History of House Cockshaw

The Cockshaw family is from the western coast of the Reach, just a few short leagues from Dorne. They traditionally were fisherman, but as the family grew in status, they branched out to other forms of livelihood including farming, shipping, and mercantile occupations.

Prior to the Blackfyre Rebellion, Bastian Cockshaw and his brother, Rolph, captained cargo ships between the Free Cities and Westeros. Some have speculated that they were actually smugglers, but history has painted them with a kinder hand. The Lord Hightower of the time greatly respected these brothers, particularly Bastian, because he was gifted at the art of negotiation and diplomacy. Hightower sent the Cockshaws to King’s Landing during the Blackfyre rebellion to support King Daeron II. Rolph died in the field at the hand of one of the Costayne’s, also bannermen to Lord Hightower, but mysteriously supporting the Blackfyre cause. The Costaynes are the Lords of Three Towers Castle. Lord Hightower pardoned the Costaynes after the rebellion, but granted their southern tracts of lands and holdings to Cockshaws as a punishment.

Benjen Cockshaw, Benedict’s father, greatly improved the status of House Cockshaw in the eyes of the Hightowers, when they formed a security pact with the Dornish houses along the Western coast. Pirates are always a problem along the coasts and in recent years Ironmen raiders were rather bold during the Greyjoy Rebellion. The Dornish House Clay and House Cockshaw found they more easily defended their shores if they worked together. However, trust has never been an easy thing between Dorne and The Reach. In order to solidify the security pact, Benjen’s daughter, Jeyne was married to a Clay heir and a Clay daughter, the beautiful Jade, was married to Benedict.

Lord Hightower was grateful for the added security this agreement provided. However, in recent years old hostilities have reemerged between the powerful Tyrell family, the Great House of the Reach and the Martells, Dorne’s great house. At a tourney, Oberyn Martell severely injured Willas Tyrell, the heir to Highgarden and left him crippled. While Oberyn protested that it was an accident, the Tyrells do not believe this, since Oberyn has been rumored to use poison weapons. The Tyrells, therefore, have been even cooler to House Cockshaw than they normally would be to a Minor House.

Current Members and Retainers of House Cockshaw (not all)

Lord Benedict and Lady Jade (of House Clay)

Sons:

Benarys (deceased) - Died of a flux last year. Benarys showed promise to be a great leader of battle, particularly sea warfare.

Berowne – 23 y.o and now heir to House Cockshaw and Tri Feather Hall. Also called the Orange Baron due to his love of the color orange.

Daughters:

Ashara – 10 y.o

Knights:

Ser Daemon Tyrell – son of one of the Tyrell cousins. Ousted from House Tyrell after some perceived bad behavior.

Retainers and servants:

Kableta Qorgyle – Scout and Master of the Hunt. She is a Dornish cousin of Lady Jade’s

Maester Rudolphus – the Maester has served House Cockshaw for 10 years now.

Nicholas Flowers – Man-at-arms. Respected for his great strength. He is rumored to be a bastard of Lord Costayne’s.

Nat – Stable groom. Came to serve House Cockshaw through the good will of Berowne.