"Aegon the Conqueror brought fire and blood to Westeros, but afterward he gave them peace, prosperity, and justice."
"My son Wendel came to the Twins a guest. He ate Lord Walder's bread and salt, and hung his sword upon the wall to feast with friends. And they murdered him. Murdered, I say, and may the Freys choke upon their fables. I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter...but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done. My son is home."
— Wyman Manderly, to Davos Seaworth, A Dance with Dragons
The continent of Westeros and surrounding areas, both in books and on television, consist of a cruel and brutal world where lowborn and highborn alike can survive and even thrive if they possess a powerful charisma and devious cunning.
All spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
open/close all folders
Examples
- Bronn is first introduced as an inconsequential lowborn sellsword but quickly proves how far his guile, wit, and pragmatism can bring him in the cutthroat politics of Westeros. Earning Lannister gold by championing Tyrion at his trial at the Eyrie, Bronn uses dishonorable but pragmatic tactics to tire out a heavily armored knight and finishes him by dropping a statue atop his fatigued opponent. Becoming right hand of the new Hand of the King Tyrion, Bronn does his dirty work by acting as an informant on the streets and notably to murder a bard that sought to expose Tyrion's affair with Shae and disposing of the body by taking it to a food shop in the slums of King's Landing. Later married into the nobility of House Stokeworth, Bronn fully abandons his old friend and uses foul play to knock off other family members to become Lord Stokeworth and gets everything he ever wanted.
- "Jaqen H'ghar" is the identity taken by one of the mysterious Faceless Men that Arya Stark encounters in her journey. Handsome and polite yet menacing enough to terrify the monstrous Rorge and Biter, Jaqen and the latter are saved from a fiery death by Arya and he demands three names from her to replace them. Flawlessly murdering the first two and making their deaths seem like accidents, Jaqen is given his own name as the last by Arya to free the prisoners at Harrenhal. With quick thinking, Jaqen has Arya fetch a hot broth and uses it to burn and ambush the hungry soldiers in the dungeons before liberating the prisoners and inciting the overthrow of the fortress. In their final encounter, he shows her great respect by revealing his magic to her and gives her an iron coin and foreign phrase, valar morghulis, that later sets off her own journey on the path to become one of the Faceless.
- Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, earned his name as a bold knight in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Returning to the service of House Tully, Brynden is a key ally in the War of Five Kings, bringing his strategic mastery to dominate the Lannister forces in the Riverlands even at risk of condemning many smallfolk to starvation. A capable commander, Brynden manages to hold Riverrun after the death of Robb Stark and defend against the Lannister assault. With his nephew Edmure held hostage, Brynden is able to surrender Riverrun, only to flee before the Lannisters can take the castle to wage his own resistance.
- Olenna Tyrell is the snarky and seemingly frail matriarch of House Tyrell, yet uses her outward appearance to mask that she is the true mastermind behind her family's grand ambitions. Having food delivered to the starving of King's Landing, she ensures the Tyrells are beloved among the common folk over the Lannisters and fakes sympathy for Sansa Stark to have her reveal King Joffrey's true nature. Alongside Petyr Baelish, she poisons the young man at his wedding to her granddaughter Margaery all the while framing Sansa and Tyrion for the act. Recognizing Queen Cersei's growing insanity, Olenna constantly insults her and strikes at her insecurities to make her easier to manipulate and coaches Margaery in turning the even younger Tommen into growing enamored of them. A political powerhouse behind the scenes, Olenna works to ensure the Tyrells are the powerful family in Westeros.
- Asha Greyjoy, youngest child of King Balon Greyjoy, is the most favored child and groomed heir of her otherwise remarkably traditionalist father. Commanding the Black Wind in battle, Asha is known for her skill in battle and tactical command against pirates. Taking the fortress of Deepwood Motte, Asha later sees how pointless the conquest is once her father dies and makes a case to the Kingsmoot to become queen after forming key alliances, failing only thanks to her uncle Euron bringing out artifacts from valyria. Fleeing Euron to form her own plans, Asha is reunited with her brother Theon, whom she tries to defend from a painful death by Stannis Baratheon's justice.
- Mance Rayder, the "King-Beyond-the-Wall", was once the greatest ranger of the Night's Watch, but rejoined his wildling kin north of the Wall when he desired true freedom. Recognizing the threat of the Others, Mance uses his diplomacy and leadership to unite the scattered and feuding clans to lead them south to safety, becoming their king in the process. Disguising himself as a skilled bard, Mance often travels into Stark territory right under their noses and uses the strife in the Seven Kingdoms to launch raids against the Night's Watch and eventually force them into parley. He nearly convinces Jon Snow to let his people pass before a surprise attack by Stannis Baratheon scatters his army. He later works with Melisandre behind Stannis's back to survive his execution and goes to Winterfell in disguise to help rescue Jon's "sister" and weaken the castle for the coming siege.
- Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers is one of the Great Bastards of King Aegon IV Targaryen. Siding with his brother Daeron over his rebellious brother Daemon Blackfyre, Bloodraven arranged Daemon's death at the Redgrass Field and consolidated his own power over the Seven Kingdoms as the King's Hand. At the Ashvale Tournament, Bloodraven infiltrates a Blackfyre plot and sees it dismantled with no effort, executing or punishing the rebellious lords, while treating his young cousin Aegon V—or "Egg"—with respect and even affection. Later securing the throne for Egg by treacherously having a Blackfyre throne claimant murdered, Bloodraven allows himself to be sent to the Wall where he later uses the chance to become the final Greenseer, guiding Bran Stark to him to become his teacher.
- Wyman Manderly is the exorbitantly wealthy and morbidly obese lord of White Harbor's House Manderly, and initially appears to be nothing more than a fun loving buffoon to the other nobility. In truth, Wyman is an ambitious schemer and wrathful father who seeks the downfall of House Bolton and House Frey for murdering his son and his king at the Red Wedding. Playing the role of sycophant, he has Davos seemingly executed but kills another criminal in his place and convinces him to retrieve Rickon Stark in exchange for backing Stannis Baratheon. Placating the Freys to save his other son, he abuses a loophole in guest rights to murder them and bake them into pies, and, in a truly audacious act, feeds them to their kin and the lords Bolton. On a wider scale, Wyman also secretly built a massive war fleet to aid Stannis in the overthrow of the Lannisters and consumate his vengeance.
- "Brown" Ben Plumm is an avuncular, playful mercenary and the captain of the Second Sons once he organizes the betrayal of his captain Mero and takes control by virtue of his popularity. Claiming descent from almost every known ethnicity in the world, including a "drop of dragon blood" through House Plumm, Ben often obfuscates truth and lies, using this to betray Daenerys Targaryen to Yunkai. Ben later opts to betray the Yunkish for her again, constantly on the move to secure his next payment in the belief there are old sellswords and bold sellswords, but no bold and old sellswords.
- Ser Arthur Dayne, renowned as the finest knight of his age, is likely the greatest swordsman to ever live. The Sword of the Morning who nevertheless enforces the despicable regime of King Aerys II Targyen, Arthur was previously responsible for routing the Kingswood Brethren by winning over the smallfolk and reducing the places the bandits could hide before personally facing and killing the monstrous Smiling Knight. Later assisting Prince Rhaegar and guarding Lyanna Stark at the Tower of Joy, Arthur leaads the fight against Eddard Stark's companions and almost slays the young Stark lord in their ensuing duel.
The World of Ice & Fire; Archmaester Gyldayn's Histories; Fire & Blood
Examples
- House Targaryen:
- King Aegon I Targaryen, aka "Aegon the Conqueror", arrived in Westeros and began dreaming to unite it by conquest. Audaciously declaring himself ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon incensed the warring kings of the land and swiftly set about his campaign using his painted table depicting the details of the country around him. Dispatching his sister-Queens to conquer multiple kingdoms, Aegon personally took to dealing with the Riverlands, using a much smaller force than his enemy's in conjunction with his mighty dragon to end the life and line of the cruel King Harren Hoare as he hid in his fortress. Later victorious via tactical use of his and his sisters' dragons at the dry Fields of Fire, Aegon becomes Westeros's first unifying king after his feats cause the remaining kings to peacefully surrender to his superior forces. Famed for his preference for peace and thirst for knowledge of the land, Aegon took in the Faith of the Seven as a shrewd political maneuver and began installing new institutions to ensure the longevity of his nation, even making a point of personally visiting lords and smallfolk across the country to hear their concerns so as to keep their loyalties whilst having his maesters teach him the customs and history of his land. Beloved for the prosperity he brought, Aegon's passing saw him forever enshrined as "The Dragon", first and greatest of the Targaryen kings.
- Queen Visenya Targaryen is the stoic elder sister-queen of Aegon and the most skilled warrior of her siblings. A cold but effective tactician, Visenya helps her brother conquer Westeros with her dragon Vhagar, burning an opposing fleet and routing the armies of the Vale with her mere presence before allowing the young boy king of the region to ride Vhagar in return for fealty. Setting ablaze the Fields of Fire to ultimately unite all of Westeros except for Dorne, Visenya and her sister cultivate alliances in the realm by offering noble families political marriages. Visenya also orders the formation of the Kingsguard to defend their ruler and after Aegon's death, plots to place her son Maegor on the throne and dispose of his weak willed half-brother Aenys. Successfully making Maegor king, Visenya keeps her mad child placated through wise decision making and is remembered as the true power behind the Iron Throne until finally passing away from old age.
- Queen Rhaenys Targaryen is Aegon's favorite of his two sister-queens. Likely the most skilled dragonrider of the siblings, Rhaenys burns out the Stormlands forces while fighting alongside their bastard half-brother Orys Baratheon. Providing reconnaissance to her co-commander, Rhaenys skillfully decimates the enemy king's forces even with her dragon on the ground and in the rain. Aiding Aegon at the Fields of Fire, Rhaenys later becomes a pivotal voice to her brother-king, paying bards to sing tales of the siblings's battles and bravery and helps shape Westeros through skillful political marriages between different noble houses. A crucial piece in the brutal war against Dorne, Rhaenys proves Aegon's most effective soldier in pushing back the enemy and is only killed by a surprise attack as she battles on her dragon.
- Daemon Targaryen is Aegon's descendant who was known to be a great man and monster, wonder and terror of his age. Reforming the City Watch into the Goldcloaks, Daemon ran off to the Narrow Sea to fight pirate fleets at the Stepstones and carve out his own kingdom before returning home and offering his brother, King Viserys I, his crown. When he wished to marry the betrothed Laena Velaryon, Daemon manipulated her betrothed to challenging her to a duel, also knowing he could use the protection and wealth of her House. When he married his niece, Rhaenyra, Daemon was her closest supporter during the Dance of Dragons and the terror of King Aegon II's forces with his skill and experience, even ordering one of Aegon's young sons killed in retribution for Rhaenyra's eldest. When Rhaenyra ordered his companion Nettles killed, Daemon disobeyed her before killing Aegon's strongest Dragonrider, Prince Aemond, at cost of his own life.
- Viserys II Targaryen was the shrewd, calculating Hand through the reigns of several kings before ascending to the throne himself. Becoming Hand to his brother Aegon III after escaping years of imprisonment by enemies, Viserys II advised first his brother, then Aegon III's two sons as each of them died and was succeeded by the next. Having likely poisoned King Baelor for the good of the realm after Baelor's growing madness, Viserys II became King himself for a year's time before his death. Despite his short reign, however, Viserys II is vindicated through history as having been the true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms for over fourteen years, having used his position as Hand to maintain peace and prosperity for the lands while the likes of Baelor and Aegon III idled their time away, ruling in name only.
- House Baratheon: Lord Orys Baratheon, bastard half-brother of Aegon I Targaryen, proves one of his best commanders. During Aegon's Conquest, Orys fights alongside Queen Rhaenys to conquer the Stormlands, positioning his smaller force to take the high ground, picking off enemy soldiers until Rhaenys can kill the rest with her dragon. Killing the enemy king, when Orys is delivered his defiant captive daughter, he treats her as a guest, speaking of her father's bravery, marries her and takes her family sigil as a sign of respect. Only once beaten by a sadistic Dornish lord who takes Orys' hand, he avenges the insult by crippling the man's rebelling son decades later, dying smiling at his gruesome trophies.
- House Lannister: Ser Tyland Lannister works as Master of Coin under Dowager Queen Alicent Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons. Shrewdly shifting funds, Tyland funds his side while keeping it safe from their enemy Rhaenyrs Targaryen, withstanding horrific torture to keep it hidden. After Rhaenrys' son Aegon III becomes king following the war, Tyland supports him inspite of their past—having once suggested Aegon's assassination—to serve faithfully as his Hand of the King, restoring Westeros's economy and gracefully dying as Aegon holds his hand.
- House Velaryon:
- Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, is easily the greatest mariner Westeros has ever known. Having uncovered most of the world to Westeros, from the Summer Isles to Yi Ti and Legend to Asshai, Corlys later married into the Targaryen line by wedding his beloved Rhaenys and championing her cause to succeed King Jaehaerys. Helping Daemon Targaryen with his strategic mastery in crushing the Stepstones pirates, Corlys later proved an invaluable aid in the Dance of Dragons to Princess Rhaenyra. Sacrificing his position to save his grandson—most likely actually his own bastard son—Addam of Hull, Corlys later pushed Aegon II for capitulations to secure his loyalty and organized the poisoning of the king to secure the throne for Rhaenyra's son, Aegon III.
- Alyn Velaryon, known as "Oakenfist", was a great commander under King Aegon III Targaryen. Far more active than his melancholic king, Alyn managed to score countless victories even as the jealous Hand of the King sought him killed. Advising Aegon III's successor as well, Alyn wins numerous battles on the conquest of Dorne, marrying to live happily until disappearing on the high seas.
- House Stark:
- Theon Stark, the "Hungry Wolf" was a great King of the North. A strategic mastermind, Theon faced the Andal invaders and annihilated them, lashing the corpse of Andal lord Argo Sevenstar to his ship and wiping out Andal villages. Facing the Ironborn, Theon destroyed them and drove them from the north, with his brutality and genius so renowned that the Ironborn continued to name their children after him to modern-day.
- King Brandon Stark, aka Brandon the Builder, is a legendary ruler said to have built Winterfell by enslaving giants to his will. Possibly responsible for destroying the evil Night's King and purging him from history, Brandon also sets up a supply line for the men of the Night's Watch to both support them and see they remain under the control of Winterfell.
- House Martell: Nymeria Martell was a Rhoynar princess who led her people on a perilous voyage from dying lands to arrive in Dorne. Burning her people's ships to ensure they must find a new home, Nymeria married Mors Martell and linked their people by a series of marriages. Nymeria led the conquest of Dorne, defeating king after king and taking command well after her husband had died, with strategic marriages after to ensure she kept the loyalty of Dorne's houses. Ensuring her daughter would inherit as eldest child over her son, Nymeria enshrined many of Dorne's traditions that continue to modern day.
- Free Folk: Bael the Bard is a renowned King-Beyond-the-Wall of the Free Folk. After being insulted by Lord Brandon Stark, Bael creeps through the Wall and disguises himself as a bard whose songs win the heart of Winterfell. Falling in love with Lord Stark's daughter, Bael flees with her to hide in Winterfell's crypts for a year, before returning her and their newborn child to her room. Later leading an army south, Bael faces his own son in combat and is slain when he refuses to battle with his own kin.
- Yi Ti/YiTish History: Zhea the Cruel was a Jhattar of the Jhogos Nhai. Identifying as a man despite the manner of his birth, Zhea proved as ruthless and capable as any other, being the most feared Jhattar in history. Facing an invasion of Yi Tish emperor Lo Bu, Zhea began to systematically lure his forces into traps, cutting off his armies from one another and annihilating them. When Zhea judged Lo Bu trapped, he moved and wiped out the Emperor along with any Yi Ti forces in the land, making Lo Bu's skull into a gilded drinking cup the Jogos Nhai keep as a treasure to this day.
Examples
- Sansa Stark, first daughter of Lord Eddard of House Stark, grows from a clever but scared survivor to a confident schemer. After being abused and violated by the monstrous Ramsay Bolton, Sansa escapes to go to war with him, even knowing he means to kill her brother Rickon, alongside her other brother Jon Snow and allies with Petyr Baelish to crush Ramsay's forces, personally feeding her tormenter to his hounds while he screams in agony. With Jon chosen as the new King in the North, Sansa becomes his most competent advisor, proving far more ruthless and level-headed than he and taking measures in an attempt to secure their power base and easily outplays and kills Baelish in a gambit with her equally-cunning sister Arya. Never truly trusting the increasingly unstable Daenerys Targaryen but allying with her all the same to defeat the Army of the Dead, Sansa likewise uses her to enjoy the death of Queen Cersei Lannister. After Jon assassinates the maddened Daenerys before she can take the Iron Throne, Sansa uses her popularity with the Northern Lords to become their Queen, taking independence from Westeros while the neighboring nation is ruled by her brother Bran.
- Arya Stark is the second daughter of Lord Eddard. Ever a willful girl who disdains the ladylike pursuits of her elder sister Sansa, Arya eludes capture by the Lannisters to go on a journey where she undergoes numerous traumas, eventually leading her to be trained by the Faceless Men of Braavos. Keeping her individuality and taking their skills, Arya infiltrates a brothel to murder Ser Meryn Trant, the man who killed her sword instructor. Refusing to murder an innocent woman, her brutal tutor the Waif tries to murder her, prompting Arya to lure her into a blind duel to kill the Waif. Returning to Westeros, Arya kills the two sons of Lord Walder Frey, feeds them to him in a pie, and kills Walder as punishment for killing her family, then—wearing his face as a disguise—poisons his entire house at a feast. Returning North, Arya helps to trap Petyr Baelish in his schemes and personally executes him, later even killing the dreaded Night King of the monstrous White Walkers with a skilled ambush.
- Sandor Clegane, the Hound of House Clegane, is a man scarred inside and out from the abuse of his monstrously evil brother Gregor. A talented and admittedly bloodthirsty fighter who takes jobs that make it socially acceptable for him to kill, Sandor lends the captive Sansa the aid he can during her imprisonment by the wicked young King Joffrey Baratheon and eventually deserts the Lannisters, rescuing Arya and forming a strange bond with her when his attempts to ransom her fail. Sandor displays a powerful command of combat ability and pragmatism, outfighting and outthinking many of his opponents. Returning after his attempts to live a life of peace fail, Sandor captures a wight to prove to King's Landing the threat of the Night King, before eventually returning to face his monstrous, undead brother to destroy him at the cost of his own life.
- Varys the Spider is the Master of Whispers on the Small Council. Once a penniless boy castrated and left to die in a cruel sorcerer's ritual, Varys created his own network of information throughout Myr that spread all the way to Westeros, garnering him a place in the Targaryen Dynasty. Playing both sides between Daenerys and Robert Baratheon, Varys convinced the defeated Eddard Stark to confess to false treason to save his daughters, declaring he himself served only "the Realm" itself. Later attempting to assist Tyrion stabilize the kingdom, Varys testifies against Tyrion at his trial for Joffrey's murder, but frees him and helps Tyrion escape Westeros so they might ally with Daenerys. Varys helps broker needed alliances, but becomes aware of Dany's growing instability and seeks to undermine her in favor of Jon Snow when he discovers Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen. Facing his resulting end with nothing but dignity, Varys only remarks he truly hopes he deserves a traitor's death and things will not crash down as he fears.
- Bronn is the roguishly charming and surprisingly clever sellsword that first makes his mark by defeating a fully armed and armored knight in a duel through trickery and winning the freedom of Tyrion Lannister. In Tyrion's employ, Bronn is made the leader of the King's Landing guards and purges the city's thieves to ensure food supplies for the upcoming siege. Proving a competent military commander, Bronn aids in planning the defense and plays a vital role in the Battle of the Blackwater by igniting the wildfire that consumes Stannis' fleet. Becoming a knight, Bronn again rises in rank by abandoning Tyrion and becoming a noble in the Lannister employ. Despite leading the rescue of Princess Myrcella and being Jaime's only competent officer, Bronn turns on the Lannisters after being denied further reward yet gets the better of Jaime and Tyrion and coerces them into making him Lord of Highgarden and Master of Coin when the wars are over.
- The Faceless Man or Men posing as "Jaqen H'ghar" act as a polite yet peerless master assassin. Offering to train Arya after displaying his prowess, Jaqen subjects her to grueling training while emphasizing she learns to patiently stake her targets. When Arya deviates from the course, Jaqen allows his sadistic pupil the Waif to attack her but is impressed when Arya overcomes and kills the Waif, declaring her "no one" and letting her leave to forge her own path.
- Yara Greyjoy is the daughter of King Balon and a respected commander of the Ironborn even in their misogynistic society. Eschewing the mass rape the Ironborn normally order, Yara instead focuses on daring tactics and and when her brother Theon is captured, almost succeeds in breaking him out of the heavily defended Dreadfort. After Balon is killed by his brother Euron, Yara loses the Salt Throne to her uncle but charms the bulk of the Ironborn forces to her side, later escaping Euron's captivity with Theon's aid to retake the Iron Islands, ending the series as the undisputed ruler of her territory.
- Salladhor Saan is a roguishly charming pirate and friend of Ser Davos Seaworth. Offering to provide ships for Davos to fight for King Stannis Baratheon, when Davos' fleet is defeated, Salladhor merely resumes his life of pillaging on the high seas, paid handsomely by Davos and ultimately leaving the work richer.
- Margaery Tyrell is seemingly the sweet innocent maiden of House Tyrell, but in truth is a manipulative and skilled political schemer that rivals ever her grandmother Olenna. First introduced as the fiancée of Renly Baratheon, she quickly moves on to seduce and easily placate the monstrous King Joffrey Baratheon and even repair his image by showing kindness and charity to the poor. Beloved by the common folk, she works to make the Tyrells the dominant house in royal court and easily tears Joffrey and later his brother Tommen away from their domineering mother. When arrested by the Faith Militant after Cersei's accusations, she tricks them into believing she has reformed and appeases them by bringing Tommen over to their side to win her brother's freedom. Killed by Cersei's wildfire massacre, Margaery was the only one to see the plot and tried to save everyone in the last minute.
- Olenna Tyrell is the acidic, witty matriarch of House Tyrell, far more formidable than her oafish son Mace. Olenna, upon her arrival in King's Landing, helps to secure her granddaughter Margaery's power base and soon learns what a monster King Joffrey Baratheon truly is. In an alliance with Petyr Baelish, Olenna poisons Joffrey at his own wedding, letting Tyrion Lannister take the blame while remaining entirely out of suspicion. Even upon her final defeat, Olenna simply downs a vial of painless poison before revealing to Joffrey's father Jaime that she was Joffrey's true killer, robbing him of any satisfaction at all before inviting him to tell Cersei as "I want her to know it was me", dying on her own terms in full satisfaction.
- Daario Naharis is a mercenary with a code. Refusing to ever take a woman against her will or kill a man who isn't a challenge, Daario finds himself fascinated by Daenerys Targaryen and infiltrates her camp, presenting her with the heads of his fellow mercenary commanders to swear allegiance. Helping take the city of Yunkai, Daario becomes one of Daenerys' most talented commanders. Proving himself in battle and effortlessly killing the champion of Mereen with his wits, Daario enforces Dany's will and protects her from the Sons of the Harpy assassins throughout his time in Mereen.
- The original Three-Eyed Raven, once Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers, is the memory of humanity and sworn enemy of the Night King. Setting the stage for Brandon "Bran" Stark to take up his mantle, the Raven sends him visions to bring him on a perilous quest North where he begins mentoring Bran. When Bran unwittingly brings the Night King to his hidden cave, the Raven sacrifices himself as well as a man whose mind he broke, all done to bring about the ultimate destruction of the dead.
- Ser Arthur Dayne is a legendary knight and the best friend of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. A genius fighter, Arthur's guile is known far and wide for being the man to have purged Westeros of countless criminals with his tactics and skill with a blade. Also a talented diplomat, Arthur keeps the smallfolk happy even during the reign of Rhaegar's mad father and ultimately helps his friend sneak away his child with Lady Lyanna Stark, dying only by being blindsided in combat, his duty fulfilled nevertheless.
