Ellard Crane

Lord Ellard Crane is the older brother of Ser Aladore, and Lord of Red Lake. He is a studious man, intelligent and always eager to learn. There are few if any subjects he does not have some kind of educated opinion on.

## Appearance/Character

Ellard is -- much like his brother Aladore -- blonde of hair, though he keeps his cut short. A few stubbles cover his chins, and the bags under his eyes are evidence enough of the many days and nights spent locked up in his solar, looking over charts and documents and his brows seem to constantly be furrowed in worry. He is tall and lanky.

The new Lord of Red Lake cares little for his clothes but at feasts and tourneys, he tends to dress in fashionable doublets, surcoats or robes - though most of his servants and valets joke that he does so because of his father’s insistence that he should look the part of a Lord of Red Lake, rather than out of his own volition. Back at home in Red Lake he usually clothes himself in linen or silk tunics. He owns a robe of light blue linen trimmed with cloth-of-gold, and a red cloak lined with fur. In the field and the yard -- when he takes to the yard anyway -- he wears a tabard in the colours of his House over mail and plate. His shield is made of solid oak, with a vee of golden cranes on blue depicted on it.

Ellard is a scholarly man, more interested in books rather than swordplay, the study of nature rather than the hunt. He does, however, carry himself with a certain grace and while not as witty as his younger brother, it is not uncommon for him to joke and jest from time and time.

## History

Born the first son and child of Ser Alyn and his wife, Lady Rosamund Rowan, Ellard grew up with three sisters and a brother. While his lady mother was equally loving towards all his younger siblings it was clear that both she and Ser Alyn preferred Ellard over the others. This would lead to a great deal of animosity between him and his younger siblings, especially with Aladore and Melara.

Now while initially, Ellard focused more on his studies -- especially on those on the lay of the land and cartography, both subjects that interested him immensely -- and it looked as if he were to become a maester, the time spent around Ser Alesander and his sons inspired him to take an interest in the art of war. Suddenly, his dream of becoming a maester of the Citadel was forgotten, and every new day he would bug his lord father about allowing him to ward for a knight of great renown. Eventually, Ser Alyn relented and sent him to Horn Hill to squire for Ser Triston Tarly, an old friend of his, who he had met during his days as a Lord Uthor Peake’s sworn sword.

Much like his brother, Ellard would learn how to behave at court and all the things a young noble would need to know, however, owing to House Tarly’s martial tradition, his training was far more focused on fighting and duelling. While he never showed as much talent in the yard as his brother, it soon became apparent that he had a brilliant mind when it came to tactics, a talent which was further honed by his knight. Not long after his tenth name-day, he would be taught in the art of war. It was in the foothills of the Red Mountains that he first learned how to use the land to his advantage, how to keep any enemy at a distance, skirmishing and peppering them with missiles.

Ellard was finally knighted in 125 AC and -- after a few months of gallivanting around the Reach -- he returned to Red Lake a man educated not only in the art of skirmishing, but also how to best acquire food and forage the land. His knowledge of geography would also greatly aid him in the next four years, many of which he would spend beating back bandits and poachers that were terrorizing the lands of House Crane every once in a while. While the elevation of his brother Aladore to the position of castellan of Red Watch, made him feel envy and jealousy, Ellard bid his time.

## Recent Events

As it turned out his patience would be rewarded not two years later, when the great fire of Red Lake occurred, killing not only Lord Gaemon but also his heir, the Lady Rhaena. While his father would have been next in line to the title, Alyn decided to give up the lordship and pass it on to his firstborn son, now the new Lord of Red Lake.

In recent times there have been talks to hopefully see Ellard betrothed to Laena Serret -- provided that Lord Serret would approve of the match -- and while there is much to be repaired at Red Lake -- the fire having done great damage to both the main keep -- Ellard has decided to leave the repair of his family’s ancestral seat in his lord father’s able hands, while he is to travel to Oldtown to meet with Lady Laena.

## Family

https://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=ioywu6y3uw&f=301458729197646772

## Meta

Ellard has 1 in CHA 7 in MAR  6 in EDU and a Rep of 4. his skills are Logistics, Skirmishing and Geography. His attribute is Brilliant.