Vardis Grafton

Lord Vardis Grafton is the current lord of Gulltown. He is married to Lady Anya Grafton nee Arryn. He was born the first day of the first moon of the year 381 AC to Lord Robin and Lady Arwen Grafton. As the firstborn son, he was raised to be Lord from the day he was born. He was raised in Gulltown alongside his younger siblings.

Appearance and Character
Roughly an average height man, Vardis has dark hair and grey eyes. His biceps are large and defined from many hours in the forge. While he is not a great fighter, he is stronger than the average man due to his occupation. He quite often has ash and soot on his face. He is well spoken, and kind. Yet his appearance often gives the misconception that he is a rough and harsh soul.

Youth
Vardis found little joy in martial or combat prowess, even from a young age. Maester Allard noted in the family history that Vardis took quickly to the books, he studied hard and was quite knowledgable for his age. However, he applied his knowledge almost exclusively to pursuits the Smith would deem worthy. His father was a knowledgable enough blacksmith, and took him as an apprentice. However, it was quickly noted that he surpassed his fathers own skills rather quickly. His father spent this time seeking a new smith to teach his son.

During this time, it would be noted that Gulltown was the place of many riots during The Hammer Uprising, Vardis truly found his sympathies for the common folk at this time. This is where his faith in the Seven truly flared up. He found peace in the Starry Rites.

Adolescence
In the year 393, during the Great Famine, Lord Robin Grafton finally found what he was searching for, a new master for Vardis. Robin was approached by a Qohorik exile, a man who was exiled from the city for refusing to sacrifice his son for a holy day. His son was seized, sacrificed and the man himself was exiled with nothing but the knowledge in his mind and the clothes on his back.

Luckily for Robin, the Qohor was familiar with the pinaccle of smithing, reforging Valyrian Steel. Vardis had always been enraptured by the idea of being able to reforge Valyrian Steel, and as such he begged his father to employ the Old Goat. After much begging, Robin acquiesced and allowed the foreigner to train his son. If Vardis expected it to be easy, the poor lad was in for a surprise.

His first day in the forge was the hardest day of his life, in his own words. Vardis would begin to hone his craft throughout the famine. The coin he saw enter the shop caused him significant grief over the course of the famine, not much of it went to allieviating the issues of the smallfolk. He continued to practice the Starry Rites publically.

During The War of the Three Thieves the Grafton's forge provided arms for the royal army. Vardis himself handled many orders. During the year 402 at the age of twenty one, Vardis reforged his first bit of Valyrian Steel. Areo swore him to secrecy upon the methods used to reforge it, requested him to only pass the knowledge on to his chosen apprentice, and only when he reached the age of fourty. Shortly after this he was betrothed to Anya Arryn, the niece of Lord Alaric Arryn.

Marriage
Vardis found his wife to be was less than excited to be paired with him. She was cold and distant, it seemed she was looking for a marriage of love rather than one of status. Vardis did his best to prove he would do his duty to her, to no avail, most likely due to his own struggles in communicating his feelings. The redheaded beauty seemed to be unhappy she would be moving from her mountain to his coast. However she never seemed to accept her new life, until their wedding night. Vardis was unsure of exactly what caused the shift in her emotion, as she never told him.

Their love grew quickly, as did the child in Anya's womb. Vardis' son and heir was born in the year 404 AC. Vardis did his best to ensure that his son would survive the Scarlet Winter.

Lordship
In the year 404, Lord Robin Grafton passed due to frail health and worsening conditions in the Vale. Vardis took over the Lordship with heavy heart until his son was born. He spent the remainder of the Scarlet Winter ensuring the smallfolk were as well fed as he could, increasing trade to Essos and employing icebreakers of his own design. When the Winter finally passed in 405 AC he celerated by designing his flagship. A large warship named The Smith's Hammer. It took nearly two years to design and craft the ship. Vardis recently christened the ship, and it is due to have its maiden voyage shortly after the Tourney at Harrenhal.

Recent Events
(To be recorded as major events unfold)

Family

 * Robin Grafton, 351-403 AC
 * m. Arwen Upcliff, 355-406 AC
 * Vardis Grafton, 381-
 * Gerold Grafton, 381-
 * Harrold Grafton, 385-
 * Saffron Grafton, 389-

Household and NPCs

 * Maester Allard
 * Steward: Petyr Shett
 * Master-At-Arms: Harrold Grafton
 * Captain of the Guard: Yorwyk Stone
 * Guardsman: Ser Eustace
 * Master of Horse: Harlan Shett
 * Septa Jeyne
 * Septon Lymond
 * Armorer: Areo Mott
 * Kennelmaster: Gilwood
 * Stableboy: Symond
 * Cook: Elbert
 * Bard: Willum of Wickenden