Rowan Tyrell

## Lord of Highgarden

Warden of the South

Defender of the Marches

Lucas Tyrell

**Rowan Tyrell** is the Lord of Highgarden, Lord Paramount of the Reach, Warden of the South, and Head of House Tyrell. He is renowned throughout Westeros as a master of warcraft, a terrifying sight to behold on the battlefield, though after the War of Four Daughters he has all but lost his taste for it. The second child and eldest brother of five siblings, Rowan is very much a family man who adores his wife and children; he is pious and in good standing with the Faith of the Seven, especially with Princess Rhaella, whom he considers an adopted daughter.

## Appearance

Rowan is hardly the tallest of his siblings, standing at an even six-foot (his second sister Lynesse is an otherworldly two inches taller), but it is his posture that sets him apart: broad shoulders and a strong, straight back — built for carrying heavy plate armor and the burden of Lord Paramouncy — and chiseled legs — carved by years of riding. He has a well-tamed head of mahogany curls and a curated beard a shade darker, matched by sharp hazel eyes with flecks of green beneath a dark brow. His expression is rarely brooding, tending more towards an easy smile that belies a mastery of war, though on occasion a harsh memory eclipses his thoughts and turns his gaze distant.

The Lord Tyrell’s fingers are calloused from years of holding a sword a shield, though nowadays they are most often turning the pages of a book, or holding his children’s hands, or tracing the lines of his wife’s face. Each of his movements echoes warmth, and his clear, deep voice laughs often enough to be known throughout the halls of Highgarden.

His usual clothing tends towards surcoats of sage green embroidered with gold and trousers of a darker forest, leather accents keeping with a muted oak-and-brass combination to match. Sometimes a flower-stitched cloak sits clasped as his shoulders when receiving guests. When it is talk of war that fills the room, however, Rowan wears only one hue: shades of grey and deepest black, the same color as the armor that earned him the moniker of the Black Rose. In his younger years he would carry his arming sword, Stranglethorn, but following the War of Four Daughters the blade is rarely seen.

## History

**381 AC:** Rowan was born the second child and first son of Gareth Tyrell and Leyla Redwyne at Highgarden, the first child being his sister Alerie (born 370 AC). His birth followed a succession of two miscarriages and a stillborn, and was hailed with great celebration, most notably a festival which lasted three days. Later that year, Ormund Hightower would arrive at Highgarden to squire with the Lord Tyrell.

**385 AC:** The young heir shows great aptitude in reading and writing, curious about questions that sometimes cannot be answered. His parents encourage this, sponsoring his trips to Oldtown to study history and theology, often accompanied by his sister and Ormund.

**386 AC:** Early in the year Rowan’s sister Lynesse is born. He quickly becomes rather protective of her, a behavior strongly supported by his older sister Alerie, who has grown close to Ormund Hightower and knows that she will soon be departing Highgarden, leaving the burden of eldest sibling to Rowan.

**387 AC:** As predicted, Alerie is wed to Ormund, towards which Rowan expresses mixed feelings. He is far too young to understand the machinations of marriage, much less love. Instead, he takes up the blade and his father, a renowned knight himself, gifts him a well-bred palomino courser that Rowan names Morning. While his skills with the sword leave much to be desired, Lord Tyrell notes that his son often wins through basic combat tactics and footwork vice normal bladework.

**390 AC:** Rowan’s brother Ryon is born. He is a fussy child who cries often, though his aging mother adores him instantly. Gareth’s younger brother Alliser takes Rowan as his squire; he is not the great knight Lord Tyrell was, but he is an excellent strategist and father figure, honing his nephew’s talent in warcraft.

**392 AC:** Rowan’s third and final sister, Selyse, is born. Her birth is unexpectedly difficult following a suspiciously easy pregnancy, and after nearly a day of labor Selyse’s life is traded for her mother’s. Gareth mourns his wife’s passing and resents his new daughter, slipping into a deep depression. The young Rowan takes it upon himself to give Selyse — and the rest of his younger siblings — the parental attention they are suddenly missing.

**396 AC:** Rowan meets the beautiful Rylene Florent during his father’s nameday feast. The two are young yet, but he is enamored by her, bringing her gifts of beautiful flowers from the famed Tyrell gardens.

**400 AC:** Returning from a trip to visit their eldest sister in Oldtown, the Tyrell caravan is set on by ambitious bandits; Rowan, Alliser, and their small contingent of knights defend the carriages despite overwhelming odds, with Rowan rallying them after Alliser is injured from a vicious blow to the leg. Alliser knights Rowan on the spot. Unfortunately, the wound in his leg grows infected, and Alliser passes away at Highgarden a few days later. All of the siblings mourn for their uncle, though Lord Gareth departs immediately after the funeral ceremony.

**401 AC:** Lord Gareth begins to absent himself from council meetings, leaving Rowan to take his place as Heir to Highgarden. He is highly influenced by the aging Lord Baratheon, with whom he finds a mentor. A tournament is held for Rowan’s twentieth nameday. He enters, teased by Rylene that every man wants to win a tournament — but if he were to lose, she would accept his hand in marriage. A middling knight at best but proud nonetheless, it takes all of Rowan’s humility to throw the tournament. The betrothal to Rylene is settled at the Feast a few days later.

**402 AC:** Rowan and Rylene welcome their first child: a daughter, Mina. She is a quiet child, and her father’s darling. Later that year, Rowan meets Princess Rhaella when she arrives in Oldtown. He looks upon her as an adopted daughter, and takes great interest in her Faith studies from then on.

**403 AC:** Rowan takes the young Luthor Tarly as his squire, and trains him in the art of warcraft.

**404 AC:** Rowan’s second child is born: another daughter, Amerei. She is more like her mother, feisty and full of fiery beauty. A few moons later, Lord Gareth passes from a long-time illness and Rowan officially takes on the heavy mantle of Lord Paramount of the Reach, Warden of the South, and Lord of Highgarden. As tensions build with Essos, he foresees war on the horizon, and he dreads the day it arrives.

**405 AC:** Rowan arranges a marriage between Lynesse and the Heir to Greenshield.

**407 AC:** Rowan’s third child is born: finally a son, whom he names Lucas. He appears to be a bright boy, with the aptitude of his father and the charm of his mother.

**409 AC:** The War of Four Daughters begins. Rylene begs for Rowan to remain at Highgarden; unable to ever refuse his lady wife, the Lord Tyrell sends his forces in the hands of his generals and stays by Rylene’s side during the first few moons of the war. When word of the failure at the Battle at the Lake reaches Westeros, however, Rowan knows that he can keep himself out of the fighting no longer. He arrives in time to lead the Reachman forces in the Battle in the Ruins, witnessing for the first time the horrors of all-out warfare. He commands valiantly, however, and to replenish the ranks lost he awards knighthood to worthy squires of fallen knights — including the young son of Lord Baratheon, Arstan Baratheon. He continues to fight in several major engagements, including the Battle of the Roads.

**410 AC:** Focused mostly on the taking of Myr, Lord Rowan arrives late to the Battle of Golden Fields, helping the Reachman and Westerland forces turn a sure loss into a draw.

**411 AC:** In an effort to regain ground lost in the Battle of Golden Fields the previous year, Rowan leads an engagement against the Volantenes up the Lhorulu in the Battle of the Lhorulu. Mostly driven by revenge the Westerosi armies and soon put on the defensive as the Volantene army presses north. With defeat evident, Rowan lays a trap maneuver to increase Volantene casualties to almost insufferable levels despite their victory. Now focused completely on the city of Volantis, Lord Rowan orders a blockade of the city by the Redwyne fleet while the land forces lay siege, with the purpose of keeping Volantene forces out of the war. As moons pass, the Reach and West armies grow more desperate for a victory. The opportunity arises when the Volantenes attempt to bypass them from the south in the Battle of Fires; Rowan receives early word of the movement and is able to rally his forces to funnel the much larger army into a death trap. Many Westerosi die in the face of a force more than three times their size, but the ratio of casualties is much larger for the Volantenes and the Reachmen cheer for “the Black Rose” when the Essosi are successfully routed.

**412-414 AC:** Rowan is injured during the traitorous Battle of the Dagger, when the Black Company and Second Sons turn on the Westerosi forces. Much to his dismay, it keeps him out of the fighting — including the Seven Day Battle — for several moons. He returns to the war at the start of the new defensive campaign, but is demoralized following the Brave Stand where over two thousand Reachmen die, including his cousin Arlan, Alliser’s son. He also loses his horse, Morning. He knights several squires who survive, including his own, Luthor Tarly. Rowan remains in the field until the end of the War, helping plan strategies of the other Westerosi armies, but does not see front-line combat again. He returns home just in time for his younger sister’s remarriage to Vaeron Targaryen, in response to her husband’s death in the War.

**415 AC:** Lynesse remarries to Vaeron Targaryen, whom she has fallen for after the death of her husband in the war. Rowan and his family travel to Harrenhal for the dual wedding of Vaeron and his daughter, Alysanne.

**417 AC:** Rowan accompanies Rhaella Targaryen in her attempted taming of Sunstryke. When she is gravely injured, he races ahead to arrange safe passage and ready medical attention with House Yronwood. He heavily endorses her naming as one of the Most Devout. Later that year, he and his family arrive in King’s Landing for the King’s nameday celebration.

## Possessions

### Animal Companions

* A new young courser of solid black named Eventide.

### Weapons

* His arming sword, *Stranglethorn.*
* Specially-made battle armor of blackened steel, rimmed with thorns and roses, which gave him his name, the Black Rose

### Trinkets

* A Faith of the Seven pendant once owned by his uncle Alliser.
* A locket ring made following his betrothal to Rylene, containing a small piece of cloth soaked in her favorite perfume. Even many years later, it still smells of her when he opens it.

## Connections

* Rylene Florent (& House Florent) - His wife and beloved of over twenty years. He loves her dearly, and is close with her brother, Aladore.
* Luthor Tarly - Once his squire, he considers Luthor somewhat of an adopted son and has been watching his progress as he grows.
* Ormund Hightower (& House Hightower) - He has grown up with Ormund in his household, between Ormund’s squiring with his father and his later marriage to his older sister, and thus sees the Lord Hightower as an older brother figure whom he treats with great respect.
* Rhaella Targaryen - His eldest daughter, Mina Tyrell, is Rhaella’s lady-in-waiting. He himself considers Rhaella an adopted daughter as well, and accompanied her taming of Sunstryke as well as endorsed her naming as one of the Most Devout.

## Rumours

* Supposedly accidentally killed his own cousin during the chaos of the Brave Stand.
* Supposedly will not even consider fighting on a battlefield ever again.
* Has fought during the War of Four Daughters; following his victory in the Battle of Fires, he is well-known amongst the Westerosi armies (especially the Reach and the West) as the Black Rose.