Zia Grafton

Damon Grafton (b.77)

Gargon Grafton and Targon Grafton (b.79)

Zia Grafton is the eldest child of Lord Eustace Grafton. She is known for being brash and outspoken, and has spent as much of her life at sail on the seas as she has on land. She left the Vale three years past with five of her father's worships, not to be seen or heard from until a messenger arrived in Gulltown in the first moon of 99 AC promising her iminent arrival.

## Appearance and Character

Zia is lean and athletic, with coffee hued eyes, fiery red hair, and skin kissed by the sun. She is known to prefer men's garb to women's, eschewing dresses for breeches, shirts, and sailor's garb.

The eldest child of Lord Eustace Grafton, she is a free spirit who is outspoken and has mannerisms closer to a sailor than a lady of the court. She cares little for court or politics, save where it concerns the safety of her House or her father's personal health. She has been known to boast that it should be she, not her brother, who should inherits Gulltown, despite her disdain for any of the activities involved with actually ruling the city.

## History

Zia Grafton was born in 71 AC, the firstborn child of Lord Eustace Grafton and Lady Leona Grafton. She was a feisty child from birth, fussy and demanding of her nurses and maids, but adored by both her parents.She would remain their only child until her fourth nameday when her brother and heir to House Grafton, Gerold, was born.

### Early Life

Zia's early childhood was an easy one. She was doted upon by her parents, to the point of being spoiled, and allowed to have run of Gulltown and the keep of House Grafton. It was rare for her to be reprimanded by anyone beside the Septas hired to help tutor her as her father attempted to right the wrongs he saw from his own upbringing.

Despite this, Zia was quick to grow up from a spoiled young child to an outspoken young lady, outgrowing her bratty habits as she spent more time with her father. Despite his easy-going attitude in regards to her upbringing, his good nature rubbed off on her and helped to mature her.

### Teenage Years

When Zia was in her teenage years she was introduced to the first true love of her life by her Uncle, Gilwood, the sea. He would regularly take her out on patrols around the Bay of Crabs on his flagship, and it wasn't long before the crew had adopted her as a mascot on their voyages.
She was quick to learn the ins and outs of running a warship and it wasn't long before the crew had her climbing in the rigging and tying knots better than she could sew or perform needlework. It wasn't only a sailor's skills that she learned, she picked up their mannerisms and language too.
Before too long Gilwood provided Zia with her own boat and crew to lead out on patrols, with Eustace's loose permission. Zia was quick to inspire loyalty among the sailor's she commanded, despite the unconventional nature of having a woman in command. She became known for the deviations she would take on her patrols, including one time at the age of 17 when she took the warship all the way to Braavos on a whim.

### Adulthood

As she approached adulthood there were many suitors who sought Lord Grafton's eldest daughter's hand in marriage. But Zia was utterly uninterested in giving up her freedoms, and more importantly the sea, to spend the rest of her days sitting in some lordling's keep whelping him heirs.

Her long trips out to sea became more frequent to avoid these suitors and because there were so many exotic places that she wanted to visit. Despite her wanderlust, she possessed a strong sense of duty towards her family and this always caused her to return home no matter how far she wandered or how long she was gone.

### Abroad in Essos

At the beginning of the year 95 AC she departed Gulltown with five of her father's warships, including her personal vessel, the Maidenspear. She struck out first for the Free Cities, spending a few years making an easy living trading before growing bored.

Eventually she and her ragtag fleet made their way to the Stepstones where they were beset by pirates after only a day of sailing. Zia's fleet was easily able to defeat them, and an idea struck her. The lazy merchant's life was boring, but pirating would provide real excitement. She spent the next two years living out a pirate's fantasy on the Stepstones, robbing Essosi merchants and attacking other pirates without mercy. Her fleet would earn a small name for itself and earned a reputation for only attacking non-Westerosi ships.

Her peaceful fantasy was soon interupted as a merchant vessel managed to finally track her down and deliver a message from Lord Eustace Grafton. Zia, and her ships, were needed back home. Conflict would could soon descend on the Vale and her Father wanted her by his side.

## Meta

Skills: Naval Tech(MAR) Naval Warfare(MAR) One Handed Weapons(COM) Ambidexterity(COM) Privateering(STE) Astronomy(EDU)

Aptitude: Admiral(MAR)