Tristifier Darklyn

Androw Darklyn

Criston Darklyn

Elyanna Darklyn

Matthos Darklyn

**Ser Tristifier Darklyn** is the eldest living son of Lady Genavene Darklyn, and is the current Heir to Duskendale.

## Appearance and Character

Inheriting the dark hair of his father, Tristifier keeps a head of dark brown hair that reaches down to his neck, and has a pair of uniformly brown eyes. He dresses often in simple brown and black leathers, and nearly always wears a cloak bearing House Darklyn's heraldry.

Many would say that Tristifier is a proud man. His pride for House Darklyn borders on arrogance, and he *is* arrogant in his own abilities in combat. His many years of constant hunting and practice have honed his marksmanship.

Tristifier has mellowed significantly from his anger-fueled youth, and now generally keeps a cool, and quiet composure, though he is known to occaisonally lose his temper still. He is far from the social butterfly his mother is, yet he is friendly enough with family and polite enough to not be disrespectful with the average man. After marrying and having a family, Tristifier swore to raise his kids differently than how his mother raised, or rather, didn't raise him, and wanted to be very much present in their lives.

One of Tristifier's most notable traits is his dislike of authority that he \*doesn't respect\*. This especially rings true for the kings of Maegor's line. He views King Viserys as inept and weak, and viewed King Rhaegar as too unyielding and firm. Very few know of his thoughts on the crown, as he keeps them private, but they are very much present within his mind.

## History

### Early Life

Tristifier was born in the midst of a terrible dragonblight outbreak in 69 AC to Lady Genavene Darklyn and Ser Trevas Celtigar. His birth would be pointed to by some as an omen from the Seven, as shortly after, the outbreak started to dissipate. Even as a very young child he gained a reputation as a fussy and angry child.

His early childhood would be filled with the recovery afterwards, and then, Maegor's Breath, and the Hook Uprising. Though being forced to flee Duskendale was indeed a frightening experience, Duskendale once more took a sigh of relief after it's conclusion, and Tristifier's mother began rebuilding.

At the age of one and ten, Tristifier would be taken a squire by his father, who was a remarkable swordsman. Strangely enough, Tristifier took the bow much better than he did a sword, though that wasn't to say he was a poor swordsman. He would spend countless hours in his childhood and adolescence hunting with his father, who grew ever more proud of his son each year.

While his relationship with his dad was very strong, the same could not be said for the relationship he held with his mother. Tristifier took to his noble education well enough, but his lessons with his mother were brief, and he was most overseen by his father and Maester Beric. Genavene was detatched from her son, and the rest of her children, as she was kept busy with her own matters. He would form a bond with almost all of his siblings at some point, with the exception of Criston, whose rather anti-social tendencies always made him uneasy.

The Fourth Dornish War would see Tristifier and his father away to fight with the Royal Host. The days were long, and the movement threw the Boneway was gruellingly long, but both son and father were able to keep their lives for the whole affair.

### Marriage and Knighthood

Only a year after returning from the Fourth Dornish War, Tristifier was offered an ultimatum by his mother. He could pick any bride he wanted to, as long as she was a "suitable match". He initially took interest in Catelyn Hollard, a well known beauty in Duskendale, but to his disappointment, she was already promised to another. It took a few months until he found another, but after a period of courting, he would marry Rylene Rosby at the Long Sept in Duskendale. Rylene was found to be with child by Maester Beric a few months after their wedding

The young couple were deeply in love, and this love would later extend to the children they had as well. Tristifier could not remember a happier moment then when their first son, Jon, was born. He swore early on to raise his children differently, to show them love and to be involved in their lives.

At the tourney held for his mother's 50th nameday, Tristifier entered the archery contest, and won, just beating out Arlan Fell, from which a rivalry would spawn. Trevas, now deeming his son worthy, knighted him in front of all, and he rose as Ser Tristifier. With the purse collected from his victory, he would begin construction of his own private estate to the north of Duskendale, where he and his wife would move to with his kids. Tristifier would still travel back to Duskendale itself regularly, being only a short ride away, but most of his time would now be spent at his estate, and in it's grove.

Rylene gave birth to a girl, Melantha, in 88 AC, who Tristifier cherished just as much as he did Jon. His life leading up to the Rosegold Rebellion was relatively quiet, and he stayed out of public view whenever he could, much to the ire of his mother.

### The Rosegold Rebellion and After

When King Rhaegar died, and his son Viserys inherited the throne, Lords Tytos Lannister and Gwayne Tyrell declared their greivances with the King and rose up in arms. As much as Tristifier disliked Viserys himself, and actually agreed with rebel lords, he was forced to side with the crown as his House had done, and marched south with his father and Arys when they joined the royal host. The only major battle he would see would be the Slaughter at Bitterbridge, which he remembered as bloody and downright awful. They would live through the battle once more, but not unscathed.

Tristifier was glad to return home when the Golden Truce was made, and was delighted to discover his wife was with child once more. In the following year, another son, Androw, was born. It was also around this time that Tristifier's eldest son, Jon, had started to serve him as a page. Tristifier wished Jon to have a similar bond with him that he had with his own father.

In recent years, Tristifier has found himself in Duskendale more than he isn't, as his lady mother starts to involve him more in ruling, and to finish preparing him for the day when she isn't around.