Zelos Wilder

Commander of Blood

### Origin

Riverlands (Grew up in Essos) allegiance = House Targaryean (Former), House Brightflame, Greyhounds

### Family Members

Gilliane Wilder (Wife)Seles Wilder (Sister)Lief Wilder (Cousin)Athos Wilder (Son)Maya Wilder (Daughter)

### Religion

Agnostic (Formerly Lord of Light)

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Ser Zelos Wilder is a Riverland Lord who controls the castle of Wild's Den and the former Commander of the Gold Cloaks of Kingslanding before he resigned. He's known for being a former enemy of House Brightflame, fighting them in the Second Dance alongside Aegon before his defeat, which he joined shortly afterwards. He's since helped the realm in many events and became a member of the Greyhounds group to continue to do so.

## Appearance and Personality

Zelos is about 5'9 and well built through years of service as a soldier of fortune and then just a regular solider. He's usually clean shaven and has red hair that runs down past his neck. He usually wears the Golden company armor that he had from his time in the golden Company or his Goldcloak attire, though eventually he took to wearing his coat of arms like his own men.

Zelos was much more charismatic and flirtatious in his youth and had a bit more arrogance and eagerness to fight, though he's always been protective of his family and friends. As he's matured the love of fighting hasn't gone away but its buried under his own concerns for the dangers of war and he actually despises his enjoyment of battle. He's kind at his best and blunt and unrelenting at worst with a tendency to hold past transgressions against people if it was of there own volition, but given his own past he's willing to forgive people for following there own oaths and promises to there allies or liege lords. Zelos has an increasing lack of self esteem in his abilities and a slowly building level of paranoia, despite this he does his best in any situation and looks to protect others over gaining any personal glory.

## History

Zelos was born in the original castle of Wild's Den, the first child of Adin and Mylene Wilder where he was fast friends with his cousin Lief though he also spent many months in Essos when Adin introduced him to his friend and eventual godfather Nezak. When he was six and not much longer after his sister Seles was born Roberts Rebellion started and his house chose to be loyal to the crown albeit for selfish reasons and paid for it when the Tully's attacked there castle. During the bloody siege men breached the walls and killed his mother in front of him before he was killed son after. His father broken up over the loss took him and Seles and fled, leaving his family to fight the losing battle without him. at such a young age Zelos could barely remember his time in Westeros and only vaguely remembered ever being there and his fathers stern refusal to talk about made going and finding out himself his main goal. Taught how to fight like a Westerosi knight Zelos was a quick learner and knew how to apply his skills in battle, which came to a helpful head when the village they lived in was attacked by pirates and reavers. Zelos helped fight them off but Adin was killed leaving behind a box to look for 'Gryff.' Upon doing so Zelos was once again redirected to the Golden Company promising his questions and desires would be answered there.

Joining the famous Sellsword army Zelos proved himself to his allies in many of the battles they fought in, an effective swordsman he grew to love field battles, fighting Dothraki, Unsullied, and all kinds of other Sellswords and coming out on top, with people soon joking that his hair was red because the blood of his enemies had permanently dyed it that way. Though he found success in battle he faces trouble off it, earning the ire of Myr for killing Magisters son who supposedly murdered one of his former lovers, as well as other things, He strained his relationship with the peace preferring Nezak as Zelos grew more and more attached to his life as a soldier and he became devoted to the Lord of Light after a Red priest showed him a vision of him returning to Westeros with a Dragon to engulf the continent in its bright flames, which creeped out his sister who still followed the Seven. On one of his missions he came to blows with a sellsword named Caim who was cheated out of a payment and was harassing the man who refused to give him his due and the same man paid Zelos to silence him, though Zelos defeated him he was unaware of the full story and when he found out he paid Caim the money he was owed instead, completing his contract and making a friend in the process. many years later when House Brightflame revealed itself Zelos thought it was time to strike and tried to convince his superiors to help them take the throne but was finally informed instead of the Golden Companies real motive of bringing Aegon who had been watched by Gryff/Jon Connington to the throne instead. Aegon hearing about his vision and impressed by his reputation named Zelos as apart of his Kingsguard.

## Initial Invasion of Westeros

Finally invading the Land like he saw in the flames Zelos helped Aegon gain control of the Stormlands right out from under King Renly Baratheon. His usual experience proved to not fail him when faced with the opposition of the Stormalnder's through many fierce battles and even commanded minor attacks on smaller parties. Though the Wilder soldier quickly grew to despise sieges, finding them dull, boring and generally risky and not worth the payoff. Still he remained as deadly as he always was and his charisma allowed him to win over some of the smallfolk in the area which made getting control and there support much easier in the War against Renly. Soon even Storms end fell to his kings plans and they pushed into the Reach to make way for there eventual siege of Kingslanding which Zelos hoped would be the final siege they needed. Unfortunately soon after they pushed deeper into Mace Tyrell's territory they received news that House Brightflame had taken Tumbelton from them and started a war amongst the dragons.

## Second Dance of Dragons

Zelos opposed war with House Brightflame, instead wanting the two sides to unite to put the dragons back on the Iron Throne but his efforts failed to win over King Aegon or King Baelor who both demanded the war proceed and thus Zelos found them now fighting a war on three sides as Renly tried to regain lost ground while the Reach continued to hound them for castles they had taken and all the while they watched King Baelor take keep after keep, even capturing Aegon's Marshal Jon Connington. Though Zelos was able to secure his freedom he was captured once again after leading a failed assault on Baelors forces and an irate Aegon losing control of his territories all around, forcing Aegon to personally forgo his campaign in the Reach to deal with him and Zelos accompanying him finally face off with the real enemy.

Zelos first helped the Golden Company take Griffen's Roost back from the Brightflames before King Baelors host showed up to meet them, despite being outnumbered. Despite his wounds and fatigue Zelos wanted to fight but Aegon had him back off and stay with him for the initial charge, leaving the young man to watch the valiant Brightflame knights fight off there odds and kill more men then they were losing, and causing Zelos for the first time to ignore orders and charge in when it looked bleak for his friends, bringing in another charge Zelos attempted to salvage the battle and was successful in driving back Baelor, though regardless his actions angered Aegon who demanded absolute loyalty from him now, or his head. Zelos again fought House Brightflame troops for the last time at the defense of Stonehelm, protecting his King as best he could as the King lead them to another victory. From there Aegon gave him the crystal clear order to kill Baelor next time. Baelor resumed attacking later that very day and Zelos tried to follow through on the order, first standing guard and trying to whittle down the enemies numbers before pushing through and making a mad dash for King Baelor himself hoping to kill him and end the war. Unfortunately, skilled as he was, Baelor got the upper hand that day and struck him down with a mighty blow and leaving him for the vultures as he avenged his past two losses and crushed Aegons forces, with Zelos only escaping thanks to a Golden Company knight who grabbed him and fled.

Staying in the care of the Maester present there Zelos was in no condition to fight for a long time and in fact could do nothing as his enemies soon pushed into and took Weeping town while he was still there, causing Zelos to wonder and wait for an arrest that didn't come. What did eventually come was the news of his King's final defeat and the destruction the Golden Company he served in for years destroying his chances of accomplishing the vision he saw in the flames. Dejected Zelos decided to turn himself in and try to get Seles some leniency but Seles instead convinced Zelos to fight for Baelor instead, an offer which to his shock the king and his men accepted, so long as he stay under the watchful eye of the Master of Laws.

## Serving in the King's Army

With only his money to his name and the armor and weapons on his back Zelos continues to fight, this time for House Brightflame and King Baelor. But this naturally proved a difficult task, while Zelos was no lord he was a man who had played a part in the deaths of many of the there friends and allies and an enemy to the realm not long ago, with many only staying there hand out of respect for the King's wishes. Fighting the Lannister armies Zelos started to distinguish himself amongst the soldiers and the nobles that had sworn for The BrightFlames and he started to chip away at there distrust, though lingering contempt remained for there lost friends and family, a feeling Zelos understood and accepted. When it finally came time to take Kings Landing, Zelos fought through the soldiers and helped secure the gate, staying in the city and helping quell the fighting in the streets while King Baelor stormed the Red Keep and brought an end to Joeffrey's reign. Afterwards he was part of the host Baelor sent to take on Tywin Lannister, Cutting a path through the Lions defenses during the battle and making sure he was taken prisoner and cutting the head off the Westerlands army. This would be the last battle Zelos fought under the king directly as afterwards he assisted the minor lords in pushing back smaller parties before he was called back to the Capital by Lord Kalukho to carry out some other tasks that weren't part of the general fighting.

With things relatively peaceful while Baleor started organizing the lands he won, Privat ordered him to handle affairs in the Stormlands as some Golden Company knights had taken to pillaging to survive rather then give in or retreat like most did and Zelos led a small band of men to do so as a final test of his loyalties. The task proving much more difficult as Zelos was set upon former friends that would spend there last breaths cursing his name for his treachery, Hunting them for the next 6 weeks Zelos was able to kill, capture or persuade his former friends to yield over the course of that time and return to the capital though he was less humorous or excited for battles as before. The war and turning his blades to his allies had made the taste of it sour on his lips.

## Commander of the Gold Cloaks

Zelos asking any lord he could about his father Adin when news of Baelor's death came to him, Zelos wished he could have been there but figures there was nothing he could have done even if he was there. With the Kingdom shaken by the loss and Daeron took the throne, who many people Zelos heard muttering was a poor mans replacement of his brother, the Knights life a took a turn in the coming months. Lord Kalukho pushed for his name to be Commander of the Gold Cloaks, a position that he didn't expect to gain, Kalukho said it was a reward for his loyal service but Zelos suspected it was power move on his part to put someone in his pocket in the position in his feud with the hand of the King Ser Jory Redwater. Regardless Zelos set about recruiting for the position, assigning gates and getting people to work understanding that the capital had to be secured now more then ever. Once again his worth was questioned by the smallfolk as rumors of his past allegiance started to spread and while he never won them over many of the Goldcloaks grew to appreciate him as a commander for his fair treatment of them and putting there safety on his list of priorities and for a time the city was improving, though Zelos did take the sudden intrusions by Ser Jason Gullegen personally as he remained shocked as to how the man got so many of his allies in armed.

During this time Zelos became less embroiled in the Kings wars and more involved in the growing conflicts between his allies and there enemies. Though he helped Ser Jory with Jason he first came to into conflict with the man for his arrest and trial of Chrisarys Storm who Zelos believed to be innocent of the crimes he was committed of, but was soon on his side once more Chrisarys allies went too far in provoking the man. He also came to blows with the Darkstars as during there trial there soldiers attacked Ser Ian and Zelos was left figuring how who was telling the truth and who was lying. These were only the beginning of his problems as over time outlaws from past factions and disgruntled lords popped up and Zelos took to getting help from Lord Kalukho and hiring Sellswords to help deal with any situation where he met Caim once again, with the sellsword promising to repay his kindness with his services.

## Marriage to Gilliane and Lordship

While dealing with the matters in the city Zelos indulged his love of fighting with the tourneys that men hosted, especially the melees that allowed him to cut loose. One such melee had him come face to face with the large and proud northerner Artos Starkwood who despite his years of experience that surpassed his own and being very skilled, Zelos defeated him in an intense fight, and as he was going to the mans seat to compliment him on the exciting battle, he was left speechless upon laying eyes on his daughter Lady Gilliane Starkwood. Running back to his tent and finishing the melee it was only afterwards that he was able to strike up a conversation with her and seeing the two hit it off at another feast Artos would later offer the smitten knight her hand in marriage. The Wedding was one of three that took place at Starkwood keep where Zelos for once stayed out of the tourneys to enjoy his time there and where when talking about his past to other lords Ser Jory mentions to him there being an Athos Wilder in the Riverlands who was sent to the wall when his house fell and Artos offered to help Zelos meet the man.

Going to the wall alongside his sister, his wife and father-in-law he met Athos Wilder who revealed he was Zelos' uncle and what happened to his family so long ago, mainly the act of his father, the actions of his grandfather trying to cover for him and the siege of Wild's Den where Adin fled Westeros forever after his mothers death which Zelos had repressed as a child. Though Athos made it clear he held no ill will towards his brother for what he did Zelos' respect for him took a nose dive and he vowed to redeem his family name and hope the man he and his kids become are more like his uncle instead, which upon Athos gives him his fathers old sword Symphony red, knowing that even if Zelos didn't care for his dads legacy Adin would still want him to have it. Given land in the Riverlands by King Daeron as something of a wedding gift Zelos and Seles started rebuilding the castle they once had, with Seles overtaking most of the project while Zelos continued his work in Kingslanding, as his job demanded of him. his reputation saw him regarded as a Lord even if Zelos was unsure if the title actually suited him and he grew some relations with other houses such as the Hennings, the Youngflowers and the Whents though overtime and Kalukho would once again aid him by offering him knights led by his future master-at-arms Zeto Aros.

Though his relations would begin to sour on may of these fronts. The Hennings proved to be volatile and the feuds and conflicts they got into saw Zelos dragged in with them, with Zelos fighting for Rheagon Henning, the man betrothed to his sister in his war with Chrisarys before the man went insane and crossed the line, causing Zelos to abandon him to his fate and eventual death. Another battle that occurred while Zelos was in the city saw his men lose troops aiding and fighting the Hennings, the loss of Jon Youngflower another of Seles' lost betrotheds, and the falling out of his Whent allies who were responsible for his death. His alliance with the Starkwoods remained as strong as ever for the time but Zelos knew he couldn't rely on them alone if he wanted to survive but was unsure on how to proceed taking his more politically sound wife's opinion on matters of who to trust and who not to trust. his relations with the Whents took another heavy hit when there actions lead to there exile with not even Zelo coming to there defense, despite his strong desire to protect those he deems allies

Helping Lord Kalkuho once again in the battle with the Corsair ships Zelos soon met Haywin Darkspear, another sellsword who was given a lordship for his assistance but wanted to become ruler of the Stepstones as well who offered him a chance for land and more wealth if he offered his sword for him, though Zelos was partially interested he turned down any major part of the conflict instead sending Caim and his some of his forces to help, which true to his word brought in more coin from Haywins conquest of the lands into a kingdom and he was repaid for his part in it with more wealth that helped Seles finish the castle to its completion and with it being finished Zelos relocated from his home in Kingslanding to his newfound keep. Staying mostly to himself still and only getting involved in matters when he felt it necessary, the young Wilder Lord mostly stayed out of any direct trouble and was grateful for it, though as the war with Dorne picked trouble started brewing in Kingslanding once more.

## Investigation and Battle of the Goldcloaks

With the death of the dangerous bandit Bard Koi Zelos expected things to calm down but found that Kings' Landing to have become even more dangerous then it usually was as crime had gone up and despite this and Zelos had found himself at an impasse in how to handle it as the people responsible seemed to know the Gold Cloaks every move. This put Zelos in a rather uncomfortable situation that told him two things, the crimes were being organized and that they had a mole in there ranks. The Young Wilder soon found that he was being blamed and hated for the rates wit people boiling it down to his lack of responsibility on his part, frustrated Zelos started to question his own lieutenants and after a time went to Summerhall to discuss things with many of the small council there attending a feast where he was persuaded to take part in the melee, a melee he won beating his father in law Artos and the Hand Jory in the final three before he decided he needed to return to the matter in the city. On his way there he was intercepted by some Gold cloaks who told him that they had learned of something and needed him to follow on Ser Bernard's orders..Zelos however quickly figured out this was a ruse since he told Bernard under no circumstances was he to send men after him, and the gold cloaks showed there true colors and attempted to kill him and his group of men. Zelos won with few casualties and then told most of his men to take Seles back to Summerhall to keep her out of the city while he went back to the capital determined not to leave until he had gotten to the bottom of everything.

Zelos found the city was still intact but the rotten core was becoming more noticeable, a threat had been made towards his wife and the people were growing restless fearing if something might happen. Worse one of the captains, Tristan De bois had been killed leaving the gate he was in charge of unmanned. Zelos quickly gave the position to ne of the captians he suspected the least rather then hand the reigns to a popular choice in Harden, a Goldcloaks who had secured one of the more stable regions under Jon Black and then investigated the area Tristan was murdered in the night which had been closed off by some Redwater troops. Zelos soon found that Tristan had been investigating a lead on the traitor and was killed when he refused a bribe, his notes lead him on a clue that was soon aided by the timely arrival of Lord Privat who's own intel had helped him secure a name and a face in a minor GC named Ryon who Zelos and his few allies began t tail leading them to an ambush Ryon had set up for another. Killing his men and catching Ryon himself he admitted he was being ordered by Harden which Zelos assumed meant that Jon Black had been the one behind everything since Harden wasnt high up enough t have an idea on there routes and positions like Black would have. Deciding on the direct approach Zelos called up some of the Goldcloaks and sent the word out that Harden and Jon were to come In for questioning.

In what would be known as the Battle of the Gold Cloaks Jon Black called upon the Lion's Gate garrison rather then yield and by the time Zelos had arrived with a few hundred men Jon had a few hundred more ready to defend himself. Even the fact that many noble lords were with Zelos wasn't enough to deter Jon from instigating a fight that soon turn to a riot, the smallfolk losing it with the sight of there supposed protectors in the midst of a civil war and Zelos soon had to fight his way through friend and foes to get to Black. They fought on the streets, in a house (Where a women was killed) and in an alley way before a battered and brusied Zelos finally overpowered Jon and knocked him out putting an end to his chaos though this was hardly the end result. Many people still loved Jon for hisservices and thought him innocent and the damage to the city itself had been done even if it wasnt what Jon wanted which Zelos suspected was to cause enough strife in the city that the King would need to halt his campaign to quell it or risk looking weak for allowing his city to fall.

Though Jon Black's execution put an end to his reign Zelos was in an even worse spot as far as public opinion and things didnt seem to be getting better even when Dorne finally fell as the debt of the Crown caused more trouble for the city as Zelos spent the next few weeks resting and trying to keep the city under control while making the conscious decision that once things wind down he would resign from the position feeling he has done all he could do from it.

## Lief's return and the Northern struggle

While the Wilder's were resting at there keep a group of Sellswords lead by Lief Wilder arrived, Lief being the only son of Athos Wilder and thus would have been the next lord of the castle had they not been exiled after Robert's Rebellion. Overjoyed to see his beloved cousin again but cautious of the way he behaved and his clear disdain for Adin Zelos welcomed Lief into the castle to bring the Wilder family to be more complete and let Lief run the castle in his absence. Though Lief proved effective at the job Zelos and him came to blows over his suspicions of the loyalty of the King and the north and his clear ambitious nature that threatened to put him in and the house in danger. The two managed to put these differences aside when the Realm needed them both with situations in the North and Dorne with Lief going to Dorne and Zelos sticking with his father in law in the North. Zelos stuck with the party and helped the people of Moles town organize themselves agaisnt the Wildling attack on there way to the wall. When they finally arrived he stayed close to his uncle for the coming Wildling attack and fearing the worst for when Castle Black was attacked. The battle itself saw Zelos first work on the wall before going down to fight the Wildlings directly to try and keep them at bay, though he succededing holding them off initially there revitalized second attack finally broke down the Castle walls and forced what remained of the Nights Watch to fall back, excluding a select few who stayed behind to cover there escape, Athos Wilder included.

Distraught over his uncles death Zelos and the rest of the Brightflame party gave Maester Aemon a proper burial to honor him before they were set upon by the Bolton forces lead by Roose's bastard born Ramsey. Caught unprepared the party barely survives the encounter and Rickard Greywinde and Terrance the Towering are captured. The remaining knights quickly come up with a plan of action on how to proceed with some trying to gain there allies in the North while Zelos and Ser Tristifer travelled to the dreadfort to attempt to sneak in the dreaded castle and free there friends. Zelos and Tristifer are able to scale the castle walls and take out the sentries, before sneaking down to the dungeons as Ramsey's forces start to bear down on them capturing Tristifer when he distracts them and giving Zelos time to free Rickard and Terrance before coming face to face with the Bastard himself, thanks to the timely arrival of the Brightflame allies in bulk and Ramsey's overconfidence Zelos is able to escape with Rickard and when the battle begins Zelos focuses his efforts into freeing Tristifer and then helping defeat the remaining forces before they retreat leaving Ramsey to his fate. After that Zelos takes Dark Sister to the capital to give the prized sword to the King as proof that at least they succeeded in something in the North and then learning of the rather difficult task and trouble faced in Dorne where his cousin was.

Back home Zelos soon found himself in the crossfire again when on his way to the capitol he and his small party and family were attacked by the feared Black knights in revenge for there friend and fellow ally Jon Black, who kill most of his men except for Zelos himself and Caim who are able to hold them off and they kidnap Seles Wilder before there able to escape much to Zelos' frustration. Zelos and Lief begin tirelessly looking for her and with the help of Zelos' allies he starts to find out where the knights and there skilled army of bandits are hiding but things fall apart of Zelos' paranoia and issues with his fellow lords for actions he disapproved of causes tension cultimating in Zelos and Lief coming to blows when Zelos takes a deal from the leader of the Knights Aegon, who married and raped Seles to take her and all the captured ladies in exchange for letting him go. Lief leaves in a huff and Zelos feels less trusting of most people as he begins looking into who was really in charge of these men.

## Temporary exile

Making peace with Lief later on when the man comes with a lead on the mysterious Benefactor they go to Kings Landing to look into a merchant that Zelos crossed along time ago. But when Zelos goes into the building he finds the merchant dead and he ends up in a fight with Aegon before finding out that Lief set them both up, wanting to kill Aegon and deeming Zelos' reckless behavior a threat to there house, sets more sellswords and disguised Dunbridges on them forcing the two to work together and fight there way out as Lief stabs himself and tricks the Goldcloaks who arrive on the scene that Zelos attacked him, killed the merchant and is working with Aegon, with Zelos having nothing on him to be able to defend himself he's forced to flee with aegon who also double crosses him and leaves him to be caught. Zelos escapes anyway and gives chase after Aegon to the port before being blindsided by more of Lief's men, one who shoots him in the shoulder with a crossbow and causes Zelos to fall into the sea, where he's seemingly killed and unable to defend himself from Lief's accusations allowing him to be condemned as a maniac and causing a bounty to be put on his head in the event he's alive.

By luck or sheer fate Zelos is caught in a net by some ships who unaware of who he is nurse him to health while sailing to Dragonstone and then to the Stepstones, on the way they do learn who he is but Zelos proclaims innocence once he comes to and convinces them t let him have a chance to prove his innocence, letting him borrow a helmet to keep his identifty safe he disguises himself as a sellsword for hire on the Stepstones where he goes to Essos on one of there raiding parties to try and find allies to help him get back at Lief and Aegon. Breaking off from the party he's with he goes to Braavos and meets Drake, an old friend in charge of a sellsword company. Promising to pay them drake and his company escort Zelos across Essos as they end up getting through a serious of troubles including Dothraki hordes, Myrish men and various Brightflame lords and companies looking to collect the bounty or potentially bring him home. But Zelos succeeds in getting to Volantis and a trip home on his own terms where he begins setting out to prove his innocence. Finding Aegon who offers to help him to spite Lief for his betrayal Zelos is once again on the run from Brightflame lords and Lief's forces, Zelos is helped through this by Ian and a group of lords he would later know as the greyhounds who help him plot an ambush for Lief to be caught, and capture him. Though Lief proclaims his innocence hes outed by Chrisarys who recalls him being at a meeting with the Dunbridges specifically for killing Zelos and then the Hennings proving to be the final nail in the coffin for the ambitious lords plans and allowing Zelos to be pardoned in time to be there for the birth of his kids.

After all is said and done Zelos keeps his word to Aegon, freeing him and allowing him to go to Essos under the promise he never steps foot in Westeros again and he gives away the final pieces of the puzzle Zelos has been looking into, revealing that the benefactor undermining the Realm was none other then Haywin Darkspear imbittered by his perceived mistreatment by the Brightflames. Zelos figures out the rest from this fact, Realizing that Jon Black's work in Kingslanding was in fact to try and undermine the campaign, knowing that if the city fell and Daeron did nothing he would look pathetic and his men would lose morale which would allow Haywin to protect Dorne by getting the campaign to be halted and set himself up as a negotiator to his home country to bring them into the fold peacefully and potentially but marriage to gain influence for himself. And the Bandits work was to weaken the realm and set up Essosi raids framing Brightflame lords to get the Free Cities to turn against them and set him up for a rebellion on a weakened Westeros. unfortunately this information only allows Zelos time to prepare for war since Haywins actions are mostly already complete.

## Darkspear Rebellion

Despite having no love for Myr and vice versa Zelos attends the meeting there hoping to smoot things over. Sadly all he finds is how well ingrained Haywin is with the Myrish, already donning a crown and in clear cahoots with there people looking for a fight, thus the talks end in failure as the Free Cities there demand too high a price that the kingdom can pay and head back to find Dragonstone taken by a clever attack and the first battle of the war that would be known as the Darkspear Rebellion. Zelos already had his army ready thanks to Aegon's timely warning and marches out shortly afterward to drive away Haywin's land allies from Kings Landing, where he arrived in time to help assure that the siege of the city fell. Soon after he was called by Ian Dayne to assist him in a plan of his own a counter strike against Haywin. Zelos was uneased by the idea of leaving the city behind so soon after the battle but decided for once to trust someone else's judgement and left with his remaining forces. Meeting Ian and the group of lords and knights he had brought together they marched through the Stormlands and forcing the Volantis Dothraki from the area before defeating Haywins allies at sea to make the move to Bloodstone itself.

At the Battle of Bloodstone Zelos leads his men into the battle landing after the vanguard of Jaime Rykker and Darron Flameheart start and helps cut through the enemies defenses and taking out some of Haywin's KG before coming to blows with Haywin Darkspear himself. The determined king doesn't shy from battle though and he and Zelos combat each other for several minutes before Aurion Valeries intervention to keep the fight even and keeping Darkspear loyalist at bay allows Zelos to land a fatal blow to the king and break the morale of the Darkspear men. Haywin gives up Tywin's location to Ian in exchange for his sons safety and Zelos finally lets the Sellsword turned king rest for good before Ian offers him a role in the journey to take down Tywin before he causes more trouble. After making sure the war is resolved and Bloodstone secure Zelos agrees and goes with him sending his men home for some well deserved rest.

## Wrath of Dawn

Following Ian and the small party of men that had come with them to take down Tywin Lannister Zelos found himself enjoying the journey in Essos, land he knew most of his life and still carried a fondness for despite the time he had spent in Westeros providing him so much more. Though he mostly acted as a soldier and scout for the main group leaving most other things to people who enjoyed the major tasks more, when there allies were captured Zelos was able to assist in the rescue of Aenar Blackfyre before he fought in a few skirmishes and scouting missions. Though the first real snag in the mission came with Ian's betrayal, and Zelos was left at the mercy of the Myrish for a time..he couldn't imagine a worse fate at the moment and even Ian's eventual efforts to get them free and back in the city did little to mend Zelos' lowered opinion of the Sword of Morning until his untimely death after his duel with Tywin. When Tywin was killed and his army scattered Zelos took the ride home, eager to find some time to rest with his family now that the conflict Haywin caused was fully behind them and the threat Tywin posed dealt with.