Bryndemere Vance

"''Tell me, My Lord, why would I purposefully sabotage my own family, even if I share no blood with you? All I do is for my family. What is honor compared to the warmth of a newborn son in your arms?" -Bryndemere to Androw Tully''Bryndemere Vance is the son of the late Lord of Atranta, Laswell Vance, and his wife, Lady Rohanne Vypren, the husband of Lady Cassana Vance, father of Daeron Vance, the Warden of the Blackwater, and Lord of Harrenhal. He assumed lordship of Harrenhal after his marriage to Cassana, merging the distant lines once more, and settling the succession crisis at hand with the death of Lord Perceon Vance, former Hand of the King.

Appearance and Character
Tall, thin, and slightly gangly, Bryndemere is a wisp of a man, with long, slight limbs and a regal, unassuming posture. He has dark, midnight blue eyes, with a long, thick mane of raven black hair, usually tied off in some fashion or another behind his head. Bryndemere has hard, defined features, with high cheekbones, a long, aquiline nose, and a sharp chin and jawline. He bears no marks of age nor combat.

Bryndemere typically dresses in dark colors, blacks and navy blues and violets, chased with silver and well adorned, preferring opulence over function. Though he carries a blade usually, he has not used one outside of the training yard in years.

At heart, Bryndemere is unemotional, removed, unattached, and logical in his thoughts and actions. A clever manipulator, he is adept at working in the shadows, and thrives on intrigue and subterfuge. Above all else, though, he strives to keep his family safe, his wife and newborn son in particular. His ultimate downfall is his impatience; after all, no good spymaster lacks the ability to time the dagger in one's back. He is adaptable and learns from his mistakes, making him a dangerous person to cross twice.

Recent Events
In 438 AC, following the tragic deaths of the past couple years, Bryndemere and Cassana prepare for the future, and it is found out that Cassana was with child, thus securing the family line of House Vance of Harrenhal. After the Hand of the king, Lord Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, Aerys Velaryon, declares himself thusly in a letter sent to all the lords of the realm, as well as announcing the date of the assembly of a Grand Council to decide the succession, Bryndemere calls his banners to assemble at Harrenhal, and calls a smaller council of his own, comprised of his fellow Riverlords. For his productivity, he is awarded the title Warden of the Blackwater by Lord Androw Tully.

(For more: See Section 8.)

Background
Bryndemere was born in 416 AC, the second son of Lord Laswell Vance of Atranta and his lady wife, Rohanne Vypren. He was raised at Atranta with his siblings, his elder brother Theowyn, and his younger brother and sister, Byron and Victaria. He was always slow to make friends, due to his quiet, and cool nature. When he did talk to other children, he was short, waspish, and cruel, and found more joy in toying with his companions rather than playing the games that other children would to pass time. Bryndemere found more enjoyment from the companionship of animals than any other boy or girl his age, and would often help their household Maester, Agrivaine, tend the ravenry, birds being his favorite. Concerned with his fondness for manipulating the other children at Atranta, Laswell elected to send him elsewhere for the remainder of his minority, in the hopes that he might unlearn the unsavory habits he'd acquired.

Fostering at Wayfarer's Rest
At the age of ten, Bryndemere was sent as a page to Wayfarer's Rest, where he served under the distant branch of Vances ruling there until he was the age of sixteen, whereupon he returned to Atranta. Shortly after he returned home, he was betrothed to Amarei Butterwell, one of the dim-witted daughters of the Lord of Whitewalls, against his own will. The betrothal was cut short, however, when the unfortunate girl fell down a well, and broke her neck. By the time she had been retrieved from her shallow watered grave, her body had already begun to break down, but the black bruises on her arms were clear enough to see that she had not fallen, but been thrown.

Messy Marriages
Many had heard of Bryndemere's objections to his bride to be, about his disdain for her lack of wits and his will to marry as he saw fit, but Laswell would have none of it. Once her death was made public, though, is when the darker rumors began to circulate... that Bryndemere himself had orchestrated her death, or even perhaps thrown her himself. Though Laswell did his best to quell the rumors, it still remains a permanent scar on his secondborn's reputation, and worse yet, a scar on his own honor as a parent. It is unclear as to whether or not Bryndemere killed Amarei, and unclearer still if Laswell knew the truth of the matter, whatever that might be.

The Shadow of The Hand
Two years later, the first of a series of tragedies struck the ever increasing Vance Family, when Lord Perceon Vance, Hand of the King, and Lord of Harrenhal, died. He had been complaining of stomach pains upon waking that fateful morning, and fell violently ill by the afternoon. He was dead by the time the sun rose once more. His son having died years prior, his only remaining heir took the form of his granddaughter, Cassana Vance. Lord Laswell, as well as Lady Rohanne, along with Bryndemere and all his siblings attended his funeral at Harrenhal, where his pyre was burnt on the God's Eye, Laswell lighting it himself with the shot of a flaming arrow.

Four days after, Laswell announced, to the shock of all, Bryndemere in particular, that his second son would marry the last living heir of Perceon, Cassana, and merge their distant branches, revitalizing House Vance of Harrenhal and resolving the succession in one fell swoop. The two had only met once before, when his father had taken him to Harrenhal so as to speak with the late Hand of the King, but Bryndemere had only been eight at the time, and the two might as well have been strangers. Elated at the idea of becoming a lord in his own right, and not having to live in his brother's shadow for the rest of his life, however, Bryndemere gladly accepted the marriage, despite the small misgivings he had about his bride. As he remembered her, Cassana had been a quiet child too, though prone to fits of weeping and hysteria, which had annoyed Bryndemere to no end. Setting aside his doubts, the two were wed beneath the massive sprawling godswood of Black Harren's seat. While his family departed, there Bryndemere remained, as he got to know his newly acquired lands, and his newly acquired wife.

Death in the Family
Early in the year 438 AC, Lord Laswell Vance finally breathed his last. While hunting in the woods surrounding Atranta, he was beset upon by a band of roving outlaws. Though the late lord fought admirably, and slew several of his attackers, he caught a quarrel to the throat, and died nearly instantly, after being dragged from his horse. His squire managed to escape the carnage, and told the remaining Vances of what had happened. A raven was sent to Harrenhal, and Bryndemere rode out alone to Atranta immediately, riding all through the night to arrive the next day, haggard, but kept upright from the wrath that stirred within. Theowyn, with Bryndemere in tow, left in a black rage, the two taking thirty men at arms to scour the forests for their father's assassins. The remainder of the rogues were found within a day of the murder, and those that had managed to escape Laswell's blade were taken prisoner. Theowyn, still wracked with grief, was hastily made the Lord of Atranta, and after Bryndemere tortured confessions out of all of the offending peasants, sentenced them all to death by hanging. Their rotting corpses still remain outside the postern gates of Atranta as a warning to all brigands and would-be lawbreakers.

Their sorrows were far from over, however. For Byron, who had been fighting a winter chill he'd first gotten at the beginning of the infamous Four Year Winter, as it would later be known, suddenly took a turn for the worse, and perished within the moon's turn.

Quotes by Bryndemere
"'What was it that mother always used to say? 'Nothing good happens after midnight.'"-Thoughts of Bryndemere"Desmond Darry: 'Ser, if what you say is true; why did you not send on Aerion to Lord Androw or Lord Ambrose, instead of receiving him yourself. You said yourself that he went to you concerning a man who was a known fugitive. Why then, did you not take the Lord Frey captive, or alert someone else? Why did you keep my sister in her room, instead of letting her alert others?' ""Bryndemere: 'I am no Ser, My Lord, and you will respect me in my halls if you don't wish for such slander to become a reality.'"-Bryndemere and Desmond Darry

Timeline
416 AC - Born the second son of Laswell Vance and Rohanne Vypren.

417 AC - Brother Byron born.

418 AC - Sister Victaria born.

426 AC - Bryndemere sent to ward at Wayfarer's Rest.

429 AC - Victaria kidnapped on the road to Wayfarer's Rest to visit Bryndemere.

430 AC - Victaria returned to Atranta after half a year of negotiations with the kidnappers, Laswell having paid a heavy ransom for her release.

432 AC - Bryndemere returns to Atranta from Wayfarer's Rest. Betrothed to Amarei Butterwell, daughter of the Lord of Whitewalls.

433 AC - Amarei Butterwell dies. Victaria betrothed to Ser Alton Butterwell to prevent a breaking of good faith between the two houses.

435 AC - Perceon Vance dies; Laswell and Family attend his funeral at Harrenhal. Laswell arranges Bryndemere's marriage to Cassana Vance, the sole heir to Harrenhal. The two wed within the moon's turn, and Bryndemere ascends to Lordship over Harrenhal.

438 AC - Laswell Vance murdered by outlaws. Bryon dies later in the year of a winter chill.

439 AC - Cassana becomes pregnant with child. She later gives birth to a stillborn baby boy. While still unconscious, Bryndemere swaps the dead child with boy he kidnaps from a smallfolk couple in Lord Harroway's Town, presenting it to her as their own child, which they name Daeron.

Family
''Foreword: Bolded names indicate those that were lord of their respective house at some point or another. Italicized names indicate that the character is now deceased. (m.) denotes a marriage into the family.''
 * Davos Vance, the late Lord of Atranta, b.372 AC
 * (m.) Margot Rivers, dowager Lady of Atranta, (possibly) b.372 AC
 * Laswell Vance, the late Lord of Atranta, b.390 AC
 * (m.) Rohanne Vypren, wife of Laswell Vance, b. 390 AC
 * Theowyn Vance, Lord of Atranta, b. 409 AC
 * (m.) Rhialta Piper, Lady of Atranta, wife of Theowyn, b. 411 AC
 * Jon Vance, heir to Atranta b. 438 AC
 *  Bryndemere Vance, Lord of Harrenhal, b. 316 AC 
 * (m.) Cassana Vance, Lady of Harrenhal, b 418 AC
 * Byron Vance, third son of Laswell, b. 417 AC
 * Victaria Vance, daughter of Laswell, b. 418 AC

Skills
Attributes: Attractive, Sly

Meta: Post History (Updated Bi-Weekly)
''Foreword: This section includes a complete post/comment history with Bryndemere. I do this not only for other player's convenience, but also for my own. Please try and remember the rules of Meta-gaming of the sub, I don't want to have to remove this resource due to issues of players using information provided here they'd have no way of knowing in character.''

''Note: Some posts from other players will be listed here due to the relevance of them to the events that transpire in Bryndemere's story, or are otherwise motivations for a reactionary post. Usernames on Discord and Reddit will be provided in the breakdown.''

First Moon of 439 AC
The AdVANCEment of a Second Son: Bryndemere contemplates his new home in Harrenhal, his thoughts on his not-so-newlywed wife, Cassana, and more. Cassana intrudes upon his ruminations, and the two have a short heart-to-heart conversation, culminating in their realization she's pregnant. Celebration sex is had.

Third Moon of 439 AC
A Vance with Dragons: Bryndemere recieves the realm-wide raven from Aerys Velaryon, Hand of the King, and has a lengthy discussion over it with his own small council in Ser Dallis Shornhelm, High Steward of Harrenhal; Maester Demavend, and his maternal uncle, Ser Lucien Vypren, Quartermaster of Harrenhal. Cassana is present. Bryndemere sends a letter to all of the Lords and Ladies of the Riverlands, as well as a specially marked one bound for Dragonstone and Summerhall, for the eyes of the Summer Prince, Aerion Targaryen. The letters summon those mentioned to Harrenhal for a council, as he has deemed Lord Androw Tully too sluggish in action for his tastes. Back and forth correspondence follows in comments. Finally, Bryndemere summons the banners to Harrenhal, calling House Butterwell, House Vance of Atranta, House Roote, and House Ryger to arms. Androw Tully chastises him for the breach of command, but rewards his productivity with a new title; Warden of the Blackwater.

A Return to ReleVANCE: With the arrival of the Vance of Atranta forces at Harrenhal, Bryndemere recieves a letter sent at his brother Theowyn's behest, through the hands of his sister, Victaria. With the knowledge that Tully has openly called his own council and snubbed Bryndmere's, he begins plotting of his own out of spite. (Not in post; Bryndemere calls a spy order to Riverrun, successfully learning that Androw Tully met with Criston Lannister, and made a shaky pact of mutual defense.

A Game of CyVANCE: The Banners arrive at Harrenhal. Victaria Vance arrives with her brother's armies at Harrenhal, and is greeted by Bryndemere and Cassana. Rowena Darry arrives for the Great Council to represent her mother, Lady Amerei Darry, as do several lesser banners of Harrenhal. A few days of waiting results in naught but irritation on Bryndemere's part. The council begins with only Rowena Darry present, much to his embarrassment.

The ConniVANCE of the Hand: Bryndemere recieves word of the rumors involving Aerys Velaryon, Hand of the King, and the supposed rape of the sister of Symond Frey, half brother of Cassana and Lord of the Crossing. Seizing an opportunity, Bryndemere sits down to write two letters; one bound for King's Landing, to confirm his own belief in Symond's words, as well as to pledge his support to bringing the Hand of the King to justice; and the second to Casterly Rock, addressed to Tysane Lannister, in regards to Criston Lannister's presence at Riverrun. The contents involve both gentle condemnation of their association with Riverrun, as well as encouraging the Lannisters to take their support elsewhere; the final clause denotes an invitation to Harrenhal, that Lady Tysane might stop there on her way to the Great Council in King's Landing. Correspondence follows in comments. Tysane proposes a counter offer; that they speak at the Great Council, in person, which Bryndemere has no intention of attending for fear of delivering himself into the hands of Androw Tully inadvertently.

ObserVANCEs of the Mundane Variety: Bryndemere visits Lord Harroway's town at nightfall. While there, speaking with Lord Roote, he takes the opportunity to recruit three catspaws to his command, including the services of a particularly infamous smallfolk cutthroat by the name of Sharpleaf Pate. The three are brought back to Harrenhal, where they would be housed, trained, and kept waiting in the wings for Bryndemere's command.

The Pen and the Sword: (Player /u/sername: /u/Khain364 discord: alphaomega346#3109) Prince Aerion arrives at Dragonstone, and recieves the letter from Bryndemere. A letter is sent in response, telling of his arrival within the moon's turn.

Eclipse: (Player /u/sername: /u/Khain364 discord: alphaomega346#3109) Prince Aerion arrives at Harrenhal upon dragonback, with Symond Frey and Alyssa Arryn in tow. Bryndmere, awed by the presence of the dragon prince immediately swears his fealty to Aerion, to support his claim on the Iron Throne.

An Acute AdVANCEage: Bryndemere, growing restless in Harrenhal and unsure of what the future holds, elects to ride for King's Landing, in order to attend the Great Council, apprehension consuming him. As he departs, he names Victaria Warden of the Blackwater in his stead until he returns, and charges her to protect his pregnant wife, Cassana, with her life.

Fourth Moon of 439 AC
Compromat: (Player /u/sername: CrimsonCriston discord: Lann#6911) Criston Lannister forwards Bryndemere's letters with Tysane Lannister to Androw Tully, revealing part of his machinations to undermine the authority of Riverrun.

Fifth Moon of 439 AC
The Great Council of 439 AC - Opening Feast (Gardens): After arriving in King's Landing, Bryndemere makes haste for the Red Keep, where he promptly sends word to Lady Tysane to meet him in the Gardens. The two have a lengthy conversation, where a tenuous friendship is forged- one that Bryndemere hopes to use to his advantage later down the line, glad that his curiosity got the better of him and forced him to the capital. He leaves shortly after the conversation, disinterested in the proceedings of the Council itself.

Dragon Rising: Bryndemere, having arrived home at Harrenhal once more, contemplates his situation. After a while, he sits down to write another two letters. The first to Tysane Lannister, informing her of Garlan Tyrell's knowledge that Criston Lannister had set in motion a plot to stage assault on the Northern lands in the Reach, as well as wishing her luck in the war to come. He then sends another letter to Pinkmaiden, filling it with blatant lies about Androw Tully in an effort to convince Lord Trevas Piper, his brother-by-law, to bring his levies to Harrenhal for an extra layer of protection from any sort of surprise threat that might come, as his paranoia grows the longer he lacks any news from Riverrun. After, he and Cassana spend some more quality time together, trying to settle his nerves.

Sixth Moon of 439 AC
A Ghost to Watch Over Me: (Player /u/sername: bosscascade8 discord: bosscascade8#9002) Edmund Vance, Lord of Wayfarer's Rest and distant cousin to Bryndemere arrives at Harrenhal, having lived with Bryndemere while he was warded at the aforementioned keep. The two share a quick reunion, before Bryndemere offers his sister, Victaria Vance, in marriage to the aging and still unwed Lord; Edmund accepts.

Teaching Salmon a Lesson: (Player /u/sername: AbbadonsDeathcap discord: ApplePioneer#4927) Androw Tully, Lord Paramount of the Trident and Lord of Riverrun arrives at Harrenhal with Dacey Bracken, and Desmond and Rowena Darry. With his retinue in attendance, as well as Bryndemere Vance, Edmund Vance, Victaria Vance, Cassana Vance, Alton Butterwell, and Trevas Piper, he speaks with Bryndemere about his suspicions about the Lord of Harrenhal's sedition. The two speak openly about their relationships with certain Lannisters, and Bryndemere covers his tracks by lying about the intent of Prince Aerion and Symond Frey's arrival at Harrenhal moons prior. After a long conversation, Bryn manages to make a tenuous agreement with Androw Tully, which requires him to ward all of his future children at Riverrun, as well as cede all rights to the arranging of their squiring, serving, and betrothals in their age of majority. After, a small feat is held in celebration.

Eighth Moon of 439 AC
The Curse of Harrenhal: Cassana gives birth to a stillborn child. Bryndemere, in the midst of a mental breakdown, rides for Lord Harroway's Town with 50 men and Robin Lovegood in tow, with ill intent in heart.

Serpents: Bryndemere and Robin arrive at Lord Harroway's Town. After a small search, Bryndemere comes across a Blacksmith and his wife, with a baby just two days old in tow. In order to get them to come with him back to Harrenhal, he lures them with the lie that he wishes for the smith to come work at the Harrenhal forges. The two ride back, the couple in tow, while Bryndemere holds their child, per their permission. Though, they don't know it's the last thing they'll ever see.

[https://old.reddit.com/r/awoiafrp/comments/bolpuf/happier/? Happier]: Bryndemere and Robin return to Harrenhal, the travel weary couple in tow, as well as Bryn's newly acquired 'son'. He has them put to death, and orders Robin to dispose of their corpses, while Bryndemere makes his way to Cassana to present the babe to her upon her waking.