Symon Greenmont

Symon Greenmont is the third-born son of Lord Lucos Greenmont and his first wife, Lady Alyse Greenmont. He has two older brothers, Lann and Rylon, and two younger sisters, Mara and Myria.

Symon was played by Jason.

Appearance and Character
The majority of Symon's features are soft, save for his sharp nose, strong jaw, and piercing green eyes, all of which he inherited from his father. His skin is fair in texture but tan in hue, and his frame is tightly constructed, in contrast to his older brothers, who towered over him. His hair is mahogany in color and flows to his shoulder blades, when uninhibited by the golden ribbon he commonly uses to keep the wilder wisps away from his field of vision. The ghost of a beard clings to his face most days.

His clothing generally opposes the basic conventions of his fellow Maesters, as he rejected their sullen robes long ago. Instead, Symon's style is inspired by the many merchants, pirates, and prostitutes he has associated with during his time in Oldtown. While the flowing nature of the base fabrics he wears may suggest his status as a Maester, the manner by which they are colored, lengthened, tied, and layered clearly set him apart.

From an early age, Symon demonstrated an acute curiosity, and was instructed in etiquette and other courtly subjects by his mother, Alyse Greenmont, and learned the basics of history and horsemanship through the many hours spent under the tutelage of Ser Donnel of Babbelbrook and Ser Olyver Yronwood. These lessons were further reinforced by the many Archmaesters he has studied under during his time at the Citadel. The majority of links he has received consist of either Copper, signifying mastery in various Histories and Legends, or Fool's Gold, signifying mastery in the workings of the Underworld.

In manner, Symon is something of a genteel-yet-social butterfly, engaging regularly in raucous activities and trysts which would typically befit a noble lord's third-born son, while dutifully fulfilling the responsibilities inherent to his station as a Maester. Though he is a proven academic, the stuffiness oftentimes associated with that achievement is wholly absent from his personality.

History
As the third Greenmont son, Symon was viewed throughout his youth with a somewhat benevolent gaze. His responsibilities, such as they could be during his early years, were mainly devoted to the study of etiquette. However, he took to these lessons rather quickly and demonstrated a voracious curiosity that his mother, Alyse, identified as raw intelligence, unfocused and pure. She understood, after some discussion with her peers and most trusted advisors, most notably Donnel of House Babblebrook and Olyver Yronwood, that such a mind needed to be nurtured by means that could not be secured among the mountains.

And so it was that after the birth of his younger sister Mara, the Lady Alyse implored her dearest husband to allow Symon to travel to the Citadel and study with the Maesters there - perhaps to even become a Maester himself, as so many third sons often do amongst the noble families of the Reach. After some 3 years of convincing, Lord Lucos relented and as such, Symon was sent to Oldtown, serving as a Novice at the tender age of 9. For another 3 years, his mind raced through those ancient halls with near boundless energy and wonder, and at age 12 (on the eve of his 13th nameday), he received his first link - a Copper sun signifying a comprehensive understanding of Dawn Age Mythologies.

The letter he wrote to his dear mother detailing this accomplishment was received shortly before the birth of his youngest sister, Myria. Mercifully, she was able to write a voluminous response telling him not only how proud she was, but detailing to her precious boy the many joys she wished to impart as a reward for his hard work, had she the strength to return to Oldtown, just to run her fingers through his brown hair again as she had so many times before, just to hold him close to her breast if only for a moment, just to plant one more kiss upon his tender cheek.

Lord Lucos came to Symon shortly thereafter, and offered to withdraw the boy from the Citadel so that he might return and pay his respects to his “All-Mother” (an affectionate term that Symon had given her, after misunderstanding a servant girl who, when he was 5 and asked where babies came from, had replied that it was “S'all mother, child, don't you worry your head about the rest.”). At first confused, then angered, then finally anguished, Symon did agree to return home so that he might kneel amidst the Godsgrove and pay homage to his mother - against the advice of the Maesters who argued that such an act would stunt his potential. It was therefore agreed that the boy would return to the Citadel after a short time. During this period, he refused to see or hold the baby Myria, and not even his brothers could bring a smile to his face.

After returning to Oldtown, he flung himself into his work, distracting his mind from the tragedy with course upon course, the majority of which held little to no interest to him. Yet with the arrival of his 16th nameday came a face unforgettable - it belonged to Tamora of House Hightower. To his brothers, he wrote of a “woman of infinite wonder” that he pined for constantly, to the point where he took it upon himself to edit entire volumes of Dornish poetry (a favorite of hers) in order to woo the girl - an act that saw him gain two more Copper links in that year alone. After the toil of the tomes, she awarded him his first kiss, but they drifted apart just as suddenly, as she was soon after sent away, for reasons unclear to him.

However, so invigorated by the love he felt brewing within, he carried this passion into the next year, after he found himself longing for the embrace of one Isolde Fletcher, a lowborn daughter whose fixation with the stars and constellations lead Symon to pursue a Bronze link. So impressed was Isolde with his (admittedly limited) knowledge of the heavens, and so smitten by his (exhaustively poetic) descriptions of their mythic origins, that she resolved to bestow a suitable reward unto this handsome Acolyte. After the two confessed to their (completely obvious) mutual attraction, it seemed only fitting that the stars in their eyes would crash together in a sense beyond a kiss, the first time for each of them, if only to split apart almost immediately after.

For a time, Symon was content to study and build upon his knowledge. Indeed, he even secured for himself a Yellow Gold link so that he might work as a manager of accounts in the offices of a Marcher Merchant - after all, when one establishes a rapport with a certain Merchant's bastard daughter, perhaps named Ramona, and when one finds out she lives above the storeroom that a manager of accounts is responsible for, sleeping in the most comfortable bed, surrounded by all the wine she could ever want, just aching for a chance to find someone to share both the bed and the refreshment with - Well, suffice it to say Symon's contentment was duly interrupted by his 3 weeks as manager of accounts.

After this, Symon was expected to begin the process of taking his vows, a prospect that he had long debated - a prospect that was further complicated by the return of Tamora Hightower. Over the course of many months, they rekindled the flames of their past love and sparked a roaring fire that burned bright and true. It was almost enough to tempt his mind away from the potential of becoming a full fledged Maester. But before it could blister into a wildfire, it was extinguished with her departure late one night, with naught but a note and a golden ribbon laid by the bedside. He understood why, and knew she meant well. After all, the scandal alone would’ve broken her reputation - a Hightower (of only moderate consequence) in the arms of a Maester (who had yet to take his vows of celibacy)? The very foundations of Oldtown would crumble. And so he tied the ribbon in his hair, as she had done so many times before, after their love had been… Reaffirmed. Sometimes multiple times throughout the evening. And into the morning. And maybe the afternoon.

At any rate, his soul once again rejuvenated by this most joyful of loves, he took the vows dutifully and for years toiled in tedium. The monotony was only broken by the occasional brothel visit (where, ingeniously, he never engaged in proper intercourse, thereby preserving his vow of celibacy whilst also satisfying his carnal needs via alternative methods) and, of course, the one time when he and his fellow Maesters traveled across the Narrow Sea under the supervision of one of the Archmaesters to investigate Rhoynish culture and its impact upon the Kingdom of Dorne.

After this, it was broken by Rebellion - an unfortunate debacle that left his house defeated and suffering. He could only piece together what had happened to the Greenmonts in rumors, some of which shattered his heart entirely. The ravens he sent and the letters he wrote earned only the most scant replies, always from servants and attendants, never directly from his father or even the noble Ser Olyver. He often wonders if the Citadel kept the writings of his family from him, to reinforce his vows or some such nonsense. Resentment was sown throughout his body and finally bloomed when a message arrived whilst he walked the streets of Oldtown, bearing terrible news of another death that Symon had been absent for, a death that would reap the harvest and fuel his malnourished spirit as it trudged down the only course of action his soul now saw in the face of doom.

Events of After the Fyre
Preluding a terse conversation with one of his closest mentors, Archmaester Gyllan, Symon discarded his chains and abandoned the Citadel, abdicating his vows. He sent letters via raven to Ser Olyver (assuming he was in Fox Hollow), Mara (knowing she was in Old Oak, and so sent this message in code), and Myria (assuming she was in Summerhall), intent on coordinating with his younger sister upon potentially having his Maestership revoked. A deciphered copy of the letter to Mara was sent along with a prostitute by the name of Annybelle, whom Symon had previous relations with during his tenure, in the hope that she would deliver the message in the event that the raven fail to reach Old Oak. He investigated ways to travel to that distant town by ship, after being refused Tamora Hightower’s audience.

After securing passage to Old Oak aboard a humble fishing vessel in exchange for labor, Symon witnessed and walked amidst the departing procession from his sister Mara's wedding. This, he recognized, would place him ahead of the arrival of Annybelle (who had, he surmised, traveled via land), which complicated matters. While among the many noble bannered caravans which passed by, Symon learned of the actions of Ser Olyver against his brother Horatio, as well as the crowning of Mara as the Queen of Love and Beauty over the Princess Daenerys Martell. Finding the Martell's caravan, Symon showered praises upon the Princess (who he presumed was somewhere within) to no particular effect.

Upon arriving at Old Oak, he reunited with his sister, now a Lady Oakheart, and met with his newest in-laws during their morning meal. There, he learned of their intentions to travel to Highgarden for Court. Regrettably, he was unable to inform the assembled family of his own ambitions (to dissolve his Maestership and thus secure his claim to Fox Hollow), but all good things in time appropriate.

After breakfast, Mara and Symon departed from the Oakhearts to speak in confidence at the foot of the Weirwood tree housed in Old Oak. At the Godsgrove, he and Mara mourned for the passing of their father and so resolved to have Symon accompany herself and her Lord Husband as counselor and confidant. He stayed behind for a time to recover from his travels, as Mara, Alester, and the Lord Jon Oakheart departed for Court. While recovering, he met with the Lady Jayne Oakheart and struck an accord with her - an unlikely friendship which persuaded Symon to attend to Alester in a capacity beyond advisor, even going so far as to educate the boy free of charge.

Later that very evening, he reunited with his sister and the caravan they traveled alongside. Over the journey to Highgarden, Symon set about informing himself upon the goings on of Court and its attendees - in doing so, he learned of the general situation within the Reach, and of many rumors which he hadn't been privy to given his confinement to Oldtown. Most notably, he learned of Lord Leo Tyrell's Lord of Whispers, Lady Desmera Redwyne, and of her controversial reputation. In her story of being a bastard who took for herself the name which was rightfully hers through subterfuge and cunning, Symon felt a suitable analogue. He planned to offer his services as information analyst and compiler to the venerable Lady, but as reality struck the former Maester, this ideal situation would soon prove unsatisfactory.

Before arriving to Highgarden proper, Symon found himself quite at odds with the family he had travelled with - and the family he had erroneously assimed had maintained loyalty to the House he sought to reclaim. His initial disdain for the Lord Alester Oakheart was intensified as the heir's disposition became one of romantic interest. Symon found himself angered that the Young Oak would dare betray his sister's sensibilities, just as her attachment to the lordling was growing in intensity, a fact which further concerned him. Once in Highgarden, Symon expressed his reservations numerous times to Mara, to no true avail.

Going out on his own whilst the Court busied itself, he established contact with the Lady Redwyne and with his stepmother, Lady Marzia Greenmont, as well as Tamora Hightower and the Lady Rowan. He would have continued to conspire with his dearest sister, but both Alester and Mara soon absconded from Highgarden to follow the warpath of Lord Gormund Peake, who had in spectacular fashion refused to pay taxes and established the Southern Rangers to combat the growing Dornish Bandit threat which plagued the Marcher's territories.

Before he could process the gravity of this situation, Symon inevitably found himself entangled in a scheme conceived by Desmera. In secret, a plot was described to him whereby a feast hosted by Lord Merryweather for the benefit of Court would be sabotaged by diluting the ale which he had purchased to prove himself able and willing to adhere to Lord Leo Tyrell's demands. Symon was to be the plan's architect, yet in this work he found himself at a crossroads.

Although the solution to this endeavor was laughably simple to his mind, its end result was completely undesirable and contrary to his assessment of the current political climate. If one minor traitor house could fall at the behest of Desmera's vines, whose to say House Greenmont would not be next? And all while the would-be hand of the Blackfyre Pretender, Lord Peake, trapsed along the southern borders of the Reach having just refused his liege Lord taxes? Just as the old wounds of Loyalist and Traitor began to fester once again? At his own peril, Symon initially refused participation in the venture, offering to go and research methods to curtail the Lord Peake and his cronies, but quickly reconsidered after a dagger was held to his gullet.

So motivated to return to the venture, and acting upon his own intuition, Symon advised the Master of Whispers and her cohorts along pathways which would ultimately doom the venture to failure, such as securing the diluting water from the Mander instead of from closer sources so as to avoid detection, and to employ miners to widen the various passageways of Highgarden to more easily transport the tonnes of ale Merryweather had secured. He did so as he envisioned that the peace Desmera sought would only be won with an iron fist, and while he had no particular fondness for the now destitute House Merryweather, Symon believed that those who would repair their reputations with the crown should be allowed to do so for the benefit of all within the Kingdom, as a means to demonstrate the more merciful compulsions which run contrary to popular rebel narratives of the oppressor versus the oppressed. Besides, to his mind, there were more pressing matters at hand.

Though his efforts were indeed successful and the feast was deemed a wonderful occasion by all in attendance, Symon could not shake the unease of unrealized consequence as Desmera glared at him throughout the night. He quietly adjourned from the festivities and slept under the shade of the Three Singers, the massive Weirwood housed within Highgarden, awaiting to see what the morning would bring.

It brought stony silence from the camp of the Lady Desmera, along with the departure of his dear sister, Mara, and her lord husband. After leaving a message for his dear relatives with a few Oakheart servants, for the next several weeks, Symon secured for himself a meager income by offering his services as tutor to several servants in Highgarden, and avoided paying for lodgings by sleeping in the local Sept's pews or underneath the Three Singers. This practice came to a halt when he was rudely awakened by a pair of guards who unwittingly heralded the arrival of Lady Desmera, and news which served to shatter the heart and head.

Symon was given a letter by the Master of Whispers, who insinuated quite plainly that she was well aware of the truth of his situation, and wielded that information as one would a weapon, before departing from his presence. Left to his own devices, Symon set about deciphering the missive he received, which appeared to be written in an advanced form of the Greenmont code. After great difficulty, he came to understand that a person within Fox Hollow alleged that his stepmother, Marzia Greenmont, performed some form of blood sacrament in order to secure a pair of twin male heirs to House Greenmont, under the advice and influence of her Grandmother, Lady Rosana Crane, and urged Lucos' (formerly) youngest son to return home.

Shocked by this potential development, and by the possibility that this entire letter was fabricated by Desmera to spur him into reckless action (an admittedly paranoid delusion), Symon intensified his efforts to consolidate loyalist presence within Fox Hollow, first courting the audience of the Ladies Rowan and Crane at a private dinner. Whilst travelling to said dinner, Symon encountered the entourage of Lord Leo Tyrell, but concealed his presence from their sight after recognizing Desmera amidst their number.

Once at dinner with Ladies Rowan and Crane, in confidence, he revealed a modified version of his predicament, and sought to persuade each to act against the Lord Peake and his Southern Rangers by convincing them to travel to Fox Hollow and hinder any efforts undertaken against Dorne or the Lord Tyrell. This venture ultimately failed, as force of personality alone did not prevail against the worries of public appearance and sentiment. Embittered by this, Symon revealed the status of Lady Marzia to her biological mother, and adjourned to investigate the final means by which the court might be spurred to action - the potentially fraudulent activities of Lord Peake and his allies.

This investigation began rather roughly, as though Symon was given access to the various historical and financial records of Highgarden by its Maester, Godrick, the disorganized nature of the information hindered any effort to parse true understanding from its mildewed and woefully chaotic pages. Which is more, Symon spent the better half of a day locked within the tower where this information was held, discovering over the course of a night a dagger, which he used to stab a message into the door of the Maester's office, and a vial of Widow's Blood which Godrick had apparently brewed. Taking possession of this poison for his own, Symon was released from his accidental prison and was thrust into audience with his childhood sweetheart, Tamora Hightower, for reasons yet to be revealed.

Quotes
Excerpts from “Far From Mother Rhoyne: An Examination of Rhoynish Genealogical and Sociocultural Influence within the Houses of the Reach” by Maester Symon:

“... But not all who endured the integration of the esteemed retinue of Nymeria were subject to suspicion or hardship, even beyond the Dornish. For in the case of certain houses, such as the Greenmonts, prior contact had already been established in ages past. Indeed, given the exhaustive historical record, it can be surmised that at least a portion of the Dornish and Westerosi populations departed for Essos during the Long Night, a migration that, by some accounts, may have been undertaken willingly. There is some evidence to suggest that certain Lords within the area now considered ‘The Reach’ ordered forerunners, merchants, and scouts to go forth and tell the dreaded tales of the bitter cold to all who would listen, to entreat noble houses of faraway lands for assistance, and to ride as far as their steeds could carry them. Apparently, if these accounts prove accurate, some of the more clever among those travellers realized that they could take their steed aboard a seafaring vessel and go well beyond this call to duty.

And so it came to pass that the Rhoynar people were exposed to faint glimmers of Westerosi culture, and in turn found themselves entwined with certain noble families, if only in the most base sense. This is not to suggest that their fledgling relations were strictly carnal, but as Nymeria's flock spread their wings and flew to every corner of the Dornish kingdom, for those who found themselves within the borderlands, it was into the arms of family - distant and distinct from themselves, but family nonetheless - that they were received.”

Of Words and their Weight

Translated from Valyrian

"Dearest esteemed Archmaesters,

At age 9, you received me. For 17 years, I have toiled. But even before I breathed inside the hallowed halls of this colossal failure, this monument to accumulation, this wretched residence that, like a thief most nefarious, robs its residents of both time and bodily faculty, before I spoke the oath which chained me to a destiny of servitude and suffering, my father, whose memory is forever etched upon my mind, whose blood and name is mine own, regardless of what your Citadel would believe - my father taught me our words.

Forget Me Not.

I stood by as black fires raged across the countryside, consuming multitudes within their darkness - I learned of the deaths of loved ones long after their passing, through rumor and raven! I searched within my heart and found an unbearable ache, that no diagnosis could provide answer for. Only now do I realize that, lodged within the flesh of its chambers, was the order my house impressed upon me at birth.

Forget Me Not.

For so long, I have forgotten, my senses surrendered to the illusion that this fetid tower's promises would lead me to a purpose most majestical… But not for all the knowledge in the world can I ever accept the eradication of my namesake. For even as I sat before a candle of black glass, in darkness, alone, still I heard the voice of my father, of my mother, of my siblings and loved ones whisper to my heat oppressed brain.

Forget Me Not.

And so I take my leave, to follow the commands that my very soul demands I pursue. Though the road ahead is certainly treacherous, and lies in disgrace, I shall lay myself before the judgement of all Gods and face it, for by all considerations, I have weighed your words against my family's… And I regret to inform this most esteemed council that yours have been found wanting.

With sincerest spirit,

Symon Greenmont of House Greenmont, former Maester"

"As a Maester, I vowed to bear the weight of these chains for life, but as a Greenmont, my house calls, and I must go. I know not what the morning will bring, but I do not fear awakening - for as the sun returns, so too shall the son. Father, Mother, Brothers, by all Gods and mercies, please... Forget me not, as I forgot you."