Meryn Royce

Meryn Royce is current lord of Runestone and head of House Royce. He was fathered by Andar Royce, the previous lord of House Royce. He is named after multiple of the the famous but now extinct House Gardener's lords.

Meryn is an almost bald man with black hair containing streaks of grey, he also has a thin beard. He has hazel eyes and is stocky and tall. His skin is rough and hardened, most notably his hands and face. He is a very tall man whose bulky stature makes him seem intimidating to those below him. His features are very aggressive and large, his eyebrows and eyes specifically.

He was previously married to Alayne Arryn, an Arryn of Gulltown, with whom he had three children, two boys and one girl.

Character and Appearance
Meryn is an almost bald man with black hair containing streaks of grey, he also has a thin beard. He has hazel eyes and is stocky and tall. His skin is rough and hardened, most notably his hands and face. He is a very tall man whose bulky stature makes him seem intimidating to those below him. His features are very aggressive and large, his eyebrows and eyes specifically. He has a strong sense of honour in himself and pride in his house. Despite being honourable, Meryn is prone to extreme anger when he grows impatient or feels like a fool. He strictly follows ancient customs such as the guest right and despite being ruled by an Andal-bred house continues to do some of the old ways fealty. This includes executing those who he sentences and keeping a crypt below Runestone to remember the past lords and kings of House Royce.

History
Meryn Royce was born in 358AC to Andar Royce and Mina Webber. At birth, Meryn was a large boy in all aspects, fat, strong and tall. As he grew, he made time for only two things in his life: reading and fighting. He would oft read books of great commanders and heroes, such as Baelor Breakspear, Aegon the Conqueror, Robar Royce and Artys Arryn. When he wasn't discussing alternate history with a maester or reading a book on war then he was out in the training yard, practicing with the sword. Meryn showed extreme skill with the sword, it was often said that if he hadn't been an heir then he would've been in the Kingsguard, but he simply never chose to pursue a life as swordsman, for a good lord is not only a warrior but a leader. He expanded his knowledge of warfare to the point when he was fifteen and no more, he was permitted to lead men around Runestone in hopes of finding bandits.

With growth of age comes growth of skill. Meryn grew into a powerful commander and even more skilled swordsman, this helped him during the War of the Three Thieves in which he assisted in leading the armies of the Vale. Runestone's prime location close to the Narrow Sea gave Meryn some experience in leading Royce's fleet. During the fighting in the Stepstones, Meryn's father Andar perished at Runestone. Rumour had it that Meryn's brother, Royce Royce, had slain Andar in order to further his position in the line of succession. This was never proved and Andar's cause of death was recorded as a natural passing of old age.

Meryn lay down his sword when he became Lord of Runestone to prioritize his dynasty and to prevent the death of another Lord Royce. He began to expand his knowledge of ruling and other management-related skills. Despite being a good lord, Meryn continues to struggle at court even to this day. He is often regarded as silent and brooding, only speaking when necessary or when spoken to.

When the lord of the Vale intended to marry a mountain clanswoman, Royce was offered to join the Lords Declarant of which he accepted and unknowingly caused his uncle's death during the wedding of Roland Arryn and Valla of the Redsmiths.

Family
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Household/NPCs

 * Maester Theon, maester of Runestone
 * Ser Corwyn, captain of Runestone household guard
 * Perron, Runestone's Master of Horse
 * Bronze Boy, lackwit fool in service to Lord Royce
 * Andar Stone, squire to Meryn Royce, bastard of Waymar Royce
 * Brynden Tollett, knight in service to House Royce