Background: As the second son of one of the Lords Paramount in Westeros, Stannis lived a life of being outclassed and outloved. For what little he did know of his parents, who died in a boat crashing against the rocks, they held affection for his older brother Robert more. Robert, as the heir to the Stormlands, would become the center of attention due to his inheritance, while Stannis only had an old tutor to raise him.
As the years passed, with the cruelty of the ruling family and the intrigues between other important nobles in Westeros coming to a head, Robert would start a rebellion, allied with the North and East of Westeros against the King. Stannis, acting as a retainer to his brother, would hold Robert's headquarts, Storm's End, for over a year. The siege had gotten so dire at some points that the population were forced to eat rats, and then boot leather. The actions of Davos Seatworth, however, made it so onions could be a choice in their diet. Stannis outlasted the enemy, who retreated upon Robert seizing the capital. However, now that Robert was King, Stannis expected the Stormlands and Storm's End. Instead, his younger brother Renly received it, and Stannis the paltry yet traditionally important island of Dragonstone, after ousting the last royalists from it.
Stannis would at least become the Master of Ships on Robert's Small Council, but would begrudge his brother and complain incessently. After the Hand of the King, essentially the Prime Minister, was assassinated, Stannis expected the new rank, having defeated a rebellion by the Ironborn, western raiders, in his tenure. Instead, it went to Eddard Stark, a distant northern lord and somebody more of a brother to Robert than Stannis himself. Offended, he moved to Dragonstone to brood and plan.
Robert and Eddard would both be killed in court intrigue soon after, which resulted the bastard son of the Queen to inherit the throne, the father being the Queen's twin, no less. One of Eddard's last acts was to send a letter a letter to Stannis informing him of this. Acknowledging the bastard son as illegitimate, Stannis declared that he was the rightful king, being enxt in the line of succession since all of the supposed children of the King were bastards. Renly, his little brother, did the same. The result was their armies almost going to war, saved only by the assassination of Renly with, what most people suspect, and rightfully so, shadow magic that Stannis had utilized.
With Renly's larger army now without a King to support, most would join Stannis. With naval supremacy and a closeness to the capital, most royal armies busy fighting a northern rebellion, Stannis would lead an assault on the capital of King's Landing with his entire army and fleet. The battle was bloody on both sides, but due to the genius of Tyrion Lannister, the city's defended, Stannis was foiled and had to retreat. With his forces broken, Stannis languished in depression at Dragonstone.
However, far north, the military order responsible for defending the borders sent letters across the realm, warning of a paranormal invasion and the wild tribes being driven together to break through the military order in retreat. While other claimants ignored the letters from the Night's Watch, a band of ex-cons made ascetic soldiers as punishment, Stannis heeded the warning, spurred out of his depression, and moved his army north. They defeated the Wildlings that were invading, assisting the Night's Watch and earning the respect of both sides in a large way.
Politics would ensure that tensions arose once more, however, Stannis intending on gathering what Brothers and Wildings he could before marching south to fight the now-royalist north, the rebellion's leader murdered by seditious lords. With limited success in mustering soldiers and support, Stannis moved south, through the brutal and frigid winter. Last known to be holed up in a village, trying to shelter from the weather.
Abilities: -Accomplished general: While defeated at the Battle of Blackwater Bay, Stannis has defended Storm's End from Highgarden, took Dragonstone from the Targaryans, defeated the Iron Islanders in an audacious naval battle and the landing that followed, and destroyed the Wildling army at the wall. His strength lies mostly in his lack of willingness to deal with intrigue or dissent amongst his ranks, and knowing where and how to apply what force he has available to him. -Prudent ruler: While at times cold and overly-legalist, Stannis is among the more benevolent and composed rulers that vie for power. His people respect him greatly, even if he's the subject of mockery among the nobles, and doesn't discriminate based on origin or status quo, leading him to be equal-opportunity when it comes to gender, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status. -Determination: A man so stubborn and focused on his duty that he is feared for it throughout the land merits such a dogged part of his temperament being referred to as a 'skill'.
[CANON] Stannis Baratheon || A Song of Ice and Fire || No Reserve || 2 of 3
As the years passed, with the cruelty of the ruling family and the intrigues between other important nobles in Westeros coming to a head, Robert would start a rebellion, allied with the North and East of Westeros against the King. Stannis, acting as a retainer to his brother, would hold Robert's headquarts, Storm's End, for over a year. The siege had gotten so dire at some points that the population were forced to eat rats, and then boot leather. The actions of Davos Seatworth, however, made it so onions could be a choice in their diet. Stannis outlasted the enemy, who retreated upon Robert seizing the capital. However, now that Robert was King, Stannis expected the Stormlands and Storm's End. Instead, his younger brother Renly received it, and Stannis the paltry yet traditionally important island of Dragonstone, after ousting the last royalists from it.
Stannis would at least become the Master of Ships on Robert's Small Council, but would begrudge his brother and complain incessently. After the Hand of the King, essentially the Prime Minister, was assassinated, Stannis expected the new rank, having defeated a rebellion by the Ironborn, western raiders, in his tenure. Instead, it went to Eddard Stark, a distant northern lord and somebody more of a brother to Robert than Stannis himself. Offended, he moved to Dragonstone to brood and plan.
Robert and Eddard would both be killed in court intrigue soon after, which resulted the bastard son of the Queen to inherit the throne, the father being the Queen's twin, no less. One of Eddard's last acts was to send a letter a letter to Stannis informing him of this. Acknowledging the bastard son as illegitimate, Stannis declared that he was the rightful king, being enxt in the line of succession since all of the supposed children of the King were bastards. Renly, his little brother, did the same. The result was their armies almost going to war, saved only by the assassination of Renly with, what most people suspect, and rightfully so, shadow magic that Stannis had utilized.
With Renly's larger army now without a King to support, most would join Stannis. With naval supremacy and a closeness to the capital, most royal armies busy fighting a northern rebellion, Stannis would lead an assault on the capital of King's Landing with his entire army and fleet. The battle was bloody on both sides, but due to the genius of Tyrion Lannister, the city's defended, Stannis was foiled and had to retreat. With his forces broken, Stannis languished in depression at Dragonstone.
However, far north, the military order responsible for defending the borders sent letters across the realm, warning of a paranormal invasion and the wild tribes being driven together to break through the military order in retreat. While other claimants ignored the letters from the Night's Watch, a band of ex-cons made ascetic soldiers as punishment, Stannis heeded the warning, spurred out of his depression, and moved his army north. They defeated the Wildlings that were invading, assisting the Night's Watch and earning the respect of both sides in a large way.
Politics would ensure that tensions arose once more, however, Stannis intending on gathering what Brothers and Wildings he could before marching south to fight the now-royalist north, the rebellion's leader murdered by seditious lords. With limited success in mustering soldiers and support, Stannis moved south, through the brutal and frigid winter. Last known to be holed up in a village, trying to shelter from the weather.
Abilities:
-Accomplished general: While defeated at the Battle of Blackwater Bay, Stannis has defended Storm's End from Highgarden, took Dragonstone from the Targaryans, defeated the Iron Islanders in an audacious naval battle and the landing that followed, and destroyed the Wildling army at the wall. His strength lies mostly in his lack of willingness to deal with intrigue or dissent amongst his ranks, and knowing where and how to apply what force he has available to him.
-Prudent ruler: While at times cold and overly-legalist, Stannis is among the more benevolent and composed rulers that vie for power. His people respect him greatly, even if he's the subject of mockery among the nobles, and doesn't discriminate based on origin or status quo, leading him to be equal-opportunity when it comes to gender, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status.
-Determination: A man so stubborn and focused on his duty that he is feared for it throughout the land merits such a dogged part of his temperament being referred to as a 'skill'.