Ser Jon the Bard

Ser Jon was born in 91 AC, and is a veteran of the Cobbler’s rebellion. His nickname is a referce to his skill at storytelling and, less so, his capabilities at lying. A loyalist to the cause and, in many regards, a radical, he rose to high importance during the rebellion as an important follower of Ser Marq the Cobbler. Ser Jon is a pious follower of the Faith and a capable orator, said to be able to spin a believable story no matter how unlikely or unbelievable. He and his squire, the supposed bastard daughter of Ser Marq the Cobbler, Martya Rivers, aspire to restore the Cobbler’s rebellion and establish a “People’s Kingdom” in central Westeros.

## Appearance and Personality

Ser Jon is a pious follower of the faith of the Seven. From a young age the to-be knight would spend many hours in the Sept of his local home. In his early years he had wanted to become a Septon, though the Cobbler changed all that. From a young age Jon was a great storyteller, able to take the drab best and saddest tales of his fellow smallfolk and spin it into a legend. He can often tell convincing yet outlandish tales in such a way that earned his name of ‘the bard’.

What people may know about Jon’s history depends on what he lets people know. His past is riddled with exaggerations and lies, and he is as good at hiding the truth as he is at making it.

Ser Jon sports a stubby beard and a charming face. He often smiles, giving him a friendly atmosphere. Although a strong and trained warrior, Jon’s body is slim, and lean.

## History

Jon was born the son of two common parents in the Riverlands in 91 A.C. From his youth he was a pious follower of the faith, and even had aspirations of becoming a Septon. When he wasn’t studying and praying in the Septs between work with his family, the young Jon spent his youth telling stories and folk tales. It was said he could take the most outrageous lie, and turn it into a heart wrenching legend that would bring tears to even the most grizzled veteran’s eye.

The want-to be Septon lived a simple life through most of his childhood. Telling stories for entertainment of both himself and his fellows. He spent his free-time praying and learning with what he believed would one day be his fellow Septons. But, searching for a source of extra coin, a sixteen year old Jon accompanied a band of hedge knights as a camp follower and entertainer. During this time, Jon saw much of the suffering brought on by the treason of House Tully, and what he saw as the ruthlessness of the crown in punishing innocents. While as an entertainer, Jon became an unofficial squire for one of the knights. Although he wouldn’t gain his knighthood from it, here Jon learned his first lessons of war and personal combat. Which set him on the path of the kind of warrior he would become

The rebellion was an interesting time for Ser Jon. The compassionate want-to-be septon joined early, but he saw little success on the battlefield. Other than one successful raid where he rallied a fleeing mod to ranks, earning his knighthood, a few poorly ending raids and difficult combat encounters made it clear to the cobblists that Ser Jon was no great military leader. What was intriguing however, was the morale he could keep up with his men. How he could inspire them to fight in some of the worst of situations, even turn them around from a rout, and still they would little hesitate. As said by Ser Jon himself, “I can lead these men into the Seven hells, but I cannot promise that they will return.”

Jon spent the latter half of the rebellion recruiting rather than leading. He built up a sizeable following over the year, bringing hosts of knights and folk from militant mobs to professional soldiers under his belt. Ser Jon was absent when the cobbler was captured in the final great battle of the rebellion, but he surely felt it’s ripples. Using his support among the soldiers of the rebellion, Ser Jon managed to found an offshoot group from the cobbler’s, names after Ser Jon’s nickname, ‘the bard’.

The Bards would see limited success in the aftermath of the cobbler’s retreat. But with similar rebellions being put down one by one by their enemies, and waning support within and without, Ser Jon elected that he and his followers should go into hiding, to await another day to rise up again as they rallied their support.

While many took this time to settle down for good, some former members of the bards returning to their older lives with nay a great commitment to the idea of the bards’ return, Ser Jon still keeps in contact with some of his fellow knights from the rebellion, preparing for a day and age when they can rise up once more.

After the rebellion, Ser Jon spent time doing what he always had. He told tales to the smallfolk, now with the conviction of telling of the exploits of the great Marq the Cobbler, as many of his former enemies forgot the bards’ existence. In this time, he also befriended a tavern wench, and adopted her daughter, naming her Martya. As she grew, Ser Jon would twist tales of her being born as the Bastard daughter of Ser Marq the Cobbler. Sometimes details were twisted to fit certain scenarios, making the story more believable to certain audiences, but the story has convinced many from simple folk to Martya herself.

With his adopted daughter, now a grown squire, Ser Jon believes he will soon be ready to renew the Cobbler’s rebellion, and continue the fight, with himself and the Bards at the forefront.

## Meta

Attribute: Gregarious

Skills: Leadership (CHA), Silver Tongue (CHA), Logistics (MAR), Theology (EDU)

Mastery: Orator (CHA)