Gerold Dayne

Gerold Dayne is the Lord of Starfall and Sword of the Morning, as well as the grandson of King Baelon I Targaryen, via his daughter Princess Visenya, and is cousin to the current King, Aemon I. A warrior of legendary renown, Lord Gerold is viewed by many as the finest knight in all the Seven Kingdoms.

Early Life
Gerold was born in King's Landing, to Lord Edric Dayne and his wife, Princess Visenya Targaryen As the first surviving grandson of King Baelon I, his birth was greatly celebrated. Gerold's first three years of life were spent within the capitol, during which time his younger sister, Tyene, was also born, and he shared a wet nurse with his cousin Prince Aemon, his junior by a year. After turning three, he moved with his parents back to Starfall, where he resided the next few years, dreaming of knighthood. During this time, he became close friends with Amarei Yronwood, who had been sent to Starfall to foster with the Daynes.

Return to the Capitol
At the age of nine, Gerold was summoned back to the capitol, where he served as cupbearer to his grandsire, King Baelon, alongside his cousin and milk-brother, Prince Aemon. However, Gerold was somewhat neglectful of his duties as cupbearer, preferring to spend his time pestering his great-great-uncle, the famous Prince Daemon Targaryen for tales of his adventure. Though the old rogue at first found the child to be quite irritating, he eventually opened up to him. By the age of eleven, the king allowed the Rogue Prince to take Gerold as his squire, serving beneath him as he commanded the City Watch. Gerold trained tirelessly beneath the old rogue, who had been one of the most dangerous swords in the realm during his youth, quickly excelling under the old master's tutelage. At times, Prince Daemon would even press Dark Sister into his hand whilst he observed the youth sparring.

Knighthood
Five years after becoming the squire of the Rogue Prince, the City Watch was made to suppress a riot that had broken out in Flea Bottom. Old as he was, their Lord Commander still wished to see to it himself. The mob had grown violent quickly, and as the goldcloaks were forced to fight for their lives, Prince Daemon was dealt a blow to the head, knocking him unconscious. Taking up Dark Sister, Gerold rallied the goldcloaks, cutting his way through the peasants as his fellow members of the City Watch bore the Lord Commander to the safety of the Red Keep. As the royal family gathered around the Rogue Prince while he stood at death's gate, Gerold was at his mentor's bedside. Prince Daemon awoke, to the shock of the Grand Maester, and began calling for his sword. Gerold, tears in his eyes, apologized for taking it, and hurriedly put the weapon into Daemon's hand. With that, The Rogue Prince bade Gerold kneel, and with his dying breaths, he raised Gerold to knighthood.

Marriage
Grief stricken from the death of his mentor, Ser Gerold rode alone to Starfall, into the waiting arms of his lifetime companion Lady Amerei Yronwood. At his request, Lord Edric arranged for a marriage between them with Lord Yronwood. Gerold, hot with passion, vowed to to win ten tourneys before he took her hand. The newly made knight kept to his word, winning ten small tourneys within the course of a single year. The wedding was held in the sept of the Red Keep itself, upon the request of his grandmother, Queen Rhaenyra. At the age of seventeen, Ser Gerold took Lady Amerei to wife, with the Targaryen, Dayne, and Yronwood households all in attendance.

Fatherhood and Tragedy
Over the next three years, Ser Gerold and his wife travelled about the Seven Kingdoms, with the young knight competing in even more tourneys. When they discovered Amerei was pregnant, they took passage back to Starfall by a ship in Oldtown. A few months later, in 160 AC, Gerold and his wife celebrated the birth of their firstborn son, who was named Daemon in honor of Ser Gerold's mentor. Subsequently, Gerold returned to the road, spending the next two years moving between Starfall and the lands of the Reach and Stormlands, competing in countless tourneys, earning the nickname "The Great Dayne" for the tremendous number of victories he accrued. Sadly, his beloved wife died in childbirth, giving birth to a daughter named Casella.

The Salt War
Shortly after the death of his wife and birth of his daughter, the Salt War began. His father told him that he would understand if Gerold wished to stay with his daughter and son, but filled with the fury of loss, Gerold refused. Thusly, he marched alongside his father with the levies of House Dayne to the Westerlands, and boarded a ship bound for Pyke, where Lord Edric was to lead the ground assault on Pyke, whilst King Baelon, Queen Rhaenyra, and Princess Visenya aided them from the skies. As the Battle of Pyke began, Ser Gerold fought with his father over the walls. However, they were separated by the tides of battle, and as Gerold fought to reach his sire, he watched him be cut down by Dagmar Greyjoy, one of the Salt Sons of the late Lord Dalton. The enraged Gerold, having reached his father just as the life left him, took up Dawn and engaged Dagmar in a vicious duel. Though two of Dagmar's sons joined to aid their sire, they were cut down, and in moments, Dagmar himself was beheaded. After the initial battle had ended and the ironborn retreated into the castle, Gerold took up his father's fallen body, carrying it to his waiting mother. Princess Visenya broke down in tears at the sight of her dead spouse and her son covered in blood. The image eventually reached the ears of singers, who would give the now Lord Gerold the name "Bloodstar" as a result. Afterwards, against the wishes of her royal father, who was giving the ironmen a chance to surrender, Visenya mounted her dragon, Dreamfyre, and annihilated one of the towers of Pyke. This prompted Quellon Greyjoy to arrange an accident for his brother Vickon, who had been leading the defense of Pyke, and yield the castle to the king.

Lordship and Sword of the Morning
After the battle, Gerold returned to Starfall, where his family agreed for him to become Sword of the Morning, and he took up his duties as its new lord and as a father. Still filled with the anguish of his wife's loss, Gerold vowed to never marry again, and over the next few years, he would entertain several paramours and father numerous bastards, several of whom he acknowledged and took as servants in Starfall. The occasional tourney would also keep Gerold distracted over the years, and as the singers spread song of the Bloodstar across the kingdom, his fame would continue to grow.

A Royal Squire
At the age of thirty, Gerold's cousin sent his son Prince Daeron to serve as his squire.

Physical Appearance
Gerold is best described as statuesque, his great height and muscle make him loom over lesser men with an aura that demands respect from such lesser men. He is widely described as attractive with his dark silver hair and deep purple eyes found in his Targaryen and dayne heritage. His skin pale for the average dornishmen and even for the average stone dornishmen but it is not entirely unblemished from the sun, he is often seen in great plate of solid steel.

Personality
Gerold is a character of great boisterousness and revelry, his love of feasts and tourneys known across the land. Aswell a seeker of adrenaline and a lover of combat, Gerold enjoys the essence of duels, jousts, sparring and even battle. However the Knight is often ashamed of the acts of true barbarity he has committed as such during the Salt War. Gerold is often serious with kin when such matters require it or remembering past events such as the loss of his wife and the death of his father. The Bloodstar is quite known for his temper, although rare to rise it manifests itself as a force of sheer violence and is best achieved when one insults his kin and most easily achieved at a insult to his late wife the Lady Amarei Yronwood.

Relationships
Lady Amarei Yronwood (Deceased wife/lover), Ser Daemon Dayne (Son), Lady Casella Dayne (Daughter), King Aemon (Friend, Cousin), Ser Aegar Flowers (Friend), Prince Daemon Targaryen (Partial Student), Prince Daeron Targaryen (Student and Former squire), Lady Tyene Dayne (Sister), Prince Daemon Targaryen (Deceased, Mentor),

Skills
One of the greatest knights of the realm and considered by many to be its greatest Swordsman.

Abilities
Strength: 4

Dexterity: 4

Endurance: 5

Intelligence: 3

Charisma: 3

Appearance: 4

Statuses
Class: 4

Wealth: 4

Fame: 6

Prestige: 4

Allies: 5

Skills
Melee: 6

Command: 3

Intrigue: 1

Stewardship: 2

Learning: 3

Stealth: 0

Archery: 2

Diplomacy: 3

Intimidation: 4

Seduction: 3

Ride: 5