Raised as a Crannogmen in the Neck of Westeros, Howland Reed trained in hunting, fishing and
marshland combat, even studying the minor magical abilities preserved by his people.
Growing into a man, his thirst for knowledge expanded beyond what the Marshlands could
provide, and so he set out on a small boat down the green fork river, travelling through
the Riverlands to visit the green men on the Isle of Faces, a religious Order dedicated
to the old gods and protecting the local weirwoods.
Fascinated by their ancient knowledge and magical abilities, Howland Reed stayed with
them for the winter, before finally departing in 281AC during the year of the false spring.
Journeying North, he came across the splendour and pageantry of the Tourney of Harrenhal
unfolding nearby, and decided to enjoy the event before returning home.
This particular tournament proved fateful for the continent of Westeros, as it was here
the seeds of conflict between House Targaryen, Baratheon and Stark were planted.
On a smaller scale, the tourney also had a significant impact on Howland Reed, as he
became the target of ridicule and bullying by three squires, all younger then the small
crannogman but larger, mocking his people and taking his spear before pushing him to
the ground.
Yet as they started kicking him into the mud, the she-wolf Lyanna Stark came to the rescue,
declaring him a friend of her House and using a sword to chase them away.
Taking Howland to her tent, she treated his wounds and introduced him to her 3 brothers
Brandon, Eddard and Benjen Stark, who then invited him to a great feast where he spotted
his attackers.
Although Benjen offered to find him a horse and armor to take revenge, Howland feared
losing the competition as he knew little of horse and lance and did not want to bring
shame to House Reed.
However on the second day of jousting, a mystery knight, small of stature and wearing mismatched
armor, enlisted in the tournament, coming to be known as the knight of the laughing
tree, because of his shield displaying a white weirwood with a laughing face.
By the late afternoon all 3 of the knight’s whose squires attacked Howland Reed, held
places as champions, but one by one the mystery competitor defeated them, taking their horses
and armor as rightful winnings.
When the Knights went to pay the ransom for their belongings, the mysterious figure bellowed
out in a deep voice “Teach your squires honor, that shall be ransom enough.”
Though many wondered about his identity, the Mystery Knight soon disappeared, with search
parties finding only the painted shield, hanging in a tree.
Some came believe the person was Howland Reed himself, while others thought it may have
been a Stark brothers acting on his behalf, or perhaps even Lyanna Stark, who was known
to have some skill as a fighter.
Regardless, with Howland Reed’s adventure at an end, he finally returned to his homeland,
but only briefly, as the Seven Kingdoms soon descended into civil war when his liege Lord
Rickard of Winterfell and the heir Brandon Stark were executed by the mad King, after
what was believed to be the abduction of Lyanna Stark, betrothed to Robert Baratheon.
Together with his allies in the Vale and North, the Lord of the Stormlands led a Rebellion
against House Targaryen, with the crannogmen of the neck following Lord Rickard’s second
son Eddard Stark into combat.
The war then culminated in the Battle of the Trident, where the rebels proved victorious
after Robert killed Prince Rhaegar in single combat and with the aid of House Lannister,
they soon captured King’s Landing and the Iron Throne.
With the war all but over, Ned Stark travelled south to lift the siege of Storm’s End,
before leading a small party to the Tower of Joy in Dorne, where he hoped to find his
sister Lyanna.
Joined by his close friend Howland Reed, as well as Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover,
Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell, they encountered Lord Commander Gerold Hightower
of the Kingsguard guarding the tower, alongside his brothers Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Arthur
Dayne, known to many as the Sword of the Morning.
After a vicious confrontation, all were dead save Eddard Stark and Howland Reed, however
it was a hollow victory, as they found Lyanna dying in pool of blood.
Devastated by her loss, it fell to Howland Reed to help Lord Stark through this difficult
time and after settling their affairs in Dorne, they returned home to the North.
Though Howland did not regularly visit Winterfell, he wrote letters to remain in contact, and
was held in high regard by Lord Stark, who told his children stories of their youthful
adventures.
During the years of King Robert’s reign, Howland had two children, each of them inheriting
some of their father’s traits, with Meera Reed excelling as a hunter, fisherman and
marshland warrior, while Jojen was brilliant and wise, but also sickly, nearly dying from
Greywater fever at a young age.
Yet while suffering this illness, Jojen had a vision of a 3 eyed crow, and started developing
the ability to see into the future through prophetic green dreams.
In one of these visions he saw the 3 eyed crow attempting to free a chained wolf, and
after consulting with his father, it was decided that Jojen and Meera must travel to Winterfell
and dedicate themselves to helping Bran Stark travel North of the wall to fulfill his destiny.
However after 15 years of relative peace under House Baratheon, the death of King Robert
and Eddard Stark sent the realm into a state of chaos, with the North and Riverlands declaring
for Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings.
Meanwhile, as the Reed children travelled to Winterfell, Robb Stark marched with his
army south, sending word to Lord Howland that the Crannogmen must defend the neck should
the Lannisters invade the North, instructing them to bleed the enemy dry with marshland
battle tactics.
Unfortunately the war went badly for the Starks, with the Ironborn and then the Lannisters
taking possession of much of their holdings.
Yet even so the crannogmen did not surrender, using the harsh terrain of the neck to hide
their forces, waging a slow but unyielding guerilla campaign against any enemy force
that attempted to settle or cross the region.
Some rumours even suggested that House Reed was working with the Brotherhood without Banners,
and may have possibly been in league with the mysterious Lady Stoneheart.