[talestold]

#   talestold,   a  collection  of  original  muses  dedicated  to  conquesthqs,   lovingly  thrown  together  and  penned  by  elle.   recurring  elements:   the  growing  corruption  of  what  power  demands,  isolation  can  bring  only  temporary  comfort,  childlike  rage  accompanying  childlike  loneliness,  an  eternal  battle  of  being  an  instrument  of  war  versus  peace.

AERYS ROGARE TARGARYEN - prince of valyria, he/him.

introduction - threads - wanted

ALYS MORMONT - lady of bear island, she/they.

introduction - threads - wanted

STEFFON BARATHEON - ruling lord of summerhall, he/him.

introduction - threads - wanted

[ephiiphanies]

open starter for olynna blackwood — day three; the joust

Olynna had dragged her feet to the location instructed in the invitations, half hoping to arrive so late all the seats would be taken and the maester would take pity and allow her to help after he had ordered her to enjoy the festivities and shut her out. unfortunately her seat had been saved forcing her to participate or at the very least to witness the brutality of it all. although in true, it was a good show, specially with the tyrell's dramatics. she licks her lips as she steps out to find a refreshment and shield from the sun, as another too approaches the table with the drinks she smiles with friendliness. "i had always heard of the show a tyrell knight could put on for the masses, i am not disappointed. did you enjoy it thus far."

[talestold]

while  not  yet  competing  in  one  herself,  alys  loves  a  good  joust.  they  can  be  difficult  to  watch  at  times,  with  the  occasional  injury  or  sour  loss,  but  she  finds  it  impossible  to  look  away.  in  an  attempt  to  avoid  the  worst  of  the  losses  right  off  the  start,  they  find  the  refreshment  options  a  good  distraction  and  perfect  way  to  pass  the  time.  alys  gives  a  warm  grin  to  their  company,  remembering  the  familiar  face  from  time  spent  in  the  riverlands.  "  i  have  always  admired  the  way  knighthood  is  honored  in  the  reach,  "  they  admit  with  a  shrug,  reaching  to  pour  a  drink.  "  it  is  exciting  to  be  able  to  watch  in  person.  oh,  yes,  i  am  quite  enjoying  myself  -  are  you,  my  lady  ?  "

[talestold]

CLOSED for mariam martell baratheon, on day one - @monarkhes

since  their  arrival,  steffon  has  felt  nothing  but  exhaustion.  sleep  does  not  come  easily  with  the  worries  he  has  about  their  trip  and  though  he  has  grown  used  to  the  short  amount  of  slumber  he  typically  receives,  he  knows  it  will  weigh  more  heavily  than  ever.  introductions  have  been  a  great  source  of  the  day's  misery  and  while  there  are  many  he  has  yet  to  speak  with,  there  is  only  one  person  who  can  calm  his  racing  thoughts.  as  soon  as  he  feels  he  has  shown  his  presence  for  long  enough,  steffon  sets  back  to  their  bedchambers  in  search  of  reprieve.  he  pushes  open  the  door  with  a  quick  sigh,  mood  lifting  at  the  sight  of  mariam.  "  there  you  are,  "  he  greets,  smiling  from  ear  to  ear.  "  i  tried  my  best  to  appear  cordial  and  interested  in  conversation,  but  seven  hells...  it  was  torture.  how  are  you,  my  darling  ?  "

[fortunefooled-deactivated202405]

open starter, day one of the festivities.

with the feast in progress, her crew was even more boisterous and rowdy than usual, but saga wasn't one to spoil their fun. they had travelled far, and it was only fair they enjoyed their time in the capital to the fullest as none of them would sail the open seas until this grand spectacle was done and dealt with. the greyjoy princess had found a quiet corner, a half-eaten creamed horn in one hand and an empty goblet in the other. "hand that over. there's no servant in sight with more wine." she gestured to the other person's drink. as they had insisted on disturbing her peace, she wasn't inclined to act with much decorum. "sharing is caring, as some wise twat probably once said."

[talestold]

she  stands  no  longer  in  armor  but  in  more  casual  attire,  such  as  one  of  her  usual  riding  outfits  cleaned  up.  when  the  time  comes  for  the  wedding,  alys  will  wear  much  more  elegant  garments,  but  has  chosen  to  start  the  week  out  comfortable.  they  step  away  from  fellow  northern  guards  to  retreat  to  the  shadows  with  a  cup  of  wine  and  away  from  all  the  conversation.  before  a  sip  is  taken,  though,  nearby  company  demands  attention.  their  mouth  drops  slightly  at  the  boldness  and  though  they  have  no  reason  to  obey,  for  the  sake  of  not  causing  a  scene  of  sorts,  they  do.  "  here,  be  my  guest,  i  was  hardly  interested  anyway.  "  they  lie,  hand  extending  the  drink  as  an  offer.  "  you  seem  to  need  it  much  more  than  i  do, so... there you go.  "

[bybloods]

OPEN   STARTER       ⋆       day  one  of  the  tyrell coronation and wedding celebrations,  at  the  feast  with  any  who  wish  to  respond. 

the   journey   from   driftmark   to   king's   landing   had   been   a   short   one.   how   curious   a   feeling   it   was   to   lay   one's   head   to   rest   in   a   keep   so   close   to   where   her   mother's   bloodline   had   ruled   for   centuries.   the   red   keep   itself   was   nothing   like   visera's   valyria.   the   once   doomed   kingdom   made   a   beauty   of   its   ruin,   the   crumbling   infrastructure   reshaped   with   molten   metals   to   retain   its   original   magnificent   beauty.   king's   landing's   ruin   was   not   its   beauty,   according   to   her   mother.   it   was   its   rot.   watching   passers   by   with   the   quiet   intent   innate   to   her   being,   visera   places   her   wine   goblet   aside.   "   you   don't   find   it   too   strong?   "   she   queries,   refering   to   the   deep   red   wine   that   still   fills   it.   her   lyseni   accent   is   obvious   amongst   the   din   of   common   tongue   conversation,   and   her   dark   eyes   glitter   in   the   candelight   —   from   a   candle   that   she   leans   almost   too   close   to   in   search   of   a   response.

[talestold]

with  as  much  curiosity  as  he  has  regarding  their  family's  history  in  westeros,  it  is  no  wonder  aerys  has  dreamt  of  how  the  capital  appears.  the  magnificent  red  keep,  however,  is  one  that  holds  no  flame  to  the  regrowth  of  valyria.  where  he  is  usually  familiar  with  ancient  architecture  beautifully  reshaped  once  more  with  molten  metals,  he  only  finds  the  clear  lack  of  ...  devotion  within  the  royal  home.  he  cannot  imagine  his  own  blood  residing  in  a  place  so  void  of  inspiration  and  art.  even  with  a  goblet  full  of  wine,  aerys  still  finds  himself  struggling  to  see  what  everyone  else  does  of  the  incredible  king's  landing.  a  familiar  voice  questions  his  taste  and  he  gives  a  shrug,  glancing  into  the  near  empty  container.  "  i  find  it  not  nearly  strong  enough,  "  at  least  they  can  agree  on  their  dislike.  "  let  me  guess...  it's  too  strong  for  you  ?  "  there  is  a  teasing  in  his  tone,  taking  another  sip  to  finish  off  the  rest  of  his  wine.

[xastrainclinant]

day one with open 3/6

despite  the  almost  constant  desire  that  ran  through  her  to  see  more  of  the  world,  the  journey  to  king's  landing  had  left  her  restless  and  on  the  verge  of  recklessness.  the  childhood  dreams  she  had  had  of  travel  had  been  far  more  exploratory  rather  than  being  confined  to  the  regimented  style  of  her  fathers'  plans  for  the  journey.  a  glass  of  arbor  red  had  been  plucked  from  the  nearest  tray,  sip  of  the  sweet  liquid  taken  as  the  tully  surveyed  her  fellow  guests.  when  one  seemed  to  walk  within  earshot  they  were  greeted  with  a  courteous  smile.  "i  suppose  it  should  be  little  surprise  that  our  hosts  rose  to  the  occasion."  glass  was  raised  to  her  lips  to  conceal  the  smirk  that  she  struggled  to  keep  from  her  features,  already  too  entertained  by  her  own  words  to  resist  showing  signs  of  satisfaction.  "i  find  myself  looking  forward  to  the  next  few  days  with  budding  excitement - do  you find yourself feeling  the  same  way?"  brow  arched,  a  vague  challenge  when  she  hoped  for  an  answer  that  might  hold  her  interest.

[talestold]

while  having  little  to  no  interest  in  westeros,  aerys  would  be  lying  to  say  he  does  not  at  least  find  their  culture  and  regions  intriguing.  inferior  to  their  progressing  kingdom  of  valyria,  yet  his  mother's  family  had  been  rulers  in  the  very  castle  they  now  roamed  about.  he  wonders  how  different  the  red  keep  appeared  in  the  days  of  house  targaryen  and  how  much  the  now  ruling  house  had  downgraded.  his  hands  are  held  behind  his  back  as  he  patiently  continues  along,  taking  in  every  inch  of  the  capital.  eyes  meet  someone  else's  and  though  he  would  rather  turn  the  other  way,  aerys  plays  along  instead.  "  ah,  i  see  what  you  did,  "  he  grins  with  a  click  of  his  tongue,  a  slight  chuckle  following.  "  i  would  continue  this  charade  if  i  knew  anything  about  flowers...  hm,  how  about...  i  am  absolutely  tickled  pink  about  the  next  few  days.  "

[xastrainclinant]

if  her  own  use  of  formality  towards  her  brother  -  the  person  she  had  once  considered  the  closest  to  her  in  all  the  world  -  had  felt  heavy  and  leaden  on  her  tongue,  hearing  the  way  that  he  matched  it  caused  a  heaviness  in  her  heart.  it  seemed  proof  enough  that  their  once  tight  bond  was  frayed  and  strained  (  she  refused  to  accept  that  it  could  be  broken  entirely  though  she  knew  that  after  so  many  years  it  was  all  too  real  a  possibility  )  to  the  point  where  it  was  no  longer  recognisable.  "I  had  thought  to  enter  the  archery,  yes."  there  was  too  much  that  she  wanted  to  ask,  the  little  girl  in  her  begging  to  enquire  as  to  whether  he  would  be  at  the  wedding  but  she  refrained.  though  she  held  no  love  for  the  pageantry  that  began  to  seep  into  her  nuptials  she  supposed  she  could  learn  to  be  grateful  for  them  when  they  would  undoubtedly  guarantee  her  brother's  presence.  "you  have  my  best  wishes  if  you  do  indeed  but  your  name  forward  for  that  endeavour.  I  am  sure  you  will  prove  a  worthy  opponent."  vain  hope  wished  to  cry  out  that  she  did  not  wish  to  be  his  enemy  nor  forced  to  play  a  part  in  opposing  him  but  lips  pressed  shut  into  that  same  benign  smile,  leaving  words  unspoken. 

[talestold]

an  ache  gnaws  at  his  chest,  sneaking  momentary  glances  at  one  who's  resemblance  is  both  incredibly  familiar  and  drastically  altered.  he  cannot  bring  himself  to  stare  at  all  the  years  he  has  missed.  there  will  always  be  a  weight  that  rests  on  his  shoulders  for  his  part  to  play  in  his  distance,  yet  steffon  has  grown  to  accept  the  path  he's  chosen.  though  he  wishes  their  stances  could  align  on  the  same  side,  even  going  as  far  as  to  imagine  hiding  rosaline  within  summerhall's  encampment,  he  knows  their  father  has  always  had  the  stronger  grip.  his  hope  has  not  been  high  for  years,  yet  any  chance  for  anything  of  the  sort  dwindles  with  each  second  closer  to  the  wedding.

there  is  also  another  thought  that  he  knows  to  be  likely  if  he  leaves  empty  handed  -  this  could  very  well  be  the  last  time  he  ever  sees  rosaline.  he  has  only  traveled  for  discussions  of  alliances  and  seeing  what  last  he  can  do  to  reach  a  better  outcome  for  the  stormlands,  but  once  his  plans  go  through...  their  house's  division  will  be  severed  quite  irreparably,  more  so  than  already.  besides,  marrying  a  tyrell  would  be  the  final  nail  in  the  coffin.  "  you  should.  "  he  remembers  how  much  she  excelled  at  the  sport  and  though  a  conversation  of  memories  dances  on  his  tongue,  steffon  returns  a  smile.  "  thank  you,  the  same  to  you  with  archery.  i  should  like  to  be  there  to  see  if  you  still  have  what  i  taught  you.  "

[xastrainclinant]

day two with steffon baratheon @talestold

with  another  competition  she  might  have  hesitated  before  entering  but  there  had  scarcely  been  a  day  since  steffon  had  first  taught  her  that  she  had  not  had  a  bow  in  her  hand.  fond  memories  are  quick  to  fill  her  mind  and  moments  later  there  is  a  glimpse  of  the  lord  of  summerhall  in  her  peripherals,  as  though  the  mere  thought  of  him  had  summoned  him.  there  had  once  been  a  time  when  the  sight  of  her  brother's  face  would  have  brought  nothing  but  joy  and  caused  nothing  but  a  smile  on  her  lips.  now  though  she  finds  herself  fighting  to  maintain  the  neutrality  that  she  has  clung  to  for  so  long,  schooling  her  features  so  that  no  trace  of  her  feelings  of  hurt  or  betrayal  would  show.  the  supposed  happiest  day  of  her  life  was  fast  approaching  and  while  she  could  get  away  with  demure  smiles,  looking  distraught  was  hardly  suitable  for  the  blushing  bride  the  baratheon  should  be.  "lord  steffon."  words  feel  too  stiff,  too  formal  for  one  she  should  be  so  close  to  but  the  years  had  made  strangers  of  them and she was left with nothing but inane questions.  "do  you  intend  to  enter?"

[talestold]

time  has  always  had  a  habit  of  being  both  friend  and  foe.  it  is  the  longevity  that  has  granted  his  camp  in  summerhall  a  strength  in  numbers  and  allies.  yet,  the  years  have  also  brought  a  divide  between  siblings.  those  he  used  to  know  like  the  back  of  his  hands  are  now  no  more  than  strangers.  the  sight  of  his  sister  brings  flooding  back  a  wave  of  memories,  both  ones  to  savor  and  ones  he  wishes  were  rather  forgotten.  he  had  been  dreading  this  moment  the  second  his  presence  was  confirmed  and  the  lord  remains  having  second  thoughts.  the  last  thing  steffon  wants  is  for  his  attendance  to  harm  his  efforts  with  durran  in  any  way  or  potentially  ruin  a  joyous  day  for  ros...  even  if  he  has  considered  doing  so  himself.  he  should  not  be  surprised  that  their  lives  have  continued  even  in  his  absence,  though  the  differences  in  their  appearances  and  missing  monumental  moments  will  never  not  sting.  "  lady  rosaline.  "  his  stomach  sinks  as  he  speaks,  the  greeting  a  confirmation  of  what  he  had  feared.  "  not  for  archery,  no,  perhaps  for  the  joust...  are  you  participating  ?  "

[talestold]

PRINCE  AERYS  ROGARE  TARGARYEN  of  VALYRIA  !

(  rogare  targaryen  b  /  archie  renaux  /  cis  man  +  he/him  )  hear  ye  hear  ye  —  king  garlan  tyrell  welcomes  PRINCE  AERYS  ROGARE  TARGARYEN  of  VALYRIA  !  his  great  majesty  is  glad  that  the  twenty  six  year  old  noble  appears  to  be  adaptable  while  overlooking  that  it’s  said  they  are  also  cantankerous,  as  long  as  they  are  glad  to  celebrate  peace  in  the  seven  kingdoms.  fortunately  for  them,  garlan  remains  oblivious  that  they  aren't  happy  with  his  reign  and  that  their  true  allegiance  lies  with  house  rogare  targaryen.

one - basic information.

full  name:      aerys  rogare  targaryen.      preferred  nickname:      rys.      official  title:      prince  of  valyria.      monikers:      the  wild  dragon,  the  son  of  ashes.      age:      twenty  six.      gender  +  pronouns:      cis  man  +  he/him.      orientation:      bisexual.      true  allegiance:      house  rogare  targaryen.      spoken  languages:      high  valyrian  /  bastard  valyrian  &  common  tongue  of  westeros.      religion:      does  not  believe  in  any  religion.

two - exterior.

looks  like:      archie  renaux.      eye  color:      brown.      hair  color:      black.      dominant  hand:      left.      height:      6'1"      build:      athletic  and  toned.

three - interior.

virtues:      adaptable,  educated,  charming,  resourceful,  opportunistic.      vices:      cantankerous,  pessimistic,  scheming,  facetious,  profligate.      weapon  of  choice:      preferably  something  personal  /  close  combat  like  a  dagger  or  blunt  object.      moral  alignment:      neutral  evil.      hobbies:      training  with  his  dragon,  sailing,  sketching  /  painting,  pickpocketing,  hunting,  weapons  &  hand  to  hand  combat  practice.

four - connections.

parents:      maegelle  rogare  targaryen  &  syrio  rogare.      siblings:      visera  rogare  targaryen  &  rogare  targaryen  c.      birth  order:      middle  child.      relationship  status:      single.      children:      none.      pets:      never  referred  to  as  a  pet,  but  aerys  has  a  cat  sized  dragon  -  errax,  hatched  from  a  lapis  egg  that  clued  into  his  eventual  scale  coloring  along  with  gold  accents  and  bright  yellow  eyes.      other  relations:      house  sunglass  (  cousins  ).      past  relations:      none  atm  !

five - background.

the second child born to the growing rogare targaryen line was brought into the world on the thirteen day of the third moon in the year 291 after conquest. though neither would ever admit to favoring a gender, as regardless the child would be smothered with love, to bring a son into the world was an exciting feat. their household was never anything but chaos though aerys thrived in the environment. he grew up with stories of their great ancestors and how those who came before them sat on a throne of iron swords. house targaryen became a source of pride and he grew fascinated by the history of those with valyrian blood. his parents were two of his biggest heroes and whenever aerys wasn't vanishing off elsewhere, one could usually find his younger self steps behind.

growing up in valyria was a bit challenging but aerys has always had a habit of demanding satisfaction wherever he lands. as he got older he began to help with the rebuilding, helping himself once a scrawny young prince grew muscles after some training. while it would be nice to be somewhere spending most of his days relaxing with a plate of the finest fruits, he knows it is pointless to ignore the reality of the situation. perhaps one day he can have that too. he is as hospitable as he can be to those who join their growing kingdom, though is quick to remind those who wish them anything but success that there will be consequences for treason. his family means a great deal to him and he would do anything for them.

he has wanted nothing more than to have his own dragon. aerys has always been incredibly fixated on shrykos, his mother's dragon, wishing there were more of their kind in the realm. even if shrykos did not warm to the boy at first, earning many burns from the attempts at friendship, aerys did not stop until their familiarity was enough to earn him a closer look. imagine his excitement when three eggs are hatched, perfectly paired up for the amount of children in the family. there is no chance he will not bond to his dragon and the moment he spots his egg, a jewel toned blue that shimmers beautifully in the light, aerys knows the dragon will earn more attention from him than shrykos ever had. it is a good thing that when the egg hatches and aerys greets errax, a combination of his own name and those before him, the dragon warms almost instantly.

though he has traveled much in his life, both for the sake of adventure and running errands for loved ones, he has never thought to visit westeros. he has found comfort in the isolation of valyria from the rest of the world and enjoys the anonymity in essos, having multiple contacts in different cities for visiting. from what he has heard of the west, like the ending of house targaryen and his mother fleeing, he doesn't see the interest but would never deny helping make connections if that's the task asked of them. he thinks valyria could be the power of the realm with its full reconstruction and doesn't agree with wasting time trying to retake the iron throne. however, he knows that visera cannot be in two places at once and thinks that could potentially leave valyria to him. regardless of what happens, he is trying to help them all succeed, even if he has his own desires to go after too.

a charming prince who knows of his impact, he is never one to turn down the opportunity for even a slice of power. he looks forward to the day when house rogare targaryen makes themselves known to the world and begins to strike terror in hearts again with the growth of their dragons. king garlan tyrell, the usurper, will see the death and destruction of his house if it is the last thing aerys ever does. he would rather watch westeros burn to the ground than allow anyone to ever disrespect his house again. aerys is spoiled, loves to provoke enemies and is not familiar with hearing the word " no ". he has no issues hurting others or lying to get what he wants, but usually only when it benefits him or his house. can be a helpful alliance or an irritating enemy !

more headcanons :

due to his father's family's influence, as they had a large presence in aerys' upbringing, his natural accent is lyseni. he has traveled to most of essos, though, and can easily mask with a different region's dialect. valyrian is preferred over the westerosi tongue.

the wild dragon is a nickname earned from his childhood. aerys was always on the go, running around and never in the same place for too long. this continued as he got older, venturing out beyond and growing to love exploring. a wild prince, known for his exploration and mischievous behavior, also referred to as the son of ashes for the kingdom of valyria. fire cannot kill a dragon, he's told, but which is he more - targaryen or rogare ? will the distinction matter when the flames grow brighter ?

uses art as a means to relax. he has a sketchbook on him most of the time and keeps an easel in the bedchambers of wherever he's staying. his skill is quite good, even if he refuses to let anyone besides family see.

six - wanted.

pen pals - people aerys met at one point in time and has kept in contact with since ! they could be good pals by now or maybe not, maybe they're still writing because of a beneficial trade / alliance, who knows !

traveling companions - probably one or two people that aerys has traveled with a good amount or went on a trip / multiple trips with ! they would had to have traveled somewhere in essos as aerys is just now traveling to westeros for the first time.

friends, enemies, drinking buddies, aerys being a bad influence, i am down for anything !

[talestold]

LADY  ALYS  MORMONT  of  BEAR  ISLAND  !

(  marina  moschen  /  demi  woman  +  she/they  )  hear  ye  hear  ye  —  king  garlan  tyrell  welcomes  ALYS  MORMONT  of  BEAR  ISLAND  !  his  great  majesty  is  glad  that  the  twenty  three  year  old  noble  appears  to  be  gallant  while  overlooking  that  it’s  said  they  are  also  insecure,  as  long  as  they  are  glad  to  celebrate  peace  in  the  seven  kingdoms.  fortunately  for  them,  garlan  remains  oblivious  that  they  are  happy  with  his  reign  and  that  their  true  allegiance  lies  with  the  north.

one - basic information.

full  name:      alys  mormont.      preferred  nickname:      al  /  alys.      official  title:      lady  of  bear  island.      monikers:      little  bear  /  she  bear.      age:      twenty  three.      gender  +  pronouns:      demi  woman  +  she/they.      orientation:      lesbian.      true  allegiances:      house  mormont,  house  stark  &  the  north.      spoken  languages:      common  tongue.      religion:      the  old  gods.

two - exterior.

looks  like:      marina  moschen.      eye  color:      brown.      hair  color:      dark  brown.      dominant  hand:      right.      height:      5'6"      build:      slim.

three - interior.

virtues:      gallant,  incorruptible,  adroit,  honorable,  compassionate.      vices:      insecure,  overwrought,  naive,  vulnerable,  cautious.      weapon  of  choice:      longsword  or  their  dagger.      moral  alignment:      lawful  good.      hobbies:  weapons  training  /  watching  others  train,  horseback  riding,  exploring,  horseshoes,  climbing  trees.

four - connections.

parents:      liege  utp  mormont  &  liege  utp  mormont.      siblings:      mormont  c  &  mormont  d.      birth  order:      youngest.      relationship  status:      single.      children:      none.      pets:      though  not  considered  a  pet  but  more  of  a  companion,  alys'  trusted  steed  is  a  brown  thoroughbred  named  bear.      other  relations:      none  atm,  would  love  cousins  for  house  mormont  !      past  relations:      none  atm  !

five - background.

born on the twentieth day of the seventh moon in the year 275 after conquest, alys mormont was the last child to grace the ruling couple of bear island. even as a child, she never displayed the same fierceness that house mormont was known for yet still found a way to hold her own. muscles did not appear nor did the impressive strength those around them seemed to possess, leading to insecurities about their stature and where they lack in battle. some lords were cruel in their victories and they managed to make alys' confidence waver, wondering if she could ever be a historic knight or warrior one day. they have always dreamed of looking different and shedding many of their feminine features but are proud of their identity. as alys got older, she learned how to turn her appearance into a likely opportunity to be underestimated - which sometimes works in her favor.

while she can bite if provoked ( do not poke the bear vibes ), there isn't much bark to alys. her idealism can be faulty when harsh reality rolls in, but she's always dreaming of being the best version of herself she can be. her heart has always belonged with the north, raised on stories of heroic northerners and the honor of what that meant. alys was thankful the women of house mormont were not forced to partake in ladylike hobbies as they had never been good at them. their talents remained in being one of the faster children, off in a blink and always on the move. curiosity helped propel them and they were always interested in learning what others were doing.

though bear island was home, there became a feeling of suffocation the longer alys stayed. they loved to travel and explore, seeing the beauty of the north, feeling as if there was nothing for them on bear island. family means a great deal to them but alys has always been driven by purpose, their purpose becoming duty as they got older. in her teens, she was a squire for a northern lord, collecting achievements such as winning horse races, foot races, duels, and never failing to be there when they were needed. knighthood has always been a dream and they still seek it now, even if plans have changed quite a bit. if there is anything to be learned from being a mormont, it is that anything is possible.

for the past year, alys has been working in the service of house stark as a guard in winterfell. after an incident while traveling, alys decided to stay within familiar surroundings for a while and after spending a bit of time in winterfell, they figured that working for house stark would be quite the honor. she spends most of her days training in the yard and up top the winterfell towers, though occasionally does errands for the house as she is now as trusted as the others. there are talks of them becoming a sworn sword for someone, as alys has become a favorable companion, though they would go wherever they're instructed.

anyone who knows alys knows they will always lend a helping hand. sometimes they will go above and beyond to do the right thing even if it is at the cost of their own happiness. an extrovert 100% yet needs quiet time after a while. loves to joke around and find the good side of every situation, much to the annoyance of those around her. has absolutely no interest in politics or anything really going on in westeros and kind of prefers that the trifecta is thriving in their own lil bubble. just wants to do good and honorable things.

more headcanons :

before she had turned double digits, alys had been gifted not toys nor dolls but a custom dagger with her house's sigil burned into the handle. it is their most prized possession and alys never goes anywhere without it. she keeps it hidden in her boot most often, yet sometimes has the dagger on her belt along with her sword.

is incredibly sentimental with trinkets and gifts. alys has never discarded a gift and keeps many trinkets in both their bedchambers and on their person. one is a piece of wood that has been whittled into a bear standing up and roaring - which reminds her of house mormont's words every time she looks at the object. they keep a coin purse full of differently colored stones tied to their belt and twice now someone has tried to steal it thinking it's full of coins... both times they've opened the contents to only throw the pouch back at alys with cruel words.

can do cartwheels and back flips but will probably only say yes if she's a little drunk.

six - wanted.

besties - could be northern, could be someone they met through travels, could be anyone really ! just a couple ppl alys is besties with, meaning they definitely trust each other and probably either spend the most time together or talk to each other / send ravens incredibly frequently.

idols they aspire after - probably older, more experienced swordsmen / knights who alys has been inspired by and looks up to quite a bit !

the eventual sworn shield position - ( this will be a wc at some point ) alys is a trusted guard in winterfell and is about to be promoted ( you have been promoted !! you are now one of my elite employees !! ) to be someone's sworn shield ! it's most likely this would be a house stark member or someone from a wealthy northern house as she is still apart of the winterfell guard !

unlikely friends, past flings, a bad influence on alys, frenemies, i am down for anything !!

[talestold]

RULING  LORD  STEFFON  BARATHEON  of  SUMMERHALL  !

(  theo  james  /  cis  man  +  he/him  )  hear  ye  hear  ye  —  king  garlan  tyrell  welcomes  RULING  LORD  STEFFON  BARATHEON  of  SUMMERHALL  !  his  great  majesty  is  glad  that  the  thirty  six  year  old  noble  appears  to  be  ambitious  while  overlooking  that  it’s  said  they  are  also  aloof,  as  long  as  they  are  glad  to  celebrate  peace  in  the  seven  kingdoms.  fortunately  for  them,  garlan  remains  oblivious  that  they  aren’t  happy  with  his  reign  and  that  their  true  allegiance  lies  with  house  baratheon  of  summerhall.

one - basic information.

full  name:      steffon  baratheon.      preferred  nickname:      steff.      official  title:      ruling  lord  of  summerhall.      monikers:      the  warbringer,  the  black  stag.      age:      thirty  six.      gender  +  pronouns:      cis  man  +  he/him.      orientation:      heterosexual.      true  allegiances:      house  baratheon  of  summerhall  &  house  martell.      spoken  languages:      common  tongue.      religion:      faith  of  the  seven.

two - exterior.

looks  like:      theo  james.      eye  color:      brown.      hair  color:      dark  brown.      dominant  hand:      right.      height:      6'0"      build:      athletic  and  toned.

three - interior.

virtues:      ambitious,  empathetic,  headstrong,  protective,  strategic.      vices:      aloof,  impatient,  arrogant,  selfish,  rigid.      weapon  of  choice:      utilizes  the  sword  and  mace  combo.      moral  alignment:      chaotic  good.      hobbies:  spending  time  with  his  wife  and  children,  horseback  riding,  hunting,  falconry,  chess,  thinking  of  ways  to  send  his  father  to  an  early  grave.

four - connections.

parents:      durran  baratheon  &  rosamund  baratheon  nee  beesbury.      siblings:      davos  baratheon  &  rosaline  baratheon.      birth  order:      first  born.      relationship  status:      happily  married  to  mariam  martell  baratheon.      children:      ellaria  baratheon  &  arrec  baratheon.      pets:      a  lanner  falcon  named  thunder.      other  relations:      house  baratheon  of  storm's  end  (  original  branch  )  &  house  martell  (  in laws  ).      past  relations:      none  atm  !

five - background.

on the nineteenth day of the fifth moon in the year 280 after conquest, rosamund baratheon gives birth to her first child - a son that the ruling couple name steffon. the heir to house baratheon, he is raised with a weight on his shoulders that crushes him throughout the years, never entirely lifting. this feeling forms a part of him, a part that hardens to the outside world yet teaches him how to prioritize family and the stormlands alike. referred to as the white stag in his youth for the inevitable pride and golden age his eventual ruling would bring, steffon never wanted to be anywhere but home in storm's end. he learned to keep in contact with house baratheon's vassals as a teen, most of his father's duties becoming partially his own when durran would ignore them. when steffon would proudly show a written letter to his father, durran would ignore him too. it was always steffon taking the brunt of responsibilities where the stormlands were concerned... durran's attention never drifted from house tyrell and for that, steffon grew to hate them too.

it always frustrated steff that he felt as if he was the only one who ever saw the utter desperation in his father's eyes. durran cared not one bit about his children and his siblings knew nothing of the sort - poor rosaline too young and naive while davos seemed too quickly following in the fool's footsteps. steffon has never understood his father's love for the crown and opposes anything royal in response. he thinks his father is an incredible loser who has wasted years kissing ass with hardly a damn thing to show for it, all at the cost of neglecting people of his own region. those who grew exhausted at the lack of support from durran began buzzing in steffon's ear as he grew into a man, first asking then demanding something be done. he was embarrassed to be the son of such a poor excuse for a man and the shame built up until it burst.

unlike his father, steffon has always valued family. though he spent many years as a happy bachelor, never quite expecting to fall in love but eventually marry for duty, many of his plans changed drastically when he met mariam. the two had met as representatives discussing political matters for their houses and potential alliances. immediately taken by her beauty and intrigued greatly by her snide remarks, it was no surprise that steff was quick to fall in love. he found it incredibly easy to open up about his ambitions for his region and when both found familiar footing, steffon was blunt about his affections as well as getting to know mariam more personally. after a while of having mariam by his side, he knew he wanted something more permanent.

when he proposed, he angered many of his allies within his vassal houses who had been told for years that his bride would eventually be one of their own daughters. steffon had to face their wrath, though, as a marriage with mariam would not only be one of love but grant him needed advantages. their wedding was small with few in attendance as his allies were still upset and so was his father, whose absence was not a surprise but a breaking point. on the night of his wedding, he decided the next step had to be winning back his alliances - which brought a decision months later to stand up to his father about neglecting his own people. seeking a compromise or his father stepping down as ruling lord altogether, steffon put a sword to durran's throat and demanded something be done. with the intention of ending his father's life, the scene played out differently - he instead fled with his family to summerhall to prove how serious he was about demanding change. they have been there ever since, the war camp growing in size every year, even with his own children.

steffon took a large amount of coin when he fled from storm's end, knowing enough about house baratheon's finances to know that while his father was piss poor at managing money, they could spare enough to still be fine. apart from his deposit, house martell has fitted the bill for the rebuilding of summerhall which is to be completed in the following months. he is excited to finally have a roof over their heads and hopes more people will see his cause as one to join before his next steps. steffon is incredibly personable with his men, often giving them leave of absences to return to their families when the colder months roll around and treating them like family when they are residing in camp. small skirmishes with durran's men have kept them busy over the years and steff has recently given them a pep talk about how their restless days are numbered.

the best of intentions does not always mean the best of results, yet steffon does as much as he can. he has a good heart and genuinely fights for the betterment of the people around him, even if he misses the mark quite a bit. his thirst for power has grown significantly and he has been entirely blind to this, seeing only one option for how their war ends. he believes that the end justifies the means and though at one point there was a line he wouldn't cross, there is little he wouldn't do now to achieve victory. not the most friendly to meet but he won't throw you to the wolves either. his feelings regarding his extended family are complicated, though his anger has been reignited more than ever after hearing news of davos' betrothal to a tyrell - the heir to the iron throne, to be exact. he doubts his brother would be a good king and knows if he does reach the throne, the stormlands will surely suffer for it. steffon hopes with his home now being one of rich history, that house baratheon will get no closer to royalty status - or that summerhall will not see history reflected in the end.

more headcanons :

he holds immense guilt for abandoning his siblings when breaking apart from his father but sent them both name day gifts ( and letters to rosaline ) throughout the years until their rare appearances stopped altogether.

thought initially referred to as the white stag, once he broke from his original baratheon branch, many who opposed or disliked him began to call him the black stag ( in a black sheep / bad omen way ). steff has since claimed it bc he thinks it makes him sound scary and cool <3

has a mind for military battlefield tactics and tends to plan before attacking. steffon prefers to see the bigger picture, even if he can easily grow impatient. when the war camp was first constructed and their numbers were frighteningly low, his father sent more men than they could fight. the only thing that saved them the first few weeks before reinforcements arrived was a defensive strategy that involved setting up traps and precautions before anyone even arrived. that was the first time people began to realize steffon would put up one hell of a fight.

still fights with the sword his mother gifted him on his fourteen name day.

six - wanted.

the boysTM - a couple guy friends who meet every fortnight at a different inn than the last to play cards, drink, and be messy !! would consist of at least one or two people that steff has known since either his childhood or his teens and probably one or two recently added pals to the group that steffon met who passed the vibe check for boys night ! ** might put up as a wc at some point !

failed betrothal - someone from a stormlands vassal who he promised to marry and make his ruling lady when he eventually become ruling lord but then shit happened and oops he married mariam :/

sworn vassals / sworn shields - the summerhall camp is made up of supporters from the stormlands vassal houses who support steffon ( they make up a majority of the camp ), mercenaries / allies from house martell and those who just wish to see a change in leadership for the stormlands. would love to see them around !! ** this will be a wc eventually !

friends, enemies, past flings, past / current squire, spies, i am down to clown !!