Post by Father on May 22, 2017 17:26:23 GMT 1
Location: North of Brightwater Keep, on the southern banks of the Mander Estuary.
Founded by the ambitions of Lord Florent and Ser Robert Levalle, a shrewd knight that took advantage of his tourney prowess and personal friendship with Lord Unwin Peake to be granted lordship at the southern banks of the Mander Estuary, while the Levalles had been landed knights for generations, the line founded in response to Ironborn raids hundreds of years ago, Ser Robert attained a lordship and more than quintupled his domains at the expense of houses that had fallen out of favor for their lack of commitment during the dance, some acquired through fortuitous marriage and heritage, to the point that many see the Levalle name as tainted by what surely must have been murder of at least one of Lord Robert's goodbrothers, nothing could be proven under the ineffectual regency of the underage Lord Lyonel Tyrell. It's holdings would expand again as young Lord Alliser appeared to be quite adept at thriving in King Aegon IV's court, those wishing to see House Levalle brought down to the level they ought to be have sometimes named him as the "spongeholder" alluding to a supposed role at the court of a king whom in hushed whispers were said to have replaced the words "fire and blood" with "Wash Her and Bring Her to My Bed".
Today, House Levalle of The Tear commands considerable incomes from trade upon the Mander, and lands that would afford them the deference from their peers due a house a step below the principal bannermen of Highgarden. But none of the venerable and respected Reacher Lords can be considered to be on friendly terms, aside from their liege lords at Brightwater Keep that enjoys the wealth and control that this isolation offers the Florents, the Hightowers trade willingly but otherwise ignores them. Lord Gormon Peake is considered an ally, but a distant one. Lord Leo Tyrell is said to wish "this stain removed from the map over my lands", too honorable to accept underhanded tactics, whether by his hand or any other, he is no threat unless House Levalle were to be found breaking the king's peace. Many knights see defeating them as a path to glory, if only in tourneys. Though Lord Alliser is not without friends, second sons of ambition and other schemers, The Tear is a lure for such lords and knights that are more attracted by riches and power than honor and glory.
House Levalle in the game:
These are the Freys of the Reach, rich, powerful, reviled. With a tradition for opportunism that does not put their reputation to shame. Under Lord Alliser's guidance, House Levalle does not take undue risk, but they are certainly not above giving covert support to schemes that they can deny knowledge of should they fail in return for a share of the profits. This is the house for any lowlife wanting a patron, the rare white sheep in a family full of black ones, or merely a gray character doing as well as he can in such an environment. Note that House Levalle in and of itself is not so much a family of wicked villains as one that has given up trying to throw off that image, Lord Alliser is adamant about not giving anyone cause to cast them down, not unlike Roose Bolton prior to the books. But also like Roose, the Levalles can and will act up to their checkered past when profitable. House Levalle has it's fair share of opportunistic bastards, so they would likely favor Fire and chaos, but not out of any sense of loyalty to any ideal, such few allies outside the Florents as they have also push them in that direction. But lords Florent and Levalle may very well conclude that the forces loyal to King Daeron outnumber those who might rise in rebellion, and determine that one might rise at the expense of Highgarden by rallying to Blood.
Founded by the ambitions of Lord Florent and Ser Robert Levalle, a shrewd knight that took advantage of his tourney prowess and personal friendship with Lord Unwin Peake to be granted lordship at the southern banks of the Mander Estuary, while the Levalles had been landed knights for generations, the line founded in response to Ironborn raids hundreds of years ago, Ser Robert attained a lordship and more than quintupled his domains at the expense of houses that had fallen out of favor for their lack of commitment during the dance, some acquired through fortuitous marriage and heritage, to the point that many see the Levalle name as tainted by what surely must have been murder of at least one of Lord Robert's goodbrothers, nothing could be proven under the ineffectual regency of the underage Lord Lyonel Tyrell. It's holdings would expand again as young Lord Alliser appeared to be quite adept at thriving in King Aegon IV's court, those wishing to see House Levalle brought down to the level they ought to be have sometimes named him as the "spongeholder" alluding to a supposed role at the court of a king whom in hushed whispers were said to have replaced the words "fire and blood" with "Wash Her and Bring Her to My Bed".
Today, House Levalle of The Tear commands considerable incomes from trade upon the Mander, and lands that would afford them the deference from their peers due a house a step below the principal bannermen of Highgarden. But none of the venerable and respected Reacher Lords can be considered to be on friendly terms, aside from their liege lords at Brightwater Keep that enjoys the wealth and control that this isolation offers the Florents, the Hightowers trade willingly but otherwise ignores them. Lord Gormon Peake is considered an ally, but a distant one. Lord Leo Tyrell is said to wish "this stain removed from the map over my lands", too honorable to accept underhanded tactics, whether by his hand or any other, he is no threat unless House Levalle were to be found breaking the king's peace. Many knights see defeating them as a path to glory, if only in tourneys. Though Lord Alliser is not without friends, second sons of ambition and other schemers, The Tear is a lure for such lords and knights that are more attracted by riches and power than honor and glory.
House Levalle in the game:
These are the Freys of the Reach, rich, powerful, reviled. With a tradition for opportunism that does not put their reputation to shame. Under Lord Alliser's guidance, House Levalle does not take undue risk, but they are certainly not above giving covert support to schemes that they can deny knowledge of should they fail in return for a share of the profits. This is the house for any lowlife wanting a patron, the rare white sheep in a family full of black ones, or merely a gray character doing as well as he can in such an environment. Note that House Levalle in and of itself is not so much a family of wicked villains as one that has given up trying to throw off that image, Lord Alliser is adamant about not giving anyone cause to cast them down, not unlike Roose Bolton prior to the books. But also like Roose, the Levalles can and will act up to their checkered past when profitable. House Levalle has it's fair share of opportunistic bastards, so they would likely favor Fire and chaos, but not out of any sense of loyalty to any ideal, such few allies outside the Florents as they have also push them in that direction. But lords Florent and Levalle may very well conclude that the forces loyal to King Daeron outnumber those who might rise in rebellion, and determine that one might rise at the expense of Highgarden by rallying to Blood.
