Robb Stone

WORK IN PROGRESS

Introduction:
Robb is the bold and charismatic bastard son of Lord Arnolf Redfort, who serves his lord father as the captain of Redfort's guard. Having grown up in Braavos, he walks with a rapier at his hip and still feels unsuited to this new pace of life.

Appearance and Character:
Robb is a tall, well-muscled man in his mid thirties. He inherited is mothers blond hair, but his father’s piercing grey eyes. At 6” 2’ he is of a height with his father but seems taller as Arnolf stands hunched over where Robb holds himself high. Robb walks with the swagger of a water dancer, an image reinforced by the rapier and parrying dagger on his belt.

Robb is an amiable and jovial man. He has a natural talent at making friends, with a roguish charm to him. He is always quick with a joke and rarely takes anything seriously.

Robb is also bold and adventurous. Wherever possible, he takes risks. This has been a mixed blessing, winning him many successes on the battlefield, but also getting him into a few scrapes... especially with ladies' husbands.

In the Shadow of the Hightower:
Robb was born in 404 AC in a small apartment in the shadow of the Hightower, in Old Town. He was born to Arnolf Redfort, a scion of House Redfort and recently stripped of his maester's chain, and Jeyne, a tavern girl. He was but a babe as his parents made a meteoric rise from living on the verge of poverty, to becoming some of the wealthiest denizens of the city.

Robb was always an excited and energetic child. He could be seen sprinting to and fro around the Long Night, his mother's new tavern, telling all the patrons about what he had done or learnt that day.

No-one could make Arnolf smile like his son, so Robb was never prevented from calling on him even while he was doing business. Soon Robb became a welcome sight to the regulars, with his wild laugh and wicked smile.

Robb was ever curious about what people did, and would ask them many questions about their profession. He was particularly impressed by the tall tales of Ser Olyvar Fossoway; a man who knows how to spin a yarn. Robb swore that when he grew up, he would become an adventurer, travelling across the known world with only his sword by his side.

For the present, he would need to content himself with Old Town. He began exploring the less travelled parts of the city; the wynds and alleys, and the rooftops. He soon befriended many of the orphans and beggar boys in the slums, and used to lead a great gang of them on traipses throughout the metropolis.

However, it was not all fun and games. At the age of 7, on one of his regular escapades, Robb was attacked. One of Arnolf's debtors, who hadn't the money to pay his dues, chanced upon him and saw an opportunity. The man drew his dagger and seized Robb. The boy was large for his age and was never meek so naturally he tried to fight off his attacker. He failed.

Robb was slashed across his left cheek, leaving a scar to this day, beaten and the grabbed up. However, the fighting had caused a commotion which draw attention from the patrons of a nearby brothel. Ser Olyvar Fossoway strode forward, half naked, and struck the man's head half off with a hew from his bastard sword.

Robb was brought before his father, who, for once, was furious with his son. Arnolf hadn't known the antics his son got himself into on a regular basis. He had learnt the error of his laissez-faire attitude, and so began to overcompensate. Robb was strictly grounded to the Long Night, with his mother and young brother Quenton. Furthermore, Arnolf had decided that is was long passed time that Robb begin his formal education.

And so, Luthor, the chainless maester who was ever a favourite of Arnolf, began teaching Robb and Quenton about the world. Robb did not take well to the lessons. It was not that the lad was stupid; he merely didn't apply himself. His head was away, fighting mythical creatures in far off realms, or rescuing princesses from tyrants. What confounded matters was that little Quenton was very much his father's son; a natural student with a head for mathematics.

The one lesson he did take well to was history. Robb instantly fell in love with the adventures of his namesake, the Young Wolf, just like Arnolf had at his age. Soon, he was studying the major wars and generals of Westerosi history in his free time, as he was denied other pass-times.

Heading East:
All this continued until 413 AC, when Lord Hightower's men rode forth to break Redfort and his supporters. Robb's mother Jeyne had been tipped off and the family had escaped to Braavos. Once there, Arnolf's family moved into a spacious manse and lived in luxury.

When he arrived at Braavos, Robb was soon taken by the queer fighting style of the Bravos. He was a tall and strong lad, but his most notable attribute was his speed. It seemed perfectly suited to him. Robb asked his father if he could learn. Arnolf, whose heart had softened since grounding his son, acquiesced and hired a water dancer, Uthero Tendyris.

Under him, Robb grew to be a skilled sword, although he would not be counted amongst the finest fighters in the world.

Other than this, Robb took to playing a new game he had learnt; Cyvasse. The ability to play out great battles and test himself against others appealed to Robb's sense of competition. He would play the game against all comers and grew to be very good. However, he found playing his fathers household staff grew tiresome; he would win without a great challenge. And so, at 16, he began sneaking out to the taverns and winesinks to play against the patrons there.

Bastards and Second Sons:
Here he met Mad Cleon Clegane, captain of the Second Sons. The man was a freed Ghiscari slave renowned for his size and cruelty, claiming descent from the false knight Gregor Clegane (although it is very sceptical that he was truly related). The man thought himself a master strategist, and prided himself on his ability at cyvasse. He wasn't very good, but if he lost he would go into a murderous rage, so few dared to actually beat him.

Robb though did not know him, and as only a cocky 16 year old can, saw an opportunity to prove his prowess. Robb won the match easily enough... but the aftermath

[Befriends Cleon, Joins Second Sons as squire, becomes serjeant, turns the tide of a battle, rises to the rank of lieutenant, returns home, serves as bailiff, founds his own sellsword company, reliquishes command, heads to Westeros]