James Lail

### Family Members

James 'Snow Owl' Lail (Great-Grandfather, deceased)James Lail IV (Father, deceased)

Saranor Saathi (Mother, deceased)

Heath Lail (Uncle)

Jeneca Lail (Sister, deceased)

Kaurren Byrn(Cousin)

Pol Byrn(Cousin, deceased)

Polina Eneto(Cousin)

### Religion

Faith of the Seven

**Ser James Lail**, the Fifth so named, is a supporter of House Brightflame in their quest to unite the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. He has been employed by the Brightflame Kings since just before the conquest of Dragonstone, and served them initially as knight, bard, and diplomat, before being promoted to the Kingsguard.

## Early Life

James was born in 264 A.C., the only son of his father, James IV and his first wife, Saranor of the Tall-Men. He had one older sister, named Jeneca.

His mother died when he was only two. His father, adopting the customs of the land they were exiled to, had taken a second wife of Qarthi descent, a woman named Xandora. Though she had married James' father first, he quickly favored Saranor when she gave him children. Angry at this mistreatment, Xandora poisoned Saranor. She was quickly blamed by other servants, and James IV quickly had her executed.

His early life was quite happy, in spite of this. He spent much of his time with his great-grandfather and namesake, often called 'The Snow Owl', for his unusually light-colored hair. The Snow Owl would tell James many stories of his life and youth, or the times when the house's exile was still a relatively new experience, and there was still hope of return. He always loved these stories, and was glad to see his usually-distant great-grandfather happy to tell them.

He eventually began composing tales and ballads of his own, to the annoyance of his father, who wished for him to focus on his combat training. His father would often enlist him to serve as a guard in merchant caravans, so he would have less time to write. This was stopped at when James was 14 when The Snow Owl spoke with his grandson. It's not known exactly what he said, but James IV never again objected to his sons ballads.

At the age of 16, he began a relationship with a Yitish merchant's daughter, named Lee Hai. He formed a good relationship with the family, learning parts of the language and letting Hai translate his ballads into the Yitish runes. The relationship ended after a year, however, when her family moved away to settle in The Sisters. The outpouring of ballads he wrote after this to distract himself from the loss resulted in many calling him 'The Songbird'

Seeking to improve his family's relationship with the nobles of Qohor, who looked disdainfully upon the westerosi house in their midst, he helped to defend the city against Drobek Xalla, a Dothraki Khal who sought to plunder the city. He distinguished himself in the fighting, killing Drobek and forcing his son to cut his braid. At this, James' father knighted him.

At the age of 25, he managed to further prove his might, defeating a well-known mercenary named Caul Heartrender in a duel after he antagonized the ailing Snow Owl, mimicking Dothraki war calls to upset his dementia. James then defeated Caul in a duel, but spared his life, warning him to never return to Qohor.

He continued to serve in odd jobs for nobles of Qohor, utilizing both fighting and writing skills, until news reached Qohor about the invasion of Baelor Brightflame.

## The Phoenix Feast

When news of the Brightflames reached Qohor, the family called a meeting to decide what should be done. The family was split, with half wishing to use the opportunity to return to westeros, and the other half hating the Brightflames, blaming their ancestor Aerion for their exile. The Songbird was in favor of returning, remembering The Snow Owl's youthful wish to return to their home. His father, however, felt it foolish to abandon the wealth and influence they had gained in Qohor.

The arguments of both sides became heated. Snow Owl, a near-hundred year old man at this point, overcome with dementia, became frightened by the yelling, as it reminded him of a battlefield, and drew his blade. This set off a chain reaction of conflicts and outright battles and killing.

The Songbird himself was knocked unconscious by the Snow Owl before he himself was slain, his body draped over his descendants, hiding him and, oddly enough, saving his life. When James awoke, their was death all around him. His sister's throat had been cut, and his father's head had been cut off. Save for a few servants, he was the only survivor.

Grief-stricken, he swore to one day rebuild the house to its greatest glory, and burned the house where he'd grown as a funeral pyre for his family. He then set off for Westeros, and for House Brightflame.

## Meeting the Brightflames, and the conquest of Dragonstone

The first Brightflame he met was Rhaenys, who heard him reciting the first verses of the Ballad of Baelor in a tavern, shortly after he arrived in Westeros. According to some, when she approached him, bearing the crest and colors of House Brightflame, the tone of the ballad became much more cheerful.

Rhaenys then brought him before Daeron and Baelor. Daeron was disdainful of the man, finding it repulsive that a man would commit to two very different arts. However, this Baelor adored, for who better to write ballads of battle than one who lived through it? He accepted James into his army, at that time made up of recruits from the isles around Dragonstone and the remnants of the Forgotten Sons, pleased to have another well-trained knight among their number.

James then participated in the siege of Dragonstone, a battle which established a firm foothold in Westeros for House Brightflame. He himself dueled with Morash the Myrman, a sellsail, but was knocked unconscious, having not participated in a battle for quite some time. Despite this, the siege was won. Baelor congratulated James on the success of his ballads, but his relationship with Daeron remained strained, as Daeron felt his point had been proven about the inefficiency of the bard in battle.