Arrec Baratheon

Half-Brother - Ardan Storm

Sister- Oraella Baratheon

**Arrec Baratheon** is the second-born child of Arlan and Cassandra Baratheon, the younger brother of Durran Baratheon, and the elder brother of Oraella Baratheon. After the Tourney at Bronzegate, Arrec has had difficulty walking without the support of his cane.

## Appearance

At the age of sixteen, Arrec stands tall for his age, being an inch or so taller than Ardan Storm. However, he is also slimmer and more svelte than his half-brother, being more accustomed to libraries and meeting chambers than tilt yards and fighting pits.

Arrec's hair is shorn down to thick stubble, and his eyes are an intense cerulean, matching most other members of his family. Though quite pale even next to other individuals, Arrec is not unhealthy so thanks to his occasional capers with Ardan, which have ensured he's gotten some sun every once in a while.

A decently handsome young man, Arrec has an oval-shaped jaw, a prominent chin, fine lips, strong eyebrows, sharp eyes, notable ears, well-contoured cheekbones, and mildly gaunt cheeks. Arrec is said to very closely resemble his father, though perhaps with a distinctly different build. In fact, people who knew Arlan in his younger years might say Arrec was his spitting image.

## Biography

### Backstory

#### Birth

Arrec's birth was a troubled one; some weeks before Arrec was due, Arlan returned to Storm's End with his illegitimate son, Ardan Storm. Cassandra's rage and shock caused her to go into labor on the spot.

#### A Bastard Brother

From his earliest years, Arrec was almost constantly in the company of Ardan, who was likewise to be raised at Storm's End. Being a toddler at the time, with no comprehension of bastardy or what it meant in Westerosi society, Arrec's young brain hit upon the conclusion that with the similarity in at least some of their features, Ardan must be related to him. This notion stuck with him even after others deigned to explain why Ardan was different, for the semantics of Ardan's creation mattered very little to Arrec. Half or not, Ardan was his brother, period. Only helping matters was his father's limited involvement in the matter, for Arlan only ever encouraged Arrec's feelings rather than disparaged him, regardless of how greatly it would displease the Lady of the House.

In fact, it was largely due to his father's influence that Arrec became the man he was today, embracing more liberal views of not just bastards, but women as well. This made Arrec something of an anomaly amongst his Andal peers, who more commonly conformed to accepted ideals regarding the place of both within society. Still, Arrec stuck by his father in this regard, refusing to pay heed to what anyone else including his mother or older brother had to say about it. The one place where Arrec came to disagree with his father was on the subject of polyamory, which did not sit all that well with him.

#### Education

While Arrec did receive some martial training when he old enough, he never took to it like Durran or Ardan did, and it soon became clear that he simply wasn't cut out for the physical struggles. Despite being a good shot with a crossbow and decent enough in the saddle, Arrec most aptly excelled in conflicts of the mind and battles of wit, ensuring that while the master-at-arms only ever had relatively lack-luster reports to give in, Maester Rickard was only too happy to report that whatever the subject, Arrec frequently passed with flying colours. The second son of Baratheon was not just willing to learn, but almost chomping at the bit to do so, often giving detailed answers and asking precise questions that the tutor hadn't expected from one so young. Thusly, of the three boys the Maester taught so far, it was fair to say that Arrec was his best student.

Outside his lessons, Arrec typically spent much of his free time in the library of Storm's End, pouring over each and every opus set before him with remarkable poise. When he wasn't reading, he was typically with his half-brother, getting up to all kinds of trouble. Indubitably, Ardan took a certain delight in spreading mischief throughout the castle and typically enlisted Arrec's aid in achieving this aim. Within a few short weeks, Arrec was his faithful accomplice in practically every trick, backing his brother's plays at every distinct opportunity. A few short years after however, Arrec soon graduated to a full partner in their shared schemes, actively contributing ideas of his own as well as seeking the help of Ardan in enacting them rather than the other way around, as it had been before.

As his mother's treatment of Ardan grew ever harsher, so too did Arrec become more rebellious. Whatever Ardan's fate, Arrec intended to share in it, making it evident that to punish his half-brother for something he had no control over was to punish Arrec as well. As their clashes became more frequent, Arrec gradually came to be quite familiar with the origins of his mother, and while it did earn her some compassion from him, he still did not consider it enough to justify her treatment of Ardan. Rather, he felt such knowledge only reinforced his personal stance on things, as she of all people should understand what it is to suffer consequences for actions that weren't her own, considering what her father and his grandfather did.

#### The Tourney of Bronzegate

Last year when Arrec was fifteen, a tourney was held in the Stormlands to celebrate something or other, to be attended by knights who journeyed from far and wide to participate. Also on the scene were a great many of the local noble families, including almost if not all of House Baratheon. Even before they arrived, it was decided without Arrec's awareness or permission that he was to take part in it as well, riding against the many other competitors who'd shown up that day so as to showcase the strength of House Baratheon's next generation.

Upon being told of this, Arrec attempted to object on the grounds that he wasn't ready for it in the slightest. A few who were already well-aware of his exact skill level also advised against this course of action, like the master-at-arms and Maester Rickard, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. And so, just like that, Arrec soon found himself in the tilting yard, wishing he could be pretty much anywhere other than there. His first (and ultimately last) opponent for the day was to be Aerion Targaryen.

Their match was a short but decisive one, ending with Aerion's victory. As for Arrec, the joust was not so kind to him. On their first run, Arrec's lance only just grazed Aerion's shield while Aerion's lance had been driven deep into the horse's body, sending it to the ground and falling on its side, crushing the left leg of Arrec. Almost right away, the intense pain rendered Arrec completely unconscious, leaving him unaware as to what happened in the immediate aftermath. When he awakened, it was to find that he'd never be able to run, let alone ride a horse, ever again.

### *The Reign of Dragons*

Arrec is gradually becoming attuned to his new life. In the months since, he is up and about once more, requiring little to no assistance moving through Storm's End. Still, while he is not wholly dependent on it, Arrec now requires a cane to help his hastier movements, and therefore ameliorates from a brisk shuffle to a frenzied hobble. Cassandra had become increasingly hostile towards Ardan as of late, and it pained Arrec that he could not have been of more help during that time. Now free of his bed, Arrec accompanies Ardan down to a Braavosi shipwreck in Shipbreaker Bay. While Ardan descends, Arrec remains his lookout, and saves him from falling back into the water during his ascent. He is also seen the next day, witnessing an argument between his mother and Durran from afar. During an assembly held by Durran, Arrec fills Ardan in on what he saw before reconvening to the armoury at his half-brother's behest. Later on, Arrec asks Ardan what Durran said to him, but Ardan refuses to divulge it. Along with the rest of his family, Arrec is present when Durran's bride-to-be, Rhaenerys Targaryen, arrives at Storm's End. Following a brief if civil interaction with Aerion, Arrec is spotted in the company of Jeyne and Glennys Tully. Arrec rejoins Ardan in the midst of an announcement about the upcoming war with Dorne, and after its revealed Ardan is going to Blackhaven rather than the front like he wished, waits for Ardan outside the room while his half-brother has a word with Durran over it. In the nearby Godswood, Arrec then councils Ardan in an effort to assuage his temper, making several sound points about both Durran's feelings towards Ardan and the opportunities Ardan will have down at Blackhaven. While celebrating under false identities at Old Tom's Tavern on Ardan's last night in Storm's End, he and Arrec then encounter a young man named Jack who steals the latter's cane and promptly provokes a fight with the former. Arrec initially tries to diffuse the situation, only to back his half-brother with some well-aimed projectiles once combat becomes unavoidable. After Steffon Inkwell arrives and places Jack under arrest, Arrec praises Ardan before returning with him to their family keep.