House Forrester

**House Forrester** is a noble house from the North of Westeros, well known for their harvesting of the rare ironwood trees. Seated in Ironrath in the Wolfswood, they are vassals of House Glover of Deepwood Motte. They, like the majority of other Northern houses, worship the Old Gods of the Forest.

They are ruled by Lord Rodrik Forrester or his younger brother Asher Forrester.

Their words are "Iron From Ice", which echoes their belief that - like the ironwood itself - the adverse conditions and unforgiving landscape of the North only makes them stronger.

## History

House Forrester was founded 50 generations ago by Gerhard Forrester, also known as Gerhard the Tall. 1500 years ago, Cedric Forrester and his triplet sons founded Ironrath, the stronghold of the house. Since then, the Forresters have become renowned for their preservation and craftsmanship of the rare ironwood trees that grow in the Wolfswood, particularly around Ironrath.

The Forresters have long been rivals to House Whitehill of Highpoint, the sworn bannermen of House Bolton. The exact origins of the rivalry are unknown, but part of it seems founded on the ironwood. The Whitehills argue that the Forresters took all of their ironwood, while the Forresters say that the Whitehills clear cut all of what they were given.

The rivalry between both houses extends into the territory separating Ironrath and Highpoint. Around twenty years before the events of the story, the Whitehills controlled the river valley separating the two houses until it was taken back for the Forresters by Lord Thorren Forrester, popularly known as Thorren the Bold.

When Eddard Stark raised his banners in rebellion of King Aerys Targaryen, the Forresters and their Glover liege lords pledged their fealty to Robert Baratheon. Lord Thorren was slain by Targaryen loyalists at the Battle of the Trident, resulting in his son, Gregor, becoming Lord of Ironrath.

During the War of the Five Kings, the Forresters again fought with the Glovers - this time for Robb Stark, the King in the North. At the Battle of Duskendale, the Forresters suffered losses while fighting crown loyalists, partly as a result of the then-unknown treachery of Roose Bolton. However, thanks to their unswavering loyalty and renown in combat, the Forresters were valued enough by their liege lords to lead the Northern forces as the vanguard after the wedding between Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey at the Twins.

### Game of Thrones

As the Forresters celebrated at the wedding along with their allies, they were betrayed by House Frey, along with their new allies - Houses Bolton and Whitehill. The majority of their men were slaughtered, including Lord Gregor. The heir and eldest son of the house, Rodrik Forrester, was also believed to have been killed during the massacre, but he survived with severe injuries.

With the death of Gregor and the apparent death of Rodrik, the house was in turmoil. The young Ethan Forrester, third son of Gregor, became Lord of Ironrath. His lordship was short-lived, as he was murdered by Ramsay Snow, the bastard son of Roose Bolton. The fourth born son and new lord apparaent, Ryon Forrester, was then taken as a ward by Lord Ludd Whitehill at Ramsay's orders. Ludd then installed a garrison of twenty Whitehill men at Ironrath.

Shortly after, Rodrik Forrester returned to Ironrath and took his rightful place as lord, albeit with severe injuries. Despite Ramsay's original orders of the ironwood grove to be divided between both houses, the Whitehills proceeded to cut down all of the trees for themselves, leaving the future of House Forrester uncertain.

The Forresters are ordered to war with House Whitehill at the behest of Ramsay Snow. Led by Rodrik or Asher Forrester, the house puts up a valiant fight despite being outnumbered ten-to-one. The Whitehills win the battle by a landslide, with the only escapees being Rodrik/Asher (gravely injured), Royland Degore/Duncan Tuttle, Talia Forrester, Ryon Forrester, and Beskha.