Difference between revisions of "Orwyle"

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==History==
 
==History==
After Grandmaester [[Mellos]] passed away in {{Date|127}}, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] recommended to her father that her maester [[Gerardys]] take his place as Grand Maester. [[Alicent Hightower|Queen Alicent]], however, wanted Maester [[Alfador]], who served [[House Hightower]], named to the office. Beset from both sides, Viserys chose neither, reminding both his wife and daughter that the [[Citadel]] would decide who filled the office. In the end, Archmaester [[Orwyle]] was selected by the [[Conclave]] as the new Grand Maester.{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
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After Grand Maester [[Mellos]] passed away in {{Date|127}}, Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] recommended to her father that her maester [[Gerardys]] take his place as Grand Maester. [[Alicent Hightower|Queen Alicent]], however, wanted Maester [[Alfador]], who served [[House Hightower]], named to the office. Beset from both sides, Viserys chose neither, reminding both his wife and daughter that the [[Citadel]] would decide who filled the office. In the end, Archmaester Orwyle was selected by the [[Conclave]] as the new Grand Maester.{{Ref|fab|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
  
 
===Dance of the Dragons===
 
===Dance of the Dragons===

Revision as of 06:02, 4 February 2019

Orwyle
Orwyle.jpeg
Art by Enife

Alias Old Wyl
Titles
  • Archmaester
  • Grand Maester
Died 133 AC
King's Landing
Books

Orwyle was an archmaester of the Citadel who later became Grand Maester. He served during the reigns of Kings Viserys I Targaryen and Aegon II Targaryen.[1]

History

After Grand Maester Mellos passed away in 127 AC, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen recommended to her father that her maester Gerardys take his place as Grand Maester. Queen Alicent, however, wanted Maester Alfador, who served House Hightower, named to the office. Beset from both sides, Viserys chose neither, reminding both his wife and daughter that the Citadel would decide who filled the office. In the end, Archmaester Orwyle was selected by the Conclave as the new Grand Maester.[2]

Dance of the Dragons

Upon the death of King Viserys, Grand Maester Orwyle met in the council chambers with the rest of the small council. In his own accounts, Orwyle claims that when Ser Otto Hightower said "Until such time as our King is crowned" that he was the one who replied softly... "Until our new Queen is crowned". In contrast, both the testimonies of Mushroom and Septon Eustace assert that it was in fact Lord Lyman Beesbury who said this in his waspish tone, and that Lord Lyman was the only council member who spoke for crowning of Rhaenyra Targaryen, as Viserys wished. Many observe that Orwyle's accounts were written only after many of the major events had already happened, while he was confined, and that Orwyle left an account to paint himself in as good a light as possible in the eyes of history. [3]

During the Dance of the Dragons, Orwyle pleaded with Aegon II to send him with terms of peace to Rhaenyra Targaryen, but he was initially refused. Eventually, he was dispatched to Dragonstone with a small retinue that included Ser Arryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard, where he spoke with Rhaenyra in favour of Aegon II. Rhaenyra refused to give up her claim and angrily seized Orwyle's chain of office from around his neck, handing it to her own maester, Gerardys, who she said was a true leal servant of the realm. She ordered Orwyle to depart the island to inform her brother. [3]

The war known as the Dance of the Dragons occurred soon afterwards. When Prince Aemond Targaryen decided to make Daemon Targaryen their priority, Orwyle was in favor of asking Storm's End for help, asking for caution, but Aemond proceeded with his plans. When Rhaenyra took King's Landing, Orwyle was tasked by Queen Alicent Hightower to send out ravens asking for help, but instead he was arrested in his chambers, and escorted to the black cells.[1]

Following Rhaenyra's escape from the capital, Orwyle was released from the dungeons after Ser Perkin the Flea took the Red Keep to install his squire, Trystane Truefyre, on the Iron Throne.[4]

When Lord Borros Baratheon's army reached the shores of the Blackwater Rush, Orwyle and Queen Alicent accompanied Lord Larys Strong to treat with Lord Borros. After Aegon II was restored to the Iron Throne, Orwyle remained in office as Grand Maester until the king's death.[5]

Under Aegon III

During the Hour of the Wolf, Orwyle was among those arrested by Lord Cregan Stark as suspects in the death of Aegon II and sent to the dungeons, It was there Orwyle began to write his confession. Under torture, he confessed to having given the poison to Larys Strong. Lord Cregan judged him complicit in the death of Aegon II and sentenced him to death.[6]

Orwyle, rather than face execution, chose to join the Night's Watch. He was replaced in the office of Grand Maester by Munkun. On the morning he was to depart King's Landing for the Wall aboard the North Star, however, Orwyle went missing. It was later discovered he had bribed a guard to free him and escape, disguised as a beggar. He shaved his hair and beard, going by the name of "Old Wyl" and working in a brothel called Mother's on the Street of Silk, sweeping and scrubbing floors. He also used his knowledge he acquired in the Citadel to inspect patrons of the house for pox, mixing contraceptions such as moon tea and potions of tansy and pennyroyal for the whores in the brothel. No one paid him any mind, until he took to teaching several of the Mother's daughters to read. One of these women demonstrated her new skill to a patron who also happened to be a serjeant in the gold cloaks. Orwyle's identity was soon discovered and he was arrested and brought to the Red Keep. [7]

Since Orwyle had evaded going to the Wall, despite the fact he never officially swore the oath, he was still considered a deserter of the Night's Watch, and the sentence for desertion was death. However, the Hand of the King, Lord Tyland Lannister, pointed out that at the moment there was no King's Justice in the office, and that the execution should be put on hold until a suitable candidate could be found. Lord Tyland's decision fooled no one, as it was known Lord Tyland had developed a close friendship with Orwyle during their time together on the green council. Orwyle was imprisoned in a large, airy, comfortable tower cell, where he would remain for two years. He was even provided with ink and parchment so he could continue to write his confessions. During this time, Lord Tyland showed no haste in finding a man to fill the vacancy of the King's Justice.[7]

During the Winter Fever in 133 AC, on account of many of the maesters being struck down by the ailment, Orwyle was released from the cells to assist those who remained in healing the sick. He worked tirelessly on treating those who had contracted the fever, despite the fact his age and long confinement had reduced him to a shell of the man he had once been.[7]

When Lord Tyland Lannister died from the disease, the young King Aegon, fearing a power grab by one of his regents, Lord Unwin Peake, ordered Orwyle to dispatch a raven to Goldengrove summoning Lord Thaddeus Rowan to assume position of Hand of the King. Orwyle, hoping for a royal pardon, was quick to obey, only to be seized by supporters of Lord Unwin Peake, who named himself the new Hand of the King.[8]

Orwyle was thrown back in his cell to await execution. Lord Peake decided to finally fill the position of the King's Justice that Lord Tyland had delayed. Ser Victor Risley was named to the station, and Orwyle was finally executed as a traitor and a deserter of the Night's Watch. Due to his age, high birth and long service, he was granted the honor of dying by the sword. [8]

Notes

Elio Garcia explained:

George noted that his account was written up while he sat in a prison cell uncertain if he was going to end up executed or not and wanting to lay down "his side" of the story to try and paint himself in the best possible light. (Yep, Orwyle actually has quite an interesting little story that unfortunately we really had trim almost entirely out of the world book. Definitely will be one of the many highlights of Fire and Blood, IMO.[9]

Orwyle's prison-cell account of what happened was therefore probably slanted in Rhaenyra's favor, in contrast with how Septon Eustace's history was slanted in Aegon II's favor. Grand Maester Munkun then based his The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling on Orwyle's already somewhat biased account.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Princess and the Queen.
  2. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  4. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  5. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  6. Fire & Blood, Aftermath - The Hour of the Wolf.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
  9. Stockholm and Archipelacon Report