Gysella Goodbrother

Herald of Great Wyk

Captain of Goodsister

Asha Goodbrother

Lynora Goodbrother

Alysanne Goodbrother

**Gysella Goodbrother** is the current Lady of Hammerhorn and Herald of Great Wyk. She is the third child and firstborn daughter of Lord Harras Goodbrother and Lady Cerenna Kenning. Only seventeen when her older brothers Greydon and Harren Goodbrother died in the War for the Seadragon Throne, Gysella found herself heir to House Goodbrother and Hammerhorn, as well lordship over the different cadets of House Goodbrother. Following her father's death during a raid in Essos with other Ironborn, his body was returned and she was named Lady of Hammerhorn.

## Appearance and Character

Gysella's long golden hair, bluish-green eyes, and high cheekbones give credence to her Westerman blood. Standing about a few inches above five feet, she hides her curvy build under warm, padded dress coats, or the heavy sailing attire favored by her late father. Never leaving her bodice is a necklace featuring a reddish-gold horn.

A loving mother to her children, dutiful daughter, and a skilled captain, Gysella rules with understanding and affection toward her people as well the thralls. Despite these soft qualities, she manages her household and lands with the grit of the Ironborn, and does not suffer fools.

## History

Gysella was born in Hammerhorn to Lord Harras Goodbrother and Cerenna Kenning around 62 AC, one year after Victarion Greyjoy became King of the Isles. During her youth she wanted for nothing while Harras served as heir to Hammerhorn. He had a mind for trade, and brokered several deals, including one with House Kenning of Kayce. With this deal came a marriage to Cerenna Kenning, her mother. This strategic maneuver resulted in a constant flow of goods coming through Hammerhorn from the Westerlands.

Even as a little girl she took notice of her father's will to build relations with the mainland, while other Ironborn nobles fell to the Old Ways. This would leave a lasting effect on Gysella.

### Life on the Iron Isles

Life on Hammerhorn persisted peacefully under the Greyjoy kings, finally resulting in a betrothal between Gysella and a distant cousin of King Torgon named Vickon Greyjoy. However, once famine took the Iron Islands, her grandfather, Lord Wulfgar, broke the King's laws by reaving the coasts Westeros, from the Riverlands down to the Reach. Indeed, the new ideals of the Greyjoy were held in such disdain, that Wulgar teamed with Goremond Drumm to sack the supply ships earned by trade with the Greenlander Redwynes.

Wulfgar's son, Harras did not accept such drastic recourse, and instead moved to build factions within House Goodbrother and its cadets in support of the concept of trade over plunder. When Wulfgar's actions were brought to light, Gysella was sent to Kayce with her mother and sisters, ahead of the coming clash that would come to be known as the War for the Seadragon Throne.

### Badbrothers

Despite the conflict, Gysella married her betrothed Vickon Greyjoy in Kayce, and before long gave birth to their daughter Gwin Goodbrother. Once the war was mid way through. Gysella took command of the ship which brought her to Kayce, and sailed it back to Hammerhorn.

Upon returning home, she learned of the death of both her brothers, all in the cause of House Drumm's attempted revolution. Despite her misgivings, Gysella joined her father's command, and fought across the Iron Isles for Lord Lodos Drumm, for he was their kin. Many captains among the Goodbrother fleet did not truly understand the conflict and Gysella made great effect to keep them in line.

As the War for the Seadragon Throne ended, Lord Wulfgar perished from a spear in the back during one of the later battles. A fitting end in Gysella's view, for an oath breaker. The victory over the Greyjoys resulted in many issues between herself and her husband. However, when Harras took his place as Lord of Hammerhorn he named Gysella as heir, ending any doubt. In addition, Harras took in **Loren Drumm,** and fostered the boy at Hammerhorn. Gysella would befriend the young Drumm,

### Answer the Call

Gysella governed Hammerhorn while her father reluctantly followed the new Drumm king in raids against the Riverlands and Reach. Finally it seemed Harras had had enough of reaving, and set sail for Essos. A bold voyage, and a final one, for he did not return home alive. All that returned was his ship **Bloodbrother,** and his corpse. Because the Stranger is wont to strike in pairs, the death of Gysella's father was soon followed by the passing of her husband.

Despite such tragedy, the new Lady of Hammerhorn, showed her ability to manage and improve trade within Great Wyk. Such deft handling of finances did not go unnoticed. Gaining the eye of King Urragon X Drumm she was soon appointed her as Lord Collector on the Salt Council.

Such an honor did not fill the hole in her soul, and she continued her search for the Essosi who killed her father. Cultivating a network of informants, she eventually learned it was a Tyroshi fleet that had attacked the host of Ironborn led by Lord Harras. Using her influence over the houses of Great Wyk, she called them to sail under the red and black banners to seek vengeance and plunder Tyrosh.

#### The Hammer's Bid

Many minor houses of Great Wyk joined in this cause to show Tyrosh the Old Way. The saying that spread across Great Wyk was *"Iron for Iron, Blood for Blood! Great Wyk will take her price."* Coined by Lord Merlyn. However before any raid could set sail, King Urragon X put a stop to House Goodbrother's plans against Tyrosh, and some were not all pleased at this command. Gysella in particular saw Urragon as a hypocrite and weak king, made more painful for she called him cousin. Despite this denial of vengeance, the houses of Great Wyk made note of her willingness to serve the isle, and named her the Herald of Great Wyk.

### Horn Bearers

As time passed, the Iron isles settled into a moment of peace under the reign of King Urragon, and Hammerhorn found some measure of prosperity in trade. Gysella managed to arrange a marriage between Alannys Blacktyde and her own heir Dalton Goodbrother. It seemed to be a good pairing, and brought Blacktyde and Goodbrother together through blood. In addition to sealing political matches, Gysella founded the Horn Bearers who would be the hand chosen guards and captains for House Goodbrother. Through it all, her reign over her house would be defined by trade deals made with House Lannister and other mainland houses, hoping to establish House Goodbrother as tradesmen, rather than raiders.

## Recent Events

Gysella and her heir, Dalton, found themselves leading their fleets and men to aid King Urragon's desire to plunder the Arbor. Managing to gain a foothold on the Redwyne shores, Dalton joined the Ironborn force led by Sigrun Blacktyde to sack Ryamsport. This force would extract a sizeable bounty of gold from the Redwynes.

Meanwhile, Urragon Drumm led the Crimson Fleet to raid the coach, but Gysella refused to remain a player in this foolishness, and sailed home, leaving her captains to entertain the Ironborn king's designs. As she foresaw, the ill-fated expedition ended in a crushing defeat at the hands of the Royal, Redwyne, and Hightower fleets. This ambition of the Drumm king would come to be known as Urragon's Folly.

With the downfall of Urragon came the end of the Ironborn sovereignty, and Gysella was forced to acknowledge a new ruler of the Iron Isles, Veron Greyjoy, as well as the rule of King Viserys Targaryen.

In the wake of the tragedy, Gysella continues her matchmaking ways, and secures a betrothal between her daughter Gwin, and the Lord Warren Dustin.

Gysella develops an intimate relationship with the Lord Veron Greyjoy, but he is cruelly taken from her when Veron perishes in single combat. She pays fealty to Veron's heir, Florian Greyjoy, and pledges her support in the coming Kingsmoot, despite her son Dalton's loyalty to Sigrun Blacktyde.

Gysella travels to Barrowton to attend her daughter's wedding, leaving her sisters to stand in her stead at the Kingsmoot. There she learns of Warren Dustin's bastard son, upsetting her, but receives assurances from Warren that Gwin's children will inherit Barrowton. Despite this wrinkle, Gysella manages to find companionship in the North with Torrhen Forrester. The spark between them hints at more than just a mere dalliance.

Not only has Sigurn Blacktyde won the Kingsmoot, she has declared the sovereignty of the Iron Isles, so soon after it was taken away. The North cautiously pledges their support of this development, and Gysella allows her son Dalton to lead the supporting Northern fleet.

The short lived bid for independence is crushed by the Royal Fleet. Despite the loss, Dalton proves himself in the eyes of his mother. Gysella decides it's time for her to step down from the Lordship, and hand it to her son. Eventually she relents to Torrhen Forrester's romantic overtures, and agrees to wed him. Feeling Hammerhorn is in good hands, she settles into Ironrath, where she will also be close to her Dustin grandchildren. Nonetheless, she is a frequent visitor to Old Wyk, just to make sure Dalton is doing his job.

## Household

* Dalton Goodbrother, Heir and Captain of Blood Hammer
* Harwyn Goodbrother, Castellan
* Alvyn Goodbrother, Captain of the Horn Bearers
* Balon Goodbrother, Horn Bearer
* Erik Pyke, Horn Bearer
* Alester Rivers, Maester

## Family Tree

* Harras Goodbrother, Lord of Hammerhorn (b.42, d.92)
* m. Cerenna Kenning, Lady of Hammerhorn (b.43, d.98)
	+ Greydon Goodbrother (b.59, d.79)
		- Erik Pyke (b.79)
	+ Harren Goodbrother (b.60, d.79)
	+ **Gysella Goodbrother, Lady of Hammerhorn** (b.62)
	+ m. Vickon Greyjoy (b.60, d.88)
		- Gwin Goodbrother (b. 79)
		- m. Warren Dustin (b. 62)
		- Dalton Goodbrother, Heir of Hammerhorn (b. 80)
		- m. Alannys Blacktyde (b. 75)
	+ Asha Goodbrother (b. 64)
	+ Lynora Goodbrother (b. 66)
	+ Alysanne Goodbrother (b. 68)

## Meta

**Attributes**: Attractive, Elusive

**Skills:** Silver Tongue, Networking, Espionage, Infiltration, Privateering, Safeguarded, Stewardship

**Aptitude:** Administrator