Swords of the Stormlands

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House Styrian "Fortitude in Adversity"

History and Geography

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, Ser Stefan Styrian was a household knight for house Baratheon. After his vital role in one of the engagements with the Blackfyre pretenders, he was elevated to the nobility by the King, Daeron Targaryen himself, and granted the lands and holdings of one of the Blackfyres bannerhouses, House Toryn.

The next few years Ser Stefan spent building up his base of power, and immediately invested heavily in creating a stable trading port. A town, Tempest Bay, soon rose up around the harbor as trade flourished. The wealth gained from his wise investments was spent on securing his position, soon a great castle, Graystone Keep, had been raised around what had originally been a lighthouse-tower called the Gray Eye. When Ser Stefan died in the year 221 AL, he left plans for an even greater Castle, which he called the Graystones. Areas around the keep are still kept clear and no buildings are permitted there, in anticipation of the greater castle. He also placed emphasis on a capable fleet, able to protect the surrounding trade routes.

His son, William Styrian, did not share his fascination with creating ever greater defenses. He built up a sizable warfleet, ostensibly to maintain peace for trading vessels, but ultimately took his forces to war against several smaller houses in the vicinity that he suspected of harboring or supporting pirates or raiders. Under his rule, house Styrian made a great many enemies, or enemies they already had were forced into the open, depending on who you ask.

William had three legitimate sons, the eldest of which, Byron, eventually took over the day to day running of their holdings, though William himself was a hard, uncompromising man, and refused to give over offical lordship even into great infirmity and some say, senility.

Byron was in his youth a capable warrior, captain of the Harrier, he and his brothers would take their forces and lead the way in eradicating piracy, raiders and any other threats to their houses fortunes. In those days he was happy to leave the ruling to his father and spend his days fighting pirates or rival houses, while enjoying the gratitude of rescued widows and daughters.

In time, he realized that his father was becoming a tyrant, and eventually took it upon himself to give up his youthful ways and start at first contributing, then finally taking over the running of their lands.

Today, House Styrian is a minor house in the Stormlands of Westeros. Their seat of power is Greystone Keep, a good sized castle sited atop a rocky headland promontory jutting into the stormy waters where Shipbreaker Bay opens into the Narrow Sea (Possibly looking something like this)

Location

Recent years have seen catastrophe befall Styrian: a great storm rolled in across the Narrow Sea, catching the merchant and fishing fleets at sea. Lord Byron Styrian dispatched the modest warfleet to escort the hapless vessels back to safe harbor, but despite their brave efforts four fishers and two merchantmen were lost. Worse still, the very ships sent out to rescue were also caught in the heavy seas - and three of the Styrian warships were smashed against the rocks with the loss of all hands. This has been a heavy blow to Styrian's naval power. The storm blew ashore, bringing heavy flooding inland, and destroying several buildings, and even damaging the castle itself.

Relations

House Styrian is a bannerhouse of house Baratheon, and though it is yet a minor one, Lord Torren Baratheon still remembers his fathers friendship with Ser Stefan Styrian and no Styrian has ever gotten less than full honors upon visiting Storm's End.

House Tarth is one of House Styrians allies. Lord Byron was married to Danika, Lord Gendar Tarths first daughter, though the marriage was short lived, the friendship between the two houses has remained strong.

House Estermont is a major house, controlling a large island to the south. They have long felt that the Styrians are upstarts who are trying to usurp their position as a waystation of trade in the region. They were one of the houses hardest hit by Lord Williams attacks. Recently, Lord Seras Estermont has made peaceful overtures, and has suggested that perhaps the Styrians would accept House Estermont as their immediate liege lords, in other words that they should become his bannerhouse.

House Connington are a major House with connections to the Royal family. They have an amicable relationship with House Styrian, but Lord Bryan Conningtons second son, Ser Wester Connington has long held a dislike of Ser Bronn of House Styrian and considers him a rival, whether that rivalry is reciprocated or not. (rumor has it Bronn at some point bedded a young woman Wester had his eye on)

House Mertyn holds Mistwood, and though they do not focus on sea trade, they consider House Styrian a rival for the areas inland of Tempest Bay. They have once tried invading Styrian lands while most Styrian forces were away, when they were rebuffed by the quick actions of the house garrison, led by Ser Byron in the absence of both his brothers, they were quick to sue for peace and make amends, but the peace is a fragile one.

Houses Hasty, Rogers and Herston all suffered losses at the hands of Lord William, but though they grumble they have never been directly hostile.

Houses Penrose, Kellington and Grandison have all got rather good relations with House Styrian, their interests don't overlap much and they have (or profess to have at any rate) a personal liking to Lord Byron and his family.

House Dayne, bannerhouse of House Martell in Dorne, have a good relationship with House Styrian, Harking back to the time when Ser Rickard Dayne fought alongside Ser Stefan Styrian in the Blackfyre rebellion, the two were close friends and allies and one of Stefans younger sons, Randyl Styrian married one of Rickard Daynes daughters. Though some distance separates the houses, enough so that neither is a convenient ally, they are still allies in any great need.

Another Dornish House, House Jordayne, has a certain relationship with House Styrian, mostly in the sense that it controls the Tor, which is a common first harbour for ships from the Stormlands to see after crossing the Sea of Dorne. Therefore there is a certain familiarity, if not friendship, between the two houses.

The Royal Family keeps meticulous records of it's relations, and though the King, Aegon V, would surely grant any of House Styrian honors befitting friends and loyal subject of the crown upon a visit, it would be naive to think that the small house truly ranks high on the kings list of priorities.

All other houses are either indifferent towards House Styrian, or simply don't know they exist.

Holdings and Investments

Rolls: 34 Defense +5, +4, +2 (46) Excellent defenses, with man-made fortifications likely combined with defensible terrain features.

21 Influence +4, +4 +1 (30) A small minor house. Examples include House Mormont and House Westerling.

27 Lands -5, +4 (26) A modest stretch of land or medium-size island, such as House Frey.

18 Law +10 -3 (25) The typical level of Law throughout much of Westeros. Crime is common but not out of control.

20 Population -5, +4 +6 -2 (23) Typical population. Most smallfolk live on farmsteads or in hamlets, but you might have a couple of small towns and a community around your primary fortification.

20 Power +5, +4, +3, +5 -6 (31) A trained force of soldiers, including cavalry and possibly ships. You may have the service of a banner house.

32 Wealth -2 +4 (34) Common. Your family has enough to get by.

These are the suggested investments, so far:

46 Defense - Castle (40)

30 Influence - One firstborn son (20) (Aedan), one firstborn daughter (Lysaria)

27 Lands - Domain 1: Coastal wetlands (3+3), Small Town (+20), Stream (+1) (27)

25 Law -

23 Population - (21 if peasant levies are fielded)

31 Power - Green (1, exp:20) Warships (7): 8; Trained (3, exp:60) Garrison (2) : 5; Veteran (5, exp:100) Archer/Infantry (3+4):12; Green (1, exp:20) Sailors (4):5; Green (1) Peasant Levies (0, -2 Pop).

34 Wealth - Port (10), Maester (10), Marketplace (10)

Armed Forces

This is the suggested make-up of the Styrian armed forces:

• "The Household Guard" - versatile fighting force
  • Veteran Archer/Infantry (total cost: 12, experience 100, abilities: Agility, Awareness, Marksmanship, Athletics, Endurance, Fighting)
    • Athletics:4, Agility:3, Awareness:2, Fighting:3, Marksmanship:2, Endurance:4
    • AR: 3 Defense: 7, Health:12, Fighting Damage: 5, Marksmanship Damage:5, long range
• "The Castle Watch" - man the castle
  • Trained Garrison (total cost: 5, experience: 60, abilities: Awareness, Endurance, Fighting)
• "The Fleet" - remnants of more impressive navy
  • Green Warships (total cost: 8, experience:20, abilities: Awareness, Fighting, Marksmanship)
• "The Marines" - these men fight in ship-ship combat
  • Green Sailors (total cost: 5, experience:20, abilities: Agility, Awareness, Fighting)
• "The Fodder" -If we need to call up these guys, things are desperate !
  • Green Peasant Levies (total cost: 1, experience:20, abilities: Animal Handling, Awareness, Survival) reduce population by 2 if used.

Characters

The PC's in the game are as follows

(please enter your character name and brief description)

Aedan Larsa Styrian, Heir to Castle Styrian and very pretty squire (Silent Wayfarer)

Ser Gwynn Andesh, Master At Arms (Gee4orce)

Doran Keel - Apprentice Huntsman (ClassDunce)

Baldric Styrian, the Thunderhammer - Brother to the Lord of House Styrian, this grim noble is charged with upholding the law in Styrian lands. Head of the Storm Wardens. (DJ-Anarchy)

Ser Bronn Styrian - The hedonistic Knight of Silks and Champion of Styrian. (Jon D)

Lysaria Styrian - Lord Styrian's (legitimate) daughter

Former PCs, now NPCs

Alessandra Storm - Expert blacksmith at house Styrian, bastard daughter of Lord Styrian. (AtomicGamer)

Maester Cedric, fresh crispy new Maester coming in after the catastrophic storm