House Westerling

House Westerling of The Crag is a House in The Westerlands, they are in the northern part of the region.They are often considered one of the principle bannermen of their overlord, House Lannister. Their sigil is six shells on a sand-coloured field. Their words are: Honor, not Honors.

Like many of the old Westerlands houses, they share traits with the mighty Lannisters. Fair haired and pleasing to the eye, they stand out in a crowd.

Old History
The Westerlings are a proud house with a noble history, they have frequently married into House Lannister, both before and after they were Kings of The Rock.

The person credited with being the founder of the house was a man known as Corlos Cragstrider, he changed his name to Corlos Westerling after being granted lordship. A book known as The Epic of Corlos Cragstrider was created by a Maester several centuries after his death, the book chronicles the events of his life.

During the year 15AC, Gawen Westerling - who was then Lord of The Crag - decided to start a knightly order known as The Grand Order of Corlos. Although it was large and formidable back then, nowadays it is but a shadow of its former self.

In the year 47AC, Jeyne Westerling - a renowned beauty - became one of the what was to be many wives of King Maegor I Targaryen.

Ser Harold Westerling joined the Kingsguard under the rule of King Viserys I Targaryen and he eventually rose to the esteemed position of Lord Commander. Shortly after the Dance of the Dragons, Lord Roland Westerling was one of the original members of the Council of Seven - a group of seven regents of Aegon III - although he did not serve his full term.

During the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion, House Westerling threw their lots behind House Lannister as Lord Tywin brutally crushed dissent.

House Westerling have ruled The Crag for as long as people know, although it is not as prosperous as it once was. They were once a rich and powerful house with gold mines overflowing and a castle furnished with the finest of luxuries. They have sold some of their lands in return for meager funds, making them a bit lesser in terms of power, although they still have some influence.

The War of Five Kings
During The War of Five Kings, the Westerlings were in an odd situation. They fought with Lord Tywin Lannister against the rebels, notably House Stark, Renly Baratheon, and Stannis Baratheon. The Crag was taken at night by the forces of House Stark, but Robb Stark - the then King in the North - was injured by an arrow. Rolph Spicer - who had been defending The Crag - and Sybell Westerling secretly negotiated with Lord Tywin Lannister in return for marriages. They manipulate a young and impressionable girl - Jeyne Westerling - to comfort Robb from his wounds. They end up sleeping with each other, and Robb marries her to preserve her honor. House Westerling then joins House Stark in the War of Five Kings - although they only send 50 soldiers.

Sybell secretly gives Jeyne something she says will make her fertile, although it actually prevents her from being able to get pregnant.

Robb's marriage to Jeyne breaks his marriage contract with House Frey, he had promised to marry a daughter of Lord Walder Frey. Sybell, Jeyne, Eleyna, and Rollam stay at Riverrun while Robb Stark goes to The Twins - along with Raynald Westerling - for the marriage of Edmur Tully, supposedly to mend the breach of contract.

Robb Stark is murdered by the Freys and Boltons at The Twins, in an event later known as the Red Wedding. Raynald was wounded, jumped into the Green Fork, and was never seen again. It is presumed he drowned, or succumbed to wound rot.

House Westerling didn't do much for the rest of the war, mainly keeping to themselves, trying to nurse their wounds. Jeyne was distraught at the death of Robb, and was never the same again. Sybell tried to convince her it was for the better, that Robb was a traitor that didn't love her anyway. She did not believe her, and eventually threw herself from the top of The Crag, ending her life before it had really began

Second War of Conquest
House Lannister during the Second War of Conquest was broken and divided, infighting was common and tensions ran high. This led to temporary reluctance among House Westerling, yet, it did not last for long. They viewed Tyrion as a monster born from the deepest of the Seven Hells, so they sided with Cersei. Cersei, in the end, lost, yet they meekly bowed to the new Targaryen rule, and voiced public support for Tyrek Lannister when he was named the new Lord of Casterly Rock.

House Westerling was forgiven for their role in the Red Wedding, and they were given no penalties.

The WInter of The Wolves
During The Winter of Wolves House Westerling was in an odd predicament. They were poor, and although their land was decently fertile, unable to grow many crops. They sustained themselves through the grace and charitability of House Lannister. House Westerling did fairly well, few people starved, although they were hungry enough to be uncomfortable to say the least.

The War in the Narrows
House Westerling went along with House Lannister during The War in the Narrows. The shells of Westerling were oft seen beside the proud lion of Casterly Rock.

The Red Reaving
Some in the Westerlands had hoped that the threat of the Iron Islands in terms of reaving was over, people began to treat Euron Crow's Eyes reaving as the past, the Iron Islands were better now, they said. Yet, alas, this was not true. Dagon the Skinner arrived and spread terror throughout the Westerlands, and Westerling fought with all their might to throw him back into the dark place he came from.

The Summer Sickness
The Westerlands were affected horribly by the Summer Sickness. Lannisport in particular was devastated because of its trade. House Westerling - in a panic - closed almost all entry to The Crag in an attempt to protect its smallfolk. Some people still got sick, but it was relatively well off.

The Southern Schism
The smallfolk of The Crag are unusually pious, as are the Westerlings themselves. Thus, both were drawn to the words of The Starry Septon.

The Mead Summer
After a troubling recent history - war, death, famine - The Mead Summer was a welcome respite. The lands surrounding The Crag had a bountiful harvest, and the usually meager mines had amazing output. Many attirbuted this to The Seven, saying that the loyalty and good faith of House Westerling had finally been rewarded.

The Halfblood Incursion
The Westerlands - including the Crag - were rocked by The Halfblood Incursion. Although The Crag is fairly easy to defend, its position on its coast made it an easier target than would be thought. Many a pitched battle was fought outside and on the walls of The Crag, and the invaders were turned back each time, although with heavy losses the broke the hearts of many.

The Hammer Uprising
With the death of Brynden Hammer came discontent among the smallfolk of The Crag. Although no outright rebellion happened, work productivity went down.

The Great Famine
=== The period of hunger that swept across the Westerlands did not spare The Crag. Although House Lannister spent freely gold from its coffers, people were still hungry, and people were still discontent. They survived, however, and are better off. ===

The War of the Three Thieves
When the king requested arms from House Lannister and the Westerlands, House Westerling gladly went along with their liege lord. The six shells of House Westerling were often spotted in the battles among the Lannister fleet.

The Scarlet Winter
Although The Crag sits along the coast, there is no port. The partial freezing of ocean waters affected fisherman, but that was about it. Heavy snows piled upon The Crag and it seemed that daily, The Westerlings hired men to clear it. It was a never-ending battle.

Members of House Westerling
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