House Shett

Arms of House Shett. Words: 'The Peaceful Mind Knows Salvation'

House Shett was a House of First Men descent, situated along the southeastern coast of the Vale on the Bay of Crabs. Their seat was Gulltown.

History

House Shett was one of the ancient houses of the Vale’s stony eastern coast, long entrenched in the crags and coves that stretch from Gulltown to the cliffs beyond. Their ancestry reaches deep into the Age of Heroes, when they stood among the early kings of the Narrow Sea.

It was in this age that the Shetts positioned themselves as first rate fishermen, relying on the sea to feed their people, as well as for the early stages of trade. But theirs was never a realm of peace for long. Gulltown, their chief seat, proved as much a prize as a stronghold. It was coveted, contested, and often besieged.

In more recent centuries, House Shett has found itself locked in a bitter and bloody struggle with the Bronze Kings of Runestone. The feud began when a kinsman of Osgood III Shett's forbears slew Yorwyck V Royce in battle, striking down the lord of Runestone where he stood. Though meant as a blow for dominance, it only set the stage for decades of Royce vengeance.

Osgood III, heir to the long line of Gulltown Kings, inherited this war as a curse more than a cause. Besieged in Gulltown by the unyielding Yorwyck VI Royce, and abandoned by the Old Gods who gave him no victory, he turned to the Seven from across the sea. His conversion marked a historic and controversial break with tradition. Desperate, Osgood entered into alliance by marriage with Ser Gerold Grafton, a knight of Andal stock, and pledged to raise a grand sept in the heart of Gulltown if the Seven delivered him from ruin.

While some call it blasphemy and others call it wisdom, all agree it was desperation. Yet the act has left House Shett transformed. No longer merely a First Men house, but a symbol of the Vale’s shifting tides, caught between old blood feuds and the rising influence of Andal power.

It was perhaps this same desperation that led them to convert in the first place, that ultimately lead to Osgood accepting to duel King Yorwyck VI Royce outside Gulltown. Yet instead of facing him directly, Shett would send Ser Gerold Grafton pretending to be him. Grafton would be slain by Royce but not before the deception was unmasked.

In his furry King Yorwyck Royce led his host to descend on the city in what would be known as the fall of Gulltown. Shett would lead his men in the battle but would ultimately retreat back to his throne room. It is here that he was confronted by King Yorwyck Royce and by the end of this meeting, both Shett and his son would be dead.

With their deaths House Shett would go extinct and their seat of Gulltown would come under the direct rule of House Royce.

Notable Members

King Osgood III Shett

Osgood III Shett is known for forsaking the Old Gods in favour of the Seven, becoming the earliest of the First Men kings to openly embrace the Andal faith. Besieged and outmatched, he sought salvation through marriage and conversion, allying his house to the Andals of House Grafton in a last, desperate bid to keep his hold on Gulltown.

This desperation would lead him to accepting to duel King Yorwyck Royce in front of Gulltown, yet his attempt to have Ser Gerold Grafton to take his place in the duel would be discovered and Grafton would be killed. Despite leading the defence of Gulltown, the city would fall to House Royce. He would retreat to his throne room where he would be confronted by King Yorwyck Royce who would fight the man before slaying Shetts son in front of him before ending Shetts life.

Houses Sworn to House Shett

• House Grafton of Gull's Harbour