Alma Crakehall

Lady Alma of Crakehall

Lady Alma Crakehall is the head of House Crakehall in the Westerlands. It is considered one of the principal houses that serve as vassals to House Lannister of Casterly Rock. She is the stern and stubborn ruler on the West coast. Her mother passed during childbirth. Ruling for nearly six decades, she took up the role when her father fell from his horse, after suffering a heart attack in a racing bet. Being one of the most senior noblewomen in the Realm she became prone to criticism and ridicule. A women from the infamous House Crakehall her bloodline is known for muscular men and women and a powerful strength.

## Appearance

Alma was born bald, and remained bald until she was five. She slowly started to grow patches of uneven blond hair. Over the years towards her thirteenth birthday she finally grew a full head of hair, a bright regal gold. Strong curls that bounced every time she walked. Suspicions arose that she was a Lannister offspring, due to her striking similarities in both psychical appearance and personality. As the years piled up behind her, so did her hair. Growing long and during dark, the once strong-as-steel curls turned into luscious waves. Alma's once Lannister-like hair turned into a deep wood-like brown.

Over the many years of her life Alma respectively was subjected to psychical training. Due to the disappointing fact that she never gained any muscle through her youth and early adulthood. Her father ordered for the Master at Arms to have her move barrels of hay, caskets of wine, help hunt, and participate in smithing. All of this was used to try and build up her muscles. Unfortunately it just tired her out, her twig like body hardly grew in comparison to her sister, Cyra. Who had wide biceps and thighs. The Crakehall girls were mocked, for one looking like a pile of bricks, whilst the other looked like a pile of sticks.

After Alma entered her thirties she began to toughen up, her father grew weaker after his knee was caved in by his brother-in-law. It was proven that House Crakehall was suffering. The Lady of the house had died during Alma's childbirth. Cyra was one and a half when Alma was born. Through her thirties it was prominent that her Crakehall strength was not in muscle, or speed, or heavy-lifting. Her strength was in her words, her strict tongue and will of steel. Alma Crakehall was a beast in her own right.

## Childhood & Youth

Alma Crakehall was the daughter of Augustus and Staphine Crakehall. The Lord of Crakehall was a strong man, with huge shoulders and melon sized biceps. He could crush a bone with his bare hands if he was mad enough. The man struck fear in everyones hearts, although within his own household he was a gentle giant. Her mother on the other hand, born a Marbrand that carried her families sour and greedy nature. Loving the thrill of spending money, and enjoying the power of a title bestowed upon her head with her new marriage.

Alma's childhood started out rough, with her life taking away her mothers. The Maester's described it as a brutal incident. Staphine screaming so loud that the people within the castle ran out covering their ears. Even the strong and true Lord of Crakehall had to step out from the room. When the screaming finally stopped, it was exchanged for wheezing and choking. As he rushed back in the Maester's were no longer hovered around the Lady. They were creating a drink, one could only assume it was Milk of the Poppy. As Staphine lay dying her legs opened and a sea of blood staining the sheets, mattress, and stone flooring.

Alma's took after her father, a protective women to her family, and a very stern one to those who despised her. She, like her father, had strength in their own respective fields. She held dominance in court, she held control over her lands, the reigns she could cast even in her youth were long and wide. Those who underestimated her were quickly proven wrong, as her words were her muscles.

## Adulthood & Seniorcy

A women of true power and mental strength she held her own in the daring courts of the Westerlands. Initially underestimated to the absolute extreme, this feisty Crakehall knew hot to prove a point, and she did it to the marvel of many. Becoming a strong voice of reason for the internal conflicts of the Westerlands as the world around them dissolved into chaos. She watched as regions went to war with one another and people started dropping like flies. Always a person to bare a stern wit and a strong sense of willpower she spoke her mind during some of the most daring moments in the rebellion. She was outspoken about the morale of the regions and how they cannot ue the weariness of the people as a weapon against houses. Stating that it doesn't matter who rules over the lands, but it matters if there are people to rule over.

Being the outspoken person that she is, she always held a place of respect for those who deemed her "of their level", however she is very much so going to put her foot down when someone tries to slight her ability to govern. Being the only female ruler of her house in decades, she wondered if people would treat her as a beliddling creature. A baby they had to caddle, or a pet they'd have to feed. Much to her disappointment but not to her surprise she was right. Lord's from across the region spoke down to her, stated that she was not of their jurisdiction and that they had standards, ones that she could never meet. In a daring effort to crush her confidence her mothers house, of House Marbrand, tried to seize dominance over House Crakehall and the caslte that bore the same name. Despite this being decades before they last married a Marbrand, Alma was still rightfully shocked. Her own uncle had threatened to take up swords to control her. A threat in which pushed Alma over the edge of her peaceful border. She wrote a polite but heavily shade filled letter to Lord Marbrand, stating that she would not take the ridicule and hostilities that they placed upon her and her house.

As expected this letter infuriated the Lord. He replied stating that her vagina stated that she could not control anything that was worth a damn. Continuing with how she had no right to hold a castle, she was not fit, she had no skill in governance. However, Alma quickly proved the Marbrand wrong. Where after his carriage was being intercepted from Lannisport down to the Reach. She approached them on her horse and famously declared that: "A clash of swords is not the only way to gain victory. Stealth and patience is a principal factor in success and dominance. Flaunting your moves and advertising your money is how you lose friends, and crack alliances. For a man of your stature, I would have presumed you'd bare some standards, however as the ever so foolish lady that I am I suppose I could be wrong. Though I must show doubt." This quote proved that Alma was not a warrior, not on the field at least. Her war was in politics, her strength was in words. Her dominance reigned supreme in the courts as very few could muster her own strength. She held a sizeable host thousands strong, however she never flexed her power, in her mind it was considered a low move and a self entitled decision. If you were going to come after her, vicious petty threats were not her preference.

With the squabble between House Marbrand and House Crakehall crushed, Alma could focus on a marriage. Having been procrastinating it for many years she knew her child bearing days could come to an end. Her sister was off with some man in the Riverlands, strengthening their ties. However, she knew she had to make a decision, and make it fast. She summoned Lord's from across the ways to meet with her, many of which dying to get connected with the fierce Queen of Bluntness, a title handed her way on many occasions. After she rejected dozens upon dozens of Lord's and Knight's she finally came across a decent one. A man by the name of Raymound Waynwood. A Valemen who held influence over his friends and family. A kind and gentle soul, though not always the brightest of minds. He proposed and she accepted, quickly falling down the tunnel of love they got married and had three children. Emelia, Karstan and Ilian, girl and two boys. Emelia took after her fathers kindness, though her mothers looks. Karstan took after her grandfathers Crakehall fighting strength, and finally Ilian took after his mothers wit but his fathers dopiness. Over the years the three siblings grew older and their parents followed in suit. Raymond had a significant fever that weakened him, however he recovered, eating chicken and duelling off the calories.

One fateful day he was riding his horse with Ilian, his youngest son, when he clutched his chest mid sentence. His voice stopped with a air sucking wheeze, he slid from his horse and smashed his head onto the rocky path. An audible crack and a pool of blood followed shortly after. Ilian hopped from his horse as knights rushed to their Lord. Raymond's eyes were wide and his skin grew pale, smears of blood were all over his forehead, shoulders and down his chest. The rocks shined with their new coating of crimson blood. A panicked Ilian didn't know what to do, the guards tried to stop the bleeding but had no luck. As the castles Maester's came running down the steps Ilian had a spark of hope. However, when he looked back to his father, he knew that hope was not enough. Lady Alma and her two remaining children came down with guards, running over to see what had happened. With all the blood it was like Raymond had sunken to the bottom of his own personal Red Sea. It was devastating, a once cheery conversation about women to the endless sea of blood that matched their monthly gushes. Alma had assembled a funeral, inviting those of every house. However the Marbrand's once again deciding to rile up, not wishing to attend, as they wrote in their raven. Alma replied with a simple yet very cynical "Good" in her reply. Ever since, the women has only toughened.

## Family

- Lord Augustus Crakehall, Lord of Crakehall

- Lady Staphine Crakehall (né Marbrand)

- Lady Alma Crakehall, Lady of Crakehall

- Lord Raymond Crakehall (Previous Lord of Crakehall until death, né Waynwood)

- Emelia Crakehall

- Ser Karstan Crakehall

- Ser Ilian Crakehall

- Lady Cyra Crakehall