Tyrion Lannister (Lord Tywin's Gift)

## Tyrion Lannister

Ser **Tyrion Lannister** is a knight from House Lannister. He is the third child and second son of Lord Tywin Lannister of Casterly Rock and his wife, Joanna Lannister, also of House Lannister.

## Appearance and Character

A handsome and strong youth, Tyrion has the thick sandy hair and green eyes of House Lannister. He has a wisp of a moustache. He closely resembles his brother Ser Jaime Lannister whom he admires.

Tyrion is arrogant and self-assured like most Lannister's, though unlike his father he has a cunning wit and good sense of humour. Comely and well spoken, Tyrion is able to sing, and is eager for the same glory his brother Jaime has had through his life. While not as good a swordsman as his brother, Tyrion is still highly skilled through training from the master-at-arms at Casterly Rock, his brother Jaime, and Brynden Tully during his time squiring for the Blackfish. While not the best swordsman, Tyrion has a very effective strategic mind and has had proven bravery on the battlefield.

Tyrion is an easy man to get on with, despite his arrogance, with his good humoured nature offsetting the Lannister pride. Among his friends he counts his brother Jaime, his favourite uncle Gerion, the heir to the Riverlands Edmure Tully, Theon Greyjoy, and many more.. It's been said that on rare occasions, Tyrion can even bring the hint of a smile to his fathers face - something the young knight sees as a triumph.

## History

### Early life

Tyrion was born in 273 AC to Lord Tywin Lannister and his wife Lady Joanna Lannister as their second-son and third-born child. King Aerys II Targaryen reacted poorly to the birth, questioning how Tywin could have a third healthy child, whilst he, the King, only had one healthy child.

Shortly after Tyrion's birth his future sister-in-law Elia Martell and future brother-in-law Oberyn Martell arrived at Casterly Rock, proposing a marriage between Elia and Jaime. Initially Lord Tywin was going to propose a marriage between Tyrion and Elia, but his wife convinced him to accept Jaime and Elia's betrothal, using Elia's age as a defining factor.

During most of Tyrion's childhood, his father Tywin served as Hand of the King to King Aerys II Targaryen in King's Landing, and as a consequence was absent from home for longer periods of time. As a child, Tyrion enjoyed spending much time with his mother, his uncle Gerion who "taught him humour", and his brother after he returned home in 278 AC. His sister Cersei was always cold towards him, unbeknown to Tyrion this was due to a prophecy from the woods witch, Maggy the Frog that claimed the *valonqar* would come to end her life.

In 277 AC Tyrion's younger brother Lancel was born. Tyrion took well to his new brother and would keep him entertained for the few years they spent together in their early childhood.

In 282 AC the War of the Usurpers came to an end, an experience which Tyrion had been involved with despite his age as the squire to Lord Andros Brax, actually seeing combat at one point and killing a Stormlander soldier, though his liege was overwhelmed and slain. The conclusion of the war saw dealings being made between various noble houses to try and ensure peace in the realm, which Tyrion's father Tywin was involved with. Lord Hoster Tully's daughter, Lysa Tully, had seen her betrothal ended by the war as her promised Elbert Arryn had died in combat, and as such the two Lord's struck a deal in which Tyrion and Lysa would be betrothed to one another. In addition to this arrangement, with Tyrion being left without a liege, he became a squire for Lysa's uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, taking up residence in Riverrun.

Tyrion initially found his betrothed to be distant from him, she was six years his senior and had recently lost the man she truly loved - the young son of a minor Vale nobleman, Petyr Baelish - in a duel between himself and Brandon Stark. Despite the initial distance between Tyrion and Lysa, the handsome and entertaining Lannister was able to gradually woo his betrothed, who he found to be sweet and pretty. As their courting proceeded the two would eventually fall in love with one another and so, what began as a political marriage, became a true love affair.

### Glory and Marriage

Tyrion's training as a squire went along well and though he never quite matched his brother Jaime's proficiency in swordsmanship, he was still an excellent fighter. These skills would be put to the test in 290 AC when the Greyjoy's Rebellion began with the burning of the Lannister fleet in Lannisport in the Westerlands and then the failed seizure of Seagard in the Riverlands. While Lord Hoster Tully didn't become too involved in the war against the Iron Islands his younger brother Ser Brynden Tully took part in the war, taking Tyrion with him as his squire.

Tyrion's actual involvement in the war was fairly common to what most squires experience until the Siege of Pyke where he had to personally face off against an Ironborn captain and was nearly killed as he was one of the first through the first breach in the wall of Pyke. For his bravery Tyrion was knighted on the battlefield by King Rhaegar I, watched over by his liege the Blackfish and his brother Jaime. Despite having just fought a war against the Ironborn, Tyrion began to become friendly with his father's hostage Theon Greyjoy who was five years his junior.

Later that year Tyrion, now a knight, was married to his betrothed Lysa Tully in a grand ceremony which saw many important figures attend, including the King himself. The wedding ceremony was conjoined with celebrations over the victory against the Ironborn and a tourney was held in Lannisport in the week following the nuptials. The freshly knighted Tyrion took part in the joust and hoped to proclaim his new wife as the queen of love and beauty, but he was knocked out in one of the final tilts by Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard.

In the years after their marriage Tyrion and Lysa's love for one another continued to grow, particularly when she had their first child a year after they were wed. The birth of their son Tybolt was a joyous occasion, the boy was a strong and healthy child whose birth was celebrated by many.