Gyles Grafton

Introduction
Lord Gyles Grafton is the second son of Lord Vardis Grafton, he was born on the holiest day and month in Westeros in the year 404 AC and has always been one to stay faithful to the Seven. He is the current Lord of Gulltown, after the death of his elder brother during the Gulltown Massacre.

Appearance and Character
Gyles is a man of average height, he is a bookish man, and smiles quite often, as is shown in the lines in his face. Jovial and friendly, a just ruler to any who would ask. His eyes are a crisp cerulean blue.

As comfortable during a quiet night in his library as being the center of attention at a party and feast, Gyles is a friendly man who treats all he meets fairly and justly unless they have otherwise proved themselves not worthy of his trust.

Early Life
Much of Vardis' time was spent attempting to get Gyles' elder brother to act a lord. And as such Gyles spent most of his time learning on his own, his family was rich and their library was vast. As such, Gyles spent the majority of his early life learning how to trade and of the world itself.

Adolescense
His mother, Anya, spent much of her time with him and his younger sister Arwen. She told them stories of their great-uncle Alaric, who had raised her like a father. He idolized the man, even after his passing and always admired the Arryns even more so than the Targaryens in his mind. He took great interest in the story of Artys Arryn and his subjugation of the Mountain Clans during the Andal Invasion.

When his elder brother was sent to Pentos, Gyles became the heir apparent. But he knew his brother would selfishly return the moment Gyles thought to inherit. Either way, Gyles began to learn how to rule, and his prior studies made him excel.

Life in Braavos
As expected when his father died, his brother returned, and surprisingly with the Red Faith behind him. Anya, out of fear of his corruption sent Gyles away with his uncle Harrold to Braavos, to be raised in the Sept-Beyond-The-Sea in Braavos. Word reached them that Gerold had allowed the Red Faith to be preached openly in the city of Gulltown. Harrold was tempted to bring Gyles back at that moment, but the poor twelve-year-old had no chance to match his adult brother.

The next four years Gyles lived in a sept. But each day he descended to the docks, roughly half a year into living in Braavos he met his future wife Alia. She spent her time on the docks, swinging her feet over the water. Gyles eventually got the courage to sit next to her and swing his feet in unison. They didn't speak for the first few days. Until she finally asked him who he was. The revelation he was nobility fascinated the girl, as she was from a city of free folk who made their own way.

Eventually, she revealed that she was the daughter of a merchant, and she spent the days at the docks as her father looked on. Gyles fell in love with her rather quickly, and he spent every evening with her, staring at the Titan.

Years passed with the two of them courting, Gyles told her stories of the Vale of Arryn but mostly of the Andal Invasion that caused Westeros to be what it was that day. The stories of knights and dragons fascinated her. And slowly she began to spend time with him at the Sept. She decided to convert with him to his Faith. And shortly after, married. Their first child was born in the beginning of 420 AC. Gyles insisted on naming the caramel-skinned boy after his great-uncle Alaric.

A Trading Endeavor
His father in law appreciated Gyle's knowledge for business and appointed Gyles as a captain of one of his trading vessels. One that traveled directly to and from Braavos and Gulltown. His wife and his son traveled with him, and it was nice to return to his home. Harrold had elected to stay behind in Braavos, having taking up a position of the guard of the Sept-Beyond-The-Sea. It didn't take long for Gyles to make enough money to purchase a warehouse and home inside Gulltown, while he couldn't live in his family home due to his bastard of a brother's restriction of the faith, it was better than nothing. His wife and son stayed behind in Gulltown for the next three years of his trading career. And a second son was born to him during one of his numerous visits.

In the year 425 AC Gyles had given the captaincy to a trusted crew member as he had made more than enough to live life for quite some time with his family. The money still came through, and they lived happily enough. Their home was modest, and they lived better than they ever did in Braavos.

A Gull's Roost
With three sons between them, Gyles and Alia never had a dull moment. It was odd for the heir of Gulltown to be living within it without the current Lord of Gulltown being aware of his presense. Gyles' work generally consisted of bookeeping for his father in law's trading company, however it wasn't long before he realized he could not sit idly by as his family's city was bastardized by the faith of the Red Priests that Gerold allowed to wander the streets.

Gyles did his best to ensure that his presence was not known to his elder brother, as he knew the man was prone to jealousy, rage, and poor decisions. Gerold's attempts to 'tend to the poor and ill' were seen through by the majority of those faithful to the Seven. Gyles himself distributed much of his personal wealth amongst the poor and needy within the realm itself who still refused to follow in the steps of Gerold and submit to the false faith. But it was undeniable that the Red Faith had taken a foothold in Gulltown, and Gyles was disgusted by that fact.

The Final Years
Alia and Gyles began teaching their children to the best of their abilities. Alaric was nearly ten, and Alia revealed her affinity for a rapier, and the boy took a liking to it. His mother taught him well enough, while Gyles focused on training Lucas and Alester on how to run a city and make money. As one of them would need to take control of his trading business when he passed. It wasn't long before all of his sons showed an affinity for their training, by the year 432 AC all of the boys generally focused on their chosen hobbies and excelled at them. Alia and Gyles' love still flourished, and they spent most of their time with one another. But there were rumblings within the city of troubles to come. And those troubles would change Gyles for life.

The Bleeding
In 433 AC King Rhaegar reinstated the Faith Militant, and Gulltown's fervent followers of the faith created their own chapter. Under the lead of Ser Criston Templeton, things began to quickly turn for the worse. While Criston advocated for working together, the faith militant wanted otherwise. Gyles' donations to improve their armaments hardly helped their desire for war. Alia spoke against this, the first true arguement the two had.

Alia was raised in a city where all faiths were tolerated, and even though she was as faithful as Gyles himself, she hated the thought that the followers of the Red Faith would be punished for their beliefs. Her passionate pleas and the murder of Criston lead to Gyles revoking all assistance to the faith militant. They had once again proven that they could not trust lowborns and rabble with power.

One fateful day in the year 435 AC a brief skirmish had broken out between some of the Red Faith believers with those of the Seven. Alia and Alaric shouted at them to stop as they happened across them. While most of the more craven fools scattered, a few of the men following the Red Faith closed upon the two Graftons. Alaric used his weapon as if it was an extension of his arm, piercing one within seconds and dispatching a second before turning to his mother.

But he was too late, a blow from a club had struck his mother upon the head. He shouted for his father with tears in his eyes. And for the first time in his life, Gyles Grafton killed another man. Seeing the love of his life being held in his son's arms and a man running, club in hand Gyles gave chase. The man tripped and fell while fleeing and the Grafton man set upon him. Moments later the man laid upon the ground dead. Gyles suffered two broken hands and was covered in blood and by the time he had returned to his wife she had passed.

The Lone Gull
His sons did their best to console their father, but when a man marries for love and that woman dies before him not much can stop a man's rage. The remainder of The Bleeding saw Gyles Grafton in a deep depression, the entirety of Ser Shett's trials were unknown to him. Lucas and Alester took care of Gyles during this time. Alaric spent most of his time continuing his father's work in protecting those who needed it.

When Ser Shett finally surrendered and was lead to King's Landing, Gyles remained in the stupor that he had been in for months. This continued for the next three months, Gulltown was left without a true leader. Harrold still resided in Braavos and Alaric looked nothing like a Grafton. Lucas and Alester kept the man in good health as best they could.

Yet something continued itching at the back of Gyles' mind, the people of his city needed a leader. Gyles rose one day completely unaided by his sons to their surprise. Flanked by the three younger Graftons, Gyles walked directly to the manor house that he grew up in. It was guarded by members of the faith militant who quickly scattered upon his announcment of his identity.

His first task was to have Maester Allard send a letter to the Eyrie to inform Osric Arryn that Gulltown was once again under the control of House Grafton, and a Grafton who was true to the Faith of the Seven. Osric's reply was less than positive but did not outright remove his claim to the city.

Alesander and Artys Arryn were dispatched to the city to act as intermediaries between as well as confirm Gyles' identity. After the confirmation provided by Maester Allard, the two sat Gyles and the Shetts down to discuss a resolution between the two houses. After much discourse, it was decreed the Shetts would retain their land on the condition that the Graftons would keep hostages in the city proper.

Bandaging the Wound
When Gyles finally had full control of his city again, he entombed his wife in the Rockey sept. He then ordered the construction of the largest sept in the Vale, a project that would be funded by his trading company in full before it was shut down and take nearly ten years by his estimation. The rest of the remaining three years were spent pouring money from his coffers into repairing the damages that were caused by the faith militant and the red faith.

He appointed Alaric Admiral of the Grafton's navy, and set his two youngest sons to be trained by Maester Allard. Alaric travelled to Oldtown to attend the marriage of Arthur Hightower and Naerys Targaryen on his father's behalf. Gyles remained behind  with his younger sons to begin preparations for the projects they had in store.