Viserys Dayne

Born in 421 to Arthur Dayne, Lord of High Hermitage and his wife, The Volante, Lady Rhaella Dayne. With the death of his father in late 438, Viserys is the current Lord of High Hermitage.

Appearance and Character
Standing a respectable 5ft 10, Viserys has inherited much from his Valyrian ancestry. His eyes are purple with a faint tint of blue. Long locks of silvery blond hair that glows platinum in the sunlight

Early in life, Viserys would have been described as a bookish and shy, but well-meaning, even if a bit clumsy. This soft exterior would be molded into the man he is today. No longer was there the boy who playfully ran the dusty roads of High Hermitage, who sat under trees reading poetry, and saw the world through rose-colored glasses. Instead of rose a man fitting of the environment he grew up in. Callous like the sands of Dorne he is already ready and willing to fight. Like sand in a storm, his mood can rapidly shift leading to what can be seen in hindsight as rash actions. His brush with death left him terrified of the thought of being swept away, wanting to be remembered in greatness like the heroes he read in his books when he was a boy.

His single mindedness serves both as his greatest strength and weakness, while it inspires him to be the best he can possibly be in his fields of interest, namely those of a martial pursuit, it limits him in expanding his horizons. Even despite his sometimes brash personality, Viserys can still be a very welcoming man. Believing greatly in the values of meritocracy he rarely distinguishes between low or high born, believing that if they are of a good character they both deserve equal respect. He values honesty the most, having a strong distaste for flatters and webspinners. Simply put if you are so ashamed that you do not believe your actions can be honestly stated to your peers, you should do something else. Contrary to his Free City style of upbringing, Viserys has grown to love his Dornish homeland. He views the protection of Dorne as his most important duty in life. To state his beliefs in a short phrase: duty, family, homeland.

However, the scars of childhood sink deeper than the scars on his face. His shows of strength and bravery are genuine but they can be weakly held. On the outside there is the prime image of all he seeks to be but deep on the inside, so deep that Viserys himself pretends that he isn't there anymore, buried the muscle and armor still sits the scared boy he was in his youth.

Foundations Built on Sand:
House Dayne of High Hermitage had greatly degenerated under Viserys’ father. A man better fit as a sellsword than a lord, the late Arthur Dayne could not be less fit for his name. More often found brawling in local taverns or whoring in brothels rather than home raising his family or managing his lands. Unfortunately, he wasn't completely devoid of talent. When sober he could put his considerable talents for charisma on display, it was this skill that his entire family was built on. The women who would become Rhaella Dayne was originally of a wealthy Volanti merchant family fallen on hard times. A beautiful woman of strong Valyrian descent, she was won over by Arthur Dayne with false promises of being the wife of a Great Westerosi Lord. As with the best of lies, it was a lie built on truths. The name of House Dayne was one known well in the land of Essos, Arthur just “forgot” to mention it was House Dayne of High Hermitage, not Starfall. She learned of the difference far too late and within a few months of arriving would be pregnant with Viserys. Initially, she tried to make the best of life, the isolated and destitute High Hermitage being crushingly boring for a lady used to the life and luxury of the Free Cities. This, combined with her husband's blatant infidelity, Rhaella would have little to do but dote on the infant Viserys and mournfully go through her old clothes and belongings from her previous life.

Flower of Youth (421 A.C. - 433 A.C.)
It was in this setting that Viserys would spend his early life in, an absent and uncaring father and an increasingly unstable, but still caring mother. The maternal affection shown to him could often verge on obsession. Being initially heavily spoiled with what few luxuries she had left of the free Free Cities, Viserys would spend his early life more a child of the Free Cities lost in the lands of Dorne than a child of Dorne. Everything from clothing to attitude, to the language of Bastard Valyrian was imparted onto the child. The overbearingness of his mother combined with the near complete apathy of his father led him to be overly trusting and shy, lacking confidence to create his own path, more akin to a puppy than a Dayne.

By 8 years old his mother became increasingly more distant, promoting Viserys to engage in a last attempt to gain the attention of his father, the young Viserys would try taking up the sword. In a humiliating display, he was soundly defeated by the squires of High Hermitage. When hearing of his son's failure his father did nothing, completely uninterested in the affairs of his family. His mother was momentarily roused from her stupor to comfort him but would quickly slink back into the fantasy she was creating for herself. This event, combined with the now nearly complete absence of both parents greatly amplified his insecurities, his only reprieve being the few books and poems he could find and the holds kitchens. The only event of any significance for the next two years was the birth of his brother, a brother who even than Viserys suspected he was only half related to.

The Fires of War (434 A.C. - 435 A.C.)
As religious tensions flared across Westeros the conflict between the followers of the Red God and The Seven would slowly crept its way into Dorne. When it did reach the baked lands of Dorne it did it was like a powder keg. The Vulture King and other groups of The Seven extremists began combating the followers of the Red God throughout the region, especially those in High Hermitage as Lord Arthur Dayne was more than content to seize the assets of the deceased followers than impose law and order. It was then at the Council of Skyreach was called. A great assembly of the Stony Lords, importantly excluding the Daynes of Starfall. While having little genuine interest in the religious conflict, Lord Arthur Dayne was very interested in the exclusion of his rival branch, seeing it as an opportunity to seize the greatest prize of all, Starfall. Fainting disinterest, the Lord waited for an offer of a more material quality, one which he got in spades when the Vulture King promised Starfall itself.

It was at this point that something unexpected happened. Being in the center of one of the greatest persecutions of their faith, even if it was more so due to the Lord’s lack of caring to stop it than official policy, the remaining and desperate R’hilorists turned to one of the few options they had left at their disposal to turn the tide. Sacrifice.  The ceremony was prepared, the remaining faithful were gathered, all that was needed was of someone of sufficient blood to be the victim. They wouldn’t have to look far, however, as the perfect opportunity rested in Lord Arthur Dayne’s son, Viserys. Being the son of a lord, combined with both the blood of Valyria and House Dayne made the now 12-year-old Viserys an optimal target for the cultists. The trap was sprung less than a week later. While sitting under a tree reading the young Viserys was approached by several Red Robed figures, before he knew what was happening he was gagged and captured. His pleas for help came out as muffled cries as he went limp from fear. After a short time, they reached the ritual site. A circle of robed figures surrounded a great flame, chants to the God R’hilor, begging him to lead them to victory echoed across the room as Viserys watched in wide-eyed horror. It was then the cult leader called to lead forward the sacrifice. He was tied to a stake hanging over the fire, like a pig over a roast. He made no move as the cult leader pulled out a knife, as the knife pressed against his cheek all Viserys could do was stare wide-eyed into the flames making no move at all, paralyzed. As the knife slid across his face he made no scream, no sound at all. The cult leader stopped once he reached the eyebrow, only narrowly missing the eye. He paused for a moment, waiting until a drop of blood formed and fell into the flame. As the blood heat the scorching surface of the flame, the flame burst with a new life, it roared and grew, powered by the blood of Valyria, it grew to the point that it nearly reached Viserys’ scared face. The cultists cheered, proclaiming the R’hilor was pleased with the offering but still desired more. They began lowering the stake which the young Dayne hang on, inch by inch coming closer to the fires of their God. It was only the intervention of Dayne soldiers that prevented this fate. Quickly overpowering the lightly armed cultists they freed Viserys, while he may have been saved physically, mentally the damage was deeper than the scar that now cut across his face, a scar that he would hide under layers of bandages that covered his eye.

He would find little comfort in his parents, his father preparing to march to Starfall while his mother had long since left her lucidity behind. He would spend the remaining days in the Hermitage haunted. A great red Spectre stalking him throughout the halls of the keep. He ran and hid but that only seemed to delay it. It’s movements followed by his very scar which seem to burn with the heat of the fire that nearly killed him whenever the specter approached. He rarely dared to go outside fearing that without the guards of the Hermitage nearby he would be consumed. It was then he was told that he was to march to Starfall with the house levies. Under the command of Ser Garibald Dayne the forces of High Hermitage made their way into Starfall, only to betray the young Daynes of Starfall. It was then the persecution of the Red Faith began. It brought the squeamish Viserys’ little comfort to watch the execution of the follows of the Red God, whose deaths were extensively justified in his own name but for brief moments their deaths did seem to make the Spectre, which had followed him all the way to Starfall, subside. The War of Stone and Sky would continue on like this, being 13 Viserys would take very little part, especially with the trauma of his own near-death still dominating his mind.

It was much to his own surprise when his father ordered the family to God’s Grace to watch, as he put it, the ascension of Dayne of High Hermitage to Starfall. The family watched from a safe distance as their houses forces were led by Ser Garibald Dayne. Alas, there was no victory that day. The man who would become the Black Scourge, Aerion Targaryen, rained down fire from his great beast upon the armies of the Vulture King. In one few swoop, the rebellion was ended and his father’s dreams of advancements were gone, but all he could see were the thousands of charred remains of those caught by the dragon’s flames.

The Specter of Peace (435 A.C. - 436 A.C.)

Despite being fully pardoned for their actions in the war, High Hermitage was in a tenuous state. The majority of the army and treasury were lost or destroyed, the lands were being ravaged by bandits, and any interest Arthur Dayne had in management disappeared along with his occupation of Starfall. Viserys was in no batter a place. The specter that haunted him so came back stronger than ever. With the fury of a dragon, it followed him throughout the halls of the keep, hardly ever giving him rest. It was on a stormy night when his final concentration took place. It never used to come so close, it always disappears before it could close in, his scar burned, it felt as though half of his face on being burned off, it sunk into his very soul. Taking one horrified step after another until he was pushed outside of his room to the small deck hanging off the side. There was no escaping it this time, Viserys through himself to the railing, maybe there is one way out. He looked down to the ground beneath, a three story drop… Slowly pushing himself off, he closed his eyes, just a few more inches… It was then he felt scorching heat, but not the same feeling as his scar. He opened his eyes but he was no longer over his balcony, no, he was once again hanging over the cultists’ flame, inch by inch being lowered into the fire. There was no help this time, no guards to save him, no mother to comfort him, just him and him alone. As he lowered into the flames he thought of death, of the emptiness of it. He would be forgotten, his ashes blown away in the wind, his legacy drawn in the sand rather than carved in stone. He would be nothing. No. He thought to himself, Not like this, not now, not by the hands of another. He began to struggle, he shook and screamed. He thrashed about on his stake. With the fury of a dragon and the power of a sandstorm he thrashed and raged against the dying light until, at last, the stake fell away from the fire. He then awoke from his vision, a piece of the railing had fallen under him, it was now just a piece of rock in his hand. The demon was now halfway across his room, it’s flaming eyes burning bright as the cultists’ flame, but the flames of the Red God were not as bright of that of an awakened dragon. The stone flew from his pudgy hands, hurling it’s way to the specter that had haunted Viserys for so long. It went straight through it and landed on the other side of the room. In Fact, the specter seemed to disappear as soon as the stone left his fingers. He walked up to where it had once stood. Where was it? It was hard to see with only one eye. Carefully taking off the bandages that covered his once burning scare he looked down with both eyes. It had never been real… It was a figment… An illusion! A summon of a mind with no control over itself, of a person who’s entire life is out of his own control. No, was out of his control, For the first time in what felt like his entire life, he laughed.

Phoenix (436 A.C. - 438 A.C.)
With a new purpose to life came a new Viserys. The shy, plump, boy who spent his days reading under trees and stuffing his face in the kitchens was replaced by martial determination. His days could now be found in the yards of the keep spear in hand, challenging the same boys who had humiliated him all those years ago. He wouldn't always come out victorious, however, his anger and frustration could be seen o the gutted practices dummies and vigorous horse rides across his lands. It was on one of these rides he would meet Darius Sand, his half brother, a bastard of one of his father's many escapades. Despite being a year younger the young Darius had already proven to have a sharp mind. Years of working caravan jobs through the rugged mountains of Dorne instilling him an ingrained knowledge of logistics and management while years fending off bandits giving him some skill in the saddle. Despite setback after setback, he would never slip back into apathy and as the weeks then months went by he would conquer. His new skills would be put to the test at 16 years old. His father’s failings as a Lord would finally catch up to him as a large raid marched struck High Hermitage. The holdings levies, still crippled from their encounter with The Black Scourge, were powerless to stop them. Not willing to sit by while High Hermitage was sacked Viserys sprung into action. Gathering together those he had trained with over the years along with any remainin g levies or otherwise capable men he built his “army”, many of these same men would make up the core of the later formed Companion Cavalry.

Using shock tactics to outmaneuver the loo- heavy bandits he won some initial victories and regained a semblance of control over High Hermitage, it was then he met up with Darius, who, along with several caravan guards had held up in an abandoned fort. It was Darius who warned Viserys against immediately pursuing the bandits explaining that there were much larger groups waiting in ambush. Viserys, still high off his previous victories nearly ignored that advice and it was only after much persuasion that he was talked down with Darius promising to join his cavalry.

With Darius quickly being installed as Viserys chief advisor the campaign against the invading raiders took a new strategy, the war of shock would evolve into the war of maneuver and positioning. Pitched battles became lightning strikes on raiding parties and supply lines, deep penetration attacks would harry the rears of raider columns, and new cavalry tactics would be used to maximize efficiency of movement. The original force of militia cavalry would evolve into an elite force of mounted warriors while additional recruits and even former bandits would make up the wider ranks. After a year and a half of near constant campaigning, the lands of High Hermitage had nearly all been pacified. All except a final citadel tucked into the mountains.

It was a hard assault, the tactics that had won so many times before were nearly useless against such a position if it weren't for Darius' logistical genius they almost certainly would have starved during the long siege. It was on one assault that Viserys himself would be badly injured by a slash across the chest. It was while recovering that the relationship between the two brothers bloomed into something much more. Despite Viserys’ desire to attempt more assaults Darius, who now had more influence than ever, pressed patience. This advice would once again prove the right decision as several days later the exhausted garrison of the left gate surrendered and opened the gate. Lover at this side Viserys and his men stormed the fort putting n quick end to the siege. It was while capturing the command building that Viserys would find the s- called “bandit king”. Sitting upon a hide and skull throne was none other than Ser Garibald Dayne, the same commander who had fled after his defeat at God’s Grace. In a final one on one duel they fought. It was a hard fight, several times over he nearly fell. Despite the pleads of Darius and several of his men, Viserys would insist on continuing the fight single-handedly, a fight he would emerge victorious from.

In Times of Peace (438 A.C. - today)
With the end of the bandit wars came something High Hermitage had lacked for nearly half a decade, peace. While Lord Arthur Dayne was Lord in title that was about to extent of his involvement in running the affairs of state, His disinterest would be so far as to not be present when his wife died giving birth to “their” daughter, a daughter who was almost certainly a bastard.

With the absence of his father, Viserys, with the assistance of Darius would run High Hermitage. When Lord Arthur finally died a year later the difference could hardly be noticed. He mourned less for his father than he did his mother, in fact, he was quite relieved that this living humiliation to the Dayne name was gone from the world. Now in these times of peace, Viserys spends most of his time doing his typical Lordly duties and acting as a foster parent to his younger siblings.