Rafford

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Rafford
Raff.jpg
© Fantasy Flight Games

Alias Raff the Sweetling
Allegiance House Clegane
Died 300 AC
Braavos
Books

Rafford, better known as Raff or Raff the Sweetling, is a man at arms in service to Ser Gregor Clegane.

Appearance and Character

Rafford is soft spoken and has a mop of sandy hair. He is cruel and sadistic.[1]

When Jaime arrives at Harrenhal, he sees Raff wearing the chain of coins that once belonged to Vargo Hoat. He thinks of Raff as bolder than the rest of Gregor’s men and notes that he is not as drunk as Shitmouth.[2]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Raff the Sweetling is one of Ser Gregor Clegane's men at arms and is part of the group that captures Arya Stark, Gendry and Hot Pie in the Riverlands. He see's Lommy is injured and asked him if he is alright in a feigned voice of concern....


Raff: Can you walk?

Lommy: No, You got to carry me

Raff: Think so?


Raff proceeds to stab Lommy with a spear to the throat, chuckling to himself after the deed is done. [3]

On the march to Harrenhal, he smashes the face of a three-year-old boy with a spiked mace and kills his screaming mother shortly afterwards. Chiswyck later recalls Raff killed the son of the alehouse owner when he tells the story about the gang rape at the alehouse.[4] For these actions, Arya adds him to her prayer kill list.[1]

Raff later departs Harrenhal alongside Tywin Lannister as part of Gregor Clegane's vanguard, unknowingly putting himself out of Arya's reach to choose him as her next target for Jaqen H'ghar.[5]

He participates in the Battle of the Fords under Ser Gregor Clegane's command, managing to cross the Trident as one of his best men. He survives the battle at Stone Mill and successfully retreats when Ser Edmure Tully counter-attacks with his reserve.[6]

Storm of Swords

Raff's atrocities are recalled by Arya, who informs Harwin and the Brotherhood Without Banners of his actions when his group captured her and Gendry near the God's Eye.[7]

Raff continues to be religiously included in Arya's death prayer list, though as time goes on she struggles to remember his face as well as the other marked members of Ser Gregor's men-at-arms.[8]

A Feast for Crows

When Ser Jaime Lannister pauses at Harrenhal, he encounters the remnants of Ser Gregor's men there, and notes Raff is the boldest of the group. After Ser Bonifer Hasty refuses to allow them to stay, Jaime brings them with him to Riverrun as part of his force to besiege the castle. After the fall of Riverrun, Rafford is told to escort Ser Robin Ryger and Ser Desmond Grell to Maidenpool for their journey to the Wall and make sure they made it alive. [9]

A Dance with Dragons

Ser Kevan Lannister suggests that Ser Harys Swyft hire some of the Mountain's men to add to his household guard.

The Winds of Winter

When Ser Harys Swyft is sent to negotiate the crown's debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos he is accompanied by Raff as one of his guards. They attend a play at the Gate, a mummer's playhouse in Braavos. Arya, posing as the mummer "Mercy" spots him, and seduces him. She tires him out by running him to her room, then once he is undressed she discreetly stabs him in the thigh, rendering him unable to walk. She backs off feigning surprise and shock, and Raff, seeing the blood flowing out of his wound, panics and tells her to help him to a healer. When Arya asks how they can get there, Raff replies:


Raff: You’ll need to carry me.
Arya:Think so?.


After sweetly echoing Raff's own words from when he killed Lommy, Arya stabs him in the throat. His corpse is dumped in a canal, for the eels. [10].

References and Notes