House Hightower

Voice of Oldtown

Defender of the Citadel

Beacon of the South

House Costayne

House Cuy

House Mullendore

**House Hightower of the Hightower** is one of the most powerful of the noble houses in the Reach. The sigil of House Hightower is a stone white watchtower, with a fire on the top. Their motto is "We Light the Way." They possess a Valyrian steel sword called Vigilance. The family is ancient, existing since the dawn of days when they were petty-kings. While most scholars believe they descend from the First Men, Maester Yandel posits they descend from the seafarers and traders that settled at the top of the Whispering Sound in an earlier time, men who came to Westeros before the First Men and seem to have founded the original incarnation of Oldtown.

The current Head of House Hightower is Ormund Hightower.

## Recent History

### War of the Five Kings

House Hightower's caution changes in response to the Greyjoy taking of the Shields and attacks on the Reach. Old Lord Leyton stays in his tower with Malora the Mad Maid, supposedly researching books of spells, and sends forth his sons with varying tasks. Baelor Brightsmile is building ships, Gunthor is building up the harbor's defenses, Garth Greysteel is training men, and Humfrey is traveling to his sister Lynesse in Lys, where he hopes to hire sellsails. Euron Greyjoy's ironborn conquer parts of the Arbor and attempt to blockade the Honeywine. One attack on Oldtown's harbor is repulsed by the defenders, but the city remains under serious threat.

### The Second Targaryen Reign

Euron Greyjoy’s fleet is annihilated by Daenerys Stormborn and her dragons along with forces rallied by Ser Baelor Brightsmile in a conflict known as The Kraken’s Folly. Lord Leyton succumbs to illness from old age and Baelor inherits the Hightower after his father. Hightower forces are among those that march to the Wall from the Reach.

### War of the four Daughters

Lord Ormund Hightower leads several thousands of kngihts sworn to House Hightower in Essos before he is called back to be name Hand of the King by Maelor I Targaryen upon the resignation of Aemond Targaryen.

### A Ballad in Blood

With the turn of the year drawing close, Ormund has made it his priority to see the Seven Kingdoms rebuilt to their former strength and to ensure the continuity of the Targaryen dynasty as well as his own house in a time of uncertain succession.

## Traits

The Hightowers resided in the ancient black stone fortress of Battle Isle at the mouth of the Honeywine before the "Hightower" of stone was built. Some Hightowers are said to have dabbled in alchemy and necromancy.

## Seat

The Hightower stands in the center of Oldtown, the city having grown around it. It is a massive stepped tower with a beacon on top to guide ships into port. It is the tallest structure in the Seven Kingdoms, even higher than the seven-hundred-foot Wall. The people of Oldtown can tell the time of day by the tower's shadow, and some claim that the Wall can be seen from its top.

### Black Stone Fortress

The foundation of the Hightower is a labyrinthine fortress of unadorned black stone of uncertain origin on Battle Isle. While some believe it to be Valyrian in origin, Archmaester Quillion suggests it was made by the mazemakers and Maester Theron suggests it was created by Deep Ones, citing its similarities to the Seastone Chair. Valyrian origin is supported by the claim of Maester Jellicoe that Oldtown began as a trading post for ships of Valyria, Old Ghis, and the Summer Isles, predating the arrival of the First Men to Westeros.

### Kings of the High Tower

The first chronicles that mention a "high tower" describe it as made of wood and rising some fifty feet above the ancient fortress. Later records mention taller timber towers. All of these served as a beacon to light the path of trading ships passing through the fog-shrouded waters of Whispering Sound. The early members of House Hightower lived amidst the gloomy halls, vaults, and chambers of the black stone fortress. It was only with the construction of the fifth tower, the first made entirely of stone, that the Hightower became a seat worthy of a great house. The king who demanded it and paid for its construction is remembered as Uthor of the High Tower.

## Family Tree

* **Ormund Hightower** - Lord of the Hightower and Hand of the King (b. 368 AC.)
* Alerie Tyrell - Lady of the Hightower (b. 370 C - d. 398 C)
	+ Gwayne Tyrell - Heir to the Hightower (b. 387 AC)
	+ Joanna Hightower née Tarly - Wife (b. 387 AC)
		- Morgan Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 408 AC)
		- Martyn Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 408 AC)
		- Alysanne Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 410 AC)
	+ Harlen Hightower - Knight of Oldtown (b. 391 AC)
	+ Roslin Hightower née Costayne - Wife (b. 391 AC)
		- Olenna Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 409 AC)
		- Gerold Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 412 AC)
	+ Greydon Hightower - Knight of Oldtown (b. 395 AC)
	+ Alesandra Hightower - Scion of House Hightower (b. 398 AC)