The Battle of Winterfell - An OC AU - Recruiting, Major canon roles open

[Primarch]

"If we don't win this fight, then that is the fate of every person in the world."

I am looking to start an RP based around the early episodes of Season 8, specifically the 'Battle of Winterfell' and the lead up to it. A large bulk of this RP will revolve around characters arriving from all over Westeros, putting aside differences where they exist, deciding how to spend what might be their last few nights alive and eventually making what many believe will be a desperate last stand. In other words this should start as a very personal RP and later turn to big action. 

To assist running this game I intend to recruit at least one but ideally two co-GMs, so anyone interested in free to contact me.

Will this be stat based or freeform?
Freeform. It is intended to be a collaborative work, so we'll decide at our own preference how things play out. The closest thing to 'stats' might be players who take on characters who lead soldiers coming up with an appropriate list to what if they bring, how detailed that is however is up to the player.

Do I need to be familiar with A Song of Ice & Fire/Game of Thrones?
Some awareness would certainly help, but we're focusing on a very small part of the story so if you are willing to do a little wiki reading (or even watch the very early S8 episodes you should be fine).

Will you be 'GMing' the story?
To an extent. This is a collaborative narrative and anyone who wishes to participate will be expected to contribute to the overall experience. I will set up a Discord chat which we can use it to keep contact, plot events, organise and world build but I will not be dedicated strictly to GMing as I also wish to play in the setting. I intend to recruit at least one, ideally two co-GMs to assist with pushing the narrative and helping with the plot. At the very least I expect for players to be able to post and at least personal scenes without me nudging them along.   

Who can I play as?
Just about anyone from Westeros, North of the Wall or Essos who might have a stake in defending against the incoming invasion.

The game will likely have several threads going at once, or at least two. One featuring the assembled group making preparations for the attack. This would be our main 'plot' thread, dedicating to moving the narrative along in one way or another. I believe we should also have a thread dedicated to more personal matters, with characters free to do as they please. Of course E allows use to have I believe 2 threads per player so ideally we will have plenty to work with.

If this is an OC AU, events could have happened very differently. Could my app alter recent history quite significantly?
We'll take this on a case by case basis. While all characters involved will be OC, we're going to assume the basic set up is the same. For now certain pieces of canon can be assumed:

• The War of Five Kings happened with a Lannister/Tyrell victory though conflicts throughout Westeros persist.
• A Targaryen arrived to Westeros with three dragons, one was killed & resurrected by the Night King, leading to the collapse of the Wall.
• If you're unsure if a change you want to make is too significant, talk to me. It will almost certainly be easier to get a 'yay or nay' ahead of time than re-write an app later on.

~~~
Character sheets & further details will be provided upon suitable expression of interest
Questions, Comments & suggestions are welcome.

>> Join the Discord here<<

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Currently claimed character concepts
Lady Stark of Winterfell
Captain-General of the Golden Company
Captain of the Wolf Pack

Open characters:
The Targaryen
Brotherhood Without Banners
Commander of the Knights of the Vale
Lord-Commander of the Nights Watch
Leader of the Free Folk
Leader of Ironborn Warriors

At this time I am asking no more mercenary commanders, thank you~!

[Kadigan]

Interest is being expressed.

[Hob]

Following

[Stilted]

I'd be very interested in this!

[greypsychman]

I would be interested in this.

[Primarch]

That's a nice turn around. I've added a character template. I'll put up my own character asap so you can all see what it should look like.
If you have any questions please feel free to PM me. If I didn't specify earlier, please keep character images 'live action.'

[Primarch]

Player Primarch
Character: Captain-General Visenya Blackfyre

Allegiance: Golden Company
Main Skills & Abilities:

• Personal Combat: Although not an anointed knight, Visenya has been trained in all the traditional forms of knight combat and is respected as a master warrior. Visenya has been described as 'Daemon Blackfyre with teats' and Daemon himself was said to fight like 'The Warrior.' Born & raised in the war camp of the Golden Company she has had countless knights & other soldiers available to see to her training. Her career as a mercenary soldier and leader of the Golden Company has provided a tremendous amount of experience in combat. She is at her most dangerous when wielding the valyrian steel bastard sword Blackfyre or when atop her horse with a lance.
• Captain-General: Visenya was born to the previous Captain-General of the Golden Company and raised to one day take over. Trained to lead from a young age and now highly experienced, she is a paramount military strategist and commander. She possesses not only great insight to combat itself but the logistics that go into supporting a full military campaign.
• Diplomat: As the leader of the Company it falls to Visenya to negotiate contracts and deal with the very wide variety of people she must rub shoulders with. She has learned to trust her instincts but also judge a room on how to present herself, be it the imperious warrior-commander, the friendly business associate or even the exiled princess. This skill also comes in use when handling the different personalities among the company's leadership.

Personality:

• Honourable: Visenya was raised on the stories of her family, chief among those Daemon Blackfyre himself and how he was shot down by arrows while protecting his enemy. This 'honourable knight' ideal was not only a romantic notion put into her head but a valuable code of conduct to ensure respectability & trust. Visenya has a well deserved reputation as a highly honourable individual in Essos where nobility generally rely on less direct means of dealing with their opposition.
• Gregarious: Visenya might carry herself & fight like a knight but ultimately she's not a knight. Visenya is a mercenary and was raised in a mercenary camp, certain protocols tend to be more relaxed in such a setting. When the men are not marching or fighting they like to let their hair down and Visenya is no exception. Her brothers-in-arms are what passes for her family now and the last Blackfyre is well known for joining them in merriment, she can drink as well as any many and is more than happy to lead the way on the old soldier songs or dance by deep into the night. When given an opportunity she laughs loud and laughs hard.
• Fierce: The Captain-General of the Golden Company holds herself to a high standard, knightly valour is not a badge of honour earned once but an ongoing effort. While that is the sort of person Visenya aspires to be it is not necessarily her nature. It should be kept in mind the Blackfyre's are from the same stock as the Targaryens, in Visenya's veins is the blood of the dragon and while she possesses extensive patience once pushed too far it reveals a very fearsome side indeed. Once the 'dragon is awoken' as it is sometimes phrased, Visenya proves she can be more fierce than even the most cutthroat of the Dothraki khals.

History:

• When Maelys the Monsterous was killed by Barristan Selmy and the War of the Nine Penny Kings failed the Golden Company retreated to Essos proper. While House Blackfyre was left extinct in the male line, the female line was lead by Rhaenys Blackfyre, who had warned against accepting Maelys as their leader. Having been proven right, the Company sought her out and elected her the new Captain-General.
• Rhaenys eventually gave birth to Visenya. The girl was raised in the ever moving war camp of the Golden Company, learning all the skills she would need in the future from her mother, exiled Westerosi knights in service to the company, the spymaster and more. At twelve she accompanied her mother into battle as a 'squire' of sorts, by sixteen she was riding at the head of the cavalry with lance & sword.
• Rhaenys passed away when Visenya was twenty, by this time Visenya was recognised as one of, if not the, finest fighter the Golden Company had ever seen and had been acting as her mothers 'second' for some years. Beloved by the Company and the last remaining Blackfyre she was swiftly elected the next leader. Her first contract was with Qohor, hired to destroy a Khalassar that had been causing them difficulty. Visenya led the company to hunt and defeat their quarry, smashing them in the open field. She would claim the prized foal the Khal had been raising for his son, she named it Arakh and in time it would be her personal mount. Qohor however believed the young woman could be ignored and refused payment so Visenya put the city to siege until they surrendered, paid in full and more by way of an apology, including a suit of the finest Qohor plate armour, designed just for her.
• For the last ten years Visenya has been leading the company, continuing the tradition of never breaking a contract and earning herself a reputation as wildly fierce if highly honourable warrior and mercenary-company leader. This all changed after being invited to Westeros with a contract for the Iron Throne. While originally the Golden Company was fortifying King's Landing, during a gathering to discuss a potential Westerosi alliance to stop the oncoming White Walkers Visenya witnessed the Wight gathered as evidence. For the first time in the history of the Company they broke contract and Visenya marched them north.

Relationships/Connections:

• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting

Army/Assets:

• Visenya wields the Valyrian steel bastard sword Blackfyre, traditional weapon of House Blackfyre and considered the 'Sword of Kings' in Westeros. She also wears a high quality suit of Qohor plate armour.
• The Golden Company is 10,000 strong and has been relocated in full to Winterfell. Unlike most hosts of household knights and feudal levies, the Golden Company are highly disciplined soldiers able to quickly establish orderly camps. They are the largest and best equipped mercenary force in the world.
• The Golden Company's composition:
• 5,000 are cavalry. 24 war elephants, 500 are knights, a further 500 are squires. The remainder are a mix of general light & heavy cavalry, mostly heavy.
• 1,000 are archers. 300 wield crossbows, 300 wield Essosi double-curved horn-and-sinew bows, 350 wield Westerosi longbows, 50 wield Summer Island great bows.
• 4,000 are infantry. Primarily operate with spear & shield, though a secondary sword of some sort of always carried.

Additional Details:

• The Golden Company do not refer to themselves as 'Sellswords' but rather a free brotherhood of of exiles.
• As they are mostly mobile, the golden company practice 'wearing' their wealth on their person, including jeweled swords, inlaid armor, heavy torcs, and fine silks. Many wear a lord's ransom in golden arm rings, with each ring signifying one year's service with the Golden Company.

[Hob]

I'll work on something later tonight. Working name: Carth Mudd of Oldstones.

[Primarch]

I'll work on something later tonight. Working name: Carth Mudd of Oldstones.

A Mudd? interested to see what direction you go.

In the meanwhile for those that are interested. What might be a helpful wiki link and some videos I like that might help with the theme of the RP (Just in case, spoilers):
https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Winterfell_(Great_War)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuZwBycA6M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQThYZoqDC0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCnEJYds1iA

[Hob]

Player: Hob
Character: Careth Mudd of Oldstones

Allegiance: Mudd’s Men
Main Skills & Abilities:

• Archery: Swords and shields are good when the enemy gets close, but it’s a damned-sight better that they never get the chance! Careth picked up his skills with a bow by hunting as a boy. Those skills were improved upon by his sellsword-uncles teachings, experience in fighting raiders in the riverland, and a bit of poaching when time allowed. He’s not the best shot in Westeros by any means, but he knows his way around a bow. And, when needed, a dagger.
• Tactics: Men and words are like coins; if one must spend them, spend them carefully and with regard to the future. While Careth specializes more in planning for small groups, he’s picked up on how to see the bigger picture.
• Smooth Tongue: He can be a charming bastard when he wants to be. Sometimes it’s even sincere! Sometimes, talking things out is a better bet than taking rash action. Not that he’ll say all that he’s thinking, of course. But he tends to save revealing the more charismatic side of himself as a last resort, preferring facts, reason, and brutal realism to sway arguments in his favor. That he does so to protect a more vulnerable, trusting side of himself is something he doesn’t readily admit.

Personality:

• Shrewd: With a head for coin, Careth has become a sharp businessman who is adept at both making and keeping funds in his company’s coffers. He tends to listen more than he talks. With his cards held close to his chest, he never quite says everything that he thinks or plans. It’s also served him well in planning strategies, how to get the most effect out of the least amount of men in a battle.
• Brutal: Life spent fighting raiders and protecting merchants has made him harsh. Mercy is a coin to be carefully spent, and he’s not afraid to make cruel decisions in order to prevent greater, more long-term miseries. Careth won’t explain himself, either. Rather, he thinks his actions should speak for themselves, and if someone misunderstands? Then they’re an idiot.
• Loyal: More than anything at his core, Careth is loyal. He keeps his word on the rare occasion that he dares to give it. Family and his band of sellswords come first, service to The Old Gods comes second, and third? Third is that the name of Mudd will mean something great once again. He doesn’t see himself sitting on the throne, but he can imagine that some Mudd worthy of the name will rise again to reforge their House. He’s not the lost heir to a fallen house. But Mudd’s Men are the foundation upon which Oldstones will eventually be rebuilt.

History:

• The Mudds have always been rivermen, and while their house is centuries gone, that hasn’t changed. They can be found all throughout the Riverlands doing any number of things. While smallfolk now, they haven’t forgotten their ancient glory, and it’s still whispered about around the family hearths last at night. They’ve also never forgotten that the Tullys bent the knee to the Andals instead of supporting Tristifer the Last. Had the Tullys kept faith with the Mudds, they mumble...
• Careth is the only son of Harolt Mudd, a sellsword who lost an arm and retired to a life of river fishing. His mother Lely died in childbirth. Raised by his father and uncles and aunts, surrounded by cousins, Careth was raised on the tales of the near-forgotten House of Mudd, the kings of the riverlands before the Andals came. With a smattering of martial knowledge, a good sense for a deal, and a bunch of belligerent relations, he organized a band of guerilla fighters to fight off raiders that came into the riverlands. This brought him into contact with the Brotherhood Without Banners. Jokingly called “Mudd’s Men”, their archery and stealth skills became a deciding factor in many skirmishes between the raiders and the Brotherhood. Working with the Brotherhood, Careth had a chance to hone his skills as both a leader and a fighter. Once the raids lessened, he quickly organized his relations and friends into something more than a bunch of vigilantes. Their ranks bolstered with outlaws, refugees, and men who left the Brotherhood, Careth rapidly forged Mudd’s Men into a small but capable company of sellswords.
• Not long after organizing Mudd’s Men into something more formal, whispers reached his ears about stirring beyond The Wall. He’d heard rumors of walking dead to the north, but for the longest time, Careth ignored them. There were too many other problems to deal with. The kingdoms were in chaos; there was coin to be made and the name Mudd to be made known. That was until he received word from his father's cousin, Emeris of Fairmarket. Emeris was part of the Night Watch, his message to his relations assured Careth that the threat was all too real. With family desperately reaching out to him, there was no choice in the minds of Careth and his men that there was no time for delay. Careth does find some irony in the fact that a house long-broken is now marching to the aid of the famous House Stark.

Relationships/Connections:

• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting

Army/Assets:

• Careth wears armor of boiled leather and scraps of chain, much like most of his men. A dagger and shortsword serve as his personal arms, but the riverland longbow in his hand is his weapon of choice.
• Mudd’s Men has roughly 270 men skilled in a variety of martial arts, each being familiar with bow, sword, and ax. They have no cavalry to speak of saving for a handful of “officers” like Careth who managed to acquire horses through various means. The band also make for excellent scouts, moving swiftly on foot in most terrains. Another 20 serve as messengers, and an additional 30 make up the company’s collective of bowyers, fletchers, and crude armorers. 

Additional Details:

• Careth is the leader of the company, although he takes no title. His cousin Dellon is his second in command, and his second cousin Nodd (a failed acolyte from the Citadel) serves as his advisor.
• Mudd’s Men are not formally trained warriors, but nor are they crude outlaws. They have a rough discipline along with a sort of blossoming pride in what they’ve become. Troublemakers are dealt with swiftly and with a minimum of fuss. Much like their former allies in the Brotherhood Without Banners, Mudd’s Men have a particular sort of honor all their own.
• Mudd’s Men tend to fight in small, mobile “knots”. They prefer to pick off their targets from a distance, weakening them well before they can get close, then moving to more advantageous positions while the other knots cover them.

[greypsychman]

Here is a draft of my character. I will work some more on the history and get it posted later.

Player Greypsychman
Character: Aden Hornwood, Captain of the Wolf Pack

Allegiance: House Stark
Main Skills & Abilities:

• Mounted Combat: Aden has been trained in all the traditional forms of knightly combat including fighting from horseback with lance or sword. He has also been trained to fight on foot with weapon and shield or two handed weapon. He was initially trained by the House Hornwood Arms Master because Aden was a distant relative. He is a second cousin in the Hornwood family, therefore a distant relative. His grandfather was the brother of Lord Halys Hornwood’s grandfather. During his career as a free rider (mounted sell sword) and eventually the leader of the Wolf Pack has provided a tremendous amount of experience in all types of combat.
• Charasmatic Leader: Aden truly cares for those under his leadership and this is reflected by the respect he shows them. He treats them fairly but maintains high expectations as well. This means he is firm but fair. His followers know that Aden doesn’t ask them to do something he wouldn’t do himself.
• Tactician: Aden specializes small group, mounted tactics. Especially, tactics involving infiltration behind enemy front lines and disrupting the enemy supply lines. This is done with quick strikes and then withdrawing before the enemy can organize and counter attack. However, Aden also does have a grasp of the tactics and strategies of involved in an army’s engagement and how to employ them.

Personality:

• Honorable: For Aden, acting honorable is a valuable code of conduct to ensure respect & trust. His code is to never harm an opponent who has yielded, defend those who can't defend themselves, and treat others with the respect you want to receive from them. Aden has a well-deserved reputation for being highly honorable, not only as an individual but also as the Captain of his mercenary company. His company has gained a reputation for its honorable conduct because Aden expects nothing less of them.
• Humble: Aden, because of his respect of others, Aden never tries to put himself above them or appear superior to them. This is reflected by the sense he projects that when he asks a follower to do something, it is something he is willing to do himself if needed. He sees value in everyone from small folk to high born.
• Carouser: Aden enjoys joining in and drinking with his brothers-in-arms. After a few drinks, Aden is more than happy to break into his old old soldier songs and other songs he has learned throughout his life. He has even been know to dance deep into the night with the pretty tavern maids or with Ladies at a feast. Because of his excellent memory, he is more than willing to share the stories of glory he remembers hearing in the past. He is quite the entertaining story teller! When given an opportunity, Aden will show he likes to live life fully.

History:

• Born the last child and second son in his family, Aden knew that there was little chance he would inheriting any land. His grandfather and Lord Halys Hornwood's grandfather were brothers. Aden trained in arms and studied with Daryn Hornwood, the heir to House Hornwood. Aden understood that he would also not be considered a suitable suitor for most Ladies from other Houses so he decided Essos would be the place to make his mark. At the age of 18, Aden ventured to Essos to gain his fame and fortune. Once in Essos, he heard about the Wolf Pack, a mercenary company made up entirely of Northerners from Westeros. He joined the company and performed admirably. His fighting skills, intelligence, and tactical knowledge were recognized right away. Aden rose in the Wolf Pack's ranks by first becoming a sergeant in charge of about a dozen men and eventually a lieutenant in charge of about fifty men.
• The Captain of the Wolf Pack decided to retire from mercenary work. The company held an election with the choice being one of their two senior lieutenants. Aden was very well respected by the men so he was elected the new Captain. The man who received the second most votes, Derren Knott, became Aden’s lieutenant.
• House Hornwood  was brought to near extinction during the War of Five Kings and its aftermath. Halys Hornwood and his son Daryn were killed in the war. So, Aden arranged transport for the Wolf Pack to go back to Westeros and see what he could do to save House Hornwood from extinction or being usurped by another house.

Relationships/Connections:

• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting

Army/Assets: The Wolf Pack, Sell Sword Company made up of Northmen originally in Essos

• 300 Mounted Free Riders
• The Wolf Pack is light cavalry (leather armor for most, sergeants and lieutenants have chainmail)
• All members of the Wolf Pack are originally from the North

Additional Details:

• The soldiers of the Wolf Pack are equipped with Lance, Sword, Shield, and Leather Armor. 
• The steeds of the Wolf Pack are Zorses. Zorses are black and white striped equines that are fierce and foul tempered. They are hardy beasts, supposedly capable of surviving on weeds and devilgrass for many months, and are able to travel long distances without water or fodder
• Emblem of the Wolf Pack
  

Wolf Pack History
The Wolf Pack was founded by Hallis Hornwood and Timotty Snow in the aftermath of the Dance of the Dragons and the collapse of the Triarchy (AC 129 to 131). At the time, the free company consisted of only of northmen. The Wolf Pack managed to maintain its tradition of having only Northerners in their membership. Currently, the Wolf Pack is light cavalry and have primarily fought in the disputed lands between Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh throughout their whole existence.

[Primarch]

Hey grey, he looks fine for the most part. I might note some parts look like they might have been copy & pasted from my Visenya bio. Not sure if you want to re-do it in your own words?

On a more general note, representatives from the major Houses of Westeros would be great. So if anyone wants to take up a Lord or Lady Stark for instance, they would be very welcome to do so.
I'll get an OOC & character thread up tomorrow. Cheers!

[Stilted]

I apologize for the delay on my part, I am hoping to have a character sheet up either tonight or tomorrow.

I was planning to make a Redwyne (first or second cousin to the main line) or a Rowan character. 

Out of curiosity, though, I must ask: if someone were to play a Stark, would they be a distant relative to the known characters?  So far as I am aware, Eddard's siblings Brandon and Benjen did not sire any children, and Lyanna's offspring is well established.  It's been a long time since I read the books, so forgive me if I've forgotten something, but I don't recall mention of Rickard Stark (father of Eddard, Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna) as having any siblings.  I know this is an AU setting, so of course other lines could be forged...

Admittedly, I am probably tripping myself up on how much creative license we have to establish blood ties that don't exist in the show or books.  I tend to try to stay as faithful to the source material as possible - at least in the set-up stages - unless given specific parameters or guidelines to do otherwise. 

(I might just have a little bit of anxiety and don't want to be the person who tries to introduce something that is absolutely ridiculous~)

[greypsychman]

Hey grey, he looks fine for the most part. I might note some parts look like they might have been copy & pasted from my Visenya bio. Not sure if you want to re-do it in your own words?

On a more general note, representatives from the major Houses of Westeros would be great. So if anyone wants to take up a Lord or Lady Stark for instance, they would be very welcome to do so.
I'll get an OOC & character thread up tomorrow. Cheers!

I did some editing so it should be less like your writing.

[Primarch]

I apologize for the delay on my part, I am hoping to have a character sheet up either tonight or tomorrow.

I was planning to make a Redwyne (first or second cousin to the main line) or a Rowan character. 

Out of curiosity, though, I must ask: if someone were to play a Stark, would they be a distant relative to the known characters?  So far as I am aware, Eddard's siblings Brandon and Benjen did not sire any children, and Lyanna's offspring is well established.  It's been a long time since I read the books, so forgive me if I've forgotten something, but I don't recall mention of Rickard Stark (father of Eddard, Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna) as having any siblings.  I know this is an AU setting, so of course other lines could be forged...

Admittedly, I am probably tripping myself up on how much creative license we have to establish blood ties that don't exist in the show or books.  I tend to try to stay as faithful to the source material as possible - at least in the set-up stages - unless given specific parameters or guidelines to do otherwise. 

(I might just have a little bit of anxiety and don't want to be the person who tries to introduce something that is absolutely ridiculous~)

This RP effectively takes the same stage and replaces all the actors. This means if you wanted to play a Stark, your character would be replacing Sansa as the Lord/Lady of Winterfell. We would assume events of their life largely played out in a similar manner with some variations based on their different personality. Jon Snow, Sansa & Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen. None of them exist in this setting, but an AU doppleganger of sorts exists in their place.

[Stilted]

This RP effectively takes the same stage and replaces all the actors. This means if you wanted to play a Stark, your character would be replacing Sansa as the Lord/Lady of Winterfell. We would assume events of their life largely played out in a similar manner with some variations based on their different personality. Jon Snow, Sansa & Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen. None of them exist in this setting, but an AU doppleganger of sorts exists in their place.

Ah!  Thanks for the clarification.

*Tosses the Redwyne app in the bin*

In that case, I'd love to play a Stark.  Will get something posted as soon as possible.

[Stilted]

Additional

Additional 2

Player: Stilted
Character: Rhion Stark
Allegiance: House Stark


Main Skills & Abilities:

• Noble Authority - As an adult, Rhion has adopted an understanding of her position as the Lady of Winterfell that is very different from what had been fueled by sheer entitlement in her youth.  While she had always taken an active interest in fostering the attributes fit to her station - particularly those expected of her gender - the woman has mastered the arts of composure, skillful etiquette, and graceful femininity; she has deviated from the traditional role of a Westerosi lady, however, in her fierce independence, confident decision, and free expression of hard truths.  Her authority is not a product of self-interest or gain, as it once was...  Rather, her right to leadership has become less of a privilege and more of a responsibility.  Her strength of command is derived from the people of the North, in serving their best interests.  She will not - cannot - fail her people.  As such, she devotes every fiber of her being to ensuring that the loyalty and faith of her bannermen and subjects is not misplaced.  Since her return, the woman has proven herself an apt leader who weighs her decisions and issues commands with an intense seriousness and consideration of justice that is remarkably reflective of her father, the late Lord of Winterfell.
• Resource Management - Rhion is of a mind that easily encompasses the larger picture.  She excels in matters of logistics, personally overseeing the coordination of housing, feeding, and equipping the men and women sworn to the cause of defeating the Night King - or of circumstances which require it, in the mobilization of troops and supplies.  Ensuring that the needs of her people - military or civilian - are properly met not only allows for the best chance at success, but also gives the Lady of Winterfell a sense of accomplishment.  Rhion truly cares and appreciates those under her charge and she takes pride in seeing to their care.
• Aspiring Archer - In her youth, the noble had not taken an interest in weaponry, primarily because it was unbecoming of her gender to be so enthralled with combat.  Even when she had begun to see that such skills and abilities were a necessity in this cruel world, her circumstances were insufficient to allow the woman to train at will.  Since her return to Winterfell, Rhion has devoted much time to learning the fundamentals of personal combat.  She has found that she is either naturally gifted or lucky with archery and can make impressive shots against a target at a range.  ...A stationary target, mind you.  Her attempts to translate her skill in the field (hunting rabbits or any other mobile target) has yielded less than impressive results.  She understands the concept of leading but lacks the fluidity or familiarity with her weapon to properly translate the idea in to action.  Despite the frustration of this, the lady continues to train, and has taken to carrying her bow and quiver with her on a constant basis so that any spare moment she finds might be utilized to further develop her skill.

Personality:

• Reserved - While the woman is not one to hold her tongue, she does choose her words with only the utmost consideration.  Her reservation is more so applied at an emotional level: she is an expert wielder of an unseen mask, one that is painted fearless and confident.  Whatever she might feel...well.  Her emotions are quite well internalized, even around those few she considers close.  She is not uncomfortable speaking about her past experiences, which were obviously quite traumatic, though even then the only crack to be witnessed would be a deflecting smile.  She equates unchecked emotion, particularly rash anger or pitiful despair, to be signs of weak leadership.  As such, she has no intention of showing anyone that she is capable of this sort of inner turmoil.
• Poised - Related to her emotional reservations, Rhion places a very high value on appearances.  As a properly trained lady, she possesses a composure and self-assuredness that radiates grace and elegance.  The woman is not one to fluster, and in stressful circumstances she often works as a point of grounding for those around her.  The calming effect of her presence is very much based in the logic and reasoning she employs: with an absence of panic, in herself, she is steadfast to find a solution to the issue at hand.
• Calculating - Rhion shows great aptitude in cerebral pursuits and has an uncanny memory for details and numbers.  Adding greatly to this natural intelligence, she is willing to admit when she does not know or understand something, thus seeking aid from someone who does.  Where she lacks experience or knowledge - such as in military tactics - she will defer judgement to someone of the expertise, though she remains insistent that she attend the councils so as to learn and give her instinctive input.  The woman also has a habit of putting her calculating nature to work on those around her, always making a guess of their motives while balancing the level of trust she believes them to be worthy.  A knee-jerk reaction to her past experiences and influences, certainly.

History:

• Once upon a time, Rhion believed in fairy tales.  She was to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms; so it was decided when she was betrothed to the eldest Prince Baratheon.  He was handsome, and upon the sight of him she had immediately began to romanticize their future together, even before their fathers had tied their fates.  In the beginning, she had been willing to overlook the young man's obvious short-comings: his cowardice and temper, or the condescending and hostile fashion in which he regarded her younger sister (or anyone of a lower station than himself).  It wasn't until much later that she recognized him for the monster that he was, but by then...  She was trapped.  In a downward spiral of events, Rhion had descended from the respectable eldest daughter of House Stark to the offspring of a traitor.  King's Landing became a prison.  When King Baratheon died of a hunting wound, her betrothed ascended to power.  Her father questioned the legitimacy of the prince, choosing to support his Baratheon uncle's claim instead.  ...After Lord Stark's public execution, Rhion was nothing more than a hostage that her betrothed - and his mother - took delight in tormenting.  Emotionally and mentally, in most cases, though on several occasions the abuse turned physical.   Not that he laid a hand on her directly, though he would issue punishments via the command of his guard; publicly, even, when he saw fit to inflict penalty against her for the sins of her brother, who was in open rebellion against the throne.  It was only by the grace of his uncle, a Lannister, that she was spared further humiliation, as the man stepped in and put a stop to the display.  Eventually, to Rhion's relief, it was decided that she was unfit to wed the cruel King.  Though the reprieve was short lived...
• The Lannisters saw fit to marry Rhion to her formerly-betrothed's uncle.  While the man was one of few that had ever shown her kindness, she took the arrangement as an insult and further humiliation.  She was withdrawn, and unhappy, and her husband allowed her the space she so obviously desired.  The arrangement was unfair to the both of them, Rhion could admit in hindsight, and she even regretted the way she had returned his considerations with cold disdain.  With the slaughter of her elder brother, and her mother, at the behest of the House Lannister, though...  How could she have been expected to love one of them?  She abandoned her husband at his nephew's wedding, when the King was murdered via poison, making an escape from King's Landing through an arrangement with one of her mother's childhood friends.  While Rhion had played a part in the assassination, she had not willingly or knowingly done so, and spared not even a thought as to what fate might await her husband after she fled.  She had believed the man who smuggled her from King's Landing to be her savior, only to find he, too, could not be trusted.
• Her hand was bartered once again: this time to a bastard of House Bolton.  He was cruel, like her first love, and ever so much more willing to mistreat her directly.  The fairy tale had long since faded away, and Rhion suffered no delusions to soften the edge of reality.  The bastard - even as his father had decided to bestow him the name of his house, the fact remained that the deviant was just that - held Winterfell, and so Rhion suffered these indignities in her own home.  She didn't particularly like to dwell on this period of her life, and so it suffices to say that: eventually, she escaped.  With the help of a Greyjoy, a former ward of the Starks, she fled and found safety with her half-brother at Castle Black.  With the help of the free folk, which her half-brother had brought south of the Wall, and some of their bannermen - and a last minute intervention by the Lords of the Vale - Winterfell was liberated from it's Bolton occupation.  Rhion found great satisfaction, and an empowering liberation, in returning the cruelty she had suffered at her former husband's hand: she fed him live to his own hounds, which the bastard had conveniently starved in preparation of a similar intent towards those seeking to unseat his hold.

Relationships/Connections:

• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting
• Pending further characters/plotting

Army/Assets:

• TBD

Additional Details:

• Rhion's appearance is strikingly Tully.  Inheriting the namesake features of her mother's house, the woman's hair is a cascade of copper-red, her eyes a sky shade of blue, and her complexion a flawless ivory.  A soft kiss of freckles adorns her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose if she indulges in too much sun.

[Stilted]

As is likely obvious from the character history, Rhion Stark is essentially a stand-in for Sansa.  If you'd prefer more deviation from the established character I'm willing to revise, just let me know.

I refrained from naming other existing characters in which Rhion would have had history with, rather describing them by relation or proximity.

The Army/Assets section is not complete at present.  I currently lack the energy to research which bannermen and how many are present in Winterfell prior to the Battle of Winterfell but I will circle back and fill out the information tomorrow.

If you have any questions or concerns let me know~

[Primarch]

As is likely obvious from the character history, Rhion Stark is essentially a stand-in for Sansa.  If you'd prefer more deviation from the established character I'm willing to revise, just let me know.

I refrained from naming other existing characters in which Rhion would have had history with, rather describing them by relation or proximity.

Looks fine to me!

The Army/Assets section is not complete at present.  I currently lack the energy to research which bannermen and how many are present in Winterfell prior to the Battle of Winterfell but I will circle back and fill out the information tomorrow.

If it helps, the wiki puts the Northern army contribution at "~10,000 Northern infantry and archers"
https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Winterfell_(Great_War)
If you want to use that number and split it any way you like, fine by me.

[Primarch]

>> Join the Discord here<<

[Stilted]

>> Join the Discord here<<

Thanks for setting up the Discord server, Primarch!

I have to say, I'm quite happy with the way the channels are organized.  Very well thought out!

Can't wait to get to work plotting and chatting with everyone~ 

See you guys there!

[TheHangedOne]

Player: TheHangedMan
Character: Einar Karstark

Allegiance: House Karstark
Main Skills & Abilities:

• Axeman: The sword is a noble weapon, but an axe is meant for destroying. Whether it's splitting a man in half, or cleaving through a shield, those who utilize the dangerous potential of the axe are quite fearsome. Einar's been swinging the axe since he was a kid, and coming from one of the larger houses of the North, he had excellent trainers, and ample time to hone his warcraft.   
• You're a big one, aint'cha? Karstark men are proud, tall, and covered from head to toe in hair; or so it is said. Einar definitely fits the bill, at around 6'2 and at least 250 lbs without armor; almost all of that is muscle (as a northerner, he does maintain a healthy layer of blubber, to get through the harsh winters). Not only is a big beast of a man, but he knows how to use his weight to his advantage. During Robb's southern campaigns, he found himself easily pushing aside smaller opponents, and smashing through them with all the harshness and power of Winter itself.
• Wild: They say man is born with the wild in them, and they do themselves disservice to turn their back on it. Although capable of comporting himself as a proper lordling, there is an almost animalistic core to him. Some say that, when he marched south with the rest of his House, that he saw too much of battle; that it crept its way into his soul. Others say that some are just born with the violence in them. Either way, Einar is an implacable foe.

Personality:

• Fearless: There are a lot of old friends waiting on the other side.  While he does not embrace or actively seek out oblivion, he will not shy away when The Stranger comes calling his name.
• Practical Minded:  Einar places no stock in wealth or manners. Neither gold, nor social niceties, will save you from Winter's fury.
• One of Us: While plenty gave Einar the respect due his family name, he was never satisfied with cashing in on someone else's accomplishments. Since he was old enough to truly fight, he's spent more of his time among the rank and file fighters than anywhere else. As a consequence, he earns the respect of most of the soldiers. He is seen as approachable, for he measures each individual by their own traits, rather than whether they're lowborn or high.

History:

• When he was born, it was in the Godswoods near Karhold. For the northerners, who still worship the old gods, this was seen by most as a sign of their blessing. A precocious child, he often gave his parents, teachers, and caretakers a real run for their money. This rambunctious, adventurous nature, manifested in him so early, was simply a sign of who and what he would grow up to be.  When he was old enough to hold a weapon, he insisted on learning how to fight. In fact, he was always insisting on one thing or another. Rather than being merely spoiled, however, he fought for, rather than demanding, these things.
• When Robb Stark called his banners to Winterfell, Einar followed along quite happily. Just getting old enough to shave, but choosing to grow his hair out; he saw this as the perfect opportunity to both put his training into practice, as well as to earn some glory and renown of his own. It was during the war in the south that he figured out, and named, what it was he sought as a child. He was not simply content to accept what any other person could give him; if someone could give it to him, then they could take it away, and so it wasn't really "his". And while his father may have perished, while Robb may have fallen as well, he did gain something from the battles. Recognition and respect; not for his name, but for his own individual self.
• After their father's execution, and the return to Karhold, Harion took control. This suited Einar just fine, since he had no mind for politics. Of course, the house faced many more setbacks and losses, and the wild warrior found himself sadly unable to handle these movements. In the end, he helped his sister, Alys, escape to Castle Black. Unfortunately, tragedy struck them, and his own horse perished during their journey. He ended up sending his sister on alone, since they'd never make it double-mounted. He did eventually make his way to Castle Black, on foot, but by that time, his sister was already wed to a Thenn. Einar had been presumed dead, since a significant amount of time had passed since any word of him was heard. He ended up staying at Castle Black, since he had no desire to become the head of his house. As the wall proved inadequate to protect against a dragon, he ended up leaving with the survivors to regroup at Winterfell for a final battle.

Relationships/Connections:

• Open
• Open
• Open

Army/Assets:

• Personal Equipment: He wears sturdy, padded gambeson, over which is a mail hauberk. His halfhelm has some additional chainmail added to it, and over all, his equipment is made of the black iron typical of the Karstarks. His heavy duty travel boots are shod with iron, for greater protection, and trimmed with fur, for greater warmth. He wears a black bear fur cloak that makes him seem even more intimidating than he already is. While he has a big freakin' man-splitter axe, he has since traded it in for one made of dragon glass.
• Army: The people of Karhold have come to Winterfell, seeking its shelter. Two dozen sturdy warriors, whom served with Einar during the war, have joined back up with him. What they lack in numbers, they make up for in hard-earned experience, and grim determination. They wear similarly styled black iron mail hauberks, sturdy boots, and fur cloaks. They wield an assortment of weapons (swords, axes, and spears).

Additional Details:

• Eats, and drinks, an alarming degree. Women say his other tastes are equally unquenchable.
• Can often be found in the Godswoods, in meditative prayer.
• TBD

Well, that was a doozy, and if there aren't any glaring mistakes about history, then color me surprised (I'll admit to not being the best with details).  I might change him to being a Snow, depending.

[Primarch]

- please feel free to join in

[Hob]

- please feel free to join in

I think you might need to fix your URL on this?

Also, I'm afraid I'm not on Discord; I'm rarely online long enough at one go for it to be of any use to me. Feel free to PM me any thoughts or ideas, though!

[greypsychman]

I have to echo Hob. I don't use Discord so please feel free to PM me if there are discussions that need to be conducted.

Thanks