Genavene Darklyn

Shireen Darklyn

Criston Darklyn

Elyanna Darklyn

Matthos Darklyn

Mereya Darklyn

**Genavene Darklyn** is the current Lady of Duskendale, and head of House Darklyn. Having ruled over Duskendale for thirty-one years, Genavene has crafted connections across the realm with other nobles, and has a very tight network of informants and spies. Despite several obstacles thrown in their way by Maegor's Curse, which seemed to affect more than the Targaryens these days, House Darklyn has flourished under it's matriarch.

Now, as Genavene starts to reach her twilight years, she looks to the future of her children and grandchildren, and wishes to only solidify their standings and lives before her time comes.

## Appearance and Character

Genavene once had a rather curvaceous body, with a head of complex, braided golden blonde hair, hazel eyes, and expensive dresses donned on her body, but she has resigned to a more modest look in her hold age. Her now grey hair flowed freely down past her shoulders, and her body grows very slightly thinner every year.

Genavene, like her father before her, has strived her entire life to better House Darklyn. She is dedicated to her duties as Lady, and prioritizes justice and order above all else, continuing House Darklyn's royalist tendencies. The stress induced by a life of constant occupation has only just now started to catch up with her, but thanks to her stoic composure, few would ever know.

Some say that Genavene had just the right temperament for ruling from birth. She was never a fussy or wild child, and she consistently picked up on things that weren't so obvious. Early on in her life, Genavene adopted a fair and, as she would put it, "selectively honest" outlook. Her natural charisma has earned many friends throughout her life, which slowly, but steadily developed into a network of informants.

Though warm and friendly with outsiders, Genavene wasn't always the most loving or attentive to her children, leaving that role to her husband, but that did not stop her from seeing that their futures were solidifed. This lack of attention stemmed from her cumbersome duties as Lady, which has indeed kept her from more than just her children. Yet, Genavene does not mind that she has missed out on lots of pleasantries others enjoyed. Everything she has done has been for her family, and for her House.

## History

### Birth and Childhood

Genavene was born late into the year 37 AC as the eldest daughter, and second-born child of Lord Gawen Darklyn of Duskendale and Lady Elyanna Rykker. Growing up in Duskendale, she would enjoy a rather pleasant childhood, forming a good relationship with her older brother, Orson, and her two younger siblings, Robert and Mereya. Her relationship with her father was emotionally distant, and she would admit that he wasn't the most pleasant man, but she admired the obvious work he put into his duties as Lord.

Genavene would receive an education fit for noble ladies, and formed an especially strong bond with her mother. The dragonblight that had started to spread across the Seven Kingdoms would eventually catch it's way up to Duskendale too however, and in 54 AC, Robert would pass of it. House Darklyn was saddened, Genavene and Orson especially.

Despite the worsening state of the realm, Genavene would later look back on her adolescence with bliss, secretly yearning for a time when she did not have so many responsibilities. Thanks to the connections her uncle, Ser Ronnel Darklyn, held with Prince Jaehaerys, Genavene would often travel to the capital, staying there for a few weeks at a time. It was in King's Landing that she would meet Agnes Tully, the future Lady of Riverrun who was at the time a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Alysanne, and the two would cultivate a lifelong friendship.

### Heir to Duskendale

After meeting Trevas Celtigar in King's Landing and following several weeks of courtship, Genavene's lord father relunctantly agreed to arrange the marriage, and the two were wed in Claw Isle in 59 AC, where Genavene would begin living. It was only a year after their marriage that a raven arrived bearing the news of her mother's death, and she rushed back to Duskendale to attend the funeral at once. Genavene in paticular was devestated, as she was with Robert, but she would end up bottling her emoitons inside of her.

Four years after, after being with child, Genavene's first son, Edwell, was stillborn. It was a sad time for both wife and husband, though they would hardly have time to recuperate, for only a few months after, the Duskendale Incident occured, which saw the death of Genavene's older brother, Orson. With no other sons of Lord Gawen alive, and Genavene being the eldest female, she became the Heir to Duskendale overnight, and she would begin planning to move back at once with her husband. The three years that followed were filled with gruelling lessons on all matters of statecraft, molding Genavene into a capable ruler even before the death of her father in 67.

### Lady of Duskendale

The new Lady of Duskendale would now find herself utilizing the connections she had grown, quickly becoming a very popular lady among many circles. She would continue to regularly visit the capital, for both business and pleasure, but this would gradually decrease as the years went on. Even from early in her ladyship, Genavene had started to make strides towards building up Duskendale's infastructure, but the dragonblight outbreak of 69 AC would undo much of her work. In the same year, Genavene would once more give birth to a son, this one healthy, by the name of Tristifier.

73 would be a lively year. Genavene would carry out the betrothal between her younger sister, Mereya, and Prince Aemon. Her second son, Arys, was born a few months after, and then a daughter, Shireen, the year following, and then Criston the year following that. Genavene's previous years of infertility were starting to look like distant memories.

The winter that would become known as Maegor's Breath swept across Westeros in 75 AC. Duskendale was no exception. Like most of the Crownlands, Duskendale did not feel the harsh blizzards until later into the year, and the Blackwater froze over at the year's turn. Thanks to both the cautiousness of King Rhaegar, and that of Genavene's, Duskendale was prepared for an extended winter. At least, a winter without dragonblight. When the disease started infecting several food stores all over the Crownlands, people would truly begin to suffer.

With taxes raised, banditry became common. Duskendale's Slim Quarter became a hive for crime, and without support, many villages outside of Duskendale would be constantly raided by bandits. House Darklyn's coasts would be raided by pirates. The Middlor Gate was all but occupied by bandits, and with few men to spare, Lady Darklyn was in a very tough spot.

Rallying as many smallfolk as he could to take up arms and push what bandits there were away, Trevas went on an absolute rampage, sending survivors running in all directions. Men from the crown would arrive not long after to help finish the job. Duskendale was secure for now, but still in a piss poor state. In the midst of this all, the Justiciars had collapsed thanks to the death of Genavene's uncle, Ser Ronnel.

### Hook Uprising

When Lord Massey and those that followed him declared their defiance of the Iron Throne, Lady Genavene stood true and loyal to King Rhaegar. Her husband, Trevas, would begin raising their levies to command them, but they hardly had any time before the rebellious forces of Stokeworth, Hayford, and Byrch sacked the city. Trevas was forced to flee the city with what men he had left, while Genavene and her children managed to escape by ship to King's Landing.

Duskendale would be taken back after the Battle of Stokeworth, but in a worse state then they found it. House Darklyn was in no condition to keep fighting, and were forced to hold up in Duskendale until the end of the conflict.

### Later Life

The process of rebuidling Duskendale was starting to become routine, unfortunately, but Genavene was a very determined woman. After the birth of Elyanna in 80, and Matthos in 82, she would start pouring nearly all of her time into her duties as Lady, neglecting nearly all but her husband. When the Fourth Dornish War started in 83, Trevas was one of the royal commanders, with Tristifier as his squire. Despite many nights of worrying sick, they would return alive, with a few scars as tokens of Dorne.

Genavene's neglect would be the primary source of strife between her and her eldest, Tristifier, who would gain a rather anti-authority mindset through his adolescent years. Tristifier's angry, rebellious demeanor would mellow as got older, but the relationship between him and Genavene would always be very distant and detatched.

Despite their troubled relationship, Genavene offered her son the same opportunity her father afforded her. He could pick his own bride, provided she was a suitable match, and though his initial choice in Catelyn Hollard would prove empty, as she would be betrothed to someone else, he would find a match in Rylene Rosby. Arys would be offered the same liberty a few years later, when he would marry Aurola Rambton. It was the same with Shireen, who married Yohn Royce, and Genavene planned to continue the trend with Elyanna and Matthos.

After being convinced by her husband, Genavene organized and hosted a tourney for her 50th nameday in 87. Many knights competed in the joust, including Prince Aemon, Lord Thoren Brune, Ser Corwin Caron, Ser Casper Caron, Ser Ronnel Royce, Ser Balon Celtigar, Ser Preston Osgrey, and Ser Edric Connington. The joust would be won by Ser Balon Celtigar, while the archery contest would be won by her own son, Tristifier, who was knighted by his father. The tourney was a grand affair, and gave Duskendale the boost in commerce needed to truly revive it.

At his own insistence, Criston was sent away to the Citadel to study as a Maester after his mother's tourney, even from a young age seeking out knowledge and how to make himself useful. He hoped to eventually come back to the Dun Fort to serve as Maester one day, but as always, there was no gaurantee he would. Though saddened by her son's absence, Genavene understood his reasons, and respected his surprising levels of maturity.

The death of King Rhaegar and subsequent Rosegold Rebellion would see Trevas, Tristifier, and Arys away fighting. When they returned moons later, bloodied and battered, but alive, she would breathe a sigh of relief. Genavene's time would continue to be devoted to ruling, but as Duskendale started to flourish once more, she became more hands-off, and started including Tristifier more in matters of statecraft.

## Family Tree and Household

House Darklyn

* Maester of the Dun Fort - Criston
* Steward -
* Master-at-arms - Arys Darklyn
* Designated Castellan -
* Captain of the Guard -