♛ → THE WESTERLANDS presents CATO HILL , the BASTARD of HORNVALE. when the dragons danced in the sky they thought the GREENS would still fly, but in the blink of an eye, they would all die. the TWENTY-FIVE year old CIS MAN who was HOPEFUL & KIND before they saw the first of the flames, is now HOPEFUL & KIND after seeing the last. they’re often associated with LAUGHTER IN BACK HALLS, HEAVY BOOTS, AND THE SMELL OF FRAKINCENSE AND MYRRH.
Cato is the illegitimate nephew of the influential Elys Brax. His mother was cast out sent away to the Sept by her own brother upon the revelation that she was expecting a bastard. This early rejection has left its mark, setting the stage for a life defined by both defiance and a struggle for acceptance.
From his earliest days, Cato immersed himself in the art of swordsmanship with a singular focus that bordered on obsession. Every training session was a quest for perfection, a relentless pursuit that saw him labor over each swing, parry, and lunge until his technique was flawless. The grueling hours spent on the training pitch often left him utterly exhausted, passed out under the sun, yet every moment of fatigue was a brick in the foundation of his indomitable will.
The rigorous training of his youth did more than hone his skills with a blade; it forged a spirit defined by persistence, precision, and an unyielding desire to be the best, even in a world that never fully embraced him.
Despite the stigma attached to his birth, Elys Brax ensured that Cato wouldn’t be left to fend for himself on the streets. In a gesture that was as much about obligation as it was about kindness, Elys provided him with quarters under the stairs. This meager provision became both a physical and emotional battleground for Cato, who harbors a deep, conflicted mix of love and resentment toward his uncle.
During the tumultuous Dance Cato was unexpectedly knighted. He believes that his knighthood was awarded not through merit but simply because of the chaos of war. This moment remains a bittersweet milestone: an honor that also marks the beginning of his complex, often painful relationship with the ideals of knighthood.
More to come