This is a listing of members of House Botley who appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.
For the main character index, see here
For the main Iron Islands entry, see here
House Botley of Lordsport
A noble house in the Iron Islands seated in the port town of Lordsport on the island of Pyke. Their wooden keep and much of Lordsport was burnt during the original Greyjoy Rebellion, but Lord Sawane built a new stone keep to replace it and the town was rebuilt even larger. Their sigil is a shoal of silver fish on pale green. Their house words are unknown.
Tropes related to House Botley:
- Alliterative Name: Sawane's sixth son Bennarion Botley and Germund's son Balon Botley.
- A House Divided: In a way. You can find some on each and every side of the Ironborn divide — and, involved in the North. All for perfectly sound reasons ranging between emotion, loyalty, logic or circumstance. Yet, they haven't fractured into openly going directly against one another in quite the way the Karstarks or Baratheons have. This is indicative of the Dysfunctional Family trope going into overdrive without heading to outright Dysfunction Junction overkill. That, or using the known family issues to ensure having somebody on the winning team, whichever team that might turn out to be (if this is even partly deliberate). This would in turn mean that most of what the family holds will stay within the family, even if somebody major backs the wrong horse. (As happened when Sawane got himself into deep water with Euron by sticking with Theon in the election; but, having Germund side with Euron meant that, although half their lands have been lost as a collective punishment, there's still a chance to get them back; or, something to replace them, at least — it certainly beats losing everything and everybody). All this puts one in mind of an Ironborn Percy
or Neville Family, in fact. Those two real life Houses have been rather good at doing this same thing over centuries, without getting stuck with the royal hot potato. - Animal Motifs: The fish in their sigil are representative of them being a seafaring Ironborn family.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: There are multiple half-brothers and cousins in the family, with quite a bit of tension between them all. It ends up with Germund letting Sawane be killed by Euron Greyjoy so he could take over. However... see above.
- Character Death: Harren Botley is poisoned by a Crannogman arrow during a battle in the Neck. Judging from Ralf Kenning's fate from the same kind of wound, it was a Cruel and Unusual Death.
- Determinator: Telling any member of this family "nope, you can't do that because <list of reasons goes here>" seems to be a very unwise move. It only serves to make them more keen to prove how wrong that list was in inventive or just dumb ways.
- Defector from Decadence: Inverted. Botleys would generally rather like just a little more Greenlander decadence and less Ironborn piracy in their lives. Like, say, being able to trade openly for all kinds of goods, instead of having to do all the swapping of gold they currently do under the table, cloak-and-dagger-style. Heck, even those supporting Euron don't want the usual iron price rules in place, if with a vastly different ethical landscape.
- The Ghost: Harren Botley is only mentioned when his death is brought up. Symond, Bennarion, Harlon and Vickon also never appear in the flesh, being mentioned only in the appendix.
- Massive Numbered Siblings: Lord Sawane has six children, all sons: Harren, Tristifer, Symond, Harlon, Vickon, and Bennarion.
- Not-So-Safe Harbor: They run Lordsport, which is basically the Ironborn Tortuga. Let your mind take that in. Alternatively, this is from the Ironborn perspective: being illicit, decadent and terribly louche in this particular case would probably mean... trying to honestly trade, treaty and schmooze with others, rather than just take, take, take from them.
- Smarter Than They Look: This seems to be a running theme with them: it's easy to write them all off as blood-thirsty, illiterate (most Ironborn are, but actually... likely not the Botleys), decadent (for Ironborn) and odd. But, you should really note how often they seem to land on their feet, even with the odds seemingly stacked horrifically against them, or even if they come across as stubbornly deluded... Also, you can't afford to promote idiocy if you hope to manage a Wretched Hive successfully: so, a little justified. The dumb ones are unlikely to last.
- Undying Loyalty: Another common trope they share. When a Botley says they'll stick with you, they're generally not kidding. Some even die proving it.
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Lord Sawane Botley
Lord Sawane Botley
Head of House Botley and Lord of Lordsport. He is brother to Germund and has two half-brothers, Lucimore and Sargon.
- Cain and Abel: The Abel to his brother Germund's Cain. His brother never objects to Euron Greyjoy killing him and takes his titles from Sawane's rightful heir.
- The Captain: Of the Swiftfin.
- Character Death: He is drowned by Euron after claiming that Theon was Balon's rightful heir, not Euron.
- The Ghost: He is mentioned several times, but dies before being seen.
- Posthumous Character: Drowned by Euron before being introduced.
- Too Dumb to Live: Sticking up for Theon was very loyal, but rather stupid: nobody in the Iron Isles could possibly be ignorant about what Euron would probably do upon being defied to his face. He could have hedged and bitten down on his stubborn streak, if only for his kids' inheritance.
- Undying Loyalty: Declares that Theon is King of the Iron Islands when Euron takes the Throne. He pays for his loyalty with his life.
Tristifer Botley
Tristifer Botley
Second son of Sawane Botley. He is in love with Asha Greyjoy and is one of her closest friends. He is the rightful heir of House Botley after his brother Harren died at Moat Callin, but is denied his lordship by Euron Greyjoy.
- Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: He only grows more in love with Asha during their separation, but she quickly moved on and did not wait for him like he was expecting.
- Action Survivor: Asha notes he is not a warrior, but he acquits himself well when fighting in the woods near Deepwood Motte.
- Affectionate Nickname: Asha calls him Tris.
- Animal Motifs: His eyes are large and trusting like a seal's.
- Betty and Veronica: The "Betty" to Qarl the Maid's "Veronica" for Asha's affection.
- Childhood Friend: Of Asha.
- Dogged Nice Guy: He and Asha used to play doctor when they were younger, and ever since, he has been in love with her and wishes to marry. Asha, however, assumes that he's just too naive to know what love is and repeatedly flat-out rejects him. She later develops a better opinion of him, but still rejects his advances.
- Entitled to Have You: He always believed Asha was going to be his wife and the mother of his sons. She doesn't feel the same way.
- The Exile: By leaving with Asha after the Kingsmoot, Tris has effectively made it impossible for him to return to the Iron Islands without being killed unless Asha finds a way to take power.
- Foreshadowing: In A Dance with Dragons, he speculates to Asha that Euron has discreetly murdered Aeron and covered it up to avoid being branded a kinslayer. The Winds of Winter prove Tris partially right; while Euron hasn't murdered Aeron, he's been holding his priestly younger brother captive ever since the kingsmoot, with the seeming intention of using him as a Human Sacrifice for a Blood Magic rite before his coming battle against the Redwyne fleet.
- He Is All Grown Up: Upon meeting him again after several years, Asha notes he has become a handsome man after suffering from a lot of pimples as a teenager.
- Honest Advisor: While he adores Asha, he isn't blind and doesn't hesitate to point out the impossibility of her plans, telling her how her desperate plan to build her own little kingdom in the North is impossible without the men and ressources to build it, and the northmen being taking their lands back. He also points out that a life as merchants and sailors would be far safer and more profitable than a reaving life or staying in the North.
- I Will Wait for You: He saved himself for marriage to Asha, thinking she would do the same. She had a different view of things, starting with losing her virginity to a handsome Lysene sailor at sixteen.
- Love Triangle: Between him and Qarl for Asha. Qarl is winning for now.
- Loving a Shadow: How Asha views his devotion to her, loving the girl he knew but not the warrior she became.
- My Species Doth Protest Too Much: Tris is way too nice and sweet for someone who grew up on the Iron Islands, a place where every man knows how to Rape, Pillage, and Burn.
- Nice Guy: A rarity among the Ironborn.
- Asha actually considers this to be his greatest flaw. While she isn't personally bothered by it, she recognizes that he's far too kind and caring to be respected by any "proper" Ironborn.
- Only Sane Man: Is the only one of Asha's followers in Deepwood Motte to point out the impossibility of their situation and of Asha's unrealistic plans, and to propose a far less ambitious and adventurous but far safer and profitable path as merchants and sailors even though Asha refuses to consider it. He's also the one who points out the flaw in Euron's Kingsmoot, by recalling the story of Torgon the Latecomer.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: While Tris isn't exactly swimming in golden dragons, he's still highborn and currently the heir to one of the Iron Islands Houses, while Qarl is the grandson of a thrall (an indentured servant).
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After Asha is defeated at the Kingsmoot and flees, Tristifer follows her in his own ship instead of sailing with Euron Greyjoy.
- Token Good Teammate: How somebody as good-natured, naive, and uninterested in piracy like Tris grew up among the Ironborn is a complete mystery.
- Undying Loyalty: Is extremely loyal to Asha, even after she rejects his declaration of love.
- Unlucky Childhood Friend: He's just not Asha's type.
- Unexpected Successor: Subverted. By all rights, he should be Lord of House Botley after his elder brother Harren was poisoned by a crannogman arrow. Euron doesn't play by the rules, however.
- You Need to Get Laid: What Asha tells him this repeatedly when he will not stop pursuing her, and even recommends some women to him. He isn't interested in any of them.
Lord Germund Botley
Lord Germund Botley
Sawane's brother and new Lord of Lordsport after siding with Euron Greyjoy. He has two sons: Balon and Quellon.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Apparently so. He doesn't seem to exactly mourn the death of his half-brother, considering it's made him Lord over his nephews.
- Battle Trophy: He wears a gilded breastplate that he took off a Lannister captain he killed during the original Greyjoy Rebellion.
- Bling of War: The above-mentioned gilded breastplate, which is a rarity among the Ironborn, who normally make due with iron or leather armor.
- Cain and Abel: The Cain to his brother's Able. Even if he didn't kill his brother, he also didn't object to him getting drowned by Euron or seek revenge.
- Jerkass: Let's just say he's with Euron for a reason. And, a lot of it is to do with the fact he's a git, too.
- Pirate: As per normal among the Ironborn.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Sitting on your hands and basically whistling a merry tune while the murderer of your half-brother swans about is definitely villainous by Ironborn standards, since it looks like (admittedly selfish) forgiveness on the surface. Yet going against the duly elected King Euron would, incidentally, happen to be a certified death sentence and land-losing move, even if he were to vaguely consider seeking revenge to nominally appear to be going along with the laws. See what happened to his half-brother and his heirs as a case in point.
- Smarter Than You Look: Quite possibly. After all, he's not the one who got himself executed for pissing off a known volatile character with accredited anger-management issues and a theatrical streak...
- Yes-Man: To Euron, even after he gave half of House Botley's territory to House Wynch.
Maron Botley
Maron Botley
Old Botley, Fishwiskers
A veteran raider who is under the command of Theon Greyjoy during the raids along the Stony Shore. He has three sons.
- The Family That Slays Together: He and his sons do their raiding (and looting) together.
- In-Series Nickname: Two of them: "Old Botley" due to his age and "Fishwhiskers" due to his long mustache resembling those of a catfish.
- Old Soldier: He is a older and very skilled raider who fights alongside his three grown sons.
- Pirate: As per normal among the Ironborn.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: He's never mentioned again after Theon harries the Stony Shore. Presumably he joined Dagmer in the attack against Torrhen's Square as he's not mentioned to have joined Theon in the capture of Winterfell.
Wex Pyke
Wex Pyke
A bastard son of Sargon Botley, he was born mute, a fact that makes people assume that he is simple. Wex becomes a squire to Theon Greyjoy and accompanies him on his travels/turn to villainy in the second book. It is revealed in A Dance With Dragons to have survived the Sack of Winterfell, and now serves as a secret source of information to the Stark-loyalist Northern lords.
- Apple of Discord: Is in prime position to turn most of the North against the Boltons (and Freys) in earnest, making them less inclined to focus on the Ironborn. Most are still largely unaware of the details behind the fall of the Starks.
- Brainy Brunette: Despite being mute and unable to read, Wex is actually extremely smart and observant and regularly seems extremely annoyed by the stupidity going on around him. When Robett Glover actually takes the time to teach him to read, Wex proves to be a (somewhat suspiciously) quick study.
- The Bus Came Back: Thought to have died in the Sack of Winterfell, but survived by hiding in the branches of the Weirwood tree. He show back up as a secret guest/prisoner of House Manderly in White Harbor.
- Child Soldier: Participates in the Ironborn raids along the Stony Shore.
- Foil: To Theon: looks like Wex is going to be a guest of the North for a while, but it's unlikely he's going to find it as easy to be hated if he plays his cards right.
- Also to Podrick Payne. Both are young squires with an Undying Loyalty towards their masters, both of whom suffer from Dude Where Is My Respect in their respective houses.
- Heroic Bastard: Depending on your point of view, yes. He's fighting the Ironborn corner as best he can, given his situation. That it also means he can look like he's fighting the North's one at the same time, while directing them away from home and putting as much positive spin on Theon's dismal reputation as is feasible is gravy.
- Hidden Depths: He is often overlooked due to his muteness, but Wex is actually a very smart and observant person. While accompanying the search party pursing Bran and Rickon, Wex is the only who notices that the tracks they are following are only from direwolfs and not people. He also shows a surprising amount of loyalty to Theon, who does little more than mock or be annoyed with Wex.
- I'm Standing Right Here: People tend to dismiss him because he is mute and has no means of communication before Robett Glover starts teaching him to read and write; however, Wex is very resourceful and perceptive, giving him plenty to tell when it comes to the time.
- Never Learned to Read: He was supposedly never taught how to read, which, combined with him being mute, makes him a pretty lousy squire for Theon. After being taken in by House Manderly, Robett Glover is teaching Wex to read and write as part of the process to learn what really happened at Winterfell. However... there are a few question marks about this. Bastard or not, he's a Botley — which means the odds that he starts the books at least somewhat literate are actually quite high, since the family is odd by Ironborn standards. However, not being seen to be able to read would be imperative whenever with people outside the family (including any Greyjoys) — if only to not get bullied/ killed by other Ironborn. And, pretending not to be able to communicate later could buy yourself time/opportunities within which to plot.
- Oh, Crap!: When he sees that Theon is being accompanied by none other than Asha Greyjoy. He's so wide eyed that Theon could swear that he hadn't seen a woman before. Later, Theon points out that Wex doesn't stop looking at them while riding, as Theon keeps unwittingly fondling Asha; Theon thinks he's just curious and snooping; Wex is actually creeped out / horrifyingly amused at the whole situation.
- Plucky Boy: Surviving Winterfell, exposure and coming out kind of on top even while being held sorta-hostage thanks to his own investigative skills sniffing out where Rickon was off to on top of native smarts? Yup. Eat your heart out, Nancy Drew.
- Secret-Keeper: Played with and deconstructed. He knows what people want to know, but initially can't outright tell them everything he knows in any great detail — for all it is obvious to them he's at least trying to give them what they want. However, he also is unlikely to reveal everything he knows: he's still pretty loyal to Theon and others, so is likely to keep selected secrets to himself, regardless... While putting as much spin on what he does reveal as possible. As well as that, he's using all this not just to keep alive, but probably to gain advantages for himself out of this whole mess (like... learning to read and write): it's not in his best interest to give everything out all at once, anyway. And, it certainly is in both Theon's (and any North-stuck Ironborn's) best interests for him to tint as much as he can of what happened at Winterfell in carefully mixed, anti-Bolton colours and shift whatever blame he can across. Once Pandora's box is fully empty, people cease to care about the box, so it makes sense to bolster what you can of your position, when you can.
- Silent Snarker: Despite being unable to talk, it's clear he is mocking Theon constantly.
- Smug Smiler: Even when he's being helpful, he can't help but have a smug grin. Considering who he squired for, it is hardly a surprise he would use this tactic as a snarking device.
- Sole Survivor: Aside from Bran's party, he's the only person who witnessed Ramsay's sack of Winterfell who wasn't killed and/or captured. This makes him a valuable source of information to the Northern lords, since Wex knows that the Boltons torched Winterfell, not Theon, and that Bran and Rickon are alive. He even knows where to find Rickon.
- The Speechless: Due to being born mute, although not deaf.
- The Squire: To Theon, and he is actually pretty loyal despite his silent snarking, being the first Ironborn to volunteer to stay with Theon to hold Winterfell.
