Brave Companions

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Template:Sellsword Company

The Brave Companions, also known as the Bloody Mummers, are a sellsword company of considerably ill repute. It comprises criminals and outcasts from many nations.

During the War of the Five Kings, the band is led by Vargo Hoat, a tall, gaunt, lisping man from Qohor. The band is often called the "Bloody Mummers" by the Westerosi for its members' brutality and outlandish appearance, though they find this name insulting. They are also called the Footmen for Vargo's practice of cutting off the hands and feet of prisoners.

Some of the company's notable members include Qyburn, a disgraced maester, Septon Utt, a child-killing priest of the Seven, Shagwell, a psychotic jester, and Fat Zollo, a Dothraki. Their standard is a black goat with bloody horns, symbolizing the Black Goat of Qohor.[1]

History

Lord Tywin Lannister brought the Brave Companions to Westeros during the War of the Five Kings to forage and terrify the lands of his enemies. They were ordered to fortify Harrenhal in Tywin's absence and and were joined by Rorge, Biter and Jaqen H'ghar on the way. Their ranks are said to include copper men with bells in their braids; lancers astride black-and-white horses; bowmen with powdered cheeks; squat hairy men with shaggy shields; brown-skinned men in feathered cloaks; swordsmen with fantastic forked bears dyed green and purple and silver; spearmen with colored scars that covered their cheeks; and many more distinct members, such as Shagwell the Fool, Septon Utt], Qyburn and Urswyck the Faithful.[2]

During their stay at Harrenhal, Vargo's men quarreled with Ser Amory Lorch's men, causing both to be reprimanded by Tywin. On the very night they arrive, a fight broke out between the company and Lannister men, resulting in the death of Harys Swift's squire, two wounded Brave Companions who were later hanged, and one of Lord Lydden's archers who started the fight.[2]

After Tywin left Harrenhal, Jaqen, Rorge, and Biter helped Arya Stark free the Northerner prisoners. With the Northmen free, the Companions helped slaughter the Lannister garrison and open the castle's gates to Roose Bolton.[3] Vargo Hoat became Lord of Harrenhal for his service to the North, but he grew to suspect that his new Bolton allies would join the Lannisters.

When several Companions captured Jaime Lannister, Vargo had Jaime's swordhand chopped off to drive a wedge between Tywin and Roose. When Jaime and his escort were leaving Harrenhal some Brave Companions gathered in Harrenhal’s yard to watch them go. Jaime trotted over to where they stood and said,

Zollo. How kind of you to see me off. Pyg. Timeon. Will you miss me? No last jest to share, Shagwell? To lighten my way down the raod? And Rorge, did you come to kiss me goodbye?”

Rorge tells him bugger off, cripple, Jaime answers,

If you insist. Rest assured, though, I will be back. A Lannister always pays his debts.

The ploy to drive a wedge between Tywin and Roose did not work, and Roose soon abandoned Harrenhal. While attempting to rape the imprisoned Brienne of Tarth in Harrenhal, Vargo lost an ear and the wound infected.

With Lannister reprisal looming and Vargo slowly maddening from a fever, most of the Companions deserted. By the time Gregor Clegane arrived at Harrenhal and killed Vargo, the band had dissolved into smaller groups.

In the aftermath of the war, many Brave Companions became bandits and vagabonds. One particular group led by Rorge burned and slaughtered the entire town of Saltpans. Because Rorge wore the infamous helm of Sandor Clegane, these deeds were attributed to the Hound. Another group led by Shagwell went into hiding. Both groups were killed off after a confrontation with Brienne.

Known members

Vargo Hoat, commander of the Brave Companions- by Matt Olson ©

Current Status

By the end of A Dance with Dragons, the known surviving members of the Brave Companions, Urswyck, Zollo, Togg Joth & Three Toes, are on the run throughout Westeros.[4]

When Brienne of Tarth comes across Timeon, Shagwell and Pyg at the Whispers, Timeon tells her that Urswyck was heading towards Oldtown with a small band.[5] The status of the other three surviving members is unknown.

Qyburn is currently serving at King's Landing under Queen Cersei Lannister.

Quotes

The Brave Companions did not fight in the Battle of the Blackwater, yet they died there all the same. [6]

- Roose Bolton to Jaime Lannister

References and Notes

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire.
The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire.
As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.