Dreadfort is the capital of the Kingdom of Bolten, and the ancestoral home of the powerful House Bolten. An important part of the history of Dreadfort has been its relationship with the Iron Islands which has been something they have been forced to keep friendly as without control of the bay of Bolten the entire city would be under threat from ship based attack which it has no defence against other then the small navy of Dreadfort.
Dreadfort is a large city which surrounds a large wooded forest with the large Bolten Keep deep in the center of the forest. The city itself is large with a population over 200,000 of which nearly 70% are House Bolten loyalists so they have a very large support amongst the population of Dreadfort. All of this continues to make Dreadfort one of the most heavily populated towns in terms of total population of Goths. Of the 200,000 nearly half that population live outside the walls in the town that surrounds the walls, and this has created a sort of have`s and have nots with those inside the walls looking down historically on those living outside the walls. The port of Dreadfort has some twenty thousand people living inside its walls, and while controlled by House Marsh of whom have historically not been the most loyal of the Bolten vassals.
The region of Dreadfort was first inhabited by the members of the wealthy House Bolten, and in them the area was the home of the Bolten estate. They used the land acting like Lords of the region and were the producers of huge amounts of food, and goods for trade. Jornin Bolten saw that with the departing Atlantians the Goths were going to have a home of their own, and in this way he begin marshaling his personal thralls in his estate to build farms in the surrounding regions, and he offered goth families the chance to farm these lands the only cost being they swore loyalty to House Bolten. In his 45 year life he would turn his small estate of only 120 people into a town of 1200 and a surounding farmland loyal to him of hundreds more. During the War with Lucerne Dreadfort has become the last bastion of control for the Boltens that they can truly trust, and this has led to the city becoming the site of nearly the entire incoming Lannister army of whom wants to take control of the town.
The region of Dreadfort was first inhabited by the members of the wealthy House Bolten, and in them the area was the home of the Bolten estate. They used the land acting like Lords of the region and were the producers of huge amounts of food, and goods for trade.
It was during the beggining of the Great Migration that the Atlantians of the region begin to pull away due to the huge immigration of Goths to the region.
Jornin Bolten saw that with the departing Atlantians the Goths were going to have a home of their own, and in this way he begin marshaling his personal thralls in his estate to build farms in the surrounding regions, and he offered goth families the chance to farm these lands the only cost being they swore loyalty to House Bolten. For poor goth families this offer was beyond great, and the region around his estate swelled with the coming families. With the farm land all taken he began inviting them to start businesses, and industry in the estate that he now renamed Dreadfort.
In his 45 year life he would turn his small estate of only 120 people into a town of 1200 and a surounding farmland loyal to him of hundreds more.
The Bolten Decision I thought if I supported you, then you would stop. I thought you could be bargained with Ramsey. I was so wrong. I should have never supported you. I should have supported my only true son.
“I wanted him to stop. I spoke to him with all the love I had in me for my brother, and yet all it did was make him believe I wanted him dead. What was there left for me when he refused reason.”
— Domeric Bolten
Domeric Bolten would travel to Hornwood so that he could attend a tournament they were holding there, and also so that he could see Halys Hornwood and his family of whom he knew very well and loved as his own family. Arriving there Halys would tell him that he had sent some of his men to follow Ramsey Bolten around, and from this had discovered that Ramsey had a small keep north of the Dreadfort and would use it to capture, chase, and then rape and kill women. Learning this as well as the plans that Ramsey was beggining to form alongside the power he was gaining Domeric would return to the Dreadfort with Halys, and several of the Hornwood vassals. Domeric and his party would meet Rodrik Cassel a little west of Hornwood where he was awaiting more boats for transport for himself and his vassals, and from Rodrik they learned that followed Domeric leaving the Dreadfort Ramsey had called a meeting of the Kingdom of Bolten, and Rodrik was already running late.
“When we met Rodrik Cassel on the road it was a chance meeting. We weren't moving at a very high speed, and had we not of we would have taken the land route instead of the boat with him, and we would have missed the meeting.”
— Domeric Bolten
Taking a ride with the Cassel force Domeric and the Hornwood forces would reach the Dreadfort days before they would if they had been marching, and would arrive just hours before the meetings were to begin. Domeric would have a long talk with Josh Cole of whom warns Domeric that the Karstark's and the Urnet's are solidly behind Ramsey and that he and his forces will not follow Domeric into a conflict they cannot win. Hearing of the Karstark's joining with Ramsey Domeric meets with Halys Hornwood but finds he has come with a sickness and can barely move forcing Daryn Hornwood to join the meeting as the head of House Hornwood. Arriving at the meeting Ramsey, and Mallador Locke would taunt Daryn over the sickness of his father and would carefully make it known that they were the reason behind the sickness. The arrival of Trevor Hayford would stall the argument and they all entered the Dreadfort Keep where the meeting took place.
“Ramsey was chaos, while Domeric was order. It will forever be the great shame of this land that we allowed chaos to grow. We all stood and watched as Domeric resisted, and was struck down. We all sat and we all watched as Chaos was allow to do that. We should be ashamed.”
— Daryn Hornwood
Entering the meeting the assembled noblemen would hear a speach from Roose Bolten which to the shock of many inside the room was praising towards Ramsey, and slightly insulting towards Domeric. This speach did much to turn many of those who might have followed Domeric, and turned them towards listening to Ramsey instead. Following this Rickard Karstark spoke of growing attacks by Dragonoph fanatics sent by the Kingdom of Lucerne against the western border of the Karstark lands, and Domeric would stand during this and tell the assembled that these attacks were not happening. Ramsey would attack Domerics honor and call him a liar who was secretly in the pay for the Lucernians which noone believed but turned the attention away from the lie about the Lucernian attacks on the Karstarks. Daryn Hornwood did his best to speak on the side of Domeric but was shouted down by the Locke's and Urnets of whom laughed at Daryn and rediculed his lands, and his weakened father. As things broke down and it became clear that Ramsey was going to have the war he wanted, Domeric would look across at Josh Cole and saw him smiling sadly at him, and as the meeting ended Domeric went after Josh Cole and spoke with him alongside Daryn Hornwood. Josh Cole told Domeric once again that the Cole's were not willing to die for some wasted war that the insane Ramsey Bolten wanted, and that Josh Cole was not going to do it, and Domeric realizing this could mean turning to the Lucernians, or staying neutral attempted to persaude him, but despite respecting Domeric there was no agreement from Josh.
“I could litteraly feel the moment when hope died. He stood and he told everyone there a giant lie, and they all believed him. I knew the truth, and I knew what would happen if we did this. I knew their numbers. I knew their quality. I knew a lot about the Kingdom of Lucerne, and I knew that we were not a match for them. Not now.”
— Domeric Bolten
Domeric in that moment knew things were darkening in Bolten, and warned Daryn to take his father and their vassals and return to Hornwood and prepare the army because he would need them when the time came. Doing this Domeric was left alone and went to see his father of whom would be in his throne room with Rickard Karstark. Speaking with the two of them Domeric got the sence that neither agreed with Ramsey, but couldn't get them to tell him why they had sided with him, but Roose did tell Domeric that he needed to follow Ramsey this time, or else. When he resisted this Roose would command it as his king, and knowing the honor bound Domeric would follow this he left the room with the horrifying thought of having to follow Ramsey and his madness.
Conversation Incoming
Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.
Father why would you have turned to his side in there." My father just stared at me with nothing there. I knew the leeches were draining him somewhat of his feelings, but I had never seen him this...this dead. He looked like a shell of himself. "I just don't understand father."
"Sometimes it isn't our place to understand why we are commanded to do things. Sometimes those below the top cannot see all things."
"What am I not seeing father."
"There are many things that a king sees, that his heir cannot. There are many visions that I know of that you can only grasp at."
"Ramsey is my blood father, but he has fallen into darkness. I cannot get him free of that. I cannot save him from himself."
"Of this I am painfully aware of."
"Then why give him the lead."
"Your just going to have to listen to him this time Domeric. Trust me when I say that I have a plan. I have a plan that gives us both everything we ever wanted. All you need to do is listen to Ramsey for a period of time."
"He will lead our men to the slaughter."
"Lord Domeric that appears to be your task then."
"What do you mean Lord Karstark?"
"I mean that you must protect the army from his version of war."
Death of Roose Bolten[]
“It was the final move for Ramsey. He had always wanted to be alone in this family, and he would finally have his wish.”
— Roose Bolten
Following his succesful trip to the Iron Islands and then Mordor Ramsey would return to the port of Dreadfort with the knowledge that he had won the power of two massive armies, and the survival of his rule might now be possible. Deciding that his father was no longer worthy of living he would brag nearly the last few days of the trip that he was going to murder his father, and since most of "Ramsey's Bastards" were loyal to Roose they would send a raven ahead of the ship which told Roose that Ramsey planned to kill him, and asking Roose what they should do. Realizing that he could easily stop the assasination he would instead send no word back, and ordered House Marsh and their vassals to not resist his landing.
“Everyone in this entire kingdom knew exactly the person that Ramsey was. So while some may be just hateful towards Roose it is a clear distinction. Roose while twisted in the mind wants a genuinly peaceful realm. Ramsey while twisted in the mind cares nothing for the kingdom and just wants to see things burn for no reason more then watching everything die.”
— Daryn Hornwood
At this point with Ramsey entering the port, and along with his men making their way towards the Dreadfort it was Roose that begin to plot the final moments of what he knew to be his life. Roose firstly met with his kingsgard and one by one moved them away from him so that they would not die trying to protect him when Ramsey arrived. Three of the five kingsgard he placted this way by sending them southward to Castle Horgut where they would defend the castle alongside the commanders there. The other two in the form of Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten he would send to find Misha Bolten in order to get her out of the city. Wondering where they would go after that Roose told them that they were to go to Hayford and surrender themselves to the Lucernians, and from their swear oaths to Lucerne as protectors of Misha. It was around this point that Ramsey was within a few hours of the city, and thus Roose visited several nobles in the city, and commanded them to leave as well sending many on specific routes that would lead them to be captured by the Lucernian forces. In his final hours waiting for Roose to get to the city he would do these things before he finally sat alone in his throne room having dismissed all of his gaurds and sent away everyone loyal to him.
The Act[]
“What he did in his final moments cannot make good what he had done before he came to his moral understanding but...but atleast he attempted to make his life somewhat less of a travesty.”
— Daryn Hornwood
Ramsey entered the city to no celebration, and besides the opening of gates, and the stomping of his men beside him the entire city was filled with the sounds of nothing but fear and silence. Ramsey would enter the keep where he found all the gates, and doors ungarded and was in this moment discusted by what he believed was the complete failure in his father. Entering the throne room of his father he would confront him, and make it very clear from the first moment he entered that Roose was going to die. Roose begged him to make him understand why Domeric had to die, and that infuriated Ramsey who couldn't take that Domeric was till being mentioned while in his own mind he had just went on a trip that would save Bolten. Warning his father to stop speaking of Domeric unless he wished to die sooner, his father would move closer grap him by the shoulders and say that his time was over and now he was ready to see his true son again. Upon hearing that Ramsey would murder him, and so filled with rage was he that he obliterated much of his body leaving nothing but tattered remains. Ramsey from this point would crown himself and parade throughout the Dreadfort with his Bastards controlling the resistence that might have been created in the city. As this was going on Sandor Dregane, and Urren Sliten would be forced to hide as they had yet to find Misha Bolten, and because of this they were nearly caught by brigands now swarming to join Ramsey's court. Ramsey at this point attempted to find the Roose loyalists in the city, but discovered that the day he was arriving his father had sent away hundreds of nobles, while sending away his own kingsgard. Naming five of his bastards to the kingsgard he would return to the throne room, and begin ruling over the kingdom he had now stolen from his brother, and then his father.
The Royal House of the Kingdom of Bolten so they control the entire Kingdom of Bolten.
Loyal Houses
House Hornwood
Demographics
Race
Human
Ethnicity
Gothic Germanic
House Bolten is an extremely powerful Gothic House located in the capital of the Kingdom of Bolten city of Dreadfort. House Bolten has run the Kingdom of Bolten since its founding, and this control comes from the fact that they basically take the heir of their opposing houses hostage as leverage over that house, and control the most powerful military in the region.
House Bolten is one of the most powerful Gothic Houses in the entire continent of Europe, and they have used this as a symbol of their power. They are not truly Gothic Nationalist but they have over the centuries used this as an excuse for gaining people and houses into their fold. Despite this laizes-Fairre approach they are extremely homogeneous in that they do not intermingle with non-Gothics as a simple rule of their household.
House Bolten has its sigil and words of which their words are "Our blades are sharp," while a common saying among the Boltons is "A flayed man holds no secrets."House Bolten has gained a reputation throughout its history as an extremely violent household that used "flaying" of its victoms as an almost obsessive hobby. Alongside this they have had a habit of annihilating the houses in the region that have come to disapoint or reject their authority.
House Bolten has a system like many other houses in that their is no discussion amongst the actual house of whom will be the heir, but instead a challenge is called out and anyone wanting to take control following the death of the current Lord may challenge for the position. The winner after this challenge becomes the new Lord, and is able to choose his heir at will without any regard to the position of others in his house. This has made for HOuse Bolten to become very bloodthirsty amongst their membership as they all know that if the chance rises even if their the current heir they could be challenged in the position and if this happens their is no taboo against kin killing if it is during a challenge.
House Bolten is an ancient Gothic House that grew powerful during the years following the end of the Numeron Empire, as the Gothic expanded into the regions of Westros. Before they grew though they were living in the vulnerable area of Andal agression which meant that they were born amongst great danger and threat. The family was constantly damaged by the agression of the increasingly angry and violent tribes of the Andals of whom were being pushed farther and farther south by the menipulations of the Chaos Gods. During this time the Goths would push out the Atlantians from the region, and take control and this is how House Bolten would take control of the region they came to call Dreadfort. This wasn't simple as during this time the Goths were constantly battling amongst themselves for power, and for dominence of the region but at the time the members of House Bolten were able to grow and control the area better then their competitor. Following this they have eventually taken control over much of the western region of Westros under the banner of the Kingdom of Bolten, and would only be stopped by the existence of the Kingdom of Lorderon to the north, and the kingdom of Tale to their east. House Bolten has led the Kingdom of Bolten into three wars over the period of Roose Bolten's reign, and these conflicts have come to a head during the end of book two where the Kingdom of Bolten led by House Bolten has basically declared war on the Kingdom of Lucerne, and in book three is going to be involved in a fight to the death over Koenisburg. With the taking of Westbrige the region of Bolten became more interested in its own growth and in particular they really wanted to get the Lucernian army involved in pitch battles which they had the numbers to survive. In order to do this they begin threatening several allies of Lucerne in western Westros in the form of Koenisburg, and the town of Jeutenburg. While these threats rancheted up the Kingdom of Lucerne did exactly what the Boltens hoped they would do when they brought huge forces to bear on the defences of the Westros river crossing of Levin. The Lucernians also made it known that any action taken against their allies in Koenisburg, or Jeutenburg would be deemed a decleration of war against Lucerne itself. This promice to defend meant a lot to the two towns, and most believed that with that the conflict would be ended before any blood was spilled. This idea changed quickly when the Kingdom of Bolten sacked Jeutenburg in a massive siege that took place in the guise of a peace mission.
House Marsh is a large Gothic House located in the port of Dreadfort just north of the city proper and within the Kingdom of Bolten. House Marsh was once the vassal of House Cerwyn but following a disagreement the leader of House Marsh would insult the Bolten lord at the time leading to their dismissal from House Cerwyn and rise in Dreadfort as punishment, but from there they would found the port and grow powerful in the port.
House Marsh was once the vassal of House Cerwyn and in this way they became quite powerful in the north of the Bolten lands to the point that they grew arrogant about their power. In this way they would become involved in a rivalry with House Bolten of which ultimatly ended in the Marsh War in which House Marsh was defeated by a combined Bolten force. Instead of executing the entire family they lost their Masterly House position and became a vassal of House Bolten and would return to Dreadfort. They remained weak in Dreadfort until under the reign of Kyle Bolten House Marsh would take control of the port of Dreadfort and from there utterly dominate the port. Still hating their overlord in House Bolten they became known for knighting several hedge knights of whom became the so called Marsh Houses in the form of House Mersh, and House Barsh. With their loyal houses they would become more seperated from the Boltens to the point that they took control of a number of villages north of the Dreadfort to the annoyance of House Bolten. With the rise of the conflict with Lucerne House Marsh and their loyal vassals sent half their forces westward where they worked alongside House Hornwood and for this reason escaped the retreat eastward without many casualties. Returning to the port they have become a great fear for the Boltens of whom know that when the Lucernians arrive Bowen Marsh is going to side with them.
House Mersh is a medium sized Gothic House located in the port of Dreadfort and inside of the Kingdom of Bolten. House Mersh forms the pair of houses that people call the Marsh Houses alongside House Barsh and in this way they are known for their diehard loyalty to their masterly house in the form of House Marsh.
House Mersh has the same sigil and colors as House Marsh except that they color two of their frogs in different colors, usually purple and blue.
House Mersh would first begin when House Marsh eneacted their plan to regain power. Still hating their overlord in House Bolten they became known for knighting several hedge knights of whom became the so called Marsh Houses in the form of House Mersh, and House Barsh. With their loyal houses they would become more seperated from the Boltens to the point that they took control of a number of villages north of the Dreadfort to the annoyance of House Bolten. With the rise of the conflict with Lucerne House Marsh and their loyal vassals sent half their forces westward where they worked alongside House Hornwood and for this reason escaped the retreat eastward without many casualties. Returning to the port they have become a great fear for the Boltens of whom know that when the Lucernians arrive Bowen Marsh is going to side with them, and there is little question that Simon Mersh will follow his friend Bowen.
House Barsh is a medium sized Gothic House located north of Dreadfort in the forests and controlling Lakewold Hold and inside the Kingdom of Bolten. House Barsh forms the pair of houses that people call the Marsh Houses alongside House Mersh and in this way they are known for their diehard loyalty to their masterly house in the form of House Marsh.
House Barsh has the same sigil, and colors as House Marsh except that they color one of the frogs on their sigil in the color blue.
House Barsh would first begin when House Marsh had grown tired of being weak and used the weak rule of Kyle Bolten to enact their own rise. Still hating their overlord in House Bolten they became known for knighting several hedge knights of whom became the so called Marsh Houses in the form of House Mersh, and House Barsh. With their loyal houses they would become more seperated from the Boltens to the point that they took control of a number of villages north of the Dreadfort to the annoyance of House Bolten. In this expansion House Barsh would take the castle called Lakewold Hold which was in complete disrepair and would be given command of it by House Marsh as a reward. With the rise of the conflict with Lucerne House Marsh and their loyal vassals sent half their forces westward where they worked alongside House Hornwood and for this reason escaped the retreat eastward without many casualties. Returning to the port they have become a great fear for the Boltens of whom know that when the Lucernians arrive Bowen Marsh is going to side with them.
The Port of Dreadfort is a very important part of the city for many different reasons. First of all it allows the Kingdom of Bolten its largest trading port, and it is from the port that ships from Bolten travel northward towards the Empire city of Galheim and are thus able to trade with the Empire, as well as anyone elce basically who has a river connection to the Rhine, or the Arnor river. The second part of its importance is that people often forget that Dreadfort itself is a coastal city. While the keep itself lies far inland the city spreads from the coast of the Westros Lakes meaning that it is very vulenerable to ship based attack.
House Bolten
