Desmond Oakheart

## Introduction

Lord Desmond Oakheart is the youngest son of Lord Luthor and Lia Oakheart. He is the current Lord of Old Oak. His elder brothers both died at his wedding feast in the year 434 AC. He is on the tall side at 6'2" and has a sturdy build from his years of fighting. He assisted Prince Baelor Targaryen in quelling the riots during the Razing of the Red Temple.

## Appearance

Lord Desmond Oakheart usually ties his long hair back behind his head, he has large scars across his temple from when he was attacked by a wolf when he was on a hunting trip with his oldest brother Arthur. He generally wears silks in earth tones when not wearing his armor. During colder weather Desmond would don a wolf skin cloak. His armor has an oak tree emblazoned in the breastplate with the sigil of House Oakheart styled into the trunk of the tree.

## History

### Birth

Born the youngest child of the union between Luthor and Lia Oakheart. He never expected to inherit the Lordship as he had two elder brothers. His childhood was a happy one, he was raised mostly by septons and septas. He was a rowdy child, and it was decided while he was raised by the faith he would be a knight. He was quickly squired to his eldest brother and spent much of his time with him.

### Adolescence

His elder brother was a hard worker and forced Desmond to work hard alongside him. He trained him in the yard as often as he could. A friendship was born between the two brothers, and even though they were separated by six years in age, they got along extremely well and Desmond knew he would do anything he could to help his brother. In addition to training Desmond how to use his sword, Arthur gave Desmond advice on ruling, which Desmond found odd as he was the third brother but eventually came in use to him. Desmond also gained a fascination for the family's knightly traditions. He would beg his father's musicians to recount the tale's of his ancestors in their struggles against the Dornish foe. His favorite was the tale of Ser Aerys of the Kingsguard, who went on a quest throughout hostile Dorne to seek justice against an attacker who scarred his Princess. This led to a childhood aspiration to become the next Oakheart to join the Kingsguard.

### Hunting Trip

In the year 430 Desmond was invited to hunt with Arthur in the forests outside Old Oak. Desmond was excited for the trip as he was always deemed too young to actually participate beforehand. Arthur's choice game was boar, so Desmond had been trained in spears more than anything else.

The day went like any other ride until Desmond's horse surprisingly bucked him. The pain wasn't what he expected. He almost couldn't move. As he went to stand he found himself pinned underneath a snarling black wolf. Fear took over and Desmond did the best he could to escape but the wolf was far larger than he had the strength to move. He yelled for his brother as he felt the warmth on his temple spread. He was unsure what it was, but he knew he would die if he didn't act. He pulled the dagger he had in his belt and plunged it into the ravenous canine on his chest.

When Arthur found his brother, he could hardly tell where the blood from the wolf and the boy began. He tied the wolf quickly to the back of his horse and placed Desmond in front of him in the saddle.

Upon arrival to Old Oak Arthur rushed Desmond to the maester who fed Desmond milk of the poppy and stitched the gashes in his temple. The next few days were dreadfully boring to Desmond. He was visited by all his father's vassals paying their well wishes. The wolf's pelt was presented to Desmond upon his recovery.

### The Bleeding

In 433 Desmond was sent to the capital for his own protection. It was clear the Reach wasn't safe with the Hammer Uprising encroaching closer and closer to Old Oak. Desmond was surprisingly alright with being sent away from the rebellion, as his lord father presented this as a chance at impressing a royal family member enough to be allowed entry into the Kingsguard. Upon arrival to King's Landing he found himself lost in some ways, it was nothing like Old Oak. However the week he spent there was hardly something he'd forget. A few nights after he arrived he noticed a large gathering of folk wandering the streets, more so than usual. Desmond began following a larger group of them to see what was happening before realizing he was in the beginnings of a riot.

He began to return to his lodgings as he was there for his own safety and he didn't want to worry his father before he was pulled aside by Prince Baelor Targaryen. The noble device he wore was enough to separate himself from the average man. The rest of the night was a blur, but Desmond followed the Prince's Orders and assisted him with quelling the riots. The night ended with Desmond on his knee and knighted by the same Prince for his heroic actions. A friendship was born amongst the flames of that night.

However soon after hearing of his son's 'participation' in the riots Luthor Oakheart realized Old Oak would be far safer for any of his children, and Desmond was ordered to return home. That night lit something inside Desmond however and the nineteen year old refused to sit back any longer and convinced his father to let him lead the Oakheart forces alongside his two elder brothers, on the agreement that he would not 'act a hero' any longer. When asked by his father why he didn't hold himself to that agreement, he was purported to have cheekily replied "I don't remember swearing any vow to you, only to the Seven and its Knightly Code."

The Lord From The Ashes

Desmond's father had called a feast to be held at Old Oak when their forces happen to be marching to the next conflict of the rebellion. Before the feast, the Oakhearts took to their forests and began to hunt for boar. The event was enjoyable for all of those involved. Prince Baelor was invited due to the friendship between Desmond and Baelor. Luthor planned to speak to Baelor about the plight of the Reach and perhaps request aid after the hunt, yet those events never unfolded.

When Desmond rode alongside Arthur that day he knew something was wrong but he couldn't place it. The birds were silent and he saw no wildlife. He turned to comment to his brother on the oddness of the situation, as he opened his mouth to comment he saw an arrow sprout from Arthur's chest.

Desmond, Mathis, and Baelor chased after the archer upon seeing him run, and when they caught up to him, he revealed the complicity of Mathis, the second brother of the Oakheart family. Mathis confirmed this when he slit the throat of the archer.

Desmond felt he had no choice but to challenge his older brother to a duel to avenge his eldest brother. Mathis was no master of the sword, and Desmond was. Before Baelor could speak the two had drawn their weapons and in a flurry of movements, Desmond had slashed the chest of Mathis open. Mathis was fatally wounded, yet lived for the moment. Baelor and Desmond returned Arthur's corpse and Mathis in his dying state to Old Oak. Mathis died on the table of Maester Orys. Lord Oakheart pulled Desmond and Baelor aside and found the exact details of what happened at the hunt.

After realizing he would lose all three sons in one fell swoop, Lord Oakheart begged Prince Baelor from revealing the truth of the kinslaying, as it was done in anger and for his brother's honor, not out of malice. The Prince agreed to Luthor's relief, but the shame burned through Desmond's soul from that day forward.

The final Oakheart son with heavy heart took full control of the Oakheart forces and assisted wherever their Lord Tyrell required them. The small feast was intended to boost the morale of the nobles under Oakheart during the war. While things never quite go to plan, Lord Oakheart's vassal's loyalty was assured nonetheless under the competent leadership of young Desmond.

### Leaves Fall and Regrow

The next night, Luthor called Desmond into his room and revealed his illness. It was a long time coming and Maester Orys had been keeping him alive with regular treatments but he had decided to pass on from that life. Desmond stayed with his father the whole night until he finally moved on.

### The New Lord

Desmond found himself unattached from ruling, no matter how much he tried. He took quickly to the more unsavory aspects of politics, never wishing to be as blind to someone else's plan as he was to his own brother's.

Desmond spent most of his time learning about growing things and found he was good at it. Desmond decided to open a winery with the talents that he had been honing and in the year 438 began working towards opening the first winery in his lands. Traveling to the Westerlands to renegotiate a betrothal between Shaera Lannister and his now deceased brother, Arthur. Committed to fulfilling the commitment made, he agreed to take up the betrothal in his brother's place.

## Recent Events

Arrived in King's Landing after his months long voyage from Oldtown

Traveled to Casterly Rock to attend his own wedding to Shaera Lannister, sister to Lord Criston Lannister.

Returned to the capitol along with the Westerland Lords to the Great Council to support Prince Baelor and the Wing Faction.

## Family and NPCs

Castellan Renly Oakheart, Uncle to Lord Desmond Oakheart, heir apparent

Maester Orys