Addam Marbrand

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Marbrand.png
Addam Marbrand
City watch.png
Addam Marbrand.jpg
© Fantasy Flight Games

Titles
Allegiance House Marbrand[3]
Books

Played by B.J. Hogg
TV series Season 1

Addam Marbrand is a knight of House Marbrand and the son and heir of Lord Damon Marbrand of Ashemark. At various times he is Tywin Lannister's commander of outriders and scouts, and Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.[4][2]

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Addam Marbrand

Addam is rangy, with dark, shoulder-length copper hair.[5] He is an excellent horseman and swordfighter. He is an able soldier and is described as the sort of man others would willingly follow into battle.[6][2]

Addam rides a spirited red courser barded. Its bronze-colored trappings match Addam's cloak and are emblazoned with the burning tree of the Marbrands.[6]

History

During his youth, Addam was a page at Casterly Rock and a childhood friend of Jaime Lannister.[7]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

House Marbrand is one of the principle noble houses sworn to House Lannister and Ser Addam is one of the chief knights in the service of Lord Tywin Lannister.[3] When Tyrion Lannister is taken captive by Catelyn Tully, Lord Tywin calls his banners and raids the Riverlands. Addam joins his liege lord in the campaign as the commander of Lord Tywin's cavalry. Addam's outriders raid the area around the Twins and skirmishs against the soldiers of House Frey in the opening weeks of the War of the Five Kings.[8]

Catelyn's son Robb Stark calls the bannermen of House Stark and marches an army south. Addam's scouts note the arrival of the Stark army and he sends word to Tywin.[1] Tywin ordered Addam to withdraw while harassing the opposing force's flanks while he marches the Lannister host north to engage them.[1] Addam's outriders skirmish with Stark pickets under the command of Ser Brynden Tully along the Green Fork of the Trident. Addam pulls his forces back as ordered. Brynden's success in the skirmishes allows the Stark force to split undetected.[8] Addam sends words that the Stark force has moved south of the twins and is joined by the Frey levies.[5]

Addam links with Tywin's forces as planned and is given command of the right wing at the Battle of the Green Fork. His force numbers 4,000 mounted men and three quarters of Tywin's knights, amongst them Ser Flement Brax, Crakehall men and Cornfield men.[5] The battle is a success for the Lannister force and Addam reports the capture of Lord Medger Cerwyn, Ser Wylis Manderly, Harrion Karstark and four Freys and the death of Lord Halys Hornwood to Tywin personally. Tywin asks about Robb himself and Addam admits that his captives have told him that Robb crossed at the Twins with the majority of his cavalry to retake Riverrun.[5]

Tywin holds a council of his commanders following the announcement of the defeats of the Whispering Wood and the Camps. Addam chastises Ser Harys Swyft for speaking the obvious and dismisses as untenable Lord Leo Lefford's suggestion that they form a truce and exchange prisoners. Addam says that the Starks' two victories do not mean they have won the war and pushes to fight on. He states his wish to "try my own steel" against Robb Stark. Addam counsels against seeking a truce and advises marching on the Stark host.[9]

Tywin dismisses his lords bannermen to take counsel from his family. He orders his host to Harrenhal, dispatching Addam's outriders to screen their movements. When Tywin makes Tyrion the acting Hand of the King, Addam is among the alternatives that Tyrion suggests.[9]

A Clash of Kings

Addam remains part of Tywin Lannister's forces as commander of the outriders and scouts during their occupation of Harrenhal. He is the first to depart when Tywin's forces leave the castle, a day ahead of his liege lord. Well-liked by the women of the castle, Addam is described as a great horseman and swordfighter and Lord Tywin's most daring commander.[6] He rides west to join Lord Tywin in an attempt to retake Riverrun but is thrown back three times at the Battle of the Fords.[10] His crossing prevented, Tywin turns his forces south to King's Landing when he receives word of an imminent attack by Stannis Baratheon. Addam distinguishes himself defending the city at the ensuing Battle of the Blackwater and is recognized by King Joffrey Baratheon.[11]

A Storm of Swords

After the Battle of the Blackwater, Addam is temporarily made Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing by Lord Tywin. Tyrion considers him a shrewd choice despite being an outsider because he is a natural leader. He discusses the difficulties of his position with Tyrion after meeting with Tywin. The Watch numbers 4,400 men after the battle and he is concerned about paying them all, but is not allowed to dismiss any by order of the Queen Regent. Tywin is angry that Addam has not been able to find the missing squire Tyrek Lannister, lost in the Riot of King's Landing. Tyrion tells Addam that he is also unable to find him but Addam insists on continuing the search, fearing Tywin's wrath. He is not impressed by Bronn's claim that the boy is dead.[2] He does discover crystals from the crown of the High Septon, who was killed during the riots. When deserters from the Battle of the Blackwater return to the barracks Addam seeks advice from Tywin. He is ordered to break their knees to prevent them running again and leave them as beggars as a reminder to others.[12]

Addam attends the wedding of Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister.[13] He is part of the group that accompanies Tyrion to meet the delegation from Dorne to add more political weight to the Lannister party.[14] He gives King Joffrey a pair of silver spurs at his royal wedding to Margaery Tyrell. He cautions Joffrey to be careful with his new Valyrian steel blade Widow's Wail. He later provides a guard for the couple during a public appearance at the Great Sept of Baelor. He plans to deliver a toast during their wedding breakfast but Joffrey dies choking before he can do so.[13] Ser Addam's men take Tyrion, his squire and Sansa's maids into custody on suspicion of poisoning Joffrey. He is assigned to search for Sansa Stark when she goes missing after the feast. Ser Addam is responsible for guarding Tyrion while he is brought to trial. He tells Tyrion that Tywin did not send the Kingsguard because the majority of them will testify against him and he did not think it proper.[15] He escorts Tyrion again on the final day of his trial when Tyrion demands trial by combat[16]

When Jaime Lannister returns to King's Landing he asks Addam to help him practice fighting with his left hand (his right having been cut off by Vargo Hoat). He selects Addam because of their history and hopes that he can trust him not to reveal his weakness with a sword. He beats Jaime easily, disarming him three times and leaving him battered and bruised.[7]

A Feast for Crows

Ser Addam and the City Watch stand guard during the funeral of Tywin Lannister after his death at the hands of his son Tyrion Lannister. Cersei becomes Lady of Casterly Rock and commands Addam's allegiance. Addam and Jaime collaborate on trying to discover how Tyrion escaped and link him to a gaoler who has gone missing.[17] Jaime commands Addam to search the brothels on the Street of Silk but he is unable to find Tyrion.[18] Cersei fears that Tommen will also be poisoned and Jaime tasks Addam with organizing the guarding and tasting of his food.[19]

When Ser Kevan Lannister plans to leave the city to hunt outlaws in the Riverlands, Jaime suggests that he send Addam in his place and remain as the Hand of the King. He reasons that Addam or one of their other chief knights could deal with the outlaws but that none of them would make a good King's Hand.[20] Addam tells Jaime that Cersei's advisers are being called the "smallest council" by the people of Flea Bottom.[21]

Jaime is ordered to go to Harrenhal to retrieve the prisoners held there and then on to Riverrun to end the siege there by the Queen Regent. He insists that Ser Ilyn Payne and Addam accompany him on his mission. Addam is happy to quit his duties as Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.[21]

Addam commands the outriders as he did for Tywin. When they camp near the castle of House Hayford Jaime is invited to dinner and has Addam and a dozen others accompany him. Addam reports his inability to find Tyrek Lannister, the Lord of Hayford by marriage to the infant Lady Ermesande. He tells the castellan that the boy was last seen ahorse but only his horse was seen again after the riots. He is troubled by his inability to at least find his body given that the mob let other corpses lie where they fell and no ransom demand was made. Jaime suggests that the rioters realized who they had slain and hid the body to avoid vengeance from Tywin.[21]

Jaime replaces Addam with Ilyn as a sparring partner, preferring the tongueless knight. He believes Addam realizes that he is practicing with Ilyn but hopes that his other officers do not know of his ineptitude as a swordsman.[21]

The outriders are troubled by wolves and one of Addam's men has his horse run off and killed by a pack. On reaching Harrenhal Addam's outriders report that the gates are barred. The host enters cautiously and finds the remains of Ser Gregor Clegane's force inside. They report mistreating the prisoners (including Ser Wylis Manderly) but they remain alive. Jaime sends the prisoners to Maidenpool for transport to White Harbor.[21]

The host leaves Harrenhal for Castle Darry, now under the control of Ser Lancel Lannister. Addam's scouts report that the land around Darry is being farmed again. At Darry, Ser Danwell Frey reports that wolves had attacked his baggage train on his way south from the Twins and Addam commiserates. Addam charms the woman seated next to him during the feast there. When talk turns to the death of Merrett Frey at the hands of outlaws, Addam repeats the rumor that Lord Beric Dondarrion heads a group of outlaws and cannot be killed.[22]

From Darry, the host proceeds to Riverrun. Addam's men find Lannister men-at-arms hung from trees in the lands around Riverrun. Upon their arrival Ser Daven Lannister reports that he has had several foraging parties go missing. Jaime tasks Addam with inspecting the perimeter of their camp as they set up camp outside Riverrun.[23]

During Jaime's parley with Ser Brynden Tully, Brynden insults Jaime as a cripple and suggests that he name Addam as a champion in his place. The parley is unsuccessful and Addam takes part in the war councils during the siege. Addam suggests a night raid using rowboats with muffled oars and grapnels to climb the walls in order to open the gates from the inside, volunteering to lead the raid himself. Walder Rivers believes Brynden will not be fooled by such tactics.[24]

After Brynden's escape from Riverrun, Addam commands the search to the south of the Red Fork of the Trident.[25]

Quotes by Addam

Two battles do not make a war. We are far from lost. I should welcome the chance to try my own steel against this Stark boy.[9]

- Addam to Tyrion Lannister after the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps

Quotes about Addam

Ser Addam Marbrand was a shrewd choice. Like Jaime, he was the sort of man other men liked to follow.[2]

- thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

References and notes

External Links

Addam Marbrand on the Game of Thrones wiki.