Dúghlas of the Claw

## Personality

### Personality Description

Dúghlas is a rather confusing person within the Court, some label him as having boundless ambition while others dispute it saying he is a humble servant of the Crown. Both are true to an extent, but it is more likely that his humble exterior is merely a facade

Members of the Royal Court have decried Dúghlas  as a Lecher. A carefree man who exploits his position to live a life of little worry.

Dúghlas however has a strong bond to his family. It is clear that Rhodri used his family members to shore up his position and act as agents on his behalf. Perhaps one of his primary motivations was his family, always looking out for them and ensuring they had a good job and marriage. Better than they would have expected back home in Crackclaw Point. The Clawman has also being described as charming, able to joke and talk his way into the friendships and pockets of those more powerful of himself. Such as the former king Aegon V.

### Goals and Motivation

Ensure the continued survival of Aegon V’s reforms, amas wealth and power for himself

### Reputation

Dúghlas has a mixed reputation. Although some see him as a diligent affable worker, being a leal and able assistant to the King and helping create what would become Ageon V’s reforms. The other side see him as a grasping and overly ambitious man, exploiting his friendship with the King to gain office and rank, and using those to enrich himself and amas power.

## Backstory

Much of Dúghlas early life is unknown, born to a family of farmers and farm labourers, who eked out a poor existence on Crackclaw Point, migrating from farm to farm, seeking temporary employment. Dúghlas was taken into this world in rather ordinary circumstances, his mother giving birth to him in a barnyard, joined by sheep and her kinsmen. The child was rather sickly at birth and most thought it would not survive. Yet the young child pulled through and he seemed to make a recovery. Much of his early life was like many other shepherds' children. When he was old enough to cope on his own he was brought out to the bare and open hills of the Claw that were often whipped with the harsh weather that came in from the Narrow Sea. He was expected to care for himself in the bare hills and keep predators away from the sheep. Using but a simple bow he was expected to keep away both wolves and thieves from his master's herd. Although the summer was expected to be warm, no such feeling came to poor Godred; he was exposed to the harsh weather which left him gaunt and frozen to the bone. His only shelter was a small bothy which had a leaky roof that only kept out slightly showers. His only respite from this monotony came in the winter. He had to drive the sheep and sometimes cattle to their winter pastures in some of the few open fields of the borders and rest in the local village. Despite winter being a relatively unpleasant time, Godred enjoyed this time fondly. Myranda taught him to play the lute and flute, however, he was only good at the flute. He got to spend time amongst others most notably his family. It was on these cold winter days Godred would huddle around the fire and learn of the legends of his people. Of Crackbones who defeated a dragon by tying his tale in a knot around his mouth, Clarence Crabb who united the Claw and became King, using the served heads of his enemies to give him counsel and erecting the castle of the whispers. Godred fell in love with these stories, and like all young boys of his age dreamed of reliving them

However the life of a peasant did not seem fitting to him, and thus he deemed to better himself in life. So at the age of eleven the young he journeyed to Oldtown to train to become a Maester, being inducted as an novice. As to be expected for most novices he encountered a great deal of hardship and abuse from his elders who regarded many of the new young intakes as slow witted oxes who lacked the subtle and refined sense that a maester demanded. However soon into his education at the citadel the young novice came under the sway and influence of the greatly respected and as equally conversial Dornish Maester Lewyn Sand, who was well known for his some what radical and thought provoking thoughts on Westeros.

While at the Citadel peasant would make connections and several friendships with other novices, such as the Dornish scholar Moro. Under the tutelage of Lewyn Sand, Godred was exposed to a whole different world of thinking. The corruption and lethagric nature of the Royalty and nobility allowed Westeros to stagnate and the separate Kingdoms allowed for constant petty conflicts to erupt, resulting in the break down of trade and the suffering of the common people. That was just one part of Lewyns explosive work, he also covered ethics, metaphysics and other aspects of Philosophy, simply said he was on of the greatest Philosophers and Maesters of his lifetime. But his bull headed, stubborn and wayward attitude meant he was often in conflict with the conclave. Thus wanting to break the influence he held. Many of the Maesters displices would find themselves expelled on several different charges, some true, some not. Be they breaking the vows of celibacy, of stealing books and other precious tombs from the Citadels vast library.

Expelled from the citadel with nothing to his name but four forged links and his own education (Some of his rivals at court would even dispute if he had gone to the citadel, instead saying he was taught by a rural Septon how to read and write) He found himself wandering the roads and paths of Westeros trying to make ends meet. It was during this time that Dúghlas first appears in records, being the subject of a court for the murder of a female blacksmith. If the Maesters' records are to be believed, the entire affair lasted two whole hours and had a humorous anecdote of a horse as a witness. However using his quick tongue he was able to avoid losing his head, and one of his fingers, instead paying a small fine to the cousin of the deceased instead. It should not come as much of a surprise that a certain street rat like Dúghlas managed to weasel his way into becoming a bailiff for the neighbouring estate in which he was at court. (Which was also the same estate that the blacksmith hailed from.) He would remain in the rank for a few months, eventually leaving due to an attempt on his life. Where several of the former friends and acquaintances of the deceased blacksmith grabbed him and attempted to slit his throat, however failing instead slicing into his face. Dúghlas was fortunately saved thanks to the timely intervention of a number of bystanders.

Dúghlas would continue his wandering for the next few years, eventually finding himself in the Reach and befriended a hedge knight by the name of Kyle the Cat, who proudly boasted to have assisted in helping end the second Blackfyre Rebellion. The two would travel from tourney to tourney, with Kyle participating in the joust, while Dúghlas commonly acted as a Bard. Each trying to make enough money to live comfortably, the two would continue their journeys together until Kyle, by some luck stumbled across his friends, the massive Hedge Knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his bald squire named Egg. The four would work together alongside a bastard tourney knight to outwit and best the fearsome robber baron Llum and his nefarious band of outlaws. With Dúghlas working as a fantastic distraction, while the other, more proper heroes of the story manageing to defeat the vile outlaw.

The group stayed together for some time, with Dúghlas growing fond of the young Egg, although disliking how stubborn and willful he was at times. Still appreciating the young squires natural intellect and interesting world view. Although somewhat perplexed by the boys advanced knowledge the failed maester did not dwell on it much. After several months of traveling together and a rather poor tourney, the group of five eventually split up. Dúghlas continued such journeys for the following years, with many interesting adventures and exploits that we shall not get into. However much to his surprise, he heard that the new King Aegon had anointed his old travelling companion Ser Duncan the Tall to the Kingsguard. Hoping to exploit a previous familiarity and friendship with the new Kingsguard, the bard slipped his way into the royal court to seek out the knight. However much to his surprise, it was the old squire Egg who was the new monarch, which came as much surprise to Dúghlas, the otherwise smooth talking bard, found stuttering and red as beetroot when confronted by the King. A point of laughter many at the court and the King himself would bring up to Dúghlas. However his venture was not in vain, as Aegon, who appreciated Dúghlas coming to court (and their previous friendship), made the man Master of Horse, a fitting role for his talents most could agree upon. However this would also give the King access to the man, and Dúghlas essentially served as a courtier, and one of the Kings companions, following him about wherever he went and performing small errands, only occasionally seeing to his duties at the stables.

Dúghlas led a lively life during such a period, he held several different unofficial positions within the court, mostly filling in temporarily for vacant positions until a more proper appointment that could be made. However, importantly the failed maester acted as a personal tutor to the Princess of Dragonstone, attempting to educate her within her fathers visions for Westeros. Although he deeply cared for the child, doting on her as well, he still found some of her own qualities repulsive, such as her ruthless streak. Thus leaving him with an interesting position with the heir to the throne.  It was during this time that Dúghlas formed a long lasting relationship with Maria Rosby, the daughter of the Lord of Rosby. The two would never be married, however most at court begrudgingly accepted them at court, the two would have several children until Marias untimely death.

However, the Kings reign was soon challenged by the Blackfyre pretenders, with the Golden Company sailing across the narrow sea to fight the royal forces. Obligated to follow his friends and monarch into the fray, Dúghlas did so despite little combat experience. Although not committing any great exploits like his friend Ser Duncan who slew the pretender, the Clawman returned to the royal standard littered with arrows and his shield near enough hacked to pieces. He would never explain what happened to him during the battle. Its safe to assume he did not perform particularly well.

After the conclusion of the battle, life in the keep returned to normal, with Dúghlas found limping after the King for a good two months. Over the coming years two friends, commoner and King still found themselves in lively debates in discussions, over a whole range of topics, over philosophy, finance and law. By some good fortune, the previous Master of Law, Reynard Darklyn had retired on account of his own wife's recent passing, and wishing to spend his last years at his own keep. In an unprecedented move, Dúghlas was appointed to the position, much to the complaint of the nobility. In his new position, Dúghlas and Aegon attempted to completely reform the laws of Westeros, hoping to improve the lives of the smallfolk, by granting them great privileges and projections. However due to a great deal of resistance from the nobility, and several minor uprisings, Aegon was forced to compromise and only part of the reforms were applied. Although greatly upset by such a turn of events, Dúghlas was determined to see such laws take effect, although he admitted it would take generations to come into affect. As a result he began making his own faction of court, staffed with his family and younger sons, or distant cousins of noble families, who having little but their own skills seemed more supportive of the master of laws push to create a more meritorious society. However thanks to taking sucb measures, the hatred his rivals at court felt for him only deepend.

In the year 244 A.C, Dúghlas was made Aegons Hand, after the sudden death of the previous title holder. Some talk of foul play, while others simply blame ill health. Nevertheless, the new Hand set about implementing his monarch's will and continued to serve his friend loyally, still acting as a patron and a head to his own slowly growing faction a court. Feeling that a strong centralised royal powerbase was the only way to implement Aegons reforms, taking actions to curtail the power of the nobility whenever possible. However the sudden death of his friend and King has placed the Hand of the King, or now Hand of the Queen in a perilous position, it is only a matter of time if he and his faction can survive at court, and if he can ensure the legacy of his friend is upheld by his successor.