Warren Dustin

Warren present day

Warren before the Burning

Dacey Dustin

Warren Dustin is the successor of his brother, Artos Dustin, as Lord of Barrowton and head of House Dustin. He inherited the title, duties, and lands from his brother who held all for only a few short hours during a raid on Barrowton in 96AC..

While Warren was a great warrior in his prime, one of if not the best in Westeros, an injury he suffered in a battle against willing raiders on Bear Island forced Warren to hang his battle-axe permanently. From that day, he committed his full efforts towards ruling and increasing Barrowton's fortunes.

## Appearance

Warren's blonde hair has grown white and the long beard he used to carry has now been cut to a short cropping around his face. No longer a fighter in earnest, Warren wears leathers and furs instead of his armor. The wrinkles around his brown eyes show a life well-lived.

## Background

Although Warren struggled in his early days of lordship, he eventually thrived in the position. Today, he is considered one of the most skilled lords in all of the Seven Kingdoms and served consistently as an advisor to King Theodan throughout their lives. However, Warren has always prioritized Barrowton and House Dustin above all else.

### Upbringing

Warren was born in the year 62 AC as the second child and son of Lord Artos Dustin. With his birth came security to the succession of House Dustin that hadn't been present for decades. Yet, while there was much rejoicing to Warren's birth, he grew up quiet and somber. His parents and others in the Dustin’s castle could catch him laughing and playing with his siblings but in public, he rarely smiled.

While Warren was still at a young age, Lord Artos made a decision to find allies abroad in order to protect themselves and Barrowton from the threat of the Iron Islands by sending Warren to Seagard as a ward. Despite his resistance, Warren was forced onto the ship and began a new life in Seagard. Artos hoped that such an alliance would be useful in fighting off the Ironborn, a well-intentioned yet poorly executed parental decision.

### Seagard

In Seagard, Warren was even shyer than he was in Barrowton and whatever rare joy found on his face had disappeared entirely. It was a strange land with strange people worshiping strange gods. The only thing they had in common was a hatred of those from the Iron Islands. Given that bond and the promise made between the respective lords, Warren was raised as a part of the Mallister family. Although there wasn’t anyone his age, he grew close to some in the family after the older men taught him everything a noble lordling needed to know.

Officially, Warren was warded under Lord Dontos, but practically, there was a fair bit of involvement from the lord's son and grandson. Warren sparred with Addam, participated in patrols along the coasts and even at sea, seeing the results of smaller Ironborn raids on hamlets and the like. The two formed a friendship over time that still lasts today.

When he was 14, Warren went with the Mallisters to the Tourney of Lannisport. Warren was in complete awe of the city. Later in life, he'd look back on it and be inspired at what Barrowton should aspire for. Emboldened by the dark stares of those at the tourney, common and noble, Warren decided to enter the tournament under a pseudonym, the Winged Warrior. He defeated a Reyne but was struck down shortly after by the runner-up to the entire melee, Damion Lannister. However, he entered the Axe-Throwing Contest and came out victorious. His host family was ecstatic but Warren felt uneasy at the notoriety that came with the victory.

Warren continued his wardship until he reached the age of manhood, becoming a man in his own right. However, despite his friendship with Addam and growing success with the axe, Warren knew his place would never be in the South. News of raids and attacks on Barrowton by the Ironborn kept him up many nights. The snide remarks and dirty looks always made Warren look over his shoulder. Many parts of his life in the south were enough to call him back to his home. He said farewell to the Mallister’s shortly after his sixteenth nameday and returned North.

### Back in the North

Warren was ecstatic to return to Barrowton with a new set of armor and battle-ax from his host family. However, he quickly learned that he was returning to a cold, hard, and unwelcome place where many looked down at him for his upbringing. Even his own family treated him differently. Since the Dustins could only make a visit to Seagard, or Warren to Barrowton, once a year if they were lucky, he rarely saw them while with the Mallisters. In Barrowton, Artos was wed to Jeyne Karstark and Eyron was considered a great warrior and touched by the Old Gods. Warren did his best to prove himself regardless. However, he tended to overcompensate by dressing in armor wherever he went, wearing battlepaint even in training, and got into fights whenever possible. He even let his normally well-kept hair grow wildly.

The Ironborn raids continued but the Dustin's successfully repelled many of them. However, one night, the town was caught by surprise when much of the southern wall was lit aflame. The town was roused to action with the Dustin men leading the charge. Soon, a rush of Ironborn entered the town and began wreaking havoc. Warren's father, Artos, was felled by an ax-man and shortly after, his brother was also slain by the invaders. Warren stepped into the fold, rallying the soldiers, and slaughtered many of the Ironborn including the one who killed his father and brother.

### Post-Burning

After what was later dubbed the Burning of Barrowton, Warren found himself as the new Lord of Barrowton. Many doubted he was able enough to safely guide them against the dangers at sea. To prove himself, Warren set off when called for aid against the Wildlings and lent his ax to the cause. Upon his return, bloodied and hard from the battles against the Wildlings, Warren decided that war was not the answer and that Barrowton must thrive first before they could be strong enough to defeat their enemies once and for all. Many in the city resented that opinion, including many in his family. However, his Aunt Alys, the unofficial matriarch of the split-off branch, supported him where few others did. A strange alliance beginning to form between them, Alys and Warren began rebuilding. The first obstacle Alys faced was convincing Warren that he needed a wife and children to inherit after him since Domeric, the heir to Barrowton, died in the fires. Marrying wasn't the difficult concept, but marrying a woman of the south.

### Rebuilding From the Ashes

Warren began his lordship in earnest in the second half of the 98th year after Aegon's Conquest. He went about rebuilding the walls of Barrowton and training his garrison to be more than prepared to repel raiders. However, while his ancestors only looked to the sword, Warren also looked elsewhere to find peace. Throughout the first year, Warren attended the abdication feast of King Alaric and quarreled with a princess of the Iron Isles. However, both Kings interrupted the argument to avoid a diplomatic incident. Warren was still able to acquire gold from Winterfell to build ships and that is exactly what he did along with building other improvements throughout Barrowton. By the end of the year, Barrowton was thriving more than it ever had been and boasted a fleet any Northman would be proud of.

What success Warren found in city-building, he did not find in matchmaking. Multiple attempts at finding a wife failed and even the assistance of others like Princess Gwynesse Stark did nothing to help his cause. In the end, Warren met with Gysella Goodbrother to arrange a match with her daughter, Gwin. Although Gysella and Warren had clear differences, they both agreed that wealth was power. In those interests, Warren agreed to marry Gwin and the two wed in front of a heart tree later in the year. At the same time, Warren would be called to defend the North from a threat against the Riverlands.

### Old Friends Become New Enemies

In 99 AC, the Riverlands invaded the North and seized Flint's Fingers. Refugees flooded into Barrowton. Warren accepted them all but waited impatiently for Theodan to respond. The King gathered a great army in Barrowton and war councils were held. Finally, Theodan agreed that Warren should take to the sea and secure their coasts from whatever power the Riverlands boasted at sea. Unfortunately for Theodan, that power was held by House Mallister, the family that raised him. While House Mallister had ignored Theodan when he visited the year prior, Warren struggled with going from a spurned former ward to a bitter rival. Yet, Warren didn't want the destruction that had wrecked Flint's Finger to fall onto his shores. So, Warren set off to sea with all of the ship the western coast of the North could muster.

In the bay of Flint's Finger, Warren saw the Mallister fleet and smashed them at the only battles of the brief war between the North and the Riverlands. Warren and his fleet chased the Mallisters along the coast until finally, he met them in full force at sea. Not a single Mallister ship survived and Warren returned to Barrowton a reluctant war hero. This victory pushed the Riverlands back into their own lands and allowed the North to reclaim Flint's Finger. However, Warren was torn by the fighting and declared he would not participate in any more fighting at sea. His good-brother, Rodrik Drumm, lead the Northern fleet when Sigrun Blacktyde's envoy persuaded Theodan to lend the North's support in defense against the Iron Throne.

It was also during this time that Warren discovered he was a father to a bastard son, Donnel. The boy was brought to Barrowton by his mother, a former handmaiden and commoner in nearby lands. Although the situation had the potential to damage his relationship with the Goodbrother's and his new wife, Warren refused to abandon his son. Warren maintained a neutral but distant relationship with Donnel, even after the boy snuck onto a warship during the campaign against the Mallisters. While Warren liked the boy, he knew that Donnel wouldn't have his best life in Barrowton. Eventually, he made an agreement with Gysella Goodbrother to ward Donnel and, although some criticized Warren for shirking his duty, Donnel thrived in Old Wyk.

### Back to Roots

After the defeat of the Iron Island's fleet and the disappointing return of what was left of the newly construction Dustin fleet, Warren focused on Barrowton and Barrowton alone. He was happy to send goods along to Winterfell and the camps spread throughout the North where much-needed roads were beginning to form. However, the losses suffered at the Battle of [TBD] reminded him that the wealth a city brought in would be the true defense against all threats. There were also other matters that kept his focus at home: children.

In the one-hundredth year after Aegon's Conquest, Warren's son, Roderick, was born to him and Gwin. By the time the boy was five, he had two more siblings. His younger brother, Cregan, was named in honor of Warren's bastard cousin who saved Gwin from an assassination attempt, losing his life in the process. Then, he was given a younger sister, Jonelle. However, the girl was born without her father present as Warren had taken to the seas one last time to fight alongside his wife's family in the Ironborn Civil War.

### Back on the Waters

Although it had been years since he had taken to the sea, Warren was a victorious commander after smashing the Mallister's fleet off of Sea Dragon Point. It was, unfortunately, something the reavers of the Iron Islands congratulated him on but Warren did not sail again for their respect. Gysella Goodbrother had called for his aid and his honor would not let him refuse. Working alongside Rodrik Greyjoy, Warren planned to remain hidden and out of sight until his fleet was needed to change the tides in the deciding battle, whenever that would be. Finally, in the middle of 103 AC, that battle came.

Warren waited just as he and Rodrik had planned until the last moment. The great sails of the Greyjoy ships hid the sails of House Dustin until the last moment, splitting off to encircle Sigrun Blacktyde and Warren ordered his ships straight into the chaos. The Northern warrior looked for Sigrun in the fighting but never found her. Instead, he focused on keeping his men supported throughout the fighting. He had repeated many times before the battle, "I will not have it be said the men of Barrowton shirked from the bitch's steel." While there were losses, Warren was proud of his men and returned to Barrowton with his head held high.

### The Great Drought

Upon returning, Warren was thrust into another conflict, although, one with no direct enemy. Winter had come hard and strong. King Theodan had prepared the winter stores but by pushing the numerous construction projects to finish before the first heavy snows, they were not as prepared as they could've been. Warren ensured Barrowton's trade connections were secured during the first months of the disaster and with them came consistent shipments of food. This kept the worst parts of the North aided from completely starving, however, Warren struggled to maintain a peaceful balance of feeding the North while keeping Barrowton satisfied.

There were normal conflicts as well during this time. The wildlngs grew bolder and struck south. When Bear Island was taken by surprise, Warren sailed to rescue House Mormont but was gravely injured in the attack. He could still fight but not nearly as well as he used to be able to, a crushing blow to the man and the North who had lost her best fighter. Since he had to recover, Warren returned to Barrowton and did his part against the Wildlings by sending as many supplies as he could to the front lines. This was helpful but just when the Wildlings were defeated and things looked bright, White Harbor was attacked by a pirate known as Lucerys the Sea Bear.

With the North's strongest port under attack, Barrowton's limits were pushed time and time again. Warren did his best to keep all flowing through his home into the rest of the North but as the years passed, it became increasingly more difficult. When Warren learned that Theodan had reached out to House Targaryen to talk about reuniting as Seven Kingdoms, he followed his king dutifully despite the growing resentment in Barrowton. The final announcement that Prince Osric would be marrying Aemma Targaryen, symbolizing the reunion between the North and the Iron Throne, was met with mixed feelings, especially as the spring sun rose over the snow-capped hills of the Dustin's lands.

### Building a Legacy

In 120 AC, Warren's heir, Rodrik Dustin, was married to Princess Raya Stark and a year later, his second son was married to Allara Forrestor. Both marriages secured strong ties in the North and Warren grew happier as years past by. His line was further secured as both matches produced many children. Although many in the North were against Theodan and his decision to kneel to the Iron Throne, Warren was quite happy with his life. Those angry few finally acted, though, in 127 AC. House Glover was quickly put down by Theodan but Warren's liege suffered an arrow to the shoulder that would end his life. Once the rebellion was squashed, Warren was one of the first to kneel to Lord Paramount Osric.

## Quotes by Warren

* "*I am loyal to the Crown*," Warren growled. "*I went Beyond the Wall, my lord, after my home was attacked and my family slaughtered. I answered the call. Don't mistake protecting myself and my own as anything but.*" - Warren to Medrick Manderly at the Feast of White Harbor
* "*Now, where is the King? Why is he not greeting the only Northman to make the Riverlanders bleed?*" - Warren to Gwin Dustin upon returning from the Battle of Sea Dragon Point

## Quotes about Warren

* "*It was impressive what [Warren had] done so far, and the King could envision this place becoming a real city one day with a little luck and a little hard work.*" - King Theodan Stark on the walls of Barrowton

## Additional Notes

* Warren has a close relationship with his Reed cousins as their own strange place in the hierarchy of the North lent a more generous view on his upbringing in the South.

## Household

**Main Line**

* Rodrik Dustin
* m. Lysara Dustin nee Whitehill
	+ Myriame Stark nee Dustin
		- m. Alaric Stark
	+ Artos Dustin
	+ m. Celia Reed
		- Artos Dustin
			* m. Jeyne Dustin nee Karstark
			* Domeric Dustin
		- Warren Dustin
			* Yulla
				+ Donnel Snow
		- m. Gwin Goodbrother
			* Rodrik Dustin
			* m. Raya Stark
				+ Serena Dustin
				+ Celia Dustin
				+ Artos Dustin
			* Cregan Dustin
			* m. Allara Forrestor
				+ Torrhen Dustin
				+ Allara Dustin
			* Jonelle Dustin
		- Eyron Dustin
			* Arwood Rivers
		- Dacey Dustin

**Cadet Branch**

* Brandon Dustin
* m. Sera Dustin nee Stout
	+ Donnor Dustin
	+ m. Tula
		- Cregan Snow
	+ Desmond Dustin
	+ Deron Dustin
	+ Alys Dustin
* Royce Dustin
* m. Wylla Dustin nee Moss
	+ Erryk Dustin
	+ Larence Dustin
	+ Harlon Dustin
	+ m. Maege Dustin nee Snow
		- Jon Dustin
		- Gormund Dustin
		- Borros Dustin

Family Tree

**Advisors, Courtiers, and Sworn Swords**

* Maester Patrek
* TBD

**Fleet of Barrowton**

* *TBD*

## Meta

Skills: Intimidation (CHA), Leadership (CHA), Formation (MAR), Siegecraft (MAR), Commerce (STA), Fortification (STA), Civil Engineering (STA), History & Laws (STA), Naval Engineering (EDU), and Finances (EDU)

Mastery: Architect