House Name: Highfalls
House Sigil: House HighfallsHouse Words: "Our Roots Run Deep"
Allegiance Paid to: House Arryn
House Seat:Stonebark Tower Approx Number of military at command: ~900 (250 men-at-arms, 20 knights/sworn shields ~540 from levies and a 90-man garrison)
History of the House:The Highfalls are descended from the First Men, having a history stretching several thousand years before the Andal Invasion. During that time, the Highfalls became a major power in the river valleys in the central vale, though only dominated one. They reigned from their fortress at the mouth of the southernmost river valley’s river, that fortress being Stonebark Tower, a fortified position which has changed little in the following millennia, and the many waterfalls of this area is where the name Highfall originates.
However, this was undoubtedly the zenith of House Highfall, as in the Andal Invasion the house, despite efforts to work with the Andals, was utterly crushed in a series of wars, culminating in the Battle of the Seven Stars. This ultimately resulted in the ceding of territory and holdings and, in time, conversion to the Faith of the Seven, though a godswood and its accompanying Weirdwood remained in a secluded grotto in Stonebark Tower as a place for the family to escape from court, for a time. They were forcibly subjugated by the Arryns as well, but would maintain control of their native valley, by the Arryns’ grace.
Under Andal rule, the Highfalls were passively defiant, avoiding intermarriage for a time, among other things, but never rose up in arms. Starting with Richard Highfalls II, the first Highfall to convert to the Faith of the Seven, however, the Highfalls ended such practices and devoted themselves to their liege-lords fully. Now, the Hghfalls are not much closer the First Men than most Andals, though they maintain a certain pride in their origins and the longevity of their house.
The Highfalls recently suffered a serious setback, a bout illness struck and took many members of the family, leaving the future of the house uncertain.
Name: Lord Karl Highfalls
House: Highfalls
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Titles: Lord of Stonebark Tower, Ser
House Seat: Stonebark Tower
House Sigil:House HighfallsAllegiance paid to: (Eg. Bolton's to Starks, Starks to Targaryens) House Arryn
Appearance: Karl HighfallsPersonality: Karl was a highly energetic and excitable child, always eager and happy to do something, anything. As such, he took up many hobbies, beyond the expected training of page and squire, such as falconry and navigating, as well as swimming following an incident where he nearly drowned. While he did mellow somewhat with age, aprtially due to simply aging but largely due to the tragic events surrounding his coming of age, he has maintained that same optimistic and energetic persona. He is generally a kind person, gentle and empathetic. Honor is something he has taken to be highly important, though he often struggles to define it, at lest with any certainty that satisfies him. Loyalty, something easier for him to understand, is a trait he also values and seeks to embody. While he is no zealot, he does view the Faith of the Seven and the Church itself as a force of good, though not an infallible nor incorruptible one.
Skills: Karl is a skilled warrior, having gone through the process of becoming a knight, and has a decent tactical mind. However, he was the 4th son of his father Jon, and so had not been seen as a likely heir. As such, it was not until relatively late in his life he received an education in all the ways of ruling the Highfalls' fief. While he has picked up diplomacy and certain aspects of administration with great speed, he still has much to learn, and is inexperienced regardless.
Weaponry: Karl is skilled in many martial arts, and is capable of fighting with many weapons, including swords, axes, maces, polearms and bows, as well as with his own his own hands. He does prefer the sword though, specifically a bastard sword.
Military Strength: ~900 (250 men-at-arms, 20 knights/sworn shields ~540 from levies and a 90-man garrison)
Biography:: Karl Highfalls was born in 25 BC, and would have a happy childhood. His energetic and even wild nature was tempered with discipline and training as a page and squire, as well as his avid pursuit of hobbies to keep him occupied. He'd often travel through the family domain, eager to see and meet the small folk under his family's rule, as well as enjoying being out in the world. It was exciting.
As he grew older, Karl made great progress in his journey to knighthood, as well as becoming well-liked among the small-folk. Karl also became more introspective, especially on the concept of honor, and he could be found in the godswood for hours talking to himself on the subject. He would question many, from the simple farmers to visiting lords about this subject, but never did he find a truly satisfactory answer, so his search would continue.
When he was 14 years old, a bout of illness hit Stonebark Tower. Most recovered, in time, but most of his family died, including two brothers, Jon and Fredrick, leaving him the heir to Stonebark Tower. While he did havea third elder brother, his eldest brother in fact, Willam Highfalls had taken the black of his own volition several years earlier.Karl himself was spared the illness, having been away with his master Ser Barth at the time. Upon his return, his life changed substantially.
Over the course of the next few years, his father had him educated extensively, and it was a stressful time for Karl as he struggled to learn how to rule the family lands, a task he had never been expected to do. He proved up to the task, but he missed his more carefree childhood greatly. Due to this, his relationship with his father became strained, and when his father died, he became deeply regretful over failing to reconcile before the end. That was when he was 20, two years after he was knighted, something he enjoyed deeply. For several months he was overcome with melancholy, though he carried out his duties and continued learning how to rule, now doing so while ruling, he was very much a different person.
He would overcome his sorrow, though he never forgave himself for failing to reconcile with his father he did move past it, and has continued to flower into a skilled leader and competent ruler. Though he still relies heavily on his advisers, he is growing in confidence and experience, and at long last has fully put his father's death behind him.
RP Example:https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=378314&start=50Notes: