House Castriati of Tidehall

House History

House Castriati is an ancient house which traces its lineage to Eugar Castriati, a fearless Ironborn reaver captain who paid the iron price for his lands, which include Tannyr's Quay on the Ironman's Bay and easternmost wetlands of the Blue Fork, during the conquest of the Riverlands by Harren the Black. Through his rule he demonstrated that he was as shrewd in governing and commerce as he was fierce in battle. The Castriati fought with the Ironborn against Aegon the Conqueror, but were spared execution at the hands of Aegon or the new Tully lords of the Riverlands upon Harren's demise and the Ironborn's retreat from the mainland of Westeros. Aegon and the Tullys recognized the Castriati's shrewd management of their lands and skill at sea and decided to let them remain to guard against any trouble from the Iron Islands.

The Castriati proved loyal to the Tullys in repeling Ironborn raids. They have proven flexible through the years, doing what is necessary to secure their fortunes and adapt to changing times. They have given up worship of the Drowned God and pray to the Seven now, even funding the construction of an impressive Sept. However, their focus on commerce and the internal management of their lands and their origins have left them with less influence than other noble families.

Lord Gilder Castriati is the current head of the House. He is 58 and has always shown a great interest in the sea. He personally commanded the warships during Balon's Rebellion and proved a skilled naval commander. Even in his advanced age he still occassionally commands a galley on a short voyage. His first wife (with child) was taken captive by the Ironmen during the rebellion and died in an accident at sea, causing much bad blood between Gilder and the Ironborn. He took a second wife ten years ago from House Brook. She has yet to produce an heir and their relationship has grown noticeably strained as the years have passed.

The House has recently been thrown into disarray with the return of Gilder's brother Erryk and his son Daeron. Erryk has been in poor health since the passing of his wife. Though he stands to inherit Gilder, Gilder has shown much interest in Daeron, ensuring any deficiencies in his education as a member of a noble house of Westeros are remedied and treating him as an heir in all but name. Many expect that Lord Gilder may in some way designate Daeron as the formal heir soon.

House Resources and Holdings

Land 38 (0)

• The Ironman's Bay Coast (Plains: Coastline, Small Town) - These fertile plains benefit from their proximity to the Blue Fork and easy access to the Ironman's Bay. The town of Tannyr's Quay has grown from a small village when it was conquered by Eugar to a thriving port town that serves as a hub for trade between the North, the Iron Islands, Lannisport, and occassionaly traders from even further away. Tidehall guards the approach to Tanner's Quay, and small farms dot the lands outside of town.
• The Blue Fork Wetlands (Wetlands: Stream, Dense Woods, Ruins) - These are difficult lands to travel, though isolated farmers, woodsmen, and fishermen ply their trades here. A trail and small dock allows boats to travel down to the Trident and facilitates commerce between Tannyr's Quay and the rest of the Riverlands (though expanded this barely adequate thoroughfare and increasing its returns has long been a goal of House Castriati). The Haunted Stones are thought to be the ruins of a tower built late in the time of the First Men, probably destroyed during the war with the Andals. The Stones are thought to be haunted by the ghosts of the old gods, since there is a circle of ash in the center of the ruins where the Godswood stood, surrounded by a faerie ring of bright orange poisonous fungus. The Stones lie deep within the marsh, but are fed pure water by a small spring that joins the stream.

Influence 30 (30)

• Though limited in their influence compared to other houses, the Castriati have many favors owed and friends to call on due to their commercial success and their loyalty to the Tullys.

Defense 34 (4)

• Tidehall (Small Castle) - Tidehall is built at sea-level so that all ships coming into port must pass by its walls (maybe with a sea-chain connected across the gap). The road leading to its main entrance has a dike on either side of it to protect it from tides, but a trap door can be opened so that the area between the dikes will flood during high tide, and trap the water when the tide lowers again, in case of siege. Even if the dikes are destroyed, the area will consistently flood, disrupting the use of any siege engines.

Law 46

• Crime is rare in the lands of House Castriati. Times are good in Tannyr's Quay, which helps. Additionaly, Lord Gilder keeps up regular patrols throughout the town and the wetlands. He is known as a fair judge, and the presence of Ser Roger Brick as the Lord's executioner has a deterrring effect on anyone considering foul deeds in Castriati lands.

Population 43

• Castriati lands are quite populous and prosperous. The town is bustling and homesteads outside the town are not too distant from one another. In fact, overcrowding has become something of a concern for the future within Tannyr's Quay.

Power 41 (2)

• The Watch - Trained Garrison; Awareness 3, Endurance 3, Fighting 3, AR 3, AP -2, FD 3.
• The Rain - Trained Archers; Agility 3, Marksmanship 4, AR 2, AP -1, FD 1, MD 6 (Long Range) .
• The Fog - Veteran Wetlands Guerillas; Athletics 4, Marksmanship 3, Stealth 4; AR 1, AP 0, FD 4, MD 3(Close Range).
• Seaguards - Veteran Sailors; Agility 3, Awareness 3, Fighting 5, AR 0, AP 0, FD 3.
• Morning Star, Howling Wind, Wanderlust, Silver Storm, Iron Breaker, Ice Maiden, Eugar's Wrath - Veteran Warships; Awareness 4, Fighting 3, Marksmanship 4, AR 5, FD 3, MD 3 (Long Range).

Wealth 46 (1)

• Market - Tannyr's Quay has a thriving market where merchants come from all across the Blue Fork to ply their wares and deal with traders from the port.
• Port - Tannyr's Quay serves as a natural hub for seaborn trade from the North, the Iron Islands, and Lannisport.
• Sept - Tannyr's Quay boasts an impressive Sept for its size which has impressive stonework. It is overseen by Septon Revel. The commonfolk are not overly devout, leaving Septon Revel time to pursue scholarly aims. The Sept is home to several monks who aid him in exploring and preserving knowledge of the Seven.
• Maester - Tidehall is served by Maester Aldrik, who also serves as House Castriati's steward. Though his chain holds many links, he is clearly most deserving of the gold one as he has increased House Castriati's wealth substantially during his tenure. He has also extensively studied the fauna of the Riverlands and is extensively familiar with the healing properties of plants and mushrooms found around the Blue Fork.

Notable Figures

• Lord Gilder Castriati
• Lady Ayala, his wife
• Erryk Castriati, his brother
• Daeron Castriati, his nephew
• Septon Ravel, high priest of the Seven in Tannyr's Quay and counselor to House Castriati
• Maester Aldrik, counselor to Lord Gilder and Steward of House Castriati
• Ser Roger Brick, Lord's Justice of House Castriati
• Ser Malcolm Fendry, sworn sword of House Castriati
• Ser Sigurd Swiftoar, Captain of Eugar's Wrath and commander of the Seaguards and fleet.
• Ser Bohemund Blackaxe, Master-at-Arms of Tidehall and commander of The Watch

FAQs & other links

FAQ thread, post questions here.

All of us are on Google, but Skype has better multi-party chat functionality. If we can ever coordinate real-time play, this might be the best method.

Wikipedia Entry for the Series, A Wiki of Ice and Fire, and Tower of the Hand are your best quick and dirty references for materials about the world. You had better believe there are spoilers.

Additional Details

I want input and ideas on some remaining issues with the House.

The house is ruled by Lord Gilder Castriati. He is 58 and has always shown a great interest in the sea. He personally commanded the warships during Balon's Rebellion and proved a skilled naval commander. Even in his advanced age he still occassionally commands a galley on a short voyage.  His first wife (with child) was taken captive by the Ironmen during the rebellion and died in an accident at sea, causing much bad blood between Gilder and the Ironborn. He took a second wife ten years ago from House Brook (a neighboring poorer house). She has yet to produce an heir and their relationship has grown noticeably strained as the years have passed (this would be the Lady that Ser Roger defended).

Septon Ravel oversees the Sept in town. He is an old man with an academic and philosophical tilt to the doctrine. He provides counsel to the family when requested but relations are no more than cordial since the family attends the bare minimum of services.

ANy details people want to add to the family line? Gilder's siblings and ancestors? Lady Castriati? Other notable figures in the House?

Heraldry and Mottos

Heraldry Update update update. A coat of arms has been selected in the manner most becoming RPers, by casting of a d6. I've also taken the liberty of putting together Ser Roger's arms. Enjoy.

Mottos are "Constant as the Tide" and "Duty First".

Your votes were as follows:

#1: Micah, BR

#2: LR, T

#3: Sam, Sarah

Redline, make the call.



Alright, I think we have the final set of heraldry I'm willing to throw together. I'll open this up to a vote. If you don't have an opinion, that's cool, but if you want something different, feel free to put it up here (or email it to me and I'll do it).

Hijacked Thread! Less Heraldry, More Character "Portraits"

Edit - since I have two posts on house mottos and heraldry, I've decided to replace this one. Instead, I will include links to character "portraits". I got alot of my character inspiration off dice rolls, and off a 28mm mini I'd picked up. He's got a ways to go yet (I finished making the custom shield, but it needs to be painted, the sword, the face), but this'll give you an idea of what I thinking. I'm only good enough to entertain myself at this point, but hopefully it'll give you a (albiet small and distorted) mental image to go along with the character.

enjoy.

http://g.imagehost.org/0967/MalcolmInProgress.jpg

I've got a stack of minis that need painting that are consistent with some of the PCs, so perhaps you'll see more in this space later.

BR

Character Concepts

Post character concepts in thread below

Power stuff

veteran archers = 8
veteran guerillas = 7
trained infantry x2 = 14
trained warship = 10

total = 39

House Castriati of Tidehall (Liege: Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun)

Land Holdings 38 (0)

• Plains (Small Town, Coast) - Northwest of Oldstones along the coast of the Ironman's Bay
• Weltands (Ruin, Dense Woods, Stream) - East of the coastal domain containing part of the wetlands North of Oldstones and the tributaries of the Blue Fork.

Defense Holdings 34 (4)

• Tidehall (Small Castle just outside the town)

Wealth Holdings 40 (5)

• Sept (Small Town)
• Port
• Marketplace

Power Holdings 41 (2)

• Trained Archers
• Veteran Guerillas
• Veteran Warship
• Trained Garrison
• Veteran Sailors
  

Influence Holdings 30

House Fortunes Roll Modifier

• +9
• +1d6 to any positive Wealth result
  

House Stats:

Resource	Starting	Domain	Players	Favor	Infra	Favor	Decline	Favor	Infra	Infra	Total
Defense	24	-5	+6	+0	+5	+0	+0	+0	+4	+0	34
Influence	22	-5	+6	+3	+0	+2	-3	+1	+0	+4	30
Lands	30	+5	+0	+1	+0	+5	-6	+3	+0	+0	38
Law	29	+0	+0	+5	+0	+6	+0	+6	+0	+0	46
Population	33	+10	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	43
Power	35	+0	+0	+5	+0	+1	-6	+6	+0	+0	41
Wealth	22	+5	+11	+0	+3	+0	-4	+0	+5	+4	46

A Game of Ice and Fire

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My thought is for dice rolls to be done at home and just posted with the action.