Uthor Underleaf

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Uthor Underleaf.png
Uthor Underleaf
Uthor Underleaf.png
Alias The Snail
Title Ser
Born or around 181 AC, 182 AC or 183 AC[1]
Book The Mystery Knight (appears)

Ser Uthor Underleaf, sometimes called the Snail for his personal emblem, was a tourney knight during the reign of Aerys I Targaryen. His squire was named Will.[2]

Character and Appearance

Uthor Underleaf was a professional tourney knight, who made his living off of wagering on jousts and the ransoms he gained for his wins. He preferred not to become a tourney champion, as he did not want to become famous, but was satisfied with the prize granted to the knight who came second. Ser Uthor would bribe the master of the games so that he would face the opponents he preferred -- big men, older champions past their prime, and "village heroes" -- where the odds would be appear to be against him.[2]

Like his sigil, the snail, Uthor "hid in his shell", enjoying comfort while keeping a low profile. His tent's exterior was very plain, but inside was furnished with a Myrish rugs, a featherbed, and ornate furniture. He was extremely mercenary and practical, and according to Duncan the Tall, was "no true knight".[2]

Uthor had small, shrewd, close-set eyes with thin, arching eyebrows. He kept his black beard neat and had a receding hairline.[2]

History

Ser Uthor attended the wedding of Lord Ambrose Butterwell and Lady Frey. He participated in the Whitewalls tourney in celebration of the marriage. He was not part of the conspiracy to start the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, only attending the tourney for the money he planned to win there.[2]

In his first joust, he unhorsed Ser Duncan the Tall in the first tilt with a blow to the head. In his second joust he defeated Ser Addam Frey.

Afterwards, Dunk came to Uthor's tent to forfeit his horse, arms and armor. He saw Uthor chastise his squire Will for accepting "traitor's gold", a dragon with the face of Daemon I Blackfyre. Uthor would have preferred to receive a ransom for Dunk's possessions, but Dunk had no money to pay it. Uthor would not accept an IOU, but offered Dunk a place in his service, as a ringer -- someone who would appear to be a fearsome knight, who would get excellent odds when faced with Uthor at little tourneys across Westeros. Uthor thought that by the time news got around that Dunk was a hopeless jouster, they would have won enough money to buy a dragon egg. Dunk refused the offer. Uthor also revealed the story of Ser Glendon Flowers's knighthood, and the fact that Dunk had a secret enemy, as someone had bribed him to kill him in the joust.

Ser Uthor then defeated Ser Theomore Bulwer in five tilts. For his next tilt, he was to go against Ser Tommard Heddle, a match he had not been expecting. (Lord Gormon Peake had bribed the master of the games with a better offer than Uthor's, to make sure that Uthor would not face John the Fiddler or win the tourney.) However, the tourney was then interrupted by claims that a thief had stolen the grand prize of the tourney, Lord Butterwell's dragon egg.

After the defeat of the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, Egg convinced Bloodraven to loan Dunk the gold to pay Uthor's ransom.[2]

Quotes

I follow tourneys from afar as faithfully as the maesters follow stars.[2]

Uthor: I ride where I will and serve no man but myself, true... but it has been many a year since I last slept beneath a hedge. I find that inns are far more comfortable. I am a tourney knight, the best that you are ever like to meet.
Dunk: The best? Why [have I never heard of you], if you're such a famous tourney champion?
Uthor: Have you heard me name myself a champion? That way lies renown. I would sooner have the pox.[2]

Dunk: Ser Glendon has hero's blood.
Uthor: Oh, I do hope so. Hero's blood should be good for two to one. Whore's blood draws poorer odds.[2]

The snail may leave a trail of slime behind him, but a little slime will do a man no harm... whilst if you dance with dragons, you must expect to burn.[2]

References and Notes