Galad Dagar



Galad Dagar is currently Commander of the bannermen loyal to House Hunter in the Vale of Aryn; he also serves as the House's man-at-arms. He was born a commoner and knighted Ser by Artys Hunter for his aid in securing Longbow Hall during the Battle of the Long Morning. Galad is known for his strategic mind and is a respected tactician within the Vale. Many who have met Galad Dagar note that he is a stoic man of principles. He is a leader of men who has a reputation for being both evenhanded and ruthless; he is charged with keeping the King’s peace in and around Longbow Hall. Although he carries out this duty with unrelenting meticulousness, he is still not fully trusted by the men of the Vale due to his Stormland's origin.

Appearance
Galad stands just shy of 6 feet tall and has an athletic build. He is in his early 40s with black hair that shows a light dusting of snow with age. He is in good shape, but his life experiences have left him with visual injuries. Galad has a long scar running down the length of his right forearm that culminates in matching circular scar tissue on the underside and top of his hand, which he attributes to a spear puncture. He is also missing his right eye, an injury he conceals by wearing an eye patch; this injury was the result of torture at the hands of House Wyl of the Stormlands. Galad is usually garbed in any combination of greys, black, and browns. Galad’s stride conveys an unwavering determination accompanied by a lifetime of combat experience.

History
Gald Dagar’s story is one of hardship overcome by sheer will. He was born near Mistwood, located in the southern rainwood of the Stormland's Cape Wrath. Galad grew up an orphan in the care of Ser Donnagan Mira, acting master-at-arms to House Mertyn. From a young age Galad was schooled in weapons and battle tactics, often harshly and without remorse by Ser Donnagan. At the age of 13, Galad killed his first man in armed combat – a Dornish outlaw simply known as Mallar – while riding in a hunting party with Ser Donnagan. Galad learned valuable lessons during this period in his life; not only did his skill with a sword improve, but he also learned how to remain calm when face-to-face with dangerous people.

At the age of 17, Galad was captured by the forces of House Wyl, a rival house of the Mertyns. While captive for 5 months, Galad was physically and psychologically tortured for intelligence on Mertyn troop movements and whereabouts. Some speculate that Galad was captured as the result of an act of betrayal from a trusted member of House Mertyn; these speculations have never been supported with material evidence. While this period of capture by House Wyl had life-long effects on Galad, one of the most prominent physical indicators of this hardship is the lack of his right eye, which is now concealed by an eye patch. The details of his escape are not fully known, but two Wyl guards were found murdered in its aftermath and a small caché of gold was rumored missing.

Galad’s travels took him across Westeros as a sell sword until he met Artys Hunter, seat of House Hunter in the Vale of Aryn. Galad was unlike any man Artys had encountered, who was intrigued by the man's blending of cunning, resilience, and when necessary, brutality. It became clear that Galad’s skills could be of use to the ambitious young nobleman, who then took Galad as a mercenary in his service. During their tenure together, Galad helped Artys secure power in Longbow Hall, an accomplishment that saw him knighted Ser. While Galad’s skill with a sword kept him alive to this point, his aptitude for battle command and strategy distinguished him among the ranks. Galad would go on to be promoted to acting Commander of House Hunter forces. Over the years, Galad has led several successful campaigns against Vale mountain clans and rival forces of House Hunter. One particular battle contributes to Galad’s reputation as a pragmatic man and centers on his willingness to sacrifice 50 men at arms. In this encounter, Galad sent 50 men into a battle scenario against enemy forces that he knew to be hopeless. When defeated, these dead men gave the impression that Galad’s forces were routed. Unbeknownst to the enemy, while these 50 men fought and died, the rest of Galad's forces successfully achieved a superior position; they later slaughtered the enemy forces in totality. Most survivors view the sacrifice of the 50 as necessary, but reservations remain among a few. A man of House Hunter once recalled Galad walking amongst the dead and witnessed him briefly conversing with a fatally wounded enemy soldier. When asked what was discussed, Galad simply replied, “I told him we all wish for a better farewell, but in the end we all will be just as disappointed”.

Relations
Galad Dagar has never taken a wife and claims to be looking for the right woman. Other than Artys Hunter, it is not known if Galad has any close friends.