Wylis Manderly

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Wylis Manderly
House Manderly.PNG
Wylis Manderly.jpg
art by sir-heartsalot

Title Ser
Allegiance House Manderly
Books

Ser Wylis Manderly is a member of House Manderly. He is the eldest son and heir of Lord Wyman.[1]

Appearance & Personality

He is a very fat man, bald and wears a large walrus mustache. He is quiet and formal.[1] After being held captive in Harrenhal for two years, all definace has left him and he has dull eyes and sallow, sagging jowels, as observed by Ser Jaime Lannister.[2]

His wife Leona is very devoted to him.[3] They have two daughters together, Wynafryd and Wylla.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Ser Wylis commands the men from White Harbor when Robb Stark calls his banners, as his father, Lord Wyman Manderly, is too fat to ride a horse any longer and remains to look after the city's defenses. The force, consisting of 1,500 men with above 20 knights, 200 mounted riders, swordsmen and freeriders and the rest foot, marches from White Harbor to Moat Cailin, where Robb is gathering his troops before heading south. Ser Wylis is accompanied, apart from his younger brother Wendel, by Lady Catelyn Stark, Ser Rodrik Cassel and Ser Brynden Tully, who all arrived by ship in White Harbor coming from the Vale of Arryn. Although she thinks that Ser Wylis is probably the fattest man she has ever seen, apart from his father, so that she pitties his horse, and that he wears only clothes that have food stains, Lady Catelyn likes him well enough. When they arrive near Moat Cailin, Ser Wylis remains in the camp while his brother Wendel rides on with Lady Catelyn to the castle to greet Robb.[1]

The northern host marches south and arrives at the Twins, where they are greeted by Ser Stevron Frey who invites Robb to the Twins in the name of Lord Walder Frey. Robb's lord bannermen, distrusting Lord Walder, advise against Robb putting himself in the hand of the Lord of the Crossing, with Ser Wylis suggesting that Lord Walder should come out of his castle and treat with Robb in plain sight of both men's forces. It is ultimately decided that Lady Catelyn will go to the Twins to talk with Lord Walder.[1]

After an agreement with Lord Walder has been found, the northern army splits and Ser Wylis comes under the command of Lord Roose Bolton, who marches his troops south along the Kingsroad to engage Lord Tywin Lannister's main host at the Trident as a diversion for Robb's attempt to lift the siege of Riverrun. Lord Bolton's forces suffer a defeat against Lord Tywin's in the Battle of the Green Fork, in which Ser Wylis is captured.[1][4]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Tywin Lannister offers to trade Ser Wylis, held captive at Harrenhal, to his father without ransom, if Lord Wyman withdraws his support from Robb Stark. Lord Wyman refuses him. He points this out when he attends the harvest feast at Winterfell and talks with Ser Rodrik Cassel, Maester Luwin and Bran Stark. Lord Wyman also stresses that he wouldn't want to see his son Wylis languishing at a cursed place such as Harrenhal longer than he must and expresses the hope that in time a fair exchange of prisoners can be arranged, also because Ser Wylis wouldn't want to sit out the rest of the war. In this context, Lord Manderly describes his son as gallant and fierce as a mastiff.[5]

In reply to the northern peace terms submitted by Robb Stark via Ser Cleos Frey, Tyrion Lannister offers to trade Ser Wylis and Harrion Karstark for Willem Lannister in an exchange of prisoners.[6]

While in Harrenhal, the prisoners taken in the Battle of the Green Fork are housed in the upper chambers of the Tower of Dread. Most of them are given freedom of the castle when they pledge not to attempt escape and thus Ser Wylis can start haunting the kitchens, where he is always looking for morsel. Arya Stark learns about this "fat lordling" from Hot Pie.[7]

Harrenhal is captured by Lord Roose Bolton's troops after the Brave Companions switch sides following Lord Tywin Lannister's deparature from the castle.[8] As a result, Ser Wylis is liberated and remains with Lord Bolton's host.[9]

A Storm of Swords

He is part of Lord Roose Bolton's army when it leaves Harrenhal to Vargo Hoat and the Brave Companions and moves north to cross the Trident at the Ruby Ford to eventually join forces with Robb Stark at the Twins on the occasion of Lord Edmure Tully's wedding. When Bolton's army arrives at the river, the ford is unpassable and Lord Bolton has to ferry his men across in small boats. Ser Wylis and the knights from White Harbor serve as rear guard during the operation. When two thirds of the force have crossed the Trident, the rest, mainly Locke, Norrey and Burley men, are suddenly attacked by Lannister forces, leading to the Battle of the Ruby Ford. Ser Wylis tries to rally the men as best as he can, but they come under attack by heavy cavalry led by Ser Gregor Clegane, that drives the defenders into the water. Many men drown, die in the fighting or flee, some are captured, including Ser Wylis. While later meeting with Robb Stark at the Twins, Lord Bolton claims that he was unable to help the men on the south shore.[10][9] However, since Lord Bolton has already made the secret deal with Lord Tywin Lannister and Lord Walder Frey that will lead to the murder of Robb Stark and many of his bannermen[11], the whole engagement is probably a ruse meant to weaken the Stark forces.

When Ser Gregor takes back Harrenhal, Ser Wylis is again kept as prisoner at Harren the Black's castle. While there, he keeps asking the Mountain's men for food. Eventually, Ser Gregor gives the order to feed Ser Wylis with "roast goat", meaning with flesh cut from the still living Vargo Hoat. Ser Wylis eats most of Vargo's flesh, with other prisoners and Vargo himself also receiving some parts.[2]

Lord Tywin Lannister writes to Lord Wyman Manderly, telling him that Ser Wylis is his captive and lists conditions for his safe return, mainly that Lord Wyman bends his knee to the King and to the new Warden of the North, Lord Roose Bolton. If Lord Wyman refuses, Ser Wylis will die a traitor's death and White Harbor will be stormed and sacked with the Manderlys extinguished, Lord Tywin announces.[3]

A Feast for Crows

The Iron Throne still negotiates with Lord Wyman Manderly about the possibility of White Harbor abandonding the northern cause and rallying behind the new Warden of the North, Lord Roose Bolton. Lord Wyman suggests he will wed off both his granddaughters to Freys and open his harbor for ships of the Crown, but only if Ser Wylis is returned to him safely. The small council under Queen Regent Cersei Lannister discusses this proposal. Harys Swyft, the new Hand of the King after Lord Tywin Lannister's death, asks whether the Crown even has Ser Wylis in its hand, receiving the answer by Cersei that he should be in Harrenhal, if he is still alive, about which she isn't sure, as she knows that Ser Gregor Clegane was never particularly gentle with prisoners, even those who brought a good ransom. She suggests that, in case Ser Wylis has died, they should send Lord Wyman the heads of those responsible with the sincerest apologies of the Iron Throne, thinking by herself that if the head of Ser Gregor appeased Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, a similar gesture should be enough for "a fat northman wrapped in sealskins". She shares that she already demanded from Lord Wyman to execute Davos Seaworth, held prisoner by Lord Manderly, as a token of his good will. She expects him to oblige, because this is the only way for a safe return of Ser Wylis.[12]

Grand Maester Pycelle informs Cersei that Lord Wyman has done as commanded and executed Davos Seaworth, as is confirmed by Frey witnesses. Cersei orders Pycelle to send a raven to Lord Wyman that, now that he has proven his loyalty, Ser Wylis will be returned to him soon.[13] However, Cersei can still not be sure that Ser Wylis is actually alive, as the messages sent to Harrenhal in this regard receive no reply.[2]

When Cersei sends her resisting brother, Ser Jaime Lannister, off to the Riverlands to lift the Second Siege of Riverrun, she names reestablishing order at Harrenhal and getting hold of Ser Wylis on the way as additional reasons why Jaime needs to attend personally to the matter.[2]

Upon his arrival in Harrenhal, Ser Jaime learns about the gruesome details of the death of Vargo Hoat, including the fact that his flesh has been fed to Ser Wylis and other prisoners. He asks to see all prisoners, starting with Ser Wylis, threatening the remaining men of Ser Gregor that they will also die, if Ser Wylis is dead. However, Ser Wylis is alive and brought to Jaime, if in a ragged and filthy condition and completely broken in spirit. Jaime notices his dull eyes and sallow, sagging jowls and wonders whether he and the other prisoners had any inkling of what they had been eating at one point. When he tells Ser Wylis that he will be escorted to Maidenpool and put on a boat to White Harbor, Ser Wylis collapses in tears. It takes four men to lift him up again, making Jaime think that the man ate too much roast goat.[2]

Jaime sends Ser Wylis off to Maidenpool with a party that includes some Brave Companions and is under the command of Ser Ronnet Connington, whom Jaime wants to get rid off after he made insulting remarks about his former betrothed Brienne of Tarth.[14][15]

A Dance with Dragons

Upon his arrival in White Harbor, Davos Seaworth, who is in the city to negotiate a possible alliance of House Manderly with Stannis Baratheon, learns that the Lannister still keep Ser Wylis as prisoner, whereas Davos thought that both of Lord Wyman's sons are dead. Davos receives this as a bad omen for his mission, because the captivity of Ser Wylis makes Lord Wyman susceptible to blackmail.[16] He seems to be proven right when Lord Wyman acts hostile in their negotations and Ser Wylis' wife Leona accusses him of trying to stir up more treason, although Davos realizes that she is speaking from fear. Lord Wyman eventually orders Davos' his arrest and execution.[17]

Ser Wylis arrives back in White Harbour to see his wife and daughters. His father holds a welcoming feast in his son's honor. During the feast, Lord Wyman uses the need for digestion after he ate too much as excuse for a secret meeting with Davos to inform him about the background of his long imprisonment and to apologize for it. He explains that he had to fake Davos' execution, using another prisoner, to guarantee the save return of Ser Wylis and that he could not reveal this earlier to him. Lord Wyman also apologizes for his daughter-in-law, pointing out that Ser Wylis is the whole life of Lady Leona.[3]

At Winterfell, where the wedding of Ramsay Bolton and "Arya Stark" has taken place, Hosteen Frey questions Lord Wyman on the whereabouts of Rhaegar, Jared and Symond Frey, suggesting foul play by Lord Wyman in this context. He points out that the three where Lord Wyman's guests and brought his son home. Lord Wyman is dismissive, stressing that, whereas the Freys merely returned Wendel's bones, it was Lord Tywin Lannister who was true to his word and returned his son Wylis safe and whole, calling in this context on the Seven to Lord Tywin's soul.[18]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wyman's
father
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Donella's
father
 
 
 
 
 
Marlon's
father
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wyman
 
Deceased
wife
 
 
Halys
Hornwood
 
Donella
 
Ramsay
Snow
 
Marlon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wylis
 
Leona
Woolfield
 
Wendel
 
 
Daryn
Hornwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wynafryd
 
Wylla
 


References and Notes