Royce Bolton

Royce Bolton is the son of Brynden Bolton and Catelyn Umber, and is the current Lord of the Dreadfort and head of House Bolton. He is a man of six-and-twenty and perhaps a couple inches taller than average height with thick chest and broad shoulders, his dark hair cropped close to his head. His blue eyes and clean-shaven face constantly show a mix of distaste and annoyance, with pale skin from his time in the Dreadfort and overcast weather of the North. His gloomy disposition and family name are likely enough to make his somewhat attractive features appear unappealing.

## History

Royce was born as the only child to Brynden and Catelyn, lucky enough to be a male and fitting heir to the Bolton House, lest Brynden have tried again with another woman. He grew up as most Northern boys do, learning to fight and hunt, able to heft a shield and sword before he had reached the age of ten. The young boy also took a liking to the kennels, and began to train the viscious dogs in them to bend to his will.

By the time he was six-and-ten, Royce had already begun to show traits normally associated with the Boltons. Brought up on the hate and anger of his father, Royce was a brutal and viscious man even in his young age, something that his loving mother could only hope to temper rather than remove outright. It was at this time that his father died under suspiscious circumstances, and the boy became the Lord of the Dreadfort. It's a position he's held for a decade now, and a place he has largely not left since his inheritence. If one were to sail or walk alongsinde the Weeping Water at night during hunting season, they might be able to hear the pained howls of poachers caught on Bolton land.

## Current Events

### 400 AC.

Royce has been Lord of the Dreadfort and the head of his House for about a decade, his regular hunting parties keeping his villagers and keep safe from Wights and bandits alike. He's also known to keep the Houses around him in check, with reports of brawls not terribly uncommon between Bolton men and those of Hornwoods to the South or Karstarks to the East.

Following a report from his head man-at-arms, Damon, Royce took a party of twenty horse and five hounds West to chase after a band of Wights that had killed some foragers. They tracked the dead over White Knife and into the Wolfswood before losing their scent. However, before turning back, the Boltons encountered Lady Brienne Stark and her men, who were tracking the same band of Wights. Having been unable to find their prey, Lady Stark offered to host Royce's men at Winterfell before they returned to the Dreadfort. He agreed, and along the way to the keep was suggested an alliance by the Warden. Royce, seeing this as an opportunity to uplift his House from the dishonorable dregs many viewed it, accepted.

While returning to the Dreadfort after staying in Winterfell for the night, Royce's hunting party was ambushed by the band of Wights they had been searching for. It was larger than anticipated, with at least sixty of the dead attacking them. However, the living prevailed, with a loss of four men and one hound, and many injuries.Royce attended the Tourney of Seagard, and participated in the archery event, winning first prize after beating Princess Aregelle Arryn in a sudden-death shoot off. His head man-at-arms, Damon Snow, participated in the melee on the Bolton's behalf, and made a good showing before being defeated by Lann Marbrand.