Oldtown, seat of House Hightower

[M. Laveur]

House Hightower

Current Lord:

Lord Raymund Hightower,
Voice of Oldtown, Lord of the Port, Lord of the High Tower, Defender of the Citadel, Beacon of the South
(3 name days old)

---

Lady Lysa Hightower (neé Redwyne), his mother, acting Lady Regent, Steward of Hightower and Lady of the Port until Lord Raymund's 16th name day

History

House Hightower is one of the oldest and wealthiest in Westeros, existing since the Dawn of Days when they were petty-kings. During the coming of the Andals and the creation of the Kingdom of the Reach, the Hightowers allied with the newcomers. Thus they were able the keep their wealth, lands and privileges, still enjoying a degree of independence uncommon among most bannermen in the Seven Kingdoms, and many have a haughty pride to go with it. House Hightower rarely takes part in wars within the realm. They were integral in the foundation of the Citadel and continue to be patrons of both the Citadel and the Faith. They fight when it is beneficial to them to do so, and make peace when it is beneficial to do so. They are notoriously loyal to the family, and are always seeking the advantage in a situation. They intermarried with house Gardener, the kings of the Reach and thus have a claim on Highgarden and the Reach itself. The mother of Aegon II Targaryen was of house Hightower. Through Aegon's daughter, the Hightowers are related to the children of Aegon the third. The young dragon, the maidens in the vault and Bealor I. Thus making them also related to Daemon Blackfyre.

Hightower

Hightower is the seat of House Hightower. It stands in the center of Oldtown, the city having grown around it. It is a castle as well as a lighthouse. The structure is a massive stepped tower with a beacon on top to guide ships into the port of Oldtown. It is one of the tallest structures in the Westeros. Hightower is build on top of battle island.

Oldtown

Oldtown is one of the largest cities in Westeros and is by far the oldest, built by the First Men before the Andal Invasion. It survived the invasion by welcoming the Andals, not resisting them. The city is located in the south-west of Westeros, at the mouth of the river Honeywine where it opens onto Whispering Sound and the Sunset Sea beyond. It is the western terminus of the Roseroad from Highgarden and King's Landing. Oldtown is primarily known as the location of the Citadel, home of the order of Maesters who serve as councillors, doctors, scientists, and postmasters for the Seven Kingdoms. The city's Starry Sept was the seat of the Faith of the Seven until the construction of the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing. Aegon I's reign is dated from his entrance into the city of Oldtown and his acknowledgment as King by the High Septon. Other septs include the Sailor's Sept, the Lord's Sept and the Seven Shrines. The temples for foreign sailors are all located down by the wharves. Oldtown is also one of the most important ports of the Seven Kingdoms. Trading ships from all over Westeros, as well as the Summer Islands, the Free Cities and other places across the Narrow Sea, constantly crowd into its harbors. The city itself is stunningly beautiful; many rivers and canals crisscross its cobbled streets, and breathtaking stone mansions are common. The city lacks the squalor of King's Landing, which usurped its position as the pre-eminent city of Westeros. However, the city is a labyrinth of wynds, alleys and streets. West of the Honeywine lie guildhalls, which sit along the shoreline. Land income: 60,000 Golden Dragons Levy Manpower: 7.500 Levy Ships: 50

Household

Maester: Harren (of house Durwell) Septon: Dickon (of house Hunt) Septa: Myrella (of house Graceford) Master-at-arms: ser Garth Mullendore Castellan: ser Walys Bulwer Envoy: ser Symon Beesbury Their ward: Daenerys Targaryen

Vassals

Beesbury of Honeyholt. (levy = 5.000) House Bulwer of Blackcrown. (levy = 5.000) House Costayne of the Three Towers. (levy = 5.000) House Cuy of Sunflower Hall. (levy = 5.000) House Mullendore of Uplands. (levy = 5.000) House Blackbar of Bandallon. (levy = 5.000)

[Gandalfus]

Not long after the meeting, Lord Tygett enters Oldtown on his way back from Dorne. After spending the day in the city, he requests an audience with Lord and Lady Hightower.

[M. Laveur]

Tygett was directed inside the great lighthouse. Several floors up, he found the Throne Room, a circular area with a thcik chair of white marble, with a balcony overlookign the ocean.

On the chair, the young Lord sat in the best way his age allowed, playing with a small wooden horse, with his mother standing to his right.

"Ah, my gallant Lion Knight! It is so good to see you again!" she spoke, and approached the boy,

"Welcome our guest, my Lord, he has travelled from far to visit you," she said to her son's ear.

The boy, still distracted with his toy, only muttered "Welcome," and forgot about the guest.

"Please take a seat, Ser Tigett. May I offer you wine? Food?"

[Gandalfus]

He bows, smiles, and takes his seat.

Wine and food would be most gracious my lady, I have just returned from Dorne.

[M. Laveur]

"So I heard," she replied, and clapped a twice, a movement that made her servants leave, and come back soon after bringing some duck and Arbor gold for the guest.

"I imagine you must be exhausted. If I may ask, what business took you to that scolding, horrid desert?"

[Gandalfus]

He shrugs.

Trade, nothing more.

[M. Laveur]

"I see, it must have been a hard journey. Lord Raymund and I would be honored if you spent the night in our tower, isn't that right my Lord?" she said, turning towards her son.

The boy only nodded, as he made his horse galop on the armrest of his throne. She turned back at him, keeping her big blue eyes on him.

"If I may ask, Ser, I was expecting some news from Lord Stannis's resolution about what we discussed at Casterly Rock."

[Gandalfus]

He smiles, sipping the wine.

I believe he sent a note of recommendation to his Grace.

[M. Laveur]

"I'm glad to hear that. Ser Loras is currently with the Arbor's fleet, fighting pirates in the Narrow Sea. Mayhaps with a victory and your father's recommendation his seat in the Council shall be sealed," she replied, as she served more wine for the knight.

"And what are your plans for the future Ser? In time you shall be Lord of Casterly Rock, what would make you different from the current Lord?" she continued, asking with a smirk, her eyes looking full of color as the rays of sunlight shine behind her, from one of the large windows that surrounded the room.

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Ser Loras arrived with his flagship to his wharf at the busy port. From there, he took the streets of Oldtown, walking the busy streets on his way to the residence of Loren Tyrell and his wife.

[Lord Dread]

He found the small house pretty soon. Though it wasn't the richest home in the harbour it quite fitted to Loren's attitude as a sailor. A flower was inscribed into the house door - but for odd reasons the door open and it's lock heavily damaged. When opening the door it was dark inside the rooms - and the slight smell of blood was the first thing the knight recognized.
Between a broken table two dead bodies were lying at the ground, both of them wearing expensive clothes - and a silver-haired boy sat crying next to them. When hearing the noises at the door he took the knife lying next to his dead father, frightened about the visitor.
"Who are you?", he asked Ser Loras, his hand trembling, "A-are you another murderer who wanted to co-complete the work of your comrades? Are you a man of one of my uncles?"

[Gandalfus]

"I'm glad to hear that. Ser Loras is currently with the Arbor's fleet, fighting pirates in the Narrow Sea. Mayhaps with a victory and your father's recommendation his seat in the Council shall be sealed," she replied, as she served more wine for the knight.

"And what are your plans for the future Ser? In time you shall be Lord of Casterly Rock, what would make you different from the current Lord?" she continued, asking with a smirk, her eyes looking full of color as the rays of sunlight shine behind her, from one of the large windows that surrounded the room.

----------------------------------------

Ser Loras arrived with his flagship to his wharf at the busy port. From there, he took the streets of Oldtown, walking the busy streets on his way to the residence of Loren Tyrell and his wife.

He chuckled.

A personality, for one. My father is an honest man, but he is not the best conversationalist. He is wise, in his own way, but I have a feeling I would succumb to boredom in his presence... My habits are a little more "lewd" shall we say.

[M. Laveur]

ooc: really sorry about the delay, had some personal issues to take care of.

He found the small house pretty soon. Though it wasn't the richest home in the harbour it quite fitted to Loren's attitude as a sailor. A flower was inscribed into the house door - but for odd reasons the door open and it's lock heavily damaged. When opening the door it was dark inside the rooms - and the slight smell of blood was the first thing the knight recognized.
Between a broken table two dead bodies were lying at the ground, both of them wearing expensive clothes - and a silver-haired boy sat crying next to them. When hearing the noises at the door he took the knife lying next to his dead father, frightened about the visitor.
"Who are you?", he asked Ser Loras, his hand trembling, "A-are you another murderer who wanted to co-complete the work of your comrades? Are you a man of one of my uncles?"

Ser Loras stared at the boy, perplexed. He drew his blade, and looked around, trying to find any other person remaining.

"I... who... what happened here boy?!"

He chuckled.

A personality, for one. My father is an honest man, but he is not the best conversationalist. He is wise, in his own way, but I have a feeling I would succumb to boredom in his presence... My habits are a little more "lewd" shall we say.

"A dull lord, I see," she said with a smirk, and took a sip of wine.

"I often fear I shall become that in a few years. This city is regarded as one of the greatest in Westeros, but this tower, so tall and magnificent, it really is a cold, empty place. Lonely, mostly."

She leaned closer to the Lannister boy, putting her elbows on the table, letting a small curl of red hair fall on her face.

[Lord Dread]

ooc: really sorry about the delay, had some personal issues to take care of.



Ser Loras stared at the boy, perplexed. He drew his blade, and looked around, trying to find any other person remaining.

"I... who... what happened here boy?!"

OOC: No problem.

"I- I don't know...",the boy began startled , "Cloaked men came into our house and... and killed... my father. T-They said they did it wi-with 'the best regards of the family'."
Alester looked at the Tyrell soldier in fear.
"Someone wants to see me dead, too", he said, "They didn't found me, because I' have hidden myself in the wardrobe upstairs. But if they know I'm alive, I bet they will-"
He didn't end his sentence.

[Gandalfus]

He grinned, and looked into her eyes,

The rock is just the same. Cold... Empty, too big for my taste. One can feel so empty in the rock... Like a ghost, almost.

He leant back, smiling.

I often wish I had someone with me to make it feel less... Cold, even.

[M. Laveur]

He grinned, and looked into her eyes,

The rock is just the same. Cold... Empty, too big for my taste. One can feel so empty in the rock... Like a ghost, almost.

He leant back, smiling.

I often wish I had someone with me to make it feel less... Cold, even.

The Lady blushed, nearly reaching for Ser Tygett's hand.

"Mother...sleep," said the young Lord from behind the two, his eyes nearly closed.

Lysa turned to her son, then looked back at the Lannister, making her hair wave, covering him with an aura of her perfume.

"I... I should go Ser. This was nice, " she said, blushing, and politely excused herself, leaving the Lannister alone in the room. Not much later, a page arrived to lead Ser Tygett to his bedchambers, which consister of a large room overlooking the city, with the full moon iluminating it. There, under a pillow over the bed, he found a note,

Meet me at the Lady of the Tower at midnight.

L

[Gandalfus]

He raised an eyebrow as he read the letter, getting into his small clothes for sleep. He fell into the soft mattress, and slept fitfully...

Until midnight, that is.

[M. Laveur]

ooc: Sorry again! If I don't reply in a day don't hesitate to send me a message (and a second one if that doesn't do it:p)

Ser Loras approached the boy, and immediatly called his guards,

"Send word to Highgarden, and call the guard of the city! the Tyrells of Oldtown are dead!"

Immediately, he took off his cape and gave it to the youth, he grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eyes,

"You're coming with me, to the Arbor. You should be safe in my nephew's castle. Follow quick, and don't look back."

[Lord Dread]

ooc: Sorry again! If I don't reply in a day don't hesitate to send me a message (and a second one if that doesn't do it:p)

Ser Loras approached the boy, and immediatly called his guards,

"Send word to Highgarden, and call the guard of the city! the Tyrells of Oldtown are dead!"

Immediately, he took off his cape and gave it to the youth, he grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eyes,

"You're coming with me, to the Arbor. You should be safe in my nephew's castle. Follow quick, and don't look back."

The boy nodded and did as the knight did.
"What about my hair?", he asked Ser Loras in fear, "There aren't many persons in Oldtown or the Reach, having silver hair... I better hide them, before persons get suspicious, shouldn't I?"

OOC: OK, I'll do it.

[Gandalfus]

Tygett gingerly got out of bed, trying to exit as quick and quickly as possible to get to this "Lady of the Tower" he struggled through the night, tirelessly attempting to find this location. Eventually, he arrived, approaching the agreed meeting spot casually.

[M. Laveur]

The knight nodded,

"Aye. We have some dies in the cargo, trading business. It should suffice, for now. Tyrell is also a name you should avoid to mention. Alester Hill is better," he said to the boy.

It's far enough to stop people from asking too much, close enough to be not call much attention.