Robert Arryn

Ser Robert Arryn is a Knight of the Vale and the eldest son of Artys Arryn, the Keeper of the Gates of the Moon. Distinguished throughout the Vale for his fighting finesse, his career as a warrior reached its zenith with a three year tenure in the Brotherhood of Winged Knights. This service coincided with the Bleeding, during which he fought in the tragic siege at Gulltown.

After leaving the Winged Knights, Robert returned to the Gates of the Moon, where Artys groomed him for the prospect of succession. With Lord Godric still mourning the untimely deaths of his parents, Robert assisted his father and uncle with the stewardship of the Vale’s affairs until the end of the Four Year Winter. Robert’s aspiration to become Keeper, however, has not tamed his vigorous spirit; he strives to prove himself worthy of much more than his father bargained for.

Appearance and Character
Strong and agile in equal measure, Robert Arryn stands at six feet with a figure fit for fighting. He sports the dark hair that has become characteristic of the Arryns in recent years, but deep brown eyes beneath thick brows distinguish him from the main line of his house. His jaw is shadowed by a perpetual stubble, and with the recent return of spring, a touch of sunlight has begun to tan his light skin.

While no stranger to proper noble finery, Robert’s wardrobe is suitably rugged for a man of the mountains. His clothing is tailored to his form and lifestyle alike, providing practical flexibility for a routine that is seldom sedentary. Movement is an even great factor in his choice of armor, and with the exception of a breastplate, Robert tends toward chain and leather. At his waist he keeps an arming sword and a small hand axe, and a round shield is often worn over his back.

Robert carries himself with an air of confidence, emboldened by both his prestigious name and his own distinguished record of knightly service. He is energetic to a fault, often to the point of impatience and impulsiveness. This eagerness for action has lent him a good eye for danger and opportunity alike, though his keen perceptions are often obfuscated by quickly drawn and stubbornly held conclusions. Bold and brave, Robert is easily enticed by the riskiest endeavors.

Despite the thoroughness of his education, Robert is a hands-on learner who has honed his skills through trial and error. He relies more on adaptability and instinct than his knowledge and experience, and is quite decisive when the occasion calls for quick thinking. Though reasonably rational and open-minded, he often falls prey to his own idealistic and romanticized view of the world.

His natural affability is frequently at odds with a strong sense of competition. Robert always feels the need to prove his worth - not only to others, but to himself. Should he find himself undeserving of a reward, he will strive to earn it retroactively. His ambitions, however, are seldom beyond his reach, and never intended to come at the expense of others. His loyalties are held sacred, though they are not always apparent; Robert rarely hesitates to question figures of authority, even as he readily complies with their demands.

Early Life
In the third moon of the year 410 AC, the Keeper of the Gates welcomed his firstborn into the world. At an early age, the child’s boundless energy became a nuisance for kin and courtiers alike. His ferocity tempered only by the calmer presence of his cousin Godric, a boy of the same age who was destined to become the Lord of the Eyrie.

Robert was a capable student, but ultimately inattentive to his studies. His knack for mischief and a thirst for adventure set an example that was often followed by his siblings and cousins, and Artys’ poor attempts at discipline routinely failed to rein him in. The boy found structure only through boyish aspirations: Robert was infatuated with tales of knightly valor, and developed a sense of responsibility by serving his father as a page.

Heart's Home
At the age of eleven, he was granted the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest knights in the realm’s recent history. Robert arrived at Heart’s Home in 421 AC, emboldened by the honor of squiring under the legendary Ser Brynden Corbray, who had experience as both a Kingsguard and a Winged Knight.

He was disappointed to discover that the aging man was no longer quite the warrior he used to be - but what he had lost in physical might he had gained in wisdom. It was Brynden who at last instilled discipline into the young Robert Arryn, and who taught him that there was much more to knighthood than the sword and the lance. Brynden Corbray's lessons broadened his perspective, and the hard work he demanded was a humbling experience.

Situated in the lowlands of the Vale, Heart's Home gave Robert an opportunity to explore a much different environment. He spent his free time riding through the forests, and occasionally ventured out toward the Fingers. It was in that direction that he performed his first truly heroic deed. In 427 AC, during the Blue Winter, he scouted out a bandit encampment in the Snakewood. After reporting their whereabouts to the Lynderlys, he helped several of their men apprehend the outlaws. In recognition of his actions, Brynden Corbray named Robert a knight.

Champion of the Gates
The newly-minted Ser Robert returned home to the Gates of the Moon, where his father insisted that his education remained incomplete. Lessons in statesmanship and castle defense were imposed upon the young knight as Artys revealed his hopes that one of his sons might succeed him as Keeper. Robert's initial reluctance was replaced with enthusiasm when his younger brother, Jason, revealed his own potential, and a friendly rivalry provided both with ample motivation.

Robert's return coincided with a visit from Prince Baelor and Lady Visenya, but he had already picked up on his father's wariness of the royal family; like many in the Vale, he admired Saera but considered her an exception to the rule. As others took delight in their distinguished company, Robert kept his interactions with the royals to a minimum.

Artys Arryn had carefully managed his holding's finances throughout the Blue Winter, and when spring returned, he decided to spend the surplus on a celebration. A small, regional tourney was held at the Gates of the Moon in 429 AC, and though the Keeper had not meant to exploit the opportunity to glorify his own line, it was Robert who emerged as the champion of the melee.

The early years of Robert's adulthood were characterized by frequent travel throughout the Vale. He often led scouting parties up into the mountains, and paid regular visits to Gulltown. Though he was at first welcomed by his maternal kin of House Grafton, he took great offense to Lord Gerold's worship of R'hllor. His open criticism of his cousin soured his standing with the Graftons, and he found himself spending more time with the Gulltown branch of his own house. The city also introduced Robert to many of the thrills of youth; with the friends he made among merchant families, he indulged in every variety of debauchery that Gulltown had to offer.

Brotherhood
The outbreak of the Second Hammer Uprising came as no surprise to the Keeper of the Gates, who had anticipated great unrest since he first heard news of the Great Synod of Lannisport and the Silver Wedding. Local levies were raised to prepare for the possibility of Warsmith incursions into the Vale, but Robert was not content to wait.

In 433 AC, he learned of an opening in the Brotherhood of Winged Knights. Already a respected knight in his own right, Robert was easily admitted into their prestigious order. At first too cocky for his comrades' liking, he eventually learned to respect his brothers as equals. Whereas Artys had taught him to be a decisive leader, the Winged Knights taught Robert to be a loyal follower.

For the first two years, Robert's service was rather uneventful. He traveled throughout the Vale, looking out for bandit encampments and incursions from what few mountain clansmen still dared to challenge civilized men. Owing to its impassable perimeter, the Vale was largely insulated from the Hammer Uprising, but Robert Arryn nevertheless encountered their ilk. On the other side of the mountains, along the shore of the Bay of Crabs, he engaged in a few skirmishes with the Warsmiths, eventually driving them into the Riverlands.

Gulltown