House Dondarrion

House Dondarrion of Blackhaven is a vassal house that holds fealty to House Baratheon of Storm's End. Their lands are located within the Dornish Marches, a region of the Stormlands that lies to the north of Dorne. Their castle is called Blackhaven and the head of the house is the Lord of Blackhaven.

House Dondarrion was ruled by Lord Beric Dondarrion, a charismatic and popular young lord, noted for his skill at tourneys. House Dondarrion's sigil is a forked purple lightning bolt on a black sky speckled with four-pointed stars.

Early history
House Dondarrion is a vassal house of House Baratheon. During the period of incessant warfare in Westeros before Aegon's conquest and after it, the Dondarrions were charged with guarding the Boneway against any raids by the Dornishmen. During the reign of Aerys II Targaryen, the lord and lady of House Dondarrion were abducted by bandits. They were rescued by Ser Arthur Dayne who killed all the bandit lords.

During the Battle at the Mummer's Ford, its lord Beric Dondarrion was killed but was later reserructed by Thoros of Myr. Since then, Berric started serving the Brotherhood Without Banners.

In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Dondarrion was founded by a messenger who brought the word of an impending attack by Dorne to the Storm King. The messenger was attacked by two Dornishmen, but a freak bolt of lightning killed both of them, allowing the messenger to complete his task.

A century before the events of the series, House Dondarrion was charged by the King to root out a bandit warlord known as the Vulture King, who had established a hideaway in the Red Mountains. The Dondarrions, allied to the neighbouring House Caron of Nightsong, took eight hundred horse and four thousand foot soldiers into the mountains to complete the mission. Ser Duncan the Tall took part in this mission as a small boy and squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree.

Lord Beric Dondarrion is young, handsome and popular, known for his valour, steadfastness and reliability.