House Ryswell
| Status: | House |
| Seat: | The Rillseat |
| Current Lord: | Rodrik Ryswell |
| Current Lady: | None |
| Realm: | The North |
| Heir: | Topher Ryswell |
| Liege: | Eddard Stark |
| Cadet Branch: | various Ryswells of the Rills |
| Vassals: | House Fayral |
| Founder: | ??? |
| Founded: | Rhoynar Invasion |
House Traits
| |
| Defense: | 40 |
| Influence: | 58 |
| Lands: | 82 |
| Law: | 24 |
| Population: | 25 |
| Power: | 41 |
| Wealth: | 45 |
House Ryswell is one of the major houses in the North, with vast lands in the Rills under their aegis. They are well-known horse breeders, breeding herds of powerful war-horses sought after all over the North. They maintain a breed of destriers a distinctive auburn color, the famous "Ryswell Reds" that the family usually reserves for their own use.
Domains
House Fortune Rolls: -2 (Law), +1 (Population), +2d6-6 (Godswood), +1 (Horse Husbandry). All Wealth Resource increases due to House Fortunes rolls are increased by +3d3
The Rillseat
In the center of Ryswell domain sits the Rillseat, an old castle surrounded by a small village. The castle sits astride one of the deeper rills of the Ryswell domains, with old bronze gates through which the water must flow, running into its lower levels and then back out again. (Plains; Hamlet, Stream, Grassland; 17 pts)
- Rillseat Castle: Small Castle The Rillseat is best known for the Hoofhall - a massive, nearly keep-sized stables that make up a significant piece of the castle itself. For the most part, it is otherwise unremarkable, with another modest keep and two towers, all surrounded by a wall. (Defense: 30 pts)
- Ryswell Heavy Horse: Trained Cavalry The heavy horse are a full unit of heavy cavalry, equipped as heavy lancers. (Power: 7 pts)
- Ryswell Light Horse: Green Cavalry x2 The light horse, on the other hand, tend to be newer cavalry, and are armed with spears, shields and morning stars. (Power: 10 pts)
- Ryswell Herds: Horse Husbandry Wealth Holding + War-Horse Herds Improvement The herds maintained by House Ryswell are some of the finest horses in the North; of particular note are the "Ryswell Reds," fine destriers of a noteworthy auburn hue. Cost to increase cavalry units is reduced by 1, and characters of House Ryswell pay only 60% for war horses. (Wealth: 15)
- Maester Andermore: Personage Wealth Holding (Wealth: 10)
Ironwatch
Atop a set of cliffs overlooking Blazewater Bay is the Ironwatch Tower, a lonely fortified lighthouse. The cliffs have a set of stairs cut into them which lead up to the tower, providing a means of easy defense against those attacking from the shore. The rest of the cliffs is a sheer drop of flint and sand, home to a variety of nesting seabirds. (Plains; Coast, Stream, Grassland; 10 pts)
- Ironwatch Tower: Tower This tower overlooks Blazewater Bay, and serves two primary functions: providing a vantage to watch for ironmen, and to warn ships in the bay away from the rocks near the shore. (Defense: 10 pts)
- Ironwatchmen: Green Archers The tower has a number of archers acting as watchmen and defenders at any given point. (Power: 4 pts)
- The Saltwood:' Godswood Wealth Holding The only godswood on Ryswell lands, the Saltwood is a small copse of wind-scoured, salt-encrusted weirwoods and pines a few hours from Ironwatch Tower, and a whole two days from the Rillseat. (Wealth: 5 pts)
Other Domains
House Ryswell maintains a number of other domains, as well. None of them have any significant structures on them, made up mostly of ranches and smallcrofts.
- 5 Rills domains (Plains; Stream, Grassland; 7 pts each)
- One of these domains also maintains Ryswell ranches (Horse Husbandry Wealth Holding + Rare Bloodlines Improvement; Wealth: 15), that produce fine horses that sell for incredible amounts of money.
- 2 Coastal domains (Plains; Coast, Stream, Grassland; 10 pts each)
Members of the House
- Lord Rodrik Ryswell: Lord of the Rills. Lord Rodrik is the aged lord of House Ryswell, a widower who has made it clear that he does not intend on marrying again. (69 years)
- Lady Barbrey Dustin (Ryswell): Lady of Barrowton. Rodrik's first daughter. Widow to the late Lord Willam Dustin, and current head of House Dustin. (51 years)
- Lady Bethany Bolton (Ryswell): Lady of the Dreadfort. Rodrik's second daughter, wife to Roose Bolton and Lady of House Bolton. (46 years)
- Roger Ryswell: Heir of House Ryswell. One of the more troublesome of Lord Rodrik's cousins. (45 years)
- Rickard Ryswell: Brother to Roger, also a trouble-maker. (41 years)
- Roose Ryswell: Another cousin, with aspirations of founding a cadet branch of the House. (38 years)
Lord Rodrik had numerous siblings, aunts and uncles, and as a result there are quite a few Ryswells serving the House and other Lords throughout the North (and even a few below the Neck as well). Many of them are quite ambitious, and frequently troublesome.
- Ser Denys Ryswell: House Champion. Knighted in service to a House in the Reach, Denys is a skilled tournament knight, and frequently represents his House at such events. He is a cousin of the line. (28 years)
Retainers of the House
- House Fayral (20 pts)
History
- Ascent: +2 Influence, +3 Lands, +3 Power, +4 Wealth
- Madness: -2 Defense, +3 Influence, +4 Lands, +4 Law, -3 Population, -1 Power, -1 Wealth
- Catastrophe: -4 Law, -2 Population, -3 Power, -4 Wealth
- Infrastructure: +5, +3 any two
- The oldest son of Lord Rodrik, Ser Mark Ryswell was one of Eddard Starks six companions who accompanied him to the Tower of Joy during Robert's Rebellion, and did not return.
Note: Though this is for a canonical setting element in the Song of Ice and Fire, some of the information here is totally created for my game, and should not be taken as an authoritative commentary on that setting element.
