Garth

Biodata

Background / History

Rivalry within House Hightower

After Leyton Hightower withdrew from daily administration to pursue magical research, his sons competed over the family’s affairs. Garth allied with Humfrey against their eldest brother, Baelor. By the time of the Oldtown crisis, Garth wielded more influence within the family than anyone except Baelor, although he had never held its military authority 1 15 25 46.

Garth also had connections to House Cuy. Baelor identified Brandon Cuy as one of Garth’s men and challenged Garth over his involvement in choosing Darean’s remote fief. Garth initially regarded that holding as worthless countryside rather than a strategically important position near the Redwyne Straits 18.

Attempt to Isolate Baelor

When Darean visited Oldtown without reporting to the family, Garth sent Humfrey to bring him back. The intended private meeting was a political maneuver: Garth planned to release Darean unharmed after their discussion, leaving Baelor suspicious of his youngest brother’s loyalties. He did not intend to kill Darean, recognizing the danger of accusations of kinslaying 14 17.

The plan failed when Darean provoked Humfrey into a public confrontation and Aemon Cuy accepted a duel in Humfrey’s place. Garth learned of the incident within roughly twenty minutes and sent a messenger to recall Humfrey. With the encounter already public, the proposed meeting could no longer serve its purpose 15 17.

Following Leyton’s punishment of Humfrey, Garth confined his ally to his room and supplied him with a woman from the Rose Brothel. Humfrey’s loss of the lucrative wool textile business also greatly reduced his political usefulness 18.

Support for New Land Village

Garth opposed Baelor’s proposal to send elite soldiers, craftsmen, people, and grain to Darean. He feared that such extensive assistance would create a powerful new Hightower branch across the Redwyne Straits 18.

His objection concerned the scale of investment rather than abandoning the settlement altogether. He warned Darean that outside enemies could use poison, arson, and infiltration against an inadequately defended holding. In his assessment, the project needed at least a thousand men to establish a secure foothold 25.

When Guncer unexpectedly advocated committing a thousand troops, Garth challenged the proposal over the likely reactions of Paxter Redwyne, Dorne, and Highgarden. Ultimately, Baelor, Guncer, and Leyton’s steward left him unable to block the decision. He agreed to supply the family’s construction materials, provided that his representatives supervised their use, and helped settle arrangements for craftsmen, surveyors, and grain 26 27.

The Undead Outbreak

Garth later traveled to a fortified reserve warehouse east of Oldtown to inventory supplies for New Land Town. While he was there, a badly mauled man brought in from the road suddenly attacked a laborer. Garth saved a guard by throwing a wine bottle at the attacker, allowing the guard to strike back and eventually behead him 46.

When the dead laborer began transforming as well, Garth immediately ordered his beheading. He had both bodies burned and dispatched knights to investigate the roadside encounter. The warehouse had neither a resident maester nor ravens, preventing an immediate report to the Hightower 47.

Two days later, living corpses surrounded the warehouse. After the defenders secured the gates, the attackers withdrew into the forest. Garth recognized nearby villagers among the dead, noticed that arrows through the skull had killed some attackers, and identified necromancy as the likely cause 47.

Determined to warn his family, he left the garrison holding the warehouse and rode toward Oldtown with fifty personal guards. A destroyed bridge halted their escape, and the undead Dawn Hightower awakened eight hundred corpses concealed in the surrounding woods. Dawn sought Garth’s blood because it was purer than his own 49.

Garth ordered a charge through the encirclement, instructing any survivor to reach the Hightower with the warning. He escaped across the stream with only eight people beside him and suffered grave wounds. Baelor subsequently reported that Garth had reached Oldtown, but the maesters could do nothing for him 48 49.

Appearance

• Slender build: Garth is explicitly described as slender during the family council following Humfrey’s failed confrontation with Darean 18.

Personality

Garth is calculating, reserved, and adept at exploiting distrust. His scheme to arrange a harmless private meeting with Darean depended on Baelor interpreting it as evidence of disloyalty. Darean likewise recognizes his skill at sowing suspicion when Garth draws attention to Guncer’s conspicuous efforts to train with the guards 17 25.

He is protective of the family’s wealth and wary of strengthening a brother aligned with his rival. Nevertheless, he carries out the agreed supply arrangements after losing the council debate. During the undead crisis, his composure and commitment to House Hightower outweigh his earlier political maneuvering: he takes responsibility for containing the first attacks and risks leaving safety to deliver a warning 27 46 47 49.

Abilities & Skills

Political Maneuvering

Garth uses alliances and selective information to influence the family council.

• Secures Humfrey’s support against Baelor 15.
• Attempts to undermine Baelor’s trust in Darean without physically harming either brother 17.
• Encourages Darean to question Guncer’s motives for cultivating the guards 25.

Business and Logistics

Garth controls several family businesses and takes direct responsibility for distributing construction supplies.

• Negotiates oversight of materials supplied to Darean 27.
• Personally inventories warehouse stock, including copper, for shipment to New Land Town 46.
• Identifies manpower and security requirements that could make the settlement costly to sustain 25.

Combat and Crisis Leadership

Garth earned the nickname Greyiron in his youth and is singled out, alongside Darean, as one of the brothers with fighting ability 26.

• Throws a wine bottle accurately enough to interrupt an undead attack and save a guard 46.
• Maintains order during the first transformations and directs the disposal of the bodies 47.
• Draws his longsword and orders a mounted breakthrough when surrounded, prioritizing delivery of the warning over an impossible orderly retreat 49.

Occult Knowledge

Garth is particularly inclined to study magical lore among his brothers, but no spellcasting is demonstrated 47.

• Recognizes necromancy as the likely explanation for the living corpses 47.
• Deduces that damage to the head can kill the attackers 47.
• Admits no effective magical countermeasure; the family’s research has produced ancient objects of uncertain use rather than practical solutions 47.

Relationships

• Leyton Hightower — Father and ultimate authority. Garth serves as a counterweight to Baelor but must accept decisions backed by Leyton’s steward 24 27.
• Baelor Hightower — Eldest brother and principal political rival. Garth repeatedly opposes his policies and tries to isolate him within the council 15 17 18.
• Humfrey Hightower — Younger brother and political ally. Garth uses him as an intermediary, then recalls and confines him after the south-gate failure 14 17 18.
• Guncer Hightower — Younger brother and fellow council member. Garth mocks his moral posturing and distrusts his cultivation of the guards; Guncer’s support for Darean helps defeat Garth’s objections 18 25 26 27.
• Darean Hightower — Youngest brother. Garth opposes his rapid rise but supports continued construction on a more restrained scale and eventually supplies materials 25 27.
• Aemon Cuy — A knight Garth invited to Oldtown. Aemon fights Darean while serving as Humfrey’s temporary guard captain 15.
• Dawn Hightower — Undead collateral kinsman who ambushes Garth’s party and seeks his blood 49.

Notable Quotes

“No one outside the family wants you to gain a foothold there!” 25

“I'll supply the family's materials. You can have as much as you need, but like Baelor, I'll send someone to watch how you use them. You're not allowed to mess around!” 27

“I don't care how you do it. Whoever can break out, even if it's just one of you, get to the Hightower and deliver the news.” 49