Oberyn Martell II.

Oberyn Martell II. is a Vandal and the son of Quentin and Jane Martell making him a member of House Martell. Oberyn has two siblings in the form of Doran, and Krella Martell of which Doran is the logitimat patriarch of House Martell but due to a bad case of gout he is barely seen outside of the House Martell estates and has thus allowed Oberyn to be the face of House Martell, his sister Krella is a kind and gentle noblewomen that has raised many of the children of House Martell. Oberyn Martell has never married or had any legitmate children, but he does have eight bastard children, called the "Sand Snakes", the four youngest of which by his current paramour Ellaria Sand of House Sand. Some rumors hold that he is bisexual.

Oberyn Martell II. was born in Lucerne Hold, and being a member of House Martell meant that he wouldn't want for anything but he chose a different path. In his youth, Oberyn was fostered at Sandstone, where he trained alongside the members of the powerful House Yronwoods At sixteen, Oberyn was found in bed with the paramour of Lord Ormond Yronwood, so the lord challenged him to a duel. The duel was to first blood, given the prince’s youth and high birth, and both took cuts. Lord Ormond's wounds festered and killed him. Oberyn has been known as the "Red Viper" ever since by friends and foes alike since, due to rumors that he fought the duel with a poisoned blade. Following this despite the calls from his parents to return to Lucerne Oberyn traveled extensively in Westros, where he learned much about poisons and perhaps even darker arts. He had studied at the Citadel, going so far as to forge six links of a maester's chain before he grew bored. He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the Narrow Sea, riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own company. It is said that he beds both men and women, and has begotten bastard girls all over Dorne. The Sand Snakes, men call them. During his travels as the members of the "Sand Snakes" grew he constantly sought them out, and each one was sent back to Lucerne where they live under the last name of Sand in the small vassal House Sand but all known them to be a member of House Martell.

Early History
Oberyn Martell II. was born in Lucerne Hold, and being a member of House Martell meant that he wouldn't want for anything but he chose a different path. In his youth, Oberyn was fostered at Sandstone, where he trained alongside the members of the powerful House Yronwoods

House Yronwoods
Main Article : House Yronwoods

At sixteen, Oberyn was found in bed with the paramour of Lord Ormond Yronwood, so the lord challenged him to a duel. The duel was to first blood, given the prince’s youth and high birth, and both took cuts. Lord Ormond's wounds festered and killed him. Oberyn has been known as the "Red Viper" ever since by friends and foes alike since, due to rumors that he fought the duel with a poisoned blade.

Travelling
Following this despite the calls from his parents to return to Lucerne Oberyn traveled extensively in Westros, where he learned much about poisons and perhaps even darker arts. He had studied at the Citadel, going so far as to forge six links of a maester's chain before he grew bored. He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the Narrow Sea, riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own company. It is said that he beds both men and women, and has begotten bastard girls all over Dorne. The Sand Snakes, men call them. During his travels as the members of the "Sand Snakes" grew he constantly sought them out, and each one was sent back to Lucerne where they live under the last name of Sand in the small vassal House Sand but all known them to be a member of House Martell.

Return
When his older brother became to be reduced more and more by the gout Oberyn returned to Lucerne where he decided to lead the house publically since his brother no longer could.