Medrick Hornwood

Medrick Hornwood is the Lord of the Hornwood. He was born as the oldest child to Torrhen Hornwood and Alyssa Hornwood née Bolton in 108 AC and succeeded his father in the beginning of 128 AC.

## Appearance and Character

Medrick Hornwood is a tall man of a lean athletic build and with a severe look on his face. It is clear, just by looking at him that this relative youth has a serious mind beyond his years.

He has close-cropped black hair and beard that he keeps orderly at all times, yet it is there to keep the air of winter in the north at bay. He has light blue-grey eyes as though he inherited some from both his parents. There are hints of scars on his brow from the training yard of his youth and from punishments from his father for his failings in that area.

He wears mostly leathers and only on the coldest occasions compliments it with furs.

Though he is rather stern on his façade, he is generally flexible and good-natured in conversation but also has tendencies to get aggressive when trying to prove a point or when pressed.

## History

Medrick was raised as the heir to the seat in the Hornwood with two parents, who were each pretty intense in their own separate ways. Lord Torrhen was known for his joy of combat, violence and ruthlessness in the training yards of the Hornwood. Lady Alyssa was woman of nature, defined by the rumours surrounding her abilities of greensight and other such nursery tales. Each of them wanted their first child to follow their precedent. Of course Medrick had to be the image of the northern warrior and of course he had to tap into abilities within himself that were indescribable and unteachable.

Instead he somehow became neither, although it was not without hard resistance.

Already in his early years he was pushed into the training yards and forced to swing the wooden sticks against dummy targets and other older children. These attempts of make him a master swordsman continued for many years, especially further provoked by pirate attacks that plagued the eastern coast of the North in these years and the recent memories wildling raids to the north.

His resistance to that silliness were only enhanced by his own shortcomings in the area. On many occasions he suffered for the inattention or incorrect stances or whatever else, that meant nothing to the young boy, with beatings by stronger and more capable competitors followed by scoldings from his father. He earned scars from broken brows and other such minor marks that would follow him for the rest of his life.

There were a lot of moments where he was taken into the forest with his mother for quiet contemplations and focusing of inner power. These thing meant perhaps even less to him but at least supplied ample time to rest in his own thoughts and ambitions, so for that he could not be angry.

No, regardless of their tries, it was not his parents that came to define him. Medrick would not really think it of as rebellion against them but more of defining his own way in the world.

Early memories of southern merchants and diplomats drew sharper paintings in his memory of that earliest time. The drought that had plagued the lands of the North brought many interesting people north in the attempt to feed the large population and earn themselves a bit of coin. The memory of a “fresh” orange, its juices, texture, taste, in a fleeting moment outside the walls at the keep in the Hornwood while tales of the Reach and Dorne and giant sword chairs conducted the fantasy of his young mind.

Not much time later came the wedding of Targaryen and Stark, where a young Medrick saw even more wealth and the results of meticulous diplomacy he at the time had been oblivious to.

Those were the memories that shaped the man. He became much more interested in the studies of commerce and finances than in brute realities of steel. He began to take a fancy to reading and writing and amongst the subjects that interested him were also different areas of engineering to facilitate the riches that might one day come. It seemed here was something you could learn and become better at, where the training yard seemed more like some innate ability you just had to be born with. He was wrong about this of course but that was his excuses for where and why he spent his time.

Medrick didn’t just immerse himself in books however. He also became more involved in the operations of the Hornword and the land holdings around it. There was a sense of accomplishment in the organization of various project to improve the lives of his future subject and in increasing wealth of the areas surrounding the Hornwood.

Like others he had become so entrenched in his work that the Glover rebellion came as a surprise in 127 AC. Like others house Hornwood called their banners. Like others the house suffered losses in the bloody battle at the assault on Deepwood Motte. It was then Lord Torrhen passed and Medrick inherited the lordship.

## Household members/NPCs

* Arrana Hornwood, 111 AC –, Sister
* Tommard Hornwood, 115 AC –, Brother

## Meta

**Attribute:** Brilliant

**Social Status:** Principal Bannerman, Head of House

**Allotted Points:** 20 (+1 CHA learned in the second moon and +1 EDU learned in the third moon)

**Skills:** Leadership (CHA), Civil Engineering (STA), Commerce (STA),
Finances (EDU), Naval Engineering (EDU)

**Mastery:** Steward (STA)