House Caron of Kingsgrave

House Caron of Kingsgrave is a new Great House of Seven Kingdoms, and the principal house of Dorne, having replaced House Martell in the Conquest of Dorne. Their seat is Kingsgrave, formerly the seat of House Manwoody. Their sigil is a white skull with a black nightingale, on a field of yellow. Their words are A Song for the Dead.

A technical cadet house of House Caron of Nightsong in the Stormlands, House Caron of Kingsgrave was created in the aftermath of the bloody Dornish Conquest, which saw Dorne brought into the Seven Kingdoms by force. With House Martell, the ancestral rulers of Dorne deposed following the conflict, Ser Jacklyn Caron was elevated to the rank of Lord Paramount of Dorne and Warden of the Sands. It was savagery which earned infamy and reknown; as such, outside of perchance the Marches and Stormlands, House Caron of Kingsgrave could be seen as an upstart.

The Warden of the Sands own tactics mirror the people he rules over, which is unsurprising as the knight was a marcher of dubious parentage.

The Seat of Kingsgrave, granted to Ser Jacklyn, is an ancient holdfast high in the Red Mountains, once ruled by House Manwoody which was made extinct in the Dornish Conquest.

Pre-Conquest of Dorne
House Caron cannot trace its lineage to kings or queens, but they do hail from House Caron in the marches who have held the title Lord Of the Marches since before the unification of the Seven Kingdoms. House Caron was raised up by Queen Daenaeyrs after leal service in the Dornish War. It’s most infamous acts are like scars to the people and region they now serve.

The Sacking of Kingsgrave
Jack Caron led a daring raid while crown forces were still marshaling their power in the South, first taking the garrison of the Tower of Joy by surprise, they slaughtered everyone and then donned the silks and armor of the Manwoody men and rode hard for Kingsgrave.

After deceiving the guards at the gate, Jack and his men took quick control of the gate house, slaughtering the men stationed therein, which allowed the rest of the raiding party into Kingsgrave in the dead of night. Members of house Manwoody were awoken by spears, swords, and knives being thrust into them. No one was spared. It is written that Jack made all, man woman child and the elderly hold a blade and if they could lift it a fraction they were executed.

By morning the Nightengale of Caron flew over the battlements. Jack then sent ravens to House Fowler asking for aid for a potential siege, and laid an ambush on the pass to catch the Fowlers. Lord Fowler barely escaped with his life and some of his men, which then began the siege at Skyreach.

The Battle of Sunspear
House Caron of Kingsgrave was among the combined forces which assaulted the seat of House Martell, and fought their way to the Sandship, and the Tower of the sun, with Jack rumored to be one of the first amongst the breach. But that is legend and rumor. As such it is also held as rumor that it was Jack Caron who tossed a child and its mother from the Tower, which forced House Martell to its knees.

The Tallgrass
House Caron again was among the combined forces of crown loyal Dornish and Crown present for the Battle of the Tallgrass. After Lord Yronwood, who would become a friend to Lord Caron, rallied the Royal forces following the death of the King Consort, 'Mad Jack' lead the pursuit of the routes Dornish, burning cities and villages as he went. Any bowman caught was given no quarter and killed in the most cruel of ways for killing Durran Dondarrion. It is said Jack provided a bag of finger bones to the Queen, as a gift and to pay respects.

Post-Conquest of Dorne
House Caron has ruled in relative peace for the past five years since their ascension in Dorne. They maintain good relations with the loyal Dornish, and keep hostages with those whose loyalty cannot be counted without force. Some still wish for the old days and whisper on rising. However any reprisals for the conquest are met with a heavy bloody hand.