Dark Knight I

The young lord Bruce walked amongst his halls. He kept a skeleton crew of servants. Once upon a time in his childhood, the manor was brimming with life. Not so much anymore. House Wayne always had a cursed past.

Legend states they came from one of the Last Hero's companions. A knight by the name of Gawain, back in the days of Bran the Builder. Supposedly he was the Builder's nephew. The earliest record Bruce ever found was a Harold Wayne. Who was soon murdered by his brother Lorin, a kinslayer. A secret House Wayne keeps to themselves this day. Maybe this was why House Wayne was always so cursed with misfortune.

They were nothing but a small noble house in the North. Until one day, one of the lords of Wayne stumbled into the Wolfswood on a hunt. The Kings of Winter did not appreciate the intrusion, stripping the House of all their lands except their keep.

A decade later, Castle Waynesmoor would be burned down by one of the Red Kings of Bolton.

Realizing his House would never fully recover in the North, Contarf Wayne left his family for greener, more southern pastures. Building Castle Wayne in the heart of what would eventually become Gotham right around the time of Aegon's Conquest. Castle Wayne would later be burned and destroyed by dragons during the War of Blacks and Greens. A random act of violence that had no explanation.

House Wayne did not have the wealth to restore both castle and city, so they chose the city over their own home. The Waynes from this point on would reside in a country manor.

In the heart of Gotham is a tower. Built by Bruce's grandfather but heavily expanded by his father Thomas. The tower became abandoned after the deaths of Thomas and Martha.

Bruce's mother, Martha, was of the last of the Arkhams and the Kanes. The Arkhams were all driven to a fiery self inflicted end by madness. The Kanes had lost all the men to carry the name during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Before he died, Jakob Kane had tried to get Bruce and cousin Katherine betrothed. Bruce declined but still took care of Katherine and Bette's financial needs after their patriarch's death.

The Northern Branch of House Wayne, with the exception of one old man and one old woman, all died in Robert's Rebellion. They have long declared Bruce the heir of their ruined castle Waynemoor. Not that he was sure he would ever see it.

After the deaths of his parents and the experience with the bat, an idea formed in Bruce's head. His father Thomas was a pacifist but in every generation, men of House Wayne fought. They were explorers, witch hunters, soldiers, knights. When the Waynes first came to the Stormlands, they established themselves by hunting and trapping. Exterminating wild beasts to settle the land. Trading furs and meats to sailors for money.

Gotham needed a hunter, to purge the city of vermin. A knight to enforce justice. The city watch were almost all paid off. The council Renly put in place to serve as an interim rulers, due to young Bruce's age, were all corrupt. Pirates openly docked in the bay.

Growing up he served as squire to Jaime Lannister for two years, then squire for the Blackfish for two years. Two years in Old Town learning from the maesters. Another two years, this time disguising his identity, as Oberyn Martell's squire. Lastly two years in Essos. He returned home for good in the year 295AC at the age of eight and ten.

300 AC

Gotham's watchtower burned and a cloud of poison roamed the streets. Whether it was the work of the Jester or Maester Crane, Bruce did not know. The flame began in the Narrows. The mist not too far at the Arkham House.

Five years ago, a black Dark Knight bearing the emblem of House Wayne arrived on the scene. Nobody knew who the Knight's true identity was, but it soon became quite evident he was sent by Lord Wayne. Within a year, all slavers and smugglers were chased out of the city. Bruce's newly appointed City Watch Captain Gordon received enough evidence to lay arrest on Lord Falcone. The newly appointed Justiciar Dent judged Falcone guilty. But something went array.

Falcone was murdered in his cell. Justiciar Dent lost half his face and all his sanity to flame. A man claiming to be the Smiling Knight arrived on the scene. And following his debut, untold amounts of colorful rapists, murderers and overall scum. All with their own charades and acts.

Whether it was Fear Mist or Laughing Mist, it mattered not. Someone had successfully wiped out the entire population of the Narrows tonight. It would take all the City Watch's might to quarantine the fire. The Knight in black sighed. Nothing would ever be enough.

"My lor- I mean Dark Knight" Ser Richard Grayson, the knight's former squire stuttered. There was a crack in his voice. He sounded like he wanted to cry. "We've located Maester Crane."

"And?"

"It's fear mist alright. But he's claiming the attack was not him. There's more-" Richard was wheezing now. Choking on his words. The Dark Knight placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Captain Gordon is missing. His men don't know where he is. I sent Squires Jason and Timothy to check on his family, I have not received any word back. They were supposed to send back a robin if they were okay."

The ride over to Gordon's home was silent and fast. The Knight pushed his steed as fast as it could go. He doubted Crane's pleas of innocence. He also doubted Crane was alone. The sick Maester never planned too far ahead, nor did he ever count for outside variables. But the Jester would.

When they arrived the door was already ripped down. Wheat roof was aflame. The two men charged in. Bruce could hardly see with his helmet, he had no choice but to take it off. Lying next to a weeping infant, the newly wed Lady Gordon lay dead. An arrow in her neck. Her arms stretched out in a catching position, with the babe in her hands. Grayson scooped the child up in his hands.

"He made her perform." Observed Bruce in disgust.

"Lady Barbara! Tim! Jason!" Grayson shouted. Bruce found Lady Barbara laying on her back. A pool of blood as red as her hair.

"I found Barbara!" He held her hand tight. She opened her eyes, smiled when she saw him. Her clothes were torn and undone. Undergarments showing. Legs bent in ways they were not meant to be. The letter J carved next to her belly button and a knife wound. He cut a piece of his cape and patched the wound.

"Where did they go Barbara? Where are they?"

"Idontknow." she rasped. Richard fell to her knees when he saw her.

"I… I'm sorry" His attention turned to his comrade in arms "Take her to the local maester or Alfred- whoever is nearer."

In the corner of the room Bruce saw a dead fish. Covered in water. The fish bore a painted smile on its face. "I'm ending this tonight."


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