Ashara Blackmont

Ashara Blackmont is the Lady of Blackmont, a position she has held since the Vulture King’s deposition in 435 AC. Initially unprepared for the demands of ladyship, Ashara has spent the past four years ruling and learning in equal measure. She has proven herself capable despite her inexperience, but her intentions for Blackmont’s future remain unclear.

Appearance and Character
Tall, thin and fair of skin, Ashara primarily descends from the same Andal stock that has inhabited the Red Mountains for centuries. Her unusual height and unique features, however, distinguish her among the exceptionally diverse populace of Dorne. Her fashion sense boldly defies the economic stagnation of House Blackmont’s holdings; her rich fabrics and ornate jewelry are no less impressive than those adorned by the ladies of the peninsula’s eastern tip.

Owing to an imposing height, regional customs, and the memory of her long-ruling grandmother, Ashara’s authoritative stature is exceptional even among other Dornish ladies regnant. However, the wounds opened by the War of Stone and Sky - as well as the disputable nature of her succession - continue to curb the young Lady Blackmont’s confidence in her still tenuous position. In her own lands, she makes a conscious effort to project an image of strength.

There is more too her than posturing, however; she continues to refine the half-honed talents of her youth. A long-held fondness for sport and sparring has morphed into martial finesse, and keen social senses have allowed her to keep an unstable court in order. Ashara’s natural candor is tempered by a deliberate aloofness; an artificial aura of mystery gives cover to indecisiveness.

Early Life
The lands of House Blackmont entered the fifth century under the prosperous rule of Lady Alysanne Blackmont, with the loyal support of her cousin Ryon as her lord consort. The region's stability, however, was only illusory; missionaries had begun to preach the Red Faith within the Red Mountains, giving rise to religious and social tensions.

Ashara was born at the tail end of her grandmother's long reign to her youngest son, Ser Andrew, and his wife, Myranda Ladybright. The Blackmonts were a small and tight-knit family, and as a child, Ashara was slow to recognize the distinction between siblings and cousins. During her earliest years she was an awkward and quiet child, but she seldom had trouble forging friendships; her family was largely indifferent to her quirks.

Though she was never very far down the line of succession, Ashara was never expected to amount to anything more than a nobleman's consort. Nevertheless, she was encouraged to entertain her own interests. A thorough noble education was complimented by flirtations with art, poetry, music, swordplay, cyvasse and a number of other pursuits, most of which she easily grasped but failed to master.

Her education was further supplanted by her father's service as Blackmont's castellan following Ser Ryon's retirement. Ashara was often permitted to observe him in his duties, and later she began assisting with the most menial aspects of his work. She quickly came to understand the finer points of the defense and management of a castle - much to the delight of the lord uncle, who openly (if half-heartedly) flirted with the idea of grooming her to succeed his brother as castellan.

As she entered adolescence, Ashara's hobbies began to extend far beyond the confines of Blackmont. With the protection and guidance of her cousin Quentyn, she embarked on regular hikes throughout the Red Mountains. Ashara developed a familiarity with her homeland's terrain that maps alone could not teach, and became acquainted with many of the small folk living on the outskirts of her uncle's lands.

The announcement of the Silver Wedding compelled Ser Andrew to take his immediate family King's Landing for the occasion, much to the chagrin of his elder brother. Though the Blackmonts had always been indifferent toward royalty, the pious Lord Tommen was offended by the revival of polygamy, and at his insistence the rest of the household was discouraged from attending.

Ashara was not oblivious to the political significance of the wedding, but in the capital she found more comfort than controversy. She was immediately enamored with the splendor and scope of the city, and with much of the realm in attendance, Ashara learned much and more of the world beyond the Red Mountains. She returned to Blackmont with her father after only a few moons, though her younger sister remained in King's Landing under the care of their grandfather, who lingered around the royal court to advocate on behalf of western Dorne.

Ashara returned to Blackmont emboldened by her recent cosmopolitan experience. Shyness gave way to confidence, and she became more attentive to her own blossoming beauty. She discreetly pursued the affections of Deziel, the humble son of a household knight, initiating an affair that would last for well over a year.

It may have lasted longer if not for the outbreak of the War of Stone and Sky. The Red Mountains had once insulated Blackmont from the Bleeding, but after Lord Tommen proclaimed himself "the Vulture King" they instead served to contain Dorne's internal animosities.

The progression of battles and skirmishes throughout the region largely eluded Ashara; she spent the duration of the conflict confined to the relative safety of her home. With most of House Blackmont's men mobilized for war, Ashara's father was tasked with maintaining an undermanned and undersupplied castle. At this time he relied on his daughter's assistance more than ever before; castle guardsmen quickly learned that an order from Ashara was as good as one from Ser Andrew himself.

Recent Events
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Family

 * Alysanne Blackmont, Lady of Blackmont b. 371 AC d. 425 AC
 * m. Ryon Blackmont b. 373 AC
 * Tommen Blackmont, Lord of Blackmont b. 394 AC d. 435 AC
 * m. Genna Drinkwater b. 395 AC d. 415 AC
 * Quentyn Blackmont b. 412 AC d. 435 AC
 * m. Nymella Wells b. 416 AC
 * Simon Blackmont b. 435 AC
 * Galladon Blackmont b. 415 AC d. 418 AC
 * Bryce Blackmont b. 396 AC d. 423 AC
 * Barristan Sand b. 421 AC
 * Andrew Blackmont b. 399 AC d. 435 AC
 * m. Myranda Ladybright b. 398 AC d. 439 AC
 * Ashara Blackmont, Lady of Blackmont b. 418 AC
 * Valena Blackmont, Heir to Blackmont b. 420 AC

Household

 * Ryon Blackmont, castellan
 * Merle Flowers, steward
 * Gulian, master-at-arms
 * Maester Florian
 * Septon Domeric
 * Septa Ravella