Name: Lord Janos Tully of Riverrun, Lord of the Riverlands
Age: 60
Appearance:
Janos is still an impressive man, despite his advancing age. Tall of stature and strong of arm, his form remains largely untouched by the telltale signs of aging and luxurious living that plague so many lords, no doubt do the hours of training he commits himself to every morning. Though now gray, his hair was once a deep auburn color, closer in nature to that of his firstborn Joan than any of the other children.
Personality:
Janos is a refined man, but not a particularly well-educated one. Though well versed in court manners and chivalry, he never did take a particular liking to his teachers growing up, or to books in general for that matter.
Lord Tully is widely respected in Westeros for the fairness of his character and for his bravery during the recent war. He distinguished himself several times on the battlefield, both in matters of combat and strategy, and his deeds are not easily forgotten. He is not one for verbose speeches, but when he does speak, it is with directness and clarity.
His behavior is less favorable with regards to his family. The death of his first wife and only true love, Faedra Piper of Pinkmaiden, left Janos fundamentally broken. Though he married Alysanne Lannister, daughter of Martyn Lannister and cousin to the current Lord of Casterly Rock, his heart remains full with memories of Faedra, leaving no room for his beautiful wife. Similarly, he has not invested emotionally in their children whatsoever, viewing them only in their political capacity. The only child he truly cares for is Simon, his heir and the only surviving remnant of his union with Faedra, but even this relationship is tense due to Simon’s terribly frail existence.
He now focuses most of his time on the realm and the Riverlands, taking his pleasure from the company of friends, peers, and whores rather than the arms of his family.
Biography:
Janos is the eldest of four sons born to the Lord Wilmer “The Trusty Trout” Tully (now deceased) and Lady Sara (Stark) Tully in the year 149 AL. His brothers Rickard and Robyn followed in quick succession (151 and 157 AL), and the trio became inseparable.
The boys were strong, healthy, and rambunctious, choosing to dedicate their time to practicing swordplay, riding, and avoiding their expensive private tutors. When he was fourteen, he left Riverrun to squire for Ser Stannis Celtigar in the Capitol, though he kept in close contact with his brothers and mother, of whom he was exceedingly fond.
In 168 AL (the same year his youngest brother Robert was born) at the age of nineteen, Janos was knighted. A year later, Lord Wilmer began to fall ill, and it was decided that it would be best for Janos to return home to help with the running of the Riverlands.
Janos took to the position like a fish to water, ruling with a fair hand and a listening ear, assuaging any fears the lesser lords or the common folk may have had for the future. Later that year, he reconnected with Faedra of Pinkmaiden, the youngest daughter of Lord Piper of Pinkmaiden and a paramour from Janos’s childhood. It became immediately clear that the passion they held for one another had not faded despite their years apart, and in 170 AL they were wed.
Their seven years of marriage were the happiest and hardest of Janos’s life. He thanked the Seven to be able to spend every day with a woman who so easily occupied the entirety of his heart, but their lack of success with children cast a sorrowful shadow on the House of Tully. Their first son Markus was stillborn, their daughter Ophelia lived only two years before succumbing to fever, and their third son Piper was lost in a miscarriage. The birth of their only surviving son Simon in 177 AL was an event to celebrate and mourn, for as Simon came into the world, his mother left it in the arms of the Stranger. It did not help that Lord Wilmer’s condition worsened around this time, and he too slipped away shortly after.
Janos was heartbroken, plunging into a depression so deep he refused to leave his chamber. Rickard, now Ser Rickard, served as regent while his brother struggled with despair, but it became quickly apparent that Rickard was no Janos, and the Riverlands began to grow impatient for the return of their liege lord. As soon as he started to show the slightest improvement, about 2 years after his wife’s passing, his anxious family introduced him to Alysanne Lannister, a woman of reknowned beauty and daughter of Martyn Lannister.
Janos had no real interest in the lovely young lioness, but his family pushed the union, and in 180 AL they were wed, Alysanne giving birth later that same year to a healthy girl (and his namesake) Joan. Their marriage was a fruitful one, resulting in 7 children, a holy number as Alysanne liked to say. In 183 AL, a son was born to the pair, the birth made less significant by the fact that Simon, though horribly sickly, still lived and was heir. To make things worse, Janos named the boy Faedric, an obvious slight against his young Lannister wife.
The tensions between the pair did not stop them from fulfilling their marital duties, however. In 186 AL their daughter Marlena was born, in 190 Wylla followed, and in 193 the twins Adelaide and Aela drew their first screaming breaths. While his new children were strong, vibrant, and undeniably beautiful, Janos felt nothing but disdain for his brood, proving to be a distant and cold father to all except Simon.
In 195 AL war broke out, giving Janos a much-needed respite from the confining walls of Riverrun and his hateful wife. The Tully’s allegiances were torn, as Bloodraven was a Blackwood bastard and Aegor was a Bracken bastard, so Janos focused instead on quelling the violence in the Riverlands, protecting his people and preventing the horrifying bloodshed and destruction that happened elsewhere. Though he himself fought, Janos was lucky enough not to suffer any truly serious injuries. His youngest brother Robert was not so lucky, perishing in the Battle of Redgrass Field in 196AC.
Janos returned to Riverrun a hero to his people, respected by those sworn to him. The Riverlands had suffered far less than had been expected, thanks to Janos’s efforts, and the man enjoyed wild popularity, beloved by all. He celebrated the marriage of his heir Simon Tully to the young and beautiful Helena Bracken shortly after the end of the war, but after that threw himself into his work, no warmer to the rest of his brood than he had been before the war.
In 204 AC, his youngest daughter Sharine was born, leaving him with six girls to deal with. Of the five who are of marriageable age, four are beautiful, possessing the signature Lannister sophistication like their mother. The eldest, Joan, takes more after her father and is nearing her 30th birthday. Janos hopes to have her wed by then, and is growing rather desperate to do so.
