Theowyn Vance

WORK IN PROGRESS

Theowyn Vance is the eldest son of the late Lord of Atranta, Laswell Vance and Lady Rohanne Vypren, the husband of Lady Rhialta Piper, and the Lord of Atranta. Having been raised and groomed as an heir, Theowyn is both a skilled warrior and a competent ruler. Upon the death of his father, Theowyn was named Lord of House Vance of Atranta.

Apperance and Character
Though not tall like his father, Theowyn makes up for his height in strength and bulkiness. His messy, raven black hair flows down to his shoulders, and he has a short beard on his face. His eyes are a stormy grey, unlike the blue eyes of his father, and his round face has rather defined features. A small scar rests on his right cheekbone.

Theowyn often dresses in shades of green, preferring the forest green of his house's sigil, as well as dark yellow. In direct contrast to his brother, Theowyn much prefers function over opulence, or as he would refer to it, vanity. Theowyn spends much of his working day as a lord dressed in his armor, remaining cautiously aware of danger. Even when not in his armor, Theowyn doesn't spend a single waking moment without his sword by his side.

In terms of character, Theowyn is a rather mellow person. He's quiet, slow to anger, and always maintains a calm demeanor. Though quiet, that's not to imply that he wasn't social when he had to be, but rather that he simply preferred to spend time alone when possible. Many commented in his youth that he exuded an aura of leadership, and that he would follow well in the footsteps of his father.

Theowyn is generally considered to be an honorable, friendly, and just lord. He genuinely had the interests of his people at heart. To temper this, however, Theowyn was also widely known to be incredibly stubborn. Though he was slow to anger, when angry, one would not want to be within his path. Among family and friends, he was known to internalize his emotions, and was noticably much more distant from the world after the death of his brother and father.

Early Life
Theowyn Vance was born on the 2nd of the 6th Moon of 413 to Lord Laswell Vance and Lady Consort Rohanne Vypren of Atranta. He was the firstborn of the couple, and would thus one day become Lord of Atranta. From a very early age, Theowyn was being taught how to hold a sword, ride a horse, and shoot a bow among his other studies. As a child, he was fairly shy and quiet, except when in the company of a friend he made early on in his life, Arton Rivers, the bastard son of some third cousin of some minor lord who was allowed to stay in Atranta in exchange for working as a servant.

Theowyn and his younger brother Bryndemere had never gotten on well while growing up together. Neither brother would antagonize the other, but they rather just seemed to avoid each other completely. This was mostly due to Bryndemere's near antisocial behavior, though Theowyn's cautious and shy nature only helped him to stay away. Theowyn was however close with his younger brother, Byron, who was born only a year after Bryndemere. Theowyn and Byron would often stick by each other throughout the day, and the two formed a strong bond

Victaria, was an entirely different situation. Though she was friendly enough growing up with all of her brothers, she grew especially close with Bryndemere. After their father sent Bryndemere off to Wayferer's Rest, however, Victaria seemed to grow increasingly at odds with her parents, and especially Theowyn. As more time went by, the more Theowyn and his sister seemed to resent each other, with no intent on letting go of their stubbornness. Victaria accused Theowyn of hating Bryndemere for no reason while Theowyn accused Victaria of blindly siding with Bryn, going so far as to say that Victaria is just as creepy as Bryn is. After this arguement, neither sibling seemed willing to talk to each other, and it stayed this way for a long time.

Adolescence
Theowyn had been serving his own father as a squire, and was learning how to truly fight and command. After much pleading from the lad, the impatient Laswell had consented to letting Arton Rivers train in arms alongside the other noble boys. Theowyn had took to the shield and sword well from a young age, and continued to excel while training. Laswell truly wanted to make sure Theowyn would be a strong, and adept lord.

Victaria, meanwhile, had finally convinced her father to let her visit Bryndemere at Wayferer's Rest for a short time, and potentially visit him more in the future if all went well. Unfortunately, on the road, her retinue of men-at-arms were slaughtered by bandits, and she was taken captive. For half a year, Lord Laswell had negotiated with the bandits, and eventually submitted to their greedy demands. Victaria came home, but she was not the same person she was when she had left. She had been raped and defiled, and came home bruised and bloodied all over. She screamed and blamed her father immediately for the horrors she had gone through while he talked with the bandits instead of hunting them down.

Determined not to be so weak and helpless again, Victaria began training at arms with her brothers and Arton, much to Theowyn's strong objection of even sharing the same courtyard as her. Despite what she had gone through, Theowyn could not let his stubbornness go.

When Bryndemere returned home, it did not take long before he was betrothed to Amarei Butterwell, a dim-witted daughter of the Lord of Whitewalls, to which he objected. Unfortunately for House Butterwell, Amarei had fallen down a well, and died. When she had finally been retrieved, it was evident that Amarei had been thrown down the well. It did not take long until rumors began to circulate that perhaps Bryndemere had decided to object a little bit more... strongly, to his betrothal. Laswell now had a scar on his family's reputation, and was incredibly embarresed.

Knighthood and Marriage
Upon reaching the age of twenty, after having won a local melee among several local warriors, Laswell knighted his son in private. Now Ser Theowyn Vance, he was a man fully grown, no longer the boy he was. A year later, Laswell arranged to have Theowyn marry Rhialta Piper, a moderately attractive daughter of Lord Piper. The ceremony was joyous and went smoothly. Although Theowyn didn't necessarily love Rhialta at first, he grew to care for her as time went by.

Not long after, Lord Perceon Vance, the Hand of the King, and Lord of Harrenhal suddenly died through a fast illness. His only heir was his granddaughter Cassana. The Atranta Vances went to Harrenhal to attend the funeral where his pyre was burnt on the God's Eye, with Laswell personally lighting it with a flaming arrow. Shortly after the funeral, Laswell shockingly announced the marriage of Bryndemere and Cassana Vance, revitalizing House Vance of Harrenhal and resolving the succession.

Early on in 438, Lord Laswell Vance was killed by a group of outlaws while hunting. The late lord had fought admirably, and had killed several of his attackers before falling. One of the men with him had came back to Atranta with the news, and a raven was sent to Harrenhal. Bryndemere rode out immediately, and arrived to a distraught Theowyn, a very uncommon sight. The two marched out in a rage with thirty men at arms to scour the forests for their father's assassins. The remainder of the rogues were found within a day of the incident and were hanged by Bryndemere at the postern gates of Atranta. Theowyn, who was still incredibly distraught and filled with grief, was now Lord of Atranta. Victaria once more stopped speaking with Theowyn, angry at being left out in the dispensing of justice of their father's killers.

Anybody who was close to Theowyn noticed that he had just withdrawn from the outside world. He fulfilled his duties as Lord, and talked however much was necesarry, but his mind almost seemed to be in a different place. He hardly had even opened up to his own wife, who was worried about him. But, hope came to Theowyn as Rhialta had given birth to her first child: Jon Vance, now the Heir of Atranta. Theowyn was often seen caring for and looking after his infant son, and it was clear that he loved him. Yet, House Vance can never quite catch a break, and Byron passed late into 438, having been fighting a winter chill for a good amount of time. Byron's death had brought Theowyn to a new low, and was truly depressed. He and his sister only grew further apart due to their recent tragedies.

As the year turned over to 439, Theowyn's mental state had somewhat improved, as he was still very much functioning, but his wife could see and hear him lying awake at night or getting up. His son seemed to be one of few things keeping the lord tethered to reality. Much to his happiness, the maester revealed that Rhialta was pregnant once more. With another child on the way, Theowyn has started to return into the man he once was.

Family and Household
''Foreword: Bolded names indicate those that were lord of their respective house at some point or another. Italicized names indicate that the character is now deceased. (m.) denotes a marriage into the family.''
 * Davos Vance, the late Lord of Atranta, b.372 AC
 * (m.) Margot Rivers, dowager Lady of Atranta, (possibly) b.372 AC
 * Laswell Vance, the late Lord of Atranta, b.390 AC
 * (m.) Rohanne Vypren, wife of Laswell Vance, b. 390 AC
 * Theowyn Vance, Lord of Atranta, b. 413 AC
 * (m.) Rhialta Piper, Lady of Atranta, wife of Theowyn, b. 418 AC
 * Jon Vance, heir to Atranta b. 438 AC
 * Bryndemere Vance, Lord of Harrenhal, b. 416 AC
 * (m.) Cassana Vance, Lady of Harrenhal, b 418 AC
 * Byron Vance, third son of Laswell, b. 417 AC
 * Victaria Vance, daughter of Laswell, b. 418 AC


 * Arton Rivers, Master-at-arms of Atranta, b. 412 AC
 * Maester Addam, Maester of Atranta