Torrhen Blackmont

Gawain Blackmont - brother

Selena Blackmont - sister

**Torrhen Blackmont** is the eldest son of King Hector Blackmont and Queen Ashara Blackmont, and is a major PoV character in the Invasion. Cunning and rational, Torrhen has the making for a great king, though his ideals may not always align with his father's.

## Background

Torrhen was born 28 years ago to King Hector and Queen Ashara Blackmont. House Blackmont is one of the larger kingdoms in Dorne, existing north of the Kingdom of Starfall, and west of the Fowler's and Manwoody's. Being the eldest son, he was taught how to rule by his father, who vowed to do a better job on that end than his father, Torrhen's grandfather. As a child, he grew up with tales of King Leomar Blackmont's weakness and he got the determination to never show the same weakness and to become a strong king instead, very much like his father, whom he took as a role model.

While his younger siblings, Gawain and Selena, were always allowed to follow their passions, Torrhen was disciplined, into a warrior and a future king, the one his people needed and deserved. Due to his father valuing a good education, Torrhen was taught by scholars from every corner of the known world, whom his father had brought to Blackmont for hefty sums of coin. Torrhen became a highly educated man, learning even more than his father did during his years in the Freehold.

Torrhen remains unmarried for now. For a short while, his mother wanted to arrange a marriage with a Holt princess, like his father was supposed to all those years ago, but this proposal never eventuated. Slightly more recently, Hector was actually planning to marry Torrhen to Bethany Caron, before her betrothal to the son of Lord Tarly, and this had gotten so far that both men took several trips to Nightsong for a couple of months before Jaycen decided that his friendship with Hector was enough as an alliance and that he wanted stronger ties to the Marcher Lords of Tarly instead.

Over the years, Torrhen grew up into a formidable young man, shaped by his strong father and ambitious mother. Despite his young years, he has already underwent several strategic missions for the Kingdom of Blackmont, to negotiate and take up the sword in different situations in favour of his kingdom. This has already gotten him a good reputation among the other kings of Dorne, as well as beyond. Like his father, he has heard of the approaching Andals and has come to the same conclusion, that they won't stop at the marches, but that they will intend to conquer all of Dorne as well. He readies himself for the coming war, though he is afraid what this will mean for his family.

## Appearance and Character

Torrhen is unusual looking for a First Man of Westeros. Due to his darker-skinned mother hailing from Myr, he inherited slightly tanned skin which only darkened with years in the sun, to the point where he resembles his mother in complexion. However, is facial features are clearly from Hector, with hard, sharp, but not unattractive looks. He has black hair, which is shorn completely bald at the sides, though left longer on the top, being tied into a braid that falls below his neck - not too dissimilar to the style of the Dothraki, where he takes influence. Unlike his father, he is clean shaven. Torrhen has inherited his father's dark blue eyes and their piercing look. While he is very much a warrior, he is less muscular than his father or younger brother, though he is far from a weakling.

He is not primarily a warrior, but a ruler. Trained with sword and shield, he is a good fighter, and utilises iron weaponry thanks to his mother's Myrish origins. However, he prides himself more as a scholar, whose knowledge is his main weapon and it usually exceeds that of other Westerosi noblemen by far. He has received a broad education, to prepare him for his future role as a ruler. This includes him speaking several languages, among them Valyrian and the language of the Andals.

## Recent Events

### Book 1: The Age of New

#### Chapter 3: Vengeance

Torrhen and his father, King Hector, departed from Blackmont for Yronwood in search for an alliance given the Andal threat spreading across Westeros. During their travels they bump into old friends, Lord Jaycen Caron and his party due for Storm's End, and the three become reacquainted before Hector and Torrhen continue on to Yronwood.

Upon arrival, Hector and Torrhen are greeted by King Olyvar Yronwood's presumed heir, Prince Eddin, and his wife, Sofina. They speak with Eddin temporarily before being met by Olyvar, who speaks with Torrhen alone. The two discuss Olyvar's ambitions to take his vengeance on the Stormlands, having once been repelled by King Erich VII Durrandon, he wishes to destroy Erich's lineage as Erich did his. Torrhen agrees to aid Olyvar in this conquest should the Yronwood's align with them against the Andal's. Olyvar demands greater security in this alliance than just good word, but would not see his large family married with the Blackmont's, and instead offers his deceased heir's grandson, Daris Yronwood, to Torrhen to train in return for a temporary alliance. Torrhen considers this condition strange, but agrees nonetheless.

Torrhen and Hector quickly find, however, that a spoken alliance between they and Olyvar is easier said than done when meeting his divided lineage - the families of Prince Eddin (the elder and assumed heir) and Prince Broden (the younger and preferred heir). Torrhen agrees to dine with Prince Broden and his family, while Hector would dine with Eddin's half. In the interrim, Torrhen finds himself watching Yorick Yronwood, Prince Eddin's grandson, humiliating Prince Broden's eldest grandson - Aren Yronwood. Yorick then stretches his challenge onto Torrhen, who hesitantly agrees to spar with him.

### Book 2: Blood Boils

#### Chapter 1: Greenblood Redblood

Immediately following the events of the last chapter, Torrhen finds himself in the sparring field with Yorick, who he ultimately beats due to utilising training exercises common more amongst Andal's than First Men, and hence catch the young arrogant Yorrick off-guard. Torrhen is congratulated by Yorick's father (Eddin's eldest son), Prince Benedict, who extends him an offer to dine with them this evening - however Torrhen reveals he already has plans to dine with Prince Broden. The following scene finds Torrhen at Broden's table, strategically sat beside Broden's granddaughter - Jeyna Yronwood, but given very little chance to speak with her. Torrhen is overwhelmed with the family politics between Broden's side and Eddin's side, and ends up making no committing promises. Jeyna then pulls him away from this scene and to the castle gardens, where they take an interest in each other. This is quickly interrupted by Prince Eddin, who asks to speak with Torrhen alone. The two share their experiences as crown princes, and ultimately Eddin pleads that the Blackmont's isolate themselves from the Yronwood's civil conflict (for their sake more than anything else), which Torrhen agrees to. The following day, Hector and Torrhen are packing to leave when they are met by King Olyvar, Eddin and Broden. Olyvar pulls Torrhen aside and lays spite on his family, which Torrhen states in only a reflection on King Olyvar. The King takes amusement in this, and then reveals he has no ambition for either family to inherit his throne, admitting his true motive his to have his original heir's son, Manrel Yronwood (who is stationed away from Yronwood) to inherit all Olyvar has, and for Torrhen to train Manrel's son (Daris) to become Manrel's heir. Torrhen disapproves of Olyvar's methods, and eagerly leaves with his father for Blackmont.