Walderan Tarbeck

House Targaryen

Lord **Walderan Tarbeck** is the eldest son of Lord Martyn Tarbeck and has ruled as Lord of Tarbeck Hall since his father's death in 129 AC. From 127 AC to 130 AC, Walderan also served as Commander of the City Watch, before being removed from his position after slaying Aenys Velaryon.

## Appearance

If you asked the women of the realm what their ideal knight would look like, there is a high chance that Walderan Tarbeck would fit that description well. With the longer, curlier hair of his grandfather Andros, but the strong jaw of his father Martyn, it is not a stretch to say that the Lord of Tarbeck Hall is an attractive man. And yet when his blue eyes are narrowed into a stare, and his mouth is more often twisted into a snarl than a sly smile, it is hard to imply he strikes anything but fear into the hearts of those who look upon him. His position as Commander of the City Watch gives him a firm excuse to wear his armour at all times, and to have *Perseverance* by his side too, satisfying the paranoia that causes his eyes to flit around every room. Dressed in plate more often than not, and standing well above six feet tall, Walderan is imposing to say the least.

## History

### Early Life

Walderan Tarbeck was born in 103 AC, two years after his sister Ellyn, as the second child of Ser Martyn Tarbeck and Lia Serrett, in the city of King's Landing. His birth was celebrated greatly by both his father and his grandfather, Lord Andros. However, Walderan would never get to know the Lord Justiciar of the Realm and its Peoples, for Andros passed the same year as his first grandson was born. With his father becoming the new Warden of the West, the young boy was taken to Tarbeck Hall along with the rest of his family, and save for Ser Benedict, House Tarbeck said farewell to King's Landing.

Even though his duties took up a large portion of his time, as both Lord and Warden, Martyn spent as much as he could with his children. He cared greatly for Ellyn, he cared greatly for Walderan, and he cared greatly for Myranda when she entered the world too. Even with the untimely death of his grandfather, the young heir to Tarbeck Hall had been born into a time of peace and stability, with both Dorne and the Iron Islands under Targaryen rule. Tensions were rising in Westeros, a fact that Lord Martyn was deeply aware of, but Walderan was still ignorant of that. In his eyes, there was only one thing that mattered, and that was his education in what made him happy - martial pursuits.

Both his father and his grandfather were competent warriors, but neither had quite the passion that Walderan did. It was not out of a wish for violence and bloodshed, as he was not one for anger, but simply out of a love for the art. With both one-handed and two-handed swords, Walderan showed a startling proficiency, and in 113 AC when he became his father's squire, he had already picked up many basic skills. But his years under Martyn's tutelage would not be as peaceful as the times that came before.

### Revolt

Word of the turmoil in the Trident had reached Tarbeck Hall during its initial months, but not even the usually astute lord foresaw the chaos spreading to the Westerlands. When the first band of raiders entered Tarbeck lands after the Sack of Oxcross, Lord Martyn was reported to have ridden out alone with his brothers and his son to scout the Cobblers' camp, before returning the next day with a group of knights and eliminating the zealous bandits with little to no Tarbeck casualties. It was not brutal necessarily, but it was definitely effective, and Martyn asked his son after the battle had come to an end if he had taken note of particular tactics. And, to the delight of the Warden of the West, he had. With the first party dealt with, Martyn began to assemble his army to ensure any further Cobbler attacks were similarly dispatched. Soon enough, they were called to meet with House Lannister's forces along the River Road, to prepare for an attack on a besieging force at the Golden Tooth.

House Lefford had been trapped in the walls of their mountain fortress, and Tybolt Lannister wished to ensure that the Cobblers were destroyed against the castle with as little effort as possible. And so, the Warden of the West and the Lord of Casterly Rock, along with many other commanders from the Westerlands, crushed the peasant rebels against the walls of the Golden Tooth with ease. Walderan stayed by his father's side for the majority of the battle, although that did not stop him from finding a friend in the distinctly older Lord Lyonel Merryweather, who had come north from Longtable to assist in defeating the Cobblers. Although there was a thirteen year age difference between them, Walderan spoke like a young man, not a boy, due to his father's consistent professional manner gained from his time as a Justiciar in King's Landing and the last twelve years of being Warden of the West.

With the Cobblers pushed back from the Golden Tooth, the Westerlands army continued forward to meet with the Lord of Riverrun's forces. Martyn and Walderan led their forces with valour as they formed the anvil along with the rest of the Westerlander army (and Lord Merryweather's troops) for the Riverlander hammer. Although he had fought at the Golden Tooth, he had not yet spilt blood personally. As an enraged Cobbler charged him, however, he knew his time had come. For a young teenager without full training, Walderan was talented and dodged his opponent with agility, cutting him down with relative ease. Having proven himself as a warrior already, the young heir was content to return to Tarbeck Hall, and his father firmly agreed.

First, however, Martyn needed to discuss something with the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and the Lord of Casterly Rock. As the dust settled around the Cobbler Rebellion, Martyn Tarbeck laid down his title of Warden of the West, having convinced the King that his liege lord had proved himself ten times over.

### South

Walderan had initially been confused when his father had relinquished his title. What reason was there? Had he not been loyal enough? He knew how House Tarbeck had stayed loyal to the Iron Throne through everything, even when their countrymen had risen up. And yet, three years after his father's duties were relaxed slightly, the Lord of Tarbeck Hall, his wife, and his children set forth for King's Landing. Viserys himself had sent a letter asking them to come, and although he did not say, Martyn seemed to know why.

Ellyn was to be the future queen, married to the Prince of Dragonstone. And their father was to be High Justiciar of Dorne, the King's own mouthpiece south of the Red Mountains in the court of House Toland. Prince Baelor and Ellyn's wedding was extravagant, and although Walderan was too young to take part in the tourney he cheered his father on to a phenomenal degree, along with studying the movements of the realms most prominent warriors to improve his own skills. And yet the celebrations came to an end as quickly as they had begun as Martyn awoke his son and youngest daughter the day after the closing feast of the ceremonies and instructed them to prepare to travel to Dorne. Their journey south was as quiet as they could have hoped for, and their welcome was not hostile, but Walderan misliked the hot weather and found himself surrounded by strangers.

It was lucky then, that at least one individual was willing to become his friend. Andrey Toland was the eldest son of Princess Ashlynn, and two years younger than the High Justiciar's heir. Although the younger boy looked upon Martyn's growing authority and kind treatment of House Martell with suspicion, that feeling did not extend to Walderan. The pair of boys became fast friends and even as Martyn began to become the superior power in Dorne, almost supplanting the Princess, Walderan and Andrey did not find their relationship strained. However, both knew that the heir to Tarbeck Hall would have to eventually return to the West and so they made the best of their time sparring and drinking. As both his father's squire and the Toland's duelling partner, Walderan's skill with weaponry grew even further, and when his eighteenth birthday came he was quite the warrior.

It was no surprise, then, when he was summoned to the Sandship by his father near the end of the one-hundred-and-twenty-first year after the conquest, and bid to kneel. Martyn did not hold a long ceremony, but he said the knightly oaths and tapped the blade of *Perseverance* to his son's shoulders in the sight of gods and men. After he stood, the young man saw the High Justiciar of Dorne standing before him, holding the sheath of his ancestral Valyrian Steel and offering it. Martyn's reasoning was sound, though it did concern the heir to Tarbeck Hall. If he were to be a merciful and even-handed ruler, he would not want to be seen wielding one of the most powerful weapons in the Seven Kingdoms. And so, with *Perseverance* at his hip, Walderan knew his time in Dorne had come to an end. He said a sad farewell to his father and his close friend, before finding his sister and returning north to Tarbeck Hall.

### Regent and Commander

First, however, he intended to pay a visit to his sister and his great-uncle in King's Landing. It had been too long since he had been north of the Red Mountains, and much had changed. When he arrived at the capital, however, he found nothing he wished to see. Bells rang out above the city streets, and a dour mood had settled in. Walderan made his way to the Red Keep to find the castle in mourning. Ellyn had perished of an illness and the Prince of Dragonstone had fled from the city in grief. Walderan was crushed. Within moments of his arrival, he found his great-uncle and asked how long it had been. Only a week before, she had been the picture of health, and Benedict had arranged a cup of a fine Yi Tish drink for them both. Seeing the Kingsguard's grief, the newly-made knight offered to share the tea in his sister's place. Walderan had not seen the aged man since he left for Dorne, and the two caught up on much that had happened. For a few days he remained in the capital before heading to Tarbeck Hall, his original destination.

Preston Tarbeck, his uncle, had been in charge of the castle in the absence of the lord and was glad to see the heir's arrival. Although Walderan would be taking over the duties of the lord, Preston remained as his advisor and mentor, as he was distinctly more experienced in the position. For all of his experience with the blade and his decent skill at command, the heir was not a particularly good lord. He was not cruel or tyrannical, but simply uninterested. Often he would take any excuse to avoid his duties, drilling the troops or leading patrols around the Tarbeck lands. He was not a ruler, but a leader.

And that was why, in 127 AC, he was glad to see a letter from the crown arrive at the castle. He had been summoned to King's Landing to take the position of Commander of the City Watch after the resignation of Malyrio, bastard of the former Master of Whisperers. It was a position he was all too happy to assume, and after thanking his uncle for resuming his duties as regent, Walderan rode at full pelt for the capital. Upon his arrival at King's Landing he was escorted by Ser Benedict to the throne room, where he was invested into the City Watch and given the keys to the Commander's apartments in the city, which Malyrio had quickly vacated. At four-and-twenty he had become responsible for the safety of the people of King's Landing and its general security, and he revelled in it.

### Betrayal

Walderan was not the greatest man to ever command the City Watch of King's Landing, but he was effective enough to make him a good choice for the position. He was a hands-on commander, often leading patrols and raids with *Perseverance* in hand, and gained the respect of his men through doing so. He had made King's Landing no more secure than normal, but he had proven himself at least. But his time as a ruthless yet honourable leader would soon come to an end.

When Walderan first heard the news he denied it. When he heard it the second time, he asked to see the evidence himself. When he heard it the third time, he slammed the point of Perseverance into the floor of the Red Keep's throne room and demanded justice for his father to the Hand of the King, and to know the identity of the killer. When Andrey Toland's name was uttered, it took great effort for the Commander of the City Watch not to fall to his knees before the Iron Throne. He had been his friend, his one friend in Dorne. And he had killed his father.

Justice. Walderan could not stop himself from uttering that word whenever he thought of his father's death. He did not even consider that he was now Lord of Tarbeck Hall, for he desired *justice*. When Andrey Toland arrived in King's Landing, it took more restraint than ever before to stop himself from slaying the man where he stood.

## Recent Events

Consumed by fury, the Lord of Tarbeck Hall has demanded justice for his father since the High Justiciar's murder, even though the untimely death of the King has delayed the Dornishman's trial. Although, with his good-brother's coronation soon to come, Walderan may be able to claim justice before the realm as a whole, before his friends and equals across the Seven Kingdoms.

## Family Tree

http://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=le009hxz6l&f=294377768708139096

## Meta

**Skills:**

* Weapon Proficiency (Swords and Shields) (COM)
* Footwork (COM)
* Formation (MAR)
* Ambuscade (MAR)
* Leadership (CHA)

**Mastery**

* Duelist (COM)