Clyson

Biodata

Background / History

Departure from Sunflower Hall

Clyson grew up in Oldtown and belonged to a collateral branch of House Hightower. By midsummer of 297, he served as Darean Hightower’s guard captain and de facto protector, accompanying him from Sunflower Hall to his newly granted holding. He challenged Darean’s acceptance of Brandon Cuy’s order to leave, calling it illegitimate, and worried that establishing the new estate would delay Darean’s promised return to Baelor Hightower 1 8.

Arrival and the Night Attack

On finding the holding’s village burned, Clyson led ten cavalrymen to investigate. All returned unharmed, but he reported that the village had no survivors and that Ser Hosman’s former residence was also destroyed. Later that day, Clyson and his riders rescued Edmont from a wild boar and brought its carcass back to help feed the settlers 2 3.

Clyson arranged patrols for the first night and urged Darean to remain cautious. When attackers struck from the south, he directed the settlers north and helped form a defensive line. The guards’ armor resisted the attackers’ weak arrows, but enemy spearmen exploited their defensive posture and wore down their stamina. Darean’s intervention relieved the pressure and helped turn the battle 4 5 6.

Afterward, Clyson warned that the prisoners had confessed to a bounty on Darean’s life. He proposed seeking support at the Hightower, only gradually recognizing Darean’s suspicion that one of his own brothers might be responsible 7.

Building the Settlement

Clyson initially objected to the settlement’s log-and-mud defenses, arguing that the wood could rot within two or three years. Darean insisted that immediate protection mattered more than durability and assigned him to divide construction tasks, inspect completed work, and distribute rewards of good timber. Later, Clyson became so angry at laborers openly shirking their duties that he nearly drew his sword on them 8 19.

When the forager Mena fell unconscious after a snakebite, Clyson reported both her condition and the other foragers’ fear of returning to the woods. The lack of a maester prompted Darean’s journey to Oldtown 9.

The Oldtown Visit

Clyson accompanied Darean to the Citadel while the remaining guards stayed behind to defend the holding. Although familiar with Oldtown, he had never entered the Citadel and appeared stiff and bewildered as Darean led him to Marwyn’s study 10 11.

At the southern gate, Humfrey Hightower’s men blocked their departure. Clyson offered to pull Humfrey from his horse, but Darean rejected the plan: as a collateral relative, Clyson could face imprisonment for attacking a member of the main branch, and Darean would be unable to protect him 15.

After Darean defeated Aemon Cuy, Clyson caught his exhausted lord before he collapsed. He then examined Aemon and reported that the wound had missed vital areas, allowing Darean to spare his opponent’s life 17.

Expansion of New Land

Clyson brought Darean a sample from an iron vein discovered during a survey of the holding. He explained that recent rain had exposed the deposit and that a cavalryman with a blacksmith’s background had recognized it. He subsequently joined Darean and Marwyn in preparing an aid request to House Hightower, recommending light armor to protect new soldiers before the estate could manufacture its own equipment 21 22.

As the settlement expanded, Clyson reported the withdrawal of Sunflower Hall’s knights from its borders and took overall charge of New Land Village’s defenses. He notified Darean when the family’s reinforcements arrived and accompanied him to meet their commander, Gerold “Jeylo” Hightower 28 30.

Clyson handed Darean the shovel used to begin the new castle’s foundation ceremony. He later trained recruits and consulted the smiths about the first locally produced iron ingots, accepting Darean’s decision to prioritize farming tools over new military equipment 35 36.

The Hightower Crisis

When Baelor sent a warning about disturbing events at the Hightower, Darean deliberately kept Clyson uninformed while consulting Marwyn and the steward. Later, as Darean prepared to seek support from Three Towers, he ordered Clyson to escort Margaery Tyrell to her room and keep watch over her 45 50.

Personality

Clyson is loyal, protective, and willing to question decisions he believes endanger Darean. He repeatedly urges caution, worries about the small guard’s ability to protect its lord, and is prepared to confront Humfrey personally to secure Darean’s passage 1 4 7 15.

His combat competence contrasts with his limited political judgment. Darean regards him as skilled in fighting but inept at politics; Clyson needs help understanding both the possible involvement of Darean’s brothers in the assassination attempt and the threat that excessive family assistance could pose to local authority 7 22.

Raised within traditional aristocratic society, he struggles with Darean’s improvised approach to settlement-building. He also has a crude sense of humor. When Darean rebukes his bawdy comments about recruits, Clyson laughs and answers with a story about Moryn Tyrell being found in an Oldtown brothel 8 36.

Abilities & Skills

Combat and Riding

• An experienced combatant whose fighting ability Darean explicitly distinguishes from his poor political instincts 7.
• Leads mounted scouting parties and fights with the household guards 2 3 5.
• Serves as Darean’s bodyguard and potential enforcer in confrontations 16.
• His first defense of the camp exposes tactical limitations: the attackers exploit his thin line and attempts to shield the settlers 5.

Command and Training

• Organizes patrols and directs guards during attacks 4 5.
• Holds overall responsibility for New Land Village’s defenses 30.
• Trains recruits and advises on their immediate armor requirements 22 36.

Literacy and Local Knowledge

• Can read 10.
• Recognizes Septon Derrian in Oldtown and is familiar with stories about the city’s military leadership 10 36.
• Relays reports from scouts, foragers, and smiths to Darean 9 21 36.

Equipment

• Heavy armor and helmet with a visor — worn while scouting the ruined village; his breastplate bears a white tower 2 3.
• Lighter armor — worn after removing his heavy armor in camp 4.
• Sword — carried as part of his duties as Darean’s protector 15.
• Shield — marked with House Hightower’s white tower on gray and fastened to his saddle during the Oldtown visit 10.
• Horse — used for scouting, escort duties, and carrying urgent reports 2 30.

Relationships

• Darean Hightower — Lord, kinsman, and principal charge. Clyson serves as his protector and guard captain, though Darean frequently corrects his political judgment and manners 1 7 15 36.
• Marwyn — Fellow member of Darean’s household. They help prepare the family aid request, but neither Marwyn nor Darean considers Clyson suitable to take over the settlement’s administrative work 22 27.
• Edmont — Settler whom Clyson and his riders rescue from a wild boar 3.
• Margaery Tyrell — Placed under his watch by Darean during the mobilization for Three Towers 50.

Notable Quotes

“This has nothing to do with honor, my lord. With so few men, we cannot protect you at every moment.” 7

“Even if you bring in an armorer, he won't be able to make much in a short time. What if something unexpected happens again?” 22