Lothar Bracken

Lord Lothar Bracken is the son of the late lord of Stone Hedge Jason Bracken and his wife, Lady Doreah Bracken née Hunter. With his elder brother, Otho Bracken, dying in the Second Hammer uprising Lothar inherited the Lordship of Stone Hedge with his father's passing in 438 AC.

Appearance and Character
While of average height Lothar's build is strong thanks to many years spent both in battle and on the training yard swinging a sword. Lothar often strikes an imposing figure with muscly arms and legs, revealing his experience with weaponry. He has light hazel coloured eyes with oak brown hair flowing down to about the end of his neck. Lothar has a powerful jawline, complimenting his jaw is a carefully kept beard. On his right shoulder, he has a deep scar from a stab wound from the Second Hammer uprising.

Usually, Lothar dresses in brightly coloured red, yellow or brown colours. Typically favouring brown on most occasions. He rarely wears ornaments of any kind preferring instead practical and comfortable clothes. On every occasion, possible Lothar carries with him his sword, not only to be prepared but also in case he ever should get bored and need a fight.

Lothar always carries a stoic look on his face, often trying to look as dour as possible trying to emulate the legendary Bracken knights of old. However, his sorry attempt at a solemn face often becomes a broad smile or a bout of laughter at the slightest notice. Instead of the steadfast knight he desires to be, Lothar is a man ruled by emotion. He loves his family, and particularly their history, almost as much as he loves drinking, fighting and feasting. However, with values of honour and duty instilled in him from a young age, he can overcome most of his urges. He has, despite his flaws, proven an extremely competent ruler with harvests becoming far more bountiful under his rule.

Early Childhood
Lothar was born into House Bracken as the second son and the youngest of the four Bracken children. All the way from the crib to his own bed his mother, and sometimes father, would tell stories about the honourable knights of yore who slew monstrous beasts and were pious and dutiful in all their actions. From the moment he could think he wished to be a knight. Already from the age of two, he was swinging around sticks and "practising" as he called it. His father, bemused at his son's antics, allowed him to start training at the age of four. During the next four years, Lothar proved himself surprisingly skilled and a quick learner in his sword fighting lessons. In addition to his skill with the sword, Lothar had shown himself skilled at stewardship, though he did seem to prefer the military aspect. His lord father hoped that perhaps one day his son would lay down his sword and become the steward of Stone Hedge as he had been.

Fostering at Wayfarer's Rest
At the age of eight, Lothar was sent to foster with House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest. When he arrived, he was slightly scared by Lord Lyndon Vance, but it got better after he got to know the man. Lothar still far preferred the company of his son and heir, Edmund Vance. His time spent in Wayfarer's Rest wasn't too different from his time spent in Stone Hedge. Most of his days were spent training with the sword, with the odd sessions of wallowing in depression due to having any kind of class with the Maester. Often he would sneak away from the old Maester accidentally fell asleep if only to catch five minutes sword practice. Almost his entire life had been spent with a sword in hand, the Maester used to joke he must have been born with one too. After some time at Wayfarer's Rest, he became so skilled with one-handed swords that he could face up to four opponents at the same time. Lothar regards his years at Wayfarer's Rest some of the best in his life. However, his days in Wayfarer's Rest had to come to an end and in 432 AC that day arrived.

Fighting in the Second Hammer Uprising
With the hammer uprising in full swing, his father commanded Lothar home to Stone Hedge in case the Riverlands should suffer from the conflict. He was happy to return if it meant he could finally show the Kingdom his skills at leadership and combat. For a year he sat restlessly in Stone Hedge waiting to have an opportunity to prove his mettle in battle. During that year he reconnected with his brother, Otho, who he had barely seen during his years of fostering. When finally the time came after the defiance of Fairmarket him, his brother Otho and their Master-at-arms marched out with most of the Bracken levy to join the Riverlander forces. The brothers would prove themselves across the Riverlands winning skirmish after skirmish with the Hammer rebels. However, in one of these skirmishes, Otho Bracken and the Master-at-arms were killed in battle. Lothar found his dying brother on the battlefield after the battle was over, he found him bleeding out from multiple wounds. Otho leaned and whispered into to Lothar's ear before dying. This left Lothar Bracken as the sole commander of the Bracken forces. During the rest of the rebellion, he would prove himself as a skilled commander and warrior give him a great deal of fame among the River lords. At the end of the uprising, Lothar returned home to Stone Hedge with new scars, both external and internal.

Becoming Lord of Stone Hedge
After the death of his elder brother, Otho, Lothar joined his father in Stone Hedge to learn all the required information to become the new lord. He displayed a newfound aptitude and appreciation for managing the holdings of House Bracken. Perhaps compelled by duty, or by what his brother had said in his final moments. Lothar did his job as best he could and tried his hardest to give his father the heir he deserved. Still, he found himself down by the training yard more often than not, and despite his fathers best attempts at instilling some sense of stoicism in his boy, Lothar still couldn't help, but to break out into a smile and laugh all the time. With his father's death in 438 AC, Lothar Bracken became Lord of Stone Hedge. Lothar hasn't changed the lands of Stone Hedge much since the loss of his father, mainly focusing on improving the economy of his holdings and the lives of the people living in them.

Recent Events
Lothar has recently travelled to Harrenhal to participate in the melee their and hopefully meet some of the acquaintances he gained during his fostering at Wayfarer's Rest.

Family
''Foreword: Bold text indicates that the character is dead. The title "Lord of Stone Hedge" indicates they were lords at the day of their death.''
 * Lord Harry Bracken of Stone Hedge b. 337 d. 384 


 * Lady Catelyn Bracken née Templeton b. 335 d. 372
 * Lord Benarr Bracken of Stone Hedge  b. 359 d. 403
 * Lady Marissa Bracken née Darry b. 362 d. 404
 * Lyle Bracken, Exiled b. 383
 * Lady Sarya Blackwood née Bracken b. 384
 * Lord Jason Bracken of Stone Hedge b. 386 d. 438
 * Lady Doreah Bracken née Hunter b. 391
 * Lady Dacey Tully née Bracken b. 411
 * Lady Mya Bracken b. 413
 * Lord Otho Bracken b. 414 d. 434
 * Lord Lothar Bracken of Stone Hedge b. 415
 * Lady Elayne Bracken b. 426
 * Lady Lisa Mallister née Bracken b. 391
 * Lord Marq Bracken b. 361 d. 395
 * Lady Sanelle Bracken b. 363 d. 397
 * Lord Lothor Bracken b. 366 d. 414

Household and Family
Lord Lothar Bracken, Lord of Stone Hedge

Dowager Lady Doreah Bracken nee Hunter

Lady Mya Bracken

Lady Elayne Bracken

Household:

Ser Lothor Bracken – castellan and great uncle (born 389 AC)

Ser Otho Bramble – Knight of Bramble Keep (distant Bracken relations)

Ser Lucas Roote – Master of Arms to Stone Hedge

Ser Patrek Rivers – Captain of the Guard to Stone Hedge

Hoster Paege – Knight in service of Stone Hedge

Septon Norbert – Septon in service of Stone Hedge

Maester Loras – Maester in service of Stone Hedge