Name: Lord Garland "The Young Rose" Tyrell
Age: 21
Appearance and Personality:
Garland appears to have the traits of most Tyrells, very well kept long brown hair, and a swordsman's physique, being perhaps as strong as a Lord ought to be when it comes to wielding a weapon- a foe to fear, with tourneys and his prior experience giving him plenty of experience for his young age, and the appropriate strength that comes with it. A couple of scars from conflicts past still lie on his left shoulder, though it is difficult to immediately spot. Garland stands at 6"3, with hazel colored eyes, a short and striking beard that wraps around his chin, and a healthy complexion, his face neither too lean nor fat. By most standards, he is regarded as amongst the most beautiful men in The Reach, and he has found that it has been more than enough to attract women across the court, with fairly expected effects. At 21, he's had several bastards, the mothers of whom haven't even returned to Garland regarding it, which speaks volumes about Garland's charming nature- they seem humbled to have had a tumble with the Lord. His good looks are striking, and it doesn't seem to be just due to his young age, rather a permanent trait- he seems elegant, charming, a man who looks perfect to represent the Reach's chivalric heart, the Young Rose having a silhouette of a man, at least in The Reach, of something the Seven would want to create.
Beyond his looks, Garland is a quick figure, perhaps the luck of the draw giving him the ability to do well at getting down to the business of being Lord Paramount. This quickness perhaps allows him to continue the typical Tyrell traits that can be observed in many members of the family, particularly on the male side- being astute, gregarious and chivalrous, having a high sense of honor and a high regard to family. He has courage and while not addicted to violence, is happy to get stuck into a fight. As a commander, he serves well, being able to make reasonable tactical decisions on both his theoretical knowledge and his previous experiences, though he is no legendary figure on the battlefield, not yet at least. On the surface, appears to be kind and charitable, a good hearted fellow- though it seems that the last two years have hardened his resolve and made him a little cynical towards some topics. While he is impaired by being still a recent ruler in The Reach, and significantly younger than most of his fellow Lords Paramount, he does not overestimate or underestimate his position. He still has much to learn about the true horrors of politics in King's Landing, yet seems able to comprehend how to present his image, being smart enough to know when to lie and when to be honest, and as an administrator, he is well suited to be Hand- he knows how to handle money, people, dissidents, as well as project his own ambitions into the job. He still does need to improve his skills in general rulership, however, and to drop his parts of his provincial nature, that of a lower character than a Lord. Whilst he is no Spider when it comes to plotting, if it allows himself and everyone in his family to benefit, he will plot against those external threats that seek to damage the The Reach, leaving this business often to his sister, Alerie, in order to protect his own reputation. Ultimately, it is the only chink in his otherwise Knightly-approach to the world.
On the field of combat, Garland can be seen wearing a Reach-produced suit of plate armor- the designs from this part of the world always raising eyebrows in other parts of the Kingdom, as a result of the many curves and details that they entail, clearly being a highly-strewn piece of work- roses and flowers intricately scratched into the armor, making distinct ridges that seem to fully validate Garland as a Lord Paramount of The Reach. While the metalworkers of the Reach are not renowned in the Kingdoms, the artistic flair and beauty of such armor is distinctly eyecatching for members of the Tyrell family, being exceptionally expensive, with the silver and gold used in it's construction truly fitting the "Young Rose". He usually wields a longsword, paired with a wooden shield, fighting in the traditional Westerosi fashion. Training puts him a league above most Hedge Knights- though being the head of the House means he has little time to rehearse as he once could. Off the tourney field or battlefield, he can be seen wearing a expensive white and green tunic, suitable for the fairly temperate to semi-arid climate of the Reach, being usually more than enough, if not a more suitable garb for colder climes.
Biography:
An unlikely Lord Paramount, but one that seemingly got lucky. The Reach find Garland a man of chivalry and binding servitude to his family, being generally lusted for by Reachwomen of all types, though without the benefit of a long serving ruler's wisdom.
Garland was born in Highgarden to Moryn Tyrell, the brother to the then Lord Paramount of The Reach, Gregor Tyrell, and received an education that would only befit a child in a position such as himself. Whilst he was only a mere Nephew of the current Lord, he was taught by both maesters and a tutor, in methods of swordsmanship and learning. It was a typical education for Tyrell, it seemed- and Garland was acknowledged as being a quick lad, definitely of use to the family in one way or another. He had no idea of what his future held- he had considered becoming a man of the Kingsguard, but swiftly rejected this after he found himself perhaps too attached to female admirers, leaving a small trail of bastards in his wake at festivities held in Highgarden. Instead, he was offered the chance to work within the Court in Highgarden, assisting with the administration of the Reach, and from the age of 16 onwards, was actively involved in the inner workings of running a Lordship. Fighting was still his talent, but he found it was not something he could do as often, already becoming involved in helping to run the Reach. He was concerned with numbers, and making sure that the Kingdom's men and vassal houses kept the knee bent towards the family of the gold rose, almost acting in a diplomatic sense to maintain The Reach's power internally.
Garland ran the Lordship where the Lady Regent could not- most prominently, and on more than one occasion, defending against incursions from the Iron Islander raids, whenever they dared head further south than the rich ports of Lannisport and the other towns of the Westerlands. It was a well balanced approach, and whilst there was no promise of land at the end of it all, he served the infant Alestair Tyrell without question, both acting as a Commander and Chancellor throughout this period. Things did however, begin to change- both negatively and positively for Garland.
Death struck quickly within the Tyrells as the war began to approach it's apex, and Moryn, his father died when Garland was only 18, killed by infection following maiming from a Dornish spear. He felt terrified, yet this event itself was not the worst event that could occur in the family, with only a few months later the infant Lord Paramount of the Reach passing away from illness. It was that terror and anxiety that had to be cleared almost immediately if Garland was to take on his new responsibility.
The death of Alestair meant that succession in the Tyrell branch had to continue one way or another, and what seemed like an imminent power struggle between himself and the Lady Regent, Lyanna Tyrell, never occurred, as Garland immediately returned to Highgarden with a contingent of Hightower men to keep the peace for his Lordship. This meant that the 19-year old was now the new Lord Paramount, placed into a position of power of the expanse of The Reach. It felt strange, and whilst many thought that he would crack under the pressure, Garland adopted well to being the Warden of the South. Garland was not taught that he would become the Lord Paramount, rather he would be merely some lower-down Commander and perhaps at best, a representative for the family in King's Landing. Yet his practical experiences sent a clear message, that he could maintain the status quo of The Reach, run it as his predecessors had. He was named "The Young Rose" for his increasing determination to keep The Reach together in the face of these minor squabbles and issues, and was adept at holding together the fabric of the agricultural lands of The Reach. That, and his good looks on and off the battlefield let to this nickname to arise.
Within the scope of the Kingdom, Garland now rules from Highgarden, with his list of enemies and dissidents decreasing by the day. Most do not even need to be put to the sword, as they merely bend the knee once more, as soon as they understand what this world now entails. War does not fill the Seven Kingdoms just yet, and whilst Garland understands that the grain shall be great, it is what next that shall cement the Tyrells in a position of true power over the continent, rather than just The Reach. After all, Garland was taught that the Seven Kingdoms call on the Tyrells when they go to war, and call on them for food. It is a position to obtain great levels of power, and whilst Garland understands he is loyal to the Targaryen King, now he is gone there is a position for change. He is not cunning enough to have driven this thought himself- this has emerged moreover from Alerie, who has given him the idea and impetus perhaps, to do so. Being Hand of the King before Aegon's death also had an enormous impact on his role as a forger of the politics of the Seven Kingdoms,
Apart from rulership, of which Garland has been forced to employ several advisers from vassal houses to assist in dealing with wider-spread law making and justice, Garland concerns himself with the business of diplomacy and Chancellory, leaving the number crunching to Maesters, but being able to manage the day-to-day diplomatic running of the kingdom with his vassals that serve under his name more personally than most Lords- envisioning himself as a Lord who rules as a natural right in The Reach, yet providing a stake to those who serve well. His gregarious nature means that he enjoys throwing lavish Fairs, with the Harvest seeing one in the planning stages already, for another good yield- and at these fairs, all manner of debauchery and actions can occur. Garland is also interested by Falconry, being another hobby that he enjoys partaking in.
