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| Michael Nardone as Ser Bruce Longbough |
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| name: |
Ser Bruce Longbough |
| father: |
Nikolaes Longbough |
| mother: |
Dianna Longbough |
| spouse: |
Aleksandra Longbough |
| issue: |
2 sons, Timonthy Longbough (b. 286), Henry Longbough (b. 289) |
|
| gender: |
Male |
| age: |
31 |
| height: |
5'7" |
| weight: |
180 lbs |
| eyes: |
Blue |
| hair: |
Brown |
|
| honorific: |
Ser |
| house: |
Nayland |
| position: |
Knight, Master At Arms |
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Background
Ser Bruce Longbough is a common-born knight currently serving House Nayland of Stonebridge as their Master At Arms. Ser Bruce was a close friend of Lord Ryker Nayland from their time at Riverrun, coming over to act initially as Stonebridge's Captain of the Guard in August 288. He won his knighthood at the Battle of the Bells fighting for House Blackwood. After the Rebellion, he was employed as House Tully's Master of Foot, commanding all of their professional footmen. Though he fought on the side of Robert Baratheon, he does not appear to bear any ill will to those who fought for the Targaryens. He is of mild, friendly character, very fond of discipline and drill when it comes to his job but informal outside of it.
Since leaving Riverrun and becoming Stonebridge's Captain of the Guard in early August 288, Ser Bruce, his wife Aleksandra and sons Tim and Henry have settled in the crossroads town quite well. He reorganized the Guardsmen and adding a considerable amount of training to their duties. He instituted mutual training as well as structural reforms to the Stonebridge Militia alongside Ser Rygar Nayland and has changed the way security is conducted within the town.
His first task when he arrived was to investigate the murder of Nayland retainer Jens Howard in Terricks' Roost. Here, he established a rapport with Ser Jarod Rivers which continued after the conclusion of justice to Master Howard's killer. Other than constant training and patrolling, Bruce also accompanied the Naylands to Riverrun to hear Lord Hoster Tully's judgement on the inheritance of Stonebridge. His attempts to convince his former liege, Lord Hoster, of House Nayland's claim on Stonebridge met with mixed results. He led part of the Stonebridge Militia against the rabble recruited by Ser Jaremy Middleton in November. At the beginning of the Ironborn invasion of the Cape of Eagles, Ser Bruce was in Riverrun on business. He returned as quickly as possible, and commanded the small contingent of Nayland Guards at the Battle of Alderbrook. The initial clash at the Siege of Seagard went well for the Nayland Guards, where he led the armsmen to fill a gap left by withdrawing Stonebridge Militia and successfully held the line. During the next week's events, he led an attack into the narrow streets and during fighting in a house was struck down by an Ironborn's battleaxe. Once recovered and landed on the island of Harlaw, Ser Bruce again took another serious wound. He continued in his duties after recovering and participated in both the Siege of Grey Gardens and that of Pyke, where the men under his command performed very well.
In early June 289, Bruce was afflicked with a weakening fever, likely due to the variety of wounds he received during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Luckily, his position as one of the senior household knights afforded him good care by Nayland healers as well as his wife Aleksandra, and by mid August 289 he's been back on his feet and returning to duty. Around then, the Lady of Stonebridge, Isolde Nayland, alongside the Lord Regent, Ser Riordan Nayland, raised the common-born knight to Stonebridge's Master At Arms position. Around this time Ser Bruce also took a new squire, the quiet lad Hoekenn Stenhammer, son of one of the House's other knights, Ser Karel.
Born Nov 06, 257, Bruce Longbough came from a well respected family. His father, Nikolaes, was in Blackwood House Guard for many years as a foot soldier while his mother, born Dianna Oliver, raised a family of five. The Longboughs are from the Blackwood Vale around Raventree Hill and keep the Old Gods like most Blackwood smallfolk. Almost innumerable generations of service afforded the Longboughs with the status of Yeomen, recognised for their dedication to their lieges with a respectability beyond the peasantry. He passed an uninteresting childhood, like most smallfolk children. However, unlike most smallfolk children, the children of Yeomen in Blackwood territory were traditionally quite well educated and Bruce was no exception. He learned his letters and numbers while young, as well as a number of other abstract subjects such as history and even some rhetoric. At 14, Bruce was levied in the local militia and did levy service every month until he was 16. When not doing the service he did odd jobs around town to help with filling the larder at home. At 16, he decided to follow his father's example and join House Guard as footman.
Years of hard training and somewhat boring service followed. At 20, good work ethic, skill and discipline put him to notice by Raventree Hill's Master at Arms, who recommended him for a promotion and higher service. Thereafter he was inducted into the Blackwood foot unit, a very well drilled, well reputed group called the Black Ravens. As he got older his work ethic, learned discipline and keen skill again served him well. The Blackwood lands were fairly quiet, but as always in country such as theirs, there were restive patches. Bandits and river pirates were always a problem, and that problem was dealt with by using what resources House Blackwood had in ample supply – its troops.
In the next five years, Bruce became experienced and blooded by fighting these bandit groups. The Black Ravens method of operation was constant drilling and strong discipline, as well as a cultivated esprit de corps. These lessons would serve him well, and by the age of 25 he was a senior serjeant at arms within the Ravens, in charge of twenty or so men.
During Robert's Rebellion, the Tullys declared in favour of Lord Robert Baratheon, bringing the Blackwoods on their side. The Tully forces joined the rebel army in the Riverlands and marched south with a large host to Stony Sept. This was the first time Bruce had his taste of a true set piece battle.
His first battle was at Stoney Sept, called the Battle of the Bells. Here, during the fierce, confusing urban combat, Bruce was forced to take over lead of the sixty or so Black Ravens in the first line of battle when the knight in charge was shot in the eye with an arrow and the senior serjeant wounded. He rounded a corner, spotting enemy through the dust clouds, and ordered the Ravens to wheel around and foot charge a group of mounted knights and their retainers, just over twenty in total. They routed these surprised horsemen, with Bruce personally pulling a knight off his horse and hacking his head off - Ser Micah Caswell, of House Caswell from the Reach. As the horsemen fled, they disrupted the lines of the men behind them. Bruce ordered the pursuit ceased momentarily to keep order, then had the Ravens charge the Royalist line which faced them. The men of House Mooton's professional guards, already disordered, were slain a in great numbers and also routed. The action on the streets of Stoney Sept brought him to prominent notice of his Lord, Tytos Blackwood, who had him knighted and put in command of the Black Ravens. The new Ser Bruce Longbough elected to remain as a footman.
At the Trident, Lord Blackwood petitioned again for his troops to be included in the Rebel's first line on the left, alongside a host largely formed of Vale lords. A long, exhausting day of battle started off with an over extension of formations, leaving the Ravens isolated from the main group. Quick thinking and discipline brought them into a hollow square which saved them from attacking Dornishmen, until the rest of Robert's army caught up. By this point, a number of levies had already broken, leaving the armsmen and cavalry alone to face the enemy. After they were relieved, they fell back into the left reserve. Bruce and the Ravens were moved up again later on and participated in Ser Lyn Corbray's charge which broke the Dornish forces, and began to roll up the remainder towards the centre. The flanking attack here contributed to the breaking of the Royal centre after Prince Rhaegar Targaeryan was slain by the Rebel King Robert Baratheon.
The movement, aggression, battle craft and discipline displayed by the Black Ravens under Ser Bruce's command put him in note to Lord Hoster Tully, the Lord of Riverrun. Though the war would be over for Ser Bruce, Lord Hoster requested him for his service from his vassal, Lord Tytos Blackwood. Bruce would spend the next five years as Master of foot, in command of House Tully's professional infantry. Though his common background didn't enable him to advance past this position, he was happy where he was and in any case had no desire to move on.
It was in Riverrun that he met his wife, Aleksandra, the daughter of a knight, Ser Cleyton Brooks and a minor daughter of House Grell, Kaitlin Grell, sister of Riverrun's Master of Arms, Ser Desmond Grell. Aleksandra is eight years his junior. They were quickly married in 285 and by early 286, their son Timonthy was born. It was also in Riverrun that he re-encountered Ser Ryker Nayland, in service to House Haigh, whom he had first met towards the end of the Battle of the Trident. They struck up a close friendship. In 288, when Ser Ryker was recalled to his home region of the Riverlands and became Lord Ryker Nayland of Stonebridge, he requested Ser Bruce's service as the Captain of his Guard. Honoured by his friend's request, Bruce was granted leave by Lord Hoster to move to Stonebridge and swear to House Nayland.
Family
Ser Bruce is married to Aleksandra Brooks, the daughter of a Tully knight Ser Cleyton Brooks and Lady Kaitlin Grell, who herself is a younger sister of Riverrun's Master-of-Arms, Ser Desmond Grell. He has two children, both sons. The eldest is Timonthy, born in 286 and named after Bruce's paternal grandfather. His second is Henry, born in 289 and named after Aleksandra's Lord grandfather, Lord Henry Grell.
His father, Nikolaes, a retired House Blackwood foot retainer and mother, Dianna, brought up a family of five – three boys, including Bruce, and two girls. Nikolaes now spends most of his time tending to his garden, as well as helping drill the Blackwood levies twice a month, while Dianna continues to nag him as ever.
Both of Bruce's brothers served with House Blackwood during Robert's Rebellion. Ser Adrian Longbough, his older brother, served as a horseman (where he won his knighthood) and Erik, his younger brother, as a member of the Black Ravens unit that Bruce commanded. Ser Adrian Longbough is now the Captain of the House Blackwood Guards. Erik Longbough decided to go to King's Landing after the Rebellion ended and enroll in the City Watch, otherwise known as the Gold Cloaks. He's been there for about five years.
His two sisters, Lindsay and Genna, live in the Blackwood lands of Raventree Hill with their husbands and children.
Ser Bruce's former squire, Ser Amos Longbough, is his nephew by way of his older brother Ser Adrian. Ser Amos was knighted after the Greyjoy Rebellion and sent back by his father to serve in the Nayland Guard as a signaller. Bruce has a cousin, Ser Creighton Longbough, who was also knighted at the Battle of the Bells and is in the service of House Redfort of the Vale.
Physical Features
Before you stands a man likely in his early to mid thirties. His body seems to be that of a soldier; he is not bulky, but muscular with a purpose and a look of someone who trains hard. He stands 5 foot and 7 inches tall. His skin is lightly tanned. Below his short brown hair lies two sleepy blue eyes, bushy eyebrows and a prominent nose. His facial bones are somewhat angular. He appears closely shaven, likely taking the razor every few days. Wrinkles and lines have hewed themselves into the man's face, likely from a life filled with hard work and hard experience.
Equipment
Ser Bruce favours weapons and armour that are useful to his particular trade. His sword is of good quality castle-forged steel, long enough to use behind a shield as a striking weapon without being too long to become cumbersome or tiring. He is proficient at the use of spears in both anti-cavalry roles as well as for throwing. Although it is not his strength, he is knowledgeable in the use of crossbows and carries one into battle with the rest of the Nayland Guard.
Years in a professional unit of house guards meant that he served in many roles; he can use both small horns as well as trumpets for sounding communication and is also well versed in the proper use of standard for the purpose of signalling.
His armour remains simple; a mostly open faced steel helmet with nasal bar, cheek and neck guards, mail hauberk on his chest and shoulders, steel bracers for his lower arms, greaves and cuisses for his legs. Underneath his armour, as most people do, he wears a padded jerkin. His shield is a large tower design, made of laminated layers of bentwood which have been curved as they were put together to more easily turn heavy blows away.
His mount is a Blackwood Fell Pony named Maddock. Like Bruce, it is dark, short, stocky and built for work. The Blackwood Fell breed is known for its abilities at travelling long distance with heavy weight in rough terrain rather than its prowess as a battle mount. As such, Bruce frequently uses Maddock as a pack animal. When he does ride the gelded pony, it's general to and from a location - he has only very rarely fought mounted. This seems to agree with the stout pony quite well.
Allies and Foes
When Ser Bruce was knighted after the Battle of the Bells, he was permitted to take his own sigil. He chose, "Per saltire red and black, an armoured footman in gold."
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Ser Gedeon Tordane A good enough soldier and a seemingly alright man. It's a shame things were brought to a head as they were, but no one can truthfully say that my lieges started it. |
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Lord Ryker Nayland: I knew Ryker from the camps after the Trident and befriended him in Riverrun. A good man with a solid heart, he was never the same after his first wife died. I think his hatred for most people around him consumed him in the end. Gods rest his soul and give him happiness in the afterlife. |
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Amelia Millen A foolish whore who made many wrong decisions. I saw her hanged and feel that justice was done properly. |
| Faith and Spirituality |
The Gods watch over all of us, something I've been raised to believe and experienced to know. But I don't see why anyone is confined to one set of Gods. If the Old Gods weren't watching over those who kept faith, we wouldn't exist. And if the Seven hadn't guided the swords of the Andals, those noble folk wouldn't have swept through Westeros so long ago. The Gods are everywhere and innumerable. Confining ourselves to one set makes no sense. I'll make sure to raise Timonthy and Henry like that. |
| War for the Throne |
I followed my liege to war as a Serjeant of the Blackwood and left a Knight of Tully. I saw many things in the War, some fantastic and many brutal. That said, I did my duty. I know those on the other side did theirs. Sometimes I wonder if going to war over a drunkard's lost love was the right thing to do. Would Westeros have not been better with Prince Rhaegar? And then I remember my duty, and shut up. |
| Greyjoy Rebellion |
Dismal savages tried to claim what wasn't theirs by their arms. The squabbling on the Cape left us open to attack, but good men, sword and pike pushed them back. While some of them are honourable men and a few good soldiers, most are utter barbarians. The steel of Westeros brought them to their knees and a harsh boot crushed the fight from their throats. Good riddance. |
Typology
ISTJs are often called inspectors. They have a keen sense of right and wrong, especially in their area of interest and/or responsibility. They are noted for devotion to duty. Punctuality is a watchword of the ISTJ. The secretary, clerk, or business(wo)man by whom others set their clocks is likely to be an ISTJ. ISTJs are most at home with "just the facts, Ma'am." They seem to perform at highest efficiency when employing a step-by-step approach. Once a new procedure has proven itself (i.e., has been shown "to work,") the ISTJ can be depended upon to carry it through, even at the expense of their own health.
Bruce is has been classified as a strong ISTJ (54/82/70/91) according to the Keirsey Typology personality test. Full description can be found here.
A version of the test you can take "in character" (or out) can be found here.
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