Aethan Velaryon

Malentine Velaryon

Vaegon Velaryon

Ser **Aethan Velaryon** (54 AC, Driftmark - Present), known as the **Sea Wolf**, is the current Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. He's the thirdborn son of the late Lord Corwyn Velaryon and Lady Jeyne Swyft and brother to Queen Saerys Velaryon, Lord Corlys Velaryon, Malentine Velaryon and Vaegon Velaryon.

In addition, he is also the uncle of Lady Daella Velaryon, King Viserys I Targaryen, Princess Jaehaera Targaryen and Prince Daeron Targaryen.

He is one the greatest knights in the continent, famous for his deed of bravery, such as his pivotal assault againt the walls of Stonedance during the Battle of the Falling Stones, where he saved the life of Prince Baelon Targaryen and took Lord Massey into royal custody. He also took part during the recent Rosegold Rebellion, where he fiercely led the royal host against the Reachmen at the Battle of Bitterbridge, slaying Lord Tytos Fossoway in single combat.

## Appearance and Character

Aethan is starting to get old, his once bright silvery locks much more grey now that age has caught up with him. Nevertheless, Aethan still is very well in shape, strong and athletic, as his duty as a Kingsguard demands, as well as he has to train his fellow knights in white. He has indigo purple eyes, a full beard and a messy, curly hair down to his shoulders.

Aethan is held to a high regard as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, not unusually being called a "true knight" by his fellow men. He has a strong sense of honor and justice. He's kind, charismatic and enjoys the company of knights, soldiers and merry countrymen. Aethan can sometimes get a bit too proud, belligerent or protective of those he holds dear, but in the inside he's really a soft ball.

## History

### Childhood and his sister Saerys

Aethan was an adventurous child, often exploring the endless beaches, caverns and coves of Driftmark when a kid. He was close to his older brother Corlys and his sister Saerys, although his younger siblings wouldn't talk much to the three of them. Aethan liked to sparr, dreaming of being a knight and watching closely and intently every tourney that he could at Hull. Aethan was also fascinated by dragons and the history of their dragonrriders, fierce warriors who bent the world and made the Iron Throne by fire and blood.

Aethan's relation with his sister Saerys was always very close and loving. They were inseparable, eating, playing, reading and even sleeping together. Aethan was very protective of his little sister, defending her from the other children. They'd go out on long walks around Driftmark, sometimes up into the night, returning late to the castle. Lord Corwyn was never very fond of these escapades, but Aethan became more and more skilled in leaving the castle unnoticed.

As they grew older, Aethan and Saerys stayed very close, even as it became more and more apparent that their relationship mayhaps was becoming romantic. He would sing to her and gift her with flowers and beautiful rocks he found on his walks around the island. Aethan was once caught kissing Saerys by one of the servants when during a visit to their aunt at Nightsong, but Lord Corwyn managed to suppress this rumor as he intended to marry Saerys to King Rhaegar.

### The Boy and the Dragon

When he was 13, Aethan encountered the dragon Sheepstealer near the mouth of a cave at the volcano of Driftmark while exploring the island. The beast, however, was not hostile, being rather quite calm and placid to his presence. The boy, in what he would remember as a bold and careless move, approached the dragon, the great lizard of brown scales, rugged appearance, old and wild. He eventually figured the dragon was unable to fly and barely even moved, he was weak and had settled down, waiting to die.

Aethan kept company to the beast for half a year, taking rests from the family meals and sneaking food from the kitchen of Driftmark Castle to feed him, going as far as herding stray sheeps from the peasants to his den, even resting alongside the dragon, watching the star-lit sky. He would play with the dragon, climbing it and giving him pats on the head. Aethan kept this a secret from his family, only telling Corlys and Saerys under the condition they'd keep secrecy. He would sometimes take them to visit Sheepstealer, but as he became more and more sick, Corlys started to lose interest and Saerys couldn't bear to watch the sickly creature anymore.

Aethan would visit Sheepstealer almost daily, telling the dragon of his day and sharing thoughts as one does to a friend. Aethan did his best to keep Sheepstealer alive and cure him, bathing and cleaning the dragon, giving him softer meals as he became more frail, studying persistently dragonlore at the Driftmark library and bombarding the Velaryon's maester with questions about dragon anatomy and sickness, but it was all to no avail. The brown dragon eventually died of his sickness, and the boy Aethan wept much from this, becoming depressed at the loss of his endeared friend, whom he had since made a bond with. He kept the beast's remains hidden inside the cave, making reooccuring trips to his old friend to talk to his bones, bringing offerings of sheep meat and bone toys.

### Saerys' Marriage

It did not help that his sister, Saerys, was sent to marry King Rhaegar at King's Landing later that year, in 67 AC. Aethan was present during the wedding, where he quarreled a week prior to the event with young King Rhaegar after he expressed some "unkind regards" about his own bride. This almost developed into a fight between the two if not for the intervention of his father Lord Corwyn Velaryon and Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen. Although Lord Corwyn tried to apologize for the attitude of his son, the prince took Aethan's side against his nephew. Jaehaerys eventually befriended young Aethan the following days up to the marriage. Aethan eventually convinced his father to let him stay at King's Landing and serve as a squire for the prince. Lord Corwyn, seeing this as a way to create a direct line of connection with the Hand, gladly accepted. During the wedding ceremony, Aethan bitterly apologised to Rhaegar, and gifted his sister Saerys a golden necklace with a dragon tooth pendant, from Sheepstealer, as his wedding gift.

### Squire to Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen

Prince Jaehaerys was fond of the boy, and taught much to the young Aethan. The future Lord Commander would remind fondly of Jaehaerys, the "Prince-King", and speaks highly of his sense of justice, honor, character and even his martial expertise, attributing his own character much to Jaehaerys' teachings.

When Jaehaerys eventually got bedridden with Dragonblight in 69 AC, he knighted Aethan before his death. Aethan decided to stay in King's Landing to take care and company to his sister, Saerys, who was at this point still very disappointed and miserable with her royal marriage. He would eventually go with Saerys to Driftmark yet again, to stay with their father as he became bedridden, eventually passing away in 78 AC, making his brother Corlys Velaryon the new Lord of the Tides.

### Hook Uprising

Aethan was among the knights called to fight under the dragon banner during the Hook Uprising in 78 AC. There he made a reptutation for himself, always fighting in the thick of battle, often one of the first through the enemies gates. It was during this time that his fierceness and courage earned him the nickname "the Sea Wolf" amongst his fellow soldiers, a comparison to his brother's nickname. He fought on the Battle of Stokeworth, the Assault of Blacklance, the Battle of Alric Bluff, Battle of Greycrest and the Battle of the Falling Stones.

At the Battle of the Fallings Stones, catapults and archers fired on Stonedance, men moved forward, but they all were ultimately unable to scale the walls. The Masseys had one last trick up their sleeve, and that was seemingly unending stockpiles of rocks covered in pitch, which they set aflame and dropped from over the walls, completely halting any advance forward.

Aethan, took the dragon banner into his own hands and encouraged the royal forces to rush through a small gap between the castle defenders, scaling the walls and cutting rebel after rebel. The troops rushed fiercely forward, Aethan on the front of it all, leading on the van, joined by Prince Baelon, who dispatched rebel after rebel.

Still, despite seeing his men rapidly fall, Lord Massey wasn’t willing to submit, keeping his best soldiers with him in his solar while his force outside was decimated. The fight within his solar was cramped, and Prince Baelon nearly lost his life had it not been for the efforts of Aethan. He captured Lord Massey, dragging the unwilling Lord out of his keep and presenting him to King Rhaegar.

### Appointed to the Kingsguard

After the war, at the end of 78 AC, Aethan was named to the Kingsguard by King Rhaegar I at the suggestion of Prince Baelon Targaryen, as one of their ranks was slain during the revolt. Aethan often cites this was the proudest day of his life.

He was often assigned to his sister, Queen Saerys, at her request, spending much of his time at his sister's sde. Aethan quickly became famous as the "Hero of Stonedance" by the common folk of King's Landing.

Aethan, as he was usually around Saerys, spent much time with her children, Viserys, Daeron and Jaehaera. Aethan was always very good with children, and kept company to the young princes with magic tricks and playing with them.

### Fourth Dornish War

During the Fourth Dornish War, Aethan was amongst the host of King Rhaegar that rode south to face the Dornish forces. He rode alongside Prince Baelon Targaryen while Prince Aemon Targaryen rode with the King. During a skirmish on the Boneway, Baelon and Aethan were ambushed by Yronwood forces, where the prince was deadly injured. Aethan was the last man standing, and desperately made a last stand against several dornish soldiers to protect the prince. He cut down several men before collapsing to the ground, but his sacrifice was to no avail, the prince died of his wounds. Aethan nearly died as well, if not for the maester of Yronwood that took care of him. He was dragged from camp to camp until he ended up into Lord Yronwood's own camp, where he was kept prisoner for the remainder of the war. He almost managed to escape once, through a gap that me managed to open on his cell, but his cellmate, a knight from House Mallister, was too fat to pass through the passage, and so he decided to stay in sympathy to his gaol friend.

Prince Nymor Martell of Dorne eventually visited Aethan on his cell at Lord Yronwood's camp. Through his diplomatic skills, he convinced Aethan that the war had drawn enough blood, and that a full out conflict with Dorne would be undesirable to both sides. He released the Kingsguard and sent him back to Rhaegar's camp as a gesture of good will, where Aethan explained Nymor's point of view and asked the king to accept the offer of negotiations, to which the king accepted. The war would soon end after this.

For his fierce stand against the Dornish, he was elevated by the King as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, as the previous Lord Commander, Ser Gyles Morrigen, died in battle, leaving the spot vacant. Ser Aethan Velaryon became Lord Commander of the Kingsguard at 29 years of age, in the year of 83 AC. He couldn't take the bitter taste off his mouth though, as loss of Prince Baelon Targaryen still haunts Aethan, and he blames himself for the death of his protected.

### The Sea Wolf's cubs

Back in King's Landing, Aethan resumed his service. He would eventually meet Alyn Corbray, a young Vale boy eager to prove his worth at court. He took the young Corbray as his squire in 88 AC. Even though the boy proved difficult to deal with, due to his religious fervor, Aethan made a warrior out of Alyn.

Later, when the Rosegold Rebellion broke out and the Royal host was to depart, young Alyn had to stay at the capital as he was struck down with a burning fever, some even suggesting that the boy might've contracted the deadly dragonblight.

Aethan had no choice but to leave Alyn under the Grand Maester's care and leave with his king to war once more. His nephew, Daeron Targaryen, eager to prove himself in war, offered to squire for Aethan in Alyn's absence.

### Rosegold Rebellion

After the death of King Rhaegar, the young nephew of Aethan, Viserys Targaryen, rose to the Iron Throne. A series of unfortunate events, which Aethan still bitterly remembers, eventually sparked the outbreak of the Rosegold Rebellion between the Iron Throne and the combined forces of the Reach and the Westerlands.

During the war, Aethan fought in the infamous Battle of Bitterbridge, or as it became known, the Slaughter of Bitterbridge. And a true slaughter it was, for Aethan could hear throughout those long long seven days of fight, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the ashen-corrupted lungs. Obscene as the plage, bitter as the cud. The men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, but limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the sound of the walls dropping behind as the catapults kept lauching on.

During the viscious slaughter, his kinsman, Ser Daemion Velaryon, was slain by the Reachmen forces. His own nephew and squire, Daeron Targaryen, was almost cut down as well by Lord Tytos Fossoway, be it not for his timely intervention. Aethan saved Daeron's life, albeit the boy was wickedly injured, and after fierce combat, he cut down Lord Fossoway with a fierce blow, chopping his head off.

This battle was the benchmark that set the realm apart. The bloody, raging agony of a dying kindgom. Aethan was never the same after Bitterbridge, making him distasteful of war, which only brought him the bitter memories of Baelon's death and his comrades in arms dead in the blood covered mud of battle.

After Bitterbridge, the reachmen harrassed the sorrowful march of royal host back to the capital, where Aethan personally led detachments to try and defend the army from the skirmishes. After the Golden Truce, an ironic name for what should have been called "The Bloody Truce", Aethan knighted both of his squires, Alyn Corbray and Daeron Targaryen, for their bravery against all odds and battle honor in the war. Ser Alyn would then be given a spot on the Kingsguard, under Aethan's recommendation.

## Quotes by Ser Aethan Velaryon

* *"It much more the man than the sword and armor that makes a knight, Alyn. It's honor, bravery, honesty, humility, loyalty. It's to to defend those who cannot defend themselves, the young, the old, the women, the weak. We keep on fighting, no matter how hard, how dangerous, how arduous the battle. Without these..."* Aethan said, pointing to his heart. - *"A knight is no more than a common thug with a fancy title."*

* *"A peasant that sacrifices his life fighting bandits so that his family may live, a baker that gives bread to the poor, a septa that takes care of orphans. They show knightly values, of humility and bravery, of honor and honesty. Wouldn't you say they are knights as well, if not in name at least in action?"*
* Aethan had heard that before, that he was some sort of symbol of what a true knight would be like... If only they knew about his love, and his sins. He knew that all those moments of glory would be stained forever, no matter what, if only they knew.
* *"Oathkeepers are a rare commodity these days, ser, as I know you shall agree with me..."*
* *"Many a men have swung their swords at me, taking me for just another tired old knight, tired in a heavy suit of white. And those many men have fallen with their faces on the ground, just the same as that last one."*

## Quotes about Ser Aethan Velaryon

* *"There's my Aethan" -* Saerys Velaryon
* He took a moment to breathe, and let his stress wash away. Offending one of the most dangerous men in the Kingdom wasn't an easy task to do. - Ser Myles Fossoway

## Family Tree

* Lord Corwyn Velaryon, d. 78 AC

* m. Jeyne Swyft
	+ Saerys Velaryon, Queen Dowager, b. 52 AC
	+ m. Rhaegar I Targaryen, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, b. 48 AC, d. 93 AC
		- Aenar Targaryen, b. 71 AC, d. 77 AC
		- Jaehaera Targaryen, b. 73 AC
		- m. Edmyn Tully
			* Aerys Tully
			* Aelinor Tully
		- Viserys I Targaryen, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, b. 77 AC
		- m. Miranda Arryn, Queen Dowager, b. ?, d. 97 AC
			* Valarr Targaryen, b. 97 AC, d. 97 AC
		- Daeron Targaryen, b. 78 AC
	+ Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark b. 53 AC
	+ m. Alysanne Florent, Lady of Driftmark
		- Daella Velaryon, b. 79 AC
	+ **Aethan Velaryon**, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, b. 54 AC
	+ Malentine Velaryon, Lord-Regent of Driftmark, b. 55 AC
	+ m. Alys Bar Emmon
		- Vaemond Velaryon, b 75 AC
		- Lianna Velaryon, b. 81 AC
		- Valaena Velaryon, b. 89 AC
		- Delaenora Velaryon b. 90 AC, d. 90 AC
	+ Vaegon Velaryon, Co-Regent and Castellan of Driftmark, b. 58 AC
	+ m. Meredyth Rosby
		- Rhogar Velaryon, b. 87 AC
		- Laena Velaryon, b. 90 AC
		- Daemon Waters, b. 84 AC

## Skils (Meta)

Skills: Leadership(CHA), Siegecraft(MAR), Warcraft(MAR), Two Handed Weapons(COM), Footwork(COM), Endurance (COM), Fortification(STA), Civil Engineering(STA)

Aptitude: Berserker(COM)