Theon Harlaw

Theon Harlaw is the natural son of Lady Alannys Harlaw and her lover, Triston Volmark. Originally recognized as a Pyke, he was legitimized in the wake of the Seastone Interregnum by Visaera I Targaryen, and has ruled as the Lord of Harlaw since 432 AC. He came to power amidst the bloody civil war remembered as the Black Prophet's Rebellion, during which he had defeated his cousin and contender, Ravos Harlaw, and captured the false king Loren Greyjoy aboard his own ship - thus ending the conflict. Like his mother and uncle had before, he wields the Valyrian Steel longsword, Nightfall.

With a keen mind for strategy and matters of statecraft, Theon played a crucial part in helping his younger brother solidify his power, and it was due to his efforts that House Greyjoy's naval strength was restored during the Four Year Winter that struck the Realm. He had served as Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet for the better part of the season until his resignation in 436 AC. His decision was prompted not by dissent; he was called upon to serve the Realm as King Aegon's Master of Ships, and with the support of the court of Pyke, he accepted the appointment.

For well over a year now, the Lord of Harlaw has been handling his responsibilities as a member of the Small Council with persistence, diligence, and infallible loyalty to the King. He had seen to a seamless transition after his predecessor's resignation, and building upon the latter's reforms, his own policies are simultaneously centered around the preservation of the Royal Fleet's strength and its expansion. His efforts thus far have paid off, for he has been proving not only his own worth, but that of his people as a whole - and it remains one of his goals to establish the Iron Islands as a most valuable asset to the Realm.

As the head of the most distinguished House Harlaw, Captain of the famed Argent Phantom, and a proud father of five, Theon's legacy remains yet unfinished. What's certain is that he enjoys a growing recognition in many circles, and his name is conjured with reverence and fear in equal measure.

Appearance & Character
By no means a towering giant, Theon Harlaw yet cuts an imposing figure by merit of his presence alone. His slender form is strengthened with a warrior's musculature, and his stature is possessed of an imperious quality as he bears himself with the martial might and noble grace that befit a man of his name and history. Despite his bastard birth, he came to the world exhibiting the distinctive characteristics that defined his line for generations, and as he matured into adulthood, his heritage became only more pronounced.

Theon wears his crown of midnight locks in a neat bowl-cut above thick and prominent brows, and sports a sparse beard, always fashionably trimmed, to accentuate the inherent sharpness of his visage. Whilst his large, round eyes are a reflection of his mother, Theon has inherited his father's angular and in certain lights rugged features. His pointed chin, protruding cheekbones, and hooked nose - along with his charcoal gaze and devilish smile - complete an image of menacing elegance that he effortlessly projects.

The Lord of Harlaw emanates strength and purpose in an almost nonchalant manner, and his demeanor gains its authenticity from one simple truth; where others hide behind carefully tailored layers of deception, Theon does not. He draws his power of presence from his conviction, and an honest, if somewhat cynical display of the man he is. Whilst he perceives the subtleties of courtly intrigue, he cares little for their potential as weapons when there are tools far sharper at his disposal. Wielding upon his lips the savage candor of his Ironborn kin, the Harlaw means every word he utters, and lives by the law of their making. There is boldness in defying a convention so deeply intertwined with the political nature of the world, yet he still manages to persist on the top - and perhaps that's where his innate charm sprouts from.

Make no mistake though; for daring the man may be, he lacks in folly. Once riddled with insecurity and fearful of the scrutiny of his peers, Theon came to consider the pursuit of external acceptance a flaw, and believes that his truest conception of self may only be achieved on his very own terms. He sees individual merit as the only means of excellence, and in the pursuit of the latter, he upholds his mother as the ultimate role model. He is unyielding in his positions, meticulous in execution, and he always seeks to align his personal interests with what he deems the greater good. Pairing that philosophy, however, is a moral compass equivocal in its nature; Theon deliberates his decisions upon a pragmatic compromise between his principles and selfish desires, and as he advances towards the future, no sacrifice may seem too great for the preservation of his legacy.

Immediate Family

 * Alannys Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 388 d. 433 AC
 * w. Triston Volmark b. 386 d. 409 AC
 * Theon Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw b. 406 AC
 * m. Genna Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 404 AC
 * Alysanne Harlaw b. 421 AC
 * Triston Harlaw, Heir to Harlaw b. 421 AC
 * Edmund Harlaw b. 429 AC
 * Meredyth Harlaw b. 433 AC
 * m. Dagon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands b. 385 d. 432 AC
 * Victaria Greyjoy b. 412 AC
 * Arwyn Greyjoy b. 415 AC
 * Maege Greyjoy b. 417 AC
 * Alyn Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands b. 419 AC
 * m. Alerie Redwyne, Lady of Pyke b. 420 AC

Extended Family
See the page of House Harlaw and the extended family tree.

Household

 * Sylas Myre - Castellan of the Ten Towers
 * Maester Harmon - Counselor and Tutor
 * Helya "Blackheart" Harlaw - Master-at-Arms
 * Donel Pyke - Steward
 * Othgar Blackgull - Drowned Priest of Harlaw
 * Tattered Tarle Kenning - Shipwright and Engineer