Post by Damon Nettles on Nov 5, 2014 21:49:17 GMT
Name: Damon Nettles, also called "Damon the Poet" or "Sidewinder"
Age: 24
Background: Damon Nettles, called “the Poet” by admirers and “Sidewinder” by both friends and enemies, is the third son of Ser Robett Nettles, a retainer of House Fowler in Dorne. As the son of a knight, he received training in the art of war from a young age, but being a third son also allowed him some freedom to pursue other interests. Encouraged by House Fowler’s maester, he proved to have prodigious talent as a poet, and was soon writing and performing his own poems, to the delight of many in the Fowler household.
When Damon was seventeen, he saved a servant girl from being assaulted by Nestor Blackmont, a nephew of Lady Larra Blackmont. In the ensuing duel he made matters worse by handily defeating the young lordling in front of an assembled crowd that included Prince Oberyn Martell, who chanced to be staying at Skyreach at the time. Although Damon had won the duel fairly, it soon became clear that Blackmont would seek revenge for his humiliation. Seeking to avoid a feud with the powerful Blackmont family, Lord Franklyn Fowler resolved to send Damon far away from Skyreach. Fortunately for Damon, Prince Oberyn had been impressed by his conduct and offered him a place in his entourage.
Damon spent the next two years in the service of the Red Viper, accompanying the prince on his travels through Dorne. It was during this time that he perfected the fighting style that has earned him the nickname “Sidewinder”. Although intended as a slur by his detractors, Damon adopted it as an honorific. He also made the acquaintance of Oberyn’s daughters, the Sand Snakes. Good looks, martial skill, and a romantic spirit had made Damon a favorite with the young women of Skyreach, and these same qualities now attracted the attention of Nymeria Sand, the prince’s second daughter. They briefly engaged in a torrid affair, but it ended when Prince Oberyn made it clear that it was time for Damon to make his own way in the world. Damon and Lady Nym parted as friends, however, and they continue to keep in touch – whenever he hears of one of her scandals, Damon writes Nymeria a ribald sonnet commemorating the event.
Still wary of the Blackmonts and the threat they posed to his family, Damon chose to leave Dorne altogether. He travelled extensively, working his way through the Reach and the Stormlands by serving lords who fancied themselves patrons of the arts or who were in temporary need of a skilled sword. Finally he reached King’s Landing, from where he considered boarding a ship for Braavos.
As luck would have it, however, a royal tourney was announced while Damon was still considering his options. He chose to take up his family’s colors and to compete in the melee, where he bested all comers until he was narrowly defeated by the eventual winner of the tournament – Ser Barristan Selmy. Damon’s performance in the melee and his unique fighting style garnered him much praise, and he gained further accolades for his poetry recital at the victory feast. Among the appreciative audience was Brom Bartheld, who invited Damon to come and practice his art at Hart House. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Damon happily accepted, and has remained a more or less permanent guest of the Barthelds for the past three years.
Description: Damon is a so-called “Stony Dornishman”, a fact easily surmised from his reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and lightly freckled skin. His features are strong and trustworthy, complemented by a neat mustache and chin beard, and marred only by a few nicks and cuts from near misses in combat. He has an acrobat’s grace and build – broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and powerful arms and legs. He dresses in the Dornish style, typically wearing a long-sleeved silk kaftan over a tunic and hose, together with comfortable leather boots.
Equipment: He wears well made but not terribly extravagant noble's garb in the Dornish style; a longsword and dagger are usually at his belt. In battle he typically wears only the lightest of armors. A padded jack and a light, open-faced helmet will usually suffice in any fight to first blood. For more serious battles, he will add a few pieces of plate armor such as gauntlets and elbow cops, poleyns for his knees, and a metal gorget to protect his throat. He still carries his longsword and dagger, but supplements them with a round metal shield. He may also forgo the shield in favor of a halberd.
Age: 24
Background: Damon Nettles, called “the Poet” by admirers and “Sidewinder” by both friends and enemies, is the third son of Ser Robett Nettles, a retainer of House Fowler in Dorne. As the son of a knight, he received training in the art of war from a young age, but being a third son also allowed him some freedom to pursue other interests. Encouraged by House Fowler’s maester, he proved to have prodigious talent as a poet, and was soon writing and performing his own poems, to the delight of many in the Fowler household.
When Damon was seventeen, he saved a servant girl from being assaulted by Nestor Blackmont, a nephew of Lady Larra Blackmont. In the ensuing duel he made matters worse by handily defeating the young lordling in front of an assembled crowd that included Prince Oberyn Martell, who chanced to be staying at Skyreach at the time. Although Damon had won the duel fairly, it soon became clear that Blackmont would seek revenge for his humiliation. Seeking to avoid a feud with the powerful Blackmont family, Lord Franklyn Fowler resolved to send Damon far away from Skyreach. Fortunately for Damon, Prince Oberyn had been impressed by his conduct and offered him a place in his entourage.
Damon spent the next two years in the service of the Red Viper, accompanying the prince on his travels through Dorne. It was during this time that he perfected the fighting style that has earned him the nickname “Sidewinder”. Although intended as a slur by his detractors, Damon adopted it as an honorific. He also made the acquaintance of Oberyn’s daughters, the Sand Snakes. Good looks, martial skill, and a romantic spirit had made Damon a favorite with the young women of Skyreach, and these same qualities now attracted the attention of Nymeria Sand, the prince’s second daughter. They briefly engaged in a torrid affair, but it ended when Prince Oberyn made it clear that it was time for Damon to make his own way in the world. Damon and Lady Nym parted as friends, however, and they continue to keep in touch – whenever he hears of one of her scandals, Damon writes Nymeria a ribald sonnet commemorating the event.
Still wary of the Blackmonts and the threat they posed to his family, Damon chose to leave Dorne altogether. He travelled extensively, working his way through the Reach and the Stormlands by serving lords who fancied themselves patrons of the arts or who were in temporary need of a skilled sword. Finally he reached King’s Landing, from where he considered boarding a ship for Braavos.
As luck would have it, however, a royal tourney was announced while Damon was still considering his options. He chose to take up his family’s colors and to compete in the melee, where he bested all comers until he was narrowly defeated by the eventual winner of the tournament – Ser Barristan Selmy. Damon’s performance in the melee and his unique fighting style garnered him much praise, and he gained further accolades for his poetry recital at the victory feast. Among the appreciative audience was Brom Bartheld, who invited Damon to come and practice his art at Hart House. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Damon happily accepted, and has remained a more or less permanent guest of the Barthelds for the past three years.
Description: Damon is a so-called “Stony Dornishman”, a fact easily surmised from his reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and lightly freckled skin. His features are strong and trustworthy, complemented by a neat mustache and chin beard, and marred only by a few nicks and cuts from near misses in combat. He has an acrobat’s grace and build – broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and powerful arms and legs. He dresses in the Dornish style, typically wearing a long-sleeved silk kaftan over a tunic and hose, together with comfortable leather boots.
Equipment: He wears well made but not terribly extravagant noble's garb in the Dornish style; a longsword and dagger are usually at his belt. In battle he typically wears only the lightest of armors. A padded jack and a light, open-faced helmet will usually suffice in any fight to first blood. For more serious battles, he will add a few pieces of plate armor such as gauntlets and elbow cops, poleyns for his knees, and a metal gorget to protect his throat. He still carries his longsword and dagger, but supplements them with a round metal shield. He may also forgo the shield in favor of a halberd.
It's set just before the historic Blacks v Greens period