#garlan the gallant

[starry-aesthetic]

Ser Garlan the Gallant, of House Tyrell, second in line to Highgarden.

Ser Garlan often trained against three men, or even four. In battle it is seldom one against one, he says, so he likes to be prepared. (ASOS, Sansa I)

[ethulliel]

Willas Tyrell to me is based on Lorenzo de Medici. Both were said to be fond of hawking and animal breeding, both were called “homely” — Lorenzo because he wasn't handsome and Willas because apparently he is very pious. Actually, he [Willas] and Garlan are both Lorenzo and Giuliano. Giuliano was said to be Lorenzo's co-ruler, and I think Garlan works the same way with Willas, being his brother's strong hand. That being said, Loras is only Giuliano.

Margaery is Bianca, both are married to an enemy — Margaery to Tommen, who is a Lannister, and Bianca to a Pazzi. Cersei plans to kill Margaery and the Pazzi Conspiracy are the same. I do think this will happen in the books as it happened in the show. Loras and Margaery will die in the Septo the same way Giuliano died in the Cathedral. This will end the connection between Lannister and Tyrell, making Willas free to join Queen Daenerys and take revenge on the Lannister (if Euron don't kill him first).

Besides, House Tyrell amongst the Great Houses (except House Baratheon) is the only that were never kings, the same way the Medici were bourgeois and not nobles. So it all makes sense to me.

[asoiafreadthru]

MACE TYRELL, Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach,

His wife, LADY ALERIE, of House Hightower of Oldtown,

Their children:

WILLAS, their eldest son, heir to Highgarden,

SER GARLAN, called the Gallant, their second son,

SER LORAS, the Knight of Flowers, their youngest son,

MARGAERY, their daughter, a maid of fourteen years,

His widowed mother, LADY OLENNA of House Redwyne, called the Queen of Thorns,

His sisters:

MINA, wed to Lord Paxter Redwyne,

JANNA, wed to Ser Jon Fossoway,

His uncles:

GARTH, called the Gross, Lord Seneschal of Highgarden,

His bastard sons, GARSE and GARRETT FLOWERS,

SER MORYN, Lord Commander of the City Watch of Oldtown,

MAESTER GORMON, a scholar of the Citadel,

His household:

MAESTER LOMYS, counselor, healer, and tutor,

IGON VYRWEL, captain of the guard,

SER VORTIMER CRANE, master-at-arms,

His knights and lords bannermen:

PAXTER REDWYNE, Lord of the Arbor,

His wife, LADY MINA, of House Tyrell,

Their children:

SER HORAS, mocked as Horror, twin to Hobber,

SER HOBBER, mocked as Slobber, twin to Horas,

DESMERA, a maid of fifteen,

RANDYLL TARLY, Lord of Horn Hill,

SAMWELL, his elder son, of the Night’s Watch,

DICKON, his younger son, heir to Horn Hill,

ARWYN OAKHEART, Lady of Old Oak,

MATHIS ROWAN, Lord of Goldengrove,

LEYTON HIGHTOWER, Voice of Oldtown, Lord of the Port,

SER JON FOSSOWAY.

[springs-hurts]

George R.R. Martin I hope you're not planning to murder Ser Garlan Tyrell, you better not😭😭

[k-tries-asoiaf-rp]

Like this post for a three-sentence starter from Garlan the Gallant.

[fromthereachwithlove]

Tag Dump

[jroahn]

Garlan the Gallant, color practice

[atopvisenyashill]

connections between naerys and sansa?

There’s plenty! She’s very much in a Naerys/Aegon scenario in ASOS & ACOK, where she has no ability to leave the capital, no one doing anything meaningful to protect her, and a King that is obsessed with sexually humiliating her. There’s a lot of romanticism and chivalry surrounding her character and how other people react to her character, the same as Naerys.

But also, Sansa makes the comparisons to Naerys herself, and she does it before she realizes what kind of person Joffrey is! In fact, it starts with her very first chapter where she compares Joffrey interrupting Ilyn Payne & Sandor Clegane to Aemon demanding a trial by combat against Ser Morgil:

A whole day with her prince! She gazed at Joffrey worshipfully. He was so gallant, she thought. The way he had rescued her from Ser Ilyn and the Hound, why, it was almost like the songs, like the time Serwyn of the Mirror Shield saved the Princess Daeryssa from the giants, or Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championing Queen Naerys's honor against evil Ser Morgil's slanders.

She will compare Joffrey to Aemon and herself to Naerys again later, to Ned:

"Father, I only just now remembered, I can't go away, I'm to marry Prince Joffrey." She tried to smile bravely for him. "I love him, Father, I truly truly do, I love him as much as Queen Naerys loved Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, as much as Jonquil loved Ser Florian. I want to be his queen and have his babies."

(lowkey she’s so fucking funny for that “i only just now remembered” comment, idk how ned kept a straight face for it)

She then uses Aemon (and the Cargyll twins) to make Tommen feel better and dunk on Joffrey:

Prince Tommen sobbed. "You mew like a suckling babe," his brother hissed at him. "Princes aren't supposed to cry." "Prince Aemon the Dragonknight cried the day Princess Naerys wed his brother Aegon," Sansa Stark said, "and the twins Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk died with tears on their cheeks after each had given the other a mortal wound." "Be quiet, or I'll have Ser Meryn give you a mortal wound," Joffrey told his betrothed.

Again, there’s a focus on Aemon’s romantic relationship with Naerys because that's what appeals to Sansa. But when people say "Sansa sees the world through stories" it's not just about how she romanticizes or idolizes knighthood, nobility, and chivalry - she thinks through information by comparing it with similar historical events or stories and analyzing it. She clearly sees the problem with Loras protecting Margaery from Joffrey by comparing him to the Toynes instead of Aemon, and Joffrey (once again) to Aegon the Unworthy:

She is so brave, Sansa thought, galloping after her . . . and yet, her doubts still gnawed at her. Ser Loras was a great knight, all agreed. But Joffrey had other Kingsguard, and gold cloaks and red cloaks besides, and when he was older he would command armies of his own. Aegon the Unworthy had never harmed Queen Naerys, perhaps for fear of their brother the Dragonknight . . . but when another of his Kingsguard fell in love with one of his mistresses, the king had taken both their heads. Ser Loras is a Tyrell, Sansa reminded herself. That other knight was only a Toyne. His brothers had no armies, no way to avenge him but with swords. Yet the more she thought about it all, the more she wondered. Joff might restrain himself for a few turns, perhaps as long as a year, but soon or late he will show his claws, and when he does . . . The realm might have a second Kingslayer, and there would be war inside the city, as the men of the lion and the men of the rose made the gutters run red.

She’s also not wrong in her assessment here because the Tyrells (my guess is Garlan and Olenna) are so worried about this outcome they just murder Joffrey and install Tommen; like Bethany Bracken, Margaery is groomed (with all the implications that are included in such a loaded term) to be sexually available to the King because her father wants power and doesn't care if his daughter is sexually abused to get it. Like Terrance Toyne, Loras is considered attractive, skilled, and has several brothers more than willing to start a war to avenge his death. I think it's incredibly intuitive that Sansa ultimately comes to the same conclusion as two seasoned political players like (presumably) Olenna and Garlan come to, and she makes this judgement call very quickly!

And Sansa also hits on a lot of (correct) similarities when she makes these comparisons between Joffrey's court and Aegon the Unworthy's court; Aegon and Joffrey both have wild, violent temperaments while being notoriously difficult to control. It’s not just Naerys that attempts to get Aegon to stop marital raping her; Aemon’s useless tears aside, Viserys does do the bare minimum here in sending Aegon away so Naerys can heal from her miscarriages, Daeron got shitty with the Brackens about being tacky over Naerys' marital rape and ill health, Baelor fasts himself to death over Naerys’ miscarriages, etc etc. All of the “authority figures” around Aegon think his behavior is wrong but Aegon proves stubbornly difficult to control or kill. Joffrey falls along these same lines - Cersei, Robert, Tyrion, Tywin, and even Varys all struggle to get some control over Joffrey but like Aegon, he knows once he’s of age and has that crown he doesn’t have to answer for SHIT and stubbornly resists every attempt to curb his behavior. Joffrey is a hell scenario waiting to happen because like Aegon, he’s petty and petulant enough to pull the stunts Aegon pulls like pitting his true born kids against his bastard born ones and causing another violent succession crisis. I say this as like, the ultimate Joffrey Apologist here, lmaooo, he has reasons for being a nasty piece of shit but the Tyrells are right to look at him and go “oh that’s trouble” because he is a ticking time bomb. And the crazy thing is, it’s not just Sansa who compares Joffrey to Aegon the Unworthy:

"A king can have other women. Whores. My father did. One of the Aegons did too. The third one, or the fourth. He had lots of whores and lots of bastards." As they whirled to the music, Joff gave her a moist kiss. "My uncle will bring you to my bed whenever I command it." Sansa shook her head. "He won't." "He will, or I'll have his head. That King Aegon, he had any woman he wanted, whether they were married or no."

Joffrey makes the comparison himself. He's a piece of work just like his hero and he is directly threatening to rape Sansa the same way Aegon raped Naerys and poor Bethany Bracken. He is directly admitting he is "unworthy" and practically daring all of KL to overthrow him for it because he thinks they'll blink before he does (and he is unfortunately deadly wrong in this assumption).

And when you extrapolate out from there, you can see other, similar patterns between Naerys' life and Sansa's, beyond the Joffrey-Aegon, Margaery-Bethany, Loras-Terrance, and Sansa-Naerys parallels. Tyrion himself aspires to be a sort of Viserys II type player (see: "It should have been called the Lives of Five Kings" rant he gives to Oberyn); a power behind the throne directing his crazy family to do what's right or smart or proper. There's an interesting echo in Viserys taking direct action in sending Aegon away from Naerys and Tyrion stopping Joffrey in his assault of Sansa - like Viserys, he can see the monster in the king he is raising, makes an attempt to stop it, but fails because he underestimates just how dangerous and erratic his little king has become. Like Viserys, Tyrion is suspected of poisoning his own nephew in an attempt to get closer to power and the throne (and Viserys, like Tyrion, is probably innocent - the sort of fasting that Baelor was doing regularly is hard on the body!).

I don't think any of this is coincidental or accidental either, because of that haunting scene where Joffrey destroys the gift Tyrion got him. Here's the scene, excuse the wall of text, but it's important:

He plays the gracious king today. Joffrey could be gallant when it suited him, Sansa knew, but it seemed to suit him less and less. Indeed, all his courtesy vanished at once when Tyrion presented him with their own gift: a huge old book called Lives of Four Kings, bound in leather and gorgeously illuminated. The king leafed through it with no interest. "And what is this, Uncle?" A book. Sansa wondered if Joffrey moved those fat wormy lips of his when he read. "Grand Maester Kaeth's history of the reigns of Daeron the Young Dragon, Baelor the Blessed, Aegon the Unworthy, and Daeron the Good," her small husband answered. "A book every king should read, Your Grace," said Ser Kevan. “My father had no time for books.” Joffrey shoved the tome across the table. “If you read less, Uncle Imp, perhaps Lady Sansa would have a baby in her belly by now.” He laughed … and when the king laughs, the court laughs with him. “Don’t be sad, Sansa, once I’ve gotten Queen Margaery with child I’ll visit your bedchamber and show my little uncle how it’s done.” Sansa reddened. She glanced nervously at Tyrion, afraid of what he might say. This could turn as nasty as the bedding had at their own feast. But for once the dwarf filled his mouth with wine instead of words... [Joffrey gets a Valyrian sword and figures out a name for it, Widow's Wail, it's a few pages, it's not relevant here] Joffrey brought Widow’s Wail down in a savage two-handed slice, onto the book that Tyrion had given him. The heavy leather cover parted at a stroke. “Sharp! I told you, I am no stranger to Valyrian steel.” It took him half a dozen further cuts to hack the thick tome apart, and the boy was breathless by the time he was done. Sansa could feel her husband struggling with his fury as Ser Osmund Kettleblack shouted, “I pray you never turn that wicked edge on me, sire.” “See that you never give me cause, ser.” Joffrey flicked a chunk of Lives of Four Kings off the table at swordpoint, then slid Widow’s Wail back into its scabbard. “Your Grace,” Ser Garlan Tyrell said. “Perhaps you did not know. In all of Westeros there were but four copies of that book illuminated in Kaeth’s own hand.” “Now there are three.” Joffrey undid his old swordbelt to don his new one. “You and Lady Sansa owe me a better present, Uncle Imp. This one is all chopped to pieces.”

God I love that passage so much. There's a lot there but what's relevant is a) both Oberyn and Garlan are trying to get a measure of who Joffrey is, and have some child murdering plans potentially in the works during this scene. Watching Joffrey destroy a priceless tome of history given as a well thought, well meant, incredibly generous (and pointed) gift from his uncle is more than enough proof for either man to decide Joffrey is not worth the headache, and please note Garlan is the only person to call Joffrey out to his face, and Oberyn is a few pages later the only person to acknowledge this was a fantastic and kind gift from Tyrion that Joffrey reacted absolutely deranged towards for no reason. and b) Tyrion is almost literally saying to Joffrey "I can be your Viserys, I can make it so you're remembered as a great king the way Daeron II or Baelor are, or a great warrior like Daeron I, but you have to understand the reason why I'm worried about your behavior" and Joffrey does the most destructive, unworthy thing he can possibly do - he quite literally destroys priceless, useful historical knowledge and wisdom with his bare hands, in favor of senseless, petulant violence. As Catelyn would say, Joffrey's real bride is not Margaery, but the war he's fighting and the crown on his head.

All of this to say - there's a lot of parallels between Sansa's situation in KL and Naery's life and these parallels are drawn not only by Sansa herself, but also by several people around her. However, I hope for better things for Sansa than what poor Naerys got - I hope for an Aemon the Dragonknight that will do more than just cry while she's raped, but actually step into that room and defend her, or else give her the power to defend herself. Despite the long wait for The Winds of Winter, I also think it's likely we will get some sort of Dragonknight, devoted sworn sword for Sansa and this person will help protect her, and Sansa will have agency that Naerys could only ever dream of.

[goodqueenaly]

Do you think willas tyrell will be exactly like how he is spoken about? As this lovely, we’ll-read and respectful man. Or will he have a Tyrion edge to him like how Tyrion is portrayed but his pov shows differently. How do you think his personality and archetype will be? 

I would certainly like to think that Willas Tyrell will be an overall positive character in the story. Every time Willas has come up in the story, he is the subject of admiration, approval, and/or affection: he is the big brother of Margaery’s memory who “used to read to [her] when [she] was a little girl, and draw [her] pictures of the stars”; he is the familial protector of Garlan’s childhood, who dubbed him “Garlan the Gallant” to protect him from crueler, body-shaming monikers; he is the “mild and courtly young man, fond of reading books and looking at the stars” whom Tywin identifies as his preferred new husband for Cersei (and note that Tywin says that “all reports” verify this description of Willas). While it might be easy to dismiss the consistent praise of Willas as merely the product of pro-Tyrell bias, I find it difficult to agree entirely with such an assessment. Oberyn Martell, certainly, had no incentive to praise Willas to Tyrion, even if he, Oberyn, wanted to deflect Tyrion’s barbed observation that the prince of Dorne had “trampled” the heir to Highgarden; likewise, Tywin hardly spared his (private) contempt of Robert Baratheon, for example, even though he actively sought to marry Cersei to Robert in the aftermath of Robert’s Rebellion.  

Indeed, I do not think it at all coincidental that these descriptions remind me most strongly of Samwell Tarly. Just as Randyll Tarly had set out to forcibly mold Sam into (his conception of) the perfect warrior, so Mace Tyrell had forced Willas into a tournament when he, Willas, was “still a green squire” (according to Mace’s WOIAF app entry) and when he “had no business riding in such company” because Mace “wanted another Leo Longthorn”. In turn, just as Randyll’s years of physical and psychological abuse toward Sam caused Sam deep and lasting trauma (so much so that he still fears Randyll’s brutal disapproval toward a career as a maester, despite owing no further obligation to Randyll now that he is a brother of the Night’s Watch), so Mace’s decision to urge Willas into Westerosi (peacetime) martial glory resulted in permanent physical disability inflicted on his son (and, relatedly, the consistent identification of Willas as a “cripple”, a shameful state in the eyes of largely ableist Westeros). However, where Randyll vigorously and horribly attempted to crush Sam’s non-martial interests, Willas seems to have been allowed, maybe even encouraged to pursue the same. Where Randyll treated with contempt Sam’s gentle bonding with his siblings - singing a lullaby to help baby Dickon sleep and sharing a bed in childhood with his sisters - Willas clearly showed himself the caring older brother to Margaery and Garlan; where Sam was chained by the neck for three days in a dungeon for merely suggesting that he become a maester, Willas has seemingly eagerly pursued his interest in books and learning. Importantly, where Randyll refused to show further interest in training Sam as his heir once he had Dickon, Mace has never done the same with Willas: Garlan and (especially) Loras may be the sort of talented young knights celebrated in Westerosi culture, but Mace has nevertheless deputized Willas as his representative in Highgarden (even praising Willas as such when he rejects Cersei’s suggestion that he, Mace, “is needed in the Reach”). Willas, perhaps, offers something of a glimpse into what Sam might have become, had Randyll Tarly not been such a violently hateful misogynist and male chauvinist - that is, an intelligent and capable heir without performing the expected (read: battlefield) roles of Westerosi male aristocrats.  

That similarity in character I think will result in a meeting of the minds, so to speak, in TWOW. When (and not if, I believe) Euron Greyjoy attempts to take over Oldtown as its apocalyptic god-king, I think Sam will make his way out of the city and toward Highgarden (as the political heart of the Reach and the closest major seat of protection, especially to a Reach-raised aristocrat like Sam). This is where good-natured, empathetic Willas Tyrell may work far better for the story than a more cynical or caustic take on the character: where Sam has been throughout his life mocked and derided for his lack of martial interest and his bookishness, Willas is exactly the sort of person to empathize with Sam and be keenly interested in what he has to say (especially given that Willas himself had warned Leyton Hightower of the ironborn’s coming). It is Willas who may appreciate Sam’s diligent study into ancient texts, especially into the supernatural, and so Willas who may be willing to listen to whatever advice Sam can provide, or even help himself with such research (in whatever archives Highgarden may have) in the quest to defeat Euron. (Incidentally, if Alleras-who-is-really-Sarella makes it out of Oldtown with Sam - and I certainly want to think she does - then Willas’ amiable relationship with her late father and demonstrated interest in learning may appeal to not only Oberyn’s proud daughter, but the one who had “wanted to know everything there was to know” on her dad’s field trip to the ruin of Shandystone.) 

So this is all a very longwinded way of saying that yes, I think Willas will be a Pretty Cool Dude when he gets introduced (so far as anyone in Westeros can be, anyway, and certainly anyone in a feudal aristocratic system). I don’t think it makes a lot of sense for GRRM to build him up consistently as such a positive figure and then say “actually just kidding, he’s a big old jerk” (though we’ll leave Jaehaerys I out of this discussion …). Rather, I think it works much better for the story if Sam finds one much like himself, but with the political power he never had - a true ally, kind, empathetic, and willing to listen to what he has to say when few others have. I firmly place Willas on the side of the good (along with Sam and, so I hope, Sarella) in the fight against the evil that is Euron and his attempted apocalyptic takeover.

[alaynasansa]

‘ She is beginning to at least try to understand how she can play the Game of Thrones and be not a piece but a player. With her own goals, and moving other pieces around ’

George R. R. Martin

“Father asked if there were any knights in the hall who would do honor to their houses by taking the black, but no one came forward, so he gave this Yoren his pick of the king's dungeons and sent him on his way. And later these two brothers came before him, freeriders from the Dornish Marches, and pledged their swords to the service of the king. Father accepted their oaths...”

Ser Loras is a Tyrell, Sansa reminded herself. That other knight was only a Toyne. His brothers had no armies, no way to avenge him but with swords. Yet the more she thought about it all, the more she wondered. Joff might restrain himself for a few turns, perhaps as long as a year, but soon or late he will show his claws, and when he does... The realm might have a second Kingslayer, and there would be war inside the city, as the men of the lion and the men of the rose made the gutters run red

He saved Alayne, his daughter, a voice within her whispered. But she was Sansa too... and sometimes it seemed to her that the Lord Protector was two people as well. He was Petyr, her protector, warm and funny and gentle... but he was also Littlefinger, the lord she'd known at King's Landing, smiling slyly and stroking his beard as he whispered in Queen Cersei's ear. And Littlefinger was no friend of hers. When Joff had her beaten, the Imp defended her, not Littlefinger. When the mob sought to rape her, the Hound carried her to safety, not Littlefinger. When the Lannisters wed her to Tyrion against her will, Ser Garlan the Gallant gave her comfort, not Littlefinger. Littlefinger never lifted so much as his little finger for her.

Except to get me out. He did that for me. I thought it was Ser Dontos, my poor old drunken Florian, but it was Petyr all the while. Littlefinger was only a mask he had to wear. Only sometimes Sansa found it hard to tell where the man ended and the mask began. Littlefinger and Lord Petyr looked so very much alike. She would have fled them both, perhaps, but there was nowhere for her to go

Though his hair was grey and his face lined, Lord Yohn still looked as though he could break most younger men like twigs in those huge gnarled hands. His seamed and solemn face brought back all of Sansa's memories of his time at Winterfell. She remembered him at table, speaking quietly with her mother. She heard his voice booming off the walls when he rode back from a hunt with a buck behind his saddle. She could see him in the yard, a practice sword in hand, hammering her father to the ground and turning to defeat Ser Rodrik as well. He will know me. How could he not ? She considered throwing herself at his feet to beg for his protection. He never fought for Robb, why should he fight for me ? The war is finished and Winterfell is fallen. “Lord Royce,” she asked timidly, “will you have a cup of wine, to take the chill off ?”

Bronze Yohn had slate-grey eyes, half-hidden beneath the bushiest eyebrows she had ever seen. They crinkled when he looked down at her. “Do I know you, girl ?”

Sansa Month 2023 : day sixteen - politics

[talestold]

LADY  ALYS  MORMONT  of  BEAR  ISLAND  !

(  marina  moschen  /  demi  woman  +  she/they  )  hear  ye  hear  ye  —  king  garlan  tyrell  welcomes  ALYS  MORMONT  of  BEAR  ISLAND  !  his  great  majesty  is  glad  that  the  twenty  three  year  old  noble  appears  to  be  gallant  while  overlooking  that  it’s  said  they  are  also  insecure,  as  long  as  they  are  glad  to  celebrate  peace  in  the  seven  kingdoms.  fortunately  for  them,  garlan  remains  oblivious  that  they  are  happy  with  his  reign  and  that  their  true  allegiance  lies  with  the  north.

one - basic information.

full  name:      alys  mormont.      preferred  nickname:      al  /  alys.      official  title:      lady  of  bear  island.      monikers:      little  bear  /  she  bear.      age:      twenty  three.      gender  +  pronouns:      demi  woman  +  she/they.      orientation:      lesbian.      true  allegiances:      house  mormont,  house  stark  &  the  north.      spoken  languages:      common  tongue.      religion:      the  old  gods.

two - exterior.

looks  like:      marina  moschen.      eye  color:      brown.      hair  color:      dark  brown.      dominant  hand:      right.      height:      5'6"      build:      slim.

three - interior.

virtues:      gallant,  incorruptible,  adroit,  honorable,  compassionate.      vices:      insecure,  overwrought,  naive,  vulnerable,  cautious.      weapon  of  choice:      longsword  or  their  dagger.      moral  alignment:      lawful  good.      hobbies:  weapons  training  /  watching  others  train,  horseback  riding,  exploring,  horseshoes,  climbing  trees.

four - connections.

parents:      liege  utp  mormont  &  liege  utp  mormont.      siblings:      mormont  c  &  mormont  d.      birth  order:      youngest.      relationship  status:      single.      children:      none.      pets:      though  not  considered  a  pet  but  more  of  a  companion,  alys'  trusted  steed  is  a  brown  thoroughbred  named  bear.      other  relations:      none  atm,  would  love  cousins  for  house  mormont  !      past  relations:      none  atm  !

five - background.

born on the twentieth day of the seventh moon in the year 275 after conquest, alys mormont was the last child to grace the ruling couple of bear island. even as a child, she never displayed the same fierceness that house mormont was known for yet still found a way to hold her own. muscles did not appear nor did the impressive strength those around them seemed to possess, leading to insecurities about their stature and where they lack in battle. some lords were cruel in their victories and they managed to make alys' confidence waver, wondering if she could ever be a historic knight or warrior one day. they have always dreamed of looking different and shedding many of their feminine features but are proud of their identity. as alys got older, she learned how to turn her appearance into a likely opportunity to be underestimated - which sometimes works in her favor.

while she can bite if provoked ( do not poke the bear vibes ), there isn't much bark to alys. her idealism can be faulty when harsh reality rolls in, but she's always dreaming of being the best version of herself she can be. her heart has always belonged with the north, raised on stories of heroic northerners and the honor of what that meant. alys was thankful the women of house mormont were not forced to partake in ladylike hobbies as they had never been good at them. their talents remained in being one of the faster children, off in a blink and always on the move. curiosity helped propel them and they were always interested in learning what others were doing.

though bear island was home, there became a feeling of suffocation the longer alys stayed. they loved to travel and explore, seeing the beauty of the north, feeling as if there was nothing for them on bear island. family means a great deal to them but alys has always been driven by purpose, their purpose becoming duty as they got older. in her teens, she was a squire for a northern lord, collecting achievements such as winning horse races, foot races, duels, and never failing to be there when they were needed. knighthood has always been a dream and they still seek it now, even if plans have changed quite a bit. if there is anything to be learned from being a mormont, it is that anything is possible.

for the past year, alys has been working in the service of house stark as a guard in winterfell. after an incident while traveling, alys decided to stay within familiar surroundings for a while and after spending a bit of time in winterfell, they figured that working for house stark would be quite the honor. she spends most of her days training in the yard and up top the winterfell towers, though occasionally does errands for the house as she is now as trusted as the others. there are talks of them becoming a sworn sword for someone, as alys has become a favorable companion, though they would go wherever they're instructed.

anyone who knows alys knows they will always lend a helping hand. sometimes they will go above and beyond to do the right thing even if it is at the cost of their own happiness. an extrovert 100% yet needs quiet time after a while. loves to joke around and find the good side of every situation, much to the annoyance of those around her. has absolutely no interest in politics or anything really going on in westeros and kind of prefers that the trifecta is thriving in their own lil bubble. just wants to do good and honorable things.

more headcanons :

before she had turned double digits, alys had been gifted not toys nor dolls but a custom dagger with her house's sigil burned into the handle. it is their most prized possession and alys never goes anywhere without it. she keeps it hidden in her boot most often, yet sometimes has the dagger on her belt along with her sword.

is incredibly sentimental with trinkets and gifts. alys has never discarded a gift and keeps many trinkets in both their bedchambers and on their person. one is a piece of wood that has been whittled into a bear standing up and roaring - which reminds her of house mormont's words every time she looks at the object. they keep a coin purse full of differently colored stones tied to their belt and twice now someone has tried to steal it thinking it's full of coins... both times they've opened the contents to only throw the pouch back at alys with cruel words.

can do cartwheels and back flips but will probably only say yes if she's a little drunk.

six - wanted.

besties - could be northern, could be someone they met through travels, could be anyone really ! just a couple ppl alys is besties with, meaning they definitely trust each other and probably either spend the most time together or talk to each other / send ravens incredibly frequently.

idols they aspire after - probably older, more experienced swordsmen / knights who alys has been inspired by and looks up to quite a bit !

the eventual sworn shield position - ( this will be a wc at some point ) alys is a trusted guard in winterfell and is about to be promoted ( you have been promoted !! you are now one of my elite employees !! ) to be someone's sworn shield ! it's most likely this would be a house stark member or someone from a wealthy northern house as she is still apart of the winterfell guard !

unlikely friends, past flings, a bad influence on alys, frenemies, i am down for anything !!

[supernovadragoncat]

"I wish the Hound were here." --Sansa Stark

Whenever people say, "Sansa was traumatized/abused/sexually assaulted by Sandor during the night of the Blackwater," I either assume they've never read the books or completely missed these passages from Sansa AFTER the night he apparently TrAuMaTiZeD her.

The time Sansa wished Sandor was with her and second-guessed not leaving KL with him:

I wish the Hound were here. The night of the battle, Sandor Clegane had come to her chambers to take her from the city, but Sansa had refused. Sometimes she lay awake at night, wondering if she’d been wise. She had his stained white cloak hidden in a cedar chest beneath her summer silks. She could not say why she’d kept it. The Hound had turned craven, she heard it said; at the height of the battle, he got so drunk the Imp had to take his men. But Sansa understood. She knew the secret of his burned face. It was only the fire he feared. That night, the wildfire had set the river itself ablaze, and filled the very air with green flame. Even in the castle, Sansa had been afraid. Outside… she could scarcely imagine it. (ASOS. After the night of the Blackwater)

The time she mistakes Lothor Brune, her savior from Marillion, for Sandor:

Sansa heard the soft sound of steel on leather. “Singer,” a rough voice said, “best go, if you want to sing again.” The light was dim, but she saw a faint glimmer of a blade. 

 The singer saw it too. “Find your own wench -” The knife flashed, and he cried out. “You cut me!” 

 “I’ll do worse, if you don’t go.” 

 And quick as that, Marillion was gone. The other remained, looming over Sansa in the darkness. “Lord Petyr said watch out for you.” It was Lothor Brune’s voice, she realized. Not the Hound’s, no, how could it be? Of course it had to be Lothor…  (ASOS. Still after the Blackwater.)

The time she remembers when Sandor saved her from rape:

And Littlefinger was no friend of hers. When Joff had her beaten, the Imp defended her, not Littlefinger. When the mob sought to rape her, the Hound carried her to safety, not Littlefinger. When the Lannisters wed her to Tyrion against her will, Ser Garlan the Gallant gave her comfort, not Littlefinger. Littlefinger never lifted so much as his little finger for her. (AFFC. Even more after the night of the Blackwater)

Was Sandor a gentleman that night? No.

Was he himself traumatized? Yes.

Does that excuse his behavior? No.

You know who has the emotional intelligence to understand the origins of his trauma and empathize with him?

Sansa "I wish the Hound were here" Stark

[athenacodes]

Character Titles

Please keep in mind this was originally written in 2017, and is being moved as is from Caution as it closes. That said, feel free to read it below.

Okay so I know an issue some people have is thinking up a title for their characters or nicknames which is especially true in period roleplays, such as I play on an ASOIAF rp as Daena the Defiant or Myrcella the Golden Viper, and I thought I'd make this to try to ease that some.

The first thing you should think of is who your character is. Do they come from a great house known for something in particular, like the Stark wolves or Tyrell roses? Use that! That's what I did for Myrcella. Myrcella was a Lannister and a Martell so I combined attributes from both to create her title - the Golden Viper.

Next, think about their name. Were they named after someone? The Daena Targaryen I played was not the first Daena Targaryen so I went with her predecessor's nickname and used it, Daena the Defiant, because it fit who Daena was in my mind and she has since grown into that nickname even more with character development which is another thing you can use for them.

On the note of thinking about their name - be lazy. Seriously. What does their name begin with? An A? a Z? Find a word that begins with that same letter that fits and use that. To help you with this, here's a list. Seriously, it sounds cool if you make them match up, like Daena the Defiant or Garlan the Gallant, so feel free to do that.

Another thing would be to think about who they are. I played Walda Frey and her title was set (Fair Walda) by canon but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be easy to think of something. Use that line with your light skin, eye, hair character and make them Fair whatever or make them Fat whatever or make them Brave whatever. As long as it fits, use it. Even if it's Name the Kind or Kind Name when the name doesn't start with a K, if it fits it works.

One last thing: with the following list it is much easier to search for a letter than try to find one because there are so many so feel free to ctrl+f it and search 'the g' or 'the m' if you're looking for a letter in particular. Hope this helps!

Oh as an additional note - if you want to use this guide on a roleplay as a resource feel free, I'll add a code below to do so, just remember to keep my credit on. You can edit the wording of this message as needed for your site and you can edit the titles if they don't fit or add ones that do. I'm using the honor system here, so do what you need to do without completely dismembering this, please.

[isefyres-archive]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕿𝖞𝖗𝖊𝖑𝖑'𝖘 𝖎𝖓 𝕬 𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖔𝖋 𝕴𝖈𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖊

Lord Willas Tyrell, Lord of HighGarden. a member of House Tyrell and the eldest son of Lord Mace Tyrell and Lady Alerie Hightower. He is the heir to Highgarden. During his first tournament, Willas was crippled by Prince Oberyn, regardless, this helped forge a friendship with the Prince. Willas is going against his father's antics once he realize his plans could jeopardize their family.

Ser Garlan Tyrell. known as Garlan the Gallant, is a knight of House Tyrell and the second son of Lord Mace Tyrell and Lady Alerie Hightower. His personal coat of arms is two golden roses on green, to denote his status as second son. He is now Captain of the Highgarden guards and married, expecting his first child.

Ser Loras Tyrell. also known as the Knight of Flowers, is a knight from House Tyrell and the third son of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden and his wife, Lady Alerie Hightower. He is a highly skilled knight and jouster. His tournament successes, dazzling good looks, and ostentatious showmanship has made him a celebrated figure in the courts of the Seven Kingdoms.

Queen Margaery Tyrell. is the only daughter of Lord Mace Tyrell and his wife, Lady Alerie Hightower. According to Renly Baratheon, there are people who claim Margaery looks like Lyanna Stark. First wed to Renly Baratheon, Margaery has been thrice wed, with her last husband being King Tommen Baratheon despite his mother accusing her of various indecent acts.

Lady Megga Tyrell. Megga is one of Queen Margaery Tyrell's ladies-in-waiting. She is a constant companion of Margaery. She meets and befriends Sansa Stark when she is invited to dinner with the Tyrells. Megga likes to play kissing games with boys and sometimes her cousins. Unlike her cousin Alla Tyrell, Megga does not have a beautiful singing voice. But she is playful and joyful.

Lady Alla Tyrell. is the eldest daughter of Ser Leo Tyrell and Lady Alys Beesbury. She is a granddaughter of Ser Victor Tyrell, a cousin of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. Alla is shy and pretty with a beautiful singing voice. Alla is one of Queen Margaery Tyrell's ladies-in-waiting. She is a constant companion of Margaery.

Lady Elinor Tyrell. is a member of a junior branch of House Tyrell, and a lady-in-waiting of Lady Margaery Tyrell. Elinor is willowy and witty. She is a maiden flowered, and rules Margaery's younger cousins by right of womanhood. Elinor is betrothed to Alyn Ambrose, who wore her favor during the Battle of the Blackwater, but loves to flirt. Her mother is from the dornish house Gargalen, and currently, her uncle wants her to assume the seat as his heir.

Lady Desmera Redwyne.is a noblewoman of House Redwyne and is the daughter and youngest child of Lord Paxter Redwyne and Mina Tyrell, one of Mance's sisters, making her a cousin of Margaery. She had two failed engagements, one to Tarly's heir and another for Daven Lannister. While her brothers are away on trial, Desmera handles the Arbor's business and the threat of the Ironborn.

[littlequeens]

just thinking about margaery and her relationships with her brothers. willas teaching her chess and other mind strengthening games, but also sneaking her out for a ride when he sees that glazed look in her eyes and knows she’s burning out from all her lessons. garlan being adamant about teaching her to use a dagger and some basic hand to hand skills so she can protect herself and get away should the need ever arise, but also reading bedtime stories to her about the gallant knights of old. her and loras being inseparable and just absolute menaces together. playing pranks on each other and their siblings, staying up way too late and sneaking into each others rooms to giggle and talk under the covers for hours. I imagine the septa having to separate them quite early on because of their inability to focus when together

[k-tries-asoiaf-rp]

Garlan Interactions I need

—≻ The plotting of Joffrey's assassination

—≻ Him and any of the Tyrells (preferably Loras) finding out of and discussing Margaery's imprisonment

—≻ Garlan consoling and guarding Tommen after Joffrey's murder

—≻ Interactions with Leonette Fossoway as they both bear having to remain at King's Landing

—≻ Garlan comforting Sansa after yet another humiliation laid on her by the boy king

—≻ Finding out about Renly and Loras' relationship

If anyone is interested, message me for plotting. Doesn't matter if we haven't interacted before!