Rafford

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Rafford
Victorgarciatheweetling.jpg
Raff, by Victor Garcia © Fantasy Flight Games

Aliases
Allegiances
Culture Westermen
Born Westerlands[3]
Died In 300 AC[4]Braavos[4]
Books

Rafford, known as Raff the Sweetling,[2] is one of the Mountain's men, the men-at-arms in service to Ser Gregor Clegane.

Appearance and Character

Rafford has a mop of sandy hair. He is a younger man[1] and handsome.[4] He is soft-spoken, but is cruel and sadistic.[2] He is bolder than many of the other Mountain's men, and he drinks less than Shitmouth.[1] He has low cunning.[3]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Raff the Sweetling is among the Mountain's men who capture Arya Stark, Gendry and Hot Pie near the Gods Eye. Raff asks Lommy Greenhands, who was wounded at the Gods Eye town, if he can walk, and when Lommy says he needs to be carried, Raff drives his spear through the boy's throat and chuckles to himself.[5]

Arya adds Raff to her list of those she hates and wants to kill.[2] On the march to Harrenhal, a man-at-arms smashes the face of a three-year-old boy with a spiked mace, and Raff kills his screaming mother shortly afterwards.[2] Chiswyck tells a story about Gregor and his men gang raping Layna, an alehouse owner's daughter, and mentions that Raff stabbed the owner's son when he interrupted.[6]

Raff forages with Ser Gregor Clegane, Chiswyck, and the Tickler.[6] He later departs Harrenhal alongside Lord Tywin Lannister as part of Gregor's vanguard, unknowingly putting himself out of Arya's reach to choose him as her next target for Jaqen H'ghar.[7]

Storm of Swords

Raff's atrocities are recalled by Arya, who informs Harwin and the brotherhood without banners while they search for Lord Beric Dondarrion.[8] Raff continues to be included in Arya's list, though as time goes on she struggles to remember his face, as well as the other marked members of Gregor's men-at-arms.[9]

A Feast for Crows

When Ser Jaime Lannister pauses at Harrenhal, he sees Raff wearing the chain of coins that once belonged to Vargo Hoat.[1] After Ser Bonifer Hasty refuses to allow the Mountain's men to stay at Harrenhal, Jaime brings them with him to Riverrun as part of his force to besiege the castle. Jaime notices two washerwomen playing with Raff and another man-at-arms in the river, with the women riding their shoulders and mock fighting. He bets a copper star on the girl riding Raff, but loses it when Raff and the girl fall down in the reeds.[10]

After the siege of Riverrun ends, Jaime orders a dozen Mountain's men led by Raff to escort Ser Robin Ryger and Ser Desmond Grell to Maidenpool for their journey to the Wall.[11]

A Dance with Dragons

Several Mountain's men, including Raff, accompany Ser Ronnet Connington when he comes to King's Landing. When Ser Harys Swyft expresses worries about dangerous times, Ser Kevan Lannister suggests that he hire some of the Mountain's men to add to his household guard.[12]

The Winds of Winter

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Warning
This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.

When Harys is sent to negotiate the Iron Throne's debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos, he is accompanied by Raff as one of his guards. They attend a performance of The Bloody Hand at the Gate. Arya, posing as the mummer "Mercy", spots Raff and seduces him. Arya tires Raff by running to her room, streets away, and says he could be a mummer too, once she taught him a line to say. Once he is undressed, she discreetly cuts his femoral artery, causing him to bleed heavily and rendering him unable to walk. Raff asks her to carry him to a healer, but Arya echoes the words Raff said when he murdered Lommy Greenhands, and cuts his throat. His corpse is dumped in a Braavosi canal, to be eaten by the eels.[4]

Quotes by Raff

Raff: Can you walk?

Lommy: No, you got to carry me.

Raff: Think so?[5]

—Raff, before killing Lommy Greenhands

Mercy: I'm a maiden now.
Raff: Not for long. I'm Lord Rafford, sweetling, and I know just what I want.[4]

Arya Stark as "Mercy", and Raff

Raff: You'll need to carry me.
Arya: Think so?[4]

Arya Stark as "Mercy", before killing Raff

Quotes about Raff

See? You know your line, and so do I.[4]

—thoughts of Arya Stark

Raff the Sweetling looked up sharply as the long thin blade came sliding from her sleeve. She slipped it through his throat beneath the chin, twisted, and ripped it back out sideways with a single smooth slash. A fine red rain followed, and in his eyes the light went out.[4]

—thoughts of Arya Stark

References