Historical Spotlight: Ser Robert Warren

Bill watched closely as Ser Robert’s horse kicked and snarled, torrents of icy winter breath firing from its nostrils like the flames of the dragon that crested its rider’s helm. No wonder the brute had gained such a fearsome reputation; he was a tower of black steel and fury astride a beast that towered over any other knight’s steed. The Warren knight gave a glance down at the squire beside him, some poor girl of fifteen wrapped up in the purple, navy and yellow of her knight’s heraldry, and held out his arm for her to strap on his shield - oak and iron painted with the face of a snarling dragon.

Ser Robert Warren was born in 1283 PB, a birth that claimed the life of his mother, Lady Genna Cloudcall. Ser Robert was baptised in violence from the very moment he was born, when his father, Lord Billian, murdered the monk overseeing the birth in a fit of rage and grief at losing his beloved wife. Such a pattern would continue, seemingly following the great brute Ser Robert throughout his entire life until his death at the hands of Ser Roderick Darlynton at the ever-fateful Tourney at Oldreach.

The winter of 1283 PB was particularly terrible, the cold winds battered the stone walls of House Warren's ancestral seat of Stormberg with the force of a battering ram and, if not for the giantsblood that ran through the babe's veins, it would have been likely for the new heir to perish like many other children that year. Luckily for House Warren and unluckily for the realm, the giantspawn would power through the hundred days of storm and sleet and continue to grow healthy and strong throughout his childhood. At the age of eight, Ser Robert was squired to the famed Lord Almeric Asterland - one of three children to take service under the Old Swan and the only one to survive to knighthood.

Though much is hearsay, it is believed that the young squire Barty Whitecliff was murdered by an eleven-year-old Robert Warren at the Tourney at Easthold to celebrate the wedding of Lord Declan and Lady Aethelwyn. The young squire was found face down in the tent the squires of Lord Almeric shared, with the young Robert asleep in the bedroll beside him, unperturbed by the corpse he lay beside. The monks of Easthold identified the cause of death as strangulation by the marks around the boy's neck. The third squire, a young girl by the name of Claricia Whitesands, was seemingly away from the tent when the incident happened and therefore could not give further testimony. Despite the suspicious nature of the Whitecliff boy's death, Lord Almeric assured the nobility at the time that the boy had drunk too much the night prior, and the death was passed off as accidental. Though there is no evidence towards Ser Robert being responsible for the death of Barty Whitecliff, the two had regularly competed for the position of Lord Almeric's favourite and, soon after, it would be Robert Warren who would fill that role going forward.

For his teenage years, Robert Warren would follow Lord Almeric Asterland closely, developing both his skills as a future knight and his cold, brutal nature that he would one day become infamous for. At tourney grounds and feasts, the brute of Stormberg gained a reputation as an unbeatable foe, being permitted the rare privilege of a squire to compete in many melees in their own right. The Tourney at Sprintfall saw a sixteen-year-old Robert best Ser Cateline Holden, a famed fighter with the longsword, in the single duels before being disqualified for striking Ser Otto Salter's squire when the young boy came to help him to his feet after yielding. Despite the disqualification, the future hammer of the throne had made his impact, and at weddings, feasts and tourneys all across the year following, he would be invited to display his strength, brutality and to play the villain to local favourites.

"Its deeply fashionable" came the musical voice of Ser Don as he brushed the rust from the rim of his shield "Every joust needs a hero and a villain, and every wedding needs a joust". Ser Jorren looked confused at the knight, "And you mean to enter as a hero?" "Goodness no, the locals are always the heroes - and besides, it is the villain that people remember. I remember eating below the Salt at Lord Pyne's wedding, they had the great brute Ser Robert Warren take to the lists - giant of a fellow, absolutely terrifying, unseated both of Lord Pynes children and took home the winner's purse" The knight rambled, flecks of rusted steel catching on the iron wool in his hands, "Not that I expect that like, I'll happily take a tumble to keep a good story going, and to line my coinpurse with a bookie's tip"

At seventeen, Robert would follow Lord Almeric to The Skyhold to oversee the beginnings of the preparations made for defending against the Rider's Rebellion. Lord Almeric would clash greatly with Lord Declan Starwick and Lord Reginald Darlynton here, with the teenage Warren spending much time loitering in the corridors and overhearing the plans for the coming war. He had already gained a reputation as a fearsome warrior in the lists of tourneys and wedding feasts, but here in the capital, did Robert Warren truly earn his spurs as the beastly brute he would come to be known as. At seventeen years of age, the giant stood at nearly seven feet with a frame that had no rival across the realm - all encased in a blackened garniture affixed with the crest of a couped, roaring drake.

The black armour of Robert Warren became synonymous with threat and fear, serving a brief stint in the city guard whilst Lord Almeric tended to politics that saw a steep increase in the mutilations of thieves and the summary executions of murderers. During two years in which Robert Warren served as head of the City Watch, crime fell drastically, but so did the amount of trade and daily goings-on in the Narrowalleys and Dockends of the city - with these darkened streets of orphans and beggars becoming the favoured hunting grounds for the great black dragon of House Warren. Bodies of executed criminals would be left to rot in the streets, heads and hands, which were severed in the service of justice, would be strung from ropes or displayed on pikes at alleygates or street corners. Whilst the high-ends of the Skyhold traded, gratefully unbothered by thieves, they were wholly unaware of the brutality occurring at the lowest points in the city. These actions were not without pushback, Lord Reginald Darlynton had publicly renounced the actions of the City Watch and, alongside Ser Jason Highrock and Lady Tanwen Longreed, petitioned King Gregor to put the lives of the commonfolk first, as he had during the Great Games in the wake of his first wife's death. These requests fell on deaf ears, with the King seemingly fully focused on the brewing northern war.

The sun desperately pushed its way through washing lines and overlapping rooftop as Ser Elaine wandered Narrowalley's twists and turns. Ten years ago these streets were bloody, where wet sheets hung there would a dozen hands dripping crimson across the cobbles, where painted signs heralded smithies and brothel there would have been the heads and parts of murderers and criminals of all ilk. Even today, despite the best efforts of coastal rain and the whitewash of disgruntled merchants, the graffiti on the wall read clearly "Beware the Dragon"

Robert's time as head of the City Watch would come to an end when greater hunting grounds offered greater prey. Open conflict in Rider's Ruin had broken out in the year 1303, with the initial battles of the rebellion tipping heavily in the favour of the Hilinorian Rebels. Efforts made by Houses Longreed and Graves to work together to fend off Ser Glyn Holton and his father from Oakenshire soil had led to more infighting than victory, seeing Ser Glyn batter the Oakenshire borders and only retreat to Crowtown when news of the Cornayan march there turned his attention from the offensive front. Lord Almeric, at the request of King Gregor Sunjoy, would take captains from the capital and march on the black hill of Crowtown - a captaincy consisting of Ser Jason Highrock, Ser Willem Holden, Ser Luke Fletcher, Ser Jeyne Greylance, and Ser Daubrey Greatwick. Robert Warren would accompany the other squires of the captains and act at Lord Almeric's side, though not even the great giant could have predicted the smashing defeat they would face at Crowtown. With Ser Jason Highrock slain by Ser Glyn Holton and Ser Daubrey Greatwick having her leg crushed beneath her charger, the Hilinorian rebels stole a great victory from the marching southern forces. Ser Glyn would be knighted by his rebel-king father on the site of the victory.

The retreating Cornayan force rejoined Lord Reginald Darlynton's host to pincer Houndcall and take the seat as a foothold, splitting the attention of Ser Glyn and his forces between the ancient Houndcall keep and their capital city. During the brief time spent at Houndcall, Robert Warren was placed in charge of hostages by Lord Asterland, seeing to the planned weekly executions of the noble family designed to wreak havoc on morale and force a Hilinorian surrender. Lord Reginald, accompanied by Lord Almeric, Ser Willem and Ser Jeyne, would leave Houndcall to Ser Luke, Ser Daubrey and Robert Warren as they marched on Coldcrest with Siege weapons from the Trident Road. Houndcall would, as intended, draw the forces of Ser Glyn Holton - joined by the forces of Lady Emma Crowe and Lord Henri Oldwell.

Upon reaching Houndcall, messengers would reach Ser Glyn and his father, who turned their attention to the siege at Coldcrest, leaving only Lord Henri Oldwell to besiege Houndcall alone. Houndcall did not possess the supplies to resist a siege, so Ser Luke and Robert Warren would lead a counteroffensive whilst Ser Daubrey held the keep due to her crushed leg. The battle would meet outside Houndcall's wooden walls, with Lord Henri Oldwell's forces being met on the right by Ser Luke Fletcher's flank and directly on by Robert Warren's. The battle was quick and bloody, Ser Luke would be knocked from his horse by the skilled warrior Bronwen Brownaxe but would survive the fight, killing famed Hilinorian warrior and Lord Henri's close friend Lord Artair Houndcall. Robert's assault was much more effective and brutal, seeing his first battlefield victory and the reported slaying of over a dozen men-at-arms in the fray. Ultimately, Lord Henri would be taken hostage after his defeat and - despite his insistence that he be executed rather than be taken prisoner - would be confined to Houndcall by Ser Luke and Ser Daubrey. News of the rebel defeat at Coldcrest had reached Houndcall shortly later, which saw Robert leave with his designated men-at-arms to give chase to the rebels to Bleakbell Forest.

The Battle of Houndcall is oft overlooked by the keepers of history, for the much greater and more impactful Siege of Coldcrest occurred nearly simultaneously. It is, however, of vital importance to remember that amongst the blood and mud there, beneath the orange and black banners, a modern monster was truly made. Before, the blackened armour of Robert Warren meant fear for the thief and cut-throat - here it became the very visage of death.

Robert and his men-at-arms would cross the Blackrock Scar shortly after, riding at furious speed to take part in the coming battle. At the river crossing, they would meet with the retreating forces of Bronwen Brownaxe and engage in a small waterside skirmish. Unlike Ser Luke and Ser Daubrey, Robert would offer no ransom to the fleeing warrior or her troops - having his soldiers massacre the fleeing Hilinorians and facing Brownaxe in single combat amidst the river. Ser Robert's hammer would swing true and, despite taking injury from Brownaxe's assault, deliver the final blow to end the skilled Hilinorian Axemaiden. One horn of Robert's dragon crest would be destroyed in the fray, something the brutish half-giant never had fixed in the following years.

At Bleakbell, Robert rejoined the forces of Lord Almeric Asterland and the other attacking Cornayans. Ser Willem Holden had been left to hold Coldcrest alongside Ser Jeyne Greylance whilst Lord Darlynton, Lord Salter and Lady Graves had joined the host here. Robert would suggest an immediate assault, but Lord Almeric had other plans - assigning Warren to cavalry charge and Lady Graves' men to begin redirecting the Bleakbell River. The Massacre that followed is infamous in history, but it is also where Lord Almeric would finally knight his brutish squire, awarding him not only his knighthood but the role of Hammer of the Throne. Ser Robert, on the orders of Lord Almeric, would chase the survivors of the Bleakbell massacre to a small walled market town where he, alongside his captain Ser Anwain of Freystorm, set pitch to arrows and burned the town and its inhabitants alive. This controversial move saw the end of the Rider's Revolt and secured Ser Robert Warren a legacy of infamy unrivalled in the histories of modern Cornay.

After the war was over, Ser Robert would take on four squires in the eight years that followed. The first squire, Lord Philip Dogwood, would die weeks into his squirehood in a training exercise outside Stormberg - his destrier, speared through the throat by Ser Robert's lance, crushing him to death. The second squire, Lady Carrie Longreed, would be Ser Robert's favourite and the only squire to complete their training. Ser Carrie had a matched brutality learned from Ser Robert, a furious fighter who had originally squired under her father, Lord Harlan, before being shipped off to Ser Robert at the half-giant's request. Ser Carrie would go on to join the ranks of the Thronesguard in the year 1310, one of the youngest inductees in recent history. The third squire, Lady Tabitha Traven, would be dismissed by Ser Robert shortly after his father, Lord Billius, was found dead in Stormberg's bedchambers. It is believed she had claimed to have seen Ser Robert and his father arguing the night before his death, though no claims from Lady Traven or her family have ever come forward. The fourth and final squire came in the form of one of Lord Harlan's illegitimate children, Leana, and she would see herself as squire to Ser Robert up until a week or so before his death at the Tourney at Oldreach. She would go missing on the journey to Oldreach from Stormberg and would never be seen again. Evidence points towards Ser Robert either abandoning her or murdering the poor girl after receiving news that Ser Carrie would be in attendance at the Tourney, perhaps infuriated by the young girl lacking the same fury that his former squire had.

"You're Warren's girl aren't you?" came the teasing voice of the eunuch "Vicious little thing I've heard" Carrie paid no attention to Jasper's comment, worse people than that scheming fool had tried to get a raise out of her and worse people had failed. She kept a close eye on the preceedings before her, the trial would be soon. "The way I hear things is the only reason you made it here is because you're just as bad as he is, I hear that you're a nocked arrow just waiting to fly, pity pity" He spoke, his long curtained hair damp in the winter rain as he wagged a mocking finger "Whatever will you do when he goes to the chop, ay? When the big bad dragon's not around to remind you to stand up straight and hold your tongue?"

Without a war to fight in the wake of the Rider's Revolt, Ser Robert returned to his regular practice of attending and entering tourneys - though, much to his dismay, he had a new and beloved rival to face. Lord Reginald Darlynton's eldest child, Ser Roderick Darlynton, had just finished his squirehood under Lord Declan Starwick and had rapidly gained a reputation as one of the greatest swordsmen in the realm. A boy of seventeen and already knighted, Ser Roderick's jealousy burned fiercer than any other before as thoughts of Lord Almeric dragging out his squirehood to further use the giant's strength to his own cause filled his mind. Ser Thomelin Asterland, Ser Hal Graves, Ser Lorelai Silver- all paled in comparison to the skill of Ser Roderick Darlynton and to the hate that Ser Robert felt for him.

That rivalry would have to wait, though, as the first joust that Ser Robert would compete in would not feature the Darlynton son. It would be the wedding of Lady Amira and Ser Thomelin Asterland, where Ser Robert was requested to play the villain once more in the joust. Ser Robert would unseat Ser Gerold Black Lance and Ser Radulfus Cloudcall, leading to the latter developing a severe back injury, before being bested by Ser Lorelai Silver for the victory. It was here that Ser Robert swore before House Asterland to protect the married couple and their future children, stating he owed Lord Almeric for making him the man he was today. Though Ser Roderick was not at the Asterland wedding, the two would finally meet at the Tourney at Weavewold held in the year 1312 PB. Ser Roderick would best Ser Robert in the single duels, but Ser Robert would defeat the crowd favourite in the joust to thunderous boos. Unimpressed with a half victory, Ser Robert intended to follow Ser Roderick to the Tourney at Heroes' Point - but the actions of the open rebellion in Freystorm Bay drew his attention.

Ser Thomelin Asterland was dead, Lord Almeric too - slain by the rebel leader Garrick Ward, leaving only Lady Amira and her infant son, Lord Thomelin, for Ser Robert to protect. He rode south to intercept their carriage, and the pair of them were taken home to Stormberg to prepare to ride to the capital city to request aid in reclaiming the Asterland seat. This request would fall on deaf ears in the form of the new Queen Guinnevere Sunjoy, and the pair would return to Stormberg and begin mustering their forces.

At the request of Lady Amira, Ser Robert would accompany Lady Lynette Silver, her close handmaiden, to the fateful Tourney at Oldreach in an attempt to sway the nobility there to turn on their queen and support the Asterland claim. Secretly, Ser Robert simply longed for another war in which he could reap victory and glory - so the efforts of a peaceful transition of power were immediately put on the back burner. However, it would be the cruel nature of Ser Robert that would get the better of him at the Tourney at Oldreach - when his brutal, cruel nature overcame him in a duel against Lady Bathilda Holton. Overcome with fury and a burning desire to finish the fight he had started in the Rider's Revolt, Ser Robert abandoned his weapon and beat Lady Bathilda within an inch of her life before the nobility at the tourney - only stopping when dragged off by the Thronesguard, including his former squire Ser Carrie Longreed. This attempted murder would see him put on trial before the end of the tourney, a trial by combat taken at sundown between the giant of House Warren and Ser Roderick Darlynton as Lady Bathilda's champion.

As soon as the hammer was loosened from the giant's hands, she knew something was wrong. Lady Olga watched the whites of Ser Robert's eyes darken in his visor, like a predatory animal preparing to strike. A heavy strike came down on her sister's back and forced her to the ground, blood splattering from her throat across the damp mud. Another pound from the black dragon, a slash from Bathilda's rondel forced the visor of the dark helm open and drew crimson from Ser Robert's face. A harrowing yell let out across the tourney field as the giant ripped the helm from his head and continued to beat down on Lady Holton, weapons long abandoned and her shield shattered in sharp shards of wood that pierced her flesh.

Ser Robert Warren would be slain by Ser Roderick Darlynton at sundown on the second day of the Tourney, his body burned and ashes taken by the Brothers and Sisters of the Faith to be destroyed. Notably, his hammer and armour were missing after the tourney - his hammer buried before the trial began but discovered missing after the tourney was done. Little is known of the location of the arms and armour of the Black Dragon of Stormberg, though the realm can only hope it is free of the evils of his bloodline now that Ser Robert is gone. Stormberg was briefly awarded to Ser Jorren of Pinewatch by Queen Guinnevere, along with the title of Hammer of the Throne, though both were rescinded by Queen Olga Darlynton once she came to power that weekend. Now, Stormberg is manned by its castellan and awaits a Lord or Lady to rule it - though the men-at-arms of House Warren split themselves in loyalty between Lady Amira Asterland and the newly named Lord Jorren Asterland.

Ser Robert's Legacy is one of fear and brutality, a villain through and through for the realm to quiver before. But Ser Robert's life brings to light the true heroes who stood against him in his life: the late Ser Glyn Holton, Ser Roderick Darlynton, and the new Queen Bathilda Holton. The Dragon of House Warren now lies in history, with no heir to follow the great brute of Stormberg and no distant family to take up its banner. Perhaps it is for the best, perhaps some names truly deserve to disappear in history.