ooc; ataraxion application

[bruxisms]

PLAYER INFORMATION
Your Name: Kalan
OOC Journal: roflskate
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: Over 18!
Email + IM: kalan_kaiba@hotmail.com
Characters Played at Ataraxion: The Eleventh Doctor ( meddler )

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Name: Stannis Baratheon
Canon: A Song of Ice and Fire
Original or Alternate Universe: Original
Canon Point: A Dance with Dragons → After discussing Northern strategy with Jon Snow
Number: RNG

Setting: A Song of Ice and Fire takes place in Westeros (or more specifically the Seven Kingdoms) a fictional world that shares more than a few parallels with 15th century Europe (among other eras).

History:

LORD OF DRAGONSTONE
( PRE CANON / A GAME OF THRONES )

Stannis Baratheon was born as the second son to Steffon Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and his wife, Lady Cassana of House Estermont. While barely a year younger than his elder brother, the two of them couldn't have been more different. Where Stannis was more studious, Robert was a warrior through and through, and when they would spar with one another, Robert never lost. In time, they were joined by a third brother, Renly, though he was much younger than the other two. As was typical for nobility, much of their education was left to their Maester, who took a particular liking to Stannis, regarding him with almost fatherly affection. As for their mother and father, while little is known about the exact details of their relationship, it's implied that at least Stannis remembers them with fondness.

But, when he was thirteen at the very most, his parents passed away. Or rather, they were drowned when their ship broke apart within site of Storm's End, while Robert and Stannis watched the whole thing unfold. From that day forward, Stannis resolved never to worship gods again. With their Lord father gone, Robert was sent to the Eyrie to be fostered with Jon Arryn, while Stannis remained at Storm's End with their younger brother. In time, Robert would return to be Lord, and that would be the end of that.

At least, it would have been had Prince Rhaegar Targaryen not ran off with Robert's betrothed, Lyanna Stark, starting a chain reaction of events that led to three of the Great Houses calling their banners against Aerys II, the Mad King.

Choosing to side with his brother over his liege was one of the most difficult decisions Stannis ever had to make. Yet, side with him he did, and for the better part of the rebellion, he held Storm's End. Even when the men were down to nothing but roots and rats, he did not yield, saved only by the actions of one brave smuggler, Davos. Stannis would later knight the man for his actions, and punish him for his history of smuggling by removing the uppermost finger joint from his left hand. Davos would take the family name of "Seaworth" and become Stannis' most trusted and loyal advisor.

So one could say his perseverance was rewarded, for the rebels had overthrown House Targaryen, appointing Robert king by virtue of a Targaryen grandmother. However, being first in the line of succession never particularly seemed like an important desire for Stannis. What he truly wanted was to be Lord of Storm's End, as it was his by rights now that his brother had other matters to attend to.

But Robert granted their eight-year-old brother the ancestral keep instead, and Stannis was left with the poor lands of Dragonstone. This slight was one that Stannis never truly recovered from, forgiving neither Robert nor Renly.

Still, for the next fourteen years, he served his brother as Master of Ships, building up the royal navy and playing a pivotal role during the Greyjoy Rebellion, crushing Victarion's Iron Fleet, and fathering a daughter, a sickly child named Shireen. The same brother who deflowered and fathered a bastard on Stannis's bride's cousin on their wedding night, in their wedding bed. The same brother who drank and whored, siring bastards and caring little for matters of the realm. The same brother who paid no attention to his children, legitimate or not.

Now, speaking of those "legitimate" children...

In time, Stannis began to suspect something about Robert's "children" and their true parentage. While we aren't told exactly how he came about these suspicions (most likely, he managed to piece little pieces of evidence together for himself, such as the fact that his own daughter and Robert's one acknowledged bastard shared the Baratheon colouring that the Lannisters did not), we know that rather than confronting his brother, he brought them instead to the Hand of the King, Jon Arryn. After all, what would the king think if the third in line to the throne suddenly declared that the first and second in line were bastards? No, for Stannis, Jon Arryn was the only man he felt he could trust.

And so, they worked together, visiting bastards, gathering information, making plans for Lord Arryn's son to be fostered on Dragonstone. When they were finally ready to bring their case before the King... Lord Arryn died under "mysterious circumstances". As devastating as the loss was, perhaps Stannis could take small consolation in the fact that after Lord Arryn, he was probably the best suited man to be Hand. So, what did Robert do?

He named Eddard Stark instead, and rode north to retrieve him.

Perhaps in fear of his life, or perhaps equally bitter about Robert's latest slight against him, Stannis left King's Landing for Dragonstone, biding his time and contemplating his next move.

THE KING IN THE NARROW SEA
( A CLASH OF KINGS )

About a year after his return to Dragonstone, news of his elder brother Robert's death greets him, as well as a demand to swear fealty to King Joffrey. Knowing the boy to be legitimate, Stannis sends Davos Seaworth as his envoy to the Stormlands, attempting to call the banners. But, the effort appears to be in vain, as the Storm Lords have declared for his younger and more charismatic brother, Renly. Enraged, Stannis turns to both his old Maester, and his wife for counsel. While Cressen advises him to strike up an alliance with Lysa Arryn or the Starks, Selyse urges him to place his trust in the Red God, and the priestess Melisandre. He sides with his wife. In an attempt to "save" his lord, Cressen tries to poison Melisandre, but she resists it. With Cressen gone, Stannis sides with Melisandre, explaining to his advisor Davos that while he does not believe in Gods, he believes in her power.

And, her "power" comes to serve him well, delivering him both his brother's army and his ancestral keep. But, of course, there is a cost. His brother's life, for one (and his own well-being, appearing drained after each time she uses her magic). In the end however, it has to be done, and the punishment for treason IS death.

All the same, Melisandre makes some of his men uncomfortable. So, he opts to leave her behind when he goes to King's Landing to take the Iron Throne.

And, he loses the battle, thanks to Tyrion Lannister, and a surprising last minute showing by the Tyrells and Tywin Lannister.

The Blackwater was a devastating blow for Stannis. He lost much of his strength, and perhaps most importantly, it seemed that he had lost his Onion Knight.

Yet, there was one thing that still remained...

AZOR AHAI REBORN
( A STORM OF SWORDS )

Stannis returns to Dragonstone lost to sorrow, refusing to eat, and seeing none but the lady Melisandre. Yet, even so, this is not the end for him. In the flames, his advisor shows him a vision of the Fist of the First Men, and while perhaps it does not convince him that he is Azor Ahai Reborn, it does convince him that he needs to save the realm to win the kingdom, giving him a new resolve in his cause, though since his defeat, he lacks much of an army, save for sellswords and the Florents. And even the Florents aren't quite trustworthy at the best of times. Alestar Florent, his wife's uncle and his Hand, plots behind his back to end the war. When Stannis finds out about this, he is enraged and throws the man in prison, eventually executing him.

But now all goes so ill for Stannis. Davos Seaworth, who was thought to be lost on the Blackwater, returns, though he too is imprisoned for attempting to murder Melisandre. Nevertheless, Melisandre advises Stannis to meet with his Onion Knight, and he does so, making the man Lord of the Rainwood and Hand of the King.

Of course, one man is not enough to win a war. For that, something else is required. Melisandre advises Stannis to burn his bastard nephew, Edric Storm, believing that by doing so, he will wake the long "dormant" stone dragons on Dragonstone. Initially Stannis refuses, though he does allow her to use the boy's blood to work her "magic", promising that she will kill the three usurper kings that plague Westeros.

And one by one, they die.

Davos, of course is completely opposed to the whole idea, and Stannis remains so as well, though it appears his resolve is beginning to weaken with more "evidence" seeming to pile up about the magic working. But before he can make a final decision, Davos spirits the boy away. Once again, Stannis feels betrayed by his Hand until he produces a letter.

"A King protects his people, or he is no king at all."

And so, Stannis sails to the Wall, defeating a Wildling host that had threatened all of Westeros, and offers the Bastard of Winterfell, Jon Snow, legitimacy, in exchange for the allegiance of the North.

But, in a twist of fate Jon Snow is elected Lord Commander, keeping his vows and doing his duty (perhaps, just as Stannis would, had their positions been switched).

THE KING AT THE WALL
( A FEAST FOR CROWS / A DANCE WITH DRAGONS )

At the Wall, Stannis comes into conflict with the Lord Commander (often over the provisions that he wishes to gain), Jon Snow, all the while slowly growing to respect the boy (perhaps the greatest tipping point was when Lord Snow beheaded Janos Slynt in the name of justice). He continues to attempt to broker some manner of peace with the Wildlings through conquest, burning who he believes Mance Rayder (in actuality, Rattleshirt). At the same time, he also attempts to woo the North over to his cause, first by sending letters and envoys, and then by deciding on conquest, "taking a page from [his] brother's book". While initially planning on using Wildling men to fight, Jon Snow advises him against it. He heeds the other man's counsel, forgoing the Wildlings in exchange for bartering with the heads of the northern clans. He and Melisandre also agree to a mutual "parting of ways", as he goes south, and she remains at the Wall. It is at this point that he arrives on the Tranquility.

Personality:

A TRULY "JUST" MAN
( STANNIS I BARATHEON )

Stannis Baratheon is the king that no one wanted. After all, unlike his more popular brothers, he is mostly humorless (with the exception of some extremely deadpan comments), stern and certainly not the sort of man that easily inspires love. With the exception of Davos Seaworth and the Red Priestess Melisandre, there are few who feel any deep sense of loyalty towards him. At times, it seems that even Stannis himself doesn't want the crown. But, he still pursues it with all the passion in the world for one reason alone: because he is the rightful heir, and it is his duty to fight for it. His belief in his own righteousness leads him to some strange bedfellows, and a strange new religion. Unlike his wife or Melisandre however, Stannis doesn't seem to have a deep connection to his new faith. In fact, he confides in his advisor, Davos that he doesn't worship any gods. All the same, he follows her counsel because she has proven herself to have some manner of power that will be able to deliver him to the throne that is his by rights. While she also proclaims him to the the Prince Who Was Promised, a legendary figure destined to save the world from the Long Night, Stannis doesn't particularly seem to buy into that either, growing visibly uncomfortable whenever she brings it up (a particularly obvious example is near the end of Book 3, where Samwell Tarly notes this and observes Stannis rapidly change the subject). However, he still goes north to the Wall to fight off the Wildlings (and eventually the Others), because as rightful king, it is his duty to do so. Yes, more than any god, Stannis "worships" duty.

Above even his belief in duty, Stannis's greatest defining trait is his unyielding sense of justice. While someone like Melisandre views men as being either entirely good or entirely evil, Stannis takes a different approach. For him, a man is the sum of his actions. As he discusses with his friend and advisor Davos in A Clash of Kings: "A good act does not wash out the bad, nor the bad act the good." According to Stannis, even a virtuous man should be punished accordingly if he has committed a crime, and a charlatan rewarded should he act heroic. Furthermore, he also does not particularly judge men solely based based on their birth (as evidenced by his counsel with Jon Snow and Davos Seaworth alike, whose opinions he listens to because they have proven themselves knowledgable on certain situations) something many other lords would find inconceivable. Such an attitude contributes to the reasons why he is not particularly well-liked among the highborn lords of Westeros; to him his allies should be judged for their crimes the same way as his enemies. Ultimately however, this makes little difference to Stannis. No matter what it takes, he is a man that will have justice for the realm.

However, despite his stubbornness and rigidity, Stannis not a man without any scruples. As he tells Davos, one of the hardest decisions of his life was choosing to side with his elder brother, rather than his rightful king. Also, when his younger (and usurping) brother Renly is killed (by Melisandre, with the implication that Stannis was somehow involved), he expresses nothing short of regret for the way things turned out, again confiding in Davos how much he truly loved the young man. Later, when he is confronted with the possibility in burning his bastard nephew in exchange for what might be the salvation of Westeros, he shows similar reservations (after all, Edric is his own blood and more importantly, his daughter's friend, but is one life worth the lives of millions?). Like any other man, he is faced with difficult decisions, and is conflicted when what is dutiful conflicts with his own personal morals.

To sum it up, Stannis is not the sort of man that's easy to like. After all he's the king that no one particularly wanted. But in the end, he is someone who ultimately tries to do the "right" thing, no matter the cost.

Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:

STONEHEAD STUBBORN
( ABILITIES )

As far as "special" abilities go, Stannis Baratheon is almost completely "normal", , save for the occasional premonition that may be divined by looking into a fire (in A Storm of Swords he tells Davos Seaworth about an event he witnessed in the flames that the reader saw unfolding in the prologue of the novel). As far as canon implies, this is an ability that can be refined with time, but Stannis is a skeptical man by nature and such visions seem to only come rarely to him.

Stannis is relatively proficient in the area of combat (specifically swordplay), though he remains no match for his elder brother, Robert Baratheon and other warriors of such calibre. Where his strength truly lies is with his mind. He is widely regarded as one of the best strategists in the Seven Kingdoms, earning grudging praise from the likes of Tywin Lannister. Furthermore, he demonstrates an impressive knowledge of Westerosi history (citing precedent across the ages in regards to the punishment for treason) and has been said to know the number of men each noble house may field in battle.

HE WILL BREAK BEFORE HE BENDS
( WEAKNESSES )

Stannis Baratheon's greatest weakness could also be said to be his greatest strength: his stubbornness and adherence to the law, no matter the cost. This has served to his detriment almost as often as to his benefit, often pushing him to the brink. At times, he seems less concerned with what he believes is right versus what is "just" within the eyes of the law that has been set down by previous rulers.

He is also a cold man, lacking in charisma. Such a personality makes it difficult for him to inspire loyalty in many others.

Inventory:

( 1 ) sword glamoured into the illusion of giving off flames (lightbringer, it serves Stannis "no better than any other sword")
( 1 ) crown
( 1 ) dagger
( 1 ) black cloak trimmed with gold fur
( 1 ) brooch depicting his personal sigil
( 1 ) scabbard
( 1 ) set of armour
( 1 ) plain white shirt
( 2 ) black tunics
( 2 ) black breeches
( 2 ) pairs of black boots
( 2 ) pairs of black gloves

Appearance:

The Baratheon line has a long history of producing men and women with black hair and deep blue eyes. Stannis is no exception to this rule, though he has lost most of his hair. Like his brothers Robert and Renly, Stannis is also a tall and relatively sturdily-built man. However, that's where most of the similarities end.

While Renly and Robert (in his youth) were described as being extremely good-looking, Stannis is described as being rather plain, if not harsh. He keeps his beard trimmed extremely short as well. By the time of A Dance With Dragons, he has also lost quite a bit weight, giving him a more gaunt appearance. Perhaps unusually for a king, he also prefers to dress in modest clothing.



I will be using Stephen Dillane, the actor that potrays him in the HBO adaption Game of Thrones as his PB.

Age: At his current canon point, Stannis is approximately 36.

AU Clarification: N/A

SAMPLES
Log Sample:

Faith.

Stannis Baratheon had never been one to take much belief in the word. Yet that was what he found himself going on when he had nothing more than a number and no proper assurance of where he was. While he had come to witness seemingly impossible occurrences in recent years, this particular one seemed to have little to no grounding in any sort of reality. Oh, to be sure, men would say that creatures stirring beyond the Wall were impossible, but at the very least there had been tales of such.

Certainly, Stannis knew of of no story of a man awakening in what seemed to be some manner of coffin on what appeared to be either some manner of castle, or some manner of prison.

Perhaps, there have been no such tales, because no man has lived to speak of such.

He disliked that thought and frowned deeply, a muscle in his neck protruding out as he clenched his jaw.

Faith.

He loathed the word, yet he had become all to accustomed to hearing it. Melisandre (did she see this in her flames, he could not help but wonder) told him to keep it even when all hope seemed lost. It had done him little good then. Selyse, his lady wife had given herself to the concept, begging to be remarried in the light of the lord, forgetting of all else save her Red God (or so it had seemed to him). Even Davos seemed to place too much stock in the word (Foolish, he thought to himself, to speak as though he was still alive when he had no guarantee of such. Foolish, and hopeful. No, if there was anything Stannis kept near to his heart, it was duty. Nothing more, nothing less.

Yet none of that mattered now. He was alone in a queer place with nothing but a number engraved (... tattooed, something in the back of his mind told him, like those in the Free Cities) and now, what seemed to be a storage container engraved with the very same number on his arm. Despite everything, he still had no assurance that the container was meant for him. All he had was...

Faith.

As he opened the locker, he cursed the word.

Comms Sample:

[ By nature, King Stannis Baratheon, first of his name, is a distrustful man. Perhaps he becomes even more distrustful when he inadvertently activates the "text" function on this queer device in an attempt to see how exactly it works. ]

qwertyuiop

. . .

Q W E R T
Y U I

OP

[ It takes some time for him to notice that such is apparently being broadcast, though a small alert indicates such to him.

The Others take this infernal device.

He moves his jaw back and forth for a moment, before activating the video function, though he immediately turns it off. Who knew who (or what) might be watching.

So finally (after much teeth-grinding and overall frustration), he opts for the "voice" function, keeping it short and simple. ]

Speak.

[ Further answers would come in time. He would make sure of such. ]