Aeron Greyjoy

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House Greyjoy.svgAeron Greyjoy
the Damphair
House Greyjoy.svg
Aeron Greyjoy by Amok©
Aeron Greyjoy by Amok©

Aliases
  • The Damphair
  • Aeron Damphair
Titles
Allegiance House Greyjoy
Culture ironborn
Born In 269273 AC[1]Pyke[2]
Father Lord Quellon Greyjoy
Mother Lady Sunderly
Books

Played by Michael Feast
TV series Game of Thrones: Season 6

Aeron Greyjoy is the youngest surviving son of the late Lord Quellon Greyjoy and Lady Sunderly, and is a younger brother of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. As a result of a near-death experience, Aeron became a priest of the Drowned God, and he is now called the Damphair[3] because of his wet hair. His acolytes are known as the drowned men.[4]

Appearance and Character

Aeron is tall and thin with fierce black eyes and a beak of a nose,[3] but shorter than his elder brother Victarion.[5] The sour-faced[6] Aeron never cuts his hair and beard, which falls to his waist and has seaweed woven into it.[7]

The Damphair garbs himself in roughspun wool robes dyed in the green, grey, and blue of the Drowned God.[7] When drowning his acolytes, he wears only a sealskin clout to cover his privates.[7] He carries a waterskin filled with seawater, which he uses to bless those who desire it.[3]

Aeron was once an amiable man, fond of songs, ale, and women.[3] At the age of sixteen he sang, danced, japed, played the pipes, juggled, and rode horses.[7] Aeron's transformation has made him devoutly devoted to the god in his watery halls, however. He is now a dour, humorless man who views every breath as a gift that is wasted if it is not used to extol the virtues of following the Drowned God's path.[8]

Aeron considers himself a prophet[7] who can hear the Drowned God.[9] He attributes discord in the Iron Islands to the hated Storm God.[9] Aeron sometimes swallows salt water to strength his faith.[9][10]

History

Aeron was born the youngest son from Lord Quellon Greyjoy's second of three marriages. At six-and-ten he called himself a man, but in truth he had been a ribald drunk, who would sing, dance, play pipes, juggle and ride horses. He drank much, and claimed no man could piss longer or farther than him. He once wagered his ship against a flock of goats that he could douse a hearth-fire by urinating on it, and subsequently outraged his brother, Lord Balon, by naming the ship Golden Storm.[7]

During Greyjoy's Rebellion, Aeron joined his brothers Victarion and Euron in raiding the coasts. Aeron nearly drowned when Golden Storm was sunk by the war galley Fury during the sea battle off Fair Isle, when the ironborn fleet was caught in a trap set by the master of ships, Lord Stannis Baratheon. Aeron was initially believed to be lost at sea, but he washed ashore and was discovered by local fishermen, who led him to Lannisport in chains. Aeron spent the rest of the rebellion as a prisoner of the Lannisters, but he was later returned to the Iron Islands. Aeron held pissing contests with "lions, boars, and chickens" while in captivity.[7]

Aeron Greyjoy, by Winona Nelson © Fantasy Flight Games

An unknown amount of time after Greyjoy's Rebellion, Aeron went down in a storm, but washed up ashore, safely and unharmed. Due to his near-death experience, he underwent a spiritual reawakening, and dedicated himself as a priest of the Drowned God and prophet.[3] He became hard, humorless, and ascetic, living as a hermit on the beach, spreading the word of their god, and becoming known primarily by his new name, Damphair. The acolytes serving under Aeron, called drowned men, do his bidding without question, and the Damphair is greatly respected by the ironborn in general.[7] He has never failed to resuscitate any of his followers with the kiss of life.[7]

Aeron fears his brother, Euron, for reasons that are not made clear. He has recurring memories and nightmares of a door with screeching hinges, which he associates with Euron.[5]

Aeron is still afflicted with guilt over the death of another brother, Urrigon, who died from the infection of a wound that occurred while he and Aeron performed a finger dance, a traditional axe-juggling game among the ironborn.[7]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Aeron Greyjoy, by Anders Finer © Fantasy Flight Games

In the early phases of the War of the Five Kings, Robb Stark, King in the North, sends his friend, Theon Greyjoy, back to the Iron Islands to negotiate an alliance with Theon's father, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands. Aeron Damphair, Balon's brother, is sent to bring Theon from Lordsport to Pyke. Since Theon has been living for years with the Starks of Winterfell, who worship the old gods, Aeron blesses Theon with seawater.[3]

Balon declines Robb's alliance offer, however, and Aeron attends Balon's war council regarding an offensive against the north.[11] Aeron and Dagmer accompany Theon during the harrying of the Stony Shore,[6] and the Damphair blesses Theon's new longship, Sea Bitch.[11]

The ironmen take Benfred Tallhart prisoner when they ambush his Wild Hares. When Benfred refuses to answer questions Aeron and Theon put to him, Aeron commands that the prisoner be sacrificed to the Drowned God. Theon decides to attack Torrhen's Square and Winterfell with the crew of Sea Bitch and Dagmer's Foamdrinker, granting the six remaining ships to Aeron for future raiding.[6]

A Feast for Crows

Aeron giving the kiss of life, by Donato Giancola ©

After finishing the reaving, Aeron returns to his normal duties as a priest of the Drowned God in the Iron Islands. Within the Sea Tower of Pyke, Aeron informs Balon of the defeat of his last son, Theon, at Winterfell. Aeron opposes Balon's intention to be succeeded by his daughter, Asha.[7]

While reviving Emmond with the kiss of life on the shores of Great Wyk, Aeron learns from the Sparr and Gormond Goodbrother that Balon, his oldest brother, has fallen to his death from Pyke. At Hammerhorn he is told by Maester Murenmure that another older brother, the despised Euron, has claimed the Seastone Chair.[7] After preaching at villages and holdfasts on Great Wyk, Aeron rests in a driftwood shelter made by his drowned men at Pebbleton and rejects their call for him to claim the Seastone Chair. Fearing that Euron Crow's Eye will be the ruin of the ironmen, Aeron blesses Lord Meldred Merlyn and calls for a kingsmoot on Old Wyk to choose Balon's replacement.[7]

The ironborn captains answer Aeron's summons, and most of the Iron Fleet returns from the Fever River. On the shores of Nagga's Cradle, Aeron blesses and prays with his preferred candidate, his third brother, Victarion, whom he knows will continue Balon's traditional ways.[5] While the captains feast and drink, Aeron consumes only fish and water, and he departs when Euron's ridicules his piety.[5] The Damphair begins the kingsmoot's proceedings and listens to the claims of Lord Gylbert Farwynd, Erik Ironmaker, Lord Dunstan Drumm, Victarion, and Asha. He is shocked when the captains, impressed with Euron's dragonhorn and bold claims, instead choose the Crow's Eye as Balon's successor.[9]

Aeron asks Victarion to aid him in opposing Euron, but the obedient Victarion submits to the new king. The Damphair announces plans to try to rouse the smallfolk of the Iron Islands against the "godless" Euron, and he disappears from Old Wyk the next day.[12] Euron and Victarion lead the ironborn in attacking the Reach.[12]

A Dance with Dragons

Aeron's niece, Asha Greyjoy, tells Tristifer Botley that no one has seen the Damphair since the kingsmoot, but his drowned men claim that he is hiding on Great Wyk and will soon come forth to call down the wrath of the Drowned God on Euron Crow's Eye and his minions. Erik Ironmaker, now Lord Steward of the Iron Islands, searches for Aeron by hunting down his drowned men. Tris suspects that Euron slit the Damphair's throat, however.[13]

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.

Aeron is revealed to have been captured after the kingsmoot by Euron's mutes and chained up in the hold of the Silence. Euron forces him to drink shade of the evening and Aeron has numerous nightmarish visions. Aeron remembers how Euron used to sexually abuse him and another brother, Urri, when they were children. On Oakenshield Aeron encounters Falia Flowers. When she feeds him during his imprisonment, Falia believes Euron will make her his salt wife and her sons will come before Euron's other baseborn children. Aeron warns her to flee but she refuses.[14]

Aeron is later taken to a captured island castle located near the Arbor. Several of Euron's lieutenants feast as a dozen bodies of the castle's former occupants hang from the rafters. All take turns mocking Aeron before taking him back to the Silence, where Euron commands that his brother to be tied to the prow of the ship as Euron sails to meet the Redwyne fleet. A pregnant and naked Falia is tied next to him, her tongue cut out.[14]

Quotes by Aeron

Aeron in worship, by Amok ©

What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.[3]

—Aeron to Theon Greyjoy

Young I was, and vain, but the sea washed my follies and my vanities away. That man drowned, nephew. His lungs filled with seawater, and the fish ate the scales off his eyes. When I rose again, I saw clearly.[3]

—Aeron to Theon Greyjoy

Balon: The lords are gone south with the pup. Those who remained behind are the cravens, old men, and green boys. They will yield or fall, one by one. Winterfell may defy us for a year, but what of it? The rest shall be ours, forest and field and hall, and we shall make the folk our thralls and salt wives.

Aeron: And the waters of wrath will rise high, and the Drowned God will spread his dominion across the green lands!

Victarion: What is dead can never die.[11]

Aeron Greyjoy was a prophet. He did not suffer petty lords ordering him about like some thrall.[7]

—thoughts of Aeron

The sound of a door opening, the scream of a rusted iron hinge. Euron has come again.[7]

—memory of Aeron

The god took me deep beneath the waves and drowned the worthless thing I was. When he cast me forth again he gave me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a voice to spread his word, that I might be his prophet and teach his truth to those who have forgotten. I was not made to sit upon the Seastone Chair ... no more than Euron Crow's Eye. For I have heard the god, who says, No godless man may sit my Seastone Chair![7]

—Aeron to his drowned men

I was reborn from the sea, a harder man and stronger.[9]

—thoughts of Aeron

I have my voice, and the god is with me. Mine is the strength of the sea, a strength the Crow's Eye cannot hope to withstand. The waves may break upon the mountain, yet still they come, wave upon wave, and in the end only pebbles remain where once the mountain stood. And soon even the pebbles are swept away, to be ground beneath the sea for all eternity.[12]

—Aeron to Victarion Greyjoy

The ironborn shall be waves ... Not the great and lordly, but the simple folk, tillers of the soil and fishers of the sea. The captains and the kings raised Euron up, but the common folk shall tear him down. I shall go to Great Wyk, to Harlaw, to Orkmont, to Pyke itself. In every town and village shall my words be heard. No godless man may sit the Seastone Chair[12]

—Aeron to Victarion Greyjoy

Quotes about Aeron

Gods, he has grown grim.[3]

—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy

You ought to have no trouble catching our uncles. One is drunk on seawater, after all, and the other is a great grey bullock so dim he'll probably get lost.[11]

Rodrik: Aeron Damphair has called a kingsmoot.

Asha: The Drowned God must have shoved a pricklefish up Uncle Aeron's arse. A kingsmoot? Is this some jape, or does he mean it truly?

Rodrik: The Damphair has not japed since he was drowned.[15]

Balon was mad, Aeron is madder, and Euron is maddest of them all.[5]

I am more devout than even you, Aeron. Perhaps it should be you who kneels to me for blessing.[5]

Euron Greyjoy to Aeron

I think the Damphair's dead. I think the Crow's Eye slit his throat for him. Ironmaker's search is just to make us believe the priest escaped. Euron is afraid to be seen as a kinslayer.[13]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dagon
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Stonetree
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quellon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Piper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Sunderly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harlon
 
Quenton
 
Donel
 
Balon
 
Alannys Harlaw
 
Euron
 
Victarion
 
Unknown
three wives
 
Urrigon
 
Aeron
 
Robin
 
Stillborn
daughter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rodrik
 
Maron
 
Asha
 
Erik
Ironmaker
 
Theon
 
Bastard
sons
 
 
 
Stillborn
daughter
 
 

References

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Greyjoy. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Greyjoy. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

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