Loreon Lannister

Loreon Lannister is Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, and Warden of the West. He is the head of House Lannister, and so one of the most powerful lords in all of Westeros. From 366-370 AC Loreon served on the Small Council as Master of Laws. Loreon inherited the lands and titles of House Lannister when his father, Lord Leo Lannister, passed away in 370 AC. He has two siblings, Gwynesse and Lancel, and six children: Tytos, Gerald, Leila, Lynora, Jason and Lancel.

Appearance and Character
Loreon is tall, yet sturdily built. He shares, or once shared, many of the characteristics common to those born into House Lannister. When young his hair was golden blond, though now in his old age it has taken on a darker shade of grey. His eyes still shine a brilliant emerald green, flecks of gold spotted within them. He fastidiously keeps a neatly trimmed beard and moustache. When not dressed for battle in ornate and expensive armour, Loreon will wear lavish clothes befitting of his rank and title as Warden of the West. They will normally be coloured a bloody crimson, or opulent gold: Loreon’s two favourite colours.

The Lord of Casterly Rock was once well known throughout the Seven Kingdoms for his charm and wit. As a young man he was often found at the heart of any social occasion. But with the passing of years Loreon soon found himself with little time to waste as he took up an ever growing amount of responsibility. The Lion of the West is a patient man, though one who is also used to getting his way. He has a long memory and is not one to forget a slight easily. Usually calm and collected, it takes a great deal to make Loreon show his anger publicly. Once it is goaded out, however, Lord Lannister’s rage is a sight to behold.

History
Loreon was born in 342 AC, to Lord Leo Lannister and his wife, Melessa Redwyne. As their firstborn son, he was groomed to rule from his birth. His early years at Casterly Rock were spent training to fight, govern and rule. When he reached his twelfth nameday he was sent away to squire under one of his father's lords, Lord Banefort. Away from the court set up by his grandmother, Lady Margaery Lannister nee Tyrell, Loreon began to resent how the Roses had come to dominate his grandfather and father.

A Foolish Slight
When the Targaryens undertook their Royal Tour in 360 AC Loreon returned briefly to the Rock, along with the Baneforts. When the rash Prince Aenys snubbed House Lannister and spurned Loreon's sister Gwynesse whom he had been expected to marry, choosing to wed Lenore Blackwood instead, the Westerlands were outraged. This insult was only made worse when King Aenar accepted his son's decision. In the end the Lords of the West were only placated when it was decided that Gwynesse would marry Prince Viserys, Aenys' younger brother. Still, this was not enough for some. Loreon, encouraged by his uncle Tybolt, swore revenge on the Blackwood Witch who had humiliated his family. It would take years, but in the end the Lions would get what they so desired.

In 364 AC Loreon was knighted by Lord Banefort.

After this, Loreon spent some time in King's Landing with his uncle Tybolt and his sister Gwynesse. He was present when Prince Viserys attempted (unsuccessfully) to make Tybolt the new Hand of the King. He was also present in the Capital when the first bout of rumours concerning witchcraft and sorcery began to surround Lady Lenore, in 365 AC.

The Young Lion and the Salt-Queen
However, in 366 AC Loreon was ordered back to the Westerlands by his father. Only a few days after his return to the Rock the singers of Lannisport began to sing for the first time the popular ditty  'The Witch of Dragonstone.' Nothing more than a coincidence, of course. The rumours that Lannister gold, and Loreon's threats, kept the bards singing the song for weeks on end were nothing more than that: rumours.

The self-proclaimed 'Salt-Queen' Mara Halfblood had arrived to pillage and reave the keeps and towns of the West. And they would have likely done just that, were it not for the swift actions of Lord Leo Lannister's eldest son. Loreon took direct command of the Lannister Fleet and, against the advice of some of the more cautious of his father's commanders, took to the seas to hunt down the Ironborn menace. In what was widely regarded as a textbook naval victory, Loreon led the Lannister Navy from aboard his flagship as they crushed the so-called 'Queen' in a pitched encounter at sea. Mara herself fell alongside her comrades as her longship was swarmed by Lannister soldiers. Loreon's later treatment of Ironborn prisoners was characteristically brutal and dozens were executed, or simply thrown overboard to drown. Straight down to see their God.

This early campaign cemented Loreon's reputation as a capable and effective naval commander. It also gave him a natural distrust of the savage Ironborn menace. Loreon, in fact, argued in favour of leading a retaliatory strike against the Isles, though cooler heads at his father's court eventually prevailed. Some bards in Lannsiport even took to calling Loreon 'Tywin come again'. Those foolish enough to do so in public soon mysteriously vanished... Still, with the Ironborn threat now neutralised, Loreon returned once more to King's Landing, just as the final nails were being hammered into Lenore Blackwood's coffin.

The Downfall of Lenore Blackwood
Loreon bore witness to the series of scandalous trials that filled 366 AC. Though young, the Lion's many influential friends at court soon managed to secure the position of Master of Laws for him. Loreon was quickly charged by Aenar with overseeing the upcoming trials. Under his ruling Lady Lenore Blackwood was found to have been a sorceress and sexual deviant, guilty of having had an affair with Lord Celtigar - the man who had stolen Loreon's uncle's place as Lord Hand before.

Both the King and the High Septon agreed to annul her marriage to Prince Aenys; subsequently, their only son Maegor was declared a bastard. As for the Blackwood witch herself, there was only ever going to be one verdict for her in a trial overseen by Loreon: death. No one at court was more vocal in calling for her execution than he and his sister were. Eventually the Lions would get their way, and Lenore was beheaded. Not long afterwards the Crown Prince would commit suicide on Dragonstone.

Loreon and Gywnesse shed few tears for poor, foolish Aenys. He should've married a Lannister, as he was supposed to. He should not have slighted House Lannister. He should've remembered that the Lannisters always pay their debts.

The Ascendancy of Loreon Lannister
In 370 AC, Lord Leo Lannister passed away. Without further ado, Loreon resigned his post as Master of Laws and hurried back to Casterly Rock. This was the moment that Loreon, and his uncle Tybolt and wife Shiera, had been waiting for. Leo Lannister had ruled well: certainly better than his father Tyrek had. Still, Leo had allowed the lands he ruled, and his wider standing throughout the Seven Kingdoms, to stagnate.

The Lannister army, once the pride of the Westerlands, was but a mere shadow of what it had been just under a century before. The vast new reserves of gold and silver that had been discovered in the hills surrounding Casterly Rock during the Mead Summer lay still untapped. Lannisport, once a beacon of culture and commerce, had been left to deteriorate without the proper supervision from above. Loreon took it upon himself to revitalise the Lannister name.

Prospectors were sent into the hills to seek out the best sites for new mines. Within a few months new mines were being excavated in a number of locations across the Westerlands. A number of new public works were commissioned in Lannisport, most notably the construction of a grand new marketplace and a set of barracks to house the City Watch and a division of Lannister footmen. Crime fell, and trade returned to the levels that it had been at before the Second Conquest. Loreon personally took command of the Lannister Army. Drills were run from dusk till dawn, useless commanders replaced, and coin was spent to replace the tired equipment and arms that the Lannisters forces still made use of.

All this, of course, came at an immense cost to the Lannister coffers. In time, however, the investments made in the early years of Loreon's rule would come to pay themselves back thrice over.

The Kingswood Tourney of 379 AC
Lord Loreon attended the Kingswood Tourney, alongside many other members of his family.

The Golden Fist
In 388 AC, Loreon’s twentieth year as Lord of Casterly Rock, a series of riots broke out across the Westerlands - though they were begun and centred in Lannisport. By the time insurrection arose in the West, though, the Grizzled Lion had seen what had happened throughout the rest of Westeros. The uprising led by Hugh Hammer and his band of 'Warsmiths' incited the smallfolk ruled by House Lannister to follow in a similar vein.

Loreon, however, was ready for them. He wasted little time in making examples out of those whom he declared 'ringleaders' in order to quell any further uprisings. Men, women and children were gathered up in their hundreds across the West and publicly hung on the direct orders of Lord Loreon Lannister, for what was deemed the greater good of the region. With the help of his son-in-law, Lord Lyndon Vance of Wayfarer’s Rest, those rebels who attempted to escape into the Riverlands were successfully apprehended and made to face punishment for their crimes. Instability was, in the end, successfully averted. With the sheer force of the Lannister Army any later reprisals against Lannister or noble rule were also ruthlessly crushed.

The Silk Glove
Tensions that might have grown due to this ruthless repression were somewhat calmed during the Great Famine (392-4 AC), in which the Lannisters spent considerable amounts of their own capital to ensure that their peasants did not suffer as much as they did in some of the other Kingdoms of Westeros.

Funds were also granted to smaller, less prosperous Houses in the Westerlands, such as House Westerling, House Swyft and House Prester. When the friends and allies of House Lannister began to suffer as well, Loreon also authorised the granting of emergency funding to them too. For example, House Vance of Wayfarer's West, to whose Lord Loreon's daughter Leila was married to, were aided in this manner.

The War of the Three Thieves
When the King called the Westerlands to arms to fight the Three Thieves, the Lords of the West wasted little time. Led by Lord Loreon himself the Lannister Fleet began the long journey east. The Western forces fought in a number of battles, taking some islands for the Crown. Gerald Lannister, the second of Loreon's sons, fell fighting in the battle of Ormollen's Pyre.

The Scarlet Winter
During the Scarlet Winter of 402-5 AC, Loreon's much-loved wife passed away. Much taken by grief and searching for someone to fill the bleeding wound left in his heart by her passing, the Grizzled Lion sought comfort in the arms of another: a certain Lysara Rogare of Lys. The two were together for quite some time, but fell out when the Lyseni refused to end her pregnancy despite Loreon's multiple requests that she do so. In the end, it came to violence. The Warden of the West flew into a rage and fought with his former lover: the next morning, Lysara gave birth to a stillborn boy whom she named Tytos Hill in order to shame Loreon. Within the week the courtesan had departed the Rock for good. The two have not spoken since.

Despite the harshness of the winter, Loreon remained determined to keep the Westerlands trading and prosperous. In an effort to keep commerce flowing, Lord Lannister authorised a number of drastic initiatives. One of said initiatives, however, led to dozens drowning when they attempted to break up the ice that blocked Lannisport bay.

Recent Events
Loreon assembled the Lords of the West at Casterly Rock so that they might travel to the Tourney of the Red Comet as one group. He also announced to the Westerlords his plans for a regional military exercise to be held, with the help of Reginar Crakehall, the Lord Marshal of the West.

The Tourney of the Red Comet
Much occurred at Harrenhal. Relations between Loreon and his niece, Princess Visaera, became somewhat strained as the two disagreed over what rewards House Lannister might reap for supporting her in the future. After bedding Jeyne Frey, the two conspired to see her sister married to the Warden of the West, before the Frey was murdered. Loreon and his goodson, Lucifer Hightower, conducted secret talks in which they agreed to protect each of their Houses interests should war break out. Tya and Tybolt confronted their grandfather about their desire to wed one another. After some careful consideration, Loreon agreed that their wishes would be honoured. Lord Lannister's great-niece's, Lysa and Ellyn, fell in love with Lord Nymor Yronwood and Lord Aemon Dayne. Loreon and Lord Eryk Redwyne came to an agreement over crushing the Ironmen together.

Back at the Rock
The Westerlands began to prepare for war as soon as Lord Lannister returned from the Tourney. Levies were raised, ships put to sail, and scorpions ordered built. Lysa and Ellyn were wed to their respective Dornish Lords. Lord Redwyne arrived at Lannisport with his fleet, intent on pursuing his holy war against the Ironborn. Rumours of a raid being planned by the Greyjoys reached the West. Tya and Tybolt were married before they departed for King's Landing once more, as the Lion had been named Master of Ships and the Lioness ordered to help govern the city during the Queen and Hand's absence.

As Lord Marshal, Reginar Crakehall was given command of the Western Army at the Golden Tooth. Later, he entered the Riverlands unopposed at the head of this army, at the behest of Loreon and Visaera Targaryen. With little opposition the Westermen (along with Lord Vance) secured Riverrun for the Queen and Damion Tully. A Blackwood host under the command of Damion Blackwood fled at first sight of the Western forces, though Damion himself was captured along with Sarya Bracken.

Lysaro Rogare and his family appeared at the Rock demanding answers from Loreon concerning the welfare of their daughter; for their insolence they were imprisoned. Later, Lysara herself appeared to beg for their safe release. After being reunited with her long-lost son, she decided to remain at the Rock. However, Tya Lannister would not let the slights of the Rogare family go forgotten. In the Great Hall of Casterly Rock all the Lyseni were put to the sword, including Lysara's infant, on the orders of Lady Tya herself. Loreon was present. Rumours abound about these events, and a song has begun to circle the Westerlands telling of the fate of those who threaten the Young Lioness and House Lannister.

War comes to the Iron Islands
Malcolm Westerling, Lord of the Crag, was named Lord High Admiral of the West and tasked with commanding the combined forces of the West and Arbor against the Ironmen. A pre-emptive strike against the Islands was quickly launched, catching House Greyjoy totally unprepared. As the Greyjoy and Botley fleets fled in disarray without offering any resistance, both Pyke and Lordsport were put under siege by a Western army under the command of Loreon himself. Numerical superiority was secured on the island of Pyke herself, and at sea.

Family
The line of succession is indicated in italics. Link to FamilyEcho, which has faceclaims for most of the Lannister brood.
 * Lord Loreon Lannister1, Lord of Casterly Rock.
 * Lady Shiera Lannister, nee Spicer.
 * Ser Tytos Lannister2, heir to the Rock.
 * Tybolt Lannister3.
 * Rosamund Lannister.
 * Tygett4 Lannister.
 * Loreon5 Lannister.
 * Ser Gerald Lannister.
 * Tya Lannister.
 * Lady Lynora Hightower, nee Lannister.
 * House Hightower.
 * Lady Leila Vance, nee Lannister.
 * House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest.
 * Ser Jason Lannister.
 * His children.
 * Lancel Hill. Bastard son of Loreon and Lysara Rogare.
 * Gwynesse Targaryen, nee Lannister.
 * Members of House Targaryen.
 * Lancel Lannister.
 * Ser Daven Lannister.
 * Ser Tion Lannister.
 * Lysa Lannister.
 * Ellyn Lannister.

Household

 * Seneschal: Harrold Plumm


 * Castellan: Ser Clement Broom
 * Captain of the Household Guard: Ser Lymond Stackspear
 * Maester: Lewyn
 * Master-at-arms: Ser Matthos Payne
 * Lord Treasurer: Balman Jast
 * Gaoler: Lorimer Lionhand

Quotes by Loreon

 * “Not all power resides within a Crown, Tybolt." - Loreon, to Tybolt Lannister.
 * "From his seat at the head of their table, Loreon stared out at the gathered crowd of nobles who had come to dine in the Great Hall. He could see both friend and foe. Not that that distinction really mattered to the Lion. They were all just sheep to him." - Loreon's thoughts.
 * "Mercy," answered the Lion, "is not a concept that I am familiar with." - Loreon, to Maekar Targaryen.
 * "I have never heard of a Rose making a man a King before. It would be a novel sight. Lions, on the other hand... We have crowned our fair share of monarchs over the years." - Loreon, to Maekar Targaryen.
 * "The Lion stalks it's prey before making a move." -Loreon, to Tya Lannister.
 * "A Lion goes only where he or she wants to go, Tya. You are blood of my blood; the blood of House Lannister. If you do not want to return to the Capital, then the Seven themselves could not make you. You are coming home, at last." - Loreon, to Tya Lannister.

Quotes about Loreon

 * "Lannisters sugar-coated their words well, as did all Lords, and the Grizzled Lion was a Lord to the core." - Meredyth Brax's thoughts.
 * "But then he was close to the Lion himself, and he banished all glibness. There was something cold in Lord Loreon's eyes, something predatory..." - Leyton Hightower's thoughts.
 * "He looks more like a hawk than a man, Nymor thought to himself... the man's voice was just as sharp and cold as his features, and his eyes seemed to stare right into his soul." - Nymor Yronwood's thoughts.