Uther Peake

Lord of Whitegrove

Lord of Dunstonbury

Dunstonbury

House Celtigar

The Black Rose

Samantha Peake

Arlan Peake

Pykewood Peake

**Uther Peake** is the current Lord of Starpike, Whitegrove and Dunstonbury, as well as the High Justiciar of the Reach. Before Gwayne Tyrell assumed the Paramouncy from his father, **Uther** also was the High Marshall of the Reach to Lord Leo Tyrell. He was the second son and child born from the union of Lord Amaury Peake, and Lady Alyce Blackbar. Wed to Lady Prunella Celtigar, he sired four of his own children in Catelyn, Desmond, Samantha and Arlan Peake. A notable commander and politician, he has brought House Peake to the forefront of the Reach through various conflicts and dealings - playing a critical role during the Slaughter of Bitterbridge, as well as arranging the union of his youngest daughter to the now Lord Paramount of the Reach, Gwayne Tyrell in what would go on to be called the Wedding of Black and White.

## Appearance and Character

An aged man, he carries his experience of the world upon his brow and chin. Though only now beginning to grey, what was once hard and rough features now soften and crack - only his eyes appear to remain as stern and cold as ever. At six and five, **Uther** still carries himself proudly at 5'8 - a result of a slight slouch developed through the years, accompanied with the start of a rounding gut. Despite his personal wealth **Uther** has always dressed rather reservedly, choosing darker linens and clothes of basic designs opposed to more fashionable choices.

Born into House Peake, ambition came second nature to **Uther** and has always been a driving factor into his decisions, just as it had been for his father. This state of mind was likely reinforced by being a second son, and never intended to hold the Lordship of the entirety of his House's lands. Following the death of his elder brother Bonifer however, opened a new realm of possibilities and reinforced his desire for success.

In recent years his attitude has severely soured, in what some would say be from the treatment given to his House from their liege Lord Gwayne Tyrell - though others would suggest it originated from the passing of his youngest son Arlan fighting in the Rosegold Rebellion.

## History

### Early Life and Youth (33 AC - 47 AC)

Having been born on the Ninth Moon of 33 AC, **Uther** enjoyed a time of prosperity and peace within the Reach during his initial years. Often found on the heels of his elder brother Bonifer, the two were near inseparable as soon as **Uther** was of age to walk. It would be Bonifer who tought him how to properly wield a bow, and occasionally sneak him a sweet from the kitchens - a kindness shared solely between the two, even after their sister Olenna was born and joined them on their adventures.

**Uther** himself always excelled in his lessons with Maester Galladon, though never pushed himself beyond such pursuits of learning - choosing to instead spend his time planning other pranks and mischief that he could partake in with Bonifer. By the age of eight, **Starpike** had suffered several fits of embarrassment and destruction at the pair's hands - such as fake letters being sent throughout the Reach with their father's seal and several small kitchen fires among others.

Such time for youthful innocence could not last forever however, as in 41 AC the Faith Militant Uprising occurred sending the realm into a state of panic. **Uther** began training with blade and spear, while his brother was sent to **Bandallon** to squire for their uncle. It would be in 43 AC however, that Lord Amaury Peake and the forces of **Starpike** would be called upon by the newly crowned King Maegor the Cruel. Their forces would meet Aegon the Uncrowned in what would be called the **Battle Beneath the God's Eye**, and result in an unquestionable victory for King Maegor. Lord Amaury himself would personally slay Lord Alyn Tarbeck during the retreat, and later attend King Maegor's wedding to the man's widow Lady Jeyne Westerling.

The consequences of the War would not become apparent to House Peake until much later in 47 AC, when a supporter of Aegon the Uncrowned who participated in the Battle Beneath the God's Eye by the name of Ser Joffrey Doggett, performed numerous targeted assassinations with the help of the Poor Fellows. Such victims included Old Lord Merryweather, Ser Davos Darklyn's aged father, and the Heir of House Peake - the newly knighted and recently wed Ser Bonifer Peake.

### Coming of Age (47 AC - 55 AC)

With the death of his elder brother and respected idol, **Uther** and his role within his House was called into question. Ser Bonifer's widow Valerie Oakheart, carried with her an unborn child from their brief union. As such, the title of Heir remained vacant until the child was born. In the latest months of 47 AC, Lady Valerie would give birth to a girl, named Emberlei Peake. Lord Amaury Peake made no formal decision on the matter of inheritance for several months, until a raven arrived from Lord Godric Caron accepting a betrothal between Emberlei and his son Edric Caron. It was a betrothal that Lord Amaury had no recollection of proposing, nor considering at such a time - only later did he discover that once again, **Uther** had made use of his personal seal.

With the matter of the future of House Peake resolved, Lord Amaury began preparing his son for the task of lordship. Already proving himself as resourceful, **Uther** began undertaking further lessons stressing the importance of governing, politics and military affairs - all the while his father began searching for a suitable match for the future **Lord of Starpike**, as well as his daughter Olenna. She would go on to be wed to Lord Ormund Caswell in 50 AC, and later that year die in childbirth to a baby girl. **Uther** however would not be wed until 55 AC after a series of political moves made by his father, to Lady Prunella Celtigar - a woman of twenty, and supposedly formerly offered to both King Maegor the Cruel and Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen respectively before **Uther** himself.

### Fatherhood and the Lordship (55 - 69 AC)

Together **Uther Peake** and Prunella Celtigar would have four children over the next twelve years - the eldest being Catelyn in 57 AC, followed by Desmond in 59 AC. Samantha would be born in 61 AC, and lastly Arlan in 69 AC. It would be shortly after the birth of Samantha in 61 AC that the forces of the Reach would march once more, in what would be called the Third Dornish War due to the insistence of Lord Leo Tyrell to invade Dorne, despite the assurances from **Sunspear** that the self-declared Vulture King was very much disapproved of by the Martells.

What would ultimately ensure would be a lengthy advance into Dorne through the **Prince's Pass**, and a siege of **Skyreach** with heavy losses - one such casualty being Lord Amaury Peake himself, after attempting to scale the battlements and being crushed by a falling rock in 62 AC. Having joined his father in their campaign south, **Uther** immediately assumed command of the troops and continued the assault. Although a bloody conquest, **Skyreach** inevitably falls and it's residents taken prisoner, before being sent to **Starpike**. Following this, Lord Leo Tyrell named the newly-made Lord **Uther** the High Marshall of the Reach, and placed him in charge of the continued advance south, as he himself had decided to pay a visit to **King's Landing**.

The forces of the Reach marched further still under the command of the High Marshall, until ultimately falling upon the castle of **Starfall -** where yet another prolonged siege would ensue. Numerous attempts to parlay and negotiate the castle's surrender occurred, as well as several butchered assaults - however what resulted was another grievous battle when the Dornish reinforcements from the east arrived to bolster **Starfall** and it's forces. Forcing to order a retreat, **Uther** and what was left of the Reach's forces fell back to **Skyreach** and began to fortify their position from an attack from the south.

Word would later reach the survivors of the Battle of Starfall, that Lord Leo Tyrell had perished attempting to sail through **the Stepstones** and his eldest son Gwayne Tyrell, had assumed the Lord Paramouncy. Immediately after this, the war would be ended by the new Lord Paramount's orders and what forces remained in **Skyreach** would return home in 63 AC, as well as the release of the members of House Fowler from **Starpike**.

**Uther** would return home the Lord to his House, and leave **Whitegrove** to the care of his younger brother Ser Pykewood Peake - as he had done just that very thing for the length of the war.

### Right to Rule (69 AC - 90 AC)

As his time as Lord progressed, **Uther** began to propose various betrothals to Lords throughout the Reach on the behalf of his eldest children. Catelyn would see herself wed to Arthur Oakheart - a young man six years her senior - in 71 AC, while Desmond would find a betrothal with a one Jeyne Tarly, in 75 AC after his victory in the lists at the Grand Tournament of Casterly Rock - and has his younger sister Samantha Peake named the Queen of Love and Beauty of the event, cementing her as a darling of the Reach.

As fate would have it the decision would not be in vain, as in 78 AC preparations were made to see her wed to Lord Gwayne Tyrell - year after taking Lady Perianne Caswell as a wife before passing in childbirth. It would be a dual-marriage between the two along with his eldest child Alysanne Tyrell, and Lucien Hightower, in what would go on to be called the Wedding of Black and White. Great feasts were held every night for a fortnight, and a tournament that lasted a moon on itself.

Tensions would rise once again, as following the ceremony Lord Gwayne felt right to remove the title of High Marshall from **Uther** without seemingly any warning or mention and instead name Lord Lyonel Hightower to the role. Spurned and sour with the decision, Lord **Uther** would leave shortly after the wedding night and chose to remain absent from court affairs for years to follow.

In 83 AC, the Princedom of Dorne would once again prove to be an issue to the servants of the Iron Throne in what would be called the Fourth Dornish War - or the War of Lord Yorick's Aggression. Hosts led by House Yronwood had begun raiding and besieging settlements north of **the Boneway** into the Stormlands, and House Baratheon had formerly requested for aid from the Crown. At the word of a second host led by House Fowler had begun to besiege **Nightsong**, Lord Gwayne Tyrell as Warden of the South was called upon by King Rhaegar I Targaryen to intervene. Having been included in these summons, **Uther** and the men of House Peake marched to relieve House Caron. Four major battles occurred in the Western Campaign of the war, which resulted in two of Lord Edgar Fowler's grandchildren being slain - one Yoren by Gwayne, and one Mors by Ser Pykewood Peake's own hand. **Nightsong** would be relieved, and since the Lady of the House was none other than Emberlei Peake, **Uther** made the decision to leave a token of his forces behind to aid in a possible future defense.

Fighting would continue on both fronts for a time but by the year's end, Prince Nymor Martell had sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and the Fourth Dornish War would conclude. For nearly a decade, the lands of the Reach would keep this peace.

### Bitterness (90 AC - Present)

By 90 AC, **Uther** had seen three of his four children wed, and his fourth and youngest soon to be betrothed. With that brought even more grandchildren - three of which in Addison, Jocelyn and Joanna, would carry on the main branch of House Peake's legacy. Though everything would be called into question once again following the death of King Rhaegar I Targaryen in 93 AC. Unable to handle the drunken belittlement and insults of the newly crowned King Viserys I Targaryen along with the recent decline of the source of Targaryen power - their dragons, Lord Gwayne Tyrell and Lord Tytos Lannister raised their banners in what would go on to be called the Rosegold Rebellion.

Falling under the command of the High Marsall Lord Lyonel Hightower, House Peake hastily gathered it's forces and joined in the defense of the Reach in the east. Lord **Uther** himself, along with his sons Ser Desmond and Ser Arlan, his brother Ser Pykewood, and his nephew Ser Mychel would lead the levies of **Starpike**, **Whitegrove** and **Dunstonbury**. The defense of **the Marches** would prove to be quite successful in repelling most of the Stormlands' forces south of **the Cockleswent**, though elsewhere under the leadership of Lord Raymont Baratheon, **Grassy Vale** would fall.

Several other battles such as the Battle of the Blueburn, and the Battle of Longtable would occur throughout the Reach. House Redwyne had openly opposed the Rosegold Rebellion, and had chosen to blockade **Oldtown** - much to the anger of the newly crowned King Gwayne I Tyrell. It was a choice that **Uther** himself had pondered, though through the Reachman King, his own daughter had become a Queen.

The forces under the command of High Marshall Lord Lyonel Hightower would march again, joining with King Gwayne I Tyrell towards **Bitterbridge**, where the bloodiest battle of the war would later ensue. Time was made to heavily fortify the castle, as the forces of the Stormlands and King Viserys approached towards their own march towards **Highgarden**. What would ensue would be known as the Slaughter of Bitterbridge, and for seven days the opposing armies clashed, killing many on both sides. It would be in these battles, that Lord **Uther** would lose both his nephew, along with his youngest son Ser Arlan to Ser Osmund Tyrell - King Gwayne's own nephew had chosen to support the enemy in King Viserys over his own flesh and blood.

**Bitterbridge** refused to fall, and upon hearing of the Battle of King's Landing, King Viserys dispatched riders so that a parlay might be organized between the Reach, the Westerlands and the Iron Throne. An agreement would be settled that would result in the end of the war, that would be known as the Golden Truce. House Lannister and House Tyrell would accept Viserys as their king and would continue to do House Targaryen homage as their overlord, with Lord Gwayne setting aside his newly-forged crown and once again swearing faith to House Targaryen.

The outcome sat ill with Lord **Uther**. He had lost a son and nephew fighting for Gwayne's crown - and in surrendering it, **Uther**'s daughter Samantha had lost her own right to be Queen. His main political opponent in the Reach had received a position on the Small Council in Lucien Hightower, and Dorian Tyrell - a son of Gwayne's firstborn daughter, had recieved a betrothal to Lady Alysella Targaryen. The entire Reach had bled for a hollow crown, and only House Tyrell and House Hightower had come out of it for the better. Refusing to allow this, **Uther** began a string of moves to see that House Peake was not left outdone.

In a show of good faith for his own place in the Rosegold Rebellion, Lord **Uther** traveled to **King's Landing** with his granddaughter Jocelyn in tow. She would be offered to House Targaryen as a Lady-In-Waiting to Princess Jaehaera Targaryen, to ensure future cooperation with his House. Further still however, he made aware King Viserys of his discontent with Lord Gwayne and his actions, and offered himself as High Justiciar of the Reach to ensure the former King's loyalty and snuff out any signs of further treason. In doing so, **Uther** earned himself a place of residence within Highgarden as all High Justiciars of the Reach have, along with a small sense of satisfaction in Gwayne Tyrell knowing he is being watched.