Daemon Dayne

Ser Daemon

Daemon and his destrier, Sandy

Knight of the Kingsguard

Daemon Dayne is the second born son of Gerold Dayne and his wife Gwynesse Dayne née Tyrell. He is the newest member of the Kingsguard, joining in 129 AC, and the Sword of the Morning, making him the most recognised knight in Westeros.

## Appearance and Character

A man of two and twenty, Daemon is handsome with a clean-shaven face, deep violet eyes, and a strong jaw. He has thick silver-white hair which flows down past his shoulders. Standing at 6'2", Daemon is a head above most of his peers. Along with his broad shoulders, he has a strong well-built body, maintained over the years through discipline, training and fighting. He is said to be a spitting image of his father.

Daemon has a quiet demeanor, enabling him to move around a room without being seen, yet can be quick to anger and rarely hesitates when reaching for his sword. He is loyal to a fault to those he loves, and neither honour nor duty would prevent him from protecting them. A man of faith, Daemon strongly believes in the Seven and regularly prays to the Warrior.

## History

### Early Life

Daemon was born in 108 AC to Gerold and Gwynesse Dayne, as their second born son. He had an older brother in Daeron, and a sister that would soon follow named Wylla.

Born four years into Princess Ashlynn Toland's reign of terror, Daemon had a turbulent childhood, one where he would scarcely see his father. Gerold Dayne was still intent on reinstating Martell rule, having helped led Dorne's efforts against the Stormlands before the Toland betrayal. Despite bending the knee to the Crown, Gerold joined the Martell loyalists and secretly aided them in their efforts to dispose of the Princess. Such activities would provoke the wrath of Lady Dayne, who opposed Gerold's blatant disregard for the law and the safety of their family. This led to many arguments between the couple, all of which Daemon had to endure in silence.

Despite the volatile nature of their relationship, both parents were still loving towards their children, and took a keen interest in their upbringing. While his older brother Daeron was being groomed for Lordship, Gerold would take Daemon aside and spend hours at a time teaching him the art of swordplay. His father ingrained in him what every generation of Dayne men faced, the prospect of becoming the Sword of the Morning. Having not deemed himself worthy of carrying the title, Gerold was intent on his son taking up the mantle.

To Daemon's surprise, his mother was just as eager for him to refine his skills with the sword, constantly pushing him to be better when his father was away. As the years went by, he started showing real promise, and on the insistence of his father, Daemon switched to practicing with a greatsword as soon as he was strong enough to wield one.

### Coming of Age

Soon after his thirteenth nameday, Daemon was sent to Sunspear to squire for his uncle, Lord Doran Martell. House Martell was slowly reclaiming some of the power they had lost under the rule of Ashlynn Toland, much in part due to the new High Justiciar, Lord Tarbeck. Perhaps suspecting this, Lord Gerold convinced his younger sister Gwyneth, Lady of House Martell, to make the arrangement.

In Sunspear, Daemon shadowed Lord Doran during the day, and escaped outside the walls of the palace at night. He would frequently find himself wondering around the labyrinth of narrow alleys, homes, and bazaars, all under the eyes of the massive Winding Walls. Most of his nights would end in the Shadow City, drinking from wineskins with the locals, before hurriedly returning to the palace at daybreak to resume his duties. On rare occasions he would even convince Tyene, the heir of House Martell and a girl two years his senior, to join him. During his stay, Daemon grew close to Tyene, even developing feelings for the girl. On occasions when Lord Doran wasn't burdening him with tasks, he would find ways to spend time with her. What began as an innocent distraction from his duties, would later evolve into the two spending whole nights together, engulfed in each others arms. He also met Tyene's younger sister, Tyana, on the few occurrences she visited from her wardship in Driftmark.

In the years that followed, Daemon continued developing his skills with the sword under the tutelage of Lord Doran and the master-at-arms of Sunspear, and following a string of successes in regional tourneys, he was knighted in 125 AC.

### Adulthood

Upon his return home to Starfall, Daemon learnt of the death of Ser Luthor Oakheart, a Knight of the Kingsguard. As word spread of his passing, so came a momentous opportunity, a chance to join the Kingsguard. Lady Gwynesse insisted for Daemon to put his name forward, and so he did, along with every other able bodied man who would seek a place among the illustrious order. However, Deamon's offer was rejected, with many stating he was too young, and not yet aware of what he would need to give up for his oath.

During this time, much to the reluctance to Lord Gerold, Daemon's younger sister Wylla was married to Aemond Toland. In doing so, House Toland insured themselves an alliance with House Dayne, while also complicating the Dayne's relationship with the Martell's.

Despite the wedding, Daemon's time in Sunspear had been enough for him to follow in his father's footsteps. He too wanted to see House Martell reclaim their sovereignty, and it was not long until he rallied beside the Martell loyalists calling themselves the Children of the Spear, a movement of smallfolk and nobles alike, who wished to see House Martell rule return to Dorne. When temples of R’hllor started propping up along the Torrentine, and Red Priests began preaching in the Red Mountains, Daemon was among those who stormed the place of worship and sacked the temple, slaying all those inside. That day he reaffirmed his faith in the Seven, believing the Warrior guided his sword, and the Mother would forgive him for the blood on his hands.

Daemon continued in aiding the resistance for the years to come, hoping that his support for House Martell would come to his favour on the day he would ask for Tyene's hand in marriage. However his dreams of wedding the heir of House Martell came to a harsh and abrupt stop, when in 128 AC it was revealed that she had been having an affair with the heir of House Toland. To add insult to injury, she was also carrying his child. Heartbroken, the only solace he could find in the matter was that Lord Doran slew Quentyn Toland upon his insistence to marry his daughter.

Still harboring a broken heart, the following year when it was revealed that the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Corlys Celtigar, had passed, Daemon once again offered himself up for a place on the royal guard. This time however, to further his case, Lord and Lady Dayne named their son the new Sword of the Morning. For the first time in over three decades, Dawn was once again lifted off from her mantle, and placed into the hands of Daemon. The decision paid off. Daemon was soon called into the capital and sworn in as the newest Kingsguard for King Viserys I Targaryen. As a parting gift, his father Gerold gifted him the dragonbone breastplate he had inherited from his own father.

A few months after being sworn in, Daemon would learn that his father had died in an accident. Details were scarce, and due to his new commitment, he was unable to return home for the funeral.

## Recent Events

Daemon stands guard in King's Landing, awaiting the coronation of his new King, Baelor I Targaryen. From across the Dornish Marches he receives word from his mother, to keep an eye out for a familiar face.

When the newest brother of the Kingsguard, Corlys Velaryon, joins the order, he and Daemon do not see eye to eye. The friction between the two leads to Corlys challenging Daemon to a duel, which the Sword of the Morning wins, with much difficulty. However in besting Corlys, Daemon also gains some new found respect for his brother in arms.

When a spy sent by Princess Aemma Targaryen attempts to gather intel on the King, Daemon captures the trespasser and forces the man to confess his crime and reveal his employer.

During the tourney for King Baelor's coronation, Daemon takes part in the melee, defeating the likes of Aegon Targaryen and Vickon Greyjoy, before reaching the final and being bested by Nate Sand.

## Family

Father - Gerold Dayne

Mother - Gwynesse Dayne

Siblings - Visenya Sand (half-sister), Daeron Dayne, Wylla Toland

## Meta

Attribute: Tough

Skills: Weapon Proficiency - Swords/Shields(COM), Footwork(COM)

Mastery: Berserker(COM)

Misc: Dawn, Dragonbone breastplate

Combat Stats: 80/5/5%