Alester Hersy

Alester Hersy is a fair-haired man of House Hersy. The third-born son, he was fostered in the Eyrie for several years before returning to his home isle. Although of no great renown or fame, he was a marvellous fighter, and one of the youngest men to be appointed to serve upon the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights where he has served for 27 years.

Appearance and Character
A man of no remarkable height, Alester still strikes an imposing enough figure at 6'1". Though past his prime, he maintains himself in exceptional condition, and his corded physique bears the scars of years of surviving single combat and large-scale battle alike. Blonde hair of middling length is kept slicked back, clear and out of the way of his ruddy hazel eyes. These days, his smiles are rare. More common are the sneers he casts to those few who dare make mention within his earshot of his turned cloak.

Early Life (365 AC - 378 AC)
Born third son to the Lord and Lady Hersy during the 7th moon of the year 364 AC, Alester was a spirited and vigorous boy. There was quite a difference in age between himself and his elder brothers and sister, however, and he found himself alone to his own devices more often than not. What interactions he did have with his siblings often left him at the end of a cruel jape or trying in vain to keep up with his stronger and more durable kin. It fuelled a sense of inferiority and a sensitivity to mockery.

To get make at those that hurt him, Alester began to pull pranks. He was a crafty little boy with a keen sense of caution and stealth. Misplaced items, vandalized bedrooms, the occasional dead rat beneath a pillow...such actions became the norm. For which he never held any remorse. In lieu of this, his parents arranged to have him sent to the Eyrie to be fostered there in the hopes that the Knights and Lords there would be able to impart some of their character and values onto the boy.

It worked in part. At the very least, he found himself surrounded by a number of other boys of his age. Though there were quite a few boys his age - including a rather conspicuous purple-eyed individual - he developed a friendship with Alaric Arryn specifically, spending hours with him at practice in the yard with sword, or at the range with bow. He took a particular fancy to the blade and strove to master it so that there would at least be one thing for which he could claim to be superior. It was at the Eyrie as well that Alester began his faith journey while squiring for Ser Willam, one of the knights of the Winged Brotherhood.

A Boy Among Brothers (379 AC - 380 AC)
At ten and six, Alester's prowess with the blade caught the eye of Lord Roland. He had been accompanying his mentor in the mountains when the party was ambushed and engaged in a particularly vicious skirmish with the Mountain Clans. In the chaos of the battle, Alester was separated from Ser Willam, and when he returned, found he had all but died. His wound was not so severe that he would pass away quickly, nor so shallow that he would survive. He screamed for salvation and begged Alester to help relieve him of the pain. Unable to suffer watching his mentor in such a state, and knowing that he would be suffering like that for a long time to come with no avail, Alester did the only thing he thought was right at the time. He plugged Ser Willam's nose and smothered his face.

It was likely fortunate that none saw this transpire - as far as he knew. But word did reach Lord Roland of the impressive feats of courage and combat finesse that Alester displayed in the scuffles. Upon their return to the Eyrie, Lord Roland saw to have Alester knighted, and named him as a member of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights, the youngest to be appointed.

Despite his proven skill and battle readiness, the elder members of the Winged Brotherhood continued to see him as little more than a squire. Japes and jests would be made at his expense, and tasks left to be placed upon his shoulders. Although he strived to be nothing less than equal, they continued to treat him as a boy. It grated upon him. Particularly considering that which he had done, and the agonising memory of his mentor that would haunt him night after night. He never wavered in his duties, and never failed to continue to hone his skill, but he did turn to vices. For a number of years, he drink himself to sleep at nights, sometimes with the company of a woman; and wake to bitter regret.

The Crisis of the Crescent Moon (381 AC - 382 AC)
After his wife's untimely demise during childbirth, Lord Roland Arryn announced - not even a year later - of his intention to take the hand of Valla, daughter of Joramun of the Redsmiths, in marriage. This was meant to cement an alliance with their chief and begin the process of acclimating the Mountain Clans. Instead, it served to enrage the already seething Alaric Arryn. Not only that, but dissent had been sewn among the Lords and smallfolk of the Vale, many of whom were violently opposed to the union with the Mountain Clans. The Vale was being ripped apart and to Alester, Lord Roland was either blind, or seemed not to care. Just as he had been with the treatment Alester had been receiving from many of the other members of the Brotherhood.

It wasn't long before the new Lords Declarant made themselves and their desires known. On the day of his wedding with Valla, Lord Roland arranged for a confrontation with Alaric, and on the shores of the Crescent Lake, Alester joined the rest of the Brotherhood to meet the ten fighters Alaric had brought. Had it been an honourable fight, Alester had no doubt that the the Winged Knights would have left the victors. Alaric may have perished, Alester would have lost a friend, Lord Roland would have been allowed to continue with the folly of his unravelled decisions, and the Vale would fall into a bloody civil war.

Partly in spite and partly in the name of greater good, Alester made a decision. As they clashed together, Alester and another of his kin turned their cloaks. It was Ser Vardis Ruthermont, the commander of the Brotherhood, that the youth targeted first, using the chaos to ambush him with a well place thrust of an off-hand dagger. Even then, the old man gave fight, and would not fall until a blow from Alester broke his blade and left him all but defenceless. In the end, the Lords Declarant were victorious, with Alaric eventually taking the seat of the Eyrie. With that, Lord Alaric became the Defender of the Vale, and Alester was raised to Commander of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights.

Timeline

 * 365 AC - Alester is born third son to Lord and Lady Hersy
 * 374 AC - Sent from home, Alester is fostered at the Eyrie for a number of years
 * 377 AC - Ser Willam of the Brotherhood takes Alester on as his squire
 * 380 AC - Alester is the youngest to be named to the Brotherhood, chosen by Roland after the previous member was slain in a skirmish with the Mountain Clans
 * 381 AC - At the tri-annual tourney in the Vale, Alester is officially sworn into the Brotherhood
 * 382 AC - During the Crisis of the Cescent, Alester makes the choice to turn against the Lord he was sworn to protect, and thereafter serves Lord Alaric Arryn as Commander of the Winged Knights
 * 388 AC - "The Hammer Uprising"
 * 392-395 AC - The Great Famine
 * 395 AC - Alester takes on Jasper Arryn as his squire
 * 402-405 AC - The Scarlet Winter
 * 405 AC - Thalia "the Warmaiden" Pryor is appointed to join his Brotherhood
 * 407 AC - Attends a wedding at the Eyrie before journeying to attend the Tourney of the Red Comet

Recent Events
Following a wedding held at the Eyrie for Harrold Arryn, Alester travels to the Riverlands with Lord Alaric and the rest of his House and men to attend the tournament of the red comet held at Harrenhal.

The Brotherhood of the Winged Knights
The current members of the Brotherhood which serves Lord Alaric Arryn are as follows:
 * Ser Alester Hersy, Commander of the Winged Knights
 * Ser Peregrine Whettstone, a tall and dark-haired warrior with a penchant for ostentatious display. One of Lord Alaric's closest and longest companions.
 * Ser Robin Arryn, a knight of a lesser branch of House Arryn; he was taken on as a means of teaching the youth proper skill at arms and the tenants of knighthood.
 * Ser Benedar “Bulwark” Redfort, a hulking, powerful-looking man, with broad shoulders and large hands. As fond of his warhammer as he is of using it, in full plate he is an unmovable wall.
 * Thalia “the Warmaiden” Pryor, the first woman of the Order and the only non-knight. Won her place through fierce contest, proving herself the equal of her brothers-in-arms. Mostly serves as a guard to Alys or Anya Arryn; but remains one of the fiercest fighters in the Brotherhood.
 * Ser Triston Waynwood, kin to Osric Arryn's wife. A devoted man of the Brotherhood, who makes up for his less-than-masterful skill with zeal and an endless dedication to duty. Serves in the court of his brother-by-law, in the Gates of the Moon.
 * Ser Rodrick Gullfeather, a skilled archer, capable of downing a sparrow in full flight. Inducted to the order by Roland Arryn, he betrayed his former liege along with Alester in favour of Alaric during the Crisis of the Crescent.
 * Ser Jorunn Sunderland, a man of the Sisters and a second or third cousin of the main line of Sunderlands. Still boasts the mark, however; but it has yet to marr his fighting ability.