Galladon Strong

Podrick Strong

Petyr Strong

Jasper Arryn

Veron Greyjoy

**Lord Galladon Strong** is the only trueborn son of Lucamore 'the Lusty' Strong, a disgraced Kingsguard. He was born in the year 55 AC, shortly before his father won the tourney at the Dragonpit. His mother died in the birthing bed, and his father was quickly made into a Kingsguard, as such, he was left in the care of his father's younger brother Bywin Strong.

## Appearance and Characteristics

Galladon is fit for a man of and forty. He has lost most of his ability to duel another man, and he was never the pinnacle of swordsmen by any regard before he aged. However, his mind is sharp as ever. When leading men he wears the armor given to him by House Targaryen when he was a Dragonkeeper.

Otherwise, he wears simple clothing, silks for formal occasions but generally leather before anything else. He wears a simple steel sword when required.

Galladon is highly religious, viewing the Seven as the most important influence in his life. After the Seven is House Targaryen, specifically King Viserys Targaryen. Galladon is forever loyal to the man who raised himself to the position he finds himself in now.

## Early Childhood

Galladon lived in a small manse with his Uncle Bywin and his two cousins for much of his young life. The tourney winnings from Lucamore's victory in the Tourney of the Dragonpit funded the majority of their lives, while a small stipend was sent from the crown. Galladon never served as a page for a noble, however, as his uncle preferred to keep him close at hand.

Bywin's love of his nephew was ignored however when Lucamore insisted his son would be his squire in the Kingsguard, and so it transpired as Lucamore wished, Galladon entered his father's service and squired for the Kingsguard knight.

However, upon becoming a squire for his father Galladon quickly discovered his father's late-night frivolities with three different women. Discovering in the year 67 that he had no fewer than ten bastard siblings. After discovering his father’s late-night activities with his various wives, Galladon swore he would tell the king. However, he was convinced not to by his father, who insisted that none other would take him for a squire after discovering he betrayed the trust of the knight he squired for, his own father, nonetheless. Galladon still cites this as one of his biggest regrets.

## Blood is Not So Thick

While the young boy was no master swordsman, he was decent enough in the saddle, unhorsing his own father once. But he never won a tourney in his own right. His particularly nondescript squiring meant he was not awarded with a young knighting. He was knighted at the age of eighteen by his father. A respectable age, but nothing impressive by any means.

It was at this point Galladon once again considered turning his father in. He had met each of his siblings and knew most of them quite well, and since he was twelve he had gained six more siblings, bringing the total to sixteen. Not only was it clear to Galladon his father had no intention to stop, but that he was the only one who could stop it.

Finally, after working up the courage over a few days longer, Galladon requested a meeting with King Rhaegar. Alone. The son of the Kingsguard was trusted enough to have a private audience with the King's current guard stationed outside the door. He informed the King of everything he had hidden for six years, expecting punishment. But none came to him. The king, obviously furious, informed Galladon it would be handled in court the next day and dismissed him.

Court came rather quickly, the normal drivel passed by. Until King Rhaegar summoned Lucamore forward. The doors to the throne room opened, and three women and sixteen children were dragged into the room. Lucamore's family. Please were heard from the wives and Lucamore himself. When Galladon was called as a witness, he revealed his father's misdeeds and simply requested mercy for the children as they did no wrong.

Lucamore 'the Lusty' Strong was hanged due to his son's words. His children stripped of the name Strong and given the name Waters.

## Penance for One's Sins

Galladon felt immense guilt for his actions. He knew he did nothing wrong, yet was he a kinslayer? His father was killed upon his words. His father broke the oaths he took, yes. But Galladon sped him along the way to death. His father's income would no longer support him and Bywin could only raise his kids upon his own salary. So Galladon searched for a position in the Dragon's Court that would have him. He settled upon the Dragonkeepers.
A marriage was offered to him in the year 78, Giselle Frey and Galladon Strong married shortly thereafter. His firstborn son, Florian was born a year after in the year 79. more children came in the following four years, Robin in 80, Podrick in 82 and Petyr in 84. The pair decided to stop having children at that point as four sons were plenty by any estimation.

For nearly twenty years total Galladon worked with the order that was sworn to protect the Targaryen's dragons. He rose quickly through the ranks, not due to his prowess with a sword but with his leadership and intelligence. When Gwayne Tyrell declared himself King of the Reach and was joined with House Lannister in rebellion, Galladon was captain of the Dragonkeepers.

He had no choice but to remain behind, Balerion was not able to fly due to the sickness he had contracted. Thus Galladon was placed in charge of the defense of the Dragonpit while the newly named King Viserys I Targaryen handled the rebels. When the Westermen evaded the Riverlords and marched on King's Landing, he sat upon Lord Gunthor Arryn's defense council. He was given a task that would perhaps save them all.

When the men of the West spilled into the city, they unsurprisingly marched upon the dragonpit. The dragons, after all, were a sign of Targaryen 'oppression'. Balerion, for all of his ills, was nothing to dismiss, however. Following Gunthor's orders, the doors to the dragonpit were only lightly barred, and the chains upon Balerion's front legs were broken. The old dragon snapped at Galladon as he did this.

However, the trap was set, and the men of the West had no hesitation to spring it. The door was battered down, but instead of a phalanx of dragonkeepers, they met the Black Dread. Black flames erupted from the dragon's mouth at those who would dare ruin his slumber. Smoke quickly filled the dragonpit as the great flames had no distinction of friend nor foe. Many dragonkeepers died as well, but the men of the West who dared to move against Balerion were slaughtered.

Galladon led the sortie from the Dragonpit, chasing those who were lucky enough not to be burnt alive from the Dragonpit. The defense of King's Landing was complete.

## Ascension

Many rewards were given out to those who participated in the defense of King's Landing, but none was so great as Galladon Strong's. His protection of the Last Dragon of House Targaryen saw him rewarded with a lordship, not only a lordship. But the very castle that Balerion himself had burnt nigh on a century before. Harrenhal.

Galladon quickly moved his uncle Bywin and his two trueborn children to their new home. After arranging himself and acquainting himself with his lands, Galladon sent messengers across King's Landing to find the bastards of his father's affairs. Nearly all of them were found, and all that was found were happily invited to Harrenhal. Those that didn't accept went to work with various other noble houses such as Tarbeck, Egen, and others.

Harrenhal's affairs were quickly set in order. Florian was sent to squire for a lord. Podrick and Petyr were kept close by, Podrick squiring for his uncle Bywin and Petyr not yet squiring at the age of four and ten.

Galladon's ministering of his lands saw Harrenhal's coffers and incomes nearly double in size. However, not all was perfectly well. Lady Anges Tully, who had been eyeing Harrenhal for her second son was upset at the knight being placed in one of the most prestigious castles of Westeros.

## Recent Events

Galladon rushed home after the funeral of Balerion due to rumors of a priest of the old god's spreading his vile religion to the smallfolk of Harrenhal's lands. Galladon is gathering men to combat this as quickly as possible.