Alannys Harlaw

Alannys Harlaw is the second child and only daughter born to Harmund Harlaw, late Master of the Tower of Glimmering, and his wife, Larra Stonetree. As the closest living relative of the recently deceased Lord Harwyn Harlaw, she inherited the titles to the Ten Towers and the Island of Harlaw.

The vassal lords sworn to her House yet question her ability as Lady Regnant, she enjoys popularity with the common folk of the island, and likewise with the captains and crewmen of her fleet, who regard her as a talented seafarer and warrior. She is the current wielder of her family's Valyrian Steel longsword, Nightfall.

Appearance and Character
Pale of complexion and dark of hair, with nearly pitch-black eyes adorning her elegantly sharp visage, Alannys stands out as a rare beauty amongst the Ironborn. She doesn't appear intimidating, nor is she particularly tall and imposing, but her short stature and lithe frame shadow a martially trained, athletic body, and her meticulous, pragmatic nature, which lies hidden behind a pleasant façade, lends the Lady Harlaw a charismatic presence that instils both respect and fear in those that know and follow her.

Whether she's clad in her armour on the field, or an elegant gown at a feast, Alannys' appearance remains one of controversy, yet which only serves to emphasize the grace and nobility she naturally possesses.

Early Life
Alannys was born in the early summer year of 388 AC at the Tower of Glimmering, a mere ten Moons after her mother had delivered her older brother, Erich. Despite Maester Gevin's predictions of possible ailments, Larra gave birth to a strong and healthy daughter without difficulties during the process, and both of them were ready to leave bed following a few weeks of rest.

The first four years of her life were quiet and uneventful, and her parents planned to raise her by the standards of a true Westerosi lady in hopes of finding her a match from the mainland when she'd come of age. At the time, the Iron Islands had been enjoying peace for two decades in the wake of the Half-Blood Incursion, and the Harlaws were among the houses that sought to better relationships with the other kingdoms of the Realm. Soon, however, everything changed.

Westeros was a troubled enough place on its own, Famine struck after a series of peasant revolts and failing crops, the Iron Islands felt the suffering it brought second-to-none. Alannys was no older than five then, and whilst she could barely understand the weight of the events happening around her, she remembers how the rations became thinner with each passing day at the Ten Towers, seeing her father wrap her toddler sister's cold body in whites after she had starved to death, and watching dozens of longships sail out from the harbour when the hunger grew unbearable.

Hundreds of sailors rallied under Greyjoy banners to raid the western shores and southern vessels for grain, and tens of thousands were saved from starvation as a result, but the breaking of the King's peace was followed by switf and brutal retaliation. A longship for each tower, they said, was put to the torch, with all of their captains and crews subsequently executed. Lord Harmund, Erich and Alannys' father, and Captain of the Harlaw flagship Silent Storm, was amongst them.

Lessons
Although there wasn't a year between them, Alannys was never particularly close with her older brother, and the hardships they both had to go through did little to remedy that. With their father dead and Lord Harwyn having no children of his own, Erich was to be raised as the Heir to Harlaw under the mentorship of their uncle, and Alannys was left in the care of their grieving mother, whose company was alienating at best.

The girl longed for attention, but above all, connections, - and as sad as it was, her mother was the last person to provide either. Despite living there for years, she didn't feel welcome in the Towers, so she either retreated to the library to bury herself in books for hours, or sneaked out to roam the island and befriend the locals. The first she considered a true friend was Maester Gevin, the youngest brother of her late grandfather, who helped her with her studies and was always happy to discuss with her the various subjects she'd read about.

It became evident where did the girl's interests lie, and while she allowed her mother to mould her behaviour through lessons in etiquette and the feminine activities a lady was expected to excel at, it were Maester Gevin's lectures in history, strategy, and seafaring that offered her the knowledge she desired. Alannys, of course, didn't excel at anything ladylike beyond the superficial, nor did she want to. Inspired by historical figures such as Nymeria of the Rhoynar and Asha Greyjoy, she aspired to become a leader and warrior, to see the world and fight for her people.

Her mistake was announcing her plans to her mother during a frustrating fight that resulted from her refusal to do embroidery. Infuriated, Lady Larra told Alannys that she'd rather see her married off to a Codd than let her meet the same fate Harmund and most Harlaw men did, and she outright forbade her to take lessons in combat, - making sure to inform the Master-at-Arms about her decision as well.

On that day, Alannys realized that she couldn't demand her independence, but had to gain the position to exercise it. The lesson was hard-learned and she took it to heart, and proceeded to pursue her ambitions with subtlety, but pursue them regardless.

Kindred Souls
Coming into her early adolescence, Alannys had already boasted an expansive knowledge of martial and maritime matters, but she lacked the means of putting them to use. Hailing from the 'weaker sex' considerably limited her mobility in the Iron Islands, especially with an austere woman like Lady Larra as her mother.

Recent Events
N/A

Family
Family Tree
 * Lord Harron Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw d. 390 AC
 * m. Lady Rheya Drumm d. 365 AC
 * Lord Harwyn Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw d. 407 AC
 * m. Lady Hylda Blacktyde d. 398 AC
 * No Issues
 * m. Lady Rona Kenning d. 403 AC
 * No Issues
 * Lord Harmund Harlaw d. 394 AC
 * m. Lady Larra Stonetree b. 367 AC
 * Erich Harlaw d. 406 AC
 * Lady Alannys Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 388 AC
 * Theon Pyke b. 405 AC
 * Meredyth Harlaw d. 393 AC

Household

 * Ronel Kenning - Castellan of the Ten Towers
 * Maester Gevin - Maester of the Ten Towers
 * Symond - Master-at-Arms
 * Triston Volmark - Captain of the Guard
 * Othgar - Drowned Priest