As High As Honour

House Arryn rules the Vale that shares its name, a fertile land nestled within the great range of the Mountains of the Moon. In their idyllic domain, the Arryns have often found themselves isolated from the greater events of the realm. This ended nearly fifteen years ago, though, as Lord Jon Arryn’s devotion to his former wards, Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon, drew House Arryn directly into the events that ended the Mad King’s reign. With Jon Arryn’s recent and sudden death, rule over the Vale falls to his widow and their sickly son, Robert, the last of the Arryn line. Lady Lysa has fled to the seclusion of the Eyrie, a virtually impregnable stronghold high in the mountains and the seat of House Arryn, and threatens to shut the Bloody Gate to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms at a time when the knights of the Vale may make all the difference.

History

The Arryn name goes back some 6,000 years to the Kings of Mountain and Vale, one of the oldest and purest lines of Andal nobility. Wars were common in those ancient days, but like the Kingdom of the North, the Vale was sheltered from external threats by its geography.

Following the Targaryen conquest, the Kings of Mountain and Vale bent their knees and kings became the Lords of the Vale, Defenders of the Eyrie, and Wardens of the East. Aerys II then repaid centuries of loyal service with the murder of Lord Jon’s nephew and heir, Elbert Arryn, for accompanying Brandon Stark as he sought to challenge Prince Rhaegar. When King Aerys then demanded the heads of Lord Arryn’s former wards, Jon raised the banners of rebellion. Lord Jon became Eddard’s good-brother by taking Lysa Tully to wife, securing Lord Tully’s aid. At the war’s conclusion, Robert Baratheon rewarded Lord Jon for his support by making him his Hand.

Holdings

The Eyrie is a small, beautiful castle, widely considered one of the most formidable strongholds in the Seven Kingdoms. The approach is by a difficult path up the face of the Giant’s Lance, guarded by a series of defences: a stout castle named the Gates of the Moon, commanded by the High Steward of the Vale, along with three waycastles called Stone, Snow, and Sky.

Beyond these castles, the Arryns name a Knight of the Gate to act as castellan of the twin watchtowers that guard the Bloody Gate, the door to the Vale itself, against which a dozen armies smashed themselves in the Age of Heroes. The armies of the Vale are a match in size for those of the North or Dorne. They are an untapped source of military strength in the chaos following King Robert’s death.