Gerold Lannister

Lord **Gerold Lannister**, known as Gerold the Golden, is the current head of House Lannister and the ruling Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. He is the father of the twins Tywald and Tion Lannister (both deceased), as well as the father of Tytos and Jason Lannister. He lead House Lannister during the Laughing Storm's Rebellion and is well renowned throughout the realm. He is currently Master of Coin for King Vaegon Velaryon.

## Appearance and Personality

Gerold is golden haired and over six foot tall. He is quick of wit and a shrewd ruler of his domain. Gerold has suffered great loss in his time, with the deaths of his brother, niece, sons, and disappearance of his wife, Rohanne Webber. This has made him focus on the betterment of his remaining family, and he would lay down his life for his two sons.

## Biography

### Early Life

Gerold was born the second son of Lord Damon 'the Grey Lion' Lannister and his wife Cerissa Brax in 196 A.C. As a child, Gerold was an exact opposite of his elder brother Tybolt: whereas Tybolt took to the lance and sword from an early age, Gerold concerned himself with the intricacies of ruling and managing a realm. The two were close enough as children, although Gerold secretly believed himself more worthy of one day inheriting the Westerlands.

Gerold fostered at the Hornvale with his mother's kin along with his lifelong friend Leo Prester. After his uncle Lord Amory Brax claimed that a lord was only as good as his sword-arm, Gerold began to practice his strength-at-arms. Gerold was able to best the greatest knights of the Westerlands before he was satisfied with his skill. In 210 A.C., Gerold was wed to Alysanne Farman, although he did not desire the match. Alysanne would die in childbirth later that year, and the baby did not live three nights.

When his father Damon succumbed to the Great Spring Sickness, Gerold was made an advisor of his brother Tybolt. In 211 A.C., Gerold began to court Lady Rohanne Webber of Coldmoat before returning to Casterly Rock to rule while his brother warred in the Iron Islands. Lady Rohanne claimed that Gerold would never give up the luxuries of House Lannister for her cold and impoverished castle.

Controversy arose in the Westerlands in the year 212 A.C. after Tybolt Lannister, a young and healthy warrior, mysteriously passed away. His daughter, three-year-old Cerelle Lannister, inherited Casterly Rock and the Westerlands with Gerold as her regent. Less than a year after Cerelle inherited, she also mysteriously passed away, leaving Gerold Lannister to inherit Casterly Rock. The smallfolk claimed Gerold murdered both his niece and brother, and bare no love for a man they call kinslayer. The Lords of the West believed that Gerold murdered them as well, but did not express their beliefs like the smallfolk.

### Lord of Casterly Rock

Gerold inherited Casterly Rock and the Westerlands after the death of his niece Cerelle Lannister. Early in his rule, Gerold was disliked by all of his bannermen and smallfolk. However, as he proved his worth by growing the wealth of House Lannister and helping the Westerlands prosper after the costly Great Spring Sickness, he began to win their reluctant support. Gerold earned the sobriquet 'Gerold the Golden' for his prosperous rule.

In 217 A.C., shortly after her fifth husband passed away, Rohanne Webber and Gerold Lannister were wed. The match was questioned by the Lords of the West, but they relented once Rohanne gave birth to healthy twins named Tywald and Tion in 219 A.C. One year later, Tytos Lannister was born, followed by Jason Lannister in 224 A.C.

In 230 A.C., Rohanne Webber mysteriously disappeared, which caused Gerold great grief. In 233 A.C., Tywald Lannister was squiring for Prince Aegon Targaryen during the Storming of Starpike, and was slain in the fight against House Peake. According to some, Tywald's last words to his twin brother Tion were to marry his betrothed, Ellyn Reyne, in Tywald's place. In 234 A.C., Gerold arranged for his son Jason to squire for Lord Lyonel Baratheon. Tion and his brother Tytos were doubly married at Casterly Rock in 235 A.C., to Ellyn Reyne and Jeyne Marbrand respectively. Gerold retreated to his chambers following the wedding, allowing his advisors and good-daughter Ellyn to rule for him.

By the end of 235 A.C., Ellyn Reyne ruled Casterly Rock in all but name, as Gerold had become too ill to even attempt ruling. Ser Tion, Gerold's heir and husband of Ellyn Reyne, perished at the Battle of Wendwater Bridge during the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion. Tion's death woke a new strength in Gerold, and he overcame his illness and reclaimed his rulership of the Westerlands, as well as preparing his thirdborn son Tytos for ruling. When Ellyn reportedly attempted to bed Tytos in 239 A.C., Gerold married her off to the elderly Lord Walderan Tarbeck and Ellyn lost her power at Gerold's court.

### The Laughing Storm Rebellion

Gerold was present at Princess Shaera's Nameday Feast in 239 A.C. Gerold was pleased when his son Jason won the squire's tourney, and was slightly disappointed that Jason remained with Lyonel Baratheon after being knighted. When Lyonel Baratheon left the hall after learning of Prince Duncan Targaryen's elopement, Gerold led his bannermen from the hall in solidarity with his ally. He led his family and bannermen back to the West hastily, stopping at Old Oak and calling the banners of the West from the castle.

Gerold welcomed Addam Webber, his late wife's son by Eustace Osgrey, into the Westerman host gathered at Casterly Rock. He allowed Addam to participate in the war council at Casterly Rock, where it was decided that Ser Roland Lannister and Lord Roger Reyne would lead the host south and pester the Reachmen while Lyonel Baratheon dealt with the Crownlands forces. Gerold negotiated ransom with Lord Axel Crane while the Reachman was imprisoned at Casterly Rock, part of the deal struck with Ser Roland at the Sacking of Red Lake. Gerold attempted to convince the Greyjoys raiding the coast of the West to turn on the Redwyne Fleet and raid the Reach, to no avail.

After news reached Gerold of his son Jason's wounding at the Second Battle of Wendwater Bridge, Gerold became cross with Lyonel Baratheon and briefly considered standing down his levies. Gerold recalled his levies to the West to deal with the Ironborn, but Roger Reyne remained in the Reach, where he sacked Risley Glade and Old Oak before reluctantly returning to the West. During Tytos Lannister's nameday feast and tourney at Casterly Rock, Gerold received word from Torwyn Greyjoy that he had become the Hand of the King after the death of King Aegon and Harald Arryn. Gerold, furious that Torwyn offered peace after raiding and reaving the West without consequence, marched with his own host east to King's Landing.

At the peace talks outside of King's Landing, Gerold sided with his ally Lyonel Baratheon and argued with Lord Uther Peake about the execution of Addam Webber and Roger Reyne. When the Arryn men ambushed Torwyn Greyjoy and his party inside the walls of King's Landing, Gerold held his men back until the fighting was ended. With a select group of knights and bannermen, Gerold ventured to the Red Keep, where he was distraught at the sight of Prince Jaehaerys, Princess Shaera, and King Daeron's corpses. After Addam Webber was seized by Lord Ryam Redwyne's sellswords, Gerold called for a Great Council to decide upon the next King of the Iron Throne.

### Recent Events

Gerold Lannister called The Great Council of 240 AC and argued in favor of Vaegon Velaryon's claim. Gerold was responsible for garnering the vote of House Crakehall by offering Lord Edric Crakehall's cousin Ser Valarr a White Cloak. Although he desired to be Hand of the King, Gerold accepted Vaegon Velaryon's appointment to Master of Coin after the Valyrian won the final vote.

Gerold advocated for pardoning Addam Webber during the Reachman's trial, and was unsuccessful as Addam was executed for oathbreaking. Gerold later sat as a judge for Hal Dondarrion's trial. During King Vaegon's first Small Council meeting, Gerold argued in favor of forcing Roger Reyne to return Heartsbane but would not budge on Roger's death, causing a rivalry between Gerold and Lord Commander Ben Flowers of the Kingsguard.

Gerold jousted in the tourney of King Vaegon Velaryon's coronation, unhorsing Ser Ormund Baratheon in the first round. In the second round, Gerold remained on his horse after a strong hit from Lord Commander Ben Flowers, yet was eliminated when his horse rolled its ankle and landed on Gerold's leg, shattering it.