Arthur Penrose

Arthur Penrose has been anointed a Knight of the Queensguard at the age of hardly 18, in the Second Month of 408 AC. Having squired under Gwayne Baratheon, he is known to be an outstanding fighter at such young an age already. As a Queensguard, if anything so far, he is known for being good at playing his new demanding role and living up to a position in life that some yearn for and others despise.

Arthur is considered quite suitable for the order because of his level-headed character. He has always been known to be humble and never fond of lavishness or luxury. Though fancy armours and great horses, of course, have always been on a different list for a young noble man. Arthur can display both a tight-lipped demure and diligent demeanour, especially when performing his challenging duties. He can, if known more closely, however, also be of a serene, relaxed temper. He is the youngest Queensguard these days, and still being introduced into the range of tasks. A broader range than Arthur expected at first. He’s known as efficient, devoted, diligent and aspiring.

Beyond all of that, Arthur is not yet known for anything else than being a son of Lord Penrose, the former squire of Lord Gwayne Baratheon (and his cousin as well), and an excellent fighter at any choice of weapon. Though he prefers longsword, mace and lance.

Physical appearance
Arthur is 5’8 feet tall, and still of a youthful appearance. If it were not for his sober splendour of Queensguard clothes and armour, he could be easily mistaken to be younger, to be some squire of some not even particularly high-ranking knight. If not met wearing the imposing suit of harness, Arthur gives a rather gaunt impression. Underneath, however, he is of a sinewy muscular frame. His hair is of a dark ashen brown, reaching to his chin, often worn in the style of a short ponytail when fighting. His eyes are the colour of a rainy sky, though with a tint of blue in them when in a bright mood. Of a pale complexion and, if not much else when it comes to fashion, always properly shaved, Arthur can be found with cuts from shaving more often than not, for he is still suffering from acne.

He dresses suitable for his status – otherwise his choice of clothes would be considered too humble and conservative for a young noble of his age, rank and qualities.

Childhood
Arthur was born as a son to Lord Penrose and his wife. Having been a sickly child, it was not before the age of 10 that Arthur grew stronger and, with his growing physical abilities, strength and reach, he started to love nature, horses and spending a lot of time in the fields and forests. On rainy days, if forced by his mother, to stay in the castle, the boy, however, also loved reading, playing games, listening to stories of whoever was willing to tell him yet another one, and was fond of animals. Hardly anything about these things has changed till the present day.

Youth
Having gathered enough strength and swiftness, and whatever more was needed to make him fit for the training yard – though still lacking in self-confidence, for sure – Arthur was taken to the sparring yards. And he has virtually hardly ever left them since then. His talent amazed all those that were assigned to teach him. People state he keeps getting better year by year.

Lord Gwayne Baratheon accepted Arthur as his squire at the age of 12, for the lad was still too shy to leave his family and familiar environment before that age. After that, his self-confidence started growing, very much assisted by the kind words and wide-ranging training Arthur received from Gwayne Baratheon and other residents of Storm’s End.

Over the years, Arthur became a level-headed, composed youth, with a tendency to seclusion and avoiding all people he did not really know well. With mixed feelings, those around him also witnessed his so far complete lack of interest when it came to girls.

It was also manly thanks to the Lord of Storm’s End that Arthur received a thorough military training, both practical and theoretical. It proved the seeds sown fell on fertile ground: Arthur quickly showed a by far above average talent in the fields of warfare, and has kept studying the subject ever since with great interest and passion.

Queensguard
When a position in the Queensguard became vacant in late 417, it was following the initiative of Gwayne Baratheon most of all, that Arthur became interested and was even suggested for the elite position. To his great astonishment, he was accepted, and anointed some months later as a Knight of the Queensguard. For somebody as humble and conservative as Arthur, it truly was a dream come true.

18 years of age, he is the youngest Queensguard these days, and still being introduced into the range of tasks. A broader range than Arthur expected at first. He’s known as efficient, devoted, diligent and aspiring.