#southshields

[selidor]

Remember the beast. by I love dark skies and dramatic clouds …

[harbingercr0w]

a handful of npcs from my dnd campaign ive been running since february :3 its called slungeons and slagons bc my name is slaine and its dungeons and dragons

anywho! left to right:

nerrik, human? bloodhunter/rogue, killer for hire and works primarily for an organized crime organization called the deerstalker syndicate. awkward wet cat and freakishly tall- hes 7’2” 😭 i promise the others arent the size of peas.

sorley southshield, mountain dwarf necromancy student at the citys magic university who graverobs for class and accidentally dug up the party who got buried alive

taeral farona, high elf, professor of graviturgy and enchantments at the same university sorley attends. they also work for the deerstalker syndicate- well. worked. theyre a bitch!

lemòn, aarakocra merchant! he runs the magic shop the party goes to, he doesnt speak common except for a handful of phrases so his daughter, poppyseed, translates for him.

there are so many more npcs . however these are the only ones i wish to show rn :3

[black-queen-rising]

They Said "Kid, You Gotta Fake It Till You Make It"...Then I Did

(Closed starter for @goldenclarice)

One Moon Ago; The last day of the fourth month, two days before King Viserys’ death

“The Lady-Regent is of House Rowan by birth, gentle, intelligent, and sociable, everything a young Lord-Paramount would be lucky to find in his consort, and that is to say nothing of her connections.”

“Which are?” Rhaenyra’s eyes flitted over to the tall, lithe, and dark-blonde haired woman who stood opposite her in front of a map of The Reach and its borderlands the pair were surveying as she spoke. Lady Willow Fossoway, the eldest child of one of the Tyrell’s strongest banner men, had served as the new Queen’s lady-in-waiting for a decade; she was a stunningly talented musician and composer, so much so that the skill alone was more than enough to keep her in Rhaenyra’s employ, shielded from marriage to a man she would surely find no joy with, and lavished in the company of beautiful but lonely wives and gorgeous, self-abnegating eldest daughters. But the justification was only that, because the true purpose of Lady Willow’s service was as her liege’s principal spy, and spy mistress, in the kingdom’s wealthiest region, the place she was least likely to find allies of her own, the beating heart of The Faith, The Maesters, and the will to see Westeros’ first Ruling-Queen fail.

“The Shield Isles, to begin, she is one of thirteen children, and their Lady-Mother has seen them married despicably well.” Willow laughed shortly, “The eldest three girls all married the now-Lords of the islands, except Southshield, the Serrys are Lady Rowan’s maiden house, their alliance was never in doubt. The heir is my good-brother through Alysanne.”

“The second in your circle?” Rhaenyra questioned, clearly impressed, and Willow nodded satisfiedly.

“The very same! The spare is married to Lord Caswell’s eldest.”

“Wed to a woman set to inherit her father’s fortune, is that not the dream of every second son?” It was the Queen’s turn to laugh, then, and her lady hummed in amused agreement.

“The middle girl is married to the newly inherited Lord Tarly, and the Lady Regent’s closest older sister to the heir to their vassals, Petty Lords by the name of Hunt. As far as anyone can tell all to spurn her mother and the late-Lord Tyrell, which I imagine would’ve made a much larger statement if her sister had not married him herself less than two years later.”

“And the younger ones?”

“The youngest daughter recently came of age, it seems Lady Rowan will settle for no less with her than the heir to House Redwyne, there’s two younger boys as well, it seems they’re waiting in the wings to sure up alliances wherever they’re needed most. The second-youngest girl has accompanied Lady Tyrell to court though,” one of Willow’s perfectly manicured eyebrows raised as she concluded, “They aim high and higher, Lord Cedric and Lady Selyse, and you can be sure there’s soon to come great offense at the match of Prince Joffrey and Lady Alannys. With no marriage pacts to offer and Lord Greyjoy sitting on your council,” she bit the corner of her lip and sighed before concluding, “There may be no true leverage you hold to sway this faction to your side.”

“And their alliances with Oldtown?”

Willow laughed again, but far more harshly than the first, “None to speak of, Your Grace, though certainly not for lack of trying. You mustn’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of seeing these matters as black and white…or even black and green, the late-Lord was no true friend of the Hightowers either, but we will be played for fools if we rely on that simple neutrality.”

“And the late-Lord Tyrell, Lorence, right? Do you know the truth of what happened to him?”

“A skirmish in the Dornish Marches, it was seen by a dozen, and the wounds that caused his demise by thrice that.”

“I see,” Rhaenyra swallowed hard at the feeling of her stomach twisting; the Dornish envoy arrived not a week before, how could she accomplish anything, if she could not even put a stop to this meaningless fighting?

Now; The last day of the fifth month, one week before Queen Rhaenyra’s coronation

The meeting was to be held in the Small Council Chamber, formal introductions had been made on the Iron Throne before her father’s funeral had even come, but this was a conversation between allies, not a missive from a ruler to her vassal. Rhaenyra dressed in gold, daring to hope it would be taken as the show of good faith she intended; what was her reign if not the product of a decade, or three, spent making such gestures.

The Lady Regent is one and twenty, her son, Lyonel, just two.

The reminder bounced around her head, hitting a hundred sore spots on its path. Jace is twenty, Clarice not even a full year older, Rhaenyra herself already had two sons by that age, Joffrey would come before the year was out, she had been ruling Dragonstone nearly five years then. But the memory most in prominent in her mind remained how desperately lonely she had been...and how thoroughly trapped she had felt in the only tangible proof of her father’s love.

She has a mother, a father, half a dozen older siblings too, all supporting her, stop fretting over mothering someone who is not a child, and neither needs, nor wants it…

What would you not have given for the ally you could be to her in this Court? Where would you be if you hadn’t promised yourself so many times the Court you created would not be built off the backs of broken girls?

The battle in Rhaenyra’s thoughts did not cease until the guard outside the door announced, “The Lady-Regent Clarice Tyrell, for you, your Majesty.”

“Of course,” Rhaenyra stood to greet her guest, golden silk swirling around her as silver-gold curls hung elaborately around the Queen’s face and down her back. She was met by a girl with large, dark eyes, wearing an equally lavish gown, who upon closer inspection, could pass for even younger than already apparent youth. Her stomach twisted as the thought intruded into her already fraught mind; the girl you wished so badly for Jace to be…she’d look just. like. her.

Rhaenyra forced a dazzling smile, charm was a skill so practiced in her life she could fake it with an ease most did not even have when operating on intuition. “My Lady, it is a pleasure and a privilege. You have my thanks for making the time to speak privately and I am glad we’ve gotten this chance to acquaint ourselves with one another properly.”

[bloodiaed]

*  ♔  ◟     (   naomi   scott,   twenty   eight,   cis   woman,   she   or   her   )     the  capital  of  king's  landing  welcomes  ELINOR  of  HOUSE RYSWELL  née  SERRY,  the  dowager  ruling  lady  of  the  rills.  news  borne  by  raven  sends  word  that  they  are  reputed  to  be  nurturing,  but  with  the  eyes  of  court  watching  their  every  move,  they  might  prove  to  be  guarded.  when  songs  are  sung,  their  verses  speak  of  a  small  hand  clinging  to  her  skirts  +  a  wardrobe  of  mourning  blacks  that  have  just  begun  to  gather  dust  +  a  flower  blossomed  that  has  not  quite  adjusted  to  winter’s  bitter  sting.  whispers  throughout  the  seven  kingdoms  claim  that  their  allegiance  lies  with  house  stark  and  the  north,  where  they  conspire  to  procure  suitable  matches  for  her  good  sisters.  but  in  the  end,  fealty  means  little  when  you  play  the  game  of  thrones.

full name : elinor margaery ryswell nee serry . age : twenty eight . region : riverlands . title : dowager ruling lady of the rills , former lady of southshield . gender + pronouns : cis woman , she / her . orientation : pansexual . eye color : dark brown . hair color : black . height : five foot , six inches . inspirations : catelyn tully ( a song of ice and fire ) , jane seymour ( historical ) , persephone & hera ( greek mythology ) , morticia addams ( the addams family ) .

life in southshield was quiet , a peaceful upbringing that was away from the most watchful eye of westeros . their power at sea was strong and vast but they hardly had need for it these days . elinor didn't imagine much for her life , until one fateful day she met torrhen ryswell - a northern man who she met when he came to barter and trade goods on southshield . he was so handsome and elinor in all her beauty was like a magnet to him , and they fell instantly in love .

she was nineteen name days old when she married him , moving from idyllic island of the reach to the bitter cold of the north - but she could endure it for him . they were blessed with a child only a few years into their union , and their second a few years after . their life was perfect , until a fateful day two years ago when torrhen went on a hunting trip , returning home with injuries across his body . a few days after arriving back home he died , and her heart was shattered .

it was through the help of her good sisters that she was able to survive and heal , helping each other through their grief and pain . more coming , i swear . summary : sunflower turned winter rose , certified momfriend who is actually a mom , heart is currently healing .

[dvinitaes]

ysabela  redwyne   , lady   of   the   arbor

hear  ye  hear  ye  —  the  riverlands  welcomes LADY  YSABELA  REDWYNE of THE  ARBOR.  king  matthos  baratheon  is  glad  that  the THIRTY-FIVE year  old  appears  to  be INDEPENDENT and  he  shall  overlook  that  it’s  said  they  are  also CYNICAL,  as  long  as  they  are  glad  to  celebrate  peace  in  the  seven  kingdoms.  fortunately  for  them,  matthos  remains  oblivious  that  aren’t  happy  with  his  reign.

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂  𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

full  name  :  ysabela  grafton  (  baela  by  those  close  to  her  ) age  :  thirty-five  years  old date  of  birth:  the  18th  of  the  seventh  turn  (  july  )  hometown  :  the  arbor  ,  the  reach  ,  westeros gender  &  pronouns  :  cis  female  +  she  /  her orientation  :  heterosexual  +  heteroromantic religion  :  faith  of  the  seven marriage  status  :  widowed titles  &  occupation  :  ruling  lady  of  southshield  ,  lady  of  arbror

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋  𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

hair  colour  :  black eye  colour  :  brown height  :  1.68  m  /  5’6”  ft face  claim  :  janet montgomery  

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘  𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒 

moral  alignment  :  chaotic  good positive  traits  :  determined  ,  independent  ,  rational negative  traits  :  blunt  ,  cynical  ,  opinionated  hobbies  :  hawking  ,  playing  the  instrument 

𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄

264  ac  -  she  and  her  twin  brother  are  born  to  lord  edmure  and  lady  serra  redwyne 

276  ac  -  death  of  her  parents,  edmure  and  serra,  on  a  ship  wreck  on  their  way  back  from  the  mainland.  in  the  same  year  her  uncle  assumed  the  role  of  regent  as  her  brother  was  too  young  to  rule  the  arbor

284  ac  -  accompanied  her  aunt,  edwyna  redwyne,  to  oldtown  as  she  sorted  the  redwyne/port  affairs  there.  additionally,  she  was  secretly  getting  treated  for  an  illness.

288  ac  -  return  home  with  her  aunt  only  to  find  out  that  she  was  to  be  married  to  lord  theodore  serry,  heir  of  house  serry. 

289  ac  -  marriage  to  theodore  serry  and  moved  from  the  arbor  to  southshield 

294  ac  -  death  of  theodore  serry  due  to  illness.  after  mourning,  ysabela  returned  to  the  arbor.  there  she  helped  managed  the  affairs  of  house  redwyne,  secretly  harboring  ill  feelings  towards  her  uncle  who  has  stolen  her  brother’s  birthright.

299  ac  -  present  time.

[conallblackbar]

the shield islands / house blackbar lore dump

key history

the shield islands, also known as the four shields, have historically been used to protect the reach from iron born invaders via watchtowers and beacons.

the four islands were originally ruled by four families: house chester of greenshield, house grimm of greyshield, house hewett of oakenshield, and house serry of southshield.

all four houses were wiped out during the reach civil war, and the four shields were granted to lord conall blackbar, formerly of bandallon, allowing him to establish a cadet branch of house blackbar on the islands.

the four shields

each island possesses a series of watch towers. traditionally manned by island elders, they are lit at the sight of iron island longships. though the threat of the ironborn is no longer an issue, the watchtowers are still manned.

oakenshield is the island that conall blackbar has made his home. surrounding the port is lord hewett's town, a large town and harbour. colloquially, locals have begun to refer to it as lord blackbar's town. the castle of oakenshield sits on a clifftop, overlooking the town. oakenshield takes its name from a grove of ancient oak trees on the island, where a sept was built. there is an open-air market, the mariner's forum, that lines the stone pier.

greenshield is the most fertile of the islands, and dominated by orchards that grow fruits and vegetables for the rest of the islands. the orchards are tended to by the greenshield septons, a secluded religious order that reside upon the island. additionally, upon the island is the famed greenwatch tower, a coastal fortification known for archery training.

greyshield is the least populous of the four islands. there are no villages or towns here, its only inhabitants a garrison of soldiers. the most dominant structure is grimm's hold, a ring-shaped hilltop fortress based on dún aonghasa on inishmore and other hill forts on the aran islands. grimm's hold is crumbling, in a state of disrepair due to it's ancient age, as it is rumoured to have been there since the time of the children of the forest. greyshield has a fearsome reputation, and is rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of ironborn and shield islanders alike. below the island are the drowned caves, a series of sea caves containing the remnants of many a shipwreck.

southshield lies close to the mouth of the mander, and its primary industry is fishing. of the four islands, the beacon here is the largest, able to be seen by both tyrell lands to it's east and florent lands to the south. it houses the fisher's guildhall, as well as the tidal causeway, a natural causeway which at low tide provides access to a smaller islet that lies off the coast.

climate & geography

the shield islands have a temperate maritime climate, with generally mild weather, though it can be unpredictable, their exposure to the sunset sea often bringing heavy winds and occasional storms.

summers are generally warm, with the sea breeze keeping temperatures moderate. winters are wet and blustery rather than cold and harsh, with temperatures rarely below freezing, though storms are more common. rainfall occurs year-round, more so on the western islands of greenshield and greyshield. greyshield in particular is known to be foggy and misty, particularly in the mornings.

oakenshield is the most developed of the islands, with a coastline dominated by steep, rugged cliffs to the west and gentler beaches and harbours to the east. the land is predominantly meadow and grassland towards the interiror of the island, suitable for small-scale farming and grazing.

greenshield is the more fertile island, with rolling hills and rich soil. the orchards grow apples, pears, and stone fruits, and root crops vegetable gardens are maintained by the septons on the island. greenshield has plenty of freshwater springs, making it the best supplied of the islands with drinking water. greenwatch tower is located on a high bluff on the island's western coast.

greyshield is the rockiest of the islands, with an eerie, desolate atmosphere. the beaches are rocky, and the land is thin and stony. off the coast, jagged rocks and reefs surround the island, making navigation difficult for those who do not know it well. the drowned caves are a natural occurrence, carved by the tide.

the waters are calmer on southshield's eastern side, lending to a thriving fishing industry.

population

the people of the shield islands are predominantly clover folk, though with distinct culture and practices of their own due to isolation from the mainland. they are known to be hardy, self-sufficient, and traditional.

the language of the reach and daelic are commonly spoken, and the common tongue is not unheard of either. however, the shield island accent is distinctive, fairly sing-songy to the ear.

the shieldfolk tend to give their children short, one syllable names - finn, dain, peg, and nell are very common.

there is no middle-class on the islands, and little opportunity for social mobility. the people are self sufficient, and everyone contributes via some form of practical skill or manual labour.

most shield folk trace their lineage to those who defended the reach against the ironborn, and martial and seafaring traditions are strong. all men are expected to join the shieldwatch, the network of soldiers who defend the islands, until they marry or reach the age of 25, whichever is later, at which time they can choose to remain or leave to work with their families.

fishing and seamanship are considered skills of necessity, every child learns to handle a boat from a young age.

the sick, elderly, and infirm tend to travel to greenshield to recuperate, rest, or live out the end of their days. the septons of greenshield run a small hospice to accommodate them.

manning the watchtowers is seen as an honour, those who do so granted high social standing. this is why it is primarily the role of the elders of the islands.

the shield game occur once a year, usually coinciding with the late summer harvest. due to centuries of serving as a line of defence against the ironborn, the games allow the islanders to show off their martial skill in a more celebratory way, and take place on greyshield. games include axe throwing, archery, and sailing races in greyshield's treacherous waters, as well as a highly anticipated melee. however, it is mostly used as an excuse for drinking, dancing, and marriages between the smallfolk.

the shieldfolk are highly supersitious. spilled salt must be thrown over the shoulder. you must salute to magpies. yellow flowers must be left on the doorstep on the first day of spring. they believe in the sidhe, and often blame them for bad luck and misfortune. a whispering wind means the sidhe are watching you.

loyalty is paramount to the shieldfolk. they rely on community, so breaking an oath, or failing to repay a debt, is considered a grave sin. they are tough people, unpretentious, though each island has it's own stereotype - oakenshielders are practical, greenshielders pious, and southshielders friendly. there are no native greyshielders, as it is populated by stationed soldiers only.

the shieldfolk are not wealthy in coin, but neither do they live in poverty. they are self sufficient and rely on community. life is hard, but starvation and destitution is rare. education is informal, with most leaning practical skills and only those with a connection to the castle or faith receiving proper schooling. as a result, those who need an education to carry out their duties, such as castellans or harbourmasters, are usually sourced from the mainland and serve a few years before being replaced. the current harbourmaster of oakenshield is an exception, having been in his role for twenty-five years, marrying a local woman, and becoming a much-loved member for the community.

flora and fauna

plant life: sea thrift, saltbush, gorse, heather (particularly greyshield), rock samphire, wild rye, coastal grasses, clover (not greyshield), chamomile, wild thyme, mudwort, nettles, oak trees (oakenshield), apple, pear, and plum trees (greenshields), rowan trees (planted by shieldfolk outside their homes for protection from the sidhe), holly, blackthorn.

mammals: foxes, otters, hedgehogs, weasels, stoats, rabbits, hares, bats, wild goats, domesticated sheep, cattle, ponies (both wild and domesticated), seals.

birds: crows, seagulls, terns, cormorants, oystercatchers, herons, egrets, peregrine falcons, marsh harriers, storm petrels, owls.

fish/marine life: cod, haddock, herring, mackrel, eels, flounder, sols, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, oysters, mussels, sharks, dolphines, porpoises

reptiles/amphibians: lizards, slow worms, frogs, toads, newts

industry and economics

the shield islands are maritime-focused, and whilst part of the reach's economy, their isolation means they are traditionally self-sufficient.

industries are built around fishing, farming, and shipbuilding.

fishing is the largest industry on the islands, particularly south shield. fish is caught, distributed for the islanders use, and any excess is sold to the mainland. shellfish harvesting is also a large industry. on southshield, more than half the population work as fishermen, net-makers, boat-builders or fishmongers. the fisherman's guildhall regulates fishing rights, trade, and disputes.

another key industry is seaweed farming. on the islands, seaweed is used for fertilising soil, feeding both the human population and animals, salt extraction, medicinal purposes, and dye production. seaweed farming is most common on greenshield and oakenshield.

shipbuilding has always occurred on the islands, due to its history, but it has ramped up since conall blackbar's arrival along with the blackbar fleet, which came with him from bandallon after his banishment. oakenshield is the main hub for shipbuilding, and more islanders are choosing to train in this form of craftsmanship. as well as naval vessels, this is also useful for the production of fishing boats and patrol ships. additionally, rope makers and sail weavers have prospered from the increased ship building trade.

the watchtower network employs lookouts and beaconkeepers.

there is a small farming industry across the islands, mainly sheep and cattle. however, greenshield and its septons tend to fruit orchards, vegetable and root crop growth (carrots, turnips, onions, cabbages), herbs and medicinal plants and honey production from beekeeping. the septons also make beers, ales, and ciders.

the wool trade is huge on the shield islands, used for clothing and exports, and shield island wool is highly prized. small looms are common in homes. wo0ol has waterproof properties, so is crucial for lands that rely on the sea as they do.

salt production is also a key role on the island, mainly to ensure fish and meat can be preserved.

government, crime, and the law

traditionally, the shield islands have always been ruled by a single noble house on each island, but after the reach civil war, all four islands were granted to conall blackbar. at first, the shieldfolk greeted him with distrust, however, his practical approach has largely banished any doubts. he drinks with them, sails with them, and works alongside them. there is still scepticism amongst older, more stubborn islanders, but most like him well enough.

conall is widowed, and has no children. in the event of his death, he has made it known the lordship of the shields is to go to his sister, caitria blackbar, rather than his brother, ross.

conall rules from oakenshield, though he regularly visits other islands. however, his role as captain of the blackbar fleet and frequent trips to the riverlands as ambassador mean he relies on local elders and captains, island stewards, and garrison commanders to oversee governance and uphold the law.

as each island is slightly different, local governance is handled slightly differently, though always by appointed officials from amongst respected locals. on oakenshield, this is conall's stewards, ship captains, the head of the oakenshield garrison and the customs officer of the mariner's forum. septons oversee things on greenshield, greyshield is ruled by the commander of grimm hold. south shield is the least tightly governed of the four, primarily managed by village elders.

taxes are collected twice a year by the stewards of oakenshield. islanders can choose to pay in goods, labour, or coin, though the latter is rare. Taxes in the Shield Islands are lower than on the mainland, as the islands are too isolated and self-sufficient to handle heavy taxation. Instead, taxation is resource-based rather than coin-based. an annual levy of ships, fighting men, and goods are given to the tyrells. the islanders resent any tax increases, but generally except taxation as long as it is practical and fair.

smuggling is the most common crime on the island, particularly on south shield, and is widely tolerated as an open secret. stealing, however, is less common, and punished harshly, though minor or first time offences are usually let off with a warning and repayment. on oaeknshield and southshield, brawling is often punished with a night in the cells, and is seen as normal, unless permanent harm is done. murder is rare, and results in banishment or execution. there is no city watch or formal police force. justice is handled on a local level, with more serious disputes brought before conall.

martial and defence

the shield islands have a long martial tradition, as they have long been tasked with protecting the reach from ironborn raiders. knights are rare - most fighters from the shieldfolk prefer sturdy, practical weapons and fighting techniques. they are sailors, archers, and spearmen primarily.

each island has a serious of watchtowers, manned by elders and retired sailors, and it is seen as an honour to be amongst the watchtower forces. the watchtowers are used to send messages between the islands, as well as the mainland.

each island has its own defensive fortifications, even greenshield, which is primarily used for agriculture. this includes greenwatch tower, the home of the island's archers, grimm's hold, and the enormous beacon tower of southshield.

the blackbar fleet of the shield islands consists of longships, galleys, and dromonds, each with distinctive black sails that mark them as blackbar ships.

there is no formal army, but the men of the shield islands are expected to serve in the militia, known as the shieldwatch, at least until they are 25, or until they marry if they reach such an age unwed.

[harrenhalyuri]

the angel on my shoulder telling me to make alicent's mother a member of House Serry from Southshield VS the devil on my shoulder telling me to make her a Hightower cousin that otto married because I am absolutely projecting tywin and joanna on them

[reignfms]

𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ,  poppy !  highgarden awaits the arrival of roslyn serry within the next 24 hours or risk reopening. the following fc(s) are now taken: emily carey

⟨ emily carey. demi woman. she + they. 20. ⟩ we welcome roslyn serry to highgarden , the lady of southshield. keep an eye out for their perfidious nature, they tend to cover it up by acting amiable. rumor has it they are neutral to the peace treaty, and their loyalties lie with house serry. you’ll know it’s them when you get flashes of a dagger strapped to a pale leg ; hidden beneath elegant skirts & delicate fingers stroking the inky feathers of a crow — poppy.

[dvinitaes]

tennis  was  a  sport  baela  enjoyed  greatly  growing  up  as  it  was  a  sport  her  father  had  taught  and  played  with  her  .  even  after  his  passing  ,  baela  continued  playing  .  even  going  as  far  as  building  a  court  in  southshield  when  she  resided  there  once  upon  a  time  .  as  she  was  on  her  way  to  the  court  ,  she  had  run  into  the  queen  herself  ,  dropping  into  a  curtsy  .  "  i  have  come  to  play  ,  your  grace  .  "  ysabela  responded  as  slowly  rose  .  "  i  will  be  honest  that  it  has  been  a  while  since  i  held  a  racket  so  i  hope  i  don't  fail  miserably  ,  "  she  chuckled  .  "  my  father  loved  the  sport  so  i  hope  to  honor  him  with  this  match  ."

open in the tennis court of casterly rock, day two of the westerlands celebration.

still days away from the tennis competition, the courts had been generously opened for people to practice and simply have fun without leering eyes and heavy bets — yet, joanna is almost inclined to both as she enters the arena. with her spirits uplifted at her homecoming, the queen toys yet with the possibility to join the court herself ahead of time but with a tilt of her head upwards, attention shifts to another newcomer. "what of you, have you come to watch or to play?"

[praisesatanitsfriday]

Gotta love living near to the coast 🌅 #southshields #seafront #seaside #djidrone #aerialphotography #dji #beach #coast #landscape #nikond3400 #photography #marsdenrock #marsdenbeach #souterlighthouse #coast #coastline #northsea #dronephotography #englandscoastline #costalliving #photographer (at South Shields) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfzuko1IQcJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[starpointestudio]

The last two days have been high speed - a boat tour and a stroll along the Thames River, a visit to Northumbria’s Tynemouth and an outdated sculpture map/trail with only a handful of found sculptures and perhaps one that was not on the map! A nice visit with @chris.daunt.58 - catching up over a pint. #NewcastleUponTyne #SouthShields #northumbria #tynemouth #sculpture #London https://www.instagram.com/p/CfPbmj1o1rG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wnterreign]

        the  reach  lived  within her  blood,  she who felt most at home within garden walls and had grown surrounded by the extravagance her homeland was known for - the florent's coffers large and full. once she would've traded it all for a life amongst sea and stone, but when heart's desire had been crushed, she'd committed herself to only the shrewdest path. helaena had assumed it would've been somewhere in the south; yet she'd grown fondness for seagard: the steady crashing of the waves that reminded her of southshield, the charm of its town, and even most of all its ruling lady. a ruling lady who's words made laena's lighthearted reply falter on the tip of her tongue.        ❝ cailin . . . ❞        the words should delight her; they do, a fluttering sensation filling her chest alongside echoes of her mother's voice in her mind praising her success, and yet there was also a sinking feeling. a voice that hissed that the riverlander shouldn't give into such feeling. yet laena stepped closer, hand reaching out for cai's.        ❝ you make me sound like an enchantress. ❞        she entwined their fingers. hazel hues found theirs through her eyelashes.        ❝ if that is true then would you not be one as well? because i'm equally under your spell. ❞

🦅  𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 .

        being  one  of  the  youngest  in  the  family  hadn’t  spared  her  from  the  ambitions  of  her  parents,  and  a  large  part  of  that  had  involved  marrying  well,  which  meant  she  must  be  prepared  to  be  the  lady  of  a  keep.  however,  she’d  imagined  it  would’ve  been  a  marriage  designed  to  secure  an  alliance,  not  an  extension  of  her  work  for  the  princess.  helaena  had  met  them  prepared  for  anything,  and  yet  cailin  had  still  surprised  her.  sometimes  she  wished  they  hadn’t;  surprised  introduced  complications,  introduced  conflicting  thoughts.        ❝  i  do  my  best.  ❞        for  once  it  was  helaena’s  cheeks  that  were  colored  by  a  blush.        ❝  but  i  am  only  human.  ❞        eyes  widened  momentarily,  cailin  sounding  quite  serious,  until  laughter  tumbled  off  her  lips.  a  hand  rose  to  hide  it.        ❝  my  apologies,  cailin,  for  jesting  about  something  so  serious.  ❞        laughter  quieted  but  her  smile  remained.        ❝  i’d  assumed  that,  with  you  at  the  helm,  the  northern  fleet  would  be  far  too  mighty  for  mere  waves  to  level  it.  ❞

now  that  worries  for  seagard  had  been  dismissed  ,  cailin  instead  worried  that  their  existence  was  far  too  mundane  to  make  helaena  happy  .  though  they  had  been  to  the  reach  few  enough  times  to  count  on  one  hand  ,  they  still  imagined  it  a  fanciful  place  —  full  of  a  beauty  that  both  differed  from  and  trumped  that  of  seagard  and  the  riverlands  .  and  though  the  time  she  had  spent  with  helaena  thus  far  had  been  nothing  but  pleasant  ,  cailin  still  feels  as  if  she  knows  hardly  anything  of  the  woman  she  is  to  wed  .  the  fear  ,  then  —  that  seagard  and  she  herself  were  to  be  a  downgrade  from  helaena’s  former  life  —  persists  .  to  make  her  laugh  ,  though  a  small  victory  ,  feels  to  cailin  like  so  much  more  .  they  loose  a  single  chuckle  in  response  ,  quietly  and  through  their  nostrils  ,  casting  their  gaze  downward  a  second  .  “  i  too  am  only  human  ,  helaena  ,  ”  they  deflect  with  a  smile  ,  sighing  slightly  ,  “  i’m  at  the  sea’s  mercy  .  ”  their  smile  dwindles  slightly  ,  but  their  gaze  returns  to  helaena’s  .  many  things  to  say  run  through  their  mind  ,  but  none  are  something  cailin  would  ever  have  to  courage  to  speak  .  they  exhale  slightly  ,  and  the  words  tumble  out  with  their  breath  .  “  as  i  feel  like  —  i  have  grown  to  feel  like  i  am  at  yours  .  ”

[guillaumecornet]

Happy friday! I am pleased to finally share this fun piece I created for @colmansseafoodtemple so much palyfull details and a great composition to enjoy this beautiful building ! 🙌 - #colmansseafoodtemple #illustration #illustrationartists #art #artist #architecture #architecturelovers #achitectureillustration #restaurant #building #seafront #southshields (at Colmans Seafood Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ0sL7WBtD-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[talloola13]

I made a lioness and cub today on the lovely Lauren's leg for her mamma. Always a pleasure lady, hope it heals well. Xx #jenjenstattoostudio #jenmaw #southshields #northeastengland #fusionink #killerinktattoosupplies #hustlebutterdeluxe #cheyennetattooequipment #inkofcocotattooaftercare #femaletattooartist #hustlebutterfoam #femininetattoo #blackandgreytattoo #lionessandcub #lionesstattoo #girlswithtattoos #ladytattooers (at Hellbent Fitness) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSE3XOWI9Hs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thesilicontribesman]

Roman Folding Knife in the shape of a Gladiator, South Shields, The Great North Museum, Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne.

[arglittlemix]

Jade ha sido nombrada presidenta honorífica del @southshieldsfc