Rickard Stark

**Rickard Stark** is a member of House Stark. He resides in Winterfell, where he serves as one of Osric Stark's military commanders.

## Appearance and Personality

Rickard's black hair is cut at shoulder length, he likes to sport a beard that he usually keeps well shaved and he has blue eyes. He's shorter than most of the soldiers, and at first sight he doesn't look that much imposing.

Never one for intrigue nor deception, Rickard's usual approach to problems is usually the simplest one, specially when the usual solution involves using brute force against something or someone. He supports Osric's decision to bend te knee to the Iron Throne, and has stated so many times in public.

## History

### Early life.

Rickard was born in Winterfell, and grew up there. Due to the many hardships the North had to endure during his childhood (such as the Wolfswood ravagers, Blackvein or the Cape Kraken invasion, to list some), the young boy rarely left the keep, where he trained hard to become the warrior he thought the North would need. During his time in Winterfell, he and Myriam Dustin got very close, courted each other and married when they became adults. They would have two children together, a boy and a girl.

### Adulthood

Rickard’s first chance to prove himself came in 110 AC, during the rise of the last King Beyond the Wall. Rickard did not see much combat south of the Wall, but after the siege of Castle Black and the ensuing pursue into the True North, he lead a small group of skirmishers, tasked with scouting ahead. His ability to ambush the clans' scouts in their own lands proved very useful to defend against ambushes, and to even ambush the wildlings in their own lands once or twice.

After that experience, Rickard became one of Theodan’s trusted commanders, so when the pirates struck he rode East, to help defend a coast too long to be defended properly. He spent years there, in a futile errand that had him chasing ghosts most of the time and that only gave him very minor victories until, in 117 AC, the pirates lost most of their fleet in White Harbor. Rickard did not have much time to celebrate however, as when he returned home he found out that his wife had fallen sick and that, despite the maesters’ best attempts, she had died a few weeks before his arrival.

### Dealing with the Dragons

During his years of mourning, Rickard saw the North suffer, and his children with it. And, after long negotiations, he saw the Targaryens’ aid the starving kingdom after the last King in the North bent the knee. Hoping to prevent his children from enduring such conditions were the aid to not be enough, Rickard did everything that he could to get them to King’s Landing, and after the Royal Wedding of 119AC both Jeor and Maege were sent to the capital, one to act as Prince Baelor’s squire and the other to act as Queen Zhoe’s Lady in Waiting.

### Deepwood Motte

After the tense peace in the North broke down, Rickard once again rode into battle, this time against the Glovers of Deepwood Motte. He was not there during most of the parleys nor for the assault, as he had been posted on a nearby crossroads to prevent possible reinforcements joining the Glovers, and he blames himself for Theodan’s death, thinking that he should have stayed by his side.

#### Recent events

Rickard Stark travelled to King's Landing in 130 AC, and took part in the tournaments. His participation on the melee was unremarkable, but he managed to make an impression in the jousts, reaching the finals despite breaking one of his arms early in the competition.

## Family

Rickard is a first cousin once removed to Lord Osric Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He has two children, Jeor Stark (born 105 AC) and Maege Stark (born 110 AC). His first wife, Myriam Dustin, died on 117 AC and he has not remarried.