Annual Amendment Four. 287 AC/2022

As the vessel Rambis was being repaired a local prisoner escaped and absconded with Thomas, Darron’s loyal squire. The repaired Rambis sailed into the Stepstones, in search of the captured Ser Dolins and Thomas. The merchant Ezelina and a conscripted woman named Isabella rounded out the rescue party. The Ironborn camp was discovered and a daring midnight raid was undertaken. Dolins and Thomas were both freed but the latter died in the fighting to flee the island. Isabella was also killed and Ezzelina chose to stay with the Ironborn; her motives for doing so were opaque.

With all living members of the crew back aboard the Rambis, a course was set for Oldtown to continue the search for Victorinox. A fortuitous chance encounter with Darron’s old squire, now a middle-aged man called Ser Shaymus, gave a lead as to the whereabouts of the sword. The stolen blade, and its thief (a man called Blackshield), were found at Golden Grove. Teddy, Ser Dolins, and Gregoriy were imprisoned there after their attempts at subterfuge failed… casting suspicion upon them that they were more than mere travelers (though their identities remained unknown to House Rowan, their captors). They managed an escape from their cells, aided by Summer who had skin-changed into a rat, and were able to steal back Victorinox and escape to the relative safety of the road. The hedge knight Ser Shaymus was sworn to House Jasper as payment for his services.

The Smaller Council returned to Snownook changed. When news of Ser Phillip’s death reached Ella Elesham’s ears she soon packed up her brother Elmo, ward of House Jasper, and departed… the task of saying farewell was left up to a short note. In an ill-fated attempt to satisfy the terms of the marriage pact between Houses Jasper and Lynderly an effort was made to provide a false Zane Thorne to squire for Jon Lynderly. Jon saw through the subterfuge but was willing to accept the boy for appearances sake… in exchange for certain other terms. With that matter settled Teddy’s wife Jana came to live at Snownook shortly before delivery of their firstborn child, a girl, in September of 287AC.

Gregoriy Al-Tem’s profile rose in a major way after he carried out a miracle. The Norvoshi mystic performed a strange ritual in a river that restored Lord Ronnel’s sight. Earning much trust from his lordship, Ronnel raised Gregoriy to the position of Beacon-of-Light and charged him with all matters of spirit and justice. In this capacity Gregoriy formed a Council of Justice, a Norvoshi tradition, and recruited Summer and Brock to join him in enforcing the law.

Under the stewardship of the Smaller Council, particularly Teddy, House Jasper’s upward trajectory continued. Lawfulness and influence both increased significantly in 287 AC. The only deficit came when Lord Wyman Manderly came to collect a debt (outstanding from the expedition to Valyria) on behalf of the Iron Throne and Teddy was forced to dig deep into his own pockets, as well as the house’s coffers, to pay it.

In October of 287AC Snownook was awakened to discover intruders in the castle. After they were dispelled it was realized that the vault had been opened and that the priceless dragon eggs were gone. Shaymus was quickly identified as the lead suspect in aiding the thieves, Ser Carsen was considered another suspect. After Carsen cleared his name and Shaymus demanded a trial-by-combat the two men fought a vicious duel. Carsen, championing House Jasper, narrowly got the better of Shaymus and the disgraced knight was sentenced to exile in Essos. Lord Ronnel departed for Braavos in search of the eggs and left the Smaller Council and Lady Alys to oversee the house in his absence.

Annual Amendment Three. 287 AC/2021

The year 286 AC was fraught with conflict between the Houses Jasper and Lynderly. The neighbors escalated tensions by spying, trespassing, staging false flag attacks and more. All of this was over the disputed ownership of House Thorne’s tin mine. Its entrance was squarely on Thorne land while much of the mineworks extended into Lynderly land. Sensing a conflict, a diplomatic mission was made to the isle of Paps to secure the military support of both House Elesham and House Woodhull. The short voyage was disrupted by a fight with a ferocious Kraken that maimed Jardon and nearly sank the vessel. The Jaspers put an end to the generations long feud on the isle by deposing Ser James Woodhull and the former steward of the Woodhulls was installed to govern. The island’s military would join that of House Jasper in the coming ‘Tin War’. However, Calaila, the Mistress-Of-Whispers, was ambushed en route from one side of the island to the other. Her mutilated corpse was found days later. In search of answers, a desperate Maester Thaddeus performed a strange ritual… but succeeded only in cutting two fingers from his hand in the process. A year later Calaila’s murder remained unsolved.

Under Teddy’s stewardship the house’s influence, lawfulness, and wealth have seen moderate but important improvements. At Snownook Lord Ronnel’s health continued to decline and he formed a Small Council (sometimes called the Smaller Council) of his own, helmed by his heir Teddy, to rule. Inaugural council members included: Ser Darron Brewlan as Master-At-Arms, Jardon Pyke as Captain of the Guard, Maester Thaddeus, Ser Carsen of House Thorne, and Ser Dolins the bard. Ronnel had named Edric, as Master-Of-Horse-And-Hunt, to the council but the surly man never attended a meeting. Instead he sent his daughter Summer as a proxy. Not long after she began to share her mystical ability to inhabit the bodies of animals with her council members.

The Smaller Council’s first decision was a preemptive strike against Snakewood. Ser Carsen and Jardon (and Summer’s dog August) entered under disguise to scout and spy in preparation for the attack. Jardon was recognized by Geroge Lynderly in a tavern because of his rather distinct disfigurements. Jardon swiftly executed George but the alarm had been raised. Carsen was able to slip into a crowd and escape but Jardon was captured and jailed in Snakewood’s cells. Not long after came the ‘Storming of Snakewood’ in which Lord Teddy led an advance party over the walls in the dead of night. The Jaspers won the skirmish for the gatehouse and succeeded in raising the portcullis for the Jasper and Elesham armies to take the keep. Ser Thom Lynderly executed Jardon in the madness that followed and many Lynderlies were slain, including Lord Yoren Lynderly. Maester Thaddeus again tried to perform a ritual with the corpse of an ally… and appeared to find success. As part of a peace deal the Hand of The King decreed that Teddy Jasper would wed Jana Lynderly and that Zane Thorne would serve as Jon Lynderly’s squire. The terms were agreed to, under pressure from the crown, but on the day of the wedding Zane could not be found. The wedding, a tense affair, was held despite this but Jana was permitted to remain in Snakewood until Zane could be found.

A small band of Norvoshi, led by a rogue priest named Gregoriy Al-Tem landed near Snownook seeking the now deceased Viktor Al-Tem. The group decided to remain, drawn to the nearby mountains, rather than return to Essos. Gregoriy and several of his acolytes joined the Smaller Council on a voyage to the Reach to reclaim Victorinox, the recently acquired heirlooml blade of the house. As the Rambis passed the Stepstones, slowed by its lack of a true captain or crew, it was set upon by an Ironborn longship. Ser Dolins was captured trying to repel the raiders and many others were grievously wounded. The Rambis was then stranded near Spottswood for weeks due to damage sustained in the attack. A shipwright had to be fetched from nearby Plankytown and a merchant named Ezelina was met in that journey and joined the group soon after.

Annual Amendment Two. 286 AC/2020

In the two years following the war House Jasper secured prestige and a new title for its Lord, the ‘Marshall of the Fingers & the Isles’. Houses Jasper and Lynderly both vied for the title but careful political maneuverings along with recruitment of several knights gave the edge to the Jaspers. The title comes with responsibility and power; it was created to make the most remote region of the Vale semi-autonomous with Lord Arryn away serving as Hand of the King. The title was granted during the tournament in celebration of the royal wedding, the archery contest of which was won by Jardon Pyke. Wealth, political capital, land, and the rule of law have all improved dramatically during those years and Calaila was promoted to mistress-of-whispers.

Under the direction of Theodore Jasper an expedition to Valyria was organized. After narrowly avoiding pirates, a mutiny, and being sold into slavery… the Jasparians traversed the smoking sea in a vessel bought and captained by Jardon Pyke. The party encountered perils too numerous to name enroute to the ruined capital of the Valyrian Freehold. In the city’s center they found a ruined dragon temple and liberated three dragon eggs from its roost, narrowly escaping with their lives. Much valor and skill at arms were displayed, and none were more significant in these than Ser Darron. During this time Maester Thaddeus took a sabbatical to study under the tutelage of Arch Maester Marwyn at the Citadel. However, Thaddeus has been tight-lipped about exactly what he was researching in his year away. Ser Carsen also opted not to travel to Valyria, instead he spent the year overseeing the construction of his castle and a tin mine. However, House Lynderly has disputed ownership of the mine and it is clear to all that tension is on the rise in the Fingers.

Annual Amendment One. 284 AC/2019

Robert’s Rebellion has come to an end and a new king has been crowned. House Jasper fought for the victors and after one and a half years of war House Jasper’s circumstances have changed dramatically in some ways… whilst in many others the mire continues. The young heir of the house, a wiley handmaiden, a skilled maester, an old bard, a drunken knight, a promising one-eyed warrior, and a freshly knighted farmer were most directly responsible for the House’s triumphs and tragedies. Castle Snownook’s walls remain as stout as ever and the only true threat was a sellsword company whose Captain accepted a better employment offer from House Jasper’s (newly formed) banner house, House Thorne.

In the early days of the war disaster was prevented when Carsen, Jardon, and Darron saved Ned Stark and saw him safely North where he was able to call his banners and raise a great host. Not long after, Carsen’s son and heir was killed by the Burned Men and Jardon was stripped of his title of master-at-arms. Next, the trio helped route the royalists at the Battle of the Bells and then celebrated the marriage of their liege at Riverrun. From there they traveled south and captured a supply caravan and saw its contents smuggled from Weeping Town to Storm’s End, to relieve the starvation caused by the siege there. The Battle of the Trident was a great rebel victory but it came at a price; forces under the joint command of Jardon and Lady Alys protected the command’s flank but heavy losses were suffered. After a lengthy vetting process Darron was named the new master-at-arms. The three men later sailed north of the Wall, retrieved a Valyrian steel sword for House Jasper, unleashed an unholy terror, and were nearly executed by the Night’s Watch as deserters. During the storming of Dragonstone Ser Samwell Stone was killed in his effort to hold of the garrison as his comrades scaled the castle wall.

During the rebellion Theodore, Calaila, Thaddeus, and Dolins set their sights on diplomatic endeavors bringing House Corbray, House Cox, and House Whent into the fold. Months later the four protected and cared for a grievously wounded Robert Baratheon in Stoney Sept as royalist forces under the Hand of the King scoured the town to no avail. After witnessing the wedding of their liege the four were tasked with traveling to the Reach to turn the cloak of the proud and powerful House Redwyne. They failed and some were captured. All escaped with their lives eventually, which was no small miracle. Before leaving the isle hey were also afforded the opportunity to fill their pockets with gold after a mysterious man enlisted their help in robbing the Redwynes. From there they traveled to King’s Landing where a wealthy merchant with a grudge was nearly their undoing.

These acts and more showed Lord Arryn and High Steward of the Vale Nestor Royce the capabilities, and the limitations, of House Jasper. With Lord Arryn leaving the Vale to serve as Hand of the King in the capital Nestor has successfully petitioned for the creation of a new title, ‘Warden of the Fingers & The Isles’ to aid him in overseeing the dominion of House Arryn. House Jasper is in consideration for the title; whichever house is named will gain power, prestige, reputation, and responsibility.

Opening. 282 AC/2018

The years have not been kind to House Jasper. Spring has arrived in 282 AC; although flowers are beginning to bloom and animals are reemerging from their slumber… the air is thick with tension in the castle on the Fingers. Scandal, reavers, and generations of poor leadership have left the original Andal house of Westeros as borderline irrelevant and near destitute. Lord and Lady Jasper are thought to be competent enough but a miracle may be needed to reverse the fortunes of the house. Castle Snownook stands strong as ever but lawlessness in the land has sent many small folk fleeing for a more secure future. Their choices are many as the leadership of Lord Jon Arryn, The Warden of the East, has kept the King’s peace throughout the Mountains of The Moon & The Vale for years. The ancestral enemies of the Jaspers, the Lynderlys, are thought to be actively undermining all efforts to right the ship.

In the capital King Aerys II is rumored to be increasingly volatile and erratic. Some have even taken to calling him “The Mad King”, though such talk is treasonous and punishable by death… or worse. In courts across the Seven Kingdoms some lords had suggested abdication of the Iron Throne to his son, Prince Rhaegar. That talk ceased when Rhaegar kidnapped the daughter of Lord Rickard Stark, the Warden of the North. Rumors are swirling and talk of open rebellion has begun to circulate in wine sinks, inns, taverns, great halls, and shadowed corners throughout the land.

Resilient, loyal, and mature as House Jasper is, those qualities and more will be put to the test in the days to come. In times such as these a future is far from guaranteed. “Stability Comes From Within” indeed.