Grayce Tarlor

**Grayce Tarlor**, also known as *The Bitch in the North*, is the current head of House Tarlor. She ascended to the Lordship of Winterfell at 23 years old.

## Appearance

Grayce is tall and stocky, with muscles gained from labour and war. She sports several battle scars along her arms and legs, which typically remain hidden by a fur cloak and heavy clothes.

## History

### House Ironguard

Grayce Tarlor was born to Bryon Ironguard and grew up in a small Northern hamlet, the Ironguards having little to their name. With its position close to the Wall, wildling raids against the hamlet were common, and Grayce was trained with sword as soon as she was able to hold one.

### Servant of the Starks and Marriage

Upon the appointment of Walter Ironguard as Master of Arms for Winterfell, when Grayce was 16, she was chosen as a retainer to the Stark family. During her time in Winterfell, she met her husband, Alfred Tarlor, a hunting companion to Robb Stark. They married shortly afterwards, Grayce henceforth known as Grayce Tarlor.

### Lady of Winterfell

After ten years of marriage her husband died of pneumonia, the Tarlor family only consisting of Grayce and her four children.

During the Mad King's Slaughter, the majority of Stark retainers were killed. However, Grayce had been injured in an earlier battle and was recovering in Winterfell. Upon news of the murders reaching the castle, few suitable candidates for Lord of Winterfell remained. Walter acted quickly, calling an emergency meeting of the garrison and throwing their support behind Grayce, causing other claimants to stand down.

Grayce then led a military campaign known as the Pacification of the North, to secure her Ladyship.

### Lady Paramount of the North

The Tarlor reign of the North has been characterised by attempts to keep the struggling land afloat. During the temporary kingship of Arkham Tyrell, Grayce organised a trade mission to Essos, desperate to find new markets to sell the North's abundant timber supplies in exchange for food. While the mission failed, Grayce did dispatch her son Alfred posing as young Alix Peake, a landless noble, to the Stepstones so he could continue to search for trade opportunities from the closer geographic location.

Grayce stubbornly refused to allow any ruler of a Southern kingdom to sit the Iron Throne in the Royal Election, but ultimately decided to support Youma, the Lord Paramount of the Vale, until a child of Northern and Southern blood could take the Throne.

### Master of Laws

As the Master of Laws, Grayce served as a key figure in uncovering Liam Breaker's plot to kill the Lord Commander of the Queensguard. Working as a judge at his trial, she infamously forged evidence to gain a confession regarding Sana Martell's role in the conspiracy. While in the city, she began a relationship with Emmalyne Morrigan.

### Faith Militant Rebellion

Alix Peake, posing as Grayce's son Alfred II was imprisoned by the Faith Militant on charges of "trying to corrupt the Faith." In order to free him while destroying the Faith Militant at the same time, she demanded an archaic Trial by Seven. While denied initially, Grayce managed to bring the crowd somewhat to her side, forcing them to accept.

### Fleeing King's Landing

Shortly after the Faith Protests, Queen Youma decided to appoint Lia Breaker to the Small Council. Grayce, fearing that the Queen was too easily swayed to protect her if Lia sought revenge for her uncle, fled the city during the Night of Ice.

### Return to the North

Upon returning to Winterfell, Grayce soon invited Arkham to the castle to discuss a binding of the Tyrell and Tarlor families through marriage. Grayce II soon found herself wed to Arkham in a subdued ceremony held in Winterfell's godswod.

However, once Grayce II was sent South with Arkham, the mother Tarlor was soon contacted by Dirk Telarien, telling her he was returning from Essos. To support him against the Breakers in King's Landing, Grayce raised a host of 5,000 and headed South through the Riverlands.

### Brief Time as Master of War

Lia Breaker was killed before Grayce could arrive, removing the need for her 5000 swords. Instead, after Dirk's appointment as Hand of the Queen, Grayce was appointed Master of War, allowing her to take her men on a campaign through the Riverlands to clear out bandits that had been plaguing the area since the Floods. This mission was a categorical success, with minimal losses suffered by the Northern host.

Once back in King's Landing, Grayce unknowingly detained a member of the Iron Bank. Upon Dirk's rushed return to King's Landing, Grayce was removed from her position and sent North again.

### Second Return to the North

On the march home, Grayce met a handmaiden named Ayva. Allowing the stowaway to stay with them under her protection, she worked to protect the young girl and have her develop friendships with the other handmaidens in her retinue. When Ayva revealed her love of horses, Grayce taught her to ride, and allowed her to practice with her own horse until she was good enough to be given her own.

It was on the march that news of Henry and Alfred's poisoning reached her. Sullen, Grayce immediately began searching for the poisoner once she was in Winterfell, and summoned Raglan Cairn to answer her suspicions of his sister Alva.

## Unique Equipment

**Ice-** A greatsword once owned by House Stark, following the extinction of the family Grayce Tarlor secured Ice as the Lord of Winterfell.

## Combat Stats

**Veteran Fighter** (+30) - Having been trained from a young age and seen combat through her entire life, Grayce has grown into a capable fighter.

**Valyrian Steel Weapon** (+10) - The heavy Ice compliments Grayce's brute force fighting style, and is useful in overwhelming an enemy's blocks and parries.