Cecil Sunderland

Lord **Cecil Sunderland**(42 AC, Sisterton - Present), is the current Lord of the Three Sisters. He is the secondborn son of the late Lord Howard Sunderland and Lady Margaery Sunderland. He is the brother of Lady Adelaide Sunderland, the late Ser Devon Sunderland, and Ser John. He is faithfully married to Lady Melantha Arryn Sunderland with whom he has fathered and raised Ser Davos Sunderland, Lady Dianna Sunderland Royce, Ser Hugh Sunderland, Lady Estella Sunderland, Lady Helen Sunderland, Ser Devon Sunderland (who takes his name from his late uncle), and Lady Clarisse Sunderland.

Furthermore he is uncle to and adoptive father of Gordon Sunderland, the son of his late brother Devon, is uncle to Ser John Sunderland's children and grandfather to Ser Davos's children, the eldest named Cecil after himself, the second named Tommen and the youngest a girl named Adelaide taking her name from her great-aunt.

During youth a competent fighter who is known for his prowess with two handed swords and as veteran of many skirmishes in the War for the Bite, as well as the Siege of Breakwater Castle and the Battle for Sweetsister Cecil has become far more renowned for his competence in finance.

## Appearance and Character

Cecil Sunderland is a serious man, and this characteristic is present in his very appearance with tired eyes, left parted long, straight charcoal grey and silver hair, along with a silver to white mustache and beard. Cecil Sunderland is quite tall compared to many he has known standing at 6'1", though while he once had a strong, muscular build, time has caused him to become comparatively slender though he still maintains an athletic build, finding much relief in physical tasks and continuing practice with his two handed sword.

When Cecil Sunderland was young he was considered to be quite handsome, and throughout his youth he had always been active both intellectually and physically. At age 16 he began to take on tasks with his father's party of men, often repelling raids and fighting pirates in minor naval engagements. This element of constant conflict would shape his life in many ways, at first being a source of excitement and adventure, though later with war coming to his home Isles and later still with the death of his close brother Devon Sunderland in the Massacre in the Mountains of the Moon and several other friends that he had maintained since youth, his view of the world became far less optimistic and characterized by a desire to minimize conflict wherever possible, knowing that when conflicts do emerge, one must commit fully to them - often without mercy.

Cecil Sunderland is deeply distrustful of Reachmen and Westerlanders, being extensively aware of their constant defiance of the throne and seeing them as sources of conflict and deceit. Indeed, in Cecil's own view, economic and political powers should be revoked from those western regions and the historically more reliable easterners should be empowered to maintain peace, prosperity and tranquility in the realm. He has made this view known to other Valemen and hopes one day to make such a process a reality.

In the many years of peace, Cecil Sunderland took time to dedicate himself to learning much about finance and economics, which aided in what has been for the Three Sisters a great economic recovery from what had been a long period of stagnation and indeed decline. While piracy still is present throughout the waters surrounding the isles, there is far more order ashore than there had been prior to his reign and marketplaces have grown in city centers, with Sisterton itself seeing a marketplace emerge adjoining it to its west, slightly inland. Furthermore, with the finances of the isles slowly but surely balanced, the island now maintains a surplus of coin on hand which is intended to be maintained for posterity. Since 89 having served as the High Steward of the Vale he has worked extensively with his Lord Paramount Gunthor Arryn to promote an economic recovery and strengthen the Vale's finances and further has assisted the Lord Paramount in other capacities as needed.

## History

### Birth and Early Youth (42 AC - 57 AC)

Cecil Sunderland was the second born son to his father Howard Sunderland. He was born during the Siege of White Harbor while his father was away on campaign. His father, who saw his older brother Devon as a natural heir, allowed Cecil to have some more freedom in pursuing his own interests. As a child this meant adventuring into a family owned portion of the inland woods with friends and working with local businesses and tradesmen.

He began keeping journals of his daily life at age ten and discovered his ambidexterity which he would likewise notice during fencing practices as he could quickly switch hands with his practice sword. He would often attempt to defeat his brother in practice, to no avail but without some close calls. In truth, while he acted outwardly competitive with his brother, from a young age he came to greatly look up to him trying to emulate his reputation as a well mannered, honest child.

It was during these years that he became aware of the War for the Bite, the War for the Mountains of the Moon, of **Aegon's Conquest**, and the brutal **Rape of the Three Sisters**. Though living in a castle away from the commoners in the crime infested city of Sisterton, as a child he was always entranced by the images of sea raiders and pirate skirmishes. In year 57, his grandfather died of natural causes, and his father was crowned Lord Howard Sunderland of the Three Sisters.

### Early Adolescence (58 - 66 AC)

At age 16, Cecil Sunderland was given permission by his father to serve in their fleet, assisting in raids on Pirate outposts and at times confronting pirate fleets head on. Though his father ensured that he did not see any combat in his first year of service, he pressed his father to allow him to serve on more daring sorties and his father eventually permitted him. Over the next several years he gained a reputation as a fearless swordsman, quickly becoming accustomed to using two-handed blades and eventually becoming a proper sailor. In year 60 AC he is betrothed to Melantha Arryn, by his father and Regent of the Vale Lord Denys Hunter.

However as time went on, during his time he also became familiar with corruption which had become all to common even within the Sunderlands' fleet. This came to a head 61 AC when after corresponding with his father and his brother on the matter he was given charge of a small party of men and arrested several naval officers and their collaborators, thereby breaking up a major corruption ring within the fleet that had allowed certain pirate groups to operate near the islands with little to no impunity. The event earned him much renown within the Three Sisters and for it his father knighted him.

For the next several years he continued in this capacity, eventually becoming the captain of a vessel named 'The Eaglet'. During this period the intensity of raids coming from the North intensified and Lord Borrell of Sweetsister began to respond in kind, knowing that this was being done at the direction of the Manderlys. It was clear in Cecil's mind that, quite soon, this would escalate into a far greater conflict.

### The War for the Bite (67 AC)

In the aftermath of one of the most intense series of raids conducted by Lord Borrell and his fleet, many Northern ships now were beached in ruin or lying deep below the sea, their crews slaughtered and their bounty seized. It would be a tipping point in the conflict, igniting it into a full escalation that had not been seen in nearly two decades.

The Manderly fleet made way for Sweet Sister landing without interdiction along their route south. Howard Sunderland attempted to stop the Manderly men from besieging Breakwater, and Cecil and his brothers Devon and John participated in the counter offensive. However, it was to no avail as the Manderly force outnumbered the small force they had been able to muster, and with few losses on both sides, it was clear that the Sunderland men would have to pull back. The next few days were unbearable, while the Sunderlands attempted to rally their men on Sweetsister, their fleet alone could not challenge the Manderly fleet and thus they were unable to receive aid from their neighboring isles. Outnumbered they could only watch and wait as his father had sent word south requesting aid.

However, their aid did arrive in the form of Lord Paramount Gunthor Arryn and a Grafton fleet carrying men of the Vale forth to action in defense of the Isle. Their arrival was a moment that Cecil would never forget, a debt that he would feel he would owe them eternally. The Sunderland force, limited in size though it was, would join the combined force in battle. Cecil returned to his ship 'The Eaglet' and along with the rest of the Sunderland fleet joined the Graftons in what became a protracted battle at sea. There he earned himself a scar which tore down his chest, but it did not stop him from continuing to fight through the battle to its end.

In the end, Gunthor Arryn's honor spared the life of Lord Manderly, and a truce was drawn. Battle first ended on land, and with it apparent that the battle was done the two fleets gradually separated from one another awaiting word from ashore. Hostages were exchanged and a peace was drawn out. The war appeared to be over.

### Marriage and Adulthood (67 - 87)

In he aftermath of the War, Cecil's betrothal with Melantha came to the forefront of discussion as it had been in place for nearly a decade without finally being sealed in marriage. So with no further reason for delay, Melantha and Cecil were wed before the year had ended. The wedding was held at a large cottage further inland on the isle of Sweetsister amidst beautiful countryside and woodlands. Together they would bear seven children: Davos Sunderland in 68 AC, Dianna Sunderland in 69 AC, Hugh Sunderland in 71 AC, twin sisters Estella and Helen Sunderland in 73 AC, Devon Sunderland in 75 AC and Clarisse Sunderland in 77 AC.

Though Cecil was eight years her senior, the two found common interests in their appreciation for art, history and nature. Cecil was eventually placed in charge of the Sunderland fleet, and began taking action to protect trade routes beneficial to the Three Sisters and the Vale. It was during this period that he became deeply interested with the power of the economy and of the control of mercantile interests. He began spending his free time studying finance, commerce, trade and economics. He would begin to assist his father with finances, which he quickly found were in terrible shape as the Islands were in a considerable debt and failing to make necessary improvements to infrastructure on the island. His brother Devon for his part had been on several different diplomatic missions throughout the Vale and.

In 71 AC, Lord Howard Sunderland formalized this position and named Cecil Steward for the Island, and Cecil got to work assisting him with budgetary, infrastructure and commercial concerns. For a couple of years, austerity was implemented to slow the bleeding effect that debt had on their treasury. Eventually once this problem was reduced, a tract of farmland west of Sisterton was purchased by House Sunderland for the purpose of constructing grounds for a marketplace. Maintaining his position as head of the fleet and with the help of his elder brother Devon who secured the support of House Borrell who had extensive experience as lifeguard sailors, traders were gradually directed away from the backwater downtown area of the city and towards a new area which came to be known as New Market. (More will be added on this in its very own page)

Sweetsister saw a revival that it had long needed in economic activity, and with it came an increase in offshore piracy. To counter this the combined fleets of the Three Sisters had to increase their own activity, and skirmishes became common through the next several years. By the year 80 AC however, such activity had calmed on both sides and a period of economic prosperity gradually set in on the isles.

However not all was well, as his brother who he had always looked up to brought home a pregnant girl of common blood from one of his diplomatic visits to Gulltown. Shock traveled throughout the family, after the death of his first wife who had failed to produce any heirs for him, it had been a long lasting question of when Devon would re-marry. Instead she would give birth to a bastard who they named Gordon within a day of his return. For years, Lord Howard would refuse to speak to his firstborn and despite his many pleas, never would legitimize his grandson. Cecil too was initially at great odds with Devon, but eventually came to accept and even respect his older brother's decision to not abandon the woman that he had bore a child with. For years, this fragile family arrangement remained in place until tragedy struck both the realm and the family.

### The Massacre in the Mountains of the Moon (88 AC)

Cecil himself was not present during the Massacre, however, his brother Devon and a small contingent of companions from the isles had joined the Arryn host in the wake of the War for the Mountains of the Moon re-igniting. The Battle was terribly bloody, however most of the islanders had managed to survive, Devon himself however had not been so lucky, having been surrounded and then decapitated by a Mountainfolk tribesman wielding an axe.

When word reached Sisterton, his father, who had not spoken to Devon in years went into shock and died later that day. Mourning spread throughout the isles, no one was either more stunned or upset by the news than Cecil himself. Hesitantly, almost in disbelief that he had suddenly become the next in line to the throne of the Three Sisters, he took a few days to mourn and then assumed his title as Lord of the Three Sisters.

### Lord of the Three Sisters (88 AC - present)

One of his first acts of Lord of the Three Sisters was to have his brothers remains returned to the island. Devon and his father Howard were buried next to one another in the family cemetery. After the burials, he shortly thereafter legitimized the son of his late brother, and took him and his commoner mother into his household to help raise and provide for him.

That next year was difficult for Cecil, however he managed to carry the heavy weight that had suddenly fallen upon his shoulders - his experiences having formatively built him up so that it was not an impossible task. He continued his project of securing the household's finances, and set the household on the trajectory for an eventual financial surplus as their economy had grown in strength and their debts had been greatly diminished.

#### High Steward of the Vale (89 AC - present)

With the passing of the honorable late Lord Denys Hunter and the continued growth of Cecil Sunderland's reputation as a financially shrewd and honorable man, Lord Paramount Gunthor Arryn sent a letter tapping him for the position. Cecil remembered the Lord Paramount's question-less assistance when the Three Sisters had needed aid, and though the Vale was now at peace, he still felt obligated to serve the Vale in any way he could. He sent a letter accepting the position and thanking the Lord Paramount for having considered him and made way for the Eerie naming his son Davos Sunderland regent of the Three Sisters in his absence.

The move was good for Cecil, he needed to be away from the Three Sisters after the not so distant tragedies that had struck his family. His mood improved within his first day at the Eerie, and while he had still become a far more reserved and serious man then he had been in his youth, this came to be a resource as it created an atmosphere of diligence with those who he worked with.

## Family

See the character intro for a basic overview, for a more detailed view, visit the link below:

http://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=orv5fhhozn&f=475252910425772824

## Household

Andar Royce - Sergeant at Arms

Alayne Royce - Daughter of Andar and Dianna Sunderland

Gunthor Royce - Son of Andar and Dianna Sunderland

Willam Royce - Son of Andar and Dianna Sunderland

Maester Conrad