Sabitha Blackwood

Sabitha Blackwood is the current Lady of Raventree Hall. Short and dark of hair and eyes, Sabitha has the typical Blackwood looks. She is pale, with smooth, unblemished skin and a long, elegant neck. Her most distinguishing feature is her hair, which is glossy and jet black, and frequently worn in loose waves. She dresses in striking scarlet gowns paired with feathered black capes, the colors of House Blackwood.

Early years
Sabitha was born in 354 AC to Rosamund Mallister and Lucas Blackwood. She was their first daughter and second child, and was welcomed with much joy by her parents.

She received the education expected of a young lady of her birth and station, learning her letters and her sums, as well as how to play the harp and embroider. She proved an excellent student, picking up on every skill quickly with the aid of her memory, which allowed her to recall an image long after she’d stopped seeing it. Still, she was often chastised by her mother and tutors for gossiping with her sisters.

For it was from an early age that Sabitha enjoyed spreading rumors and causing mischief. A naturally sneaky child, she learned on her own how to move around the castle unnoticed, and so she’d spy on the servants, on the guards, on her own family, and file the information she learned away for later use.

She proved to be a rather manipulative girl, even from a young age, utilizing those secrets to get her way. If she was caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing, all she had to say was that she knew what this servant and that stableboy were getting up to in the dark, and it’d all be forgotten. But what she loved best was to spin tales; the more elaborate and convoluted, the better. She got a perverse pleasure out of knowing someone could believe her lies, but she always tried to make them seem plausible, and learned early on that the best lies were always sprinkled with truth.

In 363 AC, while she was still a child, she was betrothed to Edwyn Tully, a very advantageous match, but one Sabitha paid not much mind to. She knew she was to marry Edwyn Tully one day, but it seemed so far off she never thought about it.

In the meantime, she enjoyed the rest of her childhood, much of which was spent with her Dragonfly cousins at High Heart, running around following her big brother Rodrick. Sabitha would get them all out of trouble by coming up with her usual tales, which she’d then manage to have the servants spread across the castle until they became as good as truths.

It was during this time that she became close to her cousin, Jenny Dragonfly, who was the same age as her. It was thanks to Jenny’s influence that Sabitha would approach peasants and other people her parents would not have approved of, her inquisitive nature always getting the better of her. She would come to empathize with their plight, and although she was too pragmatic to go as far as Jenny did, she did possess something of a rebellious streak that would later cause her to seek out the outcasts of Raventree Hall and befriend them.

It was in this way that she came to know Alyx Lychester, a female warrior who had been exiled from her House. The two became fast friends, and one day, when Sabitha was returning to High Heart near nightfall with Alyx, they were accosted by two bandits. Sabitha would have died had it not been for Alyx, who fought them off easily. After that, Sabitha gave her a home at Raventree Hall and Alyx became her sworn sword, with no objection from her family once they’d heard what had happened (with certain embellishments on Sabitha’s part, of course).

Scandal & feud with the Brackens
By 372 AC, the date of her marriage approached. Suddenly afraid that she might never know love if she did not act now, Sabitha did something uncharacteristically impulsive and had a brief affair with Tristifer Vance, which resulted in her becoming pregnant. She had to acquire moon tea to get rid of the babe, which pained her greatly, but her sorrow turned to rage when Lyle Bracken informed lord Tully of what had occurred, causing the betrothal to be broken. Furious, her father ordered for her to be married off to her cousin, Olyver Blackwood, instead.

Now with as burning a hatred for the Brackens as that of her family, and a particular vendetta against Lyle Bracken, Sabitha gladly offered her services to her family’s aid when Melissa Blackwood was caught in bed with a Bracken. Remembering the incident with Sabitha, which had brought so much shame to their House, coupled with their hatred of the Brackens, the Blackwoods sought out a way to rid themselves of this stain. Together, they came up with the lie that Melissa had been assaulted by Darryk Bracken, despite Melissa’s protests. Seeking to redeem herself for her past mistake, Sabitha helped spread the tale.

But graver matters interrupted the Blackwood-Bracken feud, as the realm rose in rebellion against King Vaegon Targaryen. House Blackwood took up arms against him too, following their liege lord in joining forces with the future King Daeron. Raventree Hall was spared the worst of the slaughter, but Sabitha nevertheless provided assistance in the form of her spy network, while her brothers, cousin, and Uncle fought in battles and skirmishes throughout the Riverlands.

Current events
Sabitha traveled to Riverrun in 380 AC, shortly after her brothers' deaths, to offer her condolences to the Tullys for their losses and to offer Lord Tully her services as a Spymaster.

Timeline

 * 354 AC: Sabitha is born to Rosamund Mallister and Lord Lucas Blackwood.
 * 363 AC: She’s betrothed to Edwyn Tully.
 * 372 AC: She has an affair, becomes pregnant, and drinks moontea to get rid of it. Lyle Bracken finds out about it through his spies and informs Lord Tully, which results in her betrothal with Edwyn Tully being broken. She is then quickly married off to her cousin, Olyver Blackwood.
 * 374 AC: Her daughter Morya is born.
 * 375 AC: Her father, Lord Lucas, passes away; her brother Roderick becomes Lord of Raventree Hall.
 * 376 AC: Her son Robin is born.
 * 378 AC: The feud with the Brackens escalates, with her help.
 * 379 AC: Her family joins the Rebellion. She provides assistance with her spies.
 * 380 AC: Her brothers die in the feud against the Brackens, and she becomes Lady of Raventree Hall.

Family tree
https://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=1890h8lurny&f=937572479741070901

Supporting characters

 * Alyx Lychester, Warrior (Swords) & Sworn Sword Exiled from Castle Lychester for mysterious reasons, Alyx has found a purpose serving Lady Blackwood, whose orders she obeys without question--be they honorable or not.


 * Desmond Blackwood, Uncle & Castellan  Though his family has suffered many losses and he laments them deeply, Desmond is content that his grandchild will inherit Raventree Hall and be its lord one day. He’s served as Raventree’s Castellan for many years, and is a veteran of the Bracken feud and of the Defiance, where he crippled his leg. His fighting days may be over, but his loyalty to his king and his House is not.


 * Stanton Blanetree, General  Stanton Blanetree was an old friend of the former Lord Blackwood, Sabitha’s brother Roderick, and has remained at Raventree to continue with his duties there as the feud with the Brackens escalates, having sworn to avenge his friend.


 * Maester Wendel, Medic  Wendel is Raventree Hall’s maester, and the one that provided Sabitha with moon tea all those years ago when she required it. Despite being a maester, he prefers the healing arts to other scholarly pursuits, and always has.


 * Mohor, Questioner.
 * Olyver Blackwood, Husband.
 * Bellena Blackwood, Sister.
 * Melissa Blackwood, Sister.
 * Agnes Vypren, lady-in-waiting.
 * Zhoe, her handmaid.