History Characters / ASongOfIceAndFireTheGoldenCompany

* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: They tend towards this, and it certainly hasn't hurt their reputation. They're upfront with what they can and can't do, rarely accept contracts that they don't have a shot at completing, will give [[BrutalHonesty painfully honest advice]] about strategy and tactics if they see a screw-up coming, will accept fault (and the fines) if it was truly their mistake, and won't sell their previous employers' secrets out, even. They will stay bought and only turn to ransack former employers if the contract was broken on that end: warnings are given (and, gods help you if you try setting them up to fail just to get out of paying them). They're even open about the one time they'll drop anything: if they can follow a Blackfyre home. [[spoiler: This turns out to be "any vaguely-Targaryen exile who will bring us home", but... still open about it. Not their fault others assumed "no more known Blackfyres" meant "no more discretionary clause".]]

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Due to their custom of never ever breaking a contract, the whole world is shocked when they break their contract with Myr and grow wary speculating about the reason.

* HonorBeforeReason: The Golden Company is reputed to have never broken a contract. Their motto is "Our word is good as gold."

* TheAce: Widely regarded as the greatest sellsword company in Essos due to their discipline, training and relative honour for PrivateMilitaryContractors.
* AmbiguousAllegiance: [[spoiler:To Aegon Targaryen in ADWD and what it implies concerning his status; considering the fact that they spent a great deal of time trying to undermine the Targaryens to crown the Blackfyres in their stead casts a large enough shadow of a doubt as of the legitimacy of Aegon himself. Their allegiance to him can't help but carry strong overtones of him actually being a Blackfyre brand of Dragon in disguise.]]
* BadassArmy: Not only due to their discipline and experience, but because they're a proper "combined arms" company -- with infantry, archers, knights, engineers and mounted elements all trained to fight as a single unit. This avoids the CripplingOverSpecialization of other [[BadassArmy Badass Armies]] like the Unsullied or a [[ProudWarriorRace Dothraki]] ''[[TheHorde khalasar]]''.

* BlingOfWar: The members of the company, particularly the officers keep their worldly wealth upon their person: jewelled swords, inlaid armour, heavy torcs, and fine silks. Officers also wear golden arm rings, one for each year of service.

* ColonelBadass: Some of the squad commanders like Laswell Peake, Marq Mandrake and Tristan Rivers qualify given their commands number several hundred men each.
* ConsummateProfessional: Their professionalism in both (relatively) ethical business practice and organisational structure basically makes them ''the'' consummate professionals of the whole sellsword business model. Successful ones, too: they're not lacking in resources which are constantly funnelled into technical upgrades, training and tweaks, not just overt bling. They are the professional army by which others on two continents (be they standing, conscripted or mercenary) are measured. And, those others are often found wanting.

* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: They tend towards this, and it certainly hasn't hurt their reputation. They're upfront with what they can and can't do, rarely accept contacts that they don't have a shot at completing, will give [[BrutalHonesty painfully honest advice]] about strategy and tactics if they see a screw-up coming, will accept fault (and the fines) if it was truly their mistake and won't sell their previous employers' secrets out, even. They will stay bought and only turn to ransack former employers if the contact was broken on that end: warnings are given (and, gods help you if you try setting them up to fail just to get out of paying them). They're even open about the one time they'll drop anything: if they can follow a Blackfyre home. [[spoiler: This turns out to be "any vaguely-Targaryen exile who will bring us home", but... still open about it. Not their fault others assumed "no more known Blackfyres" meant "no more discretionary clause".]]

* DumbassHasAPoint: He makes a good argument about why they need Daenerys support for Aegon to prove his legitimacy:

* MysteriousPast: Tyrion notes she does not act like a Septa, and that she has stretch marks on her stomach that indicate she had a child at some point. This has lead to EpilepticTrees by fans that she might be a previously mentioned historical character [[spoiler:such as a NotQuiteDead Ashara Dayne. Even though Ashara Dayne had the classic lilac eyes of Daynes. Another (and more likely) candidate is that she's the mother of Tyene Sand, who was a septa. An even more remote, off-the-wall possibility is that she might be Lyanna Stark herself.]]
* NaughtyNuns]: Bathes naked in the river every morning and isn't put out in the slightest by the lustful interest of a DepravedDwarf.

* BadassCape: Wear a green and orange feathered cloak.

* LoveRuinsTheRealm: About the only trait he shared with [[TheHedonist his father]] was the ability to get into serious trouble with this trope, what with that LoveTriangle between him, Shiera and Bloodraven. It's possible that he may have supported Daemon as a bid to get revenge on Bloodraven, not just because he appreciated the thought of a warrior over a scholar as king. Had he just been able to let it go, things could have turned out rather differently.

* VillainousUnderdog: Bloodraven was a powerful mystic with status, power, and all the wealth of the 7 Kingdoms behind him. Bittersteel was an angry man with a sword and an unconquerable will.

* KingmakerScenario: They were originally sworn to raise and crown a Blackfyre king. [[spoiler:They are now sworn to make Aegon Targaryen king.]]

!!This is a listing of Golden Company characters that appear in the {{Fantasy}} series ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Visit [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFire here]] for the main character index.

[[folder: General]]

----
* TheAce: Widely regarded as the greatest Sellsword company in Essos due to their discipline, training and relative honour for PrivateMilitaryContractors.

* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: They tend towards this, and it certainly hasn't hurt their reputation. They're upfront with what they can and can't do, rarely accept contacts that they don't have a shot at completing, will give [[BrutalHonesty painfully honest advice]] about strategy and tactics if they see a screw-up coming, will accept fault (and the fines) if it was truly their mistake and won't sell their previous employers' secrets out, even. They will stay bought and only turn to ransack former employers if the contact was broken on that end: warnings are given. They're even open about the one time they'll drop anything: if they can follow a Blackfyre home. [[spoiler: This turns out to be "any vaguely-Targaryen exile who will bring us home", but... still open about it. Not their fault others assumed "no more known Blackfyres" meant "no more discretionary clause".]]

* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: They tend towards this, and it certainly hasn't hurt their reputation. They're upfront with what they can and can't do, rarely accept contacts that they don't have a shot at completing and won't sell their previous employers' secrets out, even. They will stay bought and only turn to ransack former employers if the contact was broken on that end: warnings are given. They're even open about the one time they'll drop anything: if they can follow a Blackfyre home. [[spoiler: This turns out to be "any vaguely-Targaryen exile who will bring us home", but... still open about it. Not their fault others assumed "no more known Blackfyres" meant "no more discretionary clause".]]

* ConsummateProfessional: Their professionalism in both (relatively) ethical business practice and organisational structure basically makes them ''the'' consummate professionals of the whole sellsword business model. Successful ones, too: they're not lacking in resources which are constantly funnelled into technical upgrades, training and tweaks, not just overt bling. They are the company by which others are measured. And, found wanting.

Nicknamed Blackheart, Myles is descended from Ser Terrence Toyne, who had been executed for sleeping with a mistress of Aegon IV. [[spoiler:He conspired with his friend Jon Connington to hid the survival of Aegon Targaryen and pledge the loyalty of the Golden Company to him when the time came to reclaim the Iron Throne]].

A famous sellsword company made up of mostly exiled Westerosi and their descendants, the Golden Company is one of the largest and most skilled mercenary companies in Essos. They are famous for having never once broken a contract or changing sides during a battle. They were founded by Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers, a legitimized bastard of King Aegon IV, who fled Westeros at the end of the Blackfyre Rebellion. Upon seeing all the exiled Westerosi joining sellsword companies, he formed the Golden Company to give them all a home and a purpose: to one day return to Westeros and reclaim what was rightfully theirs. Their descendants have been joined by other Westerosi exiles and unwanted bastards through the decades, along with exiles from other lands. Recently, rumor has it that Golden Company broke its contract with the city of Myr for unknown reasons. Only a few know the truth: [[spoiler:they have sworn themselves to Aegon Targaryen VI and sailed for Westeros under the command of Aegon VI and Lord Jon Connington, where they have begun a campaign in the Stormlands to take the throne back for the Targaryens and claim their rightful places in Westeros]].

[[folder: Ser Aegor Rivers]]
!!Ser Aegor Rivers
!!!Bittersteel
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bittersteel_woiaf_1018.jpg]]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coa_aegor_rivers.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Top: Bittersteel leading the Golden Company; Bottom: Personal coat of arms, a combination of the coats of arms of [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireHouseBracken House Bracken]] and [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireHouseBlackfyre House Blackfyre]]]]
-->''"He died defeated and alone. What is he smiling for?"''
-->--'''Jon Connington while looking at Bittersteel's gilded skull'''

One of Aegon IV's "Great Bastards", his son by his fifth mistress Barba Bracken. In the Blackfyre Rebellion, he sided with his half-brother Daemon Blackfyre. A marriage to Daemon's oldest daughter, Calla, was subsequently arranged. Bittersteel fled Westeros at the end of the rebellion to the free city of Tyrosh, with Daemon's remaining sons and the Targaryen sword Blackfyre. He rode with the Second Sons and went on to create the Golden Company to support the Blackfyre pretenders.

Bittersteel died in battle in 241 AC. On his deathbed, he commanded that his flesh be boiled from his skull, and to have it dipped in gold and carried before them when they cross the sea to retake Westeros.

To display his heritage, Bittersteel combined the Blackfyre and Bracken sigils, with his coat of arms being the red stallion of Bracken with the black wings of a Blackfyre dragon.

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Aegor loved his half-sister Shiera, but she chose Bloodraven over him. He wound up marrying a niece rather than the half-sister he would have preferred.
* AllThereInTheManual: Many details of his life (his marriage, his year and manner of death, among others) are revealed in ''Literature/TheWorldOfIceAndFire''.
* ArchEnemy: His half-brother Bloodraven. The latter's mother replaced Bittersteel's as king's favourite, and Bloodraven was Shiera's lover. Didn't help that their respective mothers came from the infamous FeudingFamilies the Brackens and Blackwoods.
* ArrangedMarriage: As per ''Literature/TheWorldOfIceAndFire'', Daemon arranged the marriage between his oldest daughter Calla and Bittersteel.
* BadassBeard: How he's depicted according to WordOfGod.
* BadassNormal: Bloodraven was a [[spoiler:greenseer and sorceror]] with "A thousand eyes, and one"; Bittersteel had no magical capabilities other than his tenacity, his strength and skill with arms.
* BrainsAndBrawn: He and Bloodraven form the CainAndAbel, half-sibling version of this trope. He was damn good on the battlefield as a hardy warrior and melee-minded, tactically sound knight. Bloodraven excelled as a more strategically-minded archer and [[BattleOfWits in other, more stealthy, forms of battle]]. Had they ever managed to work together, they'd've [[{{Foil}} complimented each other nicely]]. As it was, it never had a chance to happen.
* TheDragon: To his half-brother Daemon Blackfyre. He might have had shades of DragonWithAnAgenda, the agenda basically being "prove Bracken beats Blackwood" rather than "prove that MightMakesRight".
* DragonInChief: To Daemon's surviving sons. The three Blackfyre Rebellions between Daemon I's and Maelys the Monstrous's were instigated by him, with his Golden Company usually providing the muscle.
* {{Expy}}: Of Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian. Fittingly, his hated half-brother, Bloodraven, is an Expy of [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric]], who was created to be the exact opposite of Conan.
* {{Foil}}:
** Oh, boy! ... To Bloodraven, his polar opposite and arch-enemy. Both the legitimized bastards of a Targaryen King; one from a mother from an Seven-worshipping house and one from a Old Gods-worshipping house (both houses which have been at each other's throats for what could be millennia); one a master warrior while the other a master longbowman, spy, strategist and given to wars of attrition; one loyal to their Targaryen brother king, while the other loyal to the Blackfyre rebel; one preferred by the woman that they both loved while the other one is scorned; one getting increasingly more powerful while the other slowly withers away; [[spoiler:one is still alive while the other has been long deceased]]. In every case, Bittersteel had a disadvantage to Bloodraven.
** You can compare him to Lord Beric, the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Both of them suffered defeats and had to rally TheRemnant of their former supporters to a new cause. Bittersteel created the Golden Company, a mercenary outfit in Essos of the highest calibre founded with the hope of eventually returning to Westeros, claim vengeance and reclaim lost lands. Beric created the Brotherhood, an outlaw organization that actually carries out the King's Justice (bringing war criminals and rapists to justice, providing relief and care to the smallfolk) with all its members forsaking their lands, titles and stations so as to serve as LaResistance in the Riverlands until justice is done.
** To Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard. They took part in instigating the two greatest civil wars the Targaryen Kings had to suffer and their lives ended in a rather pathetic manner.
*** During the same period, to Prince Aemond Targaryen, who served as co-Dragon with Ser Criston to Aegon II. Both angry people and lifetime jerks, Aemond differed from Bittersteel in the fact that he did not fight out of pretensions or with a set goal, but rather to wreak havoc; he even sat on the Iron Throne himself but surrendered to Aegon without any qualms.
* HotBlooded: As it's reminisced, Bittersteel was born angry, lived angry and died angry... at Bloodraven.
* IncestIsRelative: His wife, Calla, was also his niece. [[OldFlame Shiera]] was his half-sister. If you ever doubted his Targaryen blood, let it end now.
* {{Jerkass}}: Comes across this way, yes. It's hardly NiceGuy behaviour to continue to sacrifice your own relatives by the handful, when other options were available to make a living after the first losses should have made it clear how uphill a straight-up fight actually was.
* KingmakerScenario: He swore to crown a Blackfyre king and tried four times to do so. It wasn't as much a situation where he had reverence for the office, but rather he was driven to one-up Bloodraven.
* LoveRuinsTheRealm: About the only trait he shared with [[TheHedonist his father]] was the ability to get into serious trouble with this trope, what with that LoveTriangle between him, Shiera and Bloodraven. It's possible that he may have supported Daemon as a bid to get revenge on Bloodraven, not just because he appreciated the thought of a warrior over a scholar as king. Had he just been able to let it go, things could have turned out rather differently.
* OurFounder: See the oath of the Golden Company.
* PerpetualFrowner: By repute, he could have given Tywin Lannister decent competition in the flat-face department. Ironically, after having his skull dipped in gold, his expression is a permanent smile leading Jon Connington to make the folder quote about why Bittersteel is smiling.
* PoisonousFriend: It is rumoured both he and Ser Quentyn Ball convinced Daemon to claim the throne. And, more than just that one Blackfyre rose against the Iron Throne with his encouragement. Most died as a result.
-->''"Bitter his steel may have been, but worse was his tongue."''
* PosthumousCharacter: In the main series.
* ThrowTheDogABone: The only success he ever had in his life was to create the Golden Company. Contrast with Bloodraven, who came out more successful in every encounter they had. Interestingly, both men ended up being exiled from home.
* VillainExitStageLeft: After each failed rebellion, he somehow managed to escape captivity and return to plotting.
* VillainousUnderdog: Bloodraven was a powerful mystic with status, power, and all the wealth of the 7 Kingdoms behind him. Bittersteel was an angry man with a sword and an unconquerable will.
* VillainousValor: At the Redgrass Field where he rallied the beaten Blackfyre troops and drove them straight through Bloodraven's forces and to freedom.
* WarriorPrince: Was legitimised by his father, so became a prince ''after'' learning to be a warrior. Which... [[LoveRuinsTheRealm didn't exactly help matters]].
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: So, he (a legitimized, exiled Targaryen prince... even without the surname, lest we forget) and Calla Blackfyre (exiled, rebel princess: ditto) were married decades before he died. Were they happy? Any kids? Grandkids? Boys? Dunno: could be important, though... [[spoiler: If anybody in Westeros wants to doubt Aegon's identity and/or legitimacy, the mere ''possibility'' of his coming from Bittersteel's line of maybe-Blackfyres is certainly a specific place they can point to to cast aspersions from, particularly as he's got the Golden Company behind him.]]

[[folder: Myles Toyne]]
!!Captain-General Myles Toyne
!!!Blackheart
Nicknamed Blackheart, Myles is descended from Ser Terrence Toyne, who had been executed for sleeping with a mistress of Aegon IV. [[spoiler:He conspired with his friend Jon Connington to hid the survival of Aegon Targaryen and pledge the loyalty of the Golden Company to him when the time came to reclaim the Iron Throne]].
--> See the [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireStormlandsHouses Stormlands Houses]] page.
----
* FourStarBadass: When he was in command of the Golden Company.
* IronicNickname: He was jokingly nicknamed "Blackheart" by his troops, in reference to the image on his coat-of-arms. Toyne liked the nickname because it led people to be wary of him, but he's described by the rather stern Griff/[[spoiler:Jon Connington]] as being warm and generous and AFatherToHisMen, and at the very least seems to have been a SergeantRock type.
* LastOfHisKind: No more Toynes thanks to him.
* MyNaymeIs: Myles instead of Miles.
* OddFriendship: The warm and friendly Toyne was friends with the cold and stern Griff.
* PosthumousCharacter: Known to us only through others.
* WhenHeSmiles: He lights up the room, regardless of what his name says he should do.

[[folder: Harry Strickland]]
!!Captain-General Harry Strickland
!!!Homeless Harry Strickland

A fourth generation exile raised by his father to be part of the Golden Company, Harry was the Company Paymaster before being elected Captain-General after the death of Myles Toyne.

* ArmchairMilitary: He stays well back from the actual fighting, overseeing the Golden Company's operations but doing little to actually win the battles. His skills seem to reside in organization and keeping discipline up.
* DirtyCoward: Griff is astounded that he was elected to be Captain-General of the company, being reluctant to take any risks and engage in battle. However, that may just be his own desire for immediate action overruling Harry's more cautious nature.
* DumbassHasAPoint: He makes a good argument about why they need Daenerys support for Aegon to prove his legitimacy:
-->'''Harry:''' Has the sun curdled your brains, Flowers? We need the girl. We need the marriage. If Daenerys accepts our princeling and takes him for her consort, the Seven Kingdoms will do the same. Without her, the lords will only mock his claim and brand him a fraud and a pretender.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Refuses to even consider the idea of feigning acceptance of the Yunkai'i contract to fight Daenerys in order to gain transport to Meereen, noting that one broken contract was enough of a blight on their reputation and that lying would only further damage their honor.
* TheExile: House Strickland was one of the major houses of the Reach that rose in support of Daemon Blackfyre. After the Battle of Redgrass Field, the remnants of the house fled to Essos and helped found the Golden Company. Harry likes to boast that he has "gold for four generations", as he's a fourth-generation member of the Golden Company, due to his great-grandfather rising in rebellion with Daemon Blackfyre and being exiled as a result.
* FourStarBadass: Subverted: his subordinates win the battles, not him.
* InSeriesNickname: "Homeless" Harry Stickland.
* NonActionGuy: He is not a warrior, and does not even look the part for appearances sake, being rather portly and averse to travel. He notes to Jon Connnington that he dislikes even just marching because his feet get blisters so easily.
* SketchySuccessor: Only the Gods know why the Golden Company thought Harry would make a good Captain-General, considering his cowardice and general aversion to risk and battle.

[[folder: Griff]]
!!Griff
!!![[spoiler:Lord Jon Connington]]
See the [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireHouseConnington House Connington]] page.

[[folder: Haldon]]
!!Haldon
!!!The Halfmaester
[[quoteright:348:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haldon_halfmaester_by_cloudninja9.jpg]]
-->''"A book can be as dangerous as a sword in the right hands."''

A former novice at the Citadel who did not earn enough links to become a Maester. Instead, he became attached to the Golden Company as a tutor for Young Griff, aka [[spoiler:Aegon Targaryen]].

For the Order of the Maesters character entry [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireTheOrderOfTheMaesters see here]].

* {{Bookworm}}: Comes with the turf.
* DeadpanSnarker: Quite comfortable competing with Tyrion verbally, not just with gaming pieces. Loses horribly, although points for making the attempt.
* TheGoodChancellor: Again, part of the whole (half-)Maester package.
* InSeriesNickname: Haldon Halfmaester, due to never forging a maester's chain but having a lot of their knowledge.
* TheMedic: Serves as a healer as well as a tutor for the Golden Company.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Played with in that a fully acknowledged, qualified maester [[spoiler:might attract unwelcome attention to the pupil he's tutoring]].
* TheSmartGuy: He is rather well-rounded in his education for somebody who, reportedly, left the Citadel early.
* SmartPeoplePlayChess: He's not bad. But, Tyrion plays people better.

[[folder: Septa Lemore]]
!!Septa Lemore
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lemore.jpg]]
-->''"The Mother and the Father made us in their image, Hugor. We should glory in our bodies, for they are the work of gods."''

A mysterious, beautiful Septa who is Young Griff's spiritual tutor.

For the main Faith of the Seven entry, [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireTheFaithOfTheSeven see here]].

* TheChick: By design.
* DeadpanSnarker: Part of what makes her attractive to Tyrion besides her looks is her dry and saucy tongue.
* MeaningfulName: Her name sounds like "l'amour", which is saying "the love" or "love" on French; fitting for a naughty, flirty septa.
* MysteriousPast: Tyrion notes she does not act like a Septa, and that she has stretch marks on her stomach that indicate she had a child at some point. This has lead to EpilepticTrees by fans that she might be a previously mentioned historical character [[spoiler:such as a NotQuiteDead Ashara Dayne. Even though Ashara Dayne had the classic lilac eyes of Daynes. Another (and more likely) candidate is that she's the mother of Tyene Sand, who was a septa. An even more remote, off-the-wall possibility is that she might be Lyanna Stark herself.]]
* NaughtyNuns]: Bathes naked in the river every morning and isn't put out in the slightest by the lustful interest of a DepravedDwarf.
* NunTooHoly: She is notoriously flirty for a Septa.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Although, given she is likely hiding who she is for whatever reason, it ''could'' be a case of DyeOrDie like with "Young Griff". If so, Tyrion didn't pick up on it, given he was [[DistractedByTheSexy focusing on other things]] at the time.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: For a Septa, she is oddly open to letting people see her naked.
* StatuesqueStunner: Receiving praise from Tyrion in this respect does imply that she's quite the woman; Tyrion, having a knack for beautiful women.
* WomanInWhite: Naughty Septa she may be, but she still wears the white of one not devoted to the Stranger.

[[folder: Ser Rolly Duckfield]]
!!Ser Rolly Duckfield
!!!Duck
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rolly_duckfield_ffg_540.png]]

The son of a blacksmith in Bitterbridge, Rolly dreamed of knighthood. He had to flee Westeros after breaking the arms and ribs of Lorent Caswell, who had attempted to steal the sword Rolly's father forged for him. He joined the Golden Company where he became a loyal friend of Young Griff and was knighted by Griff.

* BadassBeard: He has a shaggy beard.
* TheBigGuy: For Young Griff [[spoiler: aka Aegon Targaryen]].
* TheBlacksmith: Picked up on some of his father's trade and smithed for the Golden Company for a few years before Griff took him as a squire.
* BoisterousBruiser: He's a cheery fellow who doesn't mind the more rough and ready joys in life.
* TheExile: Fled to the Free Cities after bashing Lorent Caswell's arms and ribs with a hammer.
* DamnedByFaintPraise: Griff has faint praise for him, and fears that Young Griff will soon have seven such men as his [[spoiler:Kingsguard]], "each more blindingly adequate than the last."
* DeadpanSnarker: May not have erudite wit, but he can dish the dry.
* HistoryRepeats: Really subtle, his nickname is Duck, he's an up-jumped hedge knight and serves as Kingsguard to a Prince Aegon. A tale of [[Literature/TalesOfDunkAndEgg Duck and Egg]].
* InSeriesNickname: "Duck" and "Ser Duck". He got the surname "Duckfield" due to being knighted in a field with some ducks in it.
* LineOfSightName: "Duckfield".
* PraetorianGuard: He is the first member of [[spoiler:Aegon's Kingsguard]].
* TheSquire: Formerly to Harry Strickland, until Griff knighted him.
* UndyingLoyalty: To [[spoiler:Aegon]]. It's what gets him a job as [[spoiler: the first member of Aegon's Kingsguard]] over the objections of [[spoiler: Connington, who would prefer that positions be left open for political deals with noble families]].

[[folder: Lysono Maar]]
!!Lysono Maar
-->''"In cyvasse, it is true, the dragon is mightier than the elephant. On the battlefield, give me elephants I can see and touch and send against my foes, not dragons made of words and wishes."''

The Lyseni spymaster of the Golden Company. Like most Lyseni, he has the classic Valyrian looks of platinum blond hair and lilac eyes.

* DudeLooksLikeALady: Griff thinks Lysono Maar is a woman for a moment when first meeting him, due to his lilac eyes, white gold hair, and pouty lips. He also has purple painted nails and wears amethysts and pearls on his ears.
* TheSpymaster: He gathers information for the Golden Company, and even does his own spying by going disguised into nearby cities to gather information personally.
* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Arianne Martell notes that while his white hair and looks make him quite pretty and he acts polite, she notes there is something about him that makes her skin crawl and that he has cold eyes. This is fitting for a spymaster of a ruthless sellsword company.

[[folder: Ser Franklyn Flowers]]
!!Ser Franklyn Flowers
!!!The Bastard of Cider Hall, the Brown Apple
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/franklyn_flowers_by_nawia_d614fv2.jpg]]
-->''"So long as I can kill some Fossoways I'm for it."''

A twelve-year veteran and captain of the Golden Company. Franklyn claims his mother was a servant raped by a member of House Fossoway, giving him a hatred of his house.

* AlliterativeName: '''F'''ranklyn '''F'''lowers.
* {{Badass}}: Been through the mill, but still ticking. Which says a lot.
* BastardAngst: If the tale of his birth is true, one can scarcely blame him for his hatred of his family and desire to kill them.
* ChildByRape: By repute, at least.
* CoveredWithScars: Life really has not been kind to this possible Apple. His face is crisscrossed with old scars, and then there is the damage to his ears.
* EarAche: His right ear appears to have been chewed on by a dog, and his left one is gone entirely.
* TheExile: Given his claimed origins, he obviously would not be welcomed at Cider Hall or want to be there.
* InSeriesNickname: The Bastard of Cider Hall, the Brown Apple.
** While this implies that Flowers was born a bastard of the Red Apples (Cider Hall's Fossoways), it's not actually known whether this is the actual case, as he's the only person claiming that his mother was a washerwoman raped by the lords of said keep; it's fair to say that the Red Apples do have a history of skewed morals, as shown in the ''Dunk & Egg'' stories.
* MyNaymeIs: Franklyn instead of Franklin.
* {{Revenge}}: One of his primary motivations in supporting the immediate invasion of Westeros instead of joining with Daenerys is so that he can get to killing Fossoways quicker.

[[folder: Tristan Rivers]]
!!Tristan Rivers

A bastard from the Riverlands.

* ColonelBadass: He's given command of nearly a quarter of the Golden Company's forces that arrive to Cape Wrath and sent to take Crow's Nest from House Morrigen, which he succeeds in doing.
* TheExile: An exile from the Riverlands. One who desperately wants to get back home.
* {{Outlaw}}: He's mentioned to be not only an exile but also an outlaw.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gives one regarding Illyrio Mopatis that actually becomes a RousingSpeech.
* RousingSpeech: His oratory rallies the Golden Company to go their own way, with even the cautious Griff admitting that "I'm sick of prudence":
-->'''Tristan:''' Which plan? ... The fat man’s plan? The one that changes every time the moon turns? First Viserys Targaryen was to join us with fifty thousand Dothraki screamers at his back. Then the Beggar King was dead, and it was to be his sister, [[UnderestimatingBadassery a pliable young child queen]] who was on her way to Pentos with three new-hatched dragons. Instead the girl turns up on Slaver's Bay and leaves a string of burning cities in her wake, and the fat man decides we should meet her by Volantis. Now that plan is in ruins as well. I have had enough of Illyrio’s plans. Robert Baratheon won the Iron Throne without the benefit of dragons. We can do the same.

[[folder: The Peake Brothers]]
!!Ser Laswell, Torman and Pykewood Peake

Exiles from a branch of House Peake.

* AlliterativeName: '''P'''ykewood '''P'''eake.
* ColonelBadass: Ser Laswell is given command of nearly a quarter of the Golden Company that arrive to Cape Wrath and sent to seize Rain House, the seat of House Wylde.
* TheExile: Like most Westerosi members of the Golden Company.

[[folder: Marq Mandrake]]
!!Mark Mandrake

Another Westerosi exile.

* AlliterativeName: '''Ma'''rq '''Ma'''ndrake.
* ColonelBadass: He leads a force of five hundred members of the company and seizes Estermont with them.
* CoveredInScars: His face is covered in several pox-scars. Also bears a mark where his slave-tattoo was burned away.
* MadeASlave: Before joining the Golden Company.
* TheRemnant: House Mandrake was once a powerful family in the Seven Kingdoms.

[[folder: Balaq]]
!!Balaq
!!!Black Balaq

A Summer Islander sellsword in command of the Golden Company's archers.

* ArcherArchetype: In addition to commanding the Golden Company's archers, he is a skilled one himself, wielding a goldenheart bow.
* BadassCape: Wear a green and orange feathered cloak.
%%* ColonelBadass
* InSeriesNickname: "Black" Balaq.
* PunchPackingPistol: It's not the ultra-rare and sought-after dragonbone, but his goldenheart bow is the next best thing for that wow-factor -- even weirwood doesn't make bows as powerful. Yes, they're rare; but, ''only'' away from home.

[[folder: John Mudd]]
!! John Mudd
!!! Young John Mudd
John Mudd, also called Young John Mudd, is a sellsword in service to the Golden Company. He holds the rank of serjeant.

* ColorMotif: He is brown skinned and wears brown clothes, like mud.
* TheRemnant: Of House Mudd.
* SelfProclaimedKnight: He claims he is a knight.

* {{Badass}}: Say what you like, the guy was awesome when actually in a fight.

* {{Badass}}: Jon might not think much of his skill, but he doesn't lack for determination and drive.

[[folder:Jon Lothston]]
Jon Lothston is a sellsword in service to the Golden Company. As a serjeant, he is a high-ranking officer.

* BlingOfWar: Jon wears his worldly wealth upon his person and a lord’s ransom in golden arm rings. Each ring signifies one year's service with the Golden Company.
* TheExile
* LastOfHisKind: The last Lothston, though this is dubious since men of the company can use whatever name they want.

[[folder: Captain-General Myles Toyne]]

[[folder: Captain-General Harry Strickland]]

** Oh, boy! ... To Bloodraven, his polar opposite and arch-enemy. Both the legitimized bastards of a Targaryen King; one from a mother from an Andal house and one from a First Men house (both houses which have been at each other's throats for what could be millennia); one a master warrior while the other a master longbowman, spy, strategist and given to wars of attrition; one loyal to their brother, the Targaryen king, while the other rebelled; one preferred by the woman that they both loved while the other one is scorned; one getting increasingly more powerful while the other slowly withers away; [[spoiler:one is still alive while the other has been long deceased]]. In every case, Bittersteel had a disadvantage to Bloodraven.

s

* SoldiersAtTheRear: Gorys remains in the company's camp to guard [[spoiler: Prince Aegon]].

* See the [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireStormlandsHouses Stormlands Houses]] page.

* {{Expy}}: To [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Company the White Company]], an actual Italian mercenary organization (composed of former English Knights, Longbowmen as well as Italian and German mercenaries with combined arms and specialized operations) celebrated by Creator/ArthurConanDoyle in [[Literature/TheWhiteCompany his eponymous book.]]

* BadassNormal: Bloodraven was a [[spoiler:greenseer and sorceror]] with "A thousand eyes, and one", Bittersteel had no magical capabilities other than his tenacity, his strength and skill with arms.

* TheExile: Most of them were composed of Blackfyre Loyalists who lost lands and titles, their descendants still fight for the company in Essos, dreaming of returning home and regaining what their ancestors lost.
* {{Expy}}: To [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Company the White Company]], an actual Italian mercenary organization (composed of former English Knights, Longbowmen as well as Italian and German mercenaries with combined arms and specialized operations) celebrated by Creator/ArthurConanDoyle in [[Literature/TheWhiteCompany his eponymous book]]

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Totally averted. The Golden Company is regarded as TheAce of all Sellsword Companies in Essos because they have never broken a contract. In series, their sudden cutting off their contract to Myr is treated as a WhamEpisode in King's Landing with several characters wondering if Stannis Baratheon has convinced them to take his cause, [[spoiler:they are actually sworn to return King Aegon VI to the Iron Throne and gain back the lands of their forefathers]].

* BadassBeardl: How he's depicted according to WordOfGod.

!!!Blackheart
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark_omen_s_morgan_bernhardt_by_jonasjensenart_d4kl2et.jpg]]

* FourStarBadass: When he was in command of the Golden Company.
* IronicNickname: He was jokingly nicknamed "Blackheart" by his troops, in reference to the image on his coat-of-arms. Toyne liked the nickname because it led people to be wary of him, but he's described by the rather stern Griff/[[spoiler:Jon Connington]] as being warm and generous and AFatherToHisMen, and at the very least seems to have been a SergeantRock type.
* MyNaymeIs: Myles instead of Miles.
* OddFriendship: The warm and friendly Toyne was friends with the cold and stern Griff.
* PosthumousCharacter: Known to us only through others.
* WhenHeSmiles: He lights up the room, regardless of what his name says he should do.

[[folder: Lord Jon Connington]]
!!Lord Jon Connington
!!![[spoiler:Griff]]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/59027dedf0726f92402bc760d2e1d487.jpg]]
-->''"I failed the father, but I will not fail the son."''

A close friend of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Connington was picked to be Hand of the King after Tywin Lannister resigned the position. He failed to end Robert's Rebellion and was exiled for that mistake. He later joined the Golden Company but was kicked out when caught stealing from the company war chests. He drank himself to death a year later. [[spoiler:Except that his death was actually a false report spread by Varys]].

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Apparently had feelings for his old friend Prince Rhaegar according to WordOfGod.
* TheAtoner: When he closes his eyes he remembers [[MyGreatestFailure the Battle of the Bells]], and tries desperately to make up for it.
* {{Badass}}: Managed to kill Denys Arryn (a renowned fighter and heir to the Vale) and wound Hoster Tully at the the Battle of the Bells. He also escaped a fully recovered Robert Baratheon (few men can say this) and retrieved the Royalist troops back to King's Landing. Probably the same day.
* BadassBeard: Red and fiery.
* BeingGoodSucks: His failure to capture Robert at the Battle of the Bells is an example, given he could have simply burned the town to the ground instead of searching house by house had he been more Tywinesquely pragmatic.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: When he launches his attack against Griffin's Roost, he forbids his men from carrying the banner of Aegon VI or the standard of the Golden Company and instead commands them to yell the Connington BattleCry: "A griffin! A griffin!", to confuse the castle defenders. The first thing he does is make sure his archers take out any source of information leaking out to the Iron Throne (namely ravens). When the ravens keep on coming, his men kill the source of the source (the Maester). The Golden Company takes Griffin's Roost losing less than five men.]]
* DeadManWalking: Contracted the greyscale while saving Tyrion from the stone men, near the Sorrows. He has kept this a secret so far.]]
* TheDragon: To the Mad King, briefly. To Rhaegar, a lot more happily. [[spoiler:Now to Aegon]]
* FailureKnight: What he's convinced he is. But, if there's one thing to be said for having massively screwed-up once, is that it makes you strategically and tactically DangerouslyGenreSavvy afterwards, and far more cold and ruthless in addition.
* ForWantOfANail: He's obsessed with the "Battle of Bells" which he sees as the turning point for Robert's Rebellion, if he had killed Robert Baratheon in time, he could have ended the Rebellion, prevented Rhaegar from dying at the Trident and not ended up as TheExile.
* FieryRedhead: Don't let his cold nature fool you. As for Word of God, the reason Aerys named him his Hand was due to have already a great reputation as a warrior.
* {{Foil}}:
** To Loras Tyrell. Like the Knight of Flowers, Connington was once a well-renowned, hot-headed, young warrior coming up in the world. They were also both secretly in love with their best friends/potential kings (Rhaegar Targaryen for Jon and Renly Baratheon for Loras), and were left in situations that neither man desired after the men they loved were killed. But Connington was regarded by Rhaegar only as a good friend, whereas Loras and Renly were in fact lovers. And while Loras's loss afforded him the opportunity to become a member of the Kingsguard as well as the current royal family, with the downside being that he's aligned with The Lannisters, Jon's loss came after he was defeated, ruined, and exiled. They are also each determined to defend or avenge the legacies of their lost loves, to the point that they begin destroying themselves in the process.
** To Jorah Mormont and Barristan Selmy. Three Westerosi exiles in Essos who serve as the kingmakers for Targaryen heirs; they all are formerly glorified warriors at home, but fell from the graces from their liege lords (Connington due to losing the Battle of the Bells; Mormont due to his adventures in slavery; Selmy due to "letting" King Robert die). At ADWD, [[spoiler:Mormont and Connington are not in a particularly good relationship with their Targaryen heirs, while Selmy had to pick up the pieces left in Meereen by Daenerys, who went dragonriding]].
** What we have here is a man who supported [[spoiler: a promising warrior prince of Targaryen descent]], ended up on the losing side, joined up with the Golden Company, has a resentful streak especially regarding the fact he couldn't have the one person he loved, known for his grim disposition and is now leading the Golden Company back to Westeros. Bittersteel is proud.
** To Ned Stark: Jon and Ned both are stern-looking KnightInSourArmour. They shared a TragicBromance with respectively Rhaegar Targaryen and Robert Baratheon, who instead where [[ArchEnemy arch enemies]]. [[spoiler: In he fifth book seems that Jon raised Rhaegar's son as his own, while it's strongly hinted that Ned Stark ''too'' raised Rhaegar'son as his own.]]
* GlorySeeker: During his tenure as Hand. He paid for it, and then some. Tywin said it was because of his youth and recklessness and he predicted that Jon Connington would not be cautious and decisive.
* ItsAllMyFault: [[spoiler:Blames himself for the death of Rhaegar and the fall of House Targaryen (not to mention his own House) due to his failure to kill Robert Baratheon.]]
--> '''Jon Connington''': I rose too high, loved too hard, dared too much. I tried to grasp a star, overreached, and fell.
* KingmakerScenario: Looks like a classic case, right? He made a bid to keep Rhaegar as heir to the throne when he was Hand to Aerys and was a power to be reckoned with in the Realm. He lost. [[DeconstructedTrope Yes-no]]: it's a lot more complex than that [[spoiler: as it's not the end of the story as there is Aegon. Worse, he's not really the one in the main driving seat, when it comes to getting him on the throne. Although he may not entirely realise the extent of that, either.]] So, in some respects, it's a little subverted, too.
* KnightInSourArmour: Although not one for particularly witty banter, he's decidedly jaded in outlook with a rock-hard exterior which hasn't, quite, solidified on the inside: he'll help/ tolerate the hopeless when they land right in front of him... without being remotely or overtly kind about it (Duckfield is a case in point). [[spoiler: He'll also keep fighting Aegon's corner, come what may, considering him the rightful heir to the throne.]]
* KnightTemplar: After taking over Griffin's Roost, he reflects on what Myles Toyne told him about the Battle of Bells lamenting that even Tywin Lannister could not have done better. Toyne instead reminds him that rather than occupy Stoney Sept, Tywin would have burnt the whole town to kill Robert Baratheon and the Rebels who were kept hidden by the townsfolk. Connington agrees and it seems willing to accept committing war crimes for the sake of expediency:
-->'''Jon Connington:''' I failed the father...[[LetsGetDangerous I will not fail the son]].
* LikeASonToMe: [[spoiler:Little Aegon]].
* MeaningfulName: [[spoiler:Goes by "Griff" when Tyrion meets him in ''A Dance with Dragons'', referring to the heraldry of House Connington--a griffin.]]
* MyGreatestFailure: Connington has not been able to forgive himself for losing the Battle of the Bells and failing to protect Rhaegar and his family.
* MyGreatestSecondChance: What all this is to him on a number of levels. [[spoiler: Although it's pretty darned clear he'd do it out of love for both Rhaegar and Aegon without much other incentive, anyway.]] But, it certainly matches up when you compare his greatest regrets to what he hopes to rectify.
* NeverLearnedToRead: Averted, which is Tyrion's first clue that he's more than a sellsword.
* NotQuiteDead: He's mentioned to have drunk himself to death a long time ago.[[spoiler: Not really. The entire story of Connington stealing from the Golden Company and drinking himself to death was a fabrication made by Varys]].
* PetTheDog: [[spoiler:He goes out of his way to save Tyrion's life when they come under assault from marauders afflicted with the Greyscale. [[DeadManWalking The kindness costs him dearly.]] ]]
* RedHeadedHero: Silvering up a bit on the sides, but still ginger.
* SergeantRock: Not the cuddliest guy [[spoiler: except toward "Young Griff"]], but a very capable commander who usually leads from the front.
* SecretlyDying: [[spoiler:For now, the greyscale is relatively easy to hide with gauntlets or gloves (and, it ''is'' getting a bit nippy out, so there is plenty of excuse). Might get a bit trickier later, though.]]
* StraightGay: [[spoiler: Had a thing for Rheagar.]] But, just criticising his probable orientation to [[SergeantRock his face]] would require oodles of courage. [[spoiler: (Heck, even Tyrion actively tries biting his tongue around him, seeing him as being very close to a Tywin Mark II.)]]
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:Kevan Lannister remembers that the young Jon Connington was reckless, arrogant and haughty, but the new Connington returned to Westeros is OlderAndWiser, having spent years with a prominent mercenary company and moreover having lived in secrecy all this time, noting that this implied that Connington had become cautious, shrewd and cunning]].
* TragicBromance: His relationship with [[spoiler: Rhaegar]], though it went beyond friendship on Jon's side.
* WalkingSpoiler: The true nature of Griff's identity.
* YouRemindMeOfX: As a pale-eyed, never-smiling patriarch with a strong grip on those around him, [[spoiler: Griff is too much like Lord Tywin for Tyrion to be comfortable with him. Jon Connington himself seeks to be more Tywinesque in the coming war.]]

[[folder: Haldon]]
!!Haldon
!!!The Halfmaester
[[quoteright:348:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haldon_halfmaester_by_cloudninja9.jpg]]
-->''"A book can be as dangerous as a sword in the right hands."''

A former novice at the Citadel who did not earn enough links to become a Maester. Instead, he became attached to the Golden Company as a tutor for Young Griff, aka [[spoiler:Aegon Targaryen]].

For the Order of the Maesters character entry [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireTheOrderOfTheMaesters see here]].

* {{Bookworm}}: Comes with the turf.
* DeadpanSnarker: Quite comfortable competing with Tyrion verbally, not just with gaming pieces. Loses horribly, although points for making the attempt.
* TheGoodChancellor: Again, part of the whole (half-)Maester package.
* InSeriesNickname: Haldon Halfmaester, due to never forging a maester's chain but having a lot of their knowledge.
* TheMedic: Serves as a healer as well as a tutor for the Golden Company.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Played with in that a fully acknowledged, qualified maester [[spoiler:might attract unwelcome attention to the pupil he's tutoring]].
* TheSmartGuy: He is rather well-rounded in his education for somebody who, reportedly, left the Citadel early.
* SmartPeoplePlayChess: He's not bad. But, Tyrion plays people better.

[[folder: Septa Lemore]]
!!Septa Lemore
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lemore.jpg]]
-->''"The Mother and the Father made us in their image, Hugor. We should glory in our bodies, for they are the work of gods."''

A mysterious, beautiful Septa who is Young Griff's spiritual tutor.

For the main Faith of the Seven entry, [[Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireTheFaithOfTheSeven see here]].

* TheChick: By design.
* DeadpanSnarker: Part of what makes her attractive to Tyrion besides her looks is her dry and saucy tongue.
* MeaningfulName: Her name sounds like "l'amour", which is saying "the love" or "love" on French; fitting for a naughty, flirty septa.
* MysteriousPast: Tyrion notes she does not act like a Septa, and that she has stretch marks on her stomach that indicate she had a child at some point. This has lead to EpilepticTrees by fans that she might be a previously mentioned historical character [[spoiler:such as a NotQuiteDead Ashara Dayne. Even though Ashara Dayne had the classic lilac eyes of Daynes. Another (and more likely) candidate is that she's the mother of Tyene Sand, who was a septa. An even more remote, off-the-wall possibility is that she might be Lyanna Stark herself.]]
* NaughtyNuns]: Bathes naked in the river every morning and isn't put out in the slightest by the lustful interest of a DepravedDwarf.
* NunTooHoly: She is notoriously flirty for a Septa.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Although, given she is likely hiding who she is for whatever reason, it ''could'' be a case of DyeOrDie like with "Young Griff". If so, Tyrion didn't pick up on it, given he was [[DistractedByTheSexy focusing on other things]] at the time.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: For a Septa, she is oddly open to letting people see her naked.
* StatuesqueStunner: Receiving praise from Tyrion in this respect does imply that she's quite the woman; Tyrion, having a knack for beautiful women.
* WomanInWhite: Naughty Septa she may be, but she still wears the white of one not devoted to the Stranger.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Ser Rolly Duckfield]]
!!Ser Rolly Duckfield
!!!Duck
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rolly_duckfield_ffg_540.png]]

The son of a blacksmith in Bitterbridge, Rolly dreamed of knighthood. He had to flee Westeros after breaking the arms and ribs of Lorent Caswell, who had attempted to steal the sword Rolly's father forged for him. He joined the Golden Company where he became a loyal friend of Young Griff and was knighted by Griff.
----