Yohn Hunter

Ser Yohn Hunter was the last Hunter Lord of Longbow Hall. He was recognized as one of the best examples of what a Knight of the Vale should be. A talented warrior that was widely loved, Yohn Hunter had a long record of achievement despite his age. He became Lord of Longbow Hall at 25 years of age. He died on the 10th Day of the 4th Moon, 99 AC at the Bloody Gate.

## Appearance

Yohn Hunter was tall, which is common for those of First Men stock, with an athletic build. He was 6’ 1 and weighed about 180 pounds. He had hazel eyes that are said to have a smile all of their own. He wore a thick head of brown hair that he kept up and a tight beard that accentuated his jawline. He was known as a handsome man that often sported a smile.

## Personality

Past tragedy and complications made it difficult for Yohn to find romantic love. He was a passionate man that had many romantic partners of both sexes. He was a talented poet, singer, and amateur lute player. He was known for his good-humor and quick wit. He loved to drink, especially with good company to share in the merriment.

In private, however, Yohn Hunter was prone to melancholy. He sometimes spent days sequestered in his study, ravenously working on mundane administrative work and writing correspondence with the nobility of the Vale. He was an active depressive that drowned himself in work to avoid the thoughts that invaded his mind when it was steeped in darkness.

Yohn loved animals. He admired their tenderness and protectiveness towards the humans to whom they're bonded. He exclusively rode a massive strawberry roan destrier affectionately named Starburst. Yohn found such an upbeat name somewhat humorous, given the size and nature of the horse who was known to bite unfamiliar grooms and would not allow anyone but Yohn to mount her. Her coat is a light pink in color with lighter pink spots about her back and sides that give her the look of a strawberry. She has a dark red mane, tail, and feathering about her hooves that match the red wine coloring that her legs take below her knees. She is now in the care of Ser Alyn Crane, a former paramour of the late Lord Hunter.

Yohn enjoyed hunting for the riding aspect, though he took no joy in the killing of deer or boar, instead feeling bad for the animals. He was an avid falconer. He saw falconry as a more natural alternative to traditional hunting and enjoyed the connection to the Vale that falconry gave him access to. Unlike most lords, Yohn did not have a falconer as a member of his household. Instead, he cared for and hunted with the bird all on his own; he cleaned its stall, trained it, and fed it from his own hand. He called the large goshawk he kept Thunderclap.

The young Lord Hunter was deeply religious. He kept his religious convictions private, believing his faith was between he and the Gods. He was annoyed by those who wear their faith on their sleeves; he saw these people as hypocritical and false of faith, using religion as a tool to meet their own ends rather than genuinely holding the Gods in their heart. His sexuality led to turmoil in his faith, though he believes the true telling of the Seven Pointed Star that says the Gods created “all men in their image”, which means the Gods intended he be the way he was and found solace in prayer and reflection on his life.

## Family

The Hunters are an old, long-standing House with connections to the Vale that span all the way back to the first human settlement there. As such, the Hunters are of First Men stock. Yohn and his sisters are half First Man on their father's side and half Andal on their mother's side.

Yohn’s father, Lord Nestor, was the first son of Lord Denys Hunter who served as regent for Gunthor Arryn, the current Lord of the Eyrie. Denys is still well regarded by the Valemen, having led the Vale through the majority of the War for the Mountains. For his efforts, Lord Denys’ second son, Ser Edmund Hunter was named Knight of the Bloody Gate.

Yohn’s mother, the Lady Berena, was a Corbray. The Corbrays are descendants of the first Andals to set foot in the Vale. Lady Berena married Lord Nestor in the same ceremony that her brother, Gerold married Lord Hunter's sister, Alyssa. She maintains close ties with her familial seat of Heart’s Home and took her children there regularly as they were growing up. Their frequent trips led to the development of a close bond between Yohn and his cousin, Lucion, the current lord of Heart’s Home.

Lady Berena was a dutiful and talented administrator. Her husband, Lord Nestor, was a rather ineffectual lord who deferred many of his responsibilities to his wife. Under Lady Berena’s watchful eyes and deft hand, Longbow Hall greatly increased its standing in the Eastern Vale.

Berena instilled in her children a respect for women that is uncommon in Westeros. Having seen a woman rule so well, none of her children are uncomfortable with the idea of female leadership. Her daughters are known for their wit, literacy, and silver tongues. Following her example, women now occupy many influential positions in Longbow Hall and are even trained to fight alongside men in its military.

Yohn had three sisters. The Lady Elena is married to Terrence Templeton. His other sisters are the Ladies Robyn, Roslyn, and Maege.

### Family Tree

* Lord Denys Hunter b. 13 AC d. 86 AC
	+ m. Lady Alayna Baelish b. 24 AC d. 62 AC
		- Lord Nestor Hunter b. 41 AC d. 97 AC
			* m. Lady Barena Corbray b. 41 AC
				+ Lady Elena Hunter b. 57 AC
					- m. Ser Terrance Templeton b. 52 AC
				+ Lady Robyn Hunter b. 65 AC
				+ **Lord Yohn Hunter b. 73 AC**
				+ Lady Roslyn Hunter b. 78 AC
				+ Lady Maege Hunter b. 78 AC

## Youth and Warding at Runestone

Yohn Hunter was born on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon in the 73rd year since Aegon’s Conquest. The septons called the timing of Yohn’s birth auspicious, saying that the Seven surely had great plans for the child. The stories of his birth led Yohn to develop deeply held religious views that he carries to this day.

A talented student that was eager to learn, Yohn worked day and night with the Longbow Hall maester to overcome his difficulty writing. When he was learning he naturally held the quill incorrectly, which made his handwriting appear distorted and difficult to read. Under a watchful eye, he had to relearn how to properly sit, place his hand, write, and handle his writing utensil so the writing was legible. Though it took years of practice, he now has beautiful, immediately recognizable handwriting.

Just before his eighth nameday, Yohn joined his cousin Lucion in being warded at Runestone under the careful eye of Lord Robar Royce. The teachings of the old Royce would shape Hunter into the knight he is known for being today.

Yohn loved to train at arms when he was not learning to administrate. He developed a particular interest in hand and a half, or bastard, swords. Yohn felt that the size of the weapon, which allowed him to move quickly, also forced him to calculate his movements and anticipate the movements of his opponent more. He carries a bastard sword that he calls Fletcher that he quips “can split an arrow were [he] not the user.”

When he was 16, Yohn became acquainted with the groom’s son, a youth just five moons Yohn’s younger, named Olyver. A handsome, confidant youth, Olyver quickly caught the eye of Yohn when he came to Runestone. The young lordling began to realize that the feelings he had for the groom’s boy were more than just platonic. He caught himself thinking constantly of Olyver’s slim, muscular frame, gleaming smile, and green eyes that squinted when he laughed. He was smitten. One night, Yohn left his bedchamber in the night, so full of feelings that he could not sit still. He walked to the yard and there, in the crisp cool air of the Vale summer, stood Olyver. No words were spoken. The two rushed towards each other, embracing and locking lips in a passionate embrace. They spent the rest of that night together. It was the first such night that Yohn had ever had.

After some time, Yohn began to notice the danger of the relationship; the two spent considerable time together and Yohn began to feel the questioning gaze of those in the castle. Fearing for his lover’s life, Yohn ended their tryst and arranged for the groom’s family to be removed from the keep. When the groom and his family were on the road to Heart’s Home, they were fell upon by Mountain Clansmen. None survived. When the report of bodies on the road got to Runestone, Yohn rode out alone at full speed. Upon arrival at the scene, he fell to his knees and sobbed deeply over the body of his lover. He buried the three of them in cairns beneath a linden tree that grew alone in the valley in which they died. From that day forward, Yohn has been racked by guilt and carries a deep, bitter hatred for the Mountain Clans.

Having spent so much time in one another’s keep, Lucion and Yohn were very close from a young age. Their time at Runestone cemented their relationship. They would spend hours sparring in the yard, playing tricks on the household staff, stealing sweets, and racing horses. As they grew older, they started to share their interest in pretty girls. When it became clear that Yohn had other sexual interests, his cousin was surprisingly supportive, though he told Yohn that his eyes “were screwed shut.” Their relationship being what it was, Yohn was comfortable sharing his experiences and turmoil with regard to his sexuality with his cousin and no one else. They developed a coded form of speaking that allowed for plausible deniability so they could talk about things relating to sexuality without incriminating themselves. While still in their teens, Yohn swore that so long as his cousin remained his confidant, he would never let it be known that Lucion was aware of his actions.

Lucion was the brother that Yohn had always wanted. The two were inseparable in their youth and remain so to this day.

## War for the Mountains

When war with the Mountain Clansmen broke out, Yohn was only 15. He rode out from Runestone at the side of Lord Robar Royce and Lucion Corbray. During the war, Yohn distinguished himself for his quick decision making. He earned a knighthood after he took up a bow and arrow and defended a wagon train from a surge of Clansmen.

Yohn dutifully served his lord in the field and in camp, spending hours cleaning his armor and oiling his sword. He served as Lord Royce's groom, tending his war horses and ensuring they were properly saddled, fed, and ready for war.

## Knighthood

Yohn Hunter returned to Longbow Hall a man. When he arrived, he and his cousin were already known for being visions of Andal chivalry and examples of what true knights of the Vale looked and acted like.

Yohn has a soft spot for the smallfolk, which is rooted in his religious convictions. He is aggravated by the arrogance of many nobles, an arrogance that he believes akin to seeing themselves as gods. Yohn believes this to be heretical, though he keeps that belief between himself and his septon. When he returned to Longbow Hall, he started going out into the village near the keep in disguise to drink and sing with the villagers. He would bring money to give to the poor and was known to pay for the drinks of all who entered the tavern that night. His fraternizing with the smallfolk led to friction with his father, Lord Nestor, who believed that Yohn’s actions were below his station. Yohn would often argue that they were no different from the smallfolk aside from “these four walls and a hundred paid swords.” He was also quick to remind his father of who built those walls and carried those swords.

After some time back at the keep, Yohn and Lucion Corbray started going on ranging missions with a select group of chosen riders. Their reasons were kept secret, there were only rumors as to the nature of their outings.

## Battle of King's Landing

Yohn Hunter and Lucion Corbray furthered their renown during the Battle of King’s Landing. Having arrived in the city under the banner of House Arryn, the Hunter and Corbray soldiers were ordered to defend the Lion’s Gate.

When the Westerners arrived, the Lion’s Gate was the only gate in the city that did not fall to the assault. The Hunters and Corbrays even managed to sally out and set a battering ram alight.

Realizing they would do well to regroup with the rest of the Valemen, the cousins called a retreat which followed in good order. Upon arriving at the Guildhall of the Alchemists, Hunter and Corbray unleashed a dramatically effective surprise attack on the Westermen that routed many men.

Upon arriving at the Dragonpit, Yohn helped his wounded uncle withdraw from the battle before rejoining his men in the fray. In the fighting at the Dragonpit, Yohn Hunter slew Jaime Lannister, the son of Lord Tyrion Lannister in single combat.

Yohn fought valiantly in the battle and his actions that day are still widely regaled in the Vale.