Barristan Lorch

## Personality

### Personality Description

Ser Barristan Lorch can be described by many words when it comes to his personality and the way he interacts with others. Some would describe him as conscientious, carefully planning his way forward and wary of every detail strewn in front of him– no matter how small. The same word implies the desire to perform his tasks and duties well and in an efficient manner befitting of his status as opposed to being easy going and disorderly. Conscientiousness is accompanied by observance, a trait that keeps a knife from your back and allows your own to be thrust into an enemy.

He grew up as a knight in a difficult time, so he can read social interactions fairly well and understand his place in the great game of Westeros thanks to his quick wit. He chooses to be knowledgeable, whether through overheard whispered words or underlooked details. Being a knight of the realm entailed being honorable and displaying chivalry, but to the Lorch it meant having opportunity and coming out on top. Known as the ‘Black Bull’ for a reason, his stubbornness is both a positive and negative trait; he is like a dog with a bone when it comes to setting his mind on things, however, his anger is also fuel for living; once he gets a hold of something, he never lets go until it is done. This has contributed to his successes and failures. His edges are jagged, and some liken him to a mountain or a raging river that will sweep you away. He believes that weakness and hesitation will lead to his and others' deaths, so he makes sound decisions and never second-guesses himself; he remains versatile.

No man is perfect however, and at the end of a long day, Lorch remains just that: a man. While he may be conscientious, observant, ambitious, reliable and possesses a quick wit, he is also temperamental, distrusting, and prone to addiction because of his personality. With someone who understands the world through an observant eye and wary mind, when things don’t go according to plan it can leave one feeling frustrated. This holds true for this man who is striving for more, when plans fall short it leads to his temper rising. Despite being loyal to a fault, in such a way where he’d lay his life on the line for allies, he has a hard time making allies. In the Game of Westeros, no one can be trusted.

### Goals and Ambition

Barristan's concepts of right and wrong are black and white, with some exception to a grey area. His allegiances and reservations are clear, as he is an honest man with little to hide; he wants the best for the kingdom he faithfully serves, as well as a future for his own family and the youth who will lead them into a new era. He remains focused on said goals.

### Reputation

Many people admire and respect him, but most are terrified of his power with words and weapons. He lacks the same ideals as many traditional knights who are honorbound and chivalrous, which is why some people may whisper about him as he passes in hallways. He is known to be rigid and have a short temper with little patience, which may speculate why he had never taken on a squire before the new Lord Lannister.

## Backstory

During a terrible storm on the 18th day of the 3rd moon, 207 A.C. Lord Tytos Lorch and his lady-wife Ellena Lorch nee Westerling heard the fighting cries of their second babe they had decided to name; Barristan. From the moment he was born until the day he could wield a sword, the young Lorch boy was a fighter, much like his lord-father, who had to force his hard-headed son to sit down and study for two hours every day until he learned what he needed to know before he could go and wield any weapon he desired.

In the later years of his youth when he was one-and-two, Barristan and his older brother Tymond had grown closer since their lady-mother died of bed sickness after giving birth to their youngest sister Reina Lorch when he was twelve. His brother and sister would turn out to be more like their mother; the two had sharp tongues. Later however, Barristan was finally permitted to take up a sword and travel to Ashemark to squire for a friend whom his lord-father trusted to look after him. He squired for Ser Tristan for most of his youth, learning how to swing a sword, swim, and become the best he could be – even participating in tourney’s until he was knighted at eighteen years old.

He spent the majority of his early twenties traveling as a Hedge knight all over the Westerlands, dealing with minor conflicts ranging from brigands and their ilk to uprisings. He had made a name for himself across the Westerlands as one of the best swordsmen around. At the age of twenty-two, he arrived in Lannisport and met a merchant named Jarak from Braavos; the two quickly became good friends; drinking and working their way through brothels. Jarak had indulged Lorch's curiosity by teaching him to sail and navigate using the stars and maps; the two had spent a good year together before parting ways and allowed Barristan to soon return home where he’d eventually meet his current wife Dyanna, at twenty-three. Five months after their first meeting, one was a headache for the other and the other was a break from the red he always saw; they have their ups and downs but many can see they have a deep respect and love for one another.

When he was about twenty-eight years old, he and Dyanna traveled to Ashemark while expecting their first child, whom they named Tytos later on. He hadn't taken on any squires for much of his time travelling either, he saw most of them as half-witts who hardly knew how to tie their own shoe laces.. While back at Ashemark, he met Loren Lannister, a young lord of about fifteen years old, whom he later took on as a squire after seeing great potential in the young lion, who fought with two long swords against two to three opponents. They spent five years together, during which time Dyanna and Barristan had two more children, now aged eight and five. They had a father-son relationship, and he learned most of his beliefs and ideals through fighting rather than talking.

Opportunity is better than honour, it was an exciting time to be alive.

When asked to return to Casterly Rock with Loren, he initially refused, but soon returned to his brother's domain to settle in with Dyanna and their children. With the rising tensions between his Liege with the Reynes and Tarbecks, he finally set foot in Casterly Rock after some time, swearing fealty to his new Lord and his family.

This is where he is today.