Leyton Hightower

Ser Leyton Hightower is a knight of House Hightower and the son and heir of Lord Lucifer Hightower of the Hightower.

Appearance and Character
The pride of his House, Leyton is one of the deadliest young knights of his generation. Talented with sword, lance, and bow, Leyton fought for House Targaryen in the War of Three Thieves and was knighted on the field for valor. With a small but growing reputation as a swordsman, he hopes to win acclaim at the Tourney at Harrenhal.

Tall and of athletic build, Leyton inherited the golden hair and chiseled good looks of the Lannisters from his mother. His blue eyes have hints of green and grey in them, and sparkle with a cynical laughter.

Considered comely by others, but especially himself, Leyton has the reputation of a man very much in love with himself. Known to the court as a brash and arrogant, if gifted, young man, of late Leyton has grown fond of fighting duels, and courtiers wait with bated breath and placed bets for one of Leyton's duels to get out of hand.

Upbringing
Born to Lord Lucifer Hightower and his wife the Lady Lynora in 387 A.C., Leyton was educated in the Hightower tradition at the Citadel. While noted by the maesters to be a quick and precocious child, Leyton would often dodge his lessons to train with older boys in the yard.

At the age of seven, Leyton was sent by sea to King's Landing to serve as a cupbearer at the court of King Aenar Targaryen. En route, the ship was caught in a storm and broke apart. Leyton was one of the few survivors. While Leyton eventually arrived in King's Landing to spend a year at the Red Keep, this incident led to a lifelong fear of and aversion to the sea.

At an early age, Leyton was recognized for possessing tremendous talent for the sword. Sent to Summerhall to squire for Prince Maekar, a cousin through his Hightower grandmother, Leyton grew into a fine warrior under the tutelage of one of the realm's paramount knights.

Knighthood
As Maekar's squire, Leyton was given a sound education in both arms and the knightly virtues. Training under the finest masters-at-arms, Leyton developed quickly as a prodigy with the longsword, but never truly took to the Starry faith as his master might have hoped.

During the War of Three Thieves, Leyton fought valiantly at the Battle of Grey Gallows. Cut off from the main force in a foolhardy effort to rescue a fellow squire, Leyton killed three sellswords and captured a famous pirate captain. At the battle's end, Leyton was knighted on the field by Prince Maekar at the age of sixteen.

Although his exploits were never put to song, Leyton enjoyed a reputation as one of the realm's most promising young knights. This reputation was further nurtured by the melee at the Centennial Tourney, where Leyton won but ultimately saw his victory overshadowed by the deeds of valor by older, greater knights.

Recent Events
After the war, Leyton spent most of his time in King's Landing, serving as a household knight in the Prince of Summerhall's retinue. Running in the same social circles as the flower of the young lords of the Seven Kingdoms, Leyton became friends with many other young lordlings and knights. Significant among them were the young Prince Rhaegar, Tygett Lannister, and Rycherd Crane, the heir to Red Lake and a long-time friend. In their company, Leyton developed a fondness for strongwine, pretty women, and fast horses.

This lifestyle of decadent excess caused a rift between Leyton and his former master, a devout adherent of the Starry faith, and when Prince Maekar, left the capital in outrage over the King's choice of the Princess Visaera, Leyton remained behind, taking up residence in the Hightower's great manse and setting up a household of his own.

While Leyton was known by his deeds in the city's taverns and winesinks, the heir to Oldtown was raised in King's Landing, and never truly came to know the city and lands he is to inherit.