House Penrose and the Black Sails Argosy

House Penrose 

"Set Down Our Deeds"

Coat of Arms: Two quills crossed argent.

Seat: Parchments 

Lord: Efran Penrose 

Overlord: Baratheon 

Religion: None declared 

Banners: House Smyde 

Rivals: Martell 

Trade & Interests: dri wood paper

Ancestral Weapon: None 

House Penrose of Parchments is a noble house from Parchments, a small costal town north of Storm’s End in the Stormlands. They are one of the main noble houses sworn to the Baratheons of Storm's End and by extension, supporters of the Targaryen Thrown. Many wise and historical Maesters can trace their ancestral roots to House Penrose. Naturally House Penrose and the Citadel in Oldtown have a close working relationship. 

Camylle Penrose

Camylle Penrose- Forty year old sister to the late Mariyan Qorgyle and Samaya’s promiscuous aunt. Before being marooned at the Oasis of the gods by Seneferu, Camylle was in Sandstone visiting her daughter’s fiancé’s family, to collect a dowry and to visit Shady Sands. That dowry was unfortunately lost to the sandstorm last year. 

Grayce Penrose- Camylle’s nineteen year old daughter, who is engaged to Stephas Smyde. Beautiful as a desert flower like her mother. Grayce is bright, charismatic and has an appetite for books. 

Stephas Smyde- Son of Luthaby Smyde, a noble enough young man who is clearly marrying above his station. He is at Grayce's service at all times and vows to find her lost dowry. 

Trevyr and Reben - House Penrose guards and not-so-secret lovers of Camylle. 

Sosan- One of the nomadic speakers from the oasis who has also accepted the opportunity to travel to Sandstone with the Dream Chaser. She has an obvious unspoken romantic love for Grayce who shares her inquisitive nature. 

Black Sails Argosy 

Flag: a white horned skull on black sails. 

Swashbucklers and ‘merchants’ based out of the ruins of Hellgate Hall. Hellgate Hall was the seat of House Dryland, who ruled as Kings of the Brimstone in Dorne prior to Nymeria's War. 

Capt. Lucifer Dryland commanded an outlaw fleet of three heavily armed brigantines. It was said Capt Dryland repelled an attack from Targaren forces. However, an encounter with the dune pirate hag changed all that. After defeat Capt. Lucifer was set free along with two other captains from the Black Sails Argosy Armada. Their crew however, was enslaved by the Scourge of the Sands the hag's flagship. Captains Baz Blackmont and Jhonas Uller along with Lucifer were abandoned in the sands of Dorne; their ships gone along with any hope for survival. 

Together the three outlaws happened across the Oasis of the gods and have been there for most of the year. Baz and Jhonas both agree Lucifer has not been the same after his encounter with the hag pirate. Lucifer is prone to night terrors and becomes distracted and distant when gazing out upon the desert. 

Lucifer Dryland

Finally, there is Sunhawk a tribal warrior lion-woman who’s pride inhabits the ruins Hellgate Hall, the former seat of House Dryland at the mouth of the Brimstone- a river known for its sulfurous waters. Her bloodlust, viciousness and sudden turns to violence divorced her from her pride over a year ago. Since then Sunhawk has traveled and worked together with Lucifer Dryland for mutual gain. She doesn’t speak beyond simple words mixed with the auran tongue. Her motivations, if any, are unknown. 

Oasis of the gods (Touchstone Site)

Oasis of the gods

Bhuka Witch Doctor

Sunhawk Tribal Warrior

Natari

Sosan

Sandstone, Dorne

Sandstone (Community)

Sandstone
"Don't Turn the Rocks"

Population
Normally Sandstone is home to 15,797 Sandy and Stony Dornish folk alike spread between the Shady Sands and Godsprings oases. However since the King Daeron I Targaryen occupation of Dorne last year there are less than 500 individuals living in Sandstone mostly providing essential services for House Qorgyle. 

Military
Normal Military Size: 1,500 warriors (500 at Prince's Pass, the rest at Sandstone), 500 elite fighters and 31 Sun Guards (elite house guards). However with Balon taking his sister and five Sun Guards to Starfall, there are only 25 loyal Qorgyle House Sun Guards remaining. 

About
Unlike most other hold-fasts in Dorne, Sandstone was not constructed by the coast or a river, instead, Sandstone was built on a flat, dried lake bed between to two oases (the Godsprings and the Shady Sands), and a large salt flat, known as ‘Ghost Lake’ that spans the rest of the large lake bed. The hold-fast pulls its water from the two oases that surround it, and salt from the salt flat. Two small stone cities surround the castle, as the Dornish smallfolk living around Sandstone tend to radiate towards the sources of water rather than the hold-fast itself. Houses are built of stone and stucco with flat roofs and the streets are sand swept stone. The tallest structure is the Tower of Light, a lighthouse that shines like a star at night for weary travelers crossing the dune seas.

Sandstone

Sandstone is a large Dornish Keep constructed completely out of sandstone (with quartzite and marble ornaments). It is a short and stout hold-fast, but very expansive. It is square in shape and has a large dome held together by bronze. The walls are also rather shorter and thicker than what is usually seen in a Westwerosi keep; the walls have an outward inclination and iron spikes at the top. Lastly, four tall minarets fulfill the function of watchtowers at each corner which contain a large provision of bows and arrows, as well as maintaining a small rookery in each one.

Sandstone’s main export is Ablemalle Wood. Ablemalle is a dark brown tree are found at the edges of the Godsprings. They grow tall and have a large canopy. It’s tough but springy wood is used to make bows of all kinds but it is in high demand due to its interesting quality of being light and pliable. It is the wood solely used in the construction of sand ships. It is a tree not native to Dorne and besides water, Ablemalle Wood is one of the most precious commodities in Dorne. 

Family: House Qorgyle 

Coat of Arms: Three black scorpions over red

Seat: Sandstone

Head of House: Sethron Qorgyle, Lord of Sandstone

Heir: Samaya Qorgyle

Overlord: House Martel

Ethnicity: Andal

Founded: Coming of the Andals (6,000 BC)

Holdings: Sandstone

Trade & Interests: Caravan shipping and trading, ship repair, cartography, wood, exploration. 

Noble Members: 22

Family Weapon: Sting

Lord Sethron Qorgyle

Family:

Lord Sethron of Sandstone
Lord Sethron is the current head of House Qorgyle and Lord of Sandstone. He is 47 years old and of above average height and lean. His father was Lord Arthur Qorgyle and his mother came from a wealthy trader family from Lys. He is a widower of 5 years to the Late Mariyam Qorgyle whom he was married to since his 18th name day. Having been deeply in love with her Lord Sethron grieved deeply at her passing and has frequent bouts with depression. He gets extremely angry at any insults to his late Mariyam or House Penrose. He wields the family weapon, a rapier named Sting which was forged across The Narrow Sea in the city of Lorath. It is believed Lord Sethron, perhaps grudgingly, serves as Hand under Lyonel Tyrell, the General of King Daeron Targaryen's Royal Army. 

Samaya Qorgyle

Samaya Qorgyle

Samaya Qorgyle is the 25 year old first child of Sethron and heir to Sandstone. Being his heir Sethron raised Samaya to rule as a Lady. Because of this she is as knowledgeable on how to govern as any High Lady in Dorne. She has a warrior's spirit and a rebellious heart. Her personal coat-of-arms is a white feather held in a griffin's claw on a black background. She has recently obtained a message from a spy in Hellholt that says Lyonel Tyrell is keeping all 14 Dornish prisoners with him in his armada. 

(Ser Balon Qorgyle)
Second born of Sethron and Mariyam, and the first born male. Balon is 23 years old and a member of the Sun Guard. While he knows he shall most likely never become a Lord due to his sister, he is not spurred by it, rather he enjoys fighting in duels and tourneys. He accompanied (Sorghum) Qeen Shela to Starfall with 5 other Sun Guard members). 

Airam and Arin Qorgyle 

Twenty year old twins Airam and Arin are of a bonded mind and known empaths of the family. Their strong sensitivity to the emotions of others make them introverts and thus they are seldom seen in public. 

Nerayam Qorgyle 

Sethron's fifth child, 18 year old Nerayam is the dark Lady of the Qorgyle House. She is a known collector of bones and spirit shards of all types. It is said she can speak to scorpions. 

(Landor Qorgyle)
The sixth child of Sethron, Landor is 15 years of age and a squire to Ser Dragen Redsand. He is a bit small for his age and quiet, but dreams of becoming a 'big-strong fighter one day'. Landor, unfortunately is one Lord Tyrell's prisoners. 

(Shela Qorgyle)
The youngest child and new Sorghum Queen on the Red Council. She is an innocent child and full of wonder. She only traveled from Sandstone a few times in her life, and never outside of Dorne. Because of this she longs to explore.

Other:
Ser Zakar Redsand

Born in Hellholt, Ser Zakar is the bastard cousin of Lord Sethron. Ser Zakar is 41 years old and the current head of the Sun Guard at Sandstone and the commander of its military forces. He is known through out Dorne as a honorable knight and a powerful warrior, especially if he's wielding a mace. His personal coat-of-arms is a red mace-tailed scorpion on a background of pale yellow. 

Maester Kegan Hailing from a small village in The Vale, Kegan is a tall, frail man near the age of 56. He arrived at Sandstone when Sethron was still a boy to replace the old maester who died at the age of 87. Since then Kegan took great care of House Qorgyle. Over the past year Kegan has constantly been at Lord Sethron's side offering valuable council and medicines to ease his depression. He is often in the rookery tended to the ravens as if they were his kin.

Maester Kegan

Jaze Chafferly Detail commander for House Qorgyle and Captain of the Spirit of Hermes. He organized and led the mercenaries at the Sorghum Festival. At Sandstone he is a dock worker guild member called a Docker.

Charad Hardwick Detail lieutenant for House Qorgyle at the Sorghum Festival and Captain of the Dream Chaser and fellow Docker. 

Jaron Granit Caravan Captain and shipwright responsible for the upkeep of Qorgyle sand ships. Is also a noteworthy boyer and Docker. 

Bren Shield Caravan Captain in charge of horses and land stiders for House Qorgyle. At Sandstone Bren is responsible for the House stables, but for the resistance he carries messages from the hold-fast to rebels in the city. 

Ser Dragen Redsand An Ashworm dragoon and a spec-ops member of the Sun Guard. Ser Dragen is the only one who has taken an ashworm as a trained mount. He is secretly a sworn enemy to the Targaryens and has recently revealed that fact to Samaya. 

Dragen Redsand

Septon Calder religions leader of the Faith of the Seven. He leads a small congregation of Sandstone remnants seeking strength in the Faith during these difficult times. Over the year Septon Calder has been gaining popularity at the expense of a few lost souls who have taken to looting the empty city. Faithful come to Septon Calder and the Sept to pray for loved ones who have turned to sin and addiction since the Targayen occupation. Recent sermons sees the death of the Weirwood tree as a purge of pagan idols as a holy act of providence meant to purify the spirit of the community. 

Septon Calder

Notable Locations:

There are modest stables for landstriders, camels, horses, and riding lizards available as well as a single aviary called the Nest for giant eagles and griffins. The city has access to good water so many rich merchants who know of the waters in Sandstone have homes with private water gardens.

Lighthouse (Touchstone Site) 

Before Sandstone there was the Lighthouse. A wide 40' tall tower with no discernible opening, window or otherwise. At the top, a sphere of glass that seems suspended between to curved stone horns encase an eternal light that seems to shine silver during daylight hours and red-gold at night. It is known that the Lighthouse dates back to the Long Night when the Asherati molded this tower of earth on a butte of sandstone. Stories say the Asherati bound the essence of Light to forever shine through the darkness for eternity. 

Lighthouse

Sand Docks

There are two 'airport terminal' style sand docks in Sandstone. The first are the Qorgyle Sun Docks. Here large ramps, lavish tents, water and areas for storage make up what is mainly used by House Qorgyle for their sand galleons and personal sand skiffs. The other is the Merchant Docks located on the other side of the city in the Merchant Quarter and is primarily used by merchants and trade companies. Obviously one can 'park' a sand ship anywhere, but these two areas are specially equipped to offload and store cargo and service the occasional passenger ship. 

Dock #5 (Dock workers guild house) 

A former Goldsands merchant hangar now functions as the secret base for the Dornish Resistance. It has a large office, kitchen and is where the Spirit of Hermes and the Dream Chaser are stored when not in use. Dock #5 also houses 20 former sand dock workers called 'dockers' who are secretly sworn resistance fighters. 

Dock #5

Godsprings (Touchstone Site) 

This grove of trees consist of the typical verity of desert oasis trees as well as about 100 Ablemalle Trees. These trees, brought here from Essos by the Rhoynar, are what sand ships are constructed of and are thus rare and precious. There is a rare Wierwood tree (now dead), unheard of south of the Stormlands, in the Godsprings. Its old bark, free of the typical face or any markings, is a tale of stalwart survival in the hot climate. 

Ghost Lake

The salt flats known as Ghost Lake lies south and east of Sandstone like a crescent moon or scimitar shape. It is not uncommon to find desiccated animals in or around ghost lake because of the scarcity of potable water. Elementals roam this area, so commoners know to be cautious. 

Society House

Edman's Smithy

Edman Vass is a blacksmith from Oldtown who came to the Sorghum Festival for opportunity. What he found was not only valuable customers but contacts to a larger market- Sandstone. With his single assistant, his humble wife and leather worker Jaenis Vass, together they embarked on a journey to Sandstone to make a future together. Edman was the *blacksmith who supplied Lobo with a scimitar and Jaenis sold Mon the hunter's belts that were given to the Wemic sons of Chief Daysun. *Famous for the Doomhammer. 

Alherton-Smyde

This dark but pleasant storefront, located in the Merchants Quarter, was one of the most popular shops in Sandstone. Originally, the store was home to the combined office of a collector, Fenley Alherton who sold everyday items as well as items he collects in his travels and a bookbinder/scribe, named Luthaby Smyde who went into business together as ‘Alherton-Smyde’. After a rather explosive and public falling out last year after Fenley Alherton returned from a trade deal with Alyn Valeryon at Salt Shore, Smyde moved uptown to open his own business (see The Poison Pen, below).

Odds and Endings (the old Alherton-Smyde building)

For almost a year the former Alherton-Smyde it just sat, dark and still. When it finally reopened for business, it did so under the name 'Odds and Endings’, to a city that was almost entirely empty. The shop carried top quality tools and rare medicinal herbs to alchemy but has since fallen to disrepair and has become a shelter for alchemically addicted ‘tribe’ of unfortunates called the Flasks. No one has seen Fenley Alherton in some time. 

The Poison Pen

Originally in business with Fenley Alherton, Luthaby Smyde took his interests in the old Alherton-Smyde and opened a new store called the Poison Pen. The store front legend says the shop is a place where one can purchase or trade common books, purchase rare inks, scribing and cartography supplies, as well as scribe services. 

Luthaby Smyde

The Grace of Goddess Ministry

Located on a quiet lane in the poorest district, the Grace of Goddess Ministry has stood since the city was young, weathering storm, fire, and Targaryen invasion for decade upon decade. In fact, the ministry is so old that it has even outlived its patron deity the Mother Rhoyne, whose worship was strong when the city was founded, but fell out of favor after Aegon’s Conquest.

It still held strong with women however whom would secretly pay seasonal tributes to Mother Rhoyne with blood. Today, the ministry's function is more civic than religious, and the remaining religious element has been specifically nondenominational for decades now- a fact which angered more than a few of the City's religious elite. The ministry’s Doors are open 24 hours a day to souls in need, and many of the city's poor would have died long ago were it not for the noble efforts of Sister Maria and her nursemaids, as well as, the brave women who came before them. 

Sister Maria

Desert Vistas

Thanatos Dunes

Hunter

The Great and Cracked Plane

Spirit of Hermes and Dream Chaser

Spirit of Hermes

Spirit of Hermes and the Dream Chaser

Rarely seen, the sand schooner is a popular vehicle among Dornish Houses, who use it as a merchant vessel and as a warship. 

Sand Schooner: Gargantuan vehicle; Profession (sailor) +2; Spd wind ×20 ft. (nautical average); Overall AC –3; Section hp 25 (hardness 5); Rigging 15 hp (hardness 0), Section AC 3; Ram 8d6; Space 40 ft.; Height 15 ft.; Crew 15; Cargo 50,000 lbs.; Cost -

Cargo on each sand ship: Sorghum (2,000 gp., 2,000 lbs.), 50 (full) water skins (25 gals. ea.) (50 gp, 200 lbs.), 50 bottles of fine wine (500 gp., 750 lbs.), 5 Campsite kits (60 gp., 360 lbs.), 15 cold weather outfits (120 gp., 105 lbs.), 20 cold weather blankets and furs (10 gp., 20 lbs.), (15 hot weather outfits (120 gp., 20 lbs.), 5 large umbrellas (20 gp., 15 lbs.), 1 spare mast (100 gp., 250 lbs.), 2 spare sails (25 gp., 50 lbs.), 2 ballistas (250 gp., 500 lbs.), 4 horses (400 gp., 8,000 lbs.), 1 Sand skiff (150 gp., 200 lbs.), 

Weapons: 10 Alchemist Fire (200 gp., 10 lbs.), 10 Thunder stones (300 gp., 10 lbs.), 10 tanglefoot bags (500 gp., 40 lbs.) 

CARGO: 13,530 lbs. Approx Crew (15): 3,000 lbs. (allowance 1,000 lbs. for PCs)

Because ships that travel on sand need not worry about sinking, a schooner’s cargo holds have additional hatches located on either side of the hull. These two doors are built to pivot downward and create a simple but effective cargo ramp. An unencumbered sand schooner moves 2 to 7 miles per hour, depending on the wind, and requires flat, open sand on which to travel. A sand schooner has enough room on its deck for two light ballistas capable of firing alchemical weapons. 

These sand ships are all that remains of Nymeria's Ten Thousand ships that ferried the Rhoynish people across the sea to Dorne over 800 years ago. Of those that are sill in use are a piecemeal but serviceable conveyance across the extreme desert environments of Dorne. Sand ships use a magical pearl or opal to focus existing winds to propel and control the vessel. Master Kegan of Sandstone speculates are less than fifty of these remnants of history that are sill in operation; most were destroyed during Aegon's Conquest. 

The Spirit of Hermes is Captained by Jaze Chafferly it carries the bulk of the foodstuffs, water and trade goods brought back from the Sorghum Festival. 

The Dream Chaser is Captained by Charad Hardwick it has the most room for passengers and animals brought back from High Hermitage. 

Supporting the two sand ships are two land striders, each can get along in the deep sands with little trouble, with mounted mercenaries as scouts as well as two skiffs (see below) usually piloted by Jaron Granit and Bren Shield. 

Dream Chaser

Sand Skiff: Large vehicle; Profession (sailor) +2; Spd wind × 30 ft. (nautical good); Overall AC 3; Section hp 15 (hardness 5); Rigging 10 hp (hardness 0), Section AC 3; Ram 2d6; Space 10 ft.; Height 5 ft.; Crew 1; Weight 200 lb., Cargo (crew only) 500 lb.; Cost -

This lightweight framework rests atop a pair of polished runners and sports a single tall sail. Designed for a single rider, a sand skiff is swift and useful for scouting, carrying messages, and getting around hazards larger ships find difficult. A sand skiff moves 3 to 10 miles per hour, depending on the wind, and requires flat, open sand on which to move.

Land Strider

Full Moon over High Hermitage

Maester Tranis of Oldtown

The One and the Five are Maesters from Oldtown whom secretly serve the Targaryen Crown and in return the Crown shares lost lore and forbidden secrets gathered during Aegon’s Conquest with the cabal. 

Maester Lormer of Highgarden

Theodin Rivers of Riverrun

Nigat Rivers

Headmaster Ka'heb

(Smallfolk) Village at Goldsands

Jaron Granit of Sandstone

Bren Shield of Sandstone