Reynard Royce

Lord Reynard Royce was the head of House Royce and Lord of Runestone. Succeeding his father Yorwyck in 393 AC, Reynard ruled until his death in 433 AC.

Appearance and Character
Reynard was a large man, almost as wide as he was tall. Though flat-chested and built entirely of muscle in his youth, it would be wrong to say that age and diet had not taken their toll on him. The years had turned the man thoroughly grey, from his complexion and eyes to his hair and beard.

Reynard was a commanding presence, both at court and on the field. He is well known as an adept military commander, and his word carries great weight throughout the Vale, and possibly beyond, though he has not left the confines of the mountains since the Vale's defeat a decade earlier.

Early Life
Reynard Royce was born in 365 AC, the third of five children to Ser Yorwyck Royce and his wife, Leysel Hightower. As the eldest male nephew of Lord Yorbert, it was never likely that Reynard would inherit the seat of Runestone and so rule was never much on the boy's mind. The honour of rulership would fall to Lord Yorbert's sole son and the pride of Runestone, Ser Yohn Royce.

When Reynard turned seven, he was sent away to foster in the household of a Vale noble family. It was under their tutelage that Reynard first learned the use of sword, lance, and mace. Reynard was a small boy and slow to pick up the arts of war, but he was persistent, earning the admiration of his host and those around him.

At twelve, Reynard left the service of Ser ___ and returned home briefly, before his uncle sent him off to squire for ___. During this time, Reynard's frame began to fill out, and the small boy grew very large indeed, fueled by an appetite few could match. By fourteen, Reynard had grown as large as some men, and decades of an imposing presence began.

In 379 AC, Reynard's newfound size and stature were put to good use when he made a fine showing of himself in the Kingswood Tourney -- at least the events held for squires. The event would end in ambiguity however, as the emergence of a shadowy figure caused malcontent among the hosts.

The Crisis of the Crescent
Reynard had only recently finished his service under ___ when crisis erupted in the Vale. Many lords of the Vale had grown angry with the favour shown towards the Mountain Clans by Lord Arryn, Reynard's uncle among them. Before long, these discontent lords had risen against Lord Arryn, electing to prop up his cousin, Ser Alaric Arryn, instead, with whom the Royces shared a blood relation.

Alaric's grievances with the Clansmen had been sown in an attack near Runestone that almost cost him his life and the life of his mother, Reynard's aunt Ysilla. Reynard's father and uncle would come to share a similar grievance as a result of the attack, and this is largely what fueled their desire to side with the young Alaric against Lord Roland. Though the heir to Runestone, Ser Yohn, shared these sentiments also, as a knight of the Winged Brotherhood, he was sworn to Lord Arryn's side.

Though there were no battles to be had in the conflict, Royce blood still ended up being spilled. Before the Lords Declarant could ever act, Lord Arryn was set upon at his wedding by the Clansmen he had sought to integrate, falling to one of their shafts in the process. Alongside him fell the heir to Runestone, Ser Yohn. House Royce's retaliation was swift, spending the next fortnight scouring the foothills surrounding Runestone of any and all Clansmen they could find. Many died, many were taken prisoner, but some escapes, including Lord Arryn's wife-to-be and likely culprit, Valla of the Redsmiths.

The Hammer Uprising
A small crisis of succession followed the events of 382 AC. The death of Yohn Royce had left Lord Yorbert without issue.Three decades and as many wives could not resolve the situation, and it seemed more and more likely as the years went on that Reynard's father Yorwyck would inherit his brother's lands and titles. The crisis ended when speculation became reality. In 386 AC--admitting defeat after many years of trying--Lord Yorbert Royce ceded his lands and titles to his brother voluntarily, opting for what little honour he could find at Castle Black. With that, Reynard was suddenly thrust into the position of heir.

The new Lord Yorwyck had proven himself virile, siring five strong children by the time he had come into his lordship. However, Reynard was still unwed and largely unproven as an heir and a knight. It was imperative that Reynard be found a suitable bride, but it seemed that for the time being the Vale boasted none worthy of the position. As such, Reynard went unwed for a few years more, though as an heir his opportunity to prove himself would follow swiftly in the following years.

When the peasantry rose up against the nobility in 388 AC, Reynard, his brother, and his father rose alongside Lord Arryn in putting down the dissenters, the three younger men all earning their knighthoods in the brief conflict. Shortly after the war, a search for a bride began once more. Eventually, it was agreed that Reynard would marry Leysel of House Hightower. Their first child was born in 291 AC, a daughter named Annara.

Famine and War
The Hammer Uprising had resulted in the deaths of thousands of peasants across Westeros, including the Vale. The ramifications of this were soon felt when yields began to lessen, and a period of torrential chills and rain in the Vale brought the realm into a famine. This was a difficult time for House Royce, Reynard himself becoming a gaunt man due to the demands placed on his father's lands. Lord Yorwyck would not survive to see the end of the famine, however, dying from a mixture of hunger and age. It was during this time that Reynard was named Lord of Runestone, unsure if he himself would live to see the end of this plague.

By the grace of the Gods, the famine dissipated in 394 AC, and Reynard could begin to rekindle his strength. That strength would soon be needed when Westeros found itself embroiled in another war just two years later. The Vale's involvement in the War of the Three Thieves was not great due to a lack of a formidable flee. However, Lord Arryn had given Reynard leave to join in the Iron Throne's efforts against the Free Cities, sending the men of Runestone to the Stepstones aboard ships from Gulltown.

While there, Reynard distinguished himself not as a great warrior, but an inspiring leader. Many in Westeros were unfamiliar with the rocky terrain of the Stepstones, but such hills and cliffs were what Reynard considered home. With his experience of such terrains, his leadership amongst the Targaryen forces was noted and invaluable. By the war's end, Reynard had made a name for himself amongst the nobility of Westeros, earning the respect of a great many. Though this respect was not often felt, as the man largely elected to remain in the Vale, it gave him a great presence within the Vale itself.

Winter and the Mummer's War
Westeros was struck with a harsh winter following the conclusion of the War of the Three Thieves. Though Reynard and his brother were away fighting, his wife had done amiably in preparing Runestone for the eventuality of winter. As such, House Royce was relatively untouched by the season, whilst many across the Seven Kingdoms suffered. Reynard had even heard word that his son and heir, Andar, had fallen quite ill during the winter while fostering at ___. Nevertheless, no member of the house fell to the chill.

With the death of Prince Aemon and the ascension of Princess Visaera to Dragonstone, tensions across the Seven Kingdoms rise. Reynard remains ever-loyal to his liege lord. Reynard is in attendance when Maegor Waters makes himself known at the Tourney of the Red Comet, sparking commotion throughout Westeros. King Aenar dies and Visaera is swiftly coronated, sparking rebellions in the Seven Kingdoms. Reynard follows Lord Arryn in marching against the new queen.

Reynard elected to leave his brother in command of Runestone with a small garrison whilst he personally lead the bulk of the Royce men through the Bloody Gate and into the Riverlands, alongside Lord Arryn. Reynard remained with Lord Arryn after Lord Waynwood broke off to lay siege to Saltpans, accompanying him to the banks of the Ruby Ford and Lord Harroway's Town. When the dragons came to bear down on their position along the riverbank, Reynard and his men fought bravely for Lord Arryn, though threw down their arms at the behest of the young Harrold Arryn following Alaric's death.

Recent Events
Following their defeat at the Ford, the Valemen threw down their weapons and surrendered to the Targaryen host, soon after forced to swear their fealty to the Crown. For his treason in the war, Reynard saw his son and heir taken from him, to serve as a hostage in the Red Keep under the watchful eye of the Queen. Reynard has not seen him since, growing more attached to his second son, Willem, in Andar's absence. Reynard has remained something of a recluse, the shame of their defeat staying with him ever since. He has not ventured beyond the Vale in a decade.

Family
See: House Royce