House Dayne

House Dayne of Starfall is a prominent Dornish House, sworn to House Martell. Following the events of the War of the Five Kings, House Dayne of Starfall descends from Lord Edric Dayne, and his Wife, the Lady Gwyneth Yronwood. Yet, further back through the annals of history, House Dayne notes a range of famed figures.

Alas, while House Dayne is no Great House, it is possessing of something of which no other Family or House in the known world does possess, a famed sword named **Dawn**, made from the Heart of a Star. It is the men who wield this Great Blade, whom have brought House Dayne much of its fame, and they are all consecutively known by the moniker of the **Sword of the Morning**.

Accompanying the martial prowess of the Daynes, is their unique physical features. Oft the true heritage of House Dayne has been pondered upon by many an individual, from hedge knight, to scholar, for they possess eerily inexplicable Valyrian features.

## History

### Third Century A.C.

#### 300-301 A.C. The Second War of Conquest

A Young Lord, absent from his post, this was how The Second War of Conquest began for the House Dayne. Ever since Lord Beric Dondarrion's rather fruitless forays in the Riverlands with his 'Brotherhood Without Banners', the Young Lord had been further from his post than ever before. Yet, with time, did change come to Young Lord's life. With Lord Dondarrion's final passing, and the rise of a ghoulish Lady Catelyn Stark, the Young Lord parted ways with the more vengeful faction of the Brotherhood, and made to return to Starfall, accompanied by a select few previous members of the Brotherhood eager to earn some coin.

As the Young Lord and his companions made their journey back to Starfall, the seat of House Dayne, hopes for a swift return home went awry. The Young Lord had not accounted for the greed of these men, he was, after all, an innocent in this world of warfare, intrigue, and politics. And so, with the perceived Mummer's Dragon being conveniently near to their current path, especially when compared with Starfall, the Young Lord's course was altered, against his will, and soon after, he was left in the 'care' of the man who would later be crowned 'Aegon VI Targaryen', King of Westeros. Such is how the Lord of Starfall spent the Second War of Conquest, not leading armies, not commanding men, not governing his lands, but interned within the Dragon's clutches.

As some would say consequently of the Young Lord's individual circumstances, while others would say due to Dorne declaring for the Dragons, Dayne banners would dart across the Reach, alongside the rest of their Dornish countrymen.

#### 315 A.C. The Year of False Banners

The Young Lord, Edric Dayne, now a man fully grown, with sons of his own, the third of which, came in this very year. Having returned to Starfall after the Second War of Conquest was completed, Edric had continued his practice in the art of swordplay, for how he sought to one day wield that great and famed title, the **Sword of the Morning**, his Uncle, Arthur, was a personal hero of his after all. And so, on his twenty-third nameday, Edric was deemed worthy of lifting Dawn from the mantle where it had taken its rest since the death of Ser Arthur Dayne in 283 A.C.

Yet, when the torrent of war broke forth in 315 A.C., Edric was not eager to test his mettle. The Young Lord had grown into a pragmatic man, a patient man, an apprenhensive man, some would say. Edric saw nothing barring devastation and destruction for House Dayne, if they were to rise against the Dragons, and they had given him no reason to do so. Their reign had not been as the last Dragon come before them, Aerys 'the Mad', they did not burn alive their vassals without just cause, and they did not act out of tyranny and oppression. So when Edric raised his men, and called the banners of High Hermitage to arms, he did so out of a loyalty to the Dragons, to the Martells, and most especially, to the peace they had enjoyed in Dorne for over a decade. **The Sword of the Morning** rode forth atop steed, himself clad in steel, and made battle against the rebellious flock, as did so many of Dorne.

#### 334 A.C. The War in the Narrows

It had been nigh twin decades since Edric had witnessed a war when it came knocking a third time in his life. Yet, Dorne would not rise to war, nor would the Martells. Alas, when Edric looked to his three sons, Rickon, Olyvar, and Arthur, he saw not men, but boys, green boys at that. Certainly, they had fought in tourneys and jousted their days away, and trained just as hard as he had expected of them, but they had not seen real combat, and that worried Edric, he feared what might become of his House after his departure from this world if his sons were not trained and ready to take up his place and title, and most importantly, he still knew not which would succeed him as the **Sword of the Morning**.

As such, the Stars of Dorne did set out to shoot across the field of war, for a third time in a single century. The events they witnessed would come to mar their minds for the remainder of their lives, Lords and Soldiers alike. The great fight of the Dragons in the sky above, the smell and sight of men burning alive, of Arthur Dayne, Edric's youngest son, his screams, or what Edric thought were his screams. A son who would never come to Father sons of his own.

Seeing his son die changed Edric. From that day on, he was all but empty, a shell of his former self, many at the court of Starfall lamented how the 'star had shown so very bright in its youth', and they were right, Edric had been so vibrant in his younger years, but without even a body to bury, he was left broken. Gradually, the Lord of Starfall fell into greater seclusion, disappearing from the court of Starfall, from his duties and responsibilities, leaving his eldest son and heir, Rickon Dayne, named for a Stark boy long deceased, to rule in his place.

#### 335 A.C. The Red God Revival

While many a number of the Daynes Dornish countrymen would be confronted with the sudden arrival of followers of the Red God enmass, House Dayne and its people experienced the arrival in a far lesser capacity. Being as the Torrentine, on which the Castle of Starfall does reside is considerably separated from large urban settlements, the presence of the Red God and his followers remained throughout the Revival, and most of the fourth century, greatly limited, although a Red Priest or two are known to frequent the brothels and taverns of the nearby towns.

#### 339 A.C. The Summer Sickness and the Death of a Lord

The sickness spilled through the gates of the Prince's Pass, and the Boneway as if it were a tidal wave come to swallow all whole. By the time it smashed against the gates of Starfall, the Lord Edric Dayne was already a weakened and ailing man and was the first notable victim of House Dayne to fall to the plague, for soon after the Lord went, as did the Lady Gwyneth Yronwood.

The sudden nature of this plague terrified the new Lord, Rickon Dayne, and sent him into a fury of paranoia, ordering half the possessions of the Castle burnt in a heap outside the gates, and sent away most of the attendees and servants. It was as well during this time, that Rickon's son and heir, Ulrick, fell ill, only further exploiting Rickon's fears and paranoia. The Lord called forth half the Maesters of the Citadel, Priests of the Faith of the Seven by the dozen, and Red Priests were he could convince them to make the journey. Alas, they were to no avail, the young heir's health did not improve, only worsening, and in these days of sickness and suffering, the Lord's brother, Olyvar Dayne, made the fatal mistake of mocking his nephew to some of the few remaining within the Castle, a day later, Olyvar found himself shackled and in the dungeons, and disappeared as a mystery for the ages. Ultimately, some weeks later, the Maester of Starfall found the young heir's health to be improving and his appetite growing once more, Rickon was ecstatic, like none had ever seen him before, but alas, the disappearance of one Dayne and the rise in health of another brought about suspicions that would haunt both Rickon and his son, Ulrick for decades to come.

#### 346 A.C. The Southern Schism

The great divide that would come to be known as "the Southern Schism" fell in the later years of Lord Rickon's life, yet most surprisingly, Lord Rickon did not fail into a weakened state, or fail to act appropriately, but simply held faith with the King's Landing High Septon. Although, when had the Seven ever truly mattered in Dorne.

#### 352 A.C. The Blackwater Tourney

House Dayne would be represented by a Ser Ulrick Dayne, and a Criston Sand, whom are said to have come to blows over the results of a joust between the two. Additionally, a range of knights in the employ of House Dayne participated. The Tourney would be completely overshadowed and forgotten about by House Dayne some two years later, when war broke out.

#### 354 A.C. The War of the Two Ulricks

The Lord Rickon coughed hard and coughed long and coughed loud and then coughed no more. The eldest son of Lord Edric, the one named for Stark, was dead. The next words within the walls of Starfall were the hailing and ascension of Lord Ulrick IV. Naturally, many assumed it to be Ulrick, son of Rickon, but alas, they were wrong. At the time of Lord Rickon's passing, his son and heir was not within the walls of Starfall, but was visiting their vassals at High Hermitage, the Lord Ulrick whom had ascended, was Ulrick, son of Olyvar, the Dayne whom had disappeared into the dungeons of Starfall early in Lord Rickon's reign, never to be seen or heard from again.

Lord Ulrick raised his banners at Starfall and made up the Torrentine with great haste, a bloody vigil dashed across his face, most literally, for those whom had spoken in favour of Ulrick **the Usurped** had been swiftly sent to the next. But with gratitude to the Lord of High Hermitage, whom was a friend to the landless Ulrick, escape toward the west was facilitated, mere minutes before the Lord Ulrick banged on the gates of High Hermitage and demanded entrance and the submission of his vassal relatives, withholding for as long as they could justify, the Daynes of High Hermitage did, yet, this period of pause provided the Lord Ulrick with grievious anger, and so, called forth his bastard half sister, Clarisse Sand, for her, a bastard, the taint would be little, if not non-existent the Lord of Starfall had thought. All through the day and night, the Daynes of High Hermitage were stretched across the rack, flayed at the ends, brutalised with branding irons and disturbed sleep, all manner of tools were utilised, until eventually in the hours just before the dawn, they broke. They revealed the truth of Ulrick's whereabouts. He was headed for Oldtown, for his sister, the Lady of Oldtown, and her husband, the Lord Dorian Hightower. Up the western fork of the Torrentine he went, dismounting and attempting to follow through the mountain passes that headed toward Uplands, but, the Lord Ulrick did not know these mountains like his cousin did, for his cousin had spent many a months in these mountains, while he had spent them elsewhere.

Panic set in. The Lord Ulrick rushed back to Starfall, but not before taking hostages from the Daynes of High Hermitage so as to ensure their loyalty, and the use of their army when the time came. The next few months were ravenous on the newly ascended Lord's mind, for he had nothing of his cousin, and nothing out of the ordinary of Oldtown. His councilors advised him presume his cousin dead, lost to the Red Mountains, like many-a-man before him, but the Lord Ulrick could not be at peace, his paranoia and panic became so evident that he began insisting he was the Lord of Starfall to everyone from scullery maids to knights in his service. Starfall swiftly became a grim place under the Lord Ulrick, losing all the light that usually shone bright. He even dared try name himself **Sword of the Morning**, but that was a step too far, for any Dayne, and even his bastard half-siblings, the Twins Tormented, Clarisse and Criston, opposed such an action. Some three years would pass, and in this time, all the children that would be born to the Lord Ulrick were either monstrous and miscarried, or the sickly daughter, Dyanna Dayne, whom would prove not long for this world. Three years passed, with no word of Ulrick, and no strange sound from Oldtown.

Then in late 357 A.C., a host landed near the mouth of the Torrentine, a host said to be flying the banners of Dayne and Hightower, their combined light shining far brighter than the Lord Ulrick's own ever had. Hearing the news, the Lord Ulrick took a smile for the first time in years and sallied forth down the Torrentine with great haste, not even waiting for the arrival of the Daynes of High Hermitage and their army. Soon enough, with those of High Hermitage seeing an advantage for revenge as they caught up to the advancing force of Lord Ulrick, they struck from the rear moments after battle with the combined Dayne-Hightower force had commenced. The fighting lasted hours, it was bloody and brutal, and most of House Dayne's army would be obliterated in the battle. Yet the legends say, that in the midst of the blood and muck and flow of the Torrentine, the Ulricks came to clash blows, a fight of legendary proportions for the House Dayne. Many a times throughout the course of the duel, it appeared as if Ulrick were to die, for both the fingers on his left hand and his left eye did. But somehow, Ulrick managed to evade death this day, and shoved a dagger through his Lord cousin's throat, ending his reign. By the close of battle, Criston Sand, bastard half-brother to the deceased Ulrick lay dead as well, his corpse littered with arrows.

Ulrick Dayne returned to Starfall after three years, and ascended the throne of Starfall. Ulrick V he was crowned. Sadly, the young Dyanna Dayne had been found missing both her eyes and tongue upon the return of Ulrick V to Starfall, and most definitely deceased. Clarisse Sand would persist in fleeing her fate for a half year before being inevitably cornered by outriders of House Dayne, and cut down like a hound with rabies. It is said she was returned to House Dayne of High Hermitage still screaming, and lasted there for years to come, but the authenticity of these rumours has never been confirmed, nor denied.

#### 356 A.C. The Mead Summer

The Mead Summer would not reach House Dayne in earnest, for it was embroiled in the War of the Two Ulricks. Though they too would experience a most bountiful harvest.

#### 360 A.C. The Royal Tour Vists Starfall

Less than a half decade into the reign of Lord Ulrick II, King Aenar I Targaryen and his Court visited Starfall. They were grandiosely hosted, and Lord Ulrick II worked his hardest to ensure the castle of Starfall and surrounding lands did not look as if there had just been a war a few years proir. Searches of the Torrentine and sands were ordered thrice over, so as to find and remove any arms and armour left on the field on the battle, and boys as young as fourteen were conscripted into the guard of House Dayne, so as to make the House appear sizable even after the war that had torn it in two.

#### 379 A.C. The Kingswood Tourney

House Dayne would not attend the Kingswood Tourney, even though they had attended that of the Blackwater a generation prior. Due to Lord Ulrick II's waning health, House Dayne was enswamped in preparations for the succession, with the younger sons of the Lord, Gerold, Nymor, and Joffrey, all being watched closely by the castle guard and Court for hints of rebellion. Ulrick II was determined to see a peaceful and smooth succession to his eldest son and heir, Arthur, and had no qualms in telling any of his sons such, going to far as to publicly slap Gerold when he refused to pay close attention to his Lord Father's words.

#### 392 A.C. The Great Famine

Much in the way as the rest of Dorne, House Dayne did not experience the Great Famine in any comparative capacity to the remainder of the Seven Kingdoms. Rather simply, they only experienced a minor drop in general grain stores over the few years that the famine persisted.

Moreover, while during this time House Dayne kept largely to itself, they did manage to make a number of sales of grain and other foodstuffs to a handful of Houses from the south of the Reach, as well as a number of wealthy merchants, gaining considerable funds during this time. Yet, one Dayne would venture forth and travel through the Prince's Pass into the rest of the Kingdoms during this time. The recently knighted Ser Edric Dayne, only eighteen namedays had, and a rather fervent follower of the Baelorian branch of the Faith of the Seven travelled along both the border of the Reach and the Stormlands, and the Reach and the Crownlands, providing what little assistance to those of the Baelorian sect as he could. This assistance he provided was oft times the raiding of farms belonging to followers of the Starry sect and the delivery of their grain and foodstuffs to followers of the Baelorian sect. Edric may have also been the cause of a number of brutal religious-motivated deaths within these territories.

#### 396 A.C. The War of the Three Thieves

Upon outbreak of the War, the Lord of Starfall, and the **Sword of the Morning**, Ulrick VI, had little desire to send more than the bare minimum of troops to fight in some war he saw as being a foreign problem, and one that would never come to affect House Dayne or Starfall, yet, after a tense conversation with his Wife, he would emerge from the council room of Starfall and declare the House as being in a state of war. It remains unknown to this day what exactly the Lady Rhaella Velaryon said to convince her husband to war, although some speculate that it involved her own dragon desires, but these rumours remain entirely uncorroberated.

Heading off to war, the Dayne army appeared unbreakable to many of the region, led by a young and strong Lord, accompanied by his cousins, the brother Knights Edric and Triston Dayne. Yet, early on in the war, in the Battle of the Gulf, the Lord Ulrick VI himself would receive a Myrish crossbow bolt to the left shoulder, which sank deep into the gap between the plate armour, the injury proved almost fatal to the Lord, as when it struck, it sent him over the edge of the ship he was aboard, only surviving past this battle due to the bravery of one of his levies, an Olyvar Torpyne. For this, the levy would receive a Knighthood and an income, and his children would be brought into the household of Starfall.

Alas, due to the wound Ulrick VI suffered, he was forced to withdraw his person to Planky Town for a substantial period of the war, where he assisted in the preparation of the city's defences, as well as briefly reuniting with his Wife. Eventually, much to Ulrick's pleasure, he was deemed fit enough to rejoin the conflict, yet, fate had deemed him not one for this war, and the ship he was aboard was struck by a ravenous storm, shipwrecking him along the coast near Lemonwood. He was soon found and recovered by outriders of the House Dalt, but alas, the storm had managed to pry open the wound in his shoulder, allowing splinters of wood from the ship to make their way inside. The wound would never heal properly, and some say, was the cause of the Lord's death less than a decade later, as it regularly pestered and pained him. The majority of the Dayne army would perform to standard throughout the war, remaining with the bulk of the Crown forces, experiencing no other notable lossess.

### Fourth Century A.C.

#### 402-405 A.C. The Scarlet Winter

Although Dorne remained largely unaffected by the Scarlet Winter, being so far from the Greenblood proved unfortunate for House Dayne. Their geographic isolation came to make them one of the few unfortunate Dornish Houses to be subjected to nigh exorbatant prices during the years of the Winter, yet, unlike their northern counterparts, they were not subjected to suffering and torment, as they were also largely self-sufficient in many ways.

And so, when the Red Mountains began to be bloodied once more, House Dayne had no hesitation in sending out its men to do battle and restore the King's justice. Notably, Sers Edric Dayne and Triston Dayne headed out with sizable parties and set slaughter to any they found possessing even the slightest hint of less than moral purposes, yet, as whispers do seem to in almost any situation involving these two Daynes, rumours would grow and steadily persist that they were not only bringing justice to bandits and thieves, but also to those whom refused pay toll to them personally.

When the Red Moon rose in 405 A.C., the Young Heir that was Aemon Dayne gazed up at the King's Landing sky, unsure what to think of the imagery even though he would come to hear all the suspicions of what it truly meant. Yet, as his Father, the Lord of Starfall, passed from this life later in 405 A.C., Aemon thought he had confirmation of what the Red Moon had meant, but alas, when the Crown Prince also passed later that same year, he wondered if it had not been a sign of both deaths to come, or mayhaps one or the other.

#### 407 A.C. The Mummer's War

House Dayne's actions in the Mummer's War would be governed and commanded by the Young Lord's regency council, but neither they, nor their Lord, would forget their blood ties to House Yronwood when Dorne marched. Unbeknownst to the rest of the Realm, House Dayne slowed their march on Yronwood as much as justifiably possible, not because they at all believed in the cause of the Yronwoods, but because House Dayne are not Kinslayers. Once more, within the combat against House Yronwood, more skeptical and keen eyes came to note House Dayne's lack of vigor in battle and their compassionate desire to remain toward the rear of the Dornish host.

Yet, when time came to march into the Reach and bring down the wrath of the Dornish upon the Reach Lords, as expected, House Dayne's vigor grew tenfold and they were notably marching at a very eager pace. To find out the Reach had surrendered crushed their morale and sent many Dayne men into a drunken state, involving many whores and many brawls.

#### 413-416 A.C. The Red Temple of Starfall

Soon after his return to Starfall in 413 A.C., the Lord Aemon Dayne ordered the construction of a Red Temple, as he himself was a follower of the Red Faith and wished to see his people convert to such as well. The Temple would be completed in 416 A.C. as it was nothing terribly grand, moreso created to serve practical purpose.

## Current Living Members

* Lord Aemon Dayne, Lord of Starfall, b. 393 A.C.
	+ Lady Elyana Dayne, Daughter, b. 412 A.C.
	+ Lord Vorian Dayne, Son, b. 414 A.C.
	+ Lord Ulrick Dayne, Son, b. 417 A.C.
* Lady Ashara Dayne, Twin Sister, b. 393 A.C.
* Lady Arianne Hightower nee Dayne, Sister, b. 396 A.C. d. 418 A.C.
	+ Lord Olyvar Hightower b. 412 A.C.
	+ Lord Samwell Hightower b. 415 A.C.
* Lady Anara Dayne, b. Sister, 398 A.C.
* Lady Allyria Dayne, b. Sister, 402 A.C.
* Ser Morgan Dayne, Uncle, b. 379 A.C.
* Ser Aron Dayne, Uncle, b. 382 A.C.
* Ser Edric Dayne, Second Cousin Once Removed, b. 376 A.C.
	+ Ser Samwell Dayne, Third Cousin, b. 395 A.C.
	+ Lady Serala Dayne, Third Cousin, b. 399 A.C.
* Ser Triston Dayne, Second Cousin Once Removed, b. 379 A.C.
	+ Ryella Sand, Third Cousin, b. 404 A.C.
	+ Lyara Sand, Third Cousin, b. 406 A.C.
	+ Daryn Sand, Third Cousin, b. 409 A.C.

***All relations are relative to Aemon Dayne.***

## Lords of the Fourth Century A.C.

* Lord EdricDayne, Lord of Starfall, b. 287 A.C. d. 339 A.C.
* Lord Rickon **the Red** Dayne, Lord of Starfall, b. 308 A.C. d. 354 A.C.
* Lord Ulrick IV **the Usurper** Dayne, Lord of Starfall b. 330 A.C. d. 358 A.C.
* Lord Ulrick V **Brightstar** Dayne, Lord of Starfall b. 331 A.C. d. 384 A.C.
* Lord Arthur **Dyingstar** Dayne, Lord of Starfall b. 350 A.C. d. 389 A.C.
* Lord Ulrick VI Dayne, Lord of Starfall b. 369 d. 405 A.C.

## Lords of the Fifth Century A.C.

* Lord Aemon **Morningstar** Dayne, Lord of Starfall, b. 393 A.C.

## Swords of the Morning through the Fourth and Fifth Centuries A.C.

* Lord Edric Dayne, 310 A.C. - 339 A.C.
* Lord Ulrick VI Dayne 390 A.C. - 405 A.C.
* Ser Aron Dayne 405 A.C. - 408 A.C.
* Lord Aemon **Morningstar** Dayne, 409 A.C. - Current.

## Historical Figures

### Samwell Dayne

Known as **the Starfire**, Samwell Dayne ruled as King of the Torrentine and Lord of Starfall, and led a victorious campaign to the gates of Oldtown, at which time he burned and sacked the City, earning his moniker.

Amongst the halls of Starfall, his name is not forgotten.

### Vorian Dayne

Known as the **Sword of the Evening**, a sadness strikes the eye of a Dayne when Vorian is mentioned, for it was his reign that saw the end of the Kings of the Torrentine, against the armies of Nymeria.

Alas, it is not forgotten that he was renowned as the Greatest Knight throughout all of Dorne during his time.

### Davos Dayne

A **Sword of the Morning**, Davos Dayne was third husband to Nymeria, the Princess of Dorne, and by her, he did sire a son. Although, much to his dismay and that of House Dayne, his son was passed over, in favour of Rhoynish succession customs, a custom that to this day, has not penetrated the stoney walls of Starfall, and the surrounding mountains.

### Joffrey Dayne

Much in the colours of the Starfire, Joffrey Dayne marched an army to the walls of Oldtown during the First Dornish War, and razed the fields and villages outside of it.

The Dragon did not conquer Dorne this day.

### Ulrick Dayne

A **Sword of the Morning**, considered one of the Greatest Knights of his time. The father of a name still oft used throughout the House till this day.

### Dyanna Dayne

While never ascending to the title of Queen Consort, Dyanna Dayne was Wife to a future King, Maekar I Targaryen, and Mother to another, Aegon V Targaryen.