW, ASSUMED LOWBORN WITH A STOLEN SWORD, BUT PROVED HIMSELF IN THE WOLF'S CAMP ; HOW THE ACT OF PICKING A THISTLE DEMANDS A LEVEL OF RESPECT and THE VOICE OF ONE THAT IS THE VOICE OF ALL, THE NORREY SPEAKS FOR THE NORREY. whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with THE NORREY and HOUSE STARK, where they conspire to SECURE SAFETY FOR HIS PEOPLE. but in the end, fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
tl;dr → brandon the younger is the eldest son of the norrey ( known also as lord brandon of house norrey to the northern nobles ) and the next in line to be chief of the norrey mountain clan. // canon change: after the capture and execution of owen norrey, brandon’s cousin and member of robb stark’s battle guard, the norrey clan swore themselves to the stark’s cause or, more specifically, against the deceitful men of the south. // as occurred later in canon, the norrey was too old to join the campaign himself, brandon took his place.
a document containing brandon’s full biography, timeline, and various headcanons can be found in the pinned post on this blog! i’m very excited to build out connections for brandon but please keep in mind that most of these connections will have to be recent ones, given the nature of the life brandon lived before joining robb’s battle guard. the possible exceptions are those who would have been in winter town when brandon was younger or members of the night’s watch that may have collaborated with the norrey in the past. a few connections i’d love to have are included beneath the cut!
a first friend . when brandon joined the north’s army he was very much an outsider. while there were other norrey men that he easily fell in with, this would be the first person whom brandon did not know before joining that he became close with.
on the verge of enemies . due to being raised in quite a different environment than most nobles, but still carrying a noble title, brandon has a habit of acting perhaps too comfortably around other titled individuals. brandon was likely too honest with this character, or spoke to them in a way that could be read as disrespectful, and a rift has grown between them because of it.
a debt to repay . the idea of protection is very important within norrey culture, and this would be someone who protected brandon in a way he sees as lifesaving. brandon is honor bound to save the life of this individual in return.
misadventures in flirting . brandon is likely not anyone noble’s ideal choice for a wedding match; the northern clansman are considered to be more “ civilized ” than their counterparts in the vale, but they are still seen as somewhat boorish and only petty lords, rather than true nobles. however, brandon has never been one to let expectations stop him, and has struck up a flirtatious relationship with a lord or lady who’s quite a bit above his status.
simple pleasures . in a similar line as above, though perhaps not quite so daring, brandon likely has a few physical relationships that he has established since coming south, with those a bit less concerned about his intentions or house of origin.
the friend of my brother . or, more accurately, his cousin, but that didn’t sound as nice. brandon’s cousin owen was a member of the northern army before brandon himself. this would be someone who knew owen while he was alive and was a friend of his.
complementary rival . brandon can be exceptionally lethal, and this would be a character that is equally so. this is the legolas and gimli ‘ how many did you get ? ’ friendly rivalry between northern comrades that we deserve. the two show off to each other, try to always have one up, but when it came down to it, would have each other’s back no matter that shit they talk.
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes LORAS of HOUSE TYRELL, the SER of HIGHGARDEN. news borne by a raven sends word that he bears a resemblance to ALI GOZUSIRIN. the TWENTY-SEVEN year old CIS MAN is reputed to be GRACIOUS and LOYAL, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be SPOILED and IMPULSIVE. when songs are sung, their verses speak of IMPECCABLY POLISHED ARMOR (PERHAPS TOO ELEGANT, TOO EXTRAVAGANT, BUT WHO WOULD TELL HIM THAT?) ; THREE ROSES IN A FIELD OF GRASS, STRETCHING TOWARDS THE SUN, FOREVER UNTOUCHED ; A CHARMING GRIN ON HORSEBACK, SHARED WITH ALL, AND A SECOND, SOFTER SMILE, SHARED WITH ONE. whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with HOUSE TYRELL & RENLY BARATHEON, where they conspire to SHIFT THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S SUPPORT TO RENLY'S CAUSE. but in the end, fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
hi all !! i’m s, and i write loras :) it’s my first time diving into the got rp scene in a while, so bear with me as i regain my footing, but i’m so excited to be here! my headcanons for loras are below the cut, i can’t wait to get writing with all of you!
as a child, after robert’s rebellion, loras was sent to squire for renly baratheon in the stormlands - while he hated the place, longing desperately for the warmth and sunshine of the reach, he found a distraction in lord renly himself. he would never admit it aloud, but loras would go anywhere (even to the depths of the north, though loras despises the cold) if it meant being at renly's side.
loras is incredibly fond of his siblings, despite the fact that he's closer to margaery's age than his elder brothers'. he would die for any of them, and he hopes that he's proven that, not only in word, but in action. he fears they may not feel the same way about renly's quest as he does, but he hopes that he'll be able to convince them as much as he hopes to convince his grandmother of renly's capabilities.
though loras' strength and prowess with a sword is something that's unquestionable, his book smarts are lacking. when he was being tutored as a child, he always wanted to get away, frequently sneaking off to find other things to do. he much preferred to be outside, running in the gardens or practicing swordsmanship. he was a troublesome child, but, in his mind, it wasn't as if he was going to be lord of highgarden at any point - willas was the one who needed to do well in tutoring; loras wasn't even the spare to the heir. he could handle his father's disapproval, but never his grandmother's, though - she was always the person he was trying to impress.
loras truly believes that renly would make a better king than stannis. he knows that stannis' claim is too strong for renly to pass it by without major repercussions, but stannis' personality is lacking, while renly is charismatic and charming, in loras' mind. he thinks renly would make a better king, and he would admit that (albeit only to renly and loras’ own inner circle) if asked.
loras genuinely believes that he is one of the best fighters that westeros has ever seen. he knows that his reputation precedes him, as well as the fact that some believe he's a better jouster than he is a fighter, but he knows better than to take those words to heart. he knows his worth, and he believes that anyone who doesn't see that worth will be proven wrong in due time. despite knowing his own worth, though, loras is reckless, and would never turn down a challenge. he knows that this could get him into trouble, but he hasn't yet found himself in a situation he couldn't get himself out of.
loras is wary of the whispers of a targaryen return to westeros. he knows of the history of his family intimately - the tyrells and the targaryens had always been closely intertwined. in fact, it was this intra-familial association that led to loras being sent to the stormlands to squire for renly, in an attempt to prove house tyrell's newfound loyalty to house baratheon after king robert ascended to the throne. his ancestors may consider him a traitor, but they are long dead, so he tries to pay that thought no mind. his devotion to renly is unshakable, and no targaryen from across the narrow sea could change that, even if those whispers about three dragons are true.
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes MEERA REED of HOUSE REED, the LADY of THE NECK. news borne by a raven sends word that she bears a resemblance to MILLIE BRADY. the TWENTY FIVE year old CIS WOMAN is reputed to be PROTECTIVE and CHEERFUL, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be RECKLESS and IDEALISTIC. when songs are sung, their verses speak of BOW STRING BRUISES, STORIES AND LAUGHTER SHARED EVEN IN THE DARKEST OF NIGHTS, LEAVES AND TWIGS KNOTTED IN WILD HAIR. whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with HOUSE STARK, where they conspire to HELP BRAN TOWARDS HIS DESTINY. but in the end fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
STATS º . / AESTHETIC º . / PLAYLIST
you are a beloved child of a forgotten house, so elusive that even your castle cannot be found by outsiders. some people would grow to resent the bogs, but you revel in the moss and the mud and the freedom. even as the eldest, there are not many expectations placed upon your shoulders during childhood, and you live carelessly, getting to know the dangerous paths of the neck like the palm of your hand. greywater watch is an elusive homestead, with no knights or maesters, always floating from one place to the other like it is another living, breathing animal in the swamps.
your father gives you a spear and a net, and then a bow and arrows, and says you’ve got a knack for it. outsiders may say that crannogmen have no honour, poisoning their arrows and letting the lizard-lions deal with most of their enemies, but you know that is not true. a hunter can be as honourable as any knight, perhaps even more so, and hunting comes as naturally as breathing to you. but you’re not a fighter. for a while, that doesn’t matter. after all, the worst mistake anyone in the neck can make is trying to fight against the bogs instead of working with them. you don’t need to be a fighter. (until, of course, you do.)
here’s what you remember from childhood: green springs spent laughing alongside your brother, trying to catch frogs with bare hands, getting your hair braided by your mother’s dexterous fingers. dark nights where ale and wine are not enough to keep you warm, fireside stories that don’t let you sleep, getting lost in a patch of wilderness on the way home. jojen, with a sickly look on his face, dying. your mother, dead. all the memories bleed into each other now, love and joy almost always cutting through the grief and loneliness.
your father once said you were just like your mother: callused hands and a soft heart. his voice was fearful but you took that as a badge of pride. you can’t stop yourself from helping people, even though the rest of westeros is not like your home, where lizard lions and treacherous paths are the only things you have to worry about. you don’t want to be a hero like the ones in the stories your father used to tell by the firelight. but even as a little, perhaps insignificant, crannogwoman, you always try to stand tall.
your little brother has enigmatic dreams and sometimes his eyes seem old beyond his years. there are times when it makes you afraid, like destiny is an arrow that could be aimed at you at any point. the moment an arrow is shot there is no stopping it, and jojen’s dreams are sharp and silvery. you never let your fear show or your smile falter, but you spend your nights wondering how you can protect your family from something as heavy as destiny. the obvious answer, written into old stories and tales, is that you can’t. it won’t stop you from trying.
there is something special in winterfell, or at least that’s what your father seems to think when he sends you there. that’s what jojen’s dreams tell him. that’s what you feel fluttering in your chest the moment you see those grey stones. if destiny really is an arrow then you can sense its aim, pointing right to your heart.
TLDR; meera is a bit of a feral kid who is nonetheless very cheerful and always trying to get the people around her to laugh. for plotting reasons she is traveling alongside robb and his party at the moment (though with the sinking feeling that there are more worrying matters going on beyond what meets the eye).
hello again , hopefully i convinced you to all love brandon so we can all hate derran as a team! a lawful evil waterlogged bastard who looked at the stories of dagon drum and said that, that’s what i want. always slightly damp.
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes DERRAN DRUMM of HOUSE DRUMM, the LORD HEIR of OLD WYK. news borne by a raven sends word that he bears a resemblance to DANIEL SHARMAN. the THIRTY ONE year old CIS MAN is reputed to be INTELLIGENT and ASSURED, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be MORBID and ZEALOUS. when songs are sung, their verses speak of A BOY IN A GRIP, LIKE CATALEPTIC RIGIDITY, THE FATAL HOLD OF ANCESTRAL GHOST STORIES AND PATERNAL DEVOTION, SWIRLING LIKE AN EDDY THAT THREATENS TO PULL EVERYTHING UNDER ; BLOOD SPILLED IN THE WATER, LIFE IS GIFTED TO THE WAVES AND IS GRANTED IN RETURN ; AN IRON SKELETON THAT BRAVES ANY STORM WITH CONFIDENCE, FOR DEATH HAS COME AND HIS PRICE ALREADY PAID ; and HOW THERE IS DIVINITY IN HIS BONES AND HE WILL NOT SQUANDER IT. whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with THE DROWNED GOD, where they conspire to LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS PRINCIPLES. but in the end fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
tl;dr → canon change: i really hated the name denys, okay? so he is derran now. // grew up in the holiest place in the iron islands and was deeply impacted by his father’s piety, the loss of family, and one creepy drowned man // made the leap in logic that if life can be given from one body to the waves and back again, that it must be possible for life to be given from one body to the waves and then to another // keeping most of his nonsense to himself to appease his father, but even know among the ironborn as creepy as hell
i’m still working on reformatting his doc but you can find it here! please keep in mind that there is content related to death, self injury, and extreme religion within it, and to interact as you are comfortable! a few plot ideas can be found beneath the cut!
the thunderer’s crew , despite his peculiarities, derran is not a bad captain. he treats those in service aboard his ship fairly, though expects that they will not disappoint. it is likely that his crew can sense that something is off with their captain, if not exactly what it is. they would be acutely aware that derran is, like his father before him, a pious man who lives by the old way, with an mildly concerning fascination interest in life and death.
mercy shown , derran isn’t known for keeping prisoners — taking them, perhaps, but not keeping them. however, there was something about this character that derran felt drawn to, or some reason that he decided they deserved his mercy. he let them go, knowing his reputation was strong enough that one story wouldn’t be believed.
not as hard as he seems , it would be difficult to argue that derran is a good person, but that doesn’t mean he is universally disliked. some find that, despite his reputation, they don’t particularly mind derran drumm. others find that they actually enjoy his presence ; perhaps they’re similar to him in some way, or perhaps they simply find him curious.
a ghoulish presence , however, there are also those who simply find the heir of the bone hand off putting. perhaps it is the skeletal hand that adorns his banner, the fact that he appears just slightly too tall and too gaunt, or perhaps it is something in those startling blue eyes of his. they don’t have a concrete reason why, but something about derran makes their skin crawl.
hold out your open palm , derran will forever be thankful for brayden skinner, the man who guided him to the power he believes he has now. if he could offer someone the same feeling, he would love to, but it would have to be someone he both trusted completely and believed to be worthy of the drowned god’s gifts.
a marriage stronger than iron , derran knows that his father is right in choosing this match for him, and he’ll play along for the sake of securing his place as the future ruling lord of old wyk. however, this is only a political transaction to him, his feelings lying elsewhere.
burn the witch , most of westeros, if they have heard of derran drumm, know only rumors of a cruel ship captain. however, there are other rumors as well, ones closer to the truth. this is a character who is strongly opposed to the to the actions derran is taking, whether it be due to religious objections ( someone who sees what he is doing as blasphemous, witchcraft ) or someone who simply thinks it is wrong.
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes WYNAFRYD of HOUSE MANDERLY, the MISTRESS OF SHIPS of THE NORTH. news borne by a raven sends word that she bears a resemblance to ANYA CHALOTRA. the TWENTY - SIX year old CIS FEMALE is reputed to be LOQUACIOUS and KEEN-EYED, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be STUBBORN and AMBITIOUS. when songs are sung, their verses speak of THE SPRAY OF SEA AS IT HITS JAGGED ROCKS , CAREFULLY DRAWN MAPS INSPECTED BY DARK, KNOWING EYES , THE CALM OF THE SEA BEFORE A STORM , & SHELLS , SHARP AS DAGGERS ADORNING WINDSWEPT HAIR . whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with KING ROBB I, where they conspire to ESTABLISH A WAR FLEET FOR THE KING & UTILIZE TRADE ROUTES TO DISCREETLY PASS INFORMATION but in the end fealty means little when you play the game of thrones .
º . ♔ ⸻ the capital of king’s landing welcomes THEON OF HOUSE GREYJOY, the LORD of PYKE. news borne by a raven sends word that he bear(s) a resemblance to JUNG JAE WON. the 28 year old MALE is reputed to be PASSIONATE and BUOYANT, but with the eyes of court watching their every move, they might turn out to be INSECURE and HAUGHTY. when songs are sung, their verses speak of A MIRROR SHATTERED , SHARDS DRIPPING CRIMSON, A PORTRAIT AS LOST AS THE REFLECTION WITHIN | A PIECE TRYING TO FIT, IT DOESN’T BELONG | AT WAR WITH TWO SIDES, A HOWL IN YOUR HEART, SALT IN YOUR BLOOD ; THERE IS NO VICTORY whispers throughout the seven kingdoms claim that their allegiance lies with HOUSE STARK, where they conspire to ASSIST THE STARKS, RETURN TO THE IRON ISLANDS & PROVE HIMSELF TO HIS FAMILY (BLOOD AND NOT). but in the end fealty means little when you play the game of thrones.
Headcanons ⸻
Rose Colored Memories. Balon Greyjoy knew fairly early on that his youngest son was unlike the children he previously sired. He was too compassionate, too eager to please, and too emotional for the iron blood that should have been in his veins. He discarded the boy, and focused on the three children he could make use of. Alannys Greyjoy loved her youngest son all the same, and with Balon’s absence of love she attempted to compensate (she could never quite tip the scales, though she did succeed in citing the envy of her elder children. they all knew who mother’s favorite was). Theon, only a child, did not understand why his father never so much as glanced his way, why his siblings barely tolerated his presence, and why his father was so eager to pawn off the son he never had use of. Theon looks back on his time in Pyke with rose colored glasses and unhealthy idolization. He was too young to see the true picture of the life he lived. When asked about his time in Pyke and his family, he would say his brothers and uncle were far too playful sometimes (they weren’t cruel, they weren’t bullies, it was all well meaning fun), his mother was a wonderful storyteller (she wasn’t losing her mind, she always recognized him, why wouldn’t she?) and father mourned the loss of three sons, not two (he loved theon. he truly did! any bruises left on his skin were meant to make theon tougher, to make him strong. and his father never turned a blind eye to his tears because theon had never cried).
A Fruitless Rebellion. Theon recalls the day with a vivid clarity in his mind. His elder brothers were dead, his mother was his tears, and his father’s dreams had been crushed into ash. He had attempted to comfort the man, only to be swatted away and stumble into his weeping mother’s arms. The bargain had been struck behind closed doors, and Theon had not been privy to the brokered deal deciding his fate. His mother had told him between her sobs, and Theon tried his very hardest not to shed any tears for the sake of his mother (and for the sake of his father as well, because iron born men did not cry). Theon had desperately tried to meet his father’s eyes, but the man did not spare him a glance. In his stead, he met the eyes of a man that Theon later found out was called Eddard Stark. Warm eyes despite his attire meant for the cold, he held gaze with the frightened child and Theon, for the first time, felt seen. More than a burden, more than a child to protect, but as a person. At the time he didn’t understand the feeling, deeming it strange, and unlike anything he had ever known before. It was a long time before he realized that gaze was a trait, but not of the North.
Stranger in a Strange Land. The North was terribly cold. It was Theon’s first observation upon arrival to Winterfell but far from his last. The people acted strangely, he was their hostage and yet all he had ever known of the word appeared incorrect. Did hostage have the same meaning in the North as it did in the Iron Islands? In Pyke, a hostage meant shackles, a cell, lackluster food if any at all, and a clear lack of freedom. That could not be said for Winterfell, at least for the ten year old child who had played no part in his father’s uprising. Instead Theon was given warm furs, a room of his own, schooling and a friend in the form of Robb Stark. His memory was scarce on how the friendship came to be, only that it had never felt like obligation and it had made him feel safer than any hostage should have felt.
Panopticon. It was with age that Theon began to learn, though vastly different from the ways of the Iron Islands, that the North did have shackles upon him nonetheless. Despite being treated as a ward in most respects (for which he should have been more grateful then he was), there were many ways to remember he was, just as well. a hostage to the North. A walking reminder came in the form of Jon Snow, the bastard son of Eddard Stark. What Theon first saw as favoritism, he later learned was indifference. Catelyn Stark favored her own children as any mother would, and in her eyes, neither Theon Greyjoy nor Jon Snow had a place in Winterfell. The worst of it was when other Lords and Ladies would visit Winterfell. He and Jon would be ushered away, out of sight or in the back of the room like they were some dirty secret the Starks kept behind locked doors. It was far easier taking out the ire he had on the bastard, and so Theon did. With taunts and cruelties he knew would hurt the lad the most.
Hidden Afflictions. Distorting the past was far easier than the present. The Starks were his captors and he should have detested them, despite being aware of this (how it should have been) Theon knew it wasn’t true. Jon Snow was a target for his anger, and a rival (in the iron islands that would have been it, nothing more) but Jon Snow was also fun. Not only in his teasing and prodding (though those played a part as well) but as someone to challenge Theon, to be honest with in a way he could with little others. Little Rickon who toddled after him even when Lady Catelyn called him not to, with the most efficacious smile a toddler could possibly have. Little Bran, who Theon was sure would not remain so little, he would spring up like a weed and outgrow them all. He was already climbing to greater heights than the rest of them, it would only fit. There was Arya, who had a better aim than either of her brothers (not that theon would ever tell them, he would be admitting to seeing her practice weaponry). Sansa was more distant than the rest, much like her own mother, but Theon still remembered when she had only begun needlepoint. To this day, he didn’t know what possessed him when he offered his own clothes for her to practice (especially not when he purposely cut a hole into his own favorite shirt for her to fix up, but she’d been so delighted so there was no regret). Friendship with Robb Stark hadn’t been a choice, not a responsibility, and if Theon had given it a word to it he would have chosen honor. Someone to josh with, who wanted nothing in return but friendship, someone who cared what happened to Theon probably more than anyone he’d ever known (he’d like to think if his father did try a rebellion again, Robb would fight for his life but it was something Theon would never dare to ask).
Heart in the North. When Eddard Stark became the hand of the king, Theon didn’t think much of it. It seemed more natural than not. If anything, little Sansa becoming a princess was more interesting news (not by much, it was fitting for her frankly). Then King Robert Baratheon was murdered, Eddard Stark was put on trial and Theon felt fear like he had never known before. It was more than the day Balon’s rebellion failed, when he’d lost his brothers and his home. Not only was Lord Stark at risk but Sansa and Arya as well. The thoughts were suffocating. Theon imagined never seeing Sansa and Arya ever again, he had always thought he’d watch them grow, see who they would become. He imagined never seeing Eddard Stark ever again, nevermore seeking his advice, never again seeing a fatherly gaze (he remembered meeting those eyes for the first time. that day when his father had refused to see theon, ned never hesitated). Winterfell was not his home, and the Starks were not his family. So why did even the thought of their loss hurt so much more than any heartache he’d ever known?
Loyalty in a War(d): The first time Theon received word of Eddard Stark’s survival, it had felt like a dream. If not for the wilting presence of Jaime Lannister, it would have felt far too surreal to be true. The sentencing was unkind but Ned Stark remained breathing, and that produced more relief than Theon could believe. Calling Robb Stark ‘King of the North’ came as easily as the breath in his lungs. It made think of his own father, and for the first time experienced seeds of doubt for the man’s actions. Balon Greyjoy struggled with something Theon had found terribly simple. Bending a knee to a remarkable man wasn’t an act that needed twice of thought, let alone a rebellion. Perhaps Robert Baratheon was not the great man that Robb Stark was? Or perhaps Theon Greyjoy was not the same man Balon Greyjoy was. Did this make him stronger of a man, or weaker of one?
Plot Points⸻
An extension of the first plot point, is Theon’s warring viewpoint of what he was taught in the Iron Islands vs what he was taught in Winterfell. When Robb Stark is called King of the North, pledging fealty to him comes naturally to Theon, which makes him wonder why his father struggled so terribly with it (though struggling may be an understatement). He’s wondering if loyalty is something that makes him a weaker man than his father, or a stronger one? Is kneeling a weakness or a strength? Are the Starks his family or his captors?
The second plot point is Theon’s opinion of his own self, and in relation, his place in the world. He wears his arrogance and pride like armor, as if it would hide all his many insecurities. It’s far easier boasting, cracking jokes, putting others down, than allowing any smidge of his own self worth into the forefront of his mind. He knows so little of his people, of the Iron Islands, the home he was supposed to return to someday (if he was ever to return at all, but that was a thought he often didn’t allow). Not to mention the sword hanging over his neck the day his father decided his son’s life wasn’t a worthy leverage any longer. The fear that he mattered to no one, that if he were to die his memory would be buried with the word unimportant just like his brother’s had been. Theon wanted to matter, if not only to the world but to others as well. Even the ones who claim to care for him, he harbors doubts. There was nothing Theon could offer them besides his own self, and that wasn’t much worth at all.
( ryan destiny, cis woman, she / her ) ⸻ the heralds are announcing the arrival of RHAELLA TARGARYEN, known as the PRINCESS of KING’S LANDING. you may have heard some tales of this FOUR AND TWENTY year old, but the more well - informed tongues speak of them being SHREWD & CAPTIVATING though sadly, they also passed on rumours of them being SELF-SERVING & SCHEMING. according to their mun, the bards are requested to play EVERYWHERE by CHLOE X HALLE when they enter the room. may the gods protect them in the years to come. ⸻ ( ooc: admin margaery / mar )
STATISTICS + BIOGRAPHY ( unfinished )
QUICK FACTS :
as some of y’all have already heard, rhae is basically my criticism on capitalism. she’s an older char of mine, so i have a lot of hc’s for her and probs could spam u with them.
call her rhaella bezos. call her rhaella musk. call her a tywin lannister kinnie. all of them would be accurate and i hate her for it!!!!
has probably had a full time job since she was like . 8
very competent tho! she is THE definition of gaslight gatekeep girlboss
remember king’s landing in the show / books? she’s done now. she’s over. maybe rhae is a capitalist but she’s invested a lot of the crowns money back into the city, the crownlands, and every now and then, the rest of the kingdom.
basically put a lot of smallfolk to work for very small salaries. the bezos comparison is not a joke, king’s landing is now an amazon warehouse <3
she’s only 24 but has a very boomer attitude. through hard work anything is possible ( says the princess born into money )
likely has some trade deals set up with most southern regions. if ur a ruling lord / lady / lx, rhae is gonna come pester you at some point <3
takes like one day a week off at most BUT! she’s very Work Hard, Play Hard
when rhae is off the job. she goes wild!!! loves a good party and fun
