When Stannis Baratheon called on the northern houses for support, Rodrick had already been pushed to the brink. The Flayed Man had the backing of the Iron Throne and House Lannister. All the male Starks were dead, and the female ones were hostages in King's Landing. As much as he wanted to rescue his brother Ryon, he long suspected that he was already dead, as House Whitehill hated House Forrester with a passion, and his little brother was neither seen nor heard of ever since the Whitehills had taken him.