The Greystone Bastard (naming lore query)

[Anonymoose]

I was kind of surprised to see so much resistance to the idea that it was a bastard surname (to the point that, hey, maybe he had two battle titles and they nixed the surname on his public memorial in favor of the less popular one).

It's a core feature of Haurchefant's character that the most chivalrous member of House Fortemps was supposedly beneath its name. It's almost more offensive to raise him up after he's dead, isn't it? Treating him like he earned an upgraded name when in truth he humbled those who bear it? When it comes to what goes down in history, Haurchefant Greystone is an example that I wouldn't want diluted by a posthumous feel-good gesture.

If in-world logic isn't enough, though, let's come out-of-world for a minute.
Haurchefant needed a quick-but-meaningful backstory and they invoked Jon Snow.

[Amaya-Asha]

I was kind of surprised to see so much resistance to the idea that it was a bastard surname (to the point that, hey, maybe he had two battle titles and they nixed the surname on his public memorial in favor of the less popular one).

It's a core feature of Haurchefant's character that the most chivalrous member of House Fortemps was supposedly beneath its name. It's almost more offensive to raise him up after he's dead, isn't it? Treating him like he earned an upgraded name when in truth he humbled those who bear it? When it comes to what goes down in history, Haurchefant Greystone is an example that I wouldn't want diluted by a posthumous feel-good gesture.

If in-world logic isn't enough, though, let's come out-of-world for a minute.
Haurchefant needed a quick-but-meaningful backstory and they invoked Jon Snow.

I agree completely. His surname "Greystone" Should live on not house that could not claim him as their son.

[Ayuhra]

I was kind of surprised to see so much resistance to the idea that it was a bastard surname (to the point that, hey, maybe he had two battle titles and they nixed the surname on his public memorial in favor of the less popular one).

I think the confusion here comes from Haurchefant Greystone (now confirmed a bastard surname) has the same style to it as, say Paulecrain Coldfire (we don't know if he's a bastard), Estinien Wyrmblood (probably not) and Artoirel Ironbone (we know he is not). It could be that Greystone refers to place of birth and the rule is if it sounds fancier or not at all like a potential place description it's a battle name. Still, it would be a lot clearer if battle titles were all displayed as "of the" or "the".

This is what initially confused me, anyroad. But I am not a clever woman.

[RyuRoots]

I was kind of surprised to see so much resistance to the idea that it was a bastard surname (to the point that, hey, maybe he had two battle titles and they nixed the surname on his public memorial in favor of the less popular one).

It's a core feature of Haurchefant's character that the most chivalrous member of House Fortemps was supposedly beneath its name. It's almost more offensive to raise him up after he's dead, isn't it? Treating him like he earned an upgraded name when in truth he humbled those who bear it? When it comes to what goes down in history, Haurchefant Greystone is an example that I wouldn't want diluted by a posthumous feel-good gesture.

If in-world logic isn't enough, though, let's come out-of-world for a minute.
Haurchefant needed a quick-but-meaningful backstory and they invoked Jon Snow.

I think for most people (at least pre-dev commentary) it was less resistance and more speculation because it wasn't explained at all, and knowing where the inspiration for it is from doesn't really count as an explanation, especially when you factor in that there ARE people that either don't like or just don't watch/read GoT. It wouldn't have been that hard to have a single NPC mention it, maybe someone in Camp Dragonhead, or perhaps Francel. And WHAT backstory? We already knew he was a bastard, and the introduction of the lore for it was just kinda tossed in there with a single word in a minion description. Not sure "meaningful" really applies to anything about "Greystone".