Taenor of Myr

Taenor was born to a middling family with a long history in Myr. Whilst not rich, they have served with varying degrees of success in the mid upper ranks. A few through the years have gotten higher, with equally varied results.

Taenor joined the Myrish navy at the age of 16, on the cusp of manhood, as a volunteer. His advancement has varied depending on the intensity of conflict, the political climate, and seniority. His most recent promotion occurred in late 414 AC following the succession of Titania Sarmyr to the title of Prince-Admiral of the Myrish Navy.

Appearance and Character
The theory that the Myrish are at least partially Rhoynish has some weight, given the appearance of many of them. Taenor does little to dispute this theory, having the skin tone and black hair that so defines their appearance. However, rather than the dark eyes, typically brown, of the Rhoynish, his eyes are blue, like the sea that he loves so much.

Taenor can be stern when the situation calls for it, but generally goes about his duties with a steady resolve, and willingness to make puns, at both his own expense and that of others. Whilst this endears himself to the lower decks, it can be quite grating to the higher ups. This irritation is furthered by his honesty, and desire to improve things within the Fleets.

Early Life
Taenor was born to a man of middling success, of a middling family,in the year 380 in Myr. Given this background, it is no surprise that he received a decent education, with the intent that he would take up a trade. This general education lasted until his fourteenth name day.

Teenage Years
The trade that young Taenor was chosen by was that of sailing. He had always been called to the sea in his youth: whenever he couldn't be found, the best bet of where to look were the coastal districts.

Being of his background, he eventually entered the Myrish navy as a Volunteer. Such people lived and ate with the Officers of the ship, but did not carry their authority though lack of money and influence.

Steady attrition and steady service eventually made the lack of these things less of a problem. The Great Famine and the following War of the Three Thieves proved to be the main catalyst for this, along with the fallout of the latter, as men died, defected or disbanded and people could move up in consequence. Whilst not involved in the war against the Three Thieves, trade continued, as trade does, and those ships had to be protected.

By the end of the war, the Myrish navy had swollen, with those of the regular service benefitting from the plethora of posts now available. It could not be maintained at such a level, however, for the Magisters would never accept the expense associated with it. After the dust had settled once the Three Thieves were gone for certain, those in it for the duration went back to their old jobs. In the new peace time establishment, as settled upon by the Prince-Admiral and the Admirals, Taenor found himself in command of a ship, as a Captain. It was one of the older ships, a war galley of 80 oars, that would not have been out of place at the Battle of the Blackwater, or the Battle in the Gullet. It was a tried and true design, and it still had life in it yet.

Success and Elevation, ish.
Being amongst the older and smaller cadre of ships in the Myrish Navy, the ship, having a name meaning Ardour in the Common Tongue, often served as one of the escorts that shepherded merchantmen across the Narrow Sea. As things worsened in the Stepstones, measures were taken to improve the Myrish navy. Whilst the rich and influential viewed escort duty as dull and rather dangerous, which it admittedly war, Taenor had not the influence nor the money to be able to get out of it. Consequently, as it continued year upon year, Taenor grew in experience and indeed rank. Rather than being a junior Captain, he became a senior Captain, and eventually a Commodore.

This did not happen, however, before the Ardour reached the end of her life. Going back and forth across the Narrow Sea had worn her out, and it was in 408 that she was disposed of. What timbers that could be reused were used for building ashore. The next ship that Taenor commanded was the 120 oar Courageous. The 120 oar class were designed to be the new backbone of the Myrish fleet, following the prolonged encounter with the 100 oar galleys of Stannis Baratheon's fleet all those years before. Things moved slowly, for wooden walls endure well with adequate maintenance, so there was little need. Now however, as the 80 oar ships wore out, and other ships were lost, they were becoming more prevalent. For his twenty eighth name day, he became a Commodore, still on the Courageous.

Now more exposed to needs of the navy, the degree of corruption that infested the highest echelons of the Myrish navy soon became apparent. In particular, the degree to which supplies were being siphoned off for profit. Of course, it was the Captains and Commodores who had to make up that shortfall, which was done to varying degrees. Complaints to the Prince-Admiral, one Groleo Selloso, fell on deaf ears, as did subsequent complaints to the Admirals. Well, perhaps not quite deaf ears, for a promotion followed in 410. This was to the office of Commodore (Victualing). Whoever suggested it obviously had an appreciation of irony, for now he was in position to try to directly tackle the problems that he had seen. However, he was not able to, thanks to the lack of influence both above and below.

Rise of Titania Sarmyr
Consequently, when word reached his ears of the beginnings of the campaign to replace Groleo Selloso with Titania Sarmyr, it did not take him long to go to her. There, he did not fall to his knees to beg for anything. He simply informed her of things that might well be used against the existing establishment. It was these details, and others supplied by people like him, that made Titania's campaign so cutting. Like the rest, he benefited from his candor after she came into the role, being made a Vice Admiral.

Reform & Rebuilding
With the removal of much of the corruption that had plagued the service, Taenor set to work with the reformation of the victualing of the Myrish Navy. This covered things ranging from supplies of timber with which to build and repair ships, in conjunction with the Director of Naval Construction, to supplies of rope for rigging and a dozen of other uses, and supplies of the food and drink that allowed the sailors to live.

The start of the Scouring of the Stepstones did little to stir Taenor from his task, for squabbling over the Stepstones was hardly anything new. In terms of escorts, it made things simultaneously better and worse. There were fewer attacks on merchantmen, for the pirates were too busy defending what holdings they had to do it more frequently. Conversely, that did mean that when they were able to, they went out in greater strength. Still, the situation seemed to be easing, in terms of supplies, so Taenor stirred little.

As it became apparent that Aeryn Targaryen would succeed, or at least become a more sustained presence in the Stepstones, that changed. Memories of the Battle in the Gullet were not forgotten in the Myrish Navy: it had been a triumph, but the cost of fighting the dragon had been immense. This lesson had been borne out in the War of the Three Thieves as well. Consequently, a push to invest in ways of fighting dragons became a part of his agenda. As it fell outside his area of responsibility, he could not force the matter, but his voice still helped make sure that there was progress, as much or little that turned out to be.

This was opinion was further reinforced when news of the proposal to reform the Triarchy reached the navy. Indeed, Taenor was soon approached by people in service to Phaedrus Sathmantes of Lys, who favoured the reformation of the Triarchy, who offered him a substantial sum if he voiced his support for the motion. Of course, given his past he refused the money, but voiced his support anyway. The return of the Triarchy would, he hoped, lead to more investment in the service.

With the reformation of the Triarchy having gone through, thanks to the worries of the new money families, a celebration was to be held in Myr. Among the people invited, Aeryn Targaryen, the King of the Stepstones in all but name. How would it go? That would soon be seen.

Family

 * Father
 * m. Mother
 * Elder Brother
 * Taenor (b.380)
 * Younger Sister
 * Younger Brother
 * Youngest Sister

Household
People that live in his house.

Associated Naval Personnel
People that live on his ships.