House Bolton

House Bolton of the Dreadfort is a noble house in the North under the command of House Stark of Winterfell. Their sigil is a flayed man over a pink banner intermingled with red blood droplets. The Boltons are known for flaying their enemies, even after the practice was outlawed in the North. Their words are "Our Blades are Sharp" but they are also known for saying "A dead man has few secrets, a flayed man none." They are currently allied to House Ryswell of the Rills, House Redwyne of the Arbor, and House Mormont of Bear Island, and are friendly with House Karstark of Karhold.

## History:

### The Red Kings:

Long ago, before the Starks united the North, House Bolton had their own crown and ruled as the Red Kings. Their lands stretched from the Last River and the White Knife to the Sheepshead Hills, much of which is controlled by House Manderly of White Harbor. They were rivals with the Kings of Winter, House Stark, and fought against them many times with the Boltons burning Winterfell two times and being rumored to have flayed their enemies.

Not long before the Andal Invasion, House Bolton submitted to Theon 'the Hungry Wolf' Stark. This proved to be a wise move as Argos Sevenstar and his Andal invaders were defeated by the alliance between the two houses at the Battle of Weeping Water.

### Vassals of Winterfell:

Since their subjugation to the Starks, House Bolton has served as both loyal retainers and scheming traitors on multiple occasions. One of these traitors was a man named Lord Royce 'the Bloody' Bolton who supported the Greystarks in the Greystark Rebellion. Known for flaying his enemies, Lord Royce saw little mercy after the Starks eliminated the Greystarks in the Trencher of Blood. Lord Royce's entire line was extinguished and his young cousin became the new lord of the Dreadfort after his death.

During the Rape of the Three Sisters, it is said that Belthasar Bolton had a Pink Pavilion made from the flayed skins of a hundred Sistermen.

A thousand years ago, after another rebellion against King Edrick Snowbeard, the practice of flaying was officially outlawed in the North. Despite this, there are still many rumors that say the Boltons flay their enemies in secret within the stone walls of the Dreadfort.

A few hundred years before the annexation of the North by King Aegon 'the Conqueror' Targaryen, a Bolton named Lord Rogar 'the Goldbringer' was regent for three separate young Kings of Winter. While it is rumored that Lord Rogar was behind the deaths of the first two kings, and most likely the last had he not been ambushed by Wildlings in the Godswood, few lords investigated due to the prosperity Lord Rogar was bringing in the young kings' names.

### Targaryen Era:

The surrendering of the North by King Torrhen 'the King who Knelt' Stark changed little for the Boltons. Their immediate lord was still a Stark and the dragons cared little for the flayed men. One of the few exceptions of this was during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen.

During the Maiden's Day Cattle Show, Lady Barbra Bolton was brought before King Aegon. Though he decided to marry Daenaera Valyrion instead, House Bolton was still able to find a place with the king with Lord Brandon 'the Loyal' Bolton, who had been in King's Landing ever since Lord Cregan Stark became hand and for many years after Lord Stark's departure, becoming his Master of Whispers. Lord Brandon would serve ably, informing the king of all the whispers and happenings of King's Landing and beyond for over a decade. However, after many civilians, soldiers, and even a nobleman went missing within King's Landing, rumors arose that Lord Brandon had been flaying innocent civilians for access to secrets. He was soon set aside and commanded to return North, and insult that House Bolton still has not forgotten. Shortly after Lord Brandon's death, a hidden dungeon was found within the Red Keep that contained the flayed skins and dried bloodstains of some of the missing people. House Bolton still denies that Lord Brandon is responsible.

## Recent Events

### The Skagosi Uprising:

During the Skagosi Uprising, House Bolton proved to be vital to the North with many of its members gaining glory and prestige for their efforts. When the war reached a stalemate, Albert Bolton, known as the Flayed Wolf, was able to find the locations of the enemy strongholds, which is said to have shortened the war by at least five years. Lord Royce Bolton, known as the Envoy, also is renowned for being able to negotiate the only peaceful surrender in the entire Uprising at the Parley of Stonecry. In the Battle of the Skeletons, the battle that unofficially ended the war, Royce 'the Younger' Bolton, son of Lord Royce, and Rickon Snow, bastard son of Albert Bolton, both served under Rickon Karstark's command and forged a friendship with the older Northman. A sellsword by the name of Ser Thomas Goodmen also swore his sword to Royce 'the Younger' after the Bolton heir saved his life during the Battle of the Skeletons.

### The Tourney of King's Landing:

Lord Royce Bolton was the first Bolton to enter King's Landing since Brandon 'the Loyal' and brought with him his two sons, daughter, wife, Ser Thomas Goodmen, and bastard nephew with him to celebrate the wedding between Prince Aegor Rivers and Princess Calla Blackfyre.

While Lord Bolton was mingling with the other tourney attendants, tensions erupted between Lord Alaric Karstark and the Dornish attendants. It was not long before Vorian Sand, the Quick Viper, challenged the old lord to a duel. Rickon Snow soon offered to fight for the lord of Karhold, but he was denied. After Daemon Blackfyre came into the hall and led the arrest of Lord Karstark for his treasonous words and actions, Lord Royce attempted to speak up in the lord's defense, but there was little he could do as his fellow Northman was carried out of the hall by the Kingsguard.

Shortly after Lord Karstark's arrest, Rickon Snow, angry that he was denied the chance to defend a Northman and believing it to be due to his bastard status, sought out Prince Blackfyre to pledge his sword to him and show the south that not all Northmen were as hostile as Lord Karstark and were just as strong as the Dornish. On the way, he was joined by Chrisarys and Visenya Lannister and the three of them pledged their swords and lives to Prince Daemon Blackfyre.

During this tourney, Royce 'the Older' Bolton was able to secure a full military alliance between House Redwyne and House Bolton by offering Ser Oznak zo Pakhaz, Lord Luthor Redwyne's closest friend, a lordship and land on the coast of Bolton territory near the Weeping River as well as a 20% discount on all lumber exports to the Arbor in future trade deals. In exchange, Lord Luthor Redwyne was expected to establish profitable trade deals with House Bolton's allies (House Ryswell and Mormont) as well as finance the construction of a port and keep for Lord Pakhaz. In addition to these terms, House Bolton and Redwyne swore to defend each other in the wars to come.

Though House Bolton did not win the tourney, its members and sworn sword made good showings in the jousts and archery competitions. Royce 'the Younger' Bolton was able to unseat Randyll 'Twenty Tilt' Redwyne, Ser Gregor Lonmouth, before being unhorsed in turn by Ser Eustace Osgrey, receiving an injury on the landing. Said injury may have played a role in his loss to Ser Rickard Rollingford in the first round of the archery competition. Rickon Snow unhorsed Lord Luthor Redwyne in only one tilt and also defeated Ser Alester Arryn before Ser Petyr Darry, the champion of the tourney, unseated Rickon. Rickon would also make a good showing in the archery competition, taking part in the Battle of the Bastards amongst Lonnel Snow and Oberyn Sand. Ser Thomas Goodmen was arguably the best combatant brought from the Dreadfort, the knight unseating Ser Osric Arryn, Ser Qyle Correy, Oberyn Sand, and Prince Daeron Blackfyre himself before losing in the quarterfinals to Ser Petyr Darry.

After the tourney, two of the Bolton party, Rickon Snow and Royce 'the Younger' Bolton, found themselves witnessing an altercation between Lord Jeran Sunderland of the Sisters and the crippled Lord Addam Dondarrian. Royce and Rickon interrupted the altercation and drew steel, planning to defend the crippled lord against the enemies of the North. This altercation ended with Lord Jeran and his sworn sword's surrender after finding themselves facing enemy lords on all sides and no blood was shed.

### The Trial of Lord Alaric Karstark:

During the trial, Lord Bolton was appointed as one of the three judges overseeing the testimonies alongside Prince Baelor 'Breakspear' Targaryen and King Daeron II Targaryen. He was unable to convince the other judges to pronounce Lord Karstark innocent and, in truth, did not even attempt to do so. However, he was able to convince the king to give a more lenient punishment to provide stability to the realm, convincing the king to take Lord Karstark's second grandchild on as a ward instead of his heir.

After the trial had ended, Ser Glendon Terrace and his friend, Jack of the Stormy Water, agreed to Lord Bolton's earlier proposition and entered the service of House Bolton as sworn swords.