Agnes Swann

Agnes Swann is the Lady of Stonehelm and Head of House Swann. Third child of Ravella Swann, she was not destined for leading her house. However, following the events of the Second Hammer Uprising, Agnes inherited the titles and holdings of her mother and became Lady of Stonehelm in 435AC.

## Appearance and Character

For the better or worse, Agnes inherited some of the physical traits of her mother, notably the blue eyes and her long red hair she wears in braids of all sort. She stands tall for a woman and her willowy figure and posture only makes her seems even taller. However, with her plump cheeks and full lips, many commented on how she lacked the sharp features of her mother.

Growing up in the shadow of her brothers, she was raised under a strict regime in line with ideology of the Southern Discipline of the Faith. This, coupled with a demanding education ordered by Ravella, made Agnes into a diligent and calculating woman who considers herself a pragmatic.

## History

### Early Life (417-431AC)

Agnes' childhood was not a joyful one. The girl never lacked in anything, but grew up under a strict regime. Her brothers and her rarely had time to play and fool around and would spend hours in lessons. All three children had a similar relationship with their mother, one of convenience and duty.

Her older brothers were meant to rule and look over Stonehelm one day and were educated in the way of future Lords. Agnes received a typical education for a young Lady, but her mother insisted that she spend more time in lessons. Maester Jasper began introducing her to various topics like geography, linguistics, music and more importantly; economics.

She developed a strong interest in the various tasks and disciplines related to the management of Stonehelm. When, a little older, she expressed to her mother a desire to learn more, Ravella agreed to dedicate a considerable portion of education time to stewardship and related fields.

At an age where most girls would already be married off, Agnes would spend hours sitting next to her mother, in silence, has they would both take care of the taxes, letters and other matters.

### Coming Conflicts (431-432AC)

Many times Ravella expressed her disgust for the growing presence of acolytes of the Red God in the Stormlands. Since the days of The Southern Schism House Swann had been one of the only noble houses of the Stormlands to follow the ways of the Southern Discipline even if the tension between the two schools of the Faith of the Seven waned with the years, Ravella was a follower of the Starry Septon.

In the first months of 432AC, Agnes' eyes glided over many letters to and from other houses of the south: Fossoway of New Barrel, Caswell, Ashford, Selmy, Caron, Dondarrion, Cuy and more. The girl couldn't fully understand but it became clear to her that events were brewing.

To this day she still remembers with much clarity the day Ravella had her and her brothers brought to the great hall. She had explained to them that a war was likely to erupt in the coming months and that all three had duties to House Swann. She had insisted on how times like this were when obedience and faith in leadership were most important.

### Second Hammer Uprising (432-435AC)

When the first words of the rise of the Warsmiths in the Reach reached Stonehelm Ravella Swann was already spending most of her time doing politics, sending and receiving letters. Most of the stewardship and matters of the coin had been left to Agnes who no longer had access to the correspondence of her mother. The opening weeks of the conflicts profoundly shook Agnes and it was her greatuncle, Rickard Swann, who comforted her on many occasions.

Even though the conflict spread over more than two years, it all seemed like a blur. Only five and ten of age, the young girl tried as much as she could to blindly trust her mother's judgment. She focused most of her tasks as junior steward and spent many nights confiding in her greatuncle.

It was when words of her older brother's death in Weeping Town that Agnes began to lose confidence in the situation of House Swann. Already she doubted that a good outcome could come from betraying their liege Lord, but now she had lost a brother. Before the incoming fury of House Baratheon, Rickard Swann left Stonehelm with a host of men and lead the campaigns of House Swann in the Stormlands.

On one hand, every bit of her education made her understand the motivations of her mother, but she was unsure of the means. Stonehelm had always seemed like the most gargantuan of structures to Agnes, an impregnable fortress. But when the host of House Baratheon sieged the castle she understood how bad the situation was for House Swann. For the first time, Agnes began thinking she might lose her mother and see Quentyn as Lord of Stonehelm; yet she hoped that the Lord of Storm's End would be merciful; many times she had heard or read about the justness of Gwayne Baratheon.

However, when Viserion flew over the castle and that Ravella ordered the brother of Lord Gwayne quartered and drawn Agnes knew there would be no mercy. In a matter of weeks, the castle had been surrendered and her mother had been executed for all to see before the Sept of Baelor. The death of Ravella affected Agnes, but she understood the reasons that had led to this. Her mother went too far. It was the execution of her brother that affected her most. She had expected Quentyn to be spared as, just like her, he was only obeying their mother. She expected to ride back to Stonehelm with him as Lord of Stonehelm in the coming weeks. But Aegon VII Targaryen had decided otherwise and ordered Quentyn to be executed privately. Agnes would never forgive such a decision.

## Aftermath (435-439AC)

Months before she had been brought to King's Landing with her mother and brothers in shackles and now she rode back to Stonehelm; alone. She was now Lady of Stonehelm and at the head of House Swann; now despised by many in the Stormlands.

Fortunately, her greatuncle had survived the campaign in the Stormlands and became the only close family left to her. Overwhelmed by her new situation and the recent events, Agnes focused on her duties and House Swann entered a short period of isolationism.

## Family

Full family tree

* *Donnel II Swann*, grandfather.
* *Lyesel Hightower*, grandmother.
	+ *Ravella Swann*, mother.
		- *Meryn Swann*, brother.
		- *Quentyn Swann*, brother.
		- **Agnes Swann**.
	+ Leonore Swann, aunt.
	+ *Gawen Swann*, uncle.
	+ *Davina Swann*, aunt.
* *Ronald Swann*, great-uncle.
* *Orland Swann*, great-uncle.
* *Pia Gower*, great-aunt.
	+ Felicia Swann, first cousin once removed.
* Rickard Swann, great-uncle.
* Selyse Swann, great-aunt.

## Household and NPCs

* Rickard Swann, Master-at-arms.
* Maester Jasper.
* Master Keats, Master of the Kennels.
* Ser Lymon, Captain of the Guard.
* Master Nestor, Master of the Stables.