#maester gormon

[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.

[rosaluxembae]

In Winds and Dream, what sort of personality, motives and end fate do you think we can expect from the (probable) future Grand Maester, Gormon Tyrell?

Gormon's name appears 4 times (twice is the same sentence) so I guess we can expect just about anything tbh. Tyrion assumes (that Tywin assumes) that he'd still advance Tyrell house interests (despite Maester in theory giving up old loyalties when they take their chain). He falsely accuses Pate of stealing so uhh maybe he's suspicious? Maybe blinded by snobbery (stick it on the lowest born guy)? He sits beneath the black iron mask in Archmaester Walgrave's place so he's an expert in ravencraft. Other than that it could be literally anything.

[carcrash-white]

Cersei shenanigans I'm manefesting for TWOW:

Genna Lannister regency.

Fucked up love affair with Tyene Sand.

Not taking The Aegon cause seriously at all.

Making Illyrio Master of Coin.

Minor diplomatic incident when she refers to Illyrio as Prince of Pentos, implying he's going to be sacrificed at the first sign of trouble.

Making the worse marriage offer ever (Euron) asked to leave Kings Landing

Being accused of killing Grand Maester Gormon (did this one).

Being accused of killing the High Sparrow (didn't actually do this one).

Thinking the mutiny against Jon Snow was her doing.

Major diplomatic incident when she congratulates the mutineers against Jon Snow.

The Faith using Lanncel at her trial by combat thinking she'd never let Robert Strong obliterate her cousin.

Getting Robert Strong to obliterate her cousin.

Choosing Nymeria Sand as hand to spite the Tyrells (female Dornish bastard) unaware this is the worst decision she made since blowing off the Iron Bank.

Pushing Margarey of a cliff.

Having Tommen see her push Margarey off a cliff.

Not taking Mycella being disfigured well at all.

Moon of 5 Kings Version 2

Sacrificing Illyrio at the first sign of danger.

Leaving to Casterly Rock to wait for this Aegon bussiness to all blow over :)

[chasingthedragons]

The Black Council

THE QUEEN & THE ROYAL FAMILY

ALLIES

HOUSE VELARYON of Driftmark [Lord Corlys Velaryon]

HOUSE CELTIGAR of Claw Isle [Lord Bartimos Celtigar]

HOUSE STAUNTON of Rook’s Rest [Lord Simon Staunton]

HOUSE DARKLYN of Duskendale [Ser Steffon Darklyn]

HOUSE MASSEY of Stonedance [Lady Ellinda Massey] [Lord Gormon Massey, mentioned]

HOUSE BAR EMMON of Sharp Point [mentioned]

QUEENSGUARD [Ser Steffon Darklyn, Ser Lorent Marbrand & Ser Erryk Cargyll]

MAESTER GERARDYS

DRAGONS

CARAXES SYRAX MELEYS VERMAX ARRAX TYRAXES MOONDANCER

WAR TABLE

from north to south | at the tip we found CLAW ISLAND home of HOUSE CELTIGAR [one of the three houses that came to WESTEROS escaping the curse of VALYRIA.] | on land and among the hills we find ROOK'S REST, seat of HOUSE STAUNTON. | In the waters of the NARROW SEA we find the island of DRAGONSTONE, ancestral home of HOUSE TARGARYEN in WESTEROS and base of operations of THE BLACKS. | Next to DRAGONSTONE we have the island of DRIFTMARK [with the castles of DRIFTMARK and the seat of HOUSE VELARYON, HIGH TIDE.] | On the coast of BLACKWATER BAY, northwest of KING'S LANDING we find the city of DUSKENDALE ruled by HOUSE DARKLYN. | across the KINGSWOOD and at the tip of MASSEY'S HOOK peninsula, just below THE GULLET is SHARP POINT home of HOUSE BAR EMMON and a little further south we find STONEDANCE seat of HOUSE MASSEY.

STRATEGY

The army of THE BLACKS and their allies is abysmally inferior to THE GREEN forces, unable to match even the HOUSE HIGHTOWER. The strategies proposed by the Queen's allies included the use of dragons to take the capital, KING'S LANDING, an idea discarded by Queen Rhaenyra as the civilian casualties would be too great.

It is then that Lord Corlys Velaryon [Lord of DRIFTMARK] proposes a different strategy, after six years of war the Velaryon fleet finally took full control of the STEPSTONES, securing one of the most important sea trade routes not only for WESTEROS but also for the FREE CITIES of ESSOS. Lord Corlys' plan is to make a sea blockade of KING'S LANDING, blocking not only the STEPSTONES but also the BLACKWATER BAY, the only sea entrance to the capital.

In addition to this, the Prince Consort Daemon proposes to cut the roads on the north side that reach the capital, seeking to ally with the great houses of that sector, which are; HOUSE TULLY of RIVERRUN, HOUSE ARRYN of the EYRIE. To the south the HOUSE BARATHEON that surround the CROWNLANDS and the great army of the north with HOUSE STARK of WINTERFELL.

[racefortheironthrone]

In Winds and Dream, what sort of personality, motives and end fate do you think we can expect from the (probable) future Grand Maester, Gormon Tyrell?

From the little we know of him, he's kind of an asshole.

I would guess he winds up getting killed by the Faceless Man while trying to stop "Pate" stealing the book.

[poorshadowspaintedqueens]

In Winds and Dream, what sort of personality, motives and end fate do you think we can expect from the (probable) future Grand Maester, Gormon Tyrell?

Maester Gormon (Tyrell) is basically a blank slate at this point. However, given what is likely to go down in King's Landing at some point in TWOW, I expect he's not going to live very long. If he's lucky, he and the Tyrell regime as a whole will figure out a way to neutralize the Sparrows, but it's likely to be a short-term solution that (literally) goes down in flames when Daenerys arrives.

[sherlokiness]

Pate, Dany, and PolJon

Pate as foreshadowing for Dany with all his delusions of grandeur and his "love" Rosey. Switch the key for IT then we have Dany as Pate with Jon/home as Rosey. Pate died from biting a poisoned dragon coin given by a Faceless Man. Dany will be killed by either Arya or Jon who is in love. Since love is poison then Jon can be a "poisoned" dragon.

“Where’s Rosey? Our rightful queen deserves another round of cider, wouldn’t you say?”

Since Jon is Rosey, then yes, he's the rightful King.

Jorah saved me from the poisoner, and Arstan Whitebeard from the manticore. Perhaps Strong Belwas will save me from the next.

Multiple poison attempts but still dies of "poison."

He flicked the coin back at her with his forefinger. "Someplace no stag ever found . . . though a dragon might."

From OP

Rosey and love

And I should like to sleep with Rosey's arms around me, Pate thought. He shifted restlessly on the bench. By the morrow the girl could well be his. I will take her far from Oldtown, across the narrow sea to one of the Free Cities.

Let’s get real: Rosey is a serving wench whose virginity costs a golden dragon. Pate treats the whole business as a sort of sentimental rescue mission, but at the end of the day he’s just romanticizing prostitution. To top it all waitresses are supposed to be chatty and friendly with clients (for example she “flirts” with Alleras as well). Even better, Pate’s best memory of his “beloved” is about a foot massage. It's not like there's some sort of deeper connection.

Notice that Pate doesn’t bother considering Rosey’s dreams, he assumes that once he’ll get her (by paying, lol) she’ll love him unconditionally, and they’ll live happily together. 

My thoughts under the cut

PolJon sounds a lot like this. I assume that Jon will be polite to Dany when they meet. Jon will have to wash her feet=have sex cause she will be dragging them before she commits to the War for the Dawn. Jesus Jon washing her feet is a sign of service and humilty. Poor Jon.

"If my husband wishes me to wash his feet, he must first wash mine. I will tell him so this evening."

"Daenerys, my queen, I will gladly wash you from head to heel if that is what I must do to be your king and consort."

Of course like Hizdahr, Jon doesn't love Dany.

There is also lots of symbolism when it comes to Dany and her foot/steps. Dany called it "Jon's War" in the show and expects Sansa to kiss her feet as if the rest of the other kingdoms didn't also help. Lol. She's also calling herself "protector of the realm" yet needs to be compensated first.

His last thought was of Rosey.

This reminds me of Rhaegar's death but unlike him, Dany won't get to say anything.

"The blood of the dragon." But my dragons are roaring in the darkness. "I remember the Undying. Child of three, they called me. Three mounts they promised me, three fires, and three treasons. One for blood and one for gold and one for …"

She didn't get to utter the last word which is love.

"I'm Pate," the other said, "like the pig boy"

Idk? Jonsa with Lady Piggy as The Bastard's lady love

It's a good read I'll put a few comments from that OP's thread.

Maester Gormon accused him of stealing, and the text seems to let the idea go unnoticed. But the subtext?

(…)across the narrow sea to one of the Free Cities. There were no maesters there, no one to accuse him.

Why should this be mentioned? Why should this be a problem?

All the prologue is apparently about the moral struggle of poor Pate, hero of his own story. Too bad the choice did already happen. The whole chapter teases us with the idea, or at least the possibility, of Pate being innocent. Or at least, still undecided.

But this is not true.

If I pick that up, I am a thief, he remembered thinking. (…)Pate snatched up the key and had been halfway to the door before turning back to take the silver too.

This is my favorite line of the chapter, a very low-profile nice touch:

"Have you decided what you are?" Must he make me say it? "I suppose I am a thief." "I thought you might be."

I love this exchange because it highlights the hypocrisy, the self-entitlement but also the blindness of Pate:

First of all, Pate’s already a thief: beside the key he took Walgrave’s silver. Plus, the other accusations. Despite not wanting to open his eyes, he already made his choice.

Second, he feels wronged by the Alchemist’s words. That “must he make me say it” line is so full of misplaced resentment. Pate’s responsible for his fate and failures, the Alchemist’s one is just a question. Pate’s guilty conscience immediately finds another target than Pate himself.

Third, the answer: “I suppose”. Until the very end, Pate decides to keep it as vague as possible.

The key is the Iron Throne and she will steal it from FAegon then Jon. The metaphor also works if we think about what the key is for.

[..]and of course there was even less chance of his coming on the fragmentary, anonymous, blood-soaked tome sometimes called Blood and Fire and sometimes The Death of Dragons, the only surviving copy of which was supposedly hidden away in a locked vault beneath the Citadel.

It's to open the door to the Citadel that has The Death of Dragons book.

[syraxesrevenge]

• Aegon II Targaryen - Ennard

• Daeron Targaryen - Glamrock Bonnie

• Alicent Hightower - Roxanne Wolf

• Helaena Targaryen - Circus Baby

• Aemond Targaryen - Foxy

• Otto Hightower - Montgomery Gator

• Arryk Cargyll - Scrap Baby

• Rickard Thorne - Crusty dusty yellow rabbit

• Criston Cole - Shadow Bonnie

• Tyland Lannister - Toy Freddy

• Jasper Wylde - Toy Bonnie

• Larys Strong - William Afton

• Willis Fell - Nightmare Freddy

• Marston Waters - Mangle

• Gyles Belgrave - Funtime Foxy

• Rhaenyra Targaryen - Ballora

• Daemon Targaryen - Ruined Monty

• Viserys Targaryen - Toy Chica

• Aegon III Targaryen - Gregory

• Rhaenys Targaryen - Eclipse orrr the amalgamation/blob

• Baela Targaryen - Sun

• Rhaena Targaryen - Moon

• Jacaerys Velaryon - ....Michael Afton ?

• Lucerys Velaryon - The Puppet or Elizabeth Afton

• Joffrey Velaryon - Crying Child

• Corlys Velaryon - Tiger Rock

• Lord Staunton - Glamrock Freddy

• Bartimos Celtigar - Bon-Bon

• Gormon Massey - The Cupcake

• Bar Emmon - Music Man

• Gunthor Darklyn - Mr.Hippo

• Maester Gerardys - BB

• Jeyne Arryn - Vanessa/Vanny

• Addam Velaryon - Nightmare Bonnie

• Alys Velaryon - Nightmare Foxy

• Nettles - Nightmare Chica

• Harwin Strong - Security Puppet

• Steffon Darklyn - Security Bot

• Erryk Cargyll - The Mimic

• Lyonel Bentley - Nightmarion Bot

• Harrold Darke - DJ Music Man

• Adrian Redfort - Mini Music Man

• Loreth Lansdale - The Scooper

• Alys Rivers - Glamrock Chica

I was bored.

[beyondmistland]

In Winds and Dream, what sort of personality, motives and end fate do you think we can expect from the (probable) future Grand Maester, Gormon Tyrell?

If I had to guess, he'll turn out to be a competent asshole.

Thanks for the question, anon

[jedimaesteryoda]

In Winds and Dream, what sort of personality, motives and end fate do you think we can expect from the (probable) future Grand Maester, Gormon Tyrell?

For starters, Gormon being a younger son of the Lord of Highgarden and uncle to the current one, and who was chosen to be Grand Maester in no small part because of his pedigree may likely have some level of entitlement.

He also accused Pate, Walgrave's caregiver, of theft and trying to break into the lock box, something Pate was innocent of at the time. His accusations suggest highborn classism on his part towards the lowborn Pate.

I would rate him as an ambitious nobleman like his nephew with the prejudices of his class who may have had his eye on being Grand Maester for a while, and feels it may be owed to him at this point.

As for his future, the Citadel will likely send him upon learning of Pycelle's death. Cersei would of course resent his presence on the small council as he would ally with his nephew the Hand against her. Nor do I think would he be a fan of Cersei's favorite and biggest supporter Qyburn, knowing why he got expelled from the Citadel and would approve even less of him after having served the Blood Mummers. I wouldn't count on him surviving the series as Cersei might take a page from Maegor, and unmake him as Grand Maester when given the chance.

[klaradox]

THE TYRELL FAMILY TREE: MAESTER GORMON

Gormon Tyrell is a maester serving at the Citadel. He is an uncle of Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden.

After passing over Maesters Erreck and Turquin, the Conclave chooses Maester Gormon as Grand Maester Pycelle's replacement after Tyrion Lannister strips Pycelle of his office. Upon hearing whom the Citadel intends to send as a replacement, Lord Tywin Lannister returns Pycelle to his office.

Gormon takes Archmaester Walgrave's place beneath the black iron mask to judge those attempting for the ravencraft link. He once accused Pate of theft.

This image will be featured on my upcoming map of THE REACH.

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ASOS: Tyrion II (Chapter 12)

The eunuch's apartments were sparse and small, three snug windowless chambers under the north wall.

[...]

He'd searched for hidden passages too, knowing the Spider must have ways of coming and going unseen, but those had proved equally elusive.

We're starting off strong!

+.+.+

Varys closed the door and barred it. "I am plagued with backaches, my lord, and prefer to sleep upon a hard surface."

"I would have taken you for a featherbed man."

Back with some more featherbed metaphors.

+.+.+

He gave an exaggerated shudder. "Your poor nose . . ."

Tyrion rubbed irritably at the scab. "Perhaps I should have a new one made of gold. What sort of nose would you suggest, Varys?

Heh. Get it? Get it?

<- Jaime II

+.+.+

Bloody fools, thought Tyrion. "I seem to recall that Maegor the Cruel's headsman unmade three with his axe."

"Quite true," Varys said. "And the second Aegon fed Grand Maester Gerardys to his dragon."

"Alas, I am quite dragonless.

Once again, I'll be storing this in my brain.

+.+.+

The Conclave met in Oldtown behind closed doors, Tyrion knew; its deliberations were supposedly a secret. So Varys has little birds in the Citadel too.

This too.

+.+.+

the Conclave was on the verge of sending us Maester Gormon, a Tyrell of Highgarden. When I told your lord father, he acted at once."

[...]

"I see. So my father decided to nip the rose before it bloomed." He had to chuckle. "Pycelle is a toad. But better a Lannister toad than a Tyrell toad, no?"

As much as I'd love to rage at this, I have to remember one thing: Tywin gifts us jonsa.

(Rose! Bloomed! Sansa!)

+.+.+

Bronn had turned up all he could on Ser Mandon, but no doubt Varys knew a deal more . . . should he choose to share it. "The man seems to have been quite friendless," Tyrion said carefully.

"Sadly," said Varys, "oh, sadly. You might find some kin if you turned over enough stones back in the Vale, but here . . . Lord Arryn brought him to King's Landing and Robert gave him his white cloak, but neither loved him much, I fear.

If Lord Arryn didn't like Ser Mandon, who convinced him to bring him to court? Who convinced Robert to give him a white cloak?

Oh Varys, you're fun.

+.+.+

Why, even his brothers of the Kingsguard never warmed to him. Ser Barristan was once heard to say that the man had no friend but his sword and no life but duty . . . but you know, I do not think Selmy meant it altogether as praise. Which is queer when you consider it, is it not? Those are the very qualities we seek in our Kingsguard, it could be said—men who live not for themselves, but for their king. By those lights, our brave Ser Mandon was the perfect white knight.

Was Littlefinger in the ear of the king again? That seems to be the story I'm being told.

But is Tyrion getting the message? Lol. No, of course not.

+.+.+

It's even worse than I feared. "And my father? Who does he have spying on me?"

This time the eunuch laughed aloud. "Why, me, my lord."

Tyrion laughed as well. He was not so great a fool as to trust Varys any further than he had to

Wow.

Yeah.

Sure.

+.+.+

"You will bring Shae to me through the walls, hidden from all these eyes. As you have done before."

Varys wrung his hands. "Oh, my lord, nothing would please me more, but . . . King Maegor wanted no rats in his own walls, if you take my meaning. He did require a means of secret egress, should he ever be trapped by his enemies, but that door does not connect with any other passages. I can steal your Shae away from Lady Lollys for a time, to be sure, but I have no way to bring her to your bedchamber without us being seen."

Keep going with this! Let's have some more!

+.+.+

He had watched as a young knight had offered to carry the heavy pail. The way she had touched his arm and smiled for him had tied Tyrion's guts into knots.

x

It doesn't matter, he told himself as he waited for moonrise. Whatever you wear, you're still a dwarf. You'll never be as tall as that knight on the steps, him with his long straight legs and hard stomach and wide manly shoulders.

Tyrion's jealous streak will be heavily emphasized in this book.

You have to wonder why!

+.+.+

"I know their reasons. What are yours? The honor of serving beside such paragons as Meryn Trant and Boros Blount?" He gave the boy a mocking grin. "To guard the king's life, you surrender your own. You give up your lands and titles, give up hope of marriage, children . . ."

"House Tyrell continues through my brothers," Ser Loras said. "It is not necessary for a third son to wed, or breed."

"Not necessary, but some find it pleasant. What of love?"

"When the sun has set, no candle can replace it."

"Is that from a song?" Tyrion cocked his head, smiling. "Yes, you are seventeen, I see that now."

Always here for some sun discourse. No, a candle couldn't replace it.

+.+.+

"Varys?" Tyrion slipped inside. "Are you there?" A single candle lit the gloom, spicing the air with the scent of jasmine.

"My lord." A woman sidled into the light; plump, soft, matronly, with a round pink moon of a face and heavy dark curls. Tyrion recoiled. "Is something amiss?" she asked.

Varys, he realized with annoyance. "For one horrid moment I thought you'd brought me Lollys instead of Shae. Where is she?"

"Here, m'lord." She put her hands over his eyes from behind. "Can you guess what I'm wearing?"

[...]

"We need to rid ourselves of Lady Varys first. I am not the sort of dwarf who likes an audience."

"He's gone," Shae said.

Tyrion turned to look. It was true. The eunuch had vanished, skirts and all. The hidden doors are here somewhere, they have to be.

I couldn't make this shit up if I tried.

Varys, disguised as someone else, vanishes from the room through a secret door.

PLEASE.

+.+.+

Tyrion had almost forgotten about Shae's thrice-damned singer. "How is it you spoke to Symon?"

"I told Lady Tanda about him, and she hired him to play for Lollys. The music calms her when the baby starts to kick. Symon says there's to be a dancing bear at the feast, and wines from the Arbor. I've never seen a bear dance."

"They do it worse than I do." It was the singer who concerned him, not the bear.

:)

+.+.+

For a time she said nothing at all. Tyrion tried to speak of other things, but he met a wall of sullen courtesy as icy and unyielding as the Wall he'd once walked in the north. Gods be good, he thought wearily as he watched the candle burn down and begin to gutter, how could I let this happen again, after Tysha? Am I as great a fool as my father thinks?

Gladly would he have given her the promise she wanted, and gladly walked her back to his own bedchamber on his arm to let her dress in the silks and velvets she loved so much. Had the choice been his, she could have sat beside him at Joffrey's wedding feast, and danced with all the bears she liked. But he could not see her hang.

When the candle burned out, Tyrion disentangled himself and lit another.

"When the sun has set, no candle can replace it."

+.+.+

Then he made a round of the walls, tapping on each in turn, searching for the hidden door. Shae sat with her legs drawn up and her arms wrapped around them, watching him. Finally she said, "They're under the bed. The secret steps."

He looked at her, incredulous. "The bed? The bed is solid stone. It weighs half a ton."

"There's a place where Varys pushes, and it floats right up. I asked him how, and he said it was magic."

That's weird, Varys hates magic.

Anyway.

YES.

KEEP GOING.

+.+.+

"It's good to be a knight. No more looking for the cheaper brothels down the street." Bronn grinned. "Now it's Alayaya and Marei in the same featherbed, with Ser Bronn in the middle."

Tyrion had to bite back his annoyance. Bronn had as much right to bed Alayaya as any other man, but still . . . I never touched her, much as I wanted to, but Bronn could not know that. He should have kept his cock out of her.

More jealously.

But why!? Where is this going!?

+.+.+

This is fruitless. "There is a singer who calls himself Symon Silver Tongue," Tyrion said wearily, pushing his guilt aside. "He plays for Lady Tanda's daughter sometimes."

"What of him?"

Kill him, he might have said, but the man had done nothing but sing a few songs. And fill Shae's sweet head with visions of doves and dancing bears. "Find him," he said instead. "Find him before someone else does."

Hm, the Jon vibes are strong with this one.

I'm a bit sad the next POV likes to kill singers, but I'll ignore it.

Final thoughts:

Weeeeee!

26 down, 23 to go. :(

-> return to menu <-

[persephone-lancaster]

House Tyrell

Lord Mace Tyrell - Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Mander, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach and Warden of the South. Son of Lord Luthor and Lady Olenna Tyrell. Husband of Alerie and Father of Willas, Garlan, Margaery and Loras.

Lady Olenna Tyrell (née Redwyne) - Dowager Lady of Highgarden. Mother of Mace, Mina and Janna. Widow of Luthor Tyrell. Grandmother of Willas, Garlan, Margaery and Loras, Horas, Hobber and Desmera.

Lady Alerie Tyrell (née Hightower) - Lady of Highgarden. Daughter of Lord Leyton Hightower. Wife of Mace and Mother of Willas, Garlan, Margaery and Loras.

Ser Willas Tyrell - Heir to Highgarden and the Reach. Master of Coin. Eldest son of Mace and Alerie Tyrell.

Ser Garlan Tyrell - Royal Master-at-Arms of the Red Keep. Second Son of Mace and Alerie Tyrell. Husband of Lady Leonette Fossoway.

Lady Margaery Tyrell - Second Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Daenerys. Daughter of Mace and Alerie Tyrell. Betrothed of Prince Viserys Targaryen.

Ser Loras Tyrell - Royal Custodian. Former Squire of Ser Gerold Hightower. Third Son of Mace and Alerie Tyrell.

Lady Leonette Fossoway - Royal Governess. Wife of Ser Garlan Tyrell.

Lady Mina Tyrell - Senior Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elia Martell. Eldest Daughter of Luthor and Olenna Tyrell. Wife of Lord Paxter Redwyne. Mother of Horas, Hobber and Desmera.

Lady Janna Tyrell - Second Daughter of Luthor and Olenna Tyrell. Wife of Ser Jon Fossoway.

Garth Tyrell - Lord Seneschal of Highgarden. Uncle of Mace. Father of Garse and Garrett.

Garse Flowers - Eldest Natural Son of Garth Tyrell.

Garrett Flowers - Second Son of Garth Tyrell

Ser Moryn Tyrell - Lord Commander of the City Watch of Oldtown. Uncle of Mace.

Elinor Tyrell - Great Granddaughter of Ser Moryn.

Luthor Tyrell - Great Grandson of Ser Moryn.

Maester Medwick - Second Grandson of Ser Moryn

Leo Tyrell - Novice at the Citadel. Ser Moryn's Second Son.

Maester Gormon - Maester of the Citadel. Uncle of Mace.

Maester Normund - Maester of Blackcrown. Cousin of Mace.

Household:

Maester Lomys - Maester of Highgarden.

Igon Vyrwel - Captain of the Tyrell Household Guard

Ser Vortimer Crane - Master-at-Arms of Highgarden

Butterbumps - Fool and Jester

Arryk and Erryk - Twin Guardsmen of Lady Olenna

Septa Nysterica - Septa of Highgarden

The Blue Bard - Bard of Highgarden

[ihaveastorminme]

After giving due consideration to Maester Turquin the cordwainer’s son and Maester Erreck the hedge knight’s bastard, and thereby demonstrating to their own satisfaction that ability counts for more than birth in their order, the Conclave was on the verge of sending us Maester Gormon, a Tyrell of Highgarden. When I told your lord father, he acted at once.”

[racefortheironthrone]

Do you need to be an Archmaester to be given the office of Grand Maester?

Gormon Tyrell says: no.

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

question from a non-book reader; i've been reading up on a lot of targaryen history since i got the world of ice and fire book. i vaguely understand the blackfyre rebellion and a lot of what i see on tumblr seems to side either with the targaryens or the blackfyres. but it seems to me that neither side was fully in the right since the targaryens overall weren't exactly known for being just rulers. that said, what is your opinion on the blackfyre rebellion? (1/2)

(2/2) did bloodraven genuinely commit tyranny and sins against the gods, or was aegor rivers the one who had the moral high ground in comparison?

…um.

I’m not sure if you’re confused because you haven’t read the books, or what, but sorry… no. The Blackfyre Rebellion happened because King Aegon IV Targaryen, Aegon the Unworthy (motto: “wash her and bring her to my bed”), always hated his trueborn son Daeron, considering him weak, hated Daeron’s mother Queen Naerys (and always tried to undermine her, including accusing her of infidelity through a proxy), hated the peace made with Dorne that was sealed with Daeron’s marriage to a Dornish princess (including trying and failing to start a war with Dorne by attacking them unprovoked with wooden “dragons”), decided to give Daeron one last stab in the back by legitimizing all his bastards on his deathbed.

One of those bastards included Daemon Blackfyre, born Daemon Waters, the son of Aegon and his cousin Daena the Defiant.

Aegon had knighted Daemon for valor in a squire’s tourney (age 12), and presented him with the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, the hereditary sword of House Targaryen and the Targaryen kings. (Blackfyre had belonged to Aegon the Conqueror, and when Aenys gave the sword to his younger brother Maegor at Aegon’s funeral – because Maegor was a warrior and Aenys was not, wanting them to rule together – it was widely considered to be a sign of Aenys’s weakness and Maegor’s strength.) Aegon IV giving Daemon the sword of kings, acknowledging him as his son, and then legitimizing him two years later, was considered by many to be his attempt to make Daemon his true heir and deny Daeron as falseborn, Naerys’s secret bastard.

Nevertheless, Daeron did not let his father’s duplicity preclude his obligations to his many bastard half-brothers and -sisters; including allowing Daemon to change his last name to Blackfyre, arranging his marriage to Rohanne of Tyrosh as Aegon had negotiated (though Daeron did not allow Daemon to marry his sister Princess Daenerys too), and granting a keep and lands along the Blackwater to the new House Blackfyre. Daemon even took his sigil the Targaryen arms inverted, a black three-headed dragon on red. And Daemon made it known that Aegon had given Daemon the sword because he was a warrior and Daeron was not, though Daeron did have two sons (out of four) who were highly martially talented.

Daeron’s rule soon stablized the excesses of the reign of his corrupt hedonist father; he was seen as just and good-hearted, and he was called “Daeron the Good” by both smallfolk and lords. Nevertheless, as time went on, those who opposed Dorne and its inclusion in Westeros, bound by two marriages to House Targaryen, found their figurehead in the handsome warrior Daemon Blackfyre. They looked at Daeron’s marriage to Mariah Martell, and his heir Baelor Breakspear, who though a warrior, also looked like his mother, with dark hair and dark eyes. They stewed at Princess Daenerys’s marriage to Prince Maron Martell of Dorne (oh noes a smelly brown man manhandling our white princess), and imagined a great love story denied to Daemon. (Though for all Daemon’s passion was supposedly cockblocked by his mean half-brother, he was still getting busy with Rohanne, producing at least 9 children in 12 years; and Daenerys never seemed unhappy in her marriage to Maron, who built the Water Gardens for her.) They got really angry at the Dornish courtiers who came to King’s Landing with Mariah, and supposed special treatment to Dorne. They brought up the rumors of Naerys and Aemon the Dragonknight, claiming that the weak Daeron was not Aegon’s son. We literally have the words of a Blackfyre supporter telling us this:

“Treason… is only a word. When two princes fight for a chair where only one may sit, great lords and common men alike must choose. And when the battle’s done, the victors will be hailed as loyal men and true, whilst those who were defeated will be known forevermore as rebels and traitors. That was my fate.” Egg thought about it for a time. “Yes, my lord. Only…King Daeron was a good man. Why would you choose Daemon?” “Daeron…” Ser Eustace almost slurred the word, and Dunk realized he was half-drunk. “Daeron was spindly and round of shoulder, with a little belly that wobbled when he walked. Daemon stood straight and proud, and his stomach was flat and hard as an oaken shield. And he could fight. With axe or lance or flail, he was as good as any knight I ever saw, but with the sword he was the Warrior himself. When Prince Daemon had Blackfyre in his hand, there was not a man to equal him…not Ulrick Dayne with Dawn, no, nor even the Dragonknight with Dark Sister. “You can know a man by his friends, Egg. Daeron surrounded himself with maesters, septons, and singers. Always there were women whispering in his ear, and his court was full of Dornishmen. How not, when he had taken a Dornishwoman into his bed and sold his own sweet sister to the Prince of Dorne, though it was Daemon that she loved? Daeron bore the same name as the Young Dragon, but when his Dornish wife gave him a son he named the child Baelor, after the feeblest king who ever sat the Iron Throne. “Daemon, though… Daemon was no more pious than a king need be, and all the great knights of the realm gathered to him. It would suit Lord Bloodraven if their names were all forgotten, so he has forbidden us to sing of them, but I remember. Robb Reyne, Gareth the Grey, Ser Aubrey Ambrose, Lord Gormon Peake, Black Byren Flowers, Redtusk, Fireball… Bittersteel! I ask you, has there ever been such a noble company, such a roll of heroes? “Why, lad? You ask me why? Because Daemon was the better man. The old king saw it too. He gave the sword to Daemon. Blackfyre, the sword of Aegon the Conqueror, the blade that every Targaryen king had wielded since the Conquest…he put that sword in Daemon’s hand the day he knighted him, a boy of twelve.” “My father says that was because Daemon was a swordsman, and Daeron never was,” said Egg. “Why give a horse to a man who cannot ride? The sword was not the kingdom, he says.” The old knight’s hand jerked so hard that wine spilled from his silver cup. “Your father is a fool.”

–The Sworn Sword

There is nothing to do with justice here. Nothing to do with ruling justly. There’s only hero-worship, glorification of violence, ableism, anti-intellectualism, misogyny, and Dornish racism. That’s what the followers of Daemon Blackfyre supported. They’re like Trump supporters, wanting to make Westeros great again.

And no bigger supporter of Daemon was his half-brother Aegor Rivers, aka Bittersteel. Aegor, “pissed off all his life”, was particularly mad at the court, because his mother Barba Bracken, Aegon’s mistress, had been sent away in disgrace after it was found that she and her father were talking up making Barba queen when Naerys had a health scare. (It was Daeron and his uncle Aemon, Naerys’s supporters, who made enough of a fuss about the scandal to get Aegon to send her away. Note also that Aegor’s grandfather was later executed along with his daughter Bethany, Aegon’s mistress, after she was caught sleeping with a Kingsguard.) While Aegor also received the legitimization given to all of Aegon’s bastards, he didn’t get all the benefits he felt he should have gotten – unlike his half-brother Brynden Rivers, “Bloodraven”, whose mother Melissa Blackwood (another one of Aegon’s mistresses), had always been popular at court (even with Naerys and Daeron), leading to Bloodraven remaining close with Daeron and his family even after Melissa was dismissed as mistress. Furthermore, Shiera Seastar (another one of Aegon’s Great Bastards), chose Brynden as a lover instead of Aegor, making him even more angry.

So, Aegor got close to Daemon, including getting betrothed to one of his daughters, and frequently urged him to press his claim to the throne, on the grounds of king’s choice, having the sword, being more fit than Daeron Falseborn. Do you see a moral high ground here? I do not. It’s further implied that Brynden was also close to Daemon at the time (see him telling Bran that “a brother I loved” is one of his ghosts), and was able to get away and warn Daeron when the Blackfyre plans went from idle talk to open rebellion. He was no tyrant – he probably didn’t even have an office at court at the time, though he did eventually become Daeron’s spymaster.

But yes, Brynden did kill Daemon and his two eldest sons, sniping them during the last battle of the first Blackfyre Rebellion. For which he was accused of kinslaying, and of using sorcery to get those accurate shots. The accusation of sorcery was probably slander (probably… a weirwood bow and weirwood arrows fletched with raven feathers might have had some mystical qualities), and as for the kinslaying… it was a battle where Daemon would have killed his half-nephews Baelor and Maekar if he’d had a chance, where Aegor fought Brynden one-on-one and took his eye out… and if the Blackfyres had won, do you think they’d just have packed off Daeron and Mariah and Aerys and Rhaegel? No, the falseborn weak Dornish half-breeds would have been executed or hunted down. You think they’d’ve left Daenerys and Maron and their children in peace? Nope, a war with Dorne would have been next on the agenda. Don’t talk to me about kinslaying. (Though whether Brynden considers himself to be gods-cursed could be a different matter.)

Now, after the first Blackfyre Rebellion, when Brynden supported killing all the rebel lords (Daeron elected to take hostages instead), after the death of Daeron’s heir Baelor, after the Great Spring Sickness when Daeron and Baelor’s sons died, leading to Daeron’s second son Aerys becoming king, and appointing Brynden as his Hand and master of whisperers… then you might get into questions of tyranny. (Which I consider a lot more debatable than some.) But it has absolutely nothing to do with why Daemon Blackfyre and his supporters rebelled in the first place. When Aegor Rivers formed the Golden Company, to support the Blackfyre cause in their exile in Tyrosh, did he give a flying fuck about tyranny or justice? No he did not, he just wanted to keep fucking with Bloodraven and put Daemon’s son on the throne of Westeros. (Not the gay son, though! That one, the heir after his older brothers died, Bittersteel ignored and kept his support from.)

The Blackfyre cause was never just. They were never in the right. I oppose them wholeheartedly, and I’m suspicious of anyone who chooses the black dragon over the red. I hope that clears things up for you.