Vickon Blacktyde

Vickon Blacktyde is the current Lord of Blacktyde. He inherited the position after his Lord brother, Aeron, slew Lord Dagon Greyjoy in 432, an event that sparked the Black Prophet’s Rebellion. Born the sixth son of old Lord Dagmer Blacktyde, he never expected the lordship to ever fall to him, and thus spent much of his adult life traveling the seas. Forced to maintain his household through the Four Year Winter, he reluctantly shepherds House Blacktyde into the new Spring.

Appearance and Character
Vickon's jet black mane sits atop deep brown eyes, a strong nose, and a ready smirk. Standing a touch over six feet, he possesses a naturally muscular frame, and an angry red scar that runs from his left temple, down into his dark beard. Although reasonably skilled in wielding his favorite double-bladed axe, he prefers to talk his way out of sticky situations, or even better, avoiding conflict altogether - for the more it would allow him to pore over his tomes of history, polish his trinkets from his travels, or play with his children.

Vicky the Plump
Vickon came screaming into this world, the get of an aged Lord Dagmer Blacktyde, and his fourth wife, Mara Saltcliffe. As a hale and cheery young toddler, he developed a healthy appetite, and his growth quickly outpaced other boys of the household, even those several years ahead of him. It was whispered throughout the castle that finally, Lord Dagmer had birthed a warrior, nay a mighty reaver, who would accomplish legendary feats, and bring great pride to House Blacktyde.

Unfortunately for little Vickon, such greatness was not meant to be. While other boys stretched out to a sinewy, iron strength through the course of adolescence, he remained rotund and portly, earning the nickname, 'Vicky the Plump'. Things did not get any better in the training yard, for though he showed great heart, he had not the speed, nor reflex to defend himself at all, causing the master-at-arms to frequently send him away, lest he suffer a crippling blow.

Thus the young Vickon found himself with plenty of time to indulge in the more sedentary activities of reading and learning. Of particular interest were tomes detailing the history, religion, and cultures of the world. As he lay in bed each night, nursing his latest injury, he would dream of one day sailing the fourteen seas, and seeing the sights described by the great explorers that lived in his books.

Vickon of Westeros
Old Lord Dagmer finally passed away in 414 AC, Vickon’s elderst living brother Elend, had inherited the seat, and Vickon had had enough of shaming himself in the training yard. The grizzled veteran captain, Erik the Grey, intended to spend his twilight years reaving the coasts of Essos, and he was looking to assemble a crew of likeminded men. Jumping at the opportunity, Vickon readily accepted a position without a single goodbye to his family. The long, arduous journey to Volantis proved a better trainer than all the years toiling under the Blacktyde weaponmasters. Under Erik the Grey’s tutelage, Vickon gained significant prowess swinging a doubled bladed axe, as he helped the crew stave off the pirate attacks that plagued the Narrow Sea. Beyond combat training, the veteran captain bestowed everything he knew of sailing, navigation, and ship husbandry. Alas, Vickon was the last soul he would impart such knowledge to, for a wicked storm soon took hold of their ship, leaving only a handful of survivors in its wake.

Thus the sixteen year old Vickon found himself washed up on the shore just outside the imposing walls of Volantis. The great city was one of many he had dreamed of one day seeing, but he could do little else but look with no coin in his pockets, so he managed to secure himself a position in a lowly sellsail company, the Ragged Sails. Calling himself ‘Vickon of Westeros,’ he traveled to many of the coastal Free Cities, and even managed to see the city of Qohor on a contract that took him far up the Rhoyne. As his confidence grew, he found he could contribute more with a double edged tongue, than blade. Recruitment of men to the company, and women to his bed came surprisingly easy, once he discovered how much weight carefully chosen words, and well placed winks and smirks held. Vickon was living his dream, and being well compensated for it, rightfully feeling atop of the world - until a flash of steel along his left blindside crumbled that world in an instant.

Vickon awoke back in Volantis, tended to by the most fetching woman he had ever lay eyes on. Trianna, a Volentene healer, had nursed him back from the brink of death after his head-splitting wound had become riddled with infection, leaving only a red, twisted scar as a memento of the ordeal. ‘Scar add much improvement to soft Western face’, and ‘How can such big man by so afraid of so tiny needle?,’ were the first words he heard uttered from Trianna’s delicate lips. Faced with the inevitable mortality of this uncertain world, Vickon sudddenly found himself longing to return home, with this sharp-tongued woman at his side.

Vickon the Father
The end of 420AC brought an new monarch to Westeros, but more locally, a return to Blacktyde for Vickon, aboard The Nightwhisper, a vessel claimed from his final contract, a trove of exotic treasures, and a very pregnant Trianna. Vickon was surprised to find Elend had met a watery death, and his next brother, Aeron now ruled the lands. This brother was fair enough of character, though prone to bouts of rash impulsiveness, but it mattered not, for most of Vickon’s attentions lay upon his bubbly baby girl, birthed soon after his arrival. Cassana, he named her, and she immediately took up much of his time. That is, until three more little ones came into the world vying for his affection.

Despite the brutally harsh Blue Winter, House Blacktyde, under the careful rule of Lord Aeron, had managed to enter the season fully prepared. However, the frigid conditions kept much of the household cooped up indoors for years, instilling a nearly inconsolable sense of restlessness. Most agitated of them all was Vickon’s nephew, and heir to the lordship, Urron, a fearsome warrior, who often spoke of skirting the King’s Peace, and reaving the Greenlander coast. Just after the birth of his fourth child, Vickon too felt the wanderlust itch set in, which after two years of festering, bloomed into an inescapable need.

Vickon the Absent Father
Early 429 AC, following in the footsteps of Erik the Grey, Vickon assembled a crew bound for Essos, this time headed even further east –first Slaver’s Bay, then Drowned God willing, beyond. Alas, their vessel failed to reach even the Gulf of Grief. Eager to catch a glimpse of the smoking ruins of Valyria, Vickon’s ship sailed far too close to the accursed region, and found itself caught by a fearsome maelstrom. Once again, the Blacktyde’s Essosi voyage began with a shipwreck, and fortune found him washed up on a foreign shore. This time the shore was called Barter Beach, on the Basilisk Island of Talon. Somehow managing to talk his way into membership of a dwindling corsair outfit, Vickon found piracy life to his liking. Instead of fulfilling tedious contracts, the crew merely trolled the Gulf of Grief, and Ghiscari Strait, and sold their pickings in the Basilisk Isles, and on rare occasions, even Qarth.

Four years spent on the Summer Sea, upon a routine return to Talon, Vickon was summarily presented with a baby girl by one of the lovers he had taken up on the Isles. The squalling babe, a spitting image of his dear Cassana, flooded him with an overwhelming desire to return home to Blacktyde.

Vickon the Lord
The year 434 AC, Vickon returned to a much changed Blacktyde, and the Iron Islands in turmoil. In protest of the execution of his heir Urron, Lord Aeron had slain the Lord Dagon Greyjoy, sparking the conflict that would become known as the Black Prophet’s Rebellion. Urron, the only son of Aeron, having left behind no legitimate issues, created a situation that left the bastards of House Blacktyde squabbling amongst themselves as claimants, instead of supporting a side in the war that raged around them. Vickon’s return put forth a strong claim to the seat, and though he wanted nothing more than to ease into a carefree life with his children, he understood the need for stable leadership of his family.

Thus, after weeks of sharp words, bold threats, and tiresome tests of manhood, Vickon emerged as the reluctant lord of Blacktyde. Less than a fortnight after his confirmation, a visit was paid by Victaria Greyjoy. Recognizing his fleet would likely create a swift end to the Rebellion, Vickon agreed to support Aeron Greyjoy as rightful Lord of the Iron Islands.

Because no good deed goes unpunished, Vickon was subsequently tasked with guiding his House through the harshest winter in the known history of Westeros. Fortunately House Blacktyde had abstained from nearly all of the rebellion, thus had enough resources to barely weather the brutal Four Year Winter. Finally Spring showed its face early in 438, and once again the wanderlust scratches at the back of his mind.

Family

 * Dagmer Blacktyde, Lord of Blacktyde, b. 343 AC, d. 414 AC,
 * m. Cecilia Blacktyde, d. 375 AC,
 * Maron Blacktyde, d. 400 AC,
 * Roderick Blacktyde, d. 403 AC,
 * m. Addysen Hill, d. 377 AC,
 * No issue
 * m. Maria Tawney, d. 395 AC,
 * Runa Blacktyde, b. 387 AC, d. 419 AC,
 * Isolde Blacktyde, b. 387 AC, d. 419 AC,
 * Elend Blacktyde, b. 389 AC, d. 419 AC,
 * Lucille Blacktyde, b. 390 AC,
 * Harlan Blacktyde, b. 392 AC, d. 403 AC,
 * m. Mara Saltcliffe, d. 410 AC,
 * Aeron Blacktyde, b. 396 AC, d. 432 AC,
 * Urron Blacktyde, b. 411 AC, d. 432 AC
 * Yara Blacktyde, b. 414 AC
 * Vickon Blacktyde, b. 398 AC,
 * m. Trianna of Volantis, b. 402
 * Cassana Blacktyde, b. 420 AC
 * Kinvara Blacktyde, b. 422 AC
 * Dagmer Blacktyde, b. 424 AC
 * Erryk Blacktyde, b. 427 AC
 * m. Tamila of Talon, b. 415 AC
 * Talisa Pyke, b. 433 AC

Household
Harlan Pyke, Castellan, b. 390

Colmar Codd, Steward, b. 410

Maester Gerold, b. 385

Old Tess, Cook, b. 353