Lyndon Vance

Appearance and Character
At age 40 Lyndon remains at good health, although sunken eyes, greying hair and a wrinkeled brow makes him look old past his years

Throughout his life and reign he has strived to protect his family and that of his liege, a goal which has required a deal of though, some times harsh decisions. Though not completely without remorse, all were made without hesitation

Now in the latter half of his life, he is faced with doubt and tragedy, his sons having passed away and his youngest sister dissapearing. Have his efforts all proven to be in vein?

Early life
Born in 367 AC, Lyndon was the second child of Norbert Vance and Lythene Darry and the first to survive infancy, making him the heir to Wayfarer's Rest. He was born just after his father ascended as lord after his own sire had in turn fallen during the Halfblood Incursion. As his mother was of delicate health, she was prone to post-natal complications and as such her children were born several years apart so as not to endanger her life.

Growing up in the southern riverlands, Lyndon lived his life on the crossroads of the faith. Since its construction by the Andal conqueror Armistead Vance, Wayfarer's rest had been built to protect pilgrims travelling through the area. This traffic of pious men and women coupled with its proximity to the reach had caused House Vance to get embroiled in the southern schism. The borders between Baelorian and Starry rites left Wayfarer's rest in an unclear position. While allowing pilgrims of both stripes and continuing to honour Baelorian rites on a superficial level, House Vance has deep-running sympathies with the Starry rites, and the percieved neutrality served mainly to prevent conflicts amongst the peasantry and pilgrims. Lyndon would study both practices, but in line with the traditional position of his house would heavily favour Starry rites, somehting his later tenure as lord would only corroborate.

Though far apart in age he remained close to his sisters, Elinor in particular as he would be largely responsible for her upbringing after their parents passed away. His paternal role in the family began early as he began taking on several lordly responsibilities after coming of age, Lord Norbert's health beginning to quickly deterioraate as result of a tumor in his throat. In 384 he married Lady Leila Lannister and their first son Robert was born the following year

Ascension and Reign
Lyndon's Parents passed away in 387, both having been bedridden for some time. Lady Lythene had never fully recovered from her last childbirth in 384 and had been ill ever since whilst Lord Norbert had been suffering from a developing tumor for nearly a decade, which by his last few years prevented him from speaking and eating solid foods. This situation had necessitated Lyndon to take on many lordly responsibilities years prior and so the transition proved smooth. Along with his wife, Lyndon would rule ably, gradually instituting reforms to promote efficient administration, such as mandating a hard currency-tax and creating permanent offices of tollers to create a stable profit from the traffic of pilgrims and merchants. In the following years his second son Harrold and first daughter Catelyn would be born. A year after becoming lord, Lyndon would aid his father-in-law Loreon Lannister in putting down the Hammer Uprising. The first great challange came in the form of the great famine, which struck all of the riverlands harshly. Nevertheless Lyndon navigated it as ably as could be expected of any man. His tax reforms, though innitially unpopular had now resulted in the smallfolk having a greater food surplus. The knights of Wayfarer's Rest nad its vassals would also be deployed on the borders of the Vance lands in order to force potential migrating peasants to return to their homes. Though a harsh measure it prevented major displacements of the population, and so the fields were not abandoned.

In 400 AC Elinor was sent to court at Riverrun, where she would become lady in Waiting to Berena Tully. Lyndon and Leila had their fourth and thus far last child in 397 AC.

Although his policy during the great famine had caused some discontent at the time, in the years after Lord Vance gained a reputation for his effective handling of the crisis, and in posterity compplaint decreased. However no one could have prepared for the Scarlet winter, which froze the trident solid, crippling trade and transportation for years. Lyndon would also suffer in a more personal way this time around, as both his sons, Robert and Harrold passed away, leaving his daughter Catelyn as heir. The riverlands survived, though at the end of winter one could hardly describe it as living. Lyndon and Leila would work to rebuild and restore the lands to prosperity, though their determination was weakened. Further clarity was lost with the legitimization of Landon Rivers, this shortly following the dissapearance of Elinor Vance, who was believed to have been the bastard's lover some time before vanishing without a trace. Once Lyndon Vance had a clear purpose, sering his gods, his liege and his family. Now the faith is divided, House Tully is ruled by a schemer and bastard, and in just a short time his family has lost three members