Ser Edric of the Marches

## Ser Edric of the Boneway

**Ser Edric of the Boneway**, commonly referred to as **Ser Edric of the Marches** or **the Knight of Wheats**, is a landed knight from the Stormlands sworn to House Dondarrion of Blackhaven. Once a mere farmer, Edric was elevated to lesser nobility status by Lord Carden Baratheon of Storm's End in 105 AC after having distinguished himself valiantly as a man-at-arms during the on-going conflict with Dorne. As reward, Edric was offered a small holdfast and lands south of Summerhall and east of Blackhaven near the mouth of the Red Mountains in the Dornish Marches under the condition that he protect the Stormlands against Dornish skirmishes through the Boneway.

## Background

### Early Life

Edric was born in a small village near Weeping Town in 83 AC. His father was absent from Edric's life ever since his birth, and while his mother once proclaimed his biological father to be a nobleman passing through their village, his identity remains a mystery. Not much else is known about Edric's past or upbringing, other than that he either worked at (or his family owned) a farm until the Dornish invaded the Stormlands in 101 AC.

According to the Rainwood smallfolk, Edric was the only survivor left from his village after it had been sacked by a Dornish raiding party under the command of Lord Corlys Yronwood. Witnessing first-hand the death and destruction of his loved ones set Edric on a path of vengeance, after which he enlisted in the Baratheon army. At some point inbetween 101 and 104 AC, Edric had already grown from a recruit to a fully fledged man-at-arms serving in Lord Gerold Dondarrion's personal retinue.

### War of the Vipers

When Lord Corlys Yronwood advanced on the Stormlands again in 105 AC through the Boneway, Lord Dondarrion moved his host, Edric among them, against the Dornish. By the time the two armies engaged at the mouth of the Red Mountains, Lord Yronwood's warband had already laid waste to numerous fishing villages along the south coast of Cape Wrath. The battle between Lord Yronwood and Lord Dondarrion's armies was brief, and the Stormlanders were soon forced to retreat to Blackhaven. Amidst the turmoil, Edric and seven other Baratheon men-at-arms were left behind enemy lines.

Instead of seeking to rejoin with the main army, Edric led his companions deeper into the Red Mountains as the Dornish continued their advance on the retreating Dondarrion host. During the night, Edric and his crew infiltrated and took out a Dornish encampment stationed in the mountains at the pass near Vulture's Roost, subsequently cutting off Lord Yronwood's supply line into the Boneway.

### The Knight of Wheats

By making use of guerilla warfare like the Dornish did, Edric's actions of taking out their supply lines eventually forced Lord Yronwood to forfeit his siege on Blackhaven and his advance into the Stormlands. Two weeks later, Edric and his companions returned to Lord Dondarrion; whom welcomed them as heroes. Then, Lord Carden Baratheon of Storm's End arrived at Blackhaven with a host of nearly twenty-thousand men, believing the castle to still be under siege by the Dornish. After learning what had happened from Lord Dondarrion, Lord Carden was so impressed by Edric's actions that he decided to elevate him to lesser nobility status; offering Edric knighthood and accompanying lands under the condition that he continued to protect the Boneway from future incursions by the Dornish.

## Personality and appearance

Like most Marchers, Edric possesses both Andal and Rhoynar features: standing at about 6'2 in height and having a fair to olive skin complexion. He has long dark hair and deep emerald green eyes that sometimes appear as blue. He is noted to have a striking resemblance to Lord Carden Baratheon of Storm's End. A reminder of his farmer upbringing, Edric's personal coat of arms blazons three stalks of yellow wheat on a field of brown, which he displays on his armor; subsequently earning him the moniker of The Knight of Wheats. He is noted to be extremely proficient with a mace, though is said to be the Warrior himself when wielding a longsword.

Despite his commonborn heritage, Edric is regarded to be a true knight: the smallfolk inhabitants of Weeping Town and the Rainwood consider him a local hero. Dutiful and gallant, Edric takes his oaths as a knight with the utmost seriousness and would uphold them even at the cost of his own life. Affable in nature and partially due to his commonborn heritage, Edric remains a humble, gregarious and content ruler; treating his lands and its inhabitants with the utmost care. Whereas most noblemen would take advantage of their feudal position, Edric actually enjoys doing peasantry work himself and would occassionally help those settled on his lands with harvesting crops, farming fields, and hunting wildlife in the Rainwood.

## Relationships and status

Tasked with protecting the Stormlands against Dornish skirmishes through the Boneway, Edric commands a retinue of seven landless knights and approximately fifty men-at-arms and owns some land including a small holdfast and a farming village south of Summerhall and east of Blackhaven near the mouth of the Red Mountains. Although Edric is a knight of relatively little renown throughout the whole of Westeros, his active role in maintaining the defense of the realm's southern borders has earned him great admiration from his allies throughout the Stormlands and a reputation of dread amongst the Crown's enemies in Dorne.

### Household

* **Ser Godric of the Boneway**: One of his seven sworn landless knights, Edric counts Ser Godric as his closest friend and most trusted companion. Even prior to their ascendance into nobility, Godric proved himself to be a devout and loyal friend to Edric during their time serving together as men-at-arms in Lord Gerold Dondarrion's host.

* **Maester Peregrin**: The appointed maester of Edric's Holdfast, Peregrin oversees much of the day-to-day managing of Edric's lands. Edric deeply trusts and relies on Peregrin, who continues to guide and educate him on his newfound responsibilities and obligations.

### Close friends and allies

* **Lord Carden Baratheon**: As the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lord Carden is held in high esteem by Edric. Although he hasn't seen Lord Carden since he was named Hand of the King to Baelon I Targaryen, Edric remains extremely devoted and loyal to him.

* **Lord Gerold Dondarrion**: By serving under him as a man-at-arms, Edric developed a deep sense of respect and admiration for Lord Dondarrion as his commander. Over time, Lord Dondarrion became something of a mentor and father-figure to Edric; even allowing him to join his personal guard despite his commonborn heritage. All Edric has, he owes to Lord Dondarrion; as it were his actions that led to Edric being elevated to knighthood and lesser nobility status. Edric considers it a debt he can never re-pay, and is bound by both love and honour to serve his liege until death frees him of his oath.

### Enemies

* **Lord Corlys Yronwood**: While Edric is known to be a compassionate and forgiving man, he holds a deep hatred and resentment for Lord Yronwood; deeming him responsible for the death of his family and the destruction of his village. Like honour demands Edric's undying fealty to Lord Dondarrion, so it does revenge for his loved ones.