This is a listing of houses in the Riverlands 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 Riverlands
- "From what Jaime had seen of the riverlands, scarce a field remained unburnt, a town unsacked, a maiden unspoiled."
Located in the middle of Westeros, the Riverlands is a lush region filled with rivers, hills, and numerous small towns. It is bordered to the north by the North, to the east by the Vale, to the southwest by the Westerlands, and to the southeast by the Crownlands. Many important trade routes and roads go through the Riverlands, and it is always the site of many battles when war breaks out. It is currently ruled by House Tully, but in the days before Aegon the Conqueror united Westeros, the Ironborn held sway over the Riverlands, and some continue to raid its shores still. Now under the control of House Baelish of Harrenhall, with Lord Petyr Baelish serving as Lord Paramount of the Trident. Bastards in the Riverlands are given the surname "Rivers".
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Tropes related to the Riverlands
- Blessed with Suck: With its numerous rivers and flat land, the Riverlands are the second most fertile region in Westeros, surpassed only by the Reach. Centrally located, the Riverlands is the only region (other than the North) that touches both the Narrow Sea and the Sunset Sea, and the River Trident allows for easy navigation between coasts, resulting in the Riverlands being in a strong position for trade. However, there are no natural boundaries along the borders of the Riverlands, making the region extremely easy to invade, and the many rivers within the Riverlands then serve as a natural defense for the invaders as much as it is for the River Lords.
- Butt-Monkey: Due to their central location and lack of natural defenses, the Riverlands take the brunt of the fighting during many wars.
- Demoted to Dragon: The Blackwoods, Brackens and Mootons once ruled as royalty.
- Divided We Fall: Possibly even more than its lack of natural defenses and being surrounded by other kingdoms, the Riverlands' great weakness is the disunity of its people, who are very diverse, and lords who frequently squabble and fight amongst themselves and rarely manage to unify in time or long enough to repel invaders.
- Everything Trying to Kill You: They have zero geographic defenses and are essentially the crossroads between the North, the Reach, the Vale, the Westerlands and the Crownlands, as well as the Iron Islands. House Tully had to maintain peace by engaging in marriage alliances with his neighbors.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Riverlands resembles the Danelaw, which were the regions of England ruled by the Vikings the same way the Riverlands was ruled by the Ironborn. While the Riverlands was liberated through force, the Danelaw was peacefully reunited with England after the death of their last Viking king. It also resembles medieval Poland, being surrounded by strong rivals and featuring no great defensible borders.
- Feuding Families: The Blackwoods and the Brackens have been fighting each other for so long (over the entire history of the region) that nobody can even remember why it started. Then there's what has become to the Freys and every other House in the region (even the Brackens, who also bent the knee to the Crown, hate them; Blackwood and Bracken — united at last in their contempt of Frey).
- The Freys in particular have a noted rivalry with the Crannogmen of the Neck and their noble house, House Reed. Incidentally, the Crannogmen are sworn to the North.
- High Turnover Rate: Overlordship of the Riverlands is hazardous to the families who hold the title. This region has had more dynasties than any other in the Seven Kingdoms.
- Occupiers Out of Our Country: The Riverlands have periodically been invaded, conquered, settled and annexed by foreign rulers and hasn't had independence since the fall of the Justmans and the Teagues.
- The Teague was oppressive to First Men houses which led the Blackwoods to summon the Stormlander Durrandons to topple them, which in turn led to the ousting of the Durrandons by the Ironborn Hoare dynasty (supported by the Brackens), and that in turn led to the Hoares being dislodged by the Targaryens who gave them autonomy but not independence as one of 7 vassal states, and providing the region for some 300 years security from its geopolitical neighbors.
- The Riverlands supported toppling the Targaryens and served as Robert Baratheon's coalition but the Lannister house's ambitions led to them becoming usurpers of the Crown, and the Riverlands once again became invaded by neighbors. Tywin's invasion led to a counter-invasion from the Starks, which in turn leads to the Riverlords becoming vassals of the King of the North, Robb Stark (who is Tully on his mother's side).
- After the Red Wedding, the Riverlands are once again divided between those loyal to the Lannister claimants, those who are resisting and keen to seek justice/vengeance for Robb Stark and those who support the Brotherhood Without Banners, who are led by Lady Stoneheart, the undead Catelyn Tully.
- This Means War!: Declaring oneself the Lord of the Riverlands is a de facto declaration of war. No noble house has been able to hold the Riverlands for long and those houses have met a tragic end in one way or the other.
- War Is Hell: The majority of A Feast for Crows is set in post-war Riverlands and it shows the aftermath of the war: the Brotherhood Without Banners, the Raid on the Saltpans and the aftershocks of Ser Gregor Clegane's and the Brave Companions' rampage through the area. The Quiet Isle is also located there and it's essentially a veterans hospital.
- We ARE Struggling Together: The Riverlords are notoriously quarrelsome, which is one reason why the Stormlands and the Iron Islands had so much control over the region before the Conquest.
Great House
House Tully
House Tully of Riverrun
- "Family, Duty, Honor"—House Tully words
After the events of the Red Wedding, House Tully is considered deposed.
- See the House Tully page.
Noble Houses
House Blackwood
House Blackwood of Raventree Hall
House Blackwood of Raventree Hall is an old house from Raventree Hall in the riverlands, one of the main families sworn to House Tully. They once ruled the riverlands as kings during the Age of Heroes. They blazon their arms with a flock of ravens on scarlet surrounding a dead weirwood upon a black escutcheon. Their words have not yet been revealed by George R. R. Martin.Raventree is located in Blackwood Vale north of Riverrun and the Red Fork. Some Blackwoods are buried in the village Cairns, while others are buried beneath the dead weirwood of Raventree.
- See the House Blackwood page.
House Bracken
House Bracken of Stone Hedge
House Bracken of Stone Hedge is an old house from Stone Hedge in the riverlands, one of the main families sworn to House Tully of Riverrun. They blazon their arms with a red stallion upon a golden escutcheon on brown. Their words do not appear in the books.The Bracken lands lie along the Red Fork of the Trident.
- See the House Bracken page.
House Butterwell
House Butterwell
House Butterwell is a noble house of the Riverlands, seated once at Lord Harroway's Town, and later at Whitewalls. Their blazon is undy green, white, and yellow.
Tropes related to House Butterwell:
- Ambiguous Situation: They or their sigil have never been mentioned in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, which may indicate they have gone extinct.
- Color Motifs: The white and yellow of their arms probably refers to the milk and butter they produce, while the green probably refers to the grass their milk cows graze on.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Whitewalls is entirely white, being made entirely of white marble from the Vale.
- In-Series Nickname: Their castle, Whitewalls, was called "the Milkhouse" by smallfolk.
- Nouveau Riche: They seem to have this reputation in-universe, as their wealth comes from raising dairy cattle. Ser Maynard Plumm (who may be Bloodraven in disguise) dismisses them as "cattle-thieves".
- Meaningful Name: A house that owns its wealth to the production of dairy with the word "Butter" in its name.
Historical Butterwells
Lord Alton Butterwell, Master of coin
Master of coin to King Maegor. He obtained Lord Harroway's Town after the purge of House Harroway.
- Coattail-Riding Relative: He offered his widowed sister's hand to Maegor, arguing that even tough she was stout and no beauty, she had proven fertile, as she had given birth to seven children
- What Happened to the Mouse?: It is unknown what became of him when Maegor's regime began to crumble. The Sons of the Dragon makes no mention of him after Maegor refuses to marry his sister.
Beatrice Butterwell
A maiden of House Butterwell and the closest friend of Princess Viserra Targaryen.
- Alliterative Name: Beatrice Butterwell
- Brainless Beauty: Described as empty-headed, and is highly unlikely Viserra hung out with ugly people.
- The Confidant: Viserra confided her that she believed she was more beautiful than her sister Alyssa.
Lord Butterwell, Hand of the King
Hand of the King to Aegon IV Targaryen. He's infamous for granting the king access to his three maiden daughters, for which he got a dragon egg in return.
- No Name Given: His name is not known.
- Number Two: As Hand of the King, he was the second most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms.
- Coattail-Riding Relative: He pimped his own daughters to keep the royal favor.
Lord Ambrose Butterwell
- "I have heard your bleatings, Lord Ambrose, and I believe one word in ten"—Lord Bloodraven
Lord of Whitewalls and head of House Butterwell during the reigns of Daeron II and Aerys I. He has three sons and three daughters. He hosts a tourney at Whitewalls in 212 to celebrate his marriage to a lady of House Frey and crown Daemon II Blackfyre.
- Arranged Marriage: To a daughter of House Frey.
- Dirty Coward: Many consider him a coward since he didn't fight during the Blackfyre Rebellion himself, instead sending off his sons to each side to fight for him.
- Heel–Face Turn: He was a reluctant supporter of the conspiracy to crown Daemon II in the first place, having been forced into it by Lord Gormon Peake and Ser Tommard Heddle, and upon learning who Egg is does all he can to protect him.
- Impoverished Patrician: After he was stripped of his wealth and castle.
- Last of His Kind: He is the last male Butterwell, and if his new wife does not give him a son, House Butterwell will die out.
- Nouveau Riche: Got rich off dairy cows.
- Number Two: Briefly served as Daeron II's Hand of the King, but was replaced due to his inability to deal with the Blackfyre Rebellion.
- Oh, Crap!: When he realizes that Egg is Aegon Targaryen, he immediately recants his alligence to House Blackfyre.
- Old Man Marrying a Child: He is fifty and his Frey bride is fifteen.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Half of his offspring: his three sons all died early deaths. His eldest sons died at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, while his youngest died in the Great Spring Sickness.
- Playing Both Sides: He attempted to do this during the Blackfyre Rebellion, with one son fighting for House Targaryen and the other for House Blackfyre. Both died in the Battle of the Redgrass Field.
- Salt the Earth: Bloodraven decrees that he gets to keep his head, but Whitewalls is to be demolished and the earth salted.
House Charlton
House Charlton
House Charlton is a noble house from the Riverlands, and vassals of House Frey of the Crossing. While their seat is unknown they blazon their arms with three sprigs of mistletoe, green and red, on gold within a green border.Tropes related to House Charlton:
- Les Collaborateurs: Lord Theo Charlton sided with Harwyn Hardhand during his invasion of the Riverlands.
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Jon Charlton fought for the Blacks during the Dance of Dragons, perishing at the Battle by the Lakeshore.
- Ser Clarence Charlton was present at the Whitewalls Tourney, where he was soundly defeated by Black Tommard Heddle.
- No Name Given: The unnamed wife of Walder Rivers is a Charlton lady.
- Red Shirt: Ser Andrey Charlton is one of the many noblemen killed by Lannister forces during the War of the Five Kings.
House Darry
House Darry of Darry
House Darry of Darry is a noble house from Castle Darry in the Riverlands. Historically it had been one of the more prominent and powerful houses of the Trident, until the fall of the Targaryens in Robert's Rebellion. Their blazon is a black plowman on brown; the central building where the Darrys have their apartments is called the Plowman's Keep. Their words do not appear in the books.
Tropes related to House Darry:
- Alliterative Name: Fairly common among Lords Darry of the past: Darnold, Derrick, Desmond (twice), Damon, and Deremond.
- Call to Agriculture: Their sigil reminisces of this trope.
- Defiant to the End: The Darrys seem to live & breath this trope. Time & again they have fought nearly to the bitter end, even when giving up would be wiser: during Robert's Rebellion, during the Dance, even during the Andal invasion.
- Famous Ancestor: The "Demon of Darry", a Kingsguard Lord Commander.
- Lord Darnold Darry, who obtained many of the lands stripped from Harrenhal after the purge of House Harroway.
- Lord Roland Darry, who participated and was slain at the Battle of the Kingsroad by Borros Baratheon.
- Ser Damon Darry, who accompanied Ser Regis Groves in attempting to reclaim Harrenhal from Alys Rivers.
- Lady Rosamund Darry, who was among the many maidens presented to King Aegon III Targaryen. She was among the many girls who received Unwin Peake's Malicious Slander.
- Ser Desmond Darry was present at Ashford's Tourney of 209 AL.
- Impoverished Patrician: Lost much of their lands and influence for remaining loyal to the Mad King.
- Lord Country: Their house shares the same name as the lands and castle they rule over.
- Sudden Name Change: Dormand Darry is randomly changed to Darnold Darry.
Lord Raymun Darry
Head of House Darry and Lord of Darry. Killed by Ser Gregor Clegane in an ambush at the Mummer's Ford.
- Benevolent Boss: He responds to attacks on his Smallfolk by going to Kings Landing to denounce the attackers and request permission to hunt them down.
- Continuity Snarl: Is he a lord or a knight?
- Mauve Shirt: Gets some of his history established and a bit of personality before being reported killed.
- Sole Survivor: He was the only one of his siblings to survive Robert's Rebellion, with his three older brothers all dying at the Battle of the Trident.
- Undying Loyalty: To the Targaryens. He even hung banners bearing their sigil in his castle that he had to take down in a hurry anytime he had visitors. Had they ever been discovered, he would have likely been executed by King Robert for treason.
- Unexpected Successor: As the fourth son, it was very unlikely that he would become Lord of Darry, but he did.
Lord Lyman Darry
- Marq Piper: I shall never call a Lannister my king.Lyman Darry: Nor I! I never will!
Head of House Darry and Lord of Darry after the death of his father.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: He is only eight years old but becomes Lord Darry after his father's death.
- Last of His Kind: Aside from two distant female cousins married to Frey's, he was the last member of House Darry after the death of his father. After Gregor killed him, the Darry line went extinct in the male line.
- Mauve Shirt: He's killed shortly after Castle Darry is liberated from Lannister occupation, as Gregor Clegane and his men sack the castle and put all occupants to the sword.
- You Are in Command Now: After his father's death.
Ser Willem Darry
- "Ser Willem is a good man and true."—Ser Oswell Whent at the Tower of Joy.
An old knight and loyal retainer of House Targaryen.
- Arranged Marriage: He conspired with Oberyn and Doran Martell to arrange one between Viserys and Arianne Martell, with the Sealord of Braavos as witness. He died before being able to reveal it to Viserys.
- The Exile: Fled to Essos as Viserys and Daenerys's guardian following Robert's Rebellion.
- From Bad to Worse: After he died, his servants looted his house and the two children he treated as his own were cast out into the cruel world.
- Gentle Giant: He's described as a "bear" of a man.
- Mentor Archetype: He trained Rhaegar Targaryen in arms.
- Old Retainer: Continued to serve House Targaryen loyally even in exile, old age, and sickness.
- Old Soldier: An old knight.
- Parental Substitute: To Daenerys, less so to Viserys.
- Posthumous Character: He died several years before the series began, but Daenerys reminisces about him often.
- Undying Loyalty: Even after the downfall of House Targaryen, when even the castellan of Dragonstone planned on giving up Viserys and the newly born Daenerys to the rebels, Ser Willem remained loyal and smuggled the two over to Braavos and kept them safe until his death.
Ser Jonothor Darry
See Aerys II's Kingsguard page.Lady Mariya Darry
The wife of Merrett Frey and mother of Amerei "Gatehouse Ami", Fat Walda, Little Walder and Marissa Frey. She's also the sister of the late lord Raymun Darry.- Grammar Nazi: If this conversation with her daughter is any indication.Amerei: Outlaws killed him. Father had only gone out to ransom Petyr Pimple. He brought them the gold they asked for, but they hung him anyway.
Mariya: Hanged, Ami. Your father was not a tapestry. - Last of His Kind: She and her sister Jeyne Darry are the only remaining Darrys after all the males were killed.
- Outliving One's Offspring: One of her children was stillborn, another died in infancy and her only son Little Walder gets killed at Winterfell.
- Silver Vixen: She's still considered good looking despite being a mother of four and having some grey hairs.
- Unwanted Spouse: Her husband Merrett found her disappointing and considered her a shrew.
- You Are in Command Now: With her brother and nephew dead, her husband also dead and her son in-law Lancel running off to join the Faith Militant, she's forced to take command of what's left of House Darry.
House Deddings
House Deddings is a noble house from the riverlands. It is a wealthy house. Their arms and words have not appeared in the books.
- Cannon Fodder: Lord and Lady Deddings are slain by the forces of House Lannister during the War of the Five Kings.
- Kill It with Fire: Lord Lyonel Deddings was burned to death by Vermithor during the Second Battle of Tumbleton.
- No Name Given: The heads of the House are not named.
Historical Deddings
Davos Deddings
Davos Deddings was a member of House Deddings during the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.- Alliterative Name: Davos Deddings.
- Big Brother Instinct: To his sister Darla.
- Eye Scream: Davos was stabbed in the eye when he protected his sister from rapists during the riots of King's landing.
- Uncertain Doom: It is not known if he survived.
House Frey
House Frey of The Crossing
House Frey of the Crossing is a noble house of the riverlands. Their main seat is the Twins, a pair of castles on each bank of the northern Green Fork of the Trident that serves as a vital bridge across the river. The lord of the house is called the Lord of the Crossing.The strategic location of the Twins has allowed the house to become quite wealthy. Under their current lord, Walder Frey, they have grown greatly in both size and power. The most powerful bannermen of the Tullys, the Freys can field a thousand knights and three thousand foot.
Their sigil is two blue towers united by a bridge on silver-grey, representing the Twins. Their house words are not mentioned in the books. Most current Freys tend to share the weaselly appearance of their common ancestor, Lord Walder.
After the events of the Red Wedding, House Tully is considered deposed. House Baelish is now ruler of the Riverlands but House Frey actually runs things.
- See the House Frey page.
House Goodbrook
House Goodbrook is a noble house from the river lands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms a blue wavy bend on gold. Their lands neighbor those of House Smallwood of Acorn Hall.
Tropes related to House Goodbrook
- Alliterative Name: Garse Goodbrook, the husband of Kyra Frey.
- Les Collaborateurs: Like Houses Bracken, Paege and Charlton, the Goodbrooks supported House Hoare in their conquest of the Riverlands.
- Ser Garse, unlike his relative Lymond, was in on the Red Wedding.
- Impoverished Patrician: Like Houses Mooton and Darry, they lost much of their lands and influence for remaining loyal to the Mad King.
- Red Shirt: Ser Garse is killed by Sandor Clegane during the Red Wedding.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Lord Lymond reluctantly sieges Riverrun after the Red Wedding.
- True Companions: Lord Lymond Goodbrook is good friends with Edmure Tully.
House Grell
House Grell is a noble house from the riverlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with three red martlets (birds) on white bend, on blue.
Ser Desmond Grell
A knight of House Grell and master-at-arms for Riverrun. He may be elderly and grown somewhat fat, but he is still capable of training the next generation of warriors for Riverrun.
- Number Two: To Edmure Tully, when he is briefly made castellan of Riverrun while Robb is campaigning the Westerlands and Edmure leads the defense of the fords.
- Old Retainer: He is of age with Lord Hoster Tully, and has served at Riverrun for decades.
- Old Master: As master-at-arms, he is responsible for training new soldiers at Riverrun.
- Old Soldier: Too old to participate in battle, and he is made to remain in Riverrun while the Battle of the Fords occurs. He is deeply disappointed by this.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Decides to join the Night's Watch once House Tully no longer controls Riverrun even though no one forces him to do so. He simply no longer wants to stay in Riverrun and has no place else to go.Ser Desmond: You say I'm free to go, but where? I'm too old and too stout to make a hedge knight. But men are always welcome at the Wall.
House Lychester
House Lychester is a noble house from Castle Lychester in the riverlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms with orange and white gyronny, a black talon.
- A House Divided: During Robert's Rebellion.
- Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: Maester Roone tends to Lord Lymond, who has a wandering mind.
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Jon Lychester fought during the Faith Militant Uprising.
- Lord Country
- Turn Coat: Pardoned after the Red Wedding and helped besiege Riverrun.
Lord Lymond Lychester
Lymond Lychester is the Lord of Castle Lychester and the head of House Lychester.
- Alliterative Name: Lymond Lychester.
- Authority in Name Only: He's clearly out of his mind. He and his house are counted as allies of the Brotherhood Without Banners but its unclear if Lymond even notices their presence.
- Noodle Incident: The story of his fight with Ser Maynard, whoever that is, which he repeats over and over again.
- Outliving One's Offspring: The deaths of his sons years before broke him.
- Scatterbrained Senior: All he ever does is seemingly mentally relie a battle of the past.
- Sole Survivor: He is the only one in his family who lived through the Rebellion.
House Mallister
House Mallister of Seagard
- "Above the Rest"—House Mallister words
House Mallister of Seagard is one of the most prominent noble houses from the riverlands. Seagard is a fortress built to defend the coast against the reavers from the Iron Islands, and dates from before Aegon's Conquest. The Mallisters distrust the ironborn.
Their blazon is a silver eagle displayed, on a purple field.
Tropes related to House Mallister:
- Family Theme Naming: Jason, Jorah, Joseth, Jeffory. Fair to say that the Mallisters like their J names.
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Lymond Mallister, who fought in a tourney at Maidenpool at the accession of Viserys I Targaryen.
- Lord Jorah Mallister, who was killed by Borros Baratheon during the Battle of the Kingsroad.
- Ser Joseth Mallister was an Ashford tourney participant.
- Ser Desmond Mallister, who had a great but tragic friendship with Lord Loron Greyjoy.
- Meaningful Name: Their seat, Seagard, guards against Ironborn raiders attacking the Riverlands from Ironman's Bay.
- Noble Bird of Prey: Their sigil, an eagle.
- Posthumous Character: Jeffory Mallister, one of Brandon Stark's ill-fated companions.
Lord Jason Mallister
Head of House Mallister and Lord of Seagard. By the War of the Five Kings, his hair has turned white, but he is still a capable warrior and commander.
- Action Dad: You bet — if his actions on the Trident don't clue you, nothing will.
- Badass in Distress: He is currently being held captive in his own castle by Black Walder, having surrendered to the Freys to prevent them from hanging his son.
- Cool Helmet: Wears a helm with eagle wings coming out the top.
- Failed a Spot Check: While riding to King's Landing for a tourney, he fails to recognize Catelyn Stark, who he has known for half her life, simply because she was wearing a commoners robe and he would never expect to see her like that.
- Honor Before Reason: Tywin Lannister expects him to continue fighting on at least for awhile after the Red Wedding, "for honor's sake". He does briefly hold out, but surrenders after a short siege when the Freys threaten to hang his son.
- Master Swordsman: Jason is one of the finest duelists in the Riverlands and killed Balon Greyjoy's eldest son Rodrik in single combat when the Ironborn attacked Seagard.
- Nice to the Waiter: Waves to Catelyn Stark on the Kingsroad, despite believing her to be a commoner.
- Old Soldier: A talented warrior and skilled soldier, even in his old age.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Went on one during Robert's Rebellion after his brother Jeffory was killed by the Mad King for being one of Brandon Stark's companions.
- Properly Paranoid: Greatly dislikes Theon Greyjoy due to him being Ironborn and tries to stop his son from forming a friendship with him, despite Theon never having done anything to him and being one of Robb’s closest allies. He was absolutely right to do so, since Theon joined his family and led Ironborn forces in assaulting the North.
- Pride: Catelyn notes that he has always been very prideful, and constantly looks as if he has nothing to fear.
- Silver Fox: Catelyn thinks that despite his hair going white, Jason is still a very handsome man.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: He is noted to be tall, handsome, and had dark brown hair before it started going white.
Patrek Mallister
Son of Jason Mallister and heir of Seagard.
- Badass in Distress: He is captured during the Red Wedding and held hostage by the Freys to force his father to surrender Seagard to the Iron Throne. They are now both being held captive at Seagard.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: He serves as one of King Robb Stark's personal guards.
- The Casanova: Mentioned to share Theon Greyjoy's taste for pursuing women.
- Odd Friendship: Gets along exceedingly well with Theon, despite his father's misgivings.
- Sole Survivor: Is the only one of Robb's personal guard (other than Freys) to survive the Red Wedding; instead of being slain, he's taken hostage, which proves enough to make Jason surrender.
- True Companions: He is one of Edmure Tully's close friends.
Ser Denys Mallister
- See the Night's Watch character page.
Historical Mallisters
Lord Petyr Mallister
A Lord of Seagard that led a rebellion against House Durrandon and succeeded in expelling the occupiers and ruled shortly before being defeated by the power of Storm's End.
- My Nayme Is: Petyr instead of Peter.
- Rebel Leader: Against House Durrandon and the Stormlands rule of the Riverlands.
House Mooton
House Mooton of Maidenpool
- "Wisdom and Strength"—House Mooton words
House Mooton of Maidenpool is a noble house from the riverlands. Their seat of Maidenpool is one of the main ports and trade centers of the Bay of Crabs. According to legend, this was the location where Florian the Fool saw Jonquil for the first time while she was bathing with her sisters.
Their blazon is a red salmon on white, over a white field with a golden tressure.
- See the House Mooton page.
House Piper
House Piper of Pinkmaiden
- "Brave and Beautiful"—House Piper words
House Piper of Pinkmaiden is one of the chief noble houses from the riverlands. Its seat at Pinkmaiden Castle is located close to the border with the westerlands.
Their blazon is a pink dancing maiden in a swirl of white silk, over blue.
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Jon Piper, who was head of the house during the reign of Maegor I Targaryen and fought against him during the in support of his nephew Aegon's claim to the Iron Throne.
- Fiery Redhead: Pipers tend to have red hair and hot tempers, especially when their family members are threatened or insulted.
- Kill It with Fire: Lord Stanton Piper was burned to death during the Second Battle of Tumbleton.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Their sigil is a dancing maiden and their seat is named Pinkmaiden, but they're as manly as they come.
- Running Gag: People making fun of the fact that they have a naked woman on their banner.
Lord Clement Piper
- "I don't imply, Frey. I say what I mean straight out, like an honest man."
Head of House Piper and Lord of Pinkmaiden.
- Adipose Rex: Described as short and fat.
- A Father to His Men: Not only is he concerned for the safety of his captured son and knights after the Red Wedding, but he is infuriated that his men-at-arms were butchered by the Freys simply because they did not believe they were worth taking hostage. He asks after the five Knights who accompanied his son, who were cousins and nephews of his.
- Fiery Redhead: He has bushy wild red hair and a short temper.
- Hot-Blooded: Forward, forthright and forthcoming. Quick to break out Brutal Honesty when hitting the target's face is a non-viable option.
- It Runs in the Family: His son Marq is famously hot tempered and when we meet his father it's clear where he gets it from, with Clement repeatedly insulting the Freys who hold his son captive and challenging them to single combat.
- Papa Wolf: He is barely able to restrain himself from attacking the Freys after the Red Wedding due to their butchering of his forces and holding his son captive.Edwyn Frey: You'd do well to guard your traitor's tongue, Piper, unless you want your heir returned to you in pieces.Clement Piper: [surges to his feet] SAY THAT WITH A SWORD IN YOUR HAND, FREY!
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Very, very reluctantly cooperates with the Freys following the Red Wedding and being forced to submit to the Iron Throne once again due to his son Marq being held hostage.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He really doesn't hold back when talking to Edwyn Frey.Clement: But what would you know of the ways of honest men? You're a treacherous lying weasel, like all your kin. I'd sooner drink a pint of piss than take the word of any Frey.
Ser Marq Piper
- "Whatever you may decide for yourselves, I shall never call a Lannister my king."
Eldest son of Clement Piper and heir of House Piper. He is a friend of Edmure Tully.
- Badass in Distress: He is held captive at the Twins following the Red Wedding.
- Berserk Button: Insulting his House's sigil. He was very offended when Daven Lannister asked him if the naked woman dancing on his shield was his sister.
- The Big Guy: For the Riverland's nobles.
- Blood Knight: His first solution to any military problem is suggesting an all-out attack.
- Drinking Game: Played one with Danwell Frey at Edmure and Roslin Frey's wedding, which is likely how the Freys were able to capture him.
- Hot-Blooded: Like Father, Like Son. Eddard Stark even notes this trope by name when meeting him.
- My Nayme Is: Marq, not Mark.
- Revenge: His primary motivation in the War of Five Kings, due to the Lannister raids on his House's lands killing many of his people. He specifically wants revenge on Ser Gregor Clegane, who led the raids.
- Revenge Before Reason: He states he will never accept anybody with Lannister blood as his king, and outright rejects any notion of making peace with them.
- True Companions: With Edmure Tully.
Lewys Piper
Little Lew
Second son of Clement Piper. After House Piper bends the knee to the Iron Throne following the Red Wedding, he becomes a hostage to of the Iron Throne and a squire of Ser Jaime Lannister.
- In-Series Nickname: "Little Lew".
- Satellite Character: To Jaime.
- Strong Family Resemblance: He is said to look a lot like his father.
- The Squire: Is appointed as one of Jaime's.
Historical Pipers
Melony Piper
Sister of Lord Jon Piper during the reign of Aenys I and Maegor I, she was a close friend of Rhaena Targaryen.
- Action Girl: Donned men's armor and led the forces of House Piper in support of Aegon's claim to the Iron Throne against his uncle Maegor.
- Ambiguously Gay: Her exact relationship with Rhaena is unclear. She was one of Rhaena's rotating favorites as a Lady-In-Waiting, but they remained close even after Melony was replaced and she never married before her demise.
- Character Death: Perished in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye alongside three of her brothers.
- Sibling Team: She fought alongside her brother Jon and two other brothers in the Battle Beneath the God's Eye.
- Undying Loyalty: To Rhaena. It was Melony who convinced her brother Jon to throw House Piper's support behind Aegon's claim and she was one of the first nobles to declare for Aegon and decry Maegor as an usurper.
Lord Petyr Piper
The head of House Piper during the Dance of the Dragons. After his death he was succeeded by (presumably his son) Stanton Piper.- Knighting: He knighted Pate of Longleaf after he killed Jason Lannister.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Seeing his grandson's severed head was enough to kill old Lord Petyr Piper.
- Undying Loyalty: He was one of the few lords that still remembered the vow to support Rhaenyra Targaryen over twenty years prior.
House Ryger
House Ryger of Willow Wood
House Ryger of Willow Wood is a noble house from Willow Wood in the riverlands. It is one of the main houses sworn to House Tully. They blazon their arms with a weeping willow, green on white.
Tropes relaed to House Ryger:
- True Companions: Tristan Ryger is a close friend and companion of Edmure Tully.
Ser Robin Ryger
A knight of House Ryger and captain of the guard at Riverrun.
- Alliterative Name: Robin Ryger
- The Big Guy: Getting on a bit, he may be. But, he still packs a hefty wallop.
- The Captain: Commands the castle guard of Riverrun.
- Old Retainer: He has served at Riverrun for decades.
- Old Soldier: His experience (and previous position) is something the Nights Watch may come to value, given what they're up against.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: He chooses to join the Night's Watch after Edmure surrenders Riverrun to Jaime Lannister.
House Vance
House Vance is a noble house from the Riverlands. No one knows what's happened to the main line of House Vance. The quartered sigils of the Atrantan and Wayfarer's Rest Vances indicate they intermarried with First Men families.
Cadet Houses
House Vance of Atranta
House Vance of Atranta is one of the two great branches of House Vance in the riverlands, the other being House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest.
Neither their arms or their motto appear on the books. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms as quartered, a green dragon on white and a white tower on black.
Tropes related to House Vance of Atranta:
- In-Series Nickname: Ser Ronald Vance, Lord Norbert's eldest son and heir, is known as Ronald the Bad.
- True Companions: Ser Ronald and Ser Ellery with Edmure Tully.
Lord Norbert Vance
Head of House Vance and Lord of Atranta. He is a blind old man with five sons: Ser Ronald, Ser Hugo, Ser Ellery, Kirth and Maester Jon.
- Childhood Friend: Of Ser Brynden Tully, who he squired alongside.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: During the Siege of Riverrun, he is the only Riverlord who tries to find a peaceful solution to the siege and makes helpful suggestions, while Lord Karyl Vance and Lord Clement Piper simply insult the Frey's and do nothing to try to stop potential bloodshed. Norbert also offers Ser Jaime Lannister good advice on how to end the Bracken's siege of House Blackwood without more bloodshed.
- The Squire: In his youth, he squired for the Lord of Darry with Brynden.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With House Frey after the Red Wedding and being forced to swear loyalty to the Iron Throne and besiege Riverrun.
Ser Hugo Vance
Lord Norbert's second son.
- Ambiguous Situation: He was a guest at the Red Wedding and somehow survived but the details are unknown.
- Sleepy Head: Falls asleep during a loud feast at Castle Darry.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: After bending the knee to the Iron Throne he joins Jaime Lannister's party travelling to end the Siege of Riverrun.
- True Companions: With Edmure Tully.
House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest
House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest is one of the two great branches of House Vance in the riverlands, the other being House Vance of Atranta.
Neither their arms or their motto appear on the books. According to semi-canon sources they blazon their arms as quartered, a black dragon on white, two golden eyes in a golden ring on black.
Lord Karyl Vance
Head of House Vance and Lord of Wayfarer's Rest. He has three daughters: Liane, Rhialta, and Emphyria.
- Action Dad
- Colonel Badass: He is one of the top Riverlands commanders serving under Lord Edmure Tully.
- Deadpan Snarker: Towards the Freys:Karyl: Will the night soil be your own contribution, Edwyn? A mortal poison, I don't doubt.
- Distinguishing Mark: He has a large winestain birthmark that covers one side of his face and half his neck. It darkens when he gets angry.
- Dull Eyes of Unhappiness: He is described as having sad eyes and being very melancholy.
- My Nayme Is: Karyl instead of Carl.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With House Frey after the Red Wedding and being forced to swear loyalty to the Iron Throne and besiege Riverrun.
- You Are in Command Now: His father is killed in the first battle of the War of Five Kings and he takes over control of the house.
Historical Vances
Armistead Vance
Armistead Vance was a member of House Vance and the mightiest of the Andal warlords that invaded the riverlands. Armistead was one of the Andal warlords who defeated Tristifer IV Mudd, King of the Rivers and the Hills.- Famous Ancestor: To both Vance branches.
- I Coulda Been a Contender!: For reasons unknown, he didn't become Lord of the Riverlands after deposing the Mudds.
- Our Founder: He gave the Tullys the land on which Riverrun.
Lord Robert Vance
Lord Robert Vance was a member of one of the branches of House Vance.- Doomed Moral Victor: Defeated by his overlords the Storm Kings.
- Rebel Leader: Made himself king of the Riverlands.
Lord Ronnel Vance
Lord Ronnel Vance was head of the house during the reign of Maegor I Targaryen and fought against him during the Faith Militant Uprising. He died during the Battle beneath the God's Eye.- Red Shirt: One of the many casualties against Maegor the Cruel.
Lord Hugo Vance
Lord of Wayfarer's Rest during the Dance of the Dragons. He became head after the death of Lord Tristan Vance at the Battle of the Red Fork.- Small Role, Big Impact: He could only send 300 men and some Myrish sellswords led by Black Trombo to aid Ser Addam Velaryon in the Second Battle of Tumbleton. Black Trombo would apparently kill Prince Daeron Targaryen at the start of the battle, which would indirectly tip the balance of the war in favor of the Blacks.
- You Are in Command Now: Became lord when his predecessor was killed in battle by Adrian Tarbeck.
House Vypren
House Vypren is a noble house of the riverlands that has strong political and blood ties to House Frey. Neither their arms nor their motto has appeared in the books. According to semi-canon sources, they blazon their arms with a black toad on white lily pad, on green.
Lord Lucias Vypren
Lord Lucias Vypren is the head of House Vypren. He is married to Lythene Frey, second daughter of Walder Frey. They have two children, Damon Vypren and Elyana Vypren, who is married to Ser Jon Wylde and has a son, Rickard.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Probably knew about the Red Wedding plan yet acted courteous to Catelyn Stark.
- Dramatic Irony: He's looking for the Brotherhood without Banners not knowing he already met one of its members, Catelyn Stark, aka, Lady Stoneheart.
- My Nayme Is: Lucias instead of Lucius.
- Turncoat: Alongside Lord Walder Frey, Lord Lucias betrays House Stark and participates in the Red Wedding.
Historical Vyprens
Vorian Vypren
Vorian Vypren was a member of House Vypren and a warlord of the Andals. During the Andal Invasion, he was one of the many warlords that conquered the Riverlands.
- Alliterative Name: 'Vs'
- Famous Ancestor: The first famous Vypren on record.
- Last Stand: Not his but the Darrys. Vypren and his knights were held back by three sons of Lord Darry for a day and a half before resulting victorious.
Lady Sabitha Frey (nee Vypren)
The wife of Forrest Frey, she took up command of her husband's forces after he fell at the Fishfeed.
- Ambiguously Bi: According to the fool Mushroom, she was more likely to kill men and kiss women. She was also implied to have a relationship with Alysanne Blackwood.
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: She took Harrenhal for the Blacks after Criston Cole and his Green army abandoned it, capturing Aemond's paramour Alys Rivers as well. Unfortunately for Sabitha, Aemond returned to free Alys and laid waste to her army with Vhagar.
- Leave No Survivors: She was infamous for showing no mercy to her opponents.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After surviving Aemond's massacre of her army at Harrenhal (she hid inside a privy to escape Vhagar's flames), Sabitha promptly fled back to the Twins.
- Tomboy: She was more fond of wearing armor than silks.
House Wayn
House Wayn is a noble house from the riverlands. According to semi-canon sources, they blazon their arms with four wheels counterchanged on quartered field blue and white.
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Tristifer Wayn, who was head of the house during the Faith Militant Uprising, fighting alongside Rupert Falwell.
Utherydes Wayn
The aged steward of Riverrun.
- Grumpy Old Man He's described as grave and sour.
- Old Retainer: He's of an age with Lord Hoster Tully.
- Number Two: As the steward of Riverrun he's responsible for managing castle's household in all non-military matters.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: His whereabouts are unknown following Robb's return to Riverrun after marrying Jeyne Westerling. Unlike the similarly old Ser Desmond Grell and Ser Robyn Ryger, he's not mentioned after Edmure surrenders Riverrun to Jaime Lannister.
Landed Knights
House Cox
House Cox of Saltpans
House Cox of Saltpans is a noble house of landed knights from the riverlands.
Ser Quincy Cox
Knight of Saltpans
- "When you cross to Saltpans, no doubt Ser Quincy will ask you for forgiveness. I am glad you are here to give it. I could not."—Elder Brother to Septon Meribald
Ser Quincy Cox, also called the Knight of Saltpans, is the head of House Cox. He is old and has a castle in Saltpans.
- Dirty Coward: He's viewed as one because when the town is sacked by a group led by the Hound actually Rorge, who found the Hound's helm and leads a group of Bloody Mummers that fled Harrenhal. Cox orders the gates of his castles to be shut and does nothing to help his people.
- Failure KnightBrienne: "He could have tried. He could have died. Young or old, a true knight is sworn to protect those who are weaker than himself, or die in the attempt."
- Old Soldier
- Shoot the Dog: Septon Meribald defends Ser Quincy by saying that his sons and good-sons are dead or off fighting, his grandsons are still too young and he has two daughters. He had nothing to face the outlaws with.
House Haigh
House Haigh
House Haigh is a noble house of landed knights from the riverlands, sworn to House Frey of the Crossing. While their seat is unknown, they blazon their arms with a black pitchfork on a golden bar sinister on russet.Tropes related to House Haigh:
- Alliterative Name: Ser Leslyn's eldest son Harys Haigh.
- The Ghost: Alyn, who is Ser Leslyn's third and youngest son and still a squire.
- Jerkass: Like their liege lords in House Frey, the Haigh's are not pleasant people.
- Noodle Incident: One of the three squires that bullied Howland Reed belonged to House Haigh.
Ser Leslyn Haigh
Head of House Haigh. He's married to Perriane Frey, eldest daughter of Lord Walder Frey. Father of Harys, Donnel and Alyn Haigh.
- Ear Ache: Greatjon Umber bites off half his right ear during the Red Wedding.
- Turncoat: Leads House Haigh in following House Frey's betrayal of Robb Stark and participates in the Red Wedding.
Ser Donnel Haigh
Second son of Ser Leslyn and Lady Perriane.
- Failed a Spot Check: Fails to recognize Sandor Clegane, one of the most distinctive people in the Seven Kingdoms who Donnel has met several times before, due to Sandor wearing a simple peasant disguise.
- Jerkass: He is far from being a pleasant person, and looks down on smallfolk with contempt.
- Noodle Incident: Sandor Clegane mentions he has beaten Ser Donnel in tournaments before, one of which involved Sandor nearly killing him in a melee.
House Heddle
House Heddle is a noble house of landed knights from the riverlands. Its known current members only own the inn at the crossroads, and other than their surname are now apparently no different from smallfolk.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: The unnamed innkeeper in book 2 is killed by some other unnamed person.
- Hotter and Sexier: The book 2 innkeeper hires whores to bring customers.
- Impoverished Patrician: The present branch have to work for a living.
- Neutral No Longer: The Heddles help the Brotherhood Without Banners to protect themselves from marauding nobles.
- Orphanage of Love: By A Feast for Crows, the Inn at the Crossroads has been turned into a makeshift one, housing many children orphaned by the War of the Five Kings.
- The Smurfette Principle: All family members are female. The male members are all dead.
- You All Meet in an Inn: The Inn serves as the location for several chance meetings between characters. It is the location where Catelyn and Rodrik Stark first encountered Tyrion Lannister in A Game of Thrones, where Arya and Sandor Clegane encounter the Mountain's Men leading to Arya to recover Needle in A Storm of Swords, and in A Feast for Crowds, where Brienne and Pod encounter the network of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Masha Heddle
The elderly innkeeper of the Crossroads Inn.
- Friend to All Children: She always has a smile and a sweet cake for children who come to her inn.
- Hanging Around: Tywin hangs her because Tyrion was taken captive at her inn, even though she wanted no part of it.
- Innocent Bystander: She is just a poor innkeeper who gets caught in the middle of the high lords squabbles and pays for it with her life.
- Oh, Crap!: Quite understandably becomes very concerned when Catelyn Stark takes Tyrion Lannister captive in her inn, knowing that she will likely take some blame from the Lannisters for it. Her fears prove true, as Tywin hangs her when he takes the Crossroads Inn as a temporary headquarters.
- Oral Fixation: She is fond of chewing sourleaf.
- Scary Teeth: She has blood-red teeth from chewing on sourleaf. As a young girl, Catelyn Stark was frightened of her because of this.
Jeyne Heddle
Long Jeyne
- "Guest right don’t mean so much as it used to. Not since m’lady come back from the wedding."
The niece of Masha Heddle, Jeyne took over running the Crossroads Inn after her aunt and father were killed during the War of the Five Kings.
- La Résistance: Although not a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners, Jeyne is a supporter and collaborator of them.
- The Medic: She has some knowledge of healing, which she uses to help the Brotherhood. Notably, she treats the imprisoned Brianne of Tarth's wounds that she takes during her fight with Biter.
- Secret-Keeper: Knows a great deal of the Brotherhood's secrets, including that Beric is dead and that Lady Stoneheart is a revived Catelyn Stark.
Willow Heddle
- "One day that little girl will make some man a frightful wife."—Ser Hyle Hunt
Willow Heddle is the younger sister of Jeyne Heddle, the new innkeep of the Crossroads Inn. She is the niece of Masha Heddle.
- Apron Matron: She looks after all the orphan children who have taken refuge in the Crossroads Inn. Despite her young age, her ferocity is remarkable.Hyle Hunt: One day, that little girl will make some man a frightful wife. That poor 'prentice boy [Gendry], most like.
- Ironic Name: She ain't no weeping willow.
- Little Miss Badass: Threatens the Brave companions with her crossbow when they come calling.
- Young and in Charge: A little girl who commands an inn by herself.
Historical Heddles
Ser Jon Heddle
Long Jon
Ser Jon Heddle, better known as Long Jon Heddle, was a knight who owned the Crossroads Inn.
- Dream-Crushing Handicap: He was crippled and had to quit fighting.
- Our Founder: He's this for House Heddle.
Ser Tommard Heddle
Black Tom Heddle
Lord Ambrose's son-in-law and commander of the Whitewalls garrison. He has a reputation for being fierce and brutal.
- An Arm and a Leg: Dunk cuts his sword hand off before killing him.
- Bald of Evil: He was bald and definitely an evil guy.
- Beard of Evil: He has a square pointed black beard.
- The Brute: For the conspiracy to place Daemon II Blackfyre on the Iron Throne.
- Cool Helmet: His helm depicted a scaled slavering demon.
- Decapitation Presentation: After the defeat of the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, Tommard's head is cut off and stuck on a pike beside that of Gormon Peake outside Bloodraven's tent.
- Famous Ancestor: To Masha Heddle. It is quite likely that Heddles were attainted after Black Tom's treason, resulting in the modern day Heddles having a surname despite being smallfolk.
- Smug Snake: He's arrogantly overconfident of his chances against Dunk. Unfortunately, Dunk quickly cures him of that by showing Tommard he's a much better swordsman than a jouster.
- This Cannot Be!: He expresses utter disbelief at being defeated by a mere hedge knight before Dunk kills him.
- Torture Technician: He takes charge of torturing Ser Glendon Flowers after he was falsely accused of stealing the dragon egg meant as a prize for the winner of the Whitewalls Tourney.
House Paege
House Paege
House Paege is a noble house of landed knights from the riverlands. They blazon their shields with twining red-and-white snakes on black.
Tropes related to House Paege.
- Les Collaborateurs: Like Houses Bracken, Charlton and Goodbrook, House Paege supported House Hoare in their conquest of the Riverlands hoping to regain their independence.
- Famous Ancestor: Ser Harbert Paege participated at the Whitewalls Tourney, were he was defeated by Ser Franklyn Frey after five tilts.
- The Ghost: Ser Halmon Paege, the current head of the House has yet to appear. The same with Sallei and Sylwa Paege, wives of Jammos and Whalen Frey.
- The Squire: Garrett Paege is made squire of Jaime Lannister to ensure the fealty of his family.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: After the Red Wedding, they refuse to aid in sieging Riverrun even though they have renewed their fealty to the Iron Throne.
- True Companions: Ser Robert Paege is one of the many friends of Edmure Tully.
House Wode
House Wode
- "Touch me not"—House Wode words
House Wode is a noble house of landed knights sworn to House Whent of Harrenhal in the riverlands. Their lands lie close to the border with the crownlands; Sow's Horn is nearby. According to semi-canon sources the Wodes blazon their arms with three white hedgehogs on yellow.
- Famous Ancestor: Ser Oswald Wode fought for the blacks during the Dance of the Dragons.
Ser Willis Wode
A knight who assists Lady Catelyn Stark in capturing and escorting Tyrion Lannister to the Eyrie.
- Alliterative Name: Willis Wode
- Carry a Big Stick: Uses a morningstar as his weapon.
- Jumped at the Call: He is the first man to answer Catelyn's call for aid in capturing Tyrion.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Disappears from the story after Catelyn arrives at the Eyrie, and no mention is made of his participation in the War of Five Kings.
Other Houses
House Mudd
House Mudd of Oldstones
House Mudd of Oldstones was a noble house from the riverlands. Their castle was at Oldstones although in their time it had a different name. According to semi-canon sources, they blazoned their shield with a golden crown studded with emeralds on a red-brown field.
Ser John Mudd
See the Golden Company oage.Historical Mudds
King Tristifer IV Mudd
The Hammer of Justice
- "Old Tristifer don’t mind my bony arse. The Hammer of Justice, they called him. Been a long while since he heard any new songs."—Tom of Sevenstreams
King of the Rivers and Hills during the time of the Andal invasion. His weapon of choice was the hammer.
- Long-Dead Badass: Fought one hundred battles, losing only the last one as he faced seven Andal kings.
King Tristifer V Mudd
The Last
The son of Tristifer IV and the last King of the Rivers and Hills.
- Inadequate Inheritor: He lost the Trident to the Andals.
- Last of His Kind: The last of the Mudd dynasty. His nickname, Tristifer the Last, reflects this fact.
Marq Mudd
The Mad Bard
A potential descendant of House Mudd that led a rebellion against the rule of House Durrandon over the Stormlands. Succeeded for a short time before being brought down by the might of Storm's End.
- Alliterative Name: Marq Mudd.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: His nickname, The Mad Bard, doesn't not seem to imply he was among the sanest or safest people to be around.
- The Remnant: He was possibly one of the last Mudds.
- Rebel Leader: Led a rebellion against House Durrandon, and briefly reigned before being defeated and killed.
House Smallwood
House Smallwood of Acorn Hall
- "From these beginnings"—House Smallwood words
House Smallwood of Acorn Hall is a noble house from Acorn Hall in the riverlands. Their sigil is six brown acorns on yellow. The Smallwoods are sworn to House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest.
Tropes related to House Smallwood:
- Famous Ancestor: Lord Joseth Smallwood, who fought for the blacks during the Dance of the Dragons.
- Lady Jeyne Smallwood, one of the many possible marriage candidates for Aegon III Targaryen. She, alongside Jeyne Mooton and Jeyne Merryweather were victims of Unwin Peake's Malicious Slander.
- The Ghost: Lord Theomar is reportedly fighting the Lannister's with the other Riverlands lords, but is never seen at any of the war councils. Carellen Smallwood likewise has not been seen, due to being sent to Oldtown when it appeared war was going to begin.
Lady Ravella Smallwood (née Swann)
- "The gods give each of us our little gifts and talents, and it is meant for us to use them, my aunt always says."
Wife of Lord Theomar and mother of Carellen Smallwood.
- Deadpan Snarker: Enough to keep up with the members of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
- Good Parents: Misses her daughter horribly, judging by how she immediately warmed to Arya and started open-handedly mothering her without really smothering her (for all Arya would argue otherwise, Ravella didn't actually come down on her for being a Tomboy Princess like Catelyn would have). Wouldn't take her daughter back from Oldtown if you paid her to: she values her safety over her own feelings far too much.
- Nice Girl: She is one of politest, friendliest, generous and helpful characters in the series, particularly in Arya's storyline.
- Outliving One's Offspring: She had a son who died when he was seven. When it looked like war was going to break out, she took the precaution of sending her daughter Carellen to a great-aunt in Oldtown in order to keep her safe.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: She supports the Brotherhood Without Banners and their efforts to protect the smallfolk during the war, offering them shelter and food whenever they pass by.
- Arya, pretending to be a commoner, is not allowed to refuse her gift of a dress, less the lady gets offended. But if the dress gets ripped riding (very carefuly, so it can be easily mended), it is not Arya's fault. Lady Smallwood gets the hint and dresses her into her dead son's clothes, which are far more practical and Arya continues wearing for the rest of her time in Riverlands.
- Silk Hiding Steel: She may appear to be a Proper Lady on the surface, but her snark, support for the Brotherhood, and past history with Tom of Sevenstreams make it clear she has plenty of backbone and cunning.
- Textile Work Is Feminine: Tells Arya that she finds doing needlework very restful.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Seems to have this going with Tom of Sevenstreams, who used to be her lover.
Thoren Smallwood
- See the Night's Watch character page.
Historical Smallwoods
Lord Myles Smallwood, Hand of the King
Myles Smallwood was Head of House Smallwood during the reigns of Aenys I, Maegor I and Jaehaerys I. He became Hand of the King for the latter in 54 AC, although he resigned a few years later.
- All There in the Manual: To which king he served is only revealed in Fire & Blood.
- Covered in Scars: His face and body had many scars from his multiple battles.
- Famous Ancestor: More like an infamous one.
- Four-Star Badass: He fought alongside Alyn Stokeworth against Harren the Red, against Watt the Hewer in single combat during the Faith Militant Uprising and alongside Prince Aegon the Uncrowned during the Battle beneath the God's Eye.
- Gracefully Demoted: Myles left Small Council with dignity, agreeing that he was a soldier at heart and that others were better suited for the job.
- Old Soldier: He was chosen as Hand because it was thought his age and experience would balance out Jeahaerys's age and inexperience. It didn't work and Myles resigned only a few years later.
- Revenge Before Reason: He commented in Jaehaerys's presence that if the king's sister, Rhaena, had threatened to sic Balerion on him the way she'd threatened Franklyn Farman, he would have cut out her tongue. Jaehaerys only rebuked him for that, likely because A) Lord Farman wasn't in His Grace's good graces for also treating Rhaena like crap, and B) both king and council took more issue with Lord Myles' words than with
his broader point.- Upon learning that Ser Willam of the Kingsguard was killed by brigands on the outskirts of Pentos, he urged Jaehaerys to go to war with the free city. Cooler heads prevailed.
- Unfit for Greatness: His renowned courage didn't translate into effective leadership.
Extinct Houses
House Fisher
House Fisher of the Misty Isle
House Fisher of the Misty Isle was a noble house from the Misty Isle in the riverlands. According to semi-canon sources they blazoned their arms with a crowned catfish, spotted grey, on blue. It is unknown if they had any connection with House Fisher of the Stony Shore.
Tropes related to House Fisher:
- The Catfish: Their sigil was a crowned spotted grey catfish on blue.
- Dated History: In-universe. Some chronicles state they were the first and oldest line of River Kings, in others they are the second, and the Annals of the Rivers suggests they were the third.
Ser Lymond Fisher
The Knight of Oldstones, who lived many centuries after the fall of House Fisher. He led a rebellion against the rule of House Durrandon over the Riverlands and succeeded briefly before being brought down by a stormlander army.
- Rebel Leader: Led a brief but ultimately doomed rebellion against House Durrandon.
- The Remnant: Claimed to be a descendent of House Fisher, although his true lineage was never confirmed.
House Justman
House Justman was a noble house from the riverlands who ruled as Kings of the Trident (or Kings of the Rivers and the Hills). According to semi-canon sources they blazoned their arms with golden scales on white, a double tressure blue.
King Benedict Justman, First of His Name
Benedict the Bold, Benedict the Just
The founder of House Justman, Benedict was born Benedict Rivers, a bastard of House Blackwood and Bracken, and was despised by all. However, his skill as a warrior won him the support of both his houses, and he slowly defeated the other kings of the Riverlands before uniting them under his rule, which lasted twenty-three years.
- Appropriated Appellation: The smallfolk called him Benedict the Just for his wise and great rule, and he was so taken by that he named his house Justman.
- Child of Two Worlds: He was born from parents of House Blackwood and Bracken, two houses which share one of the most intense rivalries in all of Westeros. Both houses initially despised him, but he eventually won them over and they became his first supporters.
- Determinator: It took him thirty years, but he slowly defeated each of the petty kings of the Riverlands to unite it for the first time since the fall of House Fisher. Only then did he name himself king.
- Founder of the Kingdom: He founded House Justman, which ruled the Riverlands for three hundred years.
- Heroic Bastard: He was born Benedict Rivers, a child born of two ancient houses that despised each other. Yet he proved to be such a great warrior and leader that both set aside their hatred to unite under him, and his founded a dynasty remembered for its fair and just rule of the Riverlands.
King Benedict Justman, the Second of His Name
Son of the first King Benedict, he expanded his father's realm and continued his wise rule.
- Long-Lived: He reigned for sixty years.
King Bernarr Justman, the Second of His Name
The last Justman king, killed by King Qhored Hoare of the Iron Islands.
- Last of His Kind: House Justman came to an end with his death, as his sons had been killed while held captive by Qhored.
- Outliving One's Offspring: His sons were all killed before he was defeated and killed.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Went on one against the Ironborn as vengeance for his sons, but was defeated and killed.
Lucifer Justman
Lucifer the Liar
A pretender that sought to liberate the Riverlands from the rule of House Durrandon of the Stormlands. He succeeded for a short time before he was brought down by the Stormlanders.
- Ambiguous Situation: Considering how history is Written by the Winners, whether or not he really was a pretender or a Justman is a bit vague.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Lucifer. When you're named after the flippin' devil you're probably a bad guy.
- Rebel Leader: He fought against the occupation of the Storm Kings.
- The Remnant: Like many other Riverlords, he tried to reclaim the independence of the Riverlands.
House Teague
House Teague was a noble house from the riverlands who ruled as Kings of the Trident prior to the War of Conquest. They blazoned their arms with a golden trident upright on black between two golden flanches.
Tropes related to House Teague:
- 0% Approval Rating: Nobody liked House Teague, and they faced near constant rebellion throughout their rule.
- Alliterative Name: Torrence Teague, Theo Teague and Tyler Teague.
- Founder of the Kingdom: King Torrence Teague, who used wealth gained from a raid in the Westerlands to hire sellswords from Essos to unite the Riverlands.
- In-Series Nickname: The fourth Teague king, Theo Teague, was known as Theo the Saddle-Sore, due to spending his entire reign on a horse going from one part of his kingdom to another putting down rebellions and hanging hostages.
King Humfrey Teague
Humfrey was a pious man who attempted to outlaw worship of the Old Gods, starting a rebellion by House Blackwood that quickly spread.
- Church Militant: He built many Septs and Moutherhouses in the Riverlands, but then attempted to use force to repress worship of he Old Gods.
- Disaster Dominoes: His death turned out to be this. He was slain in the final battle of the war against the rebels and stormlanders at Mother's Teats, with his son Humfrey succeeding him. Then Humfrey died in the same battle, succeeded by his brother Hollis, who was succeeded by Tyler, the last son of Humfrey. After Tyler died, Humfrey's brother and champion Ser Damon became king, but died before the sun went down, signaling the end of House Teague in one bloody afternoon.
- The Fundamentalist: He brogought about the downfall of his house trying to force his religious beliefs upon their vassals.
King Damon Teague
The brother and champion of King Humfrey. Became King himself after his brother and nephews were killed in the Battle of Six Kings, before being slain himself.
- The Champion: To King Humfrey.
- You Are in Command Now: After his brother and three nephews die in succession. He only held the crown for less than a day, perhaps just for minutes, before being killed.
