Solona Stark

Lady **Solona Stark**, is the current second-in-command to King Colin Stark, and Lady Chancellor of Winterfell. The youngest of the Stark children, Solona spent much of her teens as a Ward of House Forrester to expand her architectural skills. Since returning to Winterfell, she's served dutifully and proven to be a responsible, humble, and pleasant worker, known for her maturity and dedication to handling delicate political and internal affairs properly.

## Physical Description

Solona, at 21 years old, possesses a distinct and striking appearance that mirrors her Northern heritage. Her typically pale skin reflects the harsh climate she hails from. Her brown hair, of medium thickness and slightly wavy, frames her face. She prefers to wear it pulled back, with half of it loose and two braids cascading over her shoulders.

Her soft features, characterized by a rounded nose and gentle cheekbones, give her an approachable and warm demeanor. Solona's eyes are a deep brown, and her full, dark eyelashes add depth to her gaze.

Standing at around 5'4", she has a stature that's on the lower end of average height. She maintains a modest figure, somewhat flat-chested in appearance. Her clothing choices vary with the occasion, but she tends to gravitate towards darker colors, particularly favoring shades of blue. She often incorporates fur into her outfits, either as trim or on her shoulders, in an homage to the Stark "look". For official meetings, she dons a black dress with a fur cloak, while at home, she leans towards a style inspired by her Forrester upbringing.

Solona's choice of accessories includes a simple silver circlet that denotes her position as Lady Chancellor of Winterfell, a symbol of her authority in the newly independent North. She carries two prized weapons: a longsword named "Iron Kiss," forged from steel and ironwood, and a cherished bow named "Wight's Recompense," crafted from reclaimed materials of fallen undead foes.

Her life experiences have left her with a few battle scars. She bears a scar on her right side and another on her lower left leg, both remnants of bandit raids on her castle. The most prominent scar crosses above her right eye, a memento from her battle against the Night King beyond the Wall. Additionally, her left eardrum was ruptured, rendering her entirely deaf on that side, a testament to her sacrifices in the service of the North.

## Personality

Despite being the youngest stark, Solona has often been referred to as the most mature. She is often called upon to assume leadership roles, a responsibility she accepts with grace and a strong commitment to her duty. Despite her young age, Solona has learned to adapt quickly and is not too proud to seek advice from those she trusts. She is not too prideful to admit her ineptitudes to those she trusts, and often her own insecurities stifle her willingness to act without consulting others first. She can be easily overwhelmed as she does not like being dragged into the middle of politics, preferring to advise from the side. Though she sees her role as Lady Chancellor as performing a duty to improve her land and uphold the Stark honor, it’s undeniable that she must engage with politics on the regular, something she still struggles with.

Solona is conflict-averse, preferring to avoid arguments and unnecessary disputes. While not a pushover, she detests when disagreements escalate and can quickly shut down disrespectful or confrontational behavior. Physical conflict is something she avoids as well, as she is not a skilled warrior, despite her meticulous attention to her gear and her commitment to her work.

In social life, Solona has always been a somewhat reserved and private person. She can, in many ways, be defined by what she doesn’t share. She weighs her opinions carefully before speaking them aloud. She keeps both affection and disdain hidden behind an impenetrable mask. Excitement, fear, rage, are all kept under a visage of austere neutrality. It is only around those of her family and close friends that she is open with her emotions. But at social gatherings and high-society events, everything she does and says is carefully measured and filtered through the propriety and formality expected of one of noble blood. She does not overdrink, nor overeat, nor engage with rowdy guests. And thus she can appear withdrawn.

In the ways of command, Solona is an open and attentive leader who skillfully mediates disagreements between others and directs others on their assigned tasks. She makes decisions and rulings with the least amount of bias, and has a tendency to give the benefit of the doubt to the smallfolk and lessers of hierarchies. Her years as a Ward of the Forrester Family have given her a unique perspective on the lives of the lower-born, and she actively strives to stay connected and to never be distanced from her people the way that other people of high birth tend to be.

Solona takes great pleasure in creating things, particularly in the realm of architecture, but she also indulges in art and brewing. She finds satisfaction in making things with her own hands and sharing them with a sense of accomplishment. She rarely enjoys idle relaxation and finds meaning in being productive.

Sentimentality plays a significant role in Solona's life. She cherishes history, keepsakes, memories, heirlooms, and legacy. Tradition is essential to her, serving as a foundation for the future rather than a barrier to progress. For example, she keeps the Forrester banners and symbols over her fireplace as a reminder of her formative years as a Forrester Ward, a part of her identity that she still holds dear.

## Biography

### Background

Solona is the youngest child of Lady Elyse Stark and Lord Korvin Stark, the prior Lord Paramount of the North.