Roderick Blackwood

Roderick Blackwood is the Lord of Raventree Hall. He has seven children between two wives and numerous grandchildren.

Appearance
Once a man of black hair, the old Lord Roderick is now completely grey with his hair. While he is older, he is still standing tall though he now requires the aid of a cane to ensure his stability when he walks.

History
Born in 242 AC to Lord Edmyn Blackwood and Lady Jonquil Mooton, Roderick was the first of three children. From an early age, he exhibited a certain cunning when it came to things he did. He was no great swordsman though he was passable enough in most endeavors of arms, though he was never one to take part in a tourney. He was always content to sit back and watch the other knights hammer at one another. In 260 AC, he married Lady Merianne Vypren in the godswood of Raventree Hall and the couple would have three children: Benjicot, Roger, and Alys. Though the young Blackwood would be forced to quickly march off to war as the Marcher Lords had rebelled against King Aemon and raised the Black Dragon. House Blackwood would not see such a thing and Edmyn and his two sons would ride to war with a small force of men behind them. They would not gain much renown though Roderick would gain valuable military experience in his time serving.

Merianne would die of childbed fever a moon after Alys' death in early 265, devastating the young father. Though Lord Edmyn would give his son time to grieve, he insisted he was still young and would be able to sire more children, arranging a betrothal with House Caswell in the Reach for the young Lady Arwyn Caswell, though she was five years his senior. The two would have four more children: Brandon, Lyanna, Sarra, and Tristifer. In 270 Lord Edmyn would die and Roderick would become Lord of Raventree Hall.

As he grew older, Roderick continued to invest in learning all he could about those around him, especially his traditional rivals, House Bracken. He would conduct some amounts of espionage during the 270s and 280s against them, though nothing came of it. The Name Day Plot of 288 AC would bring more attention to the Riverlands and House Whent was rendered extinct by the execution of old Lord Whent for his treason. Lord Roderick did not enjoy the increased attention of the realm though he held no real love for the Whents, though he was surprised at the Hardy's appointment to the large castle. Lady Arwyn would perish in 300, leaving Roderick to mourn another wife.

The death of King Aemon I was mourned by House Blackwood, who journeyed in force to King's Landing for the funeral. Brynden Rivers had been a staunch ally of the Old King in his early reign and while his bones had been denied a return to Raventree, the family still held the man in regard. Though the ascension of King Viserys III was cause for some alarm given the man's following of the Red God. Roderick was disgusted by this but then again he was used to being surrounded by those that were not of his faith. The Blackwoods were the only house south of the Neck to follow the Old Gods still. In any case, he continued his rule, though the rise of more and more followers of R'hllor would begin to bother him, with many being refused entrance to Raventree or driven off his lands. When he did let them in, it usually did not end well and in one case, he caught a man stealing his silverware and hanged him for it.

This would prove to be the fateful decision. His granddaughter, Melissa, the youngest of Benjicot, was riding in Bracken lands for whatever reason and was set upon by a group of Red Priests who burned her for Roderick's actions against the Red Faith. Roderick was outraged and found Lord Bracken was just as angry about the circumstances. Roderick quickly set to investigating everything around these Red God followers and anyone that had connections with them, convinced that someone had ordered them to attack his family. Many roadside trials were held in Blackwood lands though no outright war would come, as he could not risk offending the King as well as the other lords of the Riverlands that had converted to R'hllor, for he could not take them alone, even if he had Bracken on his side. He continues to work tirelessly to find all those that murdered his granddaughter and bring them to justice, as well as root out R'hllor from the Riverlands. Now he travels to King's Landing with much of his family behind him, though he marches with plenty of armed guards, citing his granddaughter's murder as plenty enough reason to ensure his safety.

Family
https://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=2gl2ammlms&f=491772403993990798

Household
Brandon Blackwood- Castellan of Raventree Hall

Archibald- Maester of Raventree

Lucas "Pennypinch" Rivers- Steward of Raventree

Hugh of Fairmarket- Master at arms of Raventree

Ser Chester the Hunstman- Captain of the Raven's Talons (guards of Raventree)

Kennos- Smith of Raventree

Lothar- Kennelmaster of Raventree