The Intercession in the North

The North, after having broken the rule of House Bolton and brought back under the aegis of House Stark, had joined the Seven Kingdoms in paying homage and obeisance to the newly restored Targaryen dynasty. Nevertheless, many of its lords and ladies were less than pleased to once more find themselves under the heel of the Iron Throne. Sentiments toward the crown worsened when construction of the Winter Palace began, and were greatly encouraged by Jon Stark’s son, who history now knows as Brandon the Black. In the end Prince Aenar and his sister-wife, Helaena, were sent to settle the matter.

Thus, the Intercession truly notes the struggle that ensued thereafter. The result of which was the abandonment of the Winter Palace, and the pacification of the Northern lords.

Northern Sentiments After the Second Conquest
Jon Stark’s ascension to the seat of Winterfell was precipitated by a multitude of factors well outside the control of anyone player in the northern theatre. Many were discontent with Bolton rule, and had been sowing seeds of dissent ever since the Red Wedding. The mystique of the Bastard of Winterfell, as Lord Jon was known at the time, was also a topic of much allure after a Red Priestess from Asshai was said to have raised him from death’s very door.

With his half-sister’s endorsement, and after the gruesome death of his half-brother, Jon was risen to Wintefell’s seat and it was around him that the Northern Lords rallied. With the aid of the Valemen they shattered Bolton power, and even lent their strength to the war with the mysterious Others.

Despite his popularity, he had never been hailed as King in the North as Robb Stark had done, and in fact when it was once mentioned he discouraged it. It was of no surprise, then, that Jon bent the knee to the reborn Dragons that had been successful in their Southron campaigns. Many of his bannermen vehemently opposed the notion, but all were eventually brought into line. Nevertheless, discontent brewed in the hearts of the staunchest Northern lords. Those of the sort who felt no Southron king, even one wielding dragons, had the right to demand homage of the North.

The Winter Palace
Jon Stark’s ascension to the seat of Winterfell was precipitated by a multitude of factors well outside the control of anyone player in the northern theatre. Many were discontent with Bolton rule, and had been sowing seeds of dissent ever since the Red Wedding. The mystique of the Bastard of Winterfell, as Lord Jon was known at the time, was also a topic of much allure after a Red Priestess from Asshai was said to have raised him from death’s very door.

With his half-sister’s endorsement, and after the gruesome death of his half-brother, Jon was risen to Wintefell’s seat and it was around him that the Northern Lords rallied. With the aid of the Valemen they shattered Bolton power, and even lent their strength to the war with the mysterious Others.

Despite his popularity, he had never been hailed as King in the North as Robb Stark had done, and in fact when it was once mentioned he discouraged it. It was of no surprise, then, that Jon bent the knee to the reborn Dragons that had been successful in their Southron campaigns. Many of his bannermen vehemently opposed the notion, but all were eventually brought into line. Nevertheless, discontent brewed in the hearts of the staunchest Northern lords. Those of the sort who felt no Southron king, even one wielding dragons, had the right to demand homage of the North.

Brandon the Black
Jon’s second son, Brandon, had always been a fiery youth. A trait he inherited from his mother, Wylla Manderly, than from his father. One would never know that he was the second born by his manner. From the day he could walk he was a commanding presence. As he grew to manhood, it became clear that it was not only his charisma that would see him find success. He was skilled at arms, and was even squired to one of his mother’s relatives from White Harbor.

A knighthood would have been easily attainable; however, he was a lover of all things Northern. He had his mother’s demeanor, but he kept to the Old Gods. It was to their traditions he always meant to keep. Most particularly since he had been, since birth, intended to wed the lone child of Lady Walda and the late Roose Bolton. Brandon could be wild, and intemperate. Despite this, he also had a keen sense and was relatively sharp of wit. He knew that if he was to be Lord of the Dreadfort he could not be seen to submit to the decadence of the South.

It was of no surprise that he was chief among the detractors when the construction of the Winter Palace began. There are some who even allege that he sought to persuade his father to fiercely denounce what he felt was a great intrusion upon the North. Many lords came to agree with Brandon, who many now called the Black, and even some, the Dread. Lord Jon did not act, however, and it was his father’s restraint that kept Lord Brandon in check.

As the years passed, however, resentment among the Northerners continued to swell. Lord Jon may have been able to assuage them, but his eldest son did not carry quite so great a weight as he. It was Jon’s passing, coupled with Brandon’s many years of mongering, that would bring the matter to a boil.