Durran Baratheon

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

The Knight of a Baker's Dozen

Brother - Arrec Baratheon

Sister - Oraella Baratheon

**Durran Baratheon** is the eldest son of Arlan Baratheon and his wife, Cassandra, and is the Lord Regent of the Stormlands. Known for his chivalry and zealousness, Durran is uncompromising in his values, beliefs and authority.

## Appearance

Durran is a tall man, already standing above most grown men. He has a stocky and full physique and is very much built for feats of strength. Like the other men in his family, his hair is thick and dark, and his eyes a round, steel-blue.

Notably, Durran is rough-skinned for a Lord, his hands calloused from his time as a squire in the Reach. Durran is thought to be a handsome, if plain, man. His face is rugged and partially covered beneath a black beard. His jawline is square and strong, his nose slightly crooked.

Durran has a small scar running across his left cheek.

## Biography

### Background

It is during his father's illness that Durran takes over his responsibilities as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.

Durran's early life was, as a whole, uneventful. He was the typical young son of a high lord, spending his days in lessons with the Maester Rickard or in the yard, training with blade, bow and lance. Life was good, if unspectacular. This would change when, around the age of five, his father brought a young babe to the castle, claiming it was his new bastard half-brother and that his name was Ardan.

#### Fosterage in Highgarden

As Durran began to mature, talks began of fostering him to another family. A way to strengthen bonds with another great house of Westeros. After all, for all their glory, House Baratheon was still among the youngest of the houses of the Seven Kingdoms. They would need to foster relationships and build bonds if they were to endure. His father, as was expected, suggested he be fostered to House Martell and the Dornish, to further strengthen the bonds Arlan had already forged. But this idea was quickly shot down by his mother, who instead wanted her son to be fostered in the Reach, the home of chivalry and honour, and the Stormlands closest ally against their true enemy. Lets were sent, negotiations made and soon the arrangements were made. At the age of eight, Durran was sent off to live with the Lords Paramount of the Mander and Wardens of the South, House Tyrell.

During his fosterage, Durran became inseparable with Garth's son and heir, Victor. While Victor was fun-loving and impulsive, Durran was diligent and quiet. Nevertheless, Durran came to view Victor as his dearest friend, and his truest brother. Of course, Durran's time in the Reach would not last forever. He was the heir to Storm's End after all, and his duty was in the Stormlands. At the age of eight-and-ten, two years longer than usual, his fosterage came to an end, and he was to return to Storm's End.

#### Tragedy at Gulltown

With the tourney complete, Durran returned home, and undertook his duties as heir to the Stormlands. He would not see his foster family again for two whole years, as he began to take on more and more responsibility. That would change with the announcement of a tourney in Gulltown and Durran counted himself among the many lords who would travel to compete. When Garth Tyrell fell against Grover Mooton, it was Durran and Victor who reached his side first, and it was Durran who lifted the man, still in his plate, into his arms and rushed him to the maester's table.

#### Arrec and the Black Prince

Tragedy would strike again a little over a year later, at the tourney at Bronzegate. When the royal family arrived in the Stormlands, Durran demanded every man of Baratheon blood to enter the lists. That included Arrec, whose skills (or lack thereof) Durran was acutely aware of. Arrec's bout came, and he tilted against Aerion Targaryen. When Aerion's lance brought down Arrec's horse, it took both Cassandra and Maester Rickard's council to stop Durran from marching into the Targaryen's tent and demanding satisfaction. Six months later, Durran declared a righteous and just war against Dorne, claiming he wished to bring them into the light of the Seven.

### *The Reign of Dragons*

Durran is betrothed to Rhaenerys Targaryen, though he wishes to wed Alyssa Tyrell and at his mother's urging, accepts the proposal. He also enters into negotiations with Garret Tully for the hand of his sister, Oraella, though he then reveals to his mother that this is to leverage Roland Lannister into accepting his offer with a fairly low dowry. Hearing this, Cassandra berates him and goes as far as to strike him, prompting him to threaten her with house arrest if she hits him again before storming out of the Round Hall. Afterwards, Durran hosts his father's Lords at Storm's End and announces his upcoming wedding to Rhaenerys. Once they've left, he chastises Ardan for taking Arrec with him down to a shipwreck in Shipbreaker Bay. Immediately after, Durran blames Ardan for Arrec's accident and accuses him of using the upcoming invasion as an excuse to seek glory for himself, despite being far more guilty on both counts than Ardan is. Durran is present along with the rest of the family when Rhaenerys, Aemon, and Jaeghar Targaryen arrive, though neither he nor his homeland appears to impress his betrothed. Durran is very nearly made to kneel by Aerion after the latter arrives on dragonback, only to be saved by the intervention of Aemon. After calling another meeting between the most powerful of assembled Lords and Ladies, Durran reveals his intent to march on Dorne without waiting for the full strength of the Stormlands to assemble, going against the advice of Ser Edrick Boiling. He also announces that he'll be sending Ardan to Blackhaven, outraging the latter. Ardan quickly confronts Durran after most of the present spectators have left but is unable to change Durran's mind. A few days later, Durran is speaking amicably with Aemon during which he casually alludes to the long-standing rumor that their lines are distantly related. This incenses Rhaenerys, who after sharing some choice words with Aemon and Oraella, leaves Durran behind in favor of seeking out her brother Aerion.

## Personality

Stoic and serious, Durran Baratheon is a man of few words, with a reputation for bluntness. He is a hard man to like, as he lacks both tact and charisma. A pious man, Durran holds three things as sacred in this world; his family, his people and the Seven. He is generous and open handed with his alms and donations to Septons and Septas, often inviting wandering holy people into his halls as honoured guests. His faith is so fervent that it would not be incorrect to call him a zealot, he is a true believer, and with that faith also comes prejudice. Durran is a traditionalist to his core, due in no small part to his father's ways. He is a man who believes in the proper way of things, particularly in regards to women, marriage and sexuality.

He does not view women as lesser, merely made for a different role. Women were made in the mother's image and as such that should be their primary goal in life, to become wives and mothers, and to serve their husbands with diligence and faithfulness. As for sexuality, well… To be blunt, Durran is highly disapproving of same sex relations, seeing it as a gross act against the Gods. He is not the type of man to put homosexuals to death, but he would have them imprisoned or sent to serve the faith as a means to save their souls. Durran also has the famously mercurial temper of his family. He is no volatile fool, but should his fury be roused, it is hard to quell it. Something both Arrec, and Ardan are very familiar with.

Durran sees himself as a faithful servant, just as much as he is a Lord. He takes a great deal of pride in his honour and diligence, being unbelievably stubborn in his views. It is near impossible to change the man's mind on something. He is as unyielding as the castle he calls home. Durran is also a man who is blunt in his views, seeing the world as black and white. The laws of Gods and the laws of men are universal truths in his eyes, with little to no room for nuance or interpretation. It is a simplistic view to some, but Durran would argue that the world is far simpler than scholars would have one believe.