History and Lore
History of the Hersir, as told by Maester Luwin of Winterfell
When the Andals invaded, they were met with great resistance. Even when they married into the families of the First Men, there was still the looks of defiance that promised pain a thousand times over. Looks that promised that the injustice that was suffered would not be forgotten.
And would be paid for in full.
It was the Andals who introduced the idea of naming their bastards. All of Westeros took to this idea with different results. The North and Dorne were the most different really. Both gifted their bastard children with names that signaled pride. For while it was the strongest house that ruled those regions, their bastard names were that region.
Sand for the scorching desert that destroyed its enemies and made its people appreciate the cool water they drank. And Snow for the cold that froze its enemies to the bone and made its people appreciate the warmth of their fires. Even the Ironborn named their bastards in tribute of the ruling island in the hopes of their child being as strong as said island.
Of course, bastard names were not the only thing that they twisted for their own benefits, the concept of title warriors worked as well. Honorary names were given as well, but to gift a free means of legitimacy to anyone that proved their worth was something that they could and were willing to exploit.
So the Hersir had been born, and its vows spread to those who still remembered the old ways. Its name was derived from the hundred clans of First Men who inherited Westeros after they arrived on the Arm of Dorne. It may also be a reference to the hundreds of kingdoms that existed before any unification. I have my doubts of this but who can say what is true and what is not?
Every region had their own name for their collectives, gifted to them by the outsiders who knew very little about them. Steel Serpents for Dorne. Howling Wolves in the North. Sea Dragons in the Crownlands. Stone Falcons in the Eyrie, Drowned Squids in the Iron Islands. And Brackish Fish for the Riverlands.
Those with the most Andal influence, such as the Reach and the Westerlands, do not have any type of order and frown upon those that do. Of course, a lot of frowns bloom on many faces when they think of the Hersir.
You will find no warrior more loyal to any cause or lord or king, than a Knight or Den of the Hersir. They will fight to the death for what they believe in and will punish those who would seek to destroy their way of life with either their weapon of choice, or with the powers granted to them by the Old Gods.
In all my years in the North, I have seen things that have both awed and frightened me. The Hersir are both beautiful and dangerous, and it would be wise to make a friend of them if you can. After all, their foes don't last for very long.