Garlan Roxton

* 130 AC
* 99 AC

Kingsguard

**Ser Garlan Roxton**, once known as *The Blue Knight*, now more commonly referred to as *The That-will-do Knight* or *The Untrue Knight,* was born in the year of 80 AC in the city of Oldtown. He was the second son of Lord Roxton and his wife Lady Bulwer. Garlan was elevated to a position within the Kingsguard of Viserys Targaryen in 99 AC, taking the place of Ser Maric Stokeworth, his erstwhile mentor. He has served the Realm and it's King ever since, and is now in his thirty-first year of wearing the white cloak. Garlan is the current wielder of the Valyrian Steel longsword *Orphan-Maker*, known for it's black blade.

## **Features**

#### *Appearance*

Once a handsome man, Garlan Roxton has lost much - if not all - of his comely looks and charm. Having reached his fiftieth nameday just this year the Knight of the Ring's previously eager icy blue eyes now stare out at the world with hostile suspicion. More often than not they are also bloodshot and puffy, and always highlighted by a pair of miserable dark bags that hang under them. The Roxton’s visage is weathered, time has creased it like ancient vellum. The wavy brown hair that he was so proud of in his youth is now greying, and kept short for fear of balding.

In the 130th Year After the Conquest, Ser Garlan Roxton is a man quite clearly in decline.

#### *Personality*

Once valiant, cocksure and charming, age has soured this proud Knight of the Ring. Once the darling of smallfolk everywhere thanks to his youthful countenance and dashing smile, Garlan's affection for the common man has gradually faded into nothingness. Now in his fiftieth decade he is ill-tempered, quick to anger and growing evermore cantankerous, caring little for the opinions of those he deems unworthy of his time and attention. Respect is something that he holds only for the King, the Royal Family, certain members of the Royal Court, and a select few of his white-cloaked brothers. Indolent and apathetic, Garlan often seeks to complete any tasks handed his way by exerting the least amount of effort possible, hence the corruption of his previous nickname. Still, enemies should not mistake lethargy for slowness or weakness: Garlan remains one of the foremost swordsmen in the Realm, and is quick enough to anger when provoked.

## **Life**

#### *Childhood, 80-93 AC*

Being born the second son was a humbling experience for the young child -- while his elder brother was being tutored in the ways of ruling over serfs, Garlan was able to frolic to his heart's content in the city of Oldtown due to his mother's generous disposition. There, he would become friends with his fellow noble children and form lifelong bonds.

While he would spend his younger years enjoying himself, he then applied himself to more physical activities -- learning the ways of *using a longsword at the same time*, as well as *concealing himself so as to steal treats discreetly* when he was without coin. Over the years, he became more proficient at both of these things, to the point that he was considered a rather capable swordsman and adept at hiding who he was.

####  *Young Adulthood, 93-97 AC*

During his teenage years, he began to take life with more seriousness; practicing with his blade daily, forging relations with other noble houses and even learning the scholarly arts such as reading and writing. Although it was hard at first due to his active nature, he eventually mastered it and began to be capable of writing letters. It was then that his father began to give more responsibility, recognizing that both of his sons could be valuable assets to the household.

However, such actions would be put on hold when he turned seventeen as the Toyne raids began in the Stormlands. Eager to prove himself, he asked his father for permission to take several hundred Roxton levies to the Stormlands and put down the rebels. The man grudgingly consented, and so the young lordling marched east to replace order where it had faltered. There, he would fight one of Toyne's brothers himself and even slay the man in single combat.

####  *Adulthood, 98-99 AC*

At the age eighteen, he would be sent to King's Landing where he was knighted by Ser Maric Stokeworth of the Kingsguard himself. During his time there, he would also be sent his family's ancestral blade from a messenger -- a reward for his valiant efforts in the war, as well as motivation to be the best he could be. It would be another year spent gallivanting around before his father would recommend him to replace the now empty position in the Kingsguard -- left by the very same knight who had knighted him. The young man arrived in the keep, intent on proving himself to the King that he would be a suitable replacement for Maric. Fortunately for him, he had even managed to acquire a recommendation from the Lord Commander himself.

#### *The Newest Kingsguard, 99-115 AC*

Inducted into the Kingsguard in the second month of 99 AC following the death of Ser Maric, Garlan cemented his position at the court of King Viserys I Targaryen as the youngest - and *most dashing* - member of the White Cloaks. Almost immediately, the naive and easily excitable young Roxton found himself enveloped in controversy. He fought a number of duels, losing to Matarys Waters but defeating his fellow brother Corlys Celtigar. Worse, he struck up a ill-advised relationship with Serra Baratheon, enamored by the beauty of this Lady of Storm's End. This was soon discovered by Serra's husband, Prince Daeron Targaryen, as well as by the other knights of the Kingsguard who chided their youngest brother for his foolishness. Despite his youthful longing for the Baratheon woman the other White Swords would ensure that he was kept far from her presence, and kept watch on him at all times to ensure he did not take another misstep. Their efforts would not be in vain: eventually Garlan would forget his lustful feelings for Serra... especially so after one of his white-cloaked brothers at last introduced him to the whores on the Street of Silk.

As Viserys dealt with the scars of war during the turn of the century, Ser Garlan stood ever vigilant and dutiful at the side of his King. He did exactly as he was bid, learning quickly that loyalty above all else was prized amongst the members of the Royal Household. When Ser Jason Lannister was summoned to King's Landing to face trial under charges of treachery, Ser Garlan was chosen to stand as Viserys' champion after the deceitful lion chose to undergo a Trial by Combat. Wielding *Orphan-Maker* the young Roxton easily bested the Lannister in battle, disarming him and offering him up for judgement to the King. In the end Viserys was merciful and *Orphan-Maker* orphaned no babes that day, as Ser Jason was offered the choice to join the Night's Watch - an opportunity he readily took. Still, in this way Garlan proved to all those who still doubted him that he was an invaluable member of Viserys' Kingsguard, a leal and dedicated servant of the Crown, and to top it all: an excellent swordsman.

For much of the 100s AC Garlan would remain ensconced within the Red Keep, at the side of the King and his immediate family. War with Dorne, the fall of House Martell, the rise of House Toland, the opening of negotiations with the Kingdom of Winter in the far North: all of these events Garlan would only hear about through a series of reports sent back to the capital. Whilst at first he wished that Viserys might himself march off into battle so that he could earn yet more glory, soon enough the young Roxton came to enjoy his newfound position at court and the tranquil stability that came with it. The Red Keep was his new home and he seldom left it, unless expressly ordered to do so by his superiors, or for a late night visit to an establishment on the Street of Silk. He slowly forgot the common folk of the city whom he had once loved and been loved by, and soon enough they began to forget him too. Soon enough Garlan would come to see the people he had once viewed as friends and compatriots as nothing more than a threat to the stability of the Crown.

Through the first decade and a half of the 2nd Century AC, Garlan Roxton would remain the newest and youngest member of the Kingsguard. During this time he learnt much from his elder white-cloaked brothers, who helped mentor him. As the original members of Viserys' Kingsguard gradually began to pass away this mentor-ship would come to be sorely missed by the Roxton, who would slowly descend into a life of vice and disillusionment (see *'Aged, Apathetic and Amoral, 115-129 AC'*). Still, it was only in 115 AC, with the appointment of Ser Jaime Bracken, that Garlan was finally replaced as the youngest member of the Kingsguard. The Bracken was selected to wear a white cloak only after Ser Alyn Corbray chose to take the black rather than fight on behalf of the King during the Cobblist Revolts. For his own part, Garlan had no such qualms about helping the King he had sworn to obey and protect, and was thus all to happy to aid Viserys in quelling the rebellious rabble within King's Landing, fighting tooth and nail in defense of his King and slaughtering a great many of the peasant-zealots. This certainly did not help his already ailing popularity amongst the smallfolk of the city; many of them came to revile their former beloved champion *The Blue Knight,* now finding him to be more *Untrue Knight* than anything else.

It was during the Cobblist riots that Garlan first became acquainted with a youth of the city watch by the name of Brus. The fighting had grown truly desperate and already one Kingsguard had fallen - Ser Ronnel Royce, after saving an isolated Prince Baelor from the mob - when Brus appeared before Garlan. The boy, a former orphan of Flea Bottom, helped guide Garlan and a contingent of Targaryen men-at-arms under his command through the undercity's many alleyways to flank the rampaging mob. Once there Garlan would personally lead the Crown loyalists into a renewed counterattack, driving his infantry straight into the heart of the rabble. The poor smallfolk of King's Landing stood little chance against the forceful might of House Targaryen. After the defeat of the rioters Garlan decided to take the young watchman who had so helped in the fighting under his wing, understanding immediately that the boy would be of some use to him. Years of training and tutelage would eventually forge young Brus into both a Knight in his own right and a Serjeant of the City Watch, as well as a capable and precise tool to be used by his Kingsguard mentor.

#### *Aged, Apathetic and Amoral, 115-129 AC*

Garlan spent the late 110s AC, the period in which the North was finally reintegrated into the Targaryen Realm, much as he had the early 100s AC: at the side of his king, Viserys I, within the Red Keep. Whilst His Grace oversaw from afar plans and negotiations to coerce and compel the Stark King back into the fold, the Roxton Kingsguard spent much of his time building up a network of informants through the Red Keep and King's Landing. This was accomplished with the tireless aid of his protegee Brus, who would do as he directed and act within certain circles in which Garlan and his pristine white-cloak could not easily enter. In turn, each month Garlan would collect a healthy stipend gathered from the felonious activities of his tutee, remaining always careful to keep himself a few steps removed from any obviously illegal activities. During this time his standing fell yet further amongst the citizens of King's Landing, as his wanton corruption and obvious distaste for the plight of the common man became more widely rumoured.

Eventually, however, Garlan began to grow tired of whoring, gambling and drinking his nights away. At his age he began to find every hangover more debilitating than the last, and even with Brus' monthly stipend he found himself indebted to some unsavoury characters. Even worse, dark rumours had begun to spread around the royal court of his lavish and decadent private life; rumours that might threaten more than just his good standing within the Targaryen household. Additionally, the lifestyle that he had been living had begun to affect his ability to perform his duties to the Crown: on more than one occasion he had fallen asleep whilst on guard at a session of the royal court. In the taverns and winesinks of King's Landing men began to jest about the bone-idle Kingsguard who did only the mere minimum of what was required: what did they say was his favourite phrase?

"That'll do."

The smallfolk could laugh and joke to their heart's delight, but when Garlan overheard in passing a minor lordling refer to him as the *That-will-do Knight* within the walls of the Red Keep itself, he realised that something had to be done. Deciding that an execution or a gelding weren't options that he'd much enjoy, in 122 AC the Roxton decided to clean up his act and restore his (relatively) good name. In quick succession Garlan proceeded to do away with the mistresses he'd carefully cultivated in brothels across King's Landing, before moving on to quash any rumours that still abounded about his more nefarious activities.

To this extent, Brus was ordered to arrest the many criminals that he had in his pay. Soon enough Brus was made a Serjeant of the Watch, with some men under his command and a small precinct of the city of his own to patrol. In fact, in return for his 'good service to the city' Garlan even found time to knight the man. As he and the newly minted Ser Brus of the Bells continued to go about distancing Garlan from anything remotely illegal, the Roxton found that he had quite the talent for compelling men and women to reveal their secrets through the use of certain *enhanced* methods of interrogation. He would continue to hone these inquisitorial talents as the years went by, sometimes in the service of the Crown... and sometimes just for fun. By the close of the 120s AC Ser Garlan Roxton of the Kingsguard had managed to blot out most of the worst stains on his reputation, though the people of the city below the Red Keep would not forget their fallen champion anytime soon.

#### *A New King, A New Me, 129-130 AC*

Ser Garlan easily settled into his new life serving the newly crowned King Baelor I Targaryen, in truth finding it not much changed from his old life. The appointment of old Benedict Tarbeck to the post of Lord Commander of the Kingsguard following the death of Corlys Celtigar was not a surprise: the old Western goat was an honourable and diligent man, the last of his kind still serving. Still, Garlan certainly harboured his own doubts about the viability of the aged Tarbeck for command of the White Swords, and felt an old emotion rise within him that he had not felt stir for many, many years: *ambition*. In any case, the Roxton would never dare to raise such doubts about his sword-brother in public - not yet, at least.

Instead, Garlan did exactly was his told, following the orders of the new monarch and his new Lord Commander to the letter-- but never going above the call of duty. And why bother? He held seniority amongst all his brothers save for Ser Benedict: it was now the turn of the younger White Swords to do their duty, and pick up his slack. Men such as Edderion Manderly, Daemon Dayne, Corlys Velaryon and Aemon Targaryen knew nothing of what being a true Kingsguard meant: they had not served alongside legends such as Ser Ronnel Royce, Ser Maric Stokeworth or Ser Aethan Velaryon.

In time they might learn, but only with *his* help. And *his* help did not come cheap.

## Meta

* CHA - 0
* MAR - 5
* COM - 10
* INT -7
* STE - 0
* STA - 0
* EDU - 0
* MAG - 0
* REP - 3

**SKILLS**

* Formation(MAR), Endurance(COM), Weapon Proficiency(COM)(Swords + Shields), Espionage(INT), Interrogation(INT)

**MASTERY**

* Duelist(COM)

**ATTRIBUTE**

* Strong

**COMBAT STATS**

## **Family**

* Lord Rickard Roxton
* Lady Alysanne Bulwer
	+ Ser Lyle Roxton
	+ Ser Garlan Roxton
	+ Lady Selyse Roxton