House Bolton

*Our Blades are Sharp**### Titles

Lord of the Dreadfort

The blood of house Bolton runs deep in the North – forbearing from the First Men and the Age of Heroes.
Ancient, aberrant, and powerful, Bolton lords once ruled as Red Kings from their formidable Dreadfort and have remained staunch rivals to house Stark since the Long Night. Their words, *Our blades are sharp*, serve as reminder to ruthless legacy – for as house Stark cut heads off enemies, house Bolton would resort to more *acute* measures, as evident upon their flayed sigil. They pass down a thin, sharpened knife – honed with utmost precision. For whilst thriving in a world so unforgiving, one must strike fear in all enemies. Whispers remain of the Stark kings flayed, their skins stripped like wolf pelts and stitched into cloaks. Some say that such skins are still housed at the Dreadfort, well-hidden by time-worn depths and among other unplumbed secrets.

Only with the Andal Invasion of Westeros would house Bolton at last submit to the Winterfell overlords. The last Red King, Rogar the Huntsman, bent the knee to the King Theon Stark. Together, the ancient rivals stood triumphant over the Andals at the Battle of the Weeping Water. However, such adherence to the Starks remained temporary and one challenged by opportunity arisen, as house Bolton would follow with a series of unsuccessful rebellions – including alongside house Greystark whom would be in-turn completely annihilated.

In more recent centuries, Bolton rebellion would seemingly come to rest – serving as principle bannermen in the North and abiding in service to the Starks, in agreement to give up their cruel practice of flaying. However, rumours still persist of their merciless ways and that they continue to torture and skin their enemies in secret.

When the North joins to fight in Robert's Rebellion, Lord Roose Bolton answers the call of Lord Eddard Stark. Roose commands forces in the Battle of the Trident, which ends in victory for the rebels. Roose Bolton later serves in council to Robert Baratheon. However, when Lord Bolton suggests to slit Ser Barristan Selmy’s throat, Robert sends him away, requesting the presence of a Maester instead.

### War for the Dawn

War of the Five Kings: House Bolton answers the call of Robb Stark, after Lord Eddard Stark, the Warden of the North, is taken prisoner in King’s Landing. Roose Bolton, with command of his army, wishes to engage Tywin Lannister, attacking him whilst unaware. However, along with his men, he is forced to retreat. Shortly after, Robb Stark is named King in the North.

Whilst encamped by the Twins, Roose Bolton weds Walda, a daughter of Walder Frey, thus cementing relations between their families. Joined by Helman Tallhart, Bolton forces later seize Harrenhall, with the help of an ill-reputed sellsword company, the Brave Companions. Bolton and Frey soon learn that house Greyjoy have taken Winterfell, as well as much of the North. Meanwhile, Roose Bolton’s son, the bastard Ramsay Snow, weds Lady Donella Hornwood. Though the marriage is short-lived, with the bastard locking her in a tower to starve to death. Her body is later recovered with fingers gnawed, left to the fatality of hunger and madness. Ramsay Snow soon seizes Hornwood lands for himself and shortly after marches on Winterfell, burning it and killing those under the command of Rodrik Cassel.

Bolton men continue to search the kingsroad for the missing Bran and Rickon Stark. Meanwhile, Jaime Lannister is captured by the forces of the King in the North. However, Ser Jaime is soon freed by Lady Catelyn, with the hopes of the Lannisters returning the Stark girls to the North. When Roose’s men find the freed Jaime, they remove the knight’s hand, taking him to Harrenhall. However, Roose Bolton makes agreement with Jaime Lannister, with the promise to release him under condition of blaming his disfigurement on the Brave Companions.

With opportunity now ripe and ready, Roose rides to the Twins for the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey. As bread and salt are served, Roose orchestrates the slaughter of Robb Stark and his men, with the blessings of Walder Frey and Tywin Lannister. Such a fateful event would be renowned for ruthless brutality, coined as the Red Wedding. As house Bolton usurps house Stark, Lord Bolton is named the Warden of the North. The bastard Ramsay is legitimized by King Tommen I Baratheon, in turn becoming Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay commences his tortures of Theon Greyjoy, whom he renames Reek, in dehumanizing fashion. Ramsay is also accompanied regularly by his pack of bitches, the bastard’s girls, whom he affectionately names after supposed deceased lovers.

Shortly after, Ramsay is wed to “Arya Stark” (Jeyne Poole) and proclaims himself as the Lord of Winterfell. Only after facing testament to unspeakable horrors, does Reek (Theon Greyjoy) and “Arya” manage to escape. The usurpers remain seated on the Winter throne, in preparation and awaiting the army of Stannis.

### The Second Targaryen Reign

With word of Rickon Stark still alive, support for the youngest wolf spreads, as many Northern houses join together in alliance against house Bolton. The rebellion is led by Lord Manderly, with support from the Vale and Stannis Baratheon. As the opposing forces surrounded Winterfell, the abhorrent bastard, Ramsay Bolton, at last meets his end, leaving Winterfell reclaimed for house Stark. Shortly after, Roose Bolton, is captured by Stark supporters and is executed. Roose’s baby son and sole heir, Rodrik, is then taken into custody, to serve as ward at Winterfell.

Rodrik Bolton grows up at Winterfell, serving as ward to house Stark. He is brought up to believe for his father to have been a traitor. He strives to prove loyalty and reject the wrongdoings of his forbearers. He is a valiant swordsman and fiercely protective of the Stark family, serving vigilantly at Winterfell until his sixteenth nameday, when he was at last restored his rightful seat as the Lord of the Dreadfort. Shortly after, he is offered the hand of Lynara Ryswell. Together, they have two children – Royce and Erena Bolton.

### A Ballad in Blood

Whilst Royce is raised to revere house Stark, whispers speak that he admired the ruthless ways of his late-grandfather, believing for him to be a true Bolton. It is said that his sister, Erena, mysteriously vanished, once her romance with a peasant boy was discovered. However, all is but speculation, as by Royce’s reign, house Bolton remained dutiful to their Winterfell overlords.

Since such times, the Dreadfort has kept quiet, meddling only in their personal affairs and duties required to appease fellow Northmen. However, with the rule of Lord Balthasar, the lands of the Dreadfort would once more reign menace. Multiple disputes would occur between Bolton and Karstark, regarding bordering lands. When bitter that his wife did not bear any sons, Lord Balthasar would begin to take first night behind the back of house Stark, slaying a disapproving husband in the process. Due to his thirst for new brides, he would be coined as *Balthasar the Bloody.* However, Lord Bolton would soon pay the price for his heinous crimes, being trailed and beheaded by Lord Stark with the swift swipe of Longclaw. The house of Bolton would then be left to Lord Balthasar’s eldest daughter, Lady Bethany, to pick up the pieces, whom in turn now became the Lady of the Dreadfort.

Ruling over the Dreadfort only but a few years, Bethany has remained quiet, focusing on rebuilding the strength of her family and their surrounding lands, whilst *softening* the sins of her forbearers. With nameday celebrations for the King, Lady Bethany and her sister, Serena, travel alongside their fellow Northmen to King’s Landing, to take part in festivities.

## Traits

Those with the blood of house Bolton oft appear dark of hair and pale of skin, with their most notable feature being their eyes – oft toned frigid grey or pale blue and resembling chips of ice. They have been known to favour gemstones kissed by shades of red – rubies and garnets shaped into droplets, resembling blood, as much of their heirlooms appear.

## Seat

Massive towers border her time-worn walls of blackstone, with merlons shaped into sharp points like daggers. Word has it that the Dreadfort is cursed, ill-omened, perhaps by the ghosts which house Bolton had created for themselves. For whispers tell of the torture chambers, of the secret room as resting place to the skins of flayed enemies – and supposedly several Winter Kings. Her musty halls are long and seemingly twisted, with large vaulted ceilings which emit thick, grey smoke through dank, wooden rafters. Just as house Stark, house Bolton also bury their dead beneath their fortress, in an ancient crypt – with mossy, wasted walls and petrified tombs where the archaic Red Kings sleep.

## Family Tree

http://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=3uc6faz4kw&f=693995337159688279