Andar Royce

Lord Andar Royce is the Lord of Runestone. From 408 AC to 433 AC he lived in King's Landing as a hostage of the Crown before returning to Runestone to rule after the death of his father.

Appearance and Character
Andar is quite unlike his father in appearance and takes after his Hightower mother. He is tall, but not large like his father, and has brown hair and striking blue eyes. He is slender though still adequately fit from years of training.

Andar can be characterized by bouts of fun and solemnity. A life estranged from his family has done some harm to his connections to others, and he has grown even further detached due to an unhappy marriage to his wife, Meredyth Rosby -- one forced upon him by Queen Visaera Targaryen.

Andar finds peace in being alone and enjoys the 'company' of dragons from a distance. When he was a hostage in King's Landing, he could often be found on the walls of the Red Keep, gazing out over the city, or somewhere atop Rhaenys' Hill where he might have a view of the dragons within the Dragonpit.

Early Life
Andar was born to Lord Reynard Royce and Leysel Hightower in 394 AC, their second child and firstborn son. As such, Andar was raised as the expectant heir to his father's lands and titles and received an education befitting this fact.

When fourteen, Andar was a squire when the Vale marched to war. He was not with his father and Lord Alaric Arryn when they suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Ruby Ford. In recompense for House Royce's treason, Andar was taken to King's Landing to serve as a hostage of the Crown.

Ward of the Crown
In King's Landing, Andar served in House Targaryen's household and was treated well. He almost immediately began training with the Master-at-Arms of the Red Keep -- Desmond Darke -- and the man soon became a father figure to young Andar. There were few others that Andar trusted or even liked in the city.

In 412 AC, Andar was informed that he was to wed Meredyth Rosby, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, and a member of a loyalist house. With his new wife, Andar sired two children, Alayne in 413 AC, and Triston in 414 AC, though the marriage is not a happy one.

Andar was knighted by Desmond in 415 AC for his services to the Red Keep and House Targaryen. He considered it to be one of his proudest moments and something he has been grateful for ever since.

Blue Winter
As years went by the family established themselves in King's Landing, first by purchasing a manse and second by purchasing a handful of businesses within the city with the aid of Andar's father, Reynard.

When the Blue Winter hit many storefronts became vacant giving Andar the opportunity to purchase them for a fraction of their real value. While his wife did not approve of his business ventures, Andar found it to be a rewarding application of his time when it became clear there were few other positions within the city he would be able to take as a de facto hostage.

The Bleeding
When the series of conflicts known as The Bleeding broke out in 432 AC, Andar fought alongside the forces of House Targaryen rather than those of the Vale as per the terms of his condition as a hostage. While not the most skilled tactician, the man was able to distinguish himself in a handful of battles.

In 433 AC, during the Gulltown Massacre, Andar's father and the Lord of Runestone, Reynard, was killed in the chaos and fighting that erupted within the city. While not present at the battle, Andar was allowed by the Crown to return to Runestone to bury his father and assume his position as lord having proven his loyalty to House Targaryen and in gratitude for his service to the Crown.

Present Day
Andar continues to rule in Runestone as an able administrator given the skills in commerce he acquired as a business owner and landlord in King's Landing.

Family
See: House Royce