Harkan Umber

Lord Harkan "Frostspear" Umber is the current lord of Last Hearth, and the secondborn son of the late Lord Artos Umber. He is the head of House Umber, known for his calculating and stern personality.

Appearance and Characteristics:
Harkan carries the signature appearance of the Umbers, with a muscular and burly figure, dark brown eyes, a height of 6'1", and a proud beard half-gray with age. A scar runs diagonally across his right cheek and the bridge of his nose, a memento of earlier conflicts and tragedies. Known for his tactical and fighting prowess, Harkan prefers to lead his troops from the very front, personally commanding and directing them while staring down the enemy. Stern, calculating, and not a man of many words, Harkan does not speak up often; however, when he does, the signature booming voice of the Umbers can be heard across the entire room. Wherever he goes, his signature glaive tends to follow-- he dons a steel chestplate branded with the Umber sigil at the chest in combat, swinging weapons around at a terrifying velocity.

Birth and Surrounding Incidents:
Harkan was birthed in 365 AC by his father, Lord Artos, and his mother, Lady Myriame, when his father was 38 and his mother was 35, late by Westerosi standards. Because both Artos and Myriame had lived through the Summer Sickness, they witnessed the death of many siblings and lost their first son, Jon Umber, from it. Tragedy further followed the Umber family, killing their first daughter Sarra in a tragic accident in 361 AC. Stemming from this, they made sure to constantly remind Harkan and the rest of the Umber children that having lots of children was necessary to continue the family line for generations to come.

Shortly after Harkan's birth, his siblings Rodrik (born 370 AC) and Rickard (born 371 AC) were also birthed; however, Myriame was killed giving birth to Rickard. After the death of Myriame, Artos never seemed to be the same, becoming morose, depressed, and more secretive.

Marriage and Childbirth:
Under a weirwood in 386 AC, a one-and-twenty year old Harkan married his wife of two years younger, Lyra Karstark. Just a year later, his wife gave birth to their firstborn son, Harmond, their secondborn son, Edwyn, and their firstborn daughter, Arya.

A year later, the Umbers would watch the events of the Hammer Uprising with apprehension, having to send out their own to men to quell ensuing peasant rebellions. It was here that Harkan was given command of a group to lead by his father, exposing him to military tactics and strategy in actual combat. Later, in 391 AC, the pair's daughters Raya and Erena were also born, right before the dawn of the Great Famine.

Great Famine:
The Great Famine was hard for all, lords and commonfolk both. Due to a dangerous lack of food, the Umbers were unable to keep their children properly feeded. As a result, Erena and Arya died from malnutrition and starvation in 393 AC, sending Lyra into a deep sadness and making Harkan sterner and less emotive. He spent much of his time researching battle tactics and strategy at this time, keeping his mind off of the tragedies that had just occurred.

War of the Three Thieves:
Right before the outbreak of war, Lyra and Harkan would have their final child, Mallador. Afterwards, he marched to White Harbor with a contingent of soldiers to participate in the War, bringing his brother Rodrik and his son Edwyn with him. Harmond and Rickard were left to take care of Last Hearth, putting a strain between Harkan and Rickard, who felt slighted by the move.

At around 397 AC, however, Harkan recieved word that his father had become gravely ill and needed attention; he left Edwyn under the care of Rodrik and returned home to Last Hearth to take care of his ailing father. In 400 AC, Artos Umber died, leaving Harkan as the lord of the castle. After a period of grieving and comfort, he had to return to the battle. There, he participated in as many battles as he could, including the Battle of the Broken Arm, where he became noted for his martial prowess.

However, at the final few battles of the war, he watched helplessly as Edwyn burned under the flames of Arranax, before King Maekar defeated Alequo Silverbrand high above in the sky. Harkan returned back to Last Hearth with only Rodrik and a heart full of grief for his dead son.

Scarlet Winter:
With his return, the Scarlet Winter also came. Under the harsh stress of the times and the misery from the deaths of many of her children, Lyra hanged herself in 403 AC. The Umbers spent the majority of their time during the Scarlet Winter trying to recuperate from the many deaths the family had suffered and keeping their smallfolk fed and content as well as they could.

Recent Events:
Pending!

Family:

 * {Artos Umber} (Father, 327-400 AC; died from sickness) m. {Myriame Umber nee Ryswell} (Mother, 330-371 AC; died from childbirth complications)
 * {Jon Umber} (347-347 AC; died from the Summer Sickness)
 * {Sarra Umber} (355-361 AC; died from a tragic accident)
 * **Harkan Umber (365-present AC, current lord of Last Hearth)**
 * Married {Lyra Umber nee Karstark} (367-403 AC; hanged herself in grief)
 * Harmond Umber (387-present AC, current heir of Last Hearth)
 * {Edwyn Umber} (387-402 AC; burned in dragonfire during the War of the 3 Thieves)
 * {Arya Umber} (387-393 AC; died from starvation during the Great Famine)
 * Raya Umber (391-present AC)
 * {Erena Umber} (391-393 AC; died from starvation during the Great Famine)
 * Rodrik Umber (370-present AC)
 * Married Mariah Umber nee Hornwood (375-present AC)
 * Medger Umber (390-present AC)
 * Rickard Umber (371-present AC)
 * Ethan Snow (389-present AC, bastard son of Rickard Umber)

Household:

 * Maester Davos (Maester of Last Hearth)
 * Harmond Umber (Firstborn Son, Squire)
 * Ethan Karstark (Master-at-Arms, brother of Lyra Karstark)
 * Martyn Overton (Squire, Son of vassal house)
 * Eddard Overton (Squire, Son of vassal house)
 * Rickard Umber (Castellan of Last Hearth)