Stafford Florent

Stafford Florent is the son of Meryn Florent and Alys Lannister. Despite his family name and heritage, he is strongly dedicated to his mother's side of the family, House Lannister, hence his namesake.

Appearance and Character
Faithful to his House, Stafford's ears are instantly recognisable as Florent, however, his Lannister features maintain a handsome look about him. He still had a youthful face for a 26 year old.

As a loyal kinsman of House Lannister, Stafford often wears different Lannister-style armour plates and wears a variety of furs, mainly fox, to represent his own House.

Stafford, being very close to nobility, takes on an often arrogant view of life, however is very respectable in the appropriate company, especially the Lannisters, for they were the only people who held mutual respect for him.

History
Since childhood, despite being completely legitimate, the young Florent was regularly treat like a bastard. This was most definitely due to his maternal links to the arch-enemies of the Reach. Stafford had never seen his mother since very young, and he knew not where she was. His father, Meryn, remained at Oldtown for his shameful relationship with a Lannister. Stafford saw no meaning in loyalty to his House, yet remained at their presence for a significant amount of time, bonding well with the soldiers and men-at-arms of Brightwater Keep. Stafford regularly marched some garrisons down the Mern's Ford to camp and train, where he met Robyn of Mern's Ford, the Castellan of Norcross, a man of which he seemed to get on very well with.

Life came to a point where Stafford saw no further reasoning in remaining with his so-called 'family'. But what would he do? Where would he go? The Lannisters were barely even aware of his existence, but surely they knew his mother. Maybe she was still at Castamere. Soon, Stafford would find his true and rightful place in Westeros.

So, it happened. The Florent knight rounded up as many men that could sympathise with his cause and left for the Westerlands. Valuable and loyal men joined him, such as Gwayne Blackbar, a bloody strong man-at-arms of House Florent, and Stafford's closest friend. Robyn of Mern's Ford sacrificed his Castellanship at Norcross and his lodge to the fire of the Reachmen, Arryk abandoned his guard duty at Brightwater Keep, Alekyn Flowers left his beloved whore mother, Lothor Grimm gave up his blacksmith apprenticeship, all so that Stafford could flee West. Loyalty was not a question.

Hope had opened up again. This was until various Lords of the Reach became aware of this traitorous act, so sent an extermination force of 50 men, lead by Ser Dameon Ashford and Ser Gerold Chester, under false Tyrell banners. By the time the loyalists had caught up with the deserters and fought a skirmish, Alekyn Flower had been run through by Ser Dameon Ashford and Lothor Grimm had been gutted like a fish by a Reach spearman. At least five other deserters where dead. As for the loyalist forces, Ser Gerold Chester had been mildly wounded by Gwayne Blackbar and another Florent deserter, and a few of their men were slaughtered.

If it hadn't been for Robyn's inspiring words of hope, the morale would be lower than ever. They continued past the border of the Westerlands, deeper into unknown lands that was the gold lion's territory. As it seemed, there was no place for them here, despite the family links. They were a reasonably large unit, but lost, thirsty, tired and hopeless from the previous event of combat. A small group of Lannister horsemen could easily pick the lot of them off with no difficulty at all, without a dusty fuck given about his mother.

After another day, or two, of aimless walking, a couple of men believed they had sighted Lannister banners in the mountains. Despite putting this down to a mere hallucination, Stafford decided to investigate further. They'd be somehow closer to reaching their destination, and that's what Stafford kept in his mind. They rode for the mountains.

They arrived at the sighting, but the banners were gone and nothing was there. Stafford had nothing left in him. After unleashing any words he needed, he knew he was finished. Until he heard someone. A voice. He turned to see a guard a full Lannister uniform. Two. He told them he was the son of Alys Lannister and wanted to bend the knee to the Lord of the West. They opened the gates and a new, unseen world unfolded. Groups of soldiers everywhere, forge to the left, stable to the right. Tents where plotted everywhere and and merry men sat, huddled around spits on camp fires, drinking and laughing, jesting and telling stories of how many whores they bedded in a single night. Elsewhere, there was men carrying huge buckets of horse feed and men at the armoury trying on elaborate plates of steel. Men piling up blades by the tonnes. This is what Stafford had been looking for.

After being escorted to Lord Criston Lannister's tent, a huge, elegant structure, he was sent in. His stomach felt as though it was in his throat. "What are you here for?" The expected question. "I am the son of Alys Lannister and I wish to bend the knee," The look on Lord Criston's face was not identifiable, increasing Stafford's anxiety.

"Ah, you must be that Florent boy, Steffan."

"Stafford, my Lord."

"Right, well, your mother is safe at Castamere. I could always use more forces."

After expressing his skill in riding and hate for the Reach, Lord Criston Lannister formed what was to be known as the Black Fox Company, consisting of the best of Stafford's 100 (the rest were recruited into the Lannister army) and good Lannister riders. Stafford had found his place and the true beginning of his life.

Recent Events

 * Stafford leaves with a total host of around 100 rogue Florent soldiers and men-at-arms. They are headed for the Westerlands.
 * Stafford finds Lord Criston Lannister and his men at the Muster in the Mountains.
 * Along with his men, the Black Fox Company is formed, consisting of turncoat Reachmen and miscellaneous Lannister men, with Ser Stafford at the lead as their Captain.

Family

 * Meryn Florent - Father
 * Alys Lannister - Mother
 * Lord Criston Lannister - Distant maternal kinsman

Stafford's Host

 * Gwayne Blackbar - Former man-at-arms of House Florent, Stafford Florent's right-hand-man
 * Robyn of Mern's Ford - Former Castellan of Norcross, close friend of Stafford Florent
 * Arryk - Former guard of Brightwater Keep, close friend of Stafford Florent
 * ~100 turncoat Florent and Reach soldiers