Heraldry: Per chevron sable and vert, a lightning bolt argent Motto: “Let the Heavens Reign”
Amid the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, House Marsten guards the western border of the Vale of Arryn. A proud house, still with the blood of the Andals within its veins, though recent years have seen it falter under cruel circumstance. Alliances and intrigue are all that remains of Marsten’s once-vaunted strength. Can
such weapons still prevail, however, against the threats of time and steel?
HiSTOry
The blood of the Andals runs deep in the Vale of Arryn. The Seven live here as nowhere else in Westeros, kept ever in the minds and hearts of the Vale’s inhabitants. The Andals, the wild race that wrested the lands from the First Men, have their roots here in the Vale and in House Marsten. Of the Houses still in existence, only House Arryn has a more venerable An- dal lineage, tracing back to the Kings of Mountain and Vale.
As befits a family with such a long history, the events that brought House Marsten to its historical stature are well known throughout the Vale. The House was founded by Petyr
Marsten, a bannerman to Erreg the Kinslayer, during one of the defining battles of the Andal invasion. Near the current site of the Bloody Gates, Erreg and his men met the forces of the First Men, but they had underestimated the strength that desperation would give to those who fought to save their lands. Erreg was cut off from his larger party and surrounded, and it seemed that he might meet his end. Petyr saw through the chaos of the battlefield, however, and fought his way to the side of his lord, turning the tide of the battle and saving Erreg’s life. In return for his great service, Erreg gave Marsten his choice of lands in what would be known as the Vale of Ar- ryn, stating that he “should always have such a one to guard his back.” Erreg’s statement has become the watchword for this family, and through the centuries they have remained one of the most trusted bannerhouses for House Arryn.
As with every significant family lineage, there are both bright and dark spots. One of the infamous legends of House Marsten is that of Carnwyn the Mad, the wife of Petyr’s great-grandson, Lord Willem Marsten. Carnwyn was a niece of King Stefen and a member of the Arryn fam- ily. She gave Lord Willem seven strong sons and ruled by her lord’s side with legendary grace and beauty. It was said theirs was a true love match, the like which never comes to pass. Tragedy befell the house, however, when he went rid- ing with his men along the border of his lands, investigating an incursion by the Clans (who lived and raided even then). His horse trod upon a snake lying in the road and reared up, throwing Lord Willem to the ground and dashing his head against the rocks.
When Lord Willem’s body was brought back to the keep, it’s said that the Mother turned her face away and the Strang- er entered the hall. Carnwyn saw the body of her husband and ran weeping to him, screaming inconsolably. She could not be parted from his body and stayed with him until night fell, speaking to no one, until the entire household had fallen asleep. She rose, washed her face and hands, took a dagger, and slew first her sons and then herself, falling on the blade when she had finished. The only one to escape was Diermad, the youngest, who had hidden in the stables upon hearing of his father’s death and was thus spared.
It was through Diermad that House Marsten survived, car- rying forward. He married an Arryn lady named Jeyne, and the two rebuilt the House from its great tragedy. Despite his sorrowful young life, he was known as Diermad the Joyful, as he and Lady Jeyne had ten children live to adulthood and most of them wed and had children as well. He had a long life during peaceful times, and did a great deal to restore stability to House Marsten.
Throughout the time of the Andals, House Marsten re- mained strong, adding figures of legend to its halls. Kier- an the Just famously made peace with the local barbarian clans, while Stefan the Pious saw visions of the Seven and renounced his inheritance to join the Faith. It was in his honor that a sept was built in Hartsbridge, and he served as septon there for decades.
Eventually, however, Andal rule came to an end. Had House Marsten been pledged to another family, it might have meant their end. Following Aegon’s Landing, House Marsten stood with its king until the Arryns were forced to bend the knee. Even then they bowed only when their lord bade them do so. After accepting Targaryen rule, however, they stood always in House Arryn’s shadow, serving loyally for many centuries. During the Dance of the Dragons, the house distinguished itself again by working with Aegon II to wipe out the Targaryen branch in the Vale that supported Rhaenyra, a move which gained House Marsten the current seat of Hartshorn, once a Targaryen castle, along with that family’s former lands.
Most recently, House Marsten rode with Lord Jon Ar- ryn against Prince Rhaegar and King Aerys during Robert’s Rebellion, fighting alongside the Arryn banner to overthrow Targaryen rule once and for all. Unfortunately, the most re- cent lord of House Marsten, Lord Corben, lost his two old- est sons and heirs in battle. This seemed the beginning of a decline for the house, as ill-fortune has dogged its heels ever since, culminating in Lord Corben’s sudden death three years later from a plague that also claimed his remaining son, young Willem, who was only five years old. He left behind his widow, Lady Isobel, and his young daughter Corrine. Lord
Corben’s brother, Mikael, vanished after Robert’s Rebellion, leaving his only daughter, Gwyneth, in the care of his brother. He is presumed dead, but there are rumors that he support- ed the Targaryens and left Westeros rather than live under Baratheon rule.
Since Lord Corben’s death, Lady Isobel Marsten has ruled the house with a firm but light hand. Although many suit- ors have approached her since her husband’s death, she has refused them all. As Lady Corrine is now becoming of age, however, interest in House Marsten has revived, and the west- ern foothills are under continual siege by lords and knights young and old who see the Marsten lands, name, and bride as a potential windfall waiting for the right man to take hold of it. Lady Isobel has no intention of letting her husband’s name be wiped out, however. Her ability to retain control of this valuable burden, however, has yet to be seen.
HOLDiNgS
House Marsten’s stats and narrative elements are featured in this section. While this is a comprehensive overview, players and narrators may feel free to add their own details or embel- lish as needed to work House Marsten more easily into their chronicle.
D
EFENSE: 42, i
NVESTED: 40 (H
arTSHOrN)
House Marsten is fortunate in its lands, as the steep hills and rocky terrain that cover the bulk of the House’s holdings make them easily defensible. A medium-sized, navigable river has its headwaters in Marsten lands, making for easy transpor- tation to the east through the lands of House Corbray. The
H
OuSEM
arSTENOFH
arTSHOrNlieGe lord: lord Jon arrynoftHe eyrie
Defense 42 Hartshorn (Castle, 40), Expendable 2
Influence 46 Lady Corinne Marsten (First-born Daughter, 10), Expendable 36
Lands 40 Mountains with Stream (10), Hills with a River and Small Town (30)
Law 24 House Fortunes -2
Population 32 House Fortunes +3
Power 41
Trained Garrison; 5 Power - Easy (3) Discipline at home or
Challenging (9) away - Awareness 3, Endurance 3, Fighting 3
Green Cavalry; 6 Power - Routine (6) Discipline - Animal Handling 3 House Kriegar (20), House Lyras (10)
Wealth 33 Sept (15, House Fortunes +3), Marketplace (10), Expendable 8
town of Hartsbridge is home to the only bridge crossing the river and serves as the gateway to Marsten lands. The house seat, Hartshorn, is an old but well-built castle.
i
NFLuENCE: 46, i
NVESTED: 10 (L
aDyC
OriNNEM
arSTEN)
Of Lady Isobel and Lord Corben’s children, only the young- est daughter, Corinne, has survived. She is now thirteen and of an age for betrothal. Her mother, Lady Isobel, has ruled the house since her husband’s death.
L
aNDS: 30, i
NVESTED: 30
(
HiLLS7,
riVEr3,
SMaLLTOwN20;
MOuNTaiNS9,
STrEaM1)
The lands of House Marsten are the envy of many. Surround- ed by rocky, steep foothills and stark mountains beyond, a fertile river valley runs through the heart of it. The pride of the area’s inhabitants is an ancient stone bridge that spans the river, which is rumored to have been built during the time of the First Men. A small town, Hartsbridge, has grown up around the bridge, since it provides one of the few easy river crossings as well as a rare place for goods and services to be traded among the more remote hamlets and inhabitants.
In addition to the town and the bridge, the lands have an additional point of pride: the Maiden’s Veil. This waterfall in
the western mountains is nothing compared to Alyssa’s Tears, but it is considered blessed by the Maid and has a reputation as a holy site. It is said that girls who bathe in the waters be- low are blessed by the Maid and will have good fortune in the next year. Virgins throughout the Mountains of the Moon make their way here yearly to ask the Maiden’s blessing and show their piety.
The castle and the town have no shortage of fresh water or food. Their larders are well stocked with produce, game and fish, leading those from other parts of Westeros to comment on the unexpected civility of a visit to Hartsbridge. Although it is only a small town, trade and the natural abundance of the area mean that it is surprisingly affluent. If it were not for the strong presence of the Marsten family, the Clans (or other houses) would have snapped up Hartsbridge and the surrounding lands long since.
L
aw: 24
For the smallfolk who live and work within Marsten lands, life is calm and peaceful. The attacks by the Clans that hap- pen throughout the Vale happen only rarely here. The market brings its share of trouble, of course, but nothing too serious. Folks expect that—money and strangers together are a recipe
for trouble. The House garrison keeps a patrol in the town to keep the peace, while more serious charges are brought to Lady Isobel for her to mete out justice.
P
OPuLaTiON: 32
While there are smallfolk who live among the hills, tending flocks, the majority of the population resides in and around Hartsbridge. The river valley is home to most of the fertile ground within Marsten lands, and so most of the farmers and smallholds stay within a mile on either side of the river. Rock walls form a patchwork grid between the farms, giving the appearance from the mountains above as emerald tiles lining the sparkling water. The smaller hills are home to vineyards, while the land in the river valley proper is given over to fruit orchards and vegetable farming. Two of the more common products that hail from here are a fine hard cider and wine of moderate quality.
Rather than costly wood and iron, most of the buildings in and around Hartsbridge are built of stone. The town is home to a marketplace in the town commons, a small sept and an attached school, a blacksmith, a cooperage, a mill, and a half- dozen small merchants and traders, in addition to two proper inns and a tavern.
P
OwEr: 41, i
NVESTED: 41
TraiNEDgarriSON5,
grEENCaVaLry6,
H
OuSEK
riEgar20, H
OuSEL
yraS10
House Marsten has, throughout the years, acquired banner houses of its own. Two more recent houses, House Kriegar and House Lyras, cemented alliances with House Marsten during the past hundred years by marrying into the house- hold. While these younger families are thus technically allied with the Arryns, in truth it’s the Marstens’ call they heed. Should House Marsten ever break faith with House Arryn, it is likely that they’d need more than help than these two houses could supply. Between the support of men and arms, however, along with the ability to fortify and defend their val- ley, the cost of removing House Marsten would be very high.
To defend the valley, House Marsten maintains a castle garrison that defends the town as well. This garrison is run by Ser Markus Elridge. Ser Markus has lived in the Vale for most of his life. He is also the driving force behind the formation of a new unit of cavalry, rebuilding and replacing the unit led by Lord Corben during Robert’s Rebellion. The unit is expensive and took time and resources to form, but it’s finally in place. The biggest obstacle facing them now is simply their youth and inexperience—something only time can correct.
w
EaLTH: 33, i
NVESTED: 25 (
MarKETPLaCE10,
SEPT15)
The Seven have shown favor to House Marsten over the years in both their fortunate location and their fertile lands. The family paid back this debt of fortune by building a market- place in which both locals and traveling merchants could sell their wares, and a sept, to bring worship of the Seven to the people under their care. The marketplace is run by Luke Sel- don, the mayor of Hartsbridge. Septon Aeryn oversees the sept and the faithful in his charge as well.
HarTSHOrN
The castle known as Hartshorn initially belonged to a less- er branch of the Targaryen family, who took it from House Taryk, a sworn ally of House Arryn who broke faith with the Kings of Mountain and Vale to fight against the Targaryen invaders. House Taryk was wiped from the face of Weste- ros by the Targaryens, and their lands were given to one of Aegon’s commanders, his cousin Rhenyr, in thanks for his support. It was the Targaryens who built Hartshorn, Rhenyr Targaryen’s standard being the silver stag’s head in profile on a green field.
During the Dance of Dragons, Rhenyr’s descendant, Ae- den, supported Rhaenya Targaryen. When House Arryn chose to fight on Aegon II’s side, the Warden of the East then called his banners against Aeden Targaryen and Lord Edric Marsten answered, putting Aeden and all his family to the sword. In thanks for his service, House Marsten was granted the former Targaryen lands and castle, which they have held ever since. It’s said, though, that the ghosts of Aeden and his lady still walk in the halls at night. Perhaps that has contrib- uted to the exceptional piety of the Marsten family through- out the generations.
Hartshorn Castle is the most defensible structure within House Marsten’s lands. In the event of attack or natural di- saster, all the smallfolk women and children are expected to