Randyll Tarly

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Randyll Tarly

Title	Lord of Horn Hill Justiciar Master of Laws
Allegiance	House Tarly
Spouse	Melessa Florent
Book(s)	A Game of Thrones (Mentioned) A Clash of Kings (Appears) A Storm of Swords (Mentioned) A Feast for Crows (Appears) A Dance with Dragons (Appears)

Lord Randyll Tarly is the Lord of Horn Hill and the head of House Tarly. He is married to Melessa Florent. He wields the Tarly ancestral blade Heartsbane, a Valyrian steel greatsword, in battle.

Contents 1 Appearance and Character 2 History 3 Recent Events 3.1 A Clash of Kings 3.2 A Storm of Swords 3.3 A Feast for Crows 3.4 A Dance with Dragons 4 Family 5 References and Notes

Appearance and Character

He is a lean and balding man with a short, bristly grey beard.^[1] He is a narrow man but iron willed, shrewd and capable. He is considered the finest soldier in Westeros and a strong battle commander.

History

Randyll Tarly is considered one of the best soldiers in Westeros. During Robert's Rebellion his army inflicted the only defeat on Robert Baratheon's forces, at the Battle of Ashford. A martinet, he became disappointed in his gentle, timid firstborn son Samwell and made several harsh attempts to engage him in manly, martial pursuits, but all to no effect. Eventually Melessa gave birth to a second son Dickon. As the two brothers grew up, it became apparent that Dickon would be the son that Randyll had wanted. Randyll left Samwell to his own devices until he approached adulthood. At that time, Randyll threatened to end Samwell's life if he did not join the Night's Watch, thereby nullifying his claim to Horn Hill.^[2]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

When Renly called his banners, Randyll joined with House Tyrell in Renly's support.^[3] At the camp, Dickon told Randyll of a cruel game that several of the knights were playing on Brienne of Tarth. Randyll summoned Brienne and told her that some of the men had laid wagers on the first to claim her maidenhead. He then tersely advised her that women have no place on the battlefield.^[4] After the parley with Stannis Baratheon beneath the walls of Storm's End, Lord Randyll counseled attacking Stannis to make sure he gained no strength while Renly was away.^[5] Before the battle could take place, Renly was assassinated. After Renly's assassination, he continued to follow the Tyrells in forsaking Stannis's cause.^[6] He captured Renly's stores and put a great many men to death, mainly those sworn to House Florent, his wife's family.^[7]

He was sent out with Lord Mathis Rowan to find Lord Tywin Lannister and bring him to Tumbler's Falls where Mace Tyrell was waiting with a huge host and a fleet of barges.^[8] Once again following the lead of his liege lord, he joined with the Lannisters and fought against Stannis, commanding the center at the Battle of the Blackwater.^[9] For this, he received a commendation for his services - although the abandoned Florent seat at Brightwater Keep was awarded to Garlan Tyrell.

A Storm of Swords

Tarly destroyed a Northern force that was attacking the town of Duskendale, resulting in the capture of Harrion Karstark and Robett Glover and the death of Ser Helman Tallhart.^[10] Afterwards, he took the town of Maidenpool and secured the Kingsroad.^[11]

A Feast for Crows

Randyll, along with Mathis Rowan, was named by Ser Kevan Lannister as a good candidate for Hand of the King, but Cersei Lannister refused to name a Tyrell bannerman as hand.

Randyll then took his forces and began reconstruction of Maidenpool. Brienne encountered him again while he was dispensing harsh but fair justice in the marketsquare. He extracted her business from her, but allowed her to leave.^[12] After Brienne returned with the heads of several Brave Companions, Randyll complained that he had executed many outlaws, but could not find their leaders.^[13] When word of the imprisonment of Margaery Tyrell reached Tarly, he marched his army to King's Landing.

A Dance with Dragons

Tarly's army was the first to reach King's Landing before his liege lord, Mace Tyrell. The Faith released Margaery and her cousins into his custody after Tarly swore a holy oath to return them for trial. To try and undo the damage Cersei did to the Tyrell/Lannister alliance, Kevan Lannister made Tarly the new Justicar (Master of Laws) on the King's small council. Kevan Lannister thought that Tarly is more dangerous than Mace Tyrell.

Family

References and Notes