http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/ASongOfIceAndFireCrownlandsHouses

This is a listing of houses in the Crownlands that appear in A Song of Ice and Fire that do not have enough members or tropes to justify their own page (yet).

For the main character index, see here

The Crownlands

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The lands surrounding the capital of King's Landing are known as the Crownlands. Having never been a separate kingdom, it was carved out of disputed lands claimed by the Riverlands and Stormlands. The houses of the Crownlands are sworn directly to the crown instead of a Great House, except for the houses of Blackwater Bay, who are sworn to the Lord of Dragonstone. It was originally the home of House Targaryen before Robert's Rebellion killed most members of that house and sent the rest into exile. Bastards in the Crownlands are given the surname "Waters".

The Crownlands are the most recently established regional division of Westeros, the smallest region of the continental division (excluding the Iron Islands), and second to the Riverlands, they're the region that is most affected by the War of the Five Kings. King's Landing itself is one of the most important shipping ports of the Narrow Sea. During the reign of King Robert I Baratheon, the region was closely associated with the Stormlands due to familial links and to the Vale of Arryn due to Lord Arryn's position as the King's Hand.

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Tropes Relating to the Crownlands

At the Crossroads: Many of the major roads of Westeros converge at King's Landing. Justified because they were built by King Jaehaerys I specifically to connect the rest of the kingdom to the capital city.
The City Narrows: The King's Landing neighborhood of Flea Bottom, nestled between Aegon's Hill and Visenya's Hill, is noted to be a crime-ridden slum with some of the most appalling living conditions in the kingdom.
City of Spies: King's Landing is home of the royal court, and so many of the nobles hire spies to keep tabs on both their allies and opponents.
Enemy Civil War: Most of the mainland lords remain loyal to Joffrey, while the insular ones declare for Stannis.
The Generic Guy: The Crownlands as a whole doesn't have a distinct culture because it wasn't an autonomous region until recently. Other regions had millennia to develop their unique cultural identities, while the Crownlands has only existed for about 300 years and much of it was previously disputed territory between the storm kings, river kings, and ironborn.
- Consider that the World of Ice & Fire sourcebook doesn't even have a regional history chapter on the crownlands. It has eight: one for each of the "Seven Kingdoms" plus the riverlands (the wildlings beyond the Wall get covered in sidebars during the North's chapter). Even then, most of the narrative focus is on King's Landing itself, not its hinterlands.
Wretched Hive: King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms and it's largest city, is noted to be filthy, overcrowded, and dangerous to live in if you can't afford bodyguards.

Royal House

House Baratheon

House Baratheon of King's Landing

House Baratheon of King's Landing is the royal line of House Baratheon of Storm's End, from which it comes. It was founded by Robert I Baratheon after his successful rebellion against King Aerys II Targaryen. When he became king, Robert moved from Storm's End to King's Landing. The Great House receives the support of the mainland houses from the crownlands.

See the House Baratheon of Kings Landing page.

Cadet Branch

House Baratheon of Dragonstone

House Baratheon of Dragonstone is a cadet branch of House Baratheon of Storm's End. Its seat is Dragonstone, the island castle that sits off the mainland to the northeast of King's Landing, and the Great House commands the allegiance of the lords of the narrow sea. Its founder and current head is Lord Stannis Baratheon, who seized the island at the end of Robert's Rebellion and received it as a reward from his brother, King Robert I Baratheon.

See the House Baratheon of Dragonstone page.

Exiled Houses

House Targaryen

House Targaryen of King's Landing

Fire and Blood

—Targaryen words

House Targaryen is a noble family of Valyrian descent that escaped the Doom. They lived for centuries on the island of Dragonstone until Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters rode their dragons in their conquest of the Seven Kingdoms.

House Targaryen ruled as the kings on the Iron Throne and as the Great House of the crownlands for nearly 300 years, until their ouster in Robert's Rebellion, which they call the War of the Usurper. Their seats were the Red Keep in the capital city of King's Landing, the castle of Dragonstone, and the summer residence of Summerhall.

See the House Targaryen page.

Noble Houses

House Blount

House Blount is a noble house from the Crownlands. They blazon their arms with a red bend sinister between two black porcupines on green.

Noodle Incident: One of their own was involved in the Knight of the Laughing Tree incident.
Out of Focus: We have no idea if this family still even exists.

Ser Boros Blount

See the Kingsguard page.

House Bourney

House Bourney is a noble house from the Blackwater Rush. Their words, arms and seat are unknown.

Lord Owain Bourney

Head of House Bourney during the Dance of Dragons. During the First Battle of the Tumbleton, he and Ser Roger Corne betrayed the blacks and opened the gates of the town to the green's host.

Eye Scream: Unwin Peake stabbed him in the eye.
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: When he tried to assume command of the host, Unwin Peake eventually got fed up with him and stabbed him in the eye, saying a turncloak is always a turncloak.
Turn Coat: Secretly supported the greens and when the Two Betrayers started to act, he opened the gates of the castle, killing Ser Merrell the Bold in the process.

House Byrch

House Byrch is a noble house from the Crownlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with quarterly, gyronny white and black, a silver axe on green.

Ser Balman Byrch

A knight of House Byrch and Falyse Stokeworth's husband.

Alliterative Name:
Asshole Victim: He's a pompous jerk, and the report of his death is presented pretty comically (to the reader, anyway).
Badass Decay: In-Universe: Cersei notes how he was once a famed jouster, but age has robbed him of much of his skill.
Dumb Blond: His wavy blond hair is starting to recede, putting it on the path to become as non-existent as his brain.
Eye Scream: Bronn kills him with a dagger through the eye.
Fat Idiot: No longer in the prime of his physical fitness. And, an idiot.
Honor Before Reason: Cersei very specifically told his wife and he to make Bronn's attempted murder look like an accident. A Hunting "Accident", poisoning, anything. Balman, the fool he was, decides instead to be honorable about it and challenged Bronn to a proper joust to do away with him. It ended badly for the fat old fool.
I Was Quite a Looker: According to Cersei, Balman was once considered one of the most handsome knights in the Seven Kingdoms. He has not aged well, becoming fat and balding, although apparently he still has a nice mustache.
Make It Look Like an Accident: Ordered by Cersei to do this to Bronn. He instead falls prey to Honor Before Reason and tries to do it by challenging Bronn to a joust, considering it more honorable than a "hunting accident", planning on killing his horse and then stabbing him when he's on the ground. Bronn does it to him instead.
Mauve Shirt: We knew you a little.
Too Dumb to Live: Qualifies with flying colors. Tackling a known, capable Professional Killer and Combat Pragmatist in a jousting contest? Not very bright.
Torture for Fun and Information: It's implied Bronn tortured Balman until he gave up the information it was Cersei who ordered Balman to kill Bronn.
Underestimating Badassery: Thinks Bronn would have no idea how to joust due to being an up-jumped sellsword. Turns out he does know how, and is quite adept at cheating before his opponent does, too.

Falyse Stokeworth

Ser Balman's wife and the eldest daughter and heir of Lady Tanda Stokeworth.

The Alcoholic: She drinks a ton, and has a particular fondness for hippocras.
Alpha Bitch: Well, she comes across this way by how she treats poor Lollys. Or, anybody else she sees as beneath her. Anybody above her, and she turns into a toadying suck-up.
Animal Motifs: According to Cersei, she looks like a fish and drinks like one too. Even though her House sigil is a lamb.
Awful Wedded Life: Her husband shuns her bed and they have no children.
Big Sister Bully: She is cruel to her younger sister, Lollys.
Empty Shell: After handing Falyse over to Qyburn, Cersei briefly entertains the notion of sending Falyse back to Stokeworth with an army to oust Bronn, but Qyburn reveals his experiments on Falyse, while informative, have reduced Falyse to this. In his words, she's no longer capable of even feeding herself.
The Exile: After Bronn kills Ser Balman, he bans Falyse from Stokeworth.
Fate Worse than Death: Cersei gives her to Qyburn after she and her husband fail to kill Bronn. After a few months of... whatever it is that Qyburn does in the Black Cells, the appendix of A Dance With Dragons notes that Falyse "died screaming".
Get Out!: Bronn tells her this, saying that if she wasn't gone from Stokeworth by sundown, he'd kill her like her husband, but only after making a gift of her to the castle garrison, if any would have her. When Falyse ordered her guards to arrest Bronn, they merely laughed and told her to do as "Lord Stokeworth" said.
Skewed Priorities: After Bronn kills her husband and kicks her out of Stokeworth, she's more upset about having to leave her pretty gowns behind than, say, not having a home anymore.
Smug Snake: Described as having "an acid tongue".
Too Dumb to Live: You and your husband fail at what you were instructed to do. And, you turn up in King's Landing expecting hugs, help and kind words from Cersei on the event of his untimely death? Lannisters do pay their debts, remember.
Trademark Favorite Drink: She drinks so much hippocras that Jaime comments it's a wonder she doesn't piss the stuff.
Unwanted Spouse: It is rumored that her husband, Ser Balman Byrch, shuns her bed.
Upper-Class Twit: Why, yes. Yes, she is. To say she's ill-equipped to dabble in the game of thrones thanks to wearing blinkers is a bit of an understatement.
You Have Failed Me: The cause of her imprisonment.

Historical Byrchs

Ser Balon Byrch

A knight of House Byrch who served in the City Watch of King's Landing during the Dance of the Dragons. He was loyal to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Alliterative Name: Like his descendant Balman.
The Captain: Was captain of the Old Gate. He later became captain of the entire City Watch following the death of Ser Luthor Largent.
Long-Dead Badass: He was a skilled warrior and leader, being one of the few officers who managed to restore some measure of peace during the King's Landing riots. He died after being hit by an arrow when Broken Men ambushed Rhaenyra's party after they fled the city.
Rank Up: After Ser Luthor was killed in the King's Landing riots, Balon was promoted in light of his loyal and effective service.
Undying Loyalty: Even after Rhaenyra lost control of King's Landing and fled the city, Balon remained loyal to her and attempted to help escort her to safety.

House Bywater

House Bywater is a noble house from the Crownlands.

According to semi-canon sources, they blazon their shields with fretty blue on white, three silver fish on a blue chief.

Ser/Lord Jacelyn Bywater

Ironhand

A knight and member of the City Watch of King's Landing. Promoted to commander by Tyrion after sending Janos Slynt to the Wall.

Brutal Honesty: When telling Tyrion that the common people of King's Landing hate him more than Joffrey or Cersei, simply because he is the newest member of the King's court, a Lannister, and a dwarf.
The Captain: Of the Mud Gate, and later the whole City Watch.
Foil: To the corrupt Janos Slynt; they both come from humble beginnings, but Jacelyn is honest and reasonable.
Honest Advisor: To Tyrion, who ordered him to fulfill this role when appointing him commander.
In-Universe Nickname: Ironhand.
Knight in Shining Armor: Unlike most members of the City Watch, he is not corrupt, which is why Tyrion recruits him to command it and be one of his key allies.
Lantern Jaw of Justice: He has a square jawline.
The Mutiny: He's killed by his own men when he's trying to keep them from deserting after Joffrey flees the Battle of the Blackwater.
Rags to Riches: He's from a poor branch of House Bywater, earned his knighthood during the Siege of Pyke, and later a lordship from Tyrion.
Red Right Hand: An iron hand strapped to his right wrist, having lost the original during the Siege of Pyke.
Token Good Cop: His rigid honesty makes him an anomaly amongst the thugs and graft-takers who make up the bulk of the King's Landing City Watch.
Token Good Teammate: He is the most honorable member of Tyrion's allies.

House Chelsted

House Chelsted is a noble house from the Crownlands. They blazon their arms with per bend green and white, a crossed spiked mace and a silver dagger.

Lord Qarlton Chelsted

The Mace-and-Dagger Hand

Initially serving as King Aerys II Master of Coin, he was appointed Hand of the King after Ser Jon Connington's failure at the Battle of the Bells.

The Dragon: For Aerys after Aerys exiled Jon Connington. He was not an especially good one, as he apparently did very little to quell Robert's Rebellion.
Even Evil Has Standards: While he had long served Aerys as an adviser and manipulated him for his own means, Qarlton was horrified by Aerys's plot to destroy King's Landing with wildfire.
Failed a Spot Check: Averted; Chelsted got suspicious that members of the Alchemists' Guild were constantly coming and going from the Red Keep and started investigating until he found out why.
Hidden Depths: Jaime, who had always considered Chelsted a sycophant, admits that he admired the man for finding the courage to try and defy Aerys.
High Turnover Rate: Jaime refers to him as "The mace-and-dagger Hand" because Aerys went through so many Hands he couldn't remember their names.
The Man Behind the Man: Along with Lucerys Velaryon and Symond Staunton, he stoked Aerys' paranoia about conspiracies against him, particularly ones instigated by Prince Rhaegar. He did this in order to convince Aerys to disown Rhaegar and make Viserys heir instead, which would guarantee a regency Qarlton and the others advisers could run.
My Nayme Is: Carlton but with a Q.
Posthumous Character: Burned alive by the Mad King and Wisdom Rossart.
Professional Butt-Kisser: He's described by Maester Yandel as one of the lickspittles that surrounded the Mad King to benefit from his favor.
Redemption Equals Death: His first sympathetic action is to condemn Aerys' wildfire plot, which results in his death.
Replacement Goldfish: For Jon Connington, who had been exiled as punishment for his defeat at the Battle of the Bells.
Resign in Protest: After learning of Aerys' plan to burn the city if Robert's rebellion was successful Chelsted was aghast and tried to talk Aerys out of the horrific plan. When that failed, he furiously resigned his position on the spot. Aerys responded in his favorite way; burning Chelsted alive with wildfire. And to add insult to injury, he promptly named his favorite pyromancer (who had probably been the one to burn Chelsted) the new Hand of the King.
Jamie: I'd thought the man craven, but the day he confronted Aerys he found some courage somewhere. He did all he could to dissuade him. He reasoned, he jested, he threatened, and finally he begged. When that failed he took off his chain of office and flung it down on the floor. Aerys burnt him alive for that, and hung his chain about the neck of Rossart, his favorite pyromancer.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Resigned his post after failing to dissuade Aerys from going along with the Wildfire Plot, which resulted in his execution.

House Chyttering

House Chyttering is a noble house of the Crownlands sworn to House Baratheon of King's Landing. During the War of the Five Kings, they side with Stannis Baratheon. According to semi-canon sources their arms depict three golden bendlets enhanced on white. Their motto is unknown.

Tropes related to House Chyttering:

Bit Character: The first Lord Chyttering in the series, who isn't even named.
Kill It with Fire: Lord Chyttering was burned to death at the Battle of the Blackwater.

Lord Lucos Chyttering

Little Lucos

Lord Chyttering's sixteen-year-old son and heir.

A Child Shall Lead Them: Called "Little Lucos" because of his youth.
Undying Loyalty: Regarded by Stannis as one of the few good men that remained to him after the defeat at the Blackwater.
You Are in Command Now: Takes command of House Chyttering following the death of his father at the Blackwater.

House Darke

House Darke is a noble house of the Crownlands. They are a branch of the now extinct House Darklyn, and they remain at Duskendale since the extinction of their more famous kin. Their arms and words are unknown.

Famous Ancestor: Ser Harrold Darke, who interceded on Queen Rhaenyra's behalf when she sought shelter with House Darklyn, and later advised her to go to the Vale rather than back to Dragonstone.
The Clan: They are a branch of the once large Darklyn family.
The Ghost: They haven't appeared on the main books yet.
The Remnant: Like Houses Darkwood and Dargood, they are remnants of House Darklyn.

Historical Darkes:

Jonquil Darke

The Scarlet Shadow, the Serpent in Scarlet

A warrior woman and sworn shield of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, who traveled with her to the North. There she fought against a wilding woman that was being fostered by Lord Manderly as an exhibition match.

Action Girl: Before she became Queen Alysanne's personal bodyguard, she participated in a tourney as a mystery knight. While she didn't win, she stayed in the competition long enough to become well known to the spectators, which means she beat several trained knights.
Designated Girl Fight: Against the wilding woman fostered at White Harbor as a spectacle for the Westerosi; girls raised by the free folk as "spearwives" is commonplace beyond the Wall, but women warriors are a curiosity in the Seven Kingdoms.
Heroic Bastard: She was born as the bastard daughter of one Lord Darklyn and bastard half-sister to the next, and was seemingly accepted and trusted at court, loyally serving at least 33 years^note with no scandals to her name or mentioned bad blood between her and members of Jaehaerys' court for being both a bastard and a woman essentially made honorary Kingsguard.
Famous Ancestor: She had the rare honor of being a warrior woman and sworn shield of her beloved Queen, which is almost unheard of in Westeros. As she is the earliest Darke mentioned thus far and is specifically called a bastard of Darklyn, not Darke, it is implied she may have been the first Darke and thus founded her own branch of House Darklyn, passing her own name on to her children and descendants, which if true is even more vanishingly rare for Westerosi women.
Forced to Watch: At the command of King Jaehaerys, Jonquil imposed this on Princess Saera Targaryen, forcing her to watch her father's Duel to the Death with Braxton Beesbury, the worst of the three men she'd taken as lovers, so Saera would know whoever died in that duel, the blood would be on her hands.
Named After Somebody Famous: Likely named for Florian's Jonquil. As fate would have it, she was first enlisted to be Queen Alysanne's sworn shield after Alysanne was attacked at Jonquil's Pool named for the same legend. In modern times, the two Jonquils make for an interesting parallel with the Stark daughters: ladylike Sansa's favorite song is about the romance of Florian and Jonquil, while tomboyish Arya strives to be an Action Girl and would likely admire Jonquil the Scarlet Shadow as she does the warrior queen Princess Nymeria she names her wolf after... but gives no indication she's ever heard of her, and overall Jonquil Darke doesn't seem a very famous figure nowadays, unmentioned by any of the characters living 200 years later, despite being renowned in her own time as a Queensguard in all but name and having definitely existed unlike Florian and Jonquil.
Praetorian Guard: The closest to the Kingsguard by virtue of being Alysanne's sworn shield. Jonquil was chosen as Alysanne's personal bodyguard after an assassination attempt on the Queen in a women-only bathhouse; Alysanne argued she needed protection in places where the Kingsguard were forbidden on account of being men.
Red Baron: The Serpent in Scarlet as a mystery knight, the Scarlet Shadow as Alysanne's bodyguard.
Samus Is a Girl: The only mystery knight in (known) Westeros history confirmed to be female^note. She posed as the Serpent in Scarlet in a tourney for the extremely populated, luxurious Golden Wedding where hundreds of knights competed to try to win a spot in Jaehaerys' Kingsguard, but was eventually unmasked on her defeat. Luckily, she did well enough to be remembered and be awarded a spot as Alysanne's sworn shield two years later specifically on account of her gender, when the need for a female warrior to accompany Alysanne in times and places male Kingsguard could not became clear.

Ser Harrold Darke

See the Court of Rhaenyra I page.

House Farring

House Farring is a noble house of the Crownlands. During the War of the Five Kings, they support Stannis Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne. According to semi-canon sources, they blazon their arms with per pale purple and white, two knights combatant with swords, counter-charged.

Ser Gilbert Farring

A knight of House Farring, Ser Gilbert is a knight loyal to Stannis and the commander of the Storm's End garrison.

The Ghost: Has been mentioned several times but has yet to actually appear in the series.
Mouth of Sauron: Holding Storm's End in Stannis' name.
Outliving One's Offspring: His son Bryen dies during Stannis' march to Winterfell.
Undying Loyalty: He remains loyal to Stannis even after the defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater and the fall of Dragonstone, holding Stannis' last mainland stronghold in the south.

Bryen Farring

Ser Gilbert's son and Stannis Baratheon's squire.

Bit Character: He is mostly present in scenes that involve large numbers of Stannis' followers.
Character Death: Succumbed to cold and hunger during the march from Deepwood Motte to Winterfell.
Child Soldier: Participates in Stannis' campaign in the North.
The Squire: One of two who serve Stannis, alongside Devan Seaworth.

Ser Godry Farring

See the Queen's Men page.

Annara Farring

The seventh wife of Lord Walder Frey.

Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Is rumored to have slept with Black Walder Frey, her husband's great-grandson, which cast doubts on the parentage of her children.
Massive Numbered Siblings: Had six children with Walder Frey; Arwyn, Wendel, Colmar, Waltyr, Elmar and Shirei.
Posthumous Character: Died before the story began.

House Follard

"None So Wise"

—House Follard's words

A noble house from the Crownlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with gyronny of twelve red and white; on a gold canton, a two-peaked fool's cap of red and white with silver bells.

Bit Character: Both Perkin and Dick Follard play minor roles in their respective storylines.
I Choose to Stay: An unnamed Lord Follard who accompanied Manfryd Mooton to Braavos during the regency of Aegon III chose to remain in the Free City to be with a courtesan he had become enamored with.
One Degree of Separation: Deaf Dick Follard is a ranger of the Night's Watch, while Perkin Follard is a knight at the service of Stannis Baratheon and a Queen's Man, but by the time Perkin arrives to The Wall Dick is already dead, so their exact relationship is never explored.

Dick Follard

See the Night's Watch Rangers character page

House Harte

House Harte is a noble house of the Crownlands. Neither its arms nor words have appeared in the books, but according to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with three red hart's heads caboshed on a white bend on vair.

Alliterative Name: Hazel Harte.
Famous Ancestor: Lady Hazel Harte, the wife of Ser Daeron Velaryon and mother of Queen Daenaera Velaryon.
- Ser Denys Harte, who according to Mushroom, hired a Faceless Men while in Braavos to kill a rival at King's Landing.
Know When to Fold Them: Ser Elwood Harte surrendered to Ser Donnel Swann after being injured during the Battle of Blackwater.
No Name Given: The head of the house during the Dance of Dragons.
Undying Loyalty: Lord Harte was executed for refusing to renounce his loyalty to Rhaenyra Targaryen.

House Hayford

House Hayford of Hayford

House Hayford of Hayford is a noble house from Hayford in the Crownlands, less than a day's ride from King's Landing. It is sworn directly to the Iron Throne, while House Hogg are their vassals. Their blazon is green fetty over gold, a green pale wavy.

Tropes related to House Hayford:

No Name Given: Several Hayfords have been mentioned but their first names haven't.
Number Two: The unnamed Lord Hayford that served as Hand of the King for Daeron II until his death at the Battle of the Redgrass Field.
Sibling Murder: Lyra Hayford was accused of having smothered her baby brother out of jealousy, although this may have just been Malicious Slander spread by Unwin Peake.
Too Dumb to Live: Towards the end of Maegor the Cruel's reign, with half the realm rising up in revolt in support of his nephew Jaehaerys, Maegor summoned what few lords he had still loyal to him, only for a handful to answer his call, certainly not enough to defeat the combined armies of the Vale, Stormlands and Westerlands who had declared for Jaehaerys. Seeing the writing on the wall, Lord Hayford advised Maegor to abdicate and take the black to save himself; Maegor, unsurprisingly, had Lord Hayford beheaded on the spot, then continued his war council with Hayford's head on a spike next to the Iron Throne.
Undying Loyalty: The Lord Hayford at the time of the Dance of Dragons refused to renounce his loyalty to Rhaenyra, even at the cost of his life.

Lady Ermesande Hayford

The Lady of Hayford. She's last of her family, and also a baby still being nursed. She's married to Tyrek Lannister as part of House Lannister's plans to extend their domains and influence.

Arranged Marriage: To Tyrek Lannister.
A Child Shall Lead Them: An extreme version of the trope, since she's unable to actually "lead".
Last of Her Kind: The last known member of House Hayford, and no other distant relatives have even been mentioned.
Lord Country: Lady Hayford.
Unwitting Pawn: Being a baby, she cannot exactly help the fact that the Lannisters use her as a pawn in their schemes to expand their power.
The Unreveal: The circumstances behind her being the last living member of House Hayford are not explained.

House Mallery

A noble house from the Crownlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with six white stars on violet.

Lord Lothar Mallery

The head of House Mallery.

Bit Character
Red Shirt: He's one of the lords and knights assigned by Ned Stark with the task of bringing the King's justice to Ser Gregor Clegane.
We Hardly Knew Ye: The next thing we learn about Lord Lothar is that he was ridden down and drowned during the Battle at the Mummer's Ford.

Historical Mallerys

Ser Raymund Mallery

See the Night's Watch page.

House Massey

House Massey of Stonedance

A noble house descended from the First Men seated at Stonedance, a castle in Massey's Hook, a peninsula east of the Kingswood. While the house was established as a vassal to the Storm Kings of House Durrandon, for a time they ruled Massey's Hook as kings after revolting against King Durwald I the Fat. They blazon their arms with a triple spiral; red, green and blue, on white, an ancient sigil for an ancient House.

Tropes related to House Massey:

Dragon Ascendant: For a time, they broke away from the Stormlands and became their own kings.
Famous Ancestor:
- Lord Triston Massey was the first Master of Laws during the Conquest.
- Alarra Massey the wife of Lord Aethan Velaryon and mother of Daemon and Alyssa Velaryon.
- Lady Elinor Massey, one of the hundred maidens presented to the recently widowed Aegon III Targaryen. She was a victim of Unwin Peake's Malicious Slander.
Les Collaborateurs: Could never defeat the Storm Kings so the Masseys resorted to finding allies. Josua had his daughter married to an Andal warlord. Lord Triston sided with House Targaryen during the Conquest.

Ser Justin Massey

See the Queen's Men page.

Historical Masseys

Lord Maldon Massey

Lord Maldon Massey was the founder of House Massey and builder of their castle Stonedance.

Alliterative Name: His names both start with M.
Our Founder

King Justin Massey

Milk-Eye

Justin Massey was a pirate-king. He lived during the Andal invasion.

Rape, Pillage, and Burn: He was a pirate after all.

King Josua Massey

Softspear

King Josua Massey, also known as Softspear, was the last King of House Massey.

Altar Diplomacy: Josua had his daughter married to an Andal warlord to cement an alliance against the Storm Kings. It worked for a time but eventually the Masseys were made subjects of the Storm Kings again.
Embarrassing Nickname: Softspear.
Last of His Kind: The last Massey king.

Lord Lucifer Massey

Lucifer Massey was Lord of Stonedance during the early days of Maegor I.

Honor Before Reason: He only sided with Team Maegor during the Trial of Seven to not look like a coward. He dies in the battle.
Mutual Kill: Massey hacked off Harys Horpe's arm. Massey took an axe right between the eyes.

Lord Albin Massey, Master of Laws

Lord of Stonedance during the early reign of Jaehaerys I, who was chosen as Master of Laws to replace Lord Prentys Tully. He died from the Shivers in 59 AC.

Deadpan Snarker: When Jaehaerys reached his majority, one of his first acts as king in his own name was to boot Septon Mattheus out of keep and city for how he had opposed the king's marriage to his sister Alysanne. When the infamously fat Mattheus protests, Lord Massey is reported to quip that the three people being brought in to replace him as the Faith's presence in court were needed to "balance the scales".
Genius Cripple: He was born with a twisted spine and a limp, but he certainly didn't lack wits. He was even training to be a Maester when a fever killed his father and brothers.
Replacement Goldfish: Brought to replace Prentys Tully after his dismissal in 50 AC.
Unexpected Successor: He was studying to become a Maester when disease took his father and siblings, forcing him to become Lord of Stonedance.

Lord Gormon Massey

Gormon Massey was Lord of Stonedance during the early days of the Dance of the Dragons.

Man on Fire: He got barbecued while trying to tame a dragon.
Undying Loyalty: To Rhaenyra.

Elinda Massey

Elinda Massey was the youngest and gentlest of Rhaenyra Targaryen's ladies-in-waiting, who accompanied her in her fleeing of King's Landing.

Break the Cutie: In the worst way.
Eye Scream: It is sad that she gouged out her own eyes at the sight of her queen being devoured by Sunfyre.

Ser Robin Massey

Ser Robin Massey was a knight of House Massey during the early reign of Aegon III.

Replacement Goldfish: He was appointed to the Kingsguard after several members died from winter fever.
Serious Business: He was killed by Unwin Peake's mercenary Tessario the Tiger due to a dispute over a horse they both wanted.
Short-Lived Leadership: He was anointed Lord Commander of the Kingsguard by Aegon III, only for the decision to be overturned by Unwin Peake.

House Rambton

A noble house from the Crownlands sworn to House Sunglass. They blazon their arms with a white ram's head with golden horns on red.

Tropes related to House Rambton:

Human Sacrifice: The two surviving sons of Ser Hubard Rambton are burned alive as sacrifices to R'hllor under orders of Queen Selyse.

Ser Hubard Rambton

A pious knight with four sons.

Real Men Love Jesus: Loves the Seven so much that he's killed along two of his sons while defending the sept at Dragonstone from the Queen's Men who sought to burn it.
Red Shirt: Besides being a devout knight, nothing is known of Ser Hubard.
We Hardly Knew Ye: He was barely even mentioned before his death off-page.

House Rosby

House Rosby of Rosby

A noble house from the Crownlands. They rule the castle of Rosby and its village, which are located just northeast of King's Landing along the Rosby Road. The Rosbys are not known for their robustness.

Their blazon consists into three red chevronels on ermine. Their motto is not mentioned in the books.

Tropes related to House Rosby:

The Dog Bites Back: During the Dance of the Dragons, the Lady of Rosby at the time asked Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen to put her ahead of her younger brother in the line of succession, and was refused. That same Lady Rosby refused to shelter Rhaenyra when she fled from King's Landing.
Driven to Suicide: The Lord Rosby who remained loyal to Maegor the Cruel until the end committed suicide by drinking a cup of hemlock when the fall of the king was all but certain.
Know When to Fold Them: They were among House Targaryen's first vassals when they surrendered as soon as Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon landed at their front door.
Lord Country: Rosby is the name of the land they control.
No Name Given: Many Rosbys have been mentioned, but their first names were unrevealed.
Posthumous Character: Bethany Rosby, the sixth wife of Walder Frey and mother of Perwyn, Benfrey, Willamen, Olyvar and Roslin Frey.

Lord Gyles Rosby, Lord Treasurer

The Cougher

Head of House Rosby and Lord of Rosby. He is a very sickly person who spends most of his time in King’s Landing as part of the Royal Court. Briefly holds the position of Lord Treasurer (the renamed office of Master of Coin) for Queen Cersei.

Always Murder: Dies in A Feast for Crows from his disease and the pressure brought about by his new position, but Cersei's paranoia convinces her that the Tyrells had him assassinated.
Butt-Monkey: In the fourth book.
Incurable Cough of Death: He suffers from a disease that also causes Blood from the Mouth by the fourth book.
Last of His Kind: Seems that Lord Gyles is the last Rosby as it is mentioned he has no immediate heirs.
Recurring Extra: In the first three books, but in the forth book he becomes a major part of the political maneuverings in King's Landing.
Stealth Pun: Lord Gyles is a cougher who is put in charge of the kingdom's coffers.
Succession Crisis: His death in A Feast for Crows causes a minor one, with six different claimants (and his ward, who is according to Cersei not blood-related to Gyles) claiming the land and the title.
Yes-Man: To Cersei Lannister, and she eventually rewards him by making him Master of Coin to prevent the Tyrells from taking the post.

Historical Rosbys

Lord Jon Rosby, Warden of the Sands and Castellan of Sunspear

Lord Jon Rosby was head of House Rosby during the first Dornish Wars.

Disney Villain Death: He was thrown from a window by Princess Meria Martell herself. It became known as the Defenestration of Sunspear.
Short-Lived Leadership: Was appointed the new ruler of Dorne by Aegon I but he was instead killed by sneaky Dornishmen.

Ser Rayford Rosby

Ser Rayford Rosby was a knight during the early reign of Maegor I.

Alliterative Name: His first and last name begin with R.
Honor Before Reason: He only sided with Team Maegor during the Trial of Seven to not look like a coward. He dies in the battle.

House Rykker

House Rykker of Duskendale

A noble house from the crownlands. Their seat is the castle of the Dun Fort in Duskendale. House Rykker received Duskendale following the Defiance of Duskendale and the fall of House Darklyn. Their sigil depicts two black warhammers crossed on a white saltire on blue.

Lord Renfred Rykker

The Lord of Duskendale and head of House Rykker.

Alliterative Name: Renfred Rykker
The Ghost: Has yet to make an appearance. He's with Lord Randyll Tarly at Maidenpool.

Ser Rufus Leek

An elderly knight of House Leek, Ser Rufus serves as Lord Renfred's castellan at the Dun Fort.

An Arm and a Leg: His left leg is amputated.
Never Learned to Read: He relies on the Dun Fort's maester for it.
Number Two: To Lord Renfred.
Retired Badass: Can no longer fight due to the loss of his left leg.

Ser Jaremy Rykker

See the Night's Watch Rangers character page

House Staunton

House Staunton of Rook's Rest

A noble house from Rook's Rest in the Crownlands. Neither their arms nor their motto have appeared in the books, but according to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with two black wings upon a white fess on checkered black and grey.

The Alcoholic: Ysabel Staunton was said to have been fond of wine, which Unwin Peake used to spread rumors about her and reduce her chances of being chosen as King Aegon III Targaryen's bride.
Alliterative Name: Most of the known members have names that start with S's.
Famous Ancestor:
- Casella Staunton, one of the three 'Close Companions' of Princess Rhaena Targaryen who was poisoned by Androw Farman.
- Simon Staunton was one of the four young squires sent to court young Princess Daella Targaryen, but after he tried to give her wine she decided that she hated him.
- Ysabel Staunton was one of the many maids presented to young Aegon III, and one of the many victims of Unwin Peake's Malicious Slander. Her fondness for wine was much gossiped about.
- Ser Joffrey Staunton was a Kingsguard knight who helped "procure" women for Aegon the Unworthy.
The Ghost: While the house still officially exists, no member has appeared on the main books yet.
No Name Given: The Lord Staunton who was killed at the start of the Dance of the Dragons.
Undying Loyalty: An unnamed Lord Staunton was one of the last supporters of Maegor the Cruel.

Symond Staunton

Master of Laws during the reign of the Mad King.

The Man Behind the Man: Along with Qarlton Chelsted and Lucerys Velaryon, he stoked Aerys' paranoia about conspiracies against him, particularly ones instigated by Prince Rhaegar. He did this in order to convince Aerys to disown Rhaegar and make Viserys heir instead, which would guarantee a regency Symond and the other advisers could run.
Professional Butt-Kisser: He's described by Maester Yandel as one of the lickspittles that surrounded the Mad King to benefit from his favor.
What Happened to the Mouse?: His fate during Robert's Rebellion hasn't been mentioned yet.

Historical Stauntons

Septon Sefton Staunton

Septon of the Coldmoat and brother-in-law of Lady Rohanne through her third husband. He appears in The Sworn Sword.

Alliterative Name: Which he admits is a bit unfortunate, given that he is also a Septon.
The Alcoholic: If the wine stains on his robe are an indication.
Deadpan Snarker: His tongue is almost as sharp as his sister in law's, but of a more goodnatured manner.
Fat and Skinny: He first appears alongside the tall, slender Ser Lucas Inchfield and resembles a round, white pudding.
Gasshole: Farts when he tries to plea to Dunk to repent his evil ways under the mistaken belief that the latter is a brigand. He admits that his diet consists of beans and barley bread.
Hidden Depths: He may be fat and likes to drink too much, but he is one of Lady Rohanne's few advisers who speaks sense and is quite observant.
Nice Guy: Willing to hear Dunk out.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Is willing to let Dunk plead his case to Lady Webber, and pleas with her to drop the feud against Ser Eustace.

Ser Simon Staunton

Ser Simon Staunton was a knight from House Staunton. He was married to Lady Rohanne Webber becoming her third husband.

Posthumous Character: Choked on a chicken bone.
Sibling Yin-Yang: Simon was a knight. His brother Sefton is an alcoholic priest.

House Stokeworth

House Stokeworth of Stokeworth

"Proud to be Faithful"

—House Stokeworth's words

A noble house from the Crownlands. Sworn to King's Landing, they live at nearby Castle Stokeworth north of the capital.

They blazon their arms with a white lamb holding a golden goblet on a green field.

Tropes related to House Stokeworth:

Butt-Monkey: The current family consists of an ugly old woman and her two daughters, one a childless alcoholic, the other overweight, mentally handicapped and Defiled Forever after being raped half a hundred times and left with a bastard in her belly.
Famous Ancestor: Currently, the Stokeworths aren't really found in positions of much important: of most recent note has been Manly Stokeworth, head of the Goldcloaks before he croaked and Jonas Slynt got given the position. But, historically, they were quite a bit more important. Interestingly, they have a few connections with Harrenhal.
- Lady Samantha Stokeworth, Alyn's daughter, was one of Princess Rhaena Targaryen's 'close companions', who refused to abandon her to the mercy of Maegor the Cruel.
- Lady Maia Stokeworth is alleged to have begun the rumors that King Baelor I was poisoned by his uncle Viserys so he could claim the Iron Throne himself.
- Before Falena Lothston became 1) a Lothston and 2) Lady of Harrenhal — she was Lady Falena Stokeworth. Note that she got bundled off to the Riverlands for a quickly arranged marriage because 3) she was the first of King Aegon IV "The Unworthy" Targaryen's mistresses when he was just a teen and she quite a bit older. And, don't forget that she had a daughter... and... well...
- Ser Samwell Stokeworth was a knight participating at Ashford's Tourney.
Know When to Fold Them: They quickly surrendered to House Targaryen and became their first vassals when Visenya set the roof of their castle on fire.
Lord Country: They rule over Castle Stokeworth.
Put on a Bus: The current family leaves King's Landing in book 4.

Lady Tanda Stokeworth

Head of House Stokeworth and Lady of Stokeworth.

Always Murder: It's implied Bronn had something to do with her riding accident.
Arranged Marriage: She spends three books desperately trying to marry off Lollys, with possible candidates including Littlefinger and Tyrion. She finally manages to arrange a marriage to Bronn.
The Ghost: In the first book, she is only mentioned a few times by Littlefinger. She appears for the first time in the second book.
My Beloved Smother: She's overprotective of her (fully grown) daughter Lollys, but given how fragile Lollys is, its justified.
She Cleans Up Nicely: Although not very attractive, Sansa notices at the celebration in the throne room after the Battle of the Blackwater that even Lady Tanda and her daughters looks pretty in gowns of turquoise silk and vair.
Through His Stomach: She tries to persuade Tyrion to marry her daughter by inviting him to lavish meals.

Lady Lollys Stokeworth

Tanda's second daughter, a lackwit maid of thirty three years who her mother has been trying to marry off for years. Becomes Lady of Stokeworth after the death of her mother and sister.

Butt-Monkey: Lollys is a mentally challenged fat girl who is a universal object of derision and her gang rape is pretty much considered a joke by everyone, with the possible exception of Sansa. It says a lot that probably the best thing that's happened to her so far is her marriage to the amoral sellsword Bronn, who despite marrying her as a Meal Ticket, seems to have some fondness for her.
Defiled Forever: She wasn't much of a catch to begin with, but several characters note that she lost all hope of finding a husband after being raped during a riot in King's Landing. Subverted later when Cersei marries her off to a newly-knighted Bronn, who isn't interested in anything but her inheritance.
Jabba Table Manners: Her handmaid Shae complains that she does nothing but sleep, eat, and fall asleep while eating. Sometimes she rolls in the food and then has to be cleaned.
Last of Her Kind: She's the last Stokeworth following the deaths of her mother and sister.
Meal Ticket: For Bronn, the new Lord Protector of Stokeworth.
Old Maid: Remains unwed at the age of 33 despite her mother's best efforts to find her a match. It doesn't help when she's gangraped by dozens of rioters, leaving her pregnant and emotionally fragile. Finally she settles for Bronn, who quickly works his position into a lordship by making Lollys's elder sister into a widow.
The Shut-In: After being raped, she becomes afraid to leave her chambers.
Sleepy Depressive: After a traumatic experience during which she is raped by dozens of rioters, she does almost nothing but sleep and eat.
Weight Woe: Whenever she is mentioned, there is usually at least one mocking comment made about her size.

Tyrion Tanner

Lolly's bastard child by gang rape. It is unknown for sure why he isn't given the surname of "Waters", the possibility remains that unwed gang rape or not, he's been recognised as legitimate from even before his birth: Grandma was desperate for grandkids to carry on her line, after all.

Alliterative Name: Tyrion Tanner.
Child by Rape: He was conceived when his mother was gang-raped during a riot in King's Landing.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: He was named after Tyrion Lannister, his stepfather's former employer. Before that, his grandmother Tanda tried to ask permission to name him after Tyrion's father Tywin, who she admired, but Cersei refused.
Punny Name: Named by Bronn in a twisted homage to Tyrion Lannister and possible Take That! to Queen Cersei. His surname seems to derive from the fact his mother was raped behind a tanner's shop.
Sketchy Successor: Subverted all to hell. Ordinarily, an established House like the Stokeworth one wouldn't look twice at little Tyrion to carry the bloodline forward: being a bastard is bad enough, let alone how he came to be conceived. Except... he's the only child they're likely to get in this generation (Falyse is not young and hasn't any children, either). And, he is a boy. Unless Bronn can convince Lollys to try for, at best, a couple more shots, he's the only game in town. However, he hasn't been given the name of Stokeworth, which was an option upon being declared a legitimate descendant (see the Mormonts). Desperate enough to take him; proud enough to not let him have the name?

Manly Stokeworth

Manly Stokeworth was a member of House Stokeworth.

Awesome McCoolname
Posthumous Character: He was Janos Slynt's predecessor.

Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, Lord Protector of Stokeworth

See the Other Westerosi page

Household

Maester Frenken

House Stokeworth's plump Maester.

The Medic: He is a skilled healer, and has treated Sansa, Lancel, and Tyrion during the series. He was trusted enough to help perform the autopsy on Joffrey.
Nice Guy: He is a decent man, from what little we see of him. Frenken kindly tries to comfort Sansa after treating her wounds when Joffrey has Ser Meryn Trant and Boros Blount beat her, and Tyrion trusts him enough to have Frenkin deliver messages and treat his own wounds from the Blackwater.

Historical Stokeworths

Lord Alyn Stokeworth

Lord Alyn Stokeworth was Lord of House Stokeworth during the reign of Aenys I Targaryen.

Frontline General: Alyn personally led the campaign against Red Harren and successfully caught and cornered the Outlaw King. Harren killed Alyn but was then slain by Alyn's squire.
Hypercompetent Sidekick: Seems to have been one, as Aegon tasked him with overseeing the construction of the Red Keep and he later led the fight against Harren the Red
Number Two: As Aegon's and Aenys' Hand.
Replacement Goldfish: He replaced the late Ser Osmund Strong as Hand of the King.

Falena Stokeworth

See the Lords Of Harrenhal page listed under House Lothston.

House Thorne

House Thorne is a noble house from the Crownlands.

According to semi-canon sources, they blazon their shields with a silver flail on red within a black border rayonne.

Badass Family: Only three members are known and they are all knights.
Epic Flail: Their sigil.
My Nayme Is: Thorne. The "E" is silent.
Proud Warrior Race Guy: In case their sigil doesn't hammer home the point.

Ser Alliser Thorne

Ser Alliser Thorne is a sworn brother of the Night's Watch.

See the Night's Watch Rangers page.

Historical Thornes

Ser Rickard Thorne

Ser Rickard Thorne was a knight of the Kingsguard to Kings Viserys I Targaryen and Aegon II Targaryen.

See Aegon II's page.

Ser Adrian Thorne

A knight of House Thorne who became the new Commander of the City Watch during the end of the regency of Aegon III Targaryen.

Locked Out of the Loop: He was explicitly the only captain of the gates of King's Landing who wasn't in on the conspiracy against Thaddeus Rowan and the Rogare.
Token Good Teammate: The only guard captain not to side with Unwin Peake's conspiracy.
You Are in Command Now: Because he was the only one of the seven captains not involved in the conspiracy against House Rogare, he was made the new Commander of the City Watch after the death of Lucas Leygood and the arrest or fleeing of all the other captains.

Landed Knights

House Hogg

House Hogg of Sow's Horn

A house of landed knights sworn to House Hayford. Sow's Horn is located in the Crownlands near the border with the Riverlands; the lands of House Wode are nearby.

Tropes related to House Hogg:

Butt-Monkey: Their lands were attacked by the Karstarks, and before that they were sacked by Ser Amory Lorch, despite the Hogg's remaining loyal to the Iron Throne, and then wolves - the real kind, not Northmen - came and ate the sheep Lorch had left.
Punny Name: House Hogg of Sow's Horn.

Ser Roger Hogg

The Knight of Sow's Horn.

Animal Motifs: Not only the Hogg name, Jaime also considers him as big and bristly as his sigil.
The Big Guy: He's described as a tough, large and old knight.
Long-Lost Relative: Discussed, Kennos of Kayce suggest to Lyle Crakehall that he question Roger about his ancestry, to see if they're dealing with a long lost member of house Crakehall. A conclusion has not been revealed.

Historical Hoggs

Ser Jon Hogg

Big Jon Hogg

A knight of House Hogg who fought for Maegor Targaryen during the Faith Militant Uprising.

The Big Guy: He wouldn't have been called Big Jon, if he didn't had the size to back it up.
Colonel Badass: Led his men blinded at the battle of the Great Fork and sent the Poor Fellows flying.
Eye Scream: His eyes were slashed early in the battle of the Great Fork
Handicapped Badass: Despite getting blinded during the Battle at the Great Fork, he still managed to rally his men and break through the lines of the Warrior's Sons and Poor Fellows.
My Nayme Is: Alternatively called either Jon or John.

Ser Harys Hogg

Harry the Ham

A young knight of House Hogg who competed at the tourney celebrating King Jaehaerys I's tenth year on the throne, where he was unhorsed by a young Ser Ryam Redwyne.

Alliterative Name: Harys Hogg
Cool Helmet: Wore a pig's head helm.
In-Series Nickname: Harry the Ham because of his house's name and the helm he wore.

Priscella Hogg

A lady of House Hogg involved in the conspiracy to poison King Aegon III and Queen Daenaera Velaryon. She was forced to join the Faith as punishment.

Green-Eyed Monster: She was jealous of Larra Rogare and believed Viserys would marry her if she died.
Loving a Shadow: When questioned, it was clear she only had an obsessive crush on Viserys, who most likely didn't even know she was attracted to him.
My Nayme Is: Priscella instead of Priscilla.
Taking the Veil: It was either that or losing her nose like Lucinda Penrose.
Unwitting Pawn: Most people agreed that she was only being used by the other conspirators, so her punishment was relatively light.

House Kettleblack

House Kettleblack is a knightly house from the Crownlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with a black kettle on red, within a black orle. Physically, the Kettleblacks are tall, with dark hair and hooked noses. The Kettleblacks are known for their unscrupulous behavior.

Tropes related to House Kettleblack:

Alliterative Family: All members of the family have names starting with "Os".
Double Reverse Quadruple Agent: Cersei recruits them to counter Tyrion's sellswords and hill tribesmen, but they're being paid by Tyrion to spy on Cersei. Then Tyrion falls from power, so they become Cersei's catspaws for real. All the time they're secretly working for Littlefinger. Who himself is worried about their loyalty now one of them has joined the Kingsguard.
Hired Guns: To several people.
Never Learned to Read: Any of them, which annoys Cersei a few times.
Only in It for the Money: In the end, their only loyalty is to whoever offers them the most, and they are perfectly willing to play all sides against each other to get more.
Wild Card: Who they are ultimately going to wind up in service too is very much up in the air.

Oswell

Kettleblack

Father of the Kettleblack brothers. He is a man-at-arms who serves Littlefinger.

Only One Name: Oswell. "Kettleblack" is his nickname.
The Patriarch: Of the Kettleblack family.
The Stoic: Has stoic demeanor.

Ser Osmund Kettleblack

See The Kingsguard page

Ser Osfryd Kettleblack

Second son of Oswell.

Beard of Evil: A bearded jackass.
Beware the Quiet Ones: The quietest Kettleblack brother, but possibly even crueler than the other two.
The Captain: Becomes commander of the Goldcloaks after Ser Addam Marbrand leaves King's Landing with Ser Jaime Lannister for the Riverlands campaign.
Co-Dragons: With his brothers to Cersei.
Sinister Schnoz: Has a prominent hooked nose.
The Quiet One: Quieter and less boastful than his brothers, but no less vile.

Ser Osney Kettleblack

Third son of Oswell.

Ambition Is Evil: Cersei manages to convince him to seduce Margaery Tyrell and be sent to the Wall for it in order to kill Jon Snow by promising him a pardon and a lordship.^note
Asshole Victim: Although the High Sparrow is a nasty piece of work himself, it is hard to get too upset with his brutal treatment and torture of Osney.
Bad Liar: He doesn't do a good job of convincing the High Sparrow that he slept with Margaery Tyrell. Though we don't see it, his "confession" is so suspicious that the old man has him dragged down to the dungeons and whipped to get the truth out of him, which he spills in short order.
Co-Dragons: With his brothers to Cersei.
Cold-Blooded Torture: Suffers this at the hands of the new High Septon after being sent to "confess" to sleeping with Margaery Tyrell and the High Septon thought how odd it was to hear someone so pleased to confess their sins. After a lengthy bout of torture he admits many of the crimes he committed under Cersei's orders, including sleeping with her and murdering the previous High Septon.
Cool Horse: Owns a black stallion that he named Midnight. Cersei barely restrains herself from laughing about how cheesy it is.
Didn't Think This Through: He clearly didn't consider that one is supposed to be contrite when confessing their sins, and flat out brags to the High Sparrow about supposedly having slept with Margaery. Smelling a rat, the High Sparrow promptly has him seized and tortured to find out what's really going on.
Faux Affably Evil: He's nastier than he seems.
Good Scars, Evil Scars: Osney has the typical cool anti-hero scars under his eye, but the origin of them is hardly heroic- he and his brothers were beating up a Hooker with a Heart of Gold and she scratched him. Basically, the scars represent how despite his pretensions to being a cool rogue, he's just a thug.
The Hedonist: Gratifying his desires is the only thing he cares about, and his desires mostly revolve around sex.
Ignored Epiphany: He briefly balks at Cersei's plan for him to lie to the High Sparrow that he bedded Margaery, commenting that "I think you go to one of them hells for that." However, he changes his mind when he hears the reward she promises him for doing so.
Sinister Schnoz: Like his older brothers, he has a prominent hooked nose. Several of Margaery's cousins make fun of it.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Described as tall, dark-haired and pretty.
Too Dumb to Live: He's apparently so satisfied with himself after banging Cersei that he misunderstands her instructions "Go to the High Sparrow and confess your sins of having slept with Queen Margaery" as "Go to the High Sparrow and brag about having slept with Queen Margaery". The High Sparrow finds his attitude so suspicious that he has Osney seized and flogged until he gets the truth out of him.
The High Sparrow: I have heard many men confess, Your Grace, but seldom have I heard a man so pleased to be so guilty.
Vorpal Pillow: How he kills the High Septon that Tyrion got appointed.
Would Harm a Senior: He smothers the old High Septon to death at Cersei's behest, which he is later forced to confess to the High Sparrow.
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Cersei's plan is for him to confess to banging Margaery, get himself sent to the Wall, and kill Jon Snow, after which she promises to give him a pardon and lordship. She actually hopes he'll get killed when he's at the Wall, conveniently tying up a loose end.

Extinct Houses

House Blackfyre

House Blackfyre is an extinct noble house from the Crownlands. A cadet branch of House Targaryen, House Blackfyre was founded by Daemon Blackfyre, a legitimized Great Bastard of King Aegon IV Targaryen. House Blackfyre is named for the Valyrian steel sword of the same name.

Their sigil was a black three-headed dragon, breathing black fire on red, the Targaryen sigil with the colours reversed. Their motto is unknown. Among the traits passed on to the Blackfyres by the Targaryens were platinum blond hair, violet eyes and the premonition-like dragon dream ability.

See the House Blackfyre page.

House Darklyn

House Darklyn of Duskendale

House Darklyn of Duskendale ruled the town of Duskendale and the surrounding lands in the Crownlands for centuries. Their keep was the Dun Fort, at the top of a hill that dominates the town. The lordly Darklyns are now extinct as a result of the Defiance of Duskendale.

Tropes related to House Darklyn:

Cavalry Betrayal: During the Battle of the Kingsroad, the last major battle of the Dance of the Dragons between a Stormlands army loyal to Aegon II and a Riverlands force fighting to put Rhaenyra's son Aegon on the Iron Throne, when Lord Borros Baratheon signaled for his reserve to join the battle, most of the troops from the Crownlands either fled the field or refused to enter the fray; the Darklyn forces from Duskendale, however, attacked the Stormlanders in the rear, tipping the battle in the Riverlords' favor.
The Clan: The related Darkes, Darkwoods and Dargoods still live in the town.
The Dog Bites Back: Related to the Cavalry Betrayal example above. The Darklyns were forced to join the Greens but they seethed with resentment. Their time came when they betrayed the Greens at the Battle of the Kingsroad.
Famous Ancestor: Ser Robin Darklyn, called Darkrobin, one of the first seven members of the Kingsguard.
- Lady Meredyth Darklyn, who led the house after her husband Gunthor was killed early in the Dance of Dragons.
- Ser Robert Darklyn was briefly anointed to the Kingsguard by Aegon III, only to be dismissed by Unwin Peake for not consulting his regents.
Legacy of Service: The Darklyns contributed seven knights to the Kingsguard, more than any other family. This is reflected in their coat of arms featuring seven white shields.
Posthumous Character: Due to the Mad King's cruelty.

Lord Denys Darklyn

The last Lord Darklyn, leading his House to doom in the Defiance of Duskendale.

Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Immediately opened his gates and pleaded for his life after Aerys was rescued by Ser Barristan. It didn't work.
Alliterative Name: Denys Darklyn.
Flaw Exploitation: How he managed to get King Aerys to come to Duskendale: he noticed that Aerys had begun doing the opposite of whatever Lord Tywin recommended, so he demanded that King Aerys come to Duskendale and hear his petition for a town charter. When Tywin told Aerys not to go, the king naturally declared he would solve the problem personally and headed off to Duskendale with a small escort.
Historical Hero Upgrade: Despite the woe he brought upon them, the smallfolk of Duskendale have nothing but good things to say about Lord Denys. Instead, all his terrible decisions were blamed on his foreign wife.
Insane Troll Logic: He honestly believed that holding the king hostage for half a year, as well as killing a member of his Kingsguard, would end with Tywin peacefully approving a new town charter for Duskendale.
Off with His Head!: He was beheaded for treason after the Defiance was ended.
Too Dumb to Live: Aside from taking a king hostage in the first place, he thought that Lord Tywin Lannister would falter before he would. Boy, was he wrong about that.
Underestimating Badassery:
- Severely underestimated the lengths Tywin was willing to go to win the siege of Duskendale, even though Tywin had already established his reputation by crushing Houses Reyne and Tarbeck.
- He also took the claim that Tywin was the true ruler of Westeros much too literally and didn't take into account how terrible Aerys' vengeance upon both him and his family would be.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: His actions accelerated Aerys' decline into madness and paranoia, which eventually led to Robert's Rebellion and the fall of House Targaryen.

Lady Serala of Myr

The Lace Serpent

Wife of Denys Darklyn, commonly blamed for inciting him into the Defiance of Duskendale.

Cruel and Unusual Death: Aerys ordered her tongue and female parts torn out before she was burned alive. And according to the smallfolk, even that was still "too kind to her".
Historical Villain Upgrade: Aside from her gruesome death, she's nothing more than a footnote in the history of the Defiance. Yet most of Westeros views her as an seductive witch who manipulated her husband into rebellion.
Kill It with Fire: She was burned alive after being tortured.
Lady Macbeth: To the people of Duskendale, although some Maesters believe that their hatred of her is due to her foreign origins and that her role in the Defiance of Duskendale is heavily exaggerated. Given the generally misogynist nature of Westeros and the bad reputations enjoyed by the likes of Tyrion and others, it's possible that she was unfairly made The Scapegoat.
Noodle Incident: It's never explained why Aerys saw fit to make her execution so terrible while her husband was given a relatively quick death by beheading.
Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Posthumously nicknamed "the Lace Serpent" for supposedly putting the seed of rebellion in her husband's ear with Myrish poison.
The Vamp: It was said she bewitched her husband with her "lady parts".

Ser Rolland Darklyn

Ser Rolland Darklyn was a knight of House Darklyn. He was a member of the Kingsguard at an unknown time, one of seven members from House Darklyn.

Child Soldiers: He was given his white cloak on a battlefield. Until the naming of Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard, he had the distinction of being the youngest to ever don the white cloak. He died within an hour of receiving it.
Cryptic Background Reference: Which king he served and died for is not known.

Ser Steffon Darklyn

See the Queen Rhaenyra's page.

House Hollard

An ancient noble house from the Crownlands, historically sworn to House Darklyn, who had three daughters wedded to Darklyn kings during the Age of Heroes. Following the Defiance of Duskendale, all of the House was executed at Aerys II's command, except for the young Dontos Hollard who was allowed to live at Ser Barristan Selmy's request.

They blazoned their arms with barry red and pink, three golden crowns on a black chief.

Bullying a Dragon: Literally. The squire Robin Hollard used to taunt the captive Aerys and even pull his beard. Robin later died on the rack.
The Dragon: To House Darklyn.
Legacy of Service: The Hollards served the Darklyns for centuries
Posthumous Character: Long dead thanks to the Mad King. There's also Dontos' father Ser Steffon who was dead long before.

Ser Dontos Hollard

Dontos the Red, Dontos the Drunk, Florian

"I know it’s queer, but... all those years I was a knight, I was truly a fool, and now that I am a fool I think... I think I may find it in me to be a knight again, sweet lady. And all because of you… your grace, your courage. You saved me, not only from Joffrey, but from myself."

An alcoholic former knight, Dontos was nearly executed by Joffrey because of his showing up drunk to a joust honoring Joff’s name-day. He was saved by Sansa's quick thinking and made a fool instead. Dontos has vowed to help Sansa escape from the Lannisters to repay her for her kindness.

Ser Dontos is the last survivor of both the offending party and House Hollard in the aftermath of the Defiance of Duskendale, spared in his childhood by King Aerys II at the request of Ser Barristan Selmy.

Affectionate Nickname: Sansa calls him her "Florian," based on a fool from a story who was also a knight and who fell in love with a maiden. He sometimes responds in kind, calling her the maiden's name, Jonquil.
The Alcoholic: Even when his drinking led to him losing his knighthood, and nearly his life, he's still usually drunk when interacting with Sansa.
Asshole Victim: Maybe. Littlefinger has him killed after Sansa is rescued, insisting that he is of low character and would sell them out for gold as soon as Littlefinger's payment runs out. We only have Littlefinger's word for this, however, and Dontos taking the risk of wearing knightly garb may hint at genuine intentions.
Death by Irony: Almost. Joffrey tries to have him drowned in a cask of wine as punishment for showing up drunk to the king's tournament, but Sansa convinces him to turn Dontos into his new fool instead.
Dirty Old Man: He asks Sansa to give him kisses way too much.
Disappeared Dad: His father, Ser Steffon Hollard, died of a fever several years before the Defiance of Duskendale.
Failure Knight: Claims he failed in his duties as a knight and Sansa saving his life opened his eyes to this. His freeing Sansa is an attempt to make amends for his poor behavior. Turns out it's just a role he's playing to manipulate her. Maybe.
False Friend: To Sansa - at least according to Littlefinger.
Fat Bastard: When his true colors are revealed.
Fate Worse than Death: Sansa invokes this when convincing Joffrey to spare his life, arguing that it would be far crueler to Dontos.
I Owe You My Life: The reason he tells Sansa why he's helping to free her. Littlefinger insists it was all an act and that gold was at the root of it, but this may be just to allay Sansa's horror after he ties up a loose end .
In-Series Nickname: Ser Dontos the Red, which may refer to the red stripes on his House's coat of arms or to the color his face turns when he's drunk.
Last of His Kind: The only living member of House Hollard, who were retainers to House Darklyn and were wiped out by King Aerys II during the Defiance of Duskendale (during which King Aerys was held prisoner by the Darklyns). Dontos was only a child at the time and Ser Barristan Selmy took pity on him; Selmy leveraged his rescue of Aerys into Aerys letting Dontos live.
Meaningful Name: "Dontos" is a homonym of the Spanish word tontos, meaning "fools" or "idiots."
The Mole: He acts as one for Littlefinger. Dontos tells Littlefinger of Margaery Tyrell and Olenna Redwyne's plan to take Sansa to Highgarden and marry her to Willas Tyrell. Littlefinger then tells the Lannisters, and Tywin has Sansa married to Tyrion so she could still be used as a hostage.
Naked People Are Funny: At Joffrey's name-day tournament, he is so drunk that he shows up wearing nothing but his breastplate and helmet. Unfortunately for him, the only person in the audience who doesn't find it funny is Joffrey, who almost orders him drowned in a cask of wine until Sansa convinces him to make Dontos a fool instead.
Only in It for the Money: He's been promised ten thousand golden dragons from Littlefinger if Dontos delivers Sansa to him.
- Or at least, this is what Littlefinger wants Sansa to believe. Dontos wearing his knight's outfit when he helps Sansa escape King's Landing implies that he actually bought into the gallant knight role, or at least Became the Mask. Note that Littlefinger brings up the payment, not Dontos, in a way that sounds almost like a reminder.
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Littlefinger has him executed immediately after he outlives his usefulness and because it's too risky to let someone whose loyalty belongs to the highest bidder live. At least, that's the story he spins to Sansa.
Ungrateful Bastard: Even though Sansa saved his life, Dontos sells her to Littlefinger, and Littlefinger implies when Dontos's gold ran out, he would've told the Lannisters where she was for another reward. It bears remembering, we only have Littlefinger's word for this.
You Will Be Spared: After the Defiance of Duskendale, every member of House Hollard was executed for their role in the plot, except Dontos, who was just a child. He was spared at the request of Barristan Selmy.

Robin Hollard

A squire of House Hollard at the time of the Defiance of Duskendale who died during its aftermath.

Bullying a Dragon: He taunted Aerys when he was taken prisoner and even dared to pull the King's beard. Boy did Aerys make him pay for that.
Cold-Blooded Torture: Was tortured to death in the dungeons of the Red Keep.
Disproportionate Retribution: On the receiving end of this; the Mad King had Robin tortured to death for taunting him during his captivity in Duskendale.

Ser Symon Hollard

A knight of House Hollard in the service of House Darklyn during the Defiance of Duskendale. He was the twin brother of Ser Steffon Hollard, making him uncle of Dontos Hollard.

The Dragon: To Lord Denys Darklyn
Hero Killer: When Lord Darklyn ordered Aerys seized, Symon killed Ser Gwayne Gaunt of the Kingsguard when he tried to defend the King.
Laser-Guided Karma: At the start of the Defiance of Duskendale, Symon killed Gwayne Gaunt of the Kingsguard as he tried to defend King Aerys. At the end of it, he was killed by Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard as he led Aerys to safety.

Characters / A Song of Ice and Fire - Crownlands Houses

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