The Tragedy of Martyn Tarbeck

Lord Martyn Tarbeck, High Justiciar of Dorne, was slain late in the year 129 AC by Andrey Toland, firstborn son of the ruling House Toland. Andrey currently remains under house arrest in the Red Keep, awaiting trial.

## Prelude

118 AC. With all of Dorne plagued by rogue judges and small scale rebellions under Princess Ashlynn Toland’s paranoid reign of terror, the Iron Throne sends Lord Martyn Tarbeck to restore order to the southern territory.  As the new High Justiciar, he immediately takes charge of all judgements of the Dornish court, overruling many laws and sanctions Ashlynn had installed.  Rogue judges that had been charged with terrorizing Toland dissenters were recalled, and in most cases hunted down.  To ease the civil unrest, sanctions against House Martell were lifted, and Lord Martell's brother was allowed to return to Sunspear.

In addition to reestablishing order, Martyn is also charged with quelling the spread of R’hllor in Dorne.  With the recent ascension of the critical Righteous One, the Crown is eager to prove their commitment to the Faith of the Seven, and stepping on the necks of Red Priests seems simple enough.  While Martyn himself takes an even keeled approach to stemming the foreign religion, many junior Justiciars under his command favor more violent measures.

A 13 year old Andrey Toland regards the arrival of the new High Justiciar with cautious apprehension, which over the years blossoms into outright fury.  He witnesses the rise of the House Martell, the lifting of his mother’s diligent security measures, and the ill treatment of his fellow worshippers of R’hllor.  Indeed his family’s voice in the ruling Dorne seemed to wane with each passing year, in favor of the Westerman sent by the King.  When his weary mother eventually secludes herself from rule, he and his sisters take up what little power remained of House Toland, and secretly plot ways to get out from under the High Justiciar’s thumb.

## The Incident

129 AC.  The temple of the Lord of Light in Ghost Hill has grown in membership, far exceeding the limits placed by High Justiciar Tarbeck.  He sends his men to enforce the Crown’s rule of law, but a particularly vicious Justiciar is on duty that day.  This violent servant of the Seven participates in the brutal slaughter of R’hllor worshippers, and streets run red with the blood of the faithful.  At the urging of his sisters, an incensed Andrey Toland races over to the Sandship, the dwelling of the High Justiciar, and demands an audience.  From behind closed doors, only the muffled raising of voices could be heard.

From that point, witness accounts become conflicted.  Some Sandship servants attest to both men barging from the solar, weapons drawn, and dueling to the death.  Other servants claim only Andrey emerged, bloody blade in hand, with Martyn lying dead in his solar.  A couple wide eyed servants insist it was shadowy demons that spawned from Andrey’s mouth, that slew the High Justiciar. Ultimately the only undeniable truth of that fateful day was that the High Justiciar Martyn Tarbeck was slain, following a visit from a furious Andrey Toland.

Despite the protestations of a fair duel by Andrey, guards of House Martell apprehend the Toland scion.  Under recommendation by the remaining Justiciars in command, he is sent to King’s Landing to face judgement by the Iron Throne.  However, the passing of King Viserys, and the elevation of his son Baelor delay proceedings.  So Andrey remains under house arrest within the Red Keep.