Ardrian Celtigar

Lord Ardrian Celtigar
Alias	The Red Crab
Title	Lord of Claw Isle
Allegiance	House Celtigar
Race	Valyrian
Culture	Crownlands
Born	or after 229 AC Claw Isle
Books	A Clash of Kings (appears) A Storm of Swords (appears)

Ardrian Celtigar, known as the Red Crab, is the Lord of Claw Isle and the head of House Celtigar.

Appearance and Character

Ardrian is a sour old man with a wrinkled face.

Ardrian is known for his avarice and his wealth. He looks down upon the lowborn Ser Davos Seaworth, though Lord Stannis Baratheon is dismissive of Ardrian's own opinions.

Lord Celtigar owns a mantle patterned with red crabs picked out in garnets and a square of linen embroidered in red crabs. His ship is the ornate Red Claw. Ardrian's treasures at Claw Isle are said to include a Valyrian steel axe and a horn capable of summoning krakens.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Lord Ardrian wants to know which storm lords will support Lord Stannis Baratheon when he lays claim to the Iron Throne during the War of the Five Kings. Ardrian attends Stannis's feast at Dragonstone. He has a coughing fit when Melisandre burns the statues of the Seven at Dragonstone.

Lord Celtigar participates in Stannis's siege of Storm's End.

The Red Crab is captured at the Battle of the Blackwater and publicly bends the knee to King Joffrey I Baratheon.

A Storm of Swords

Ardrian stays in King's Landing after the Blackwater, with Ser Axell Florent thinking that Lord Celtigar fears reprisals from Stannis. Axell suggests that Stannis sack Claw Isle in Ardrian's absence, but Ser Davos Seaworth objects to the plan. Stannis sides with Davos the Onion Knight, explaining that he will instead deal with Lord Celtigar personally after becoming king.

Ardrian is present at the wedding of King Joffrey I to Lady Margaery Tyrell, and later testifies against Tyrion Lannister at his trial for regicide.

Quotes

Davos: The letter ... What did your lords make of it, I wonder?
Stannis: Celtigar pronounced it admirable. If I showed him the contents of my privy, he would declare that admirable as well.

—Davos Seaworth and Stannis Baratheon

Too frightened of His Grace's wrath to come near Dragonstone, no doubt. And wisely so. The man has betrayed his rightful king.

—Axell Florent to Stannis Baratheon

Claw Isle was but lightly garrisoned, its castle reputedly stuffed with Myrish carpets, Volantene glass, gold and silver plate, jeweled cups, magnificent hawks, an axe of Valyrian steel, a horn that could summon monsters from the deep, chests of rubies, and more wines than a man could drink in a hundred years. Though Celtigar had shown the world a niggardly face, he had never stinted on his own comforts.

—thoughts of Davos Seaworth

I don't doubt Lord Celtigar bent the knee to the boy Joffrey. He is an old done man, who wants no more than to end his days in his castle, drinking his fine wine out of his jeweled cups. Yet he came when you called, sire. Came, with his ships and swords. He stood by you at Storm's End when Lord Renly came down on us, and his ships sailed up the Blackwater. His men fought for you, killed for you, burned for you.

—Davos Seaworth to Stannis Baratheon

When I die impoverished, my wives and concubines will curse you, Onion Lord. Lord Celtigar had many fine wines that now I am not tasting, a sea eagle he had trained to fly from the wrist, and a magic horn to summon krakens from the deep. Very useful such a horn would be, to pull down Tyroshi and other vexing creatures.

—Salladhor Saan to Davos Seaworth