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. And although 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.

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, Harron. 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, and when the Great Famine struck after a series of peasant revolts and failing crops, the Iron Islands felt the suffering it brought second-to-none. The Harlaws shared in the fate of their brethren, and the two-year-old Erich was the first victim claimed by starvation within the halls of the Ten Towers.

Alannys was no older than five then, and whilst she could barely understand the weight of the events happening around her, she remembers laying a hand on her toddler brother's cold toes, witnessing her father shed tears as he wrapped the body of his youngest child in white clothes before giving him to the waves, not seeing her mother for days because she had locked herself in her chambers out of grief, and a desperately yelling Harron at the docks, restrained by two guards to prevent the kid from swimming after the longships that sailed out.

Hundreds of sailors rallied under the command of her uncle, Lord Harwyn Harlaw, and joined the combined effort of other Ironborn lords and captains in raiding the western shores and southern vessels for grain. This endeavour, born from desperation, was never expected to go without consequences. Thousands were saved from starvation, but the King's vengeance dealt House Harlaw a heavy blow. A longship for each tower, they said, was put to the torch, with all of their captains and crews subsequently executed. Lord Harmund, Harron and Alannys' father, and Captain of the flagship Silent Storm, was amongst them.

As a young girl, Alannys had to face the loss of two of her closest relatives, the perceived resentment of her own mother, and ultimately a feeling of loneliness in a shattered family. She grew to resent her surroundings in turn, and as the years passed, she tried to spend most of her time away from the Towers and its residents. Either she retreated to the library to bury herself in books for hours, or sneaked out to roam the island and learn about the people her father sacrificed his life for. She longed for attention, and she was also desperate to find someone or something to blame for the way she felt.

Kindred Souls
Although there wasn't a year between them, Alannys was never particularly close to her older brother, and the hardships they both had to go through did little to remedy that. Lord Harwyn couldn't sire children of his own, and so the man had taken Harron to his side to raise him as his heir, leaving Alannys in the care of her broken mother, whose company was alienating at best.

The first she considered a true friend was Maester Gevin, the youngest brother of her late grandfather. He helped her with her studies, and they always discussed the various subjects she'd read about when they were lurking in the library. 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. Her interest in warfare soon drew her towards combat and weapons, and inspired by historical figures such as Nymeria of the Rhoynar and Asha Greyjoy, she aspired to become a leader and warrior like they were. 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 daughter married off to a Codd than letting 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 learned that she couldn't demand her independence, but had to gain the position to exercise it. She took the lesson to heart, and proceeded to pursue her ambitions with subtlety, but pursue them regardless. Gaining allies was the first step, and yet unknown to her, she stumbled upon the most prominent one during an afternoon stroll in the castle's courtyard. She spotted an unfamiliar boy practising his swordsmanship skills on the training dummies, and as they were alone, she approached him.

They indulged in a surprisingly lengthy conversation, and it revealed that they had quite a lot in common. Alannys was eleven at the time, and the boy, who introduced himself as Joron, was only a couple years older. He was a scion of the Volmarks sent to the Ten Towers to be fostered by her uncle, but mostly to not be a burden at home while his father and older brothers were warring in the East, and he didn't know anyone in this new place. Alannys had felt similar loneliness, and she was able to sympathize. Showing attentiveness and kindness, she comforted him, and Joron was also there to listen to her.

Eventually, the two adolescents would see each other more often, and their connection grew strong in the upcoming months. Always meeting up in private to avoid prying ears and eyes, they did not only share stories and laughs but also made practical use of their time spent together; and more often than not, the latter entailed sparring for long hours in the secluded spots they found for the purpose. What Joron absorbed during his training with the master-at-arms, he passed on to Alannys, and the young Harlaw was a quick study in turn. As friends, they complemented each other well, yet time soon revealed that they were far from equals.

In the grand scheme of things, Alannys had always seen Joron as a means to an end.

Recent Events
N/A

Family
Family Tree
 * Lord Harren 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
 * Harron Harlaw d. 406 AC
 * Lady Alannys Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 388 AC
 * Theon Pyke b. 405 AC
 * Erich Harlaw d. 393 AC

Household

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