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The Windblown are supporting characters in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series. They are a mercenary company located in Essos, around the Free Cities. During A Dance with Dragons, they field two thousand mounted horse and foot soldiers. They are led by an anonymous Pentoshi captain of noble origins known as the Tattered Prince.
Overview[]
The Windblown was established around 270 AC by six sellswords, including the Tattered Prince. By 300 AC, all founders except "Tatters" are deceased. The company's standards are fork-tailed blue-and-white banners, with streamers of pale blue silk on their lances.
The Windblown's command tent, where they hold their war council meetings, is a great grey sailcloth pavilion, which the Tattered Prince likes to call his canvas castle. It can take less than an hour for the company to strike camp. The sellsword members choose their own names, and can rename themselves whenever they wish. The most prevalent language in the Windblown is High Valyrian, which is considered the closest thing they have to a company tongue, unlike the Brave Companions, who don't even have a company tongue and everyone speaks their own different languages.
The Tattered Prince has no tolerance for deserters and he is utterly unforgiving and harsh toward them. First he sends hunters after them, and if they are caught, the most merciful punishment they can receive is having one foot chopped off to make sure they can never run again. The unlucky deserters who gave reason to anger the Tattered Prince are handed over to Pretty Meris, the company torturer and the sole woman in it. In general, other types of punishment within sellsword companies include disemboweling as well.
The Dothraki Caggo, now also called Caggo Corpsekiller, is the Tattered Prince's right-hand. The poet Denzo D'han, from one of the Free Cities, is the Tattered Prince's left-hand.
Known Members[]
The Windblown are comprised out of two thousand men in total, both infantry and cavalry. According to Dick Straw, there are three score Westerosi in the company.
Captain-generals[]
- The Tattered Prince, captain/commander and founder of the company. A Pentoshi nobleman who fled into exile after refusing the figurehead position of Prince of Pentos. A calculating, pragmatic, well-spoken, and amoral man. He still wishes to return to Pentos and claim its rulership by overthrowing the authority of the ruling magisters. A personal enemy of Bloodbeard, the Commander of the Company of the Cat. Employed by Yunkai to fight against Meereen and Astapor in 300 AC. He recently had the Windblown turn cloak against his employers to join Daenerys Targaryen and Meereen's garrison.
- {Five unnamed captains and co-founders of the Windblown}, who were the original leaders of the company along with the Tattered Prince. They all died in previous wars and campaigns.
- Caggo, recently also known as Caggo Corpsekiller, a sellsword of Dothraki origins and the right-hand of the Tattered Prince. A huge and scarred man. While quick to anger, he is competent as an official and well-regarded by his leader, hence his position within the company. He rides a monstrous warhorse and wields a rare arakh (Dothraki weapon shaped half like a sword and half like a scythe) made of Valyrian steel. He is cruel, as he once killed a slave girl after having her simply because he considered her ugly. He earned his nickname for hacking down the already dead King Cleon of Astapor during the siege of the city, although Caggo doesn't care and takes no offense at it.
- Denzo D'han, a seasoned sellsword captain and the left-hand of the Tattered Prince. He was born in one of the Free Cities (unidentified) and he is a poet and a warrior bard. He is a veteran of hundred battles.
Known soldiers[]
- Baqq, also known as Beans by his comrades (baqq is the Myrish/Valyrian word for beans), a Myrish sellsword and a skilled crossbowman. He relishes the tales of Daenerys Targaryen's promiscuity, mentioning how she cannot be sexually satisfied by any man, as she grew so accustomed to have sex with the horses of the Dothraki that now "no man can fill her."
- Black Gerrold, a sellsword whose nationality has not been given.
- Old Bill Bone, a Summer Islander.
- Books, a Volantene swordsman and an avid reader, who is notoriously always busy reading anything, even mere scrolls. He believes in the tales holding that Daenerys is murderous and mad, and personally stated, "her khal killed her brother to make her queen. Then she killed her khal to make herself khaleesi. She practices blood sacrifice, lies as easily as she breathes, turns against her own on a whim. She's broken truces, tortured envoys … her father was mad too. It runs in the blood."
- Ser Gerris Drinkwater, who joined the company under the name Gerrold, also called Dornish Gerrold or Drink to distinguish him from other Windblown named Gerrold. A Dornish knight belonging to the ethnic group of Stony Dornishmen (fair skinned and mostly influenced by the Andals and the First Men) and a member of House Drinkwater, sworn to House Yronwood. A comely and overconfident swordsman. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. He deserted the company after managing to meet the Queen, only to end up involved with the Windblown again after Drogon's rampage in Daznak's Pit. Currently and presumably back to the Windblown's camp outside Meereen.
- Gerrold Redback, a sellsword whose nationality has not been given.
- Ginger Jack, a sellsword of Westerosi origin. Much of his face is hidden behind his bristly ginger beard. He lost half his tongue when he accidentally bit it off during his first battle. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Hugh Hungerford, a serjeant and former paymaster of the company, of Westerosi origins. A sour and slim man. He lost his position of paymaster after he was caught stealing from the war chest. As a punishment, the Tattered Prince had three of his fingers removed for theft. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Lewis Lanster, a sellsword of Westerosi origins. He is said to be the company's best archer. He has golden hair. Such appearance and his name suggest that he might be from Lannisport, where multiple minor houses of distant relatives to House Lannister such as the Lannetts, Lantells, and Lannys exist. The Lansters might be another family of distant relatives from Lannisport. Apparently, the Tattered Prince had killed a boy Lewis was fond of. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Ser Lucifer Long, a knight of Westerosi origins, possibly a Northman and a member of House Long, a family from the North that once used to rule the Wolf's Den. However, men of the Free Companies may take whatever name they desire. It is unclear if he was born in Westeros or in Essos, but his culture seems to be that of the Free Cities. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Prince {Quentyn Martell}, who joined the company under the name Frog. A young 18-year-old Dornish knight belonging to the ethnic group of Salty Dornishmen (lithe and dark, with smooth olive skin and mostly influenced by the Rhoynar) and a member of House Nymeros Martell, the ruling family of Dorne. The second child and eldest son of Prince Doran Martell and Lady Mellario of Norvos. A stocky, plain-faced, shy and quiet boy filled with insecurities. He is very cautious, earnest, well-behaved, sensible, and dutiful, but also solemn and not handsome. He is little known in Dorne and still a virgin who is uncomfortable around girls. He was forced to join the Windblown along with his friends in order to reach Meereen from Volantis. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. He deserted the company after managing to meet the Queen, only to end up involved with the Windblown again after Drogon's rampage in Daznak's Pit. As Daenerys rejected his offer of marriage and instead married Hizdahr zo Loraq, Quentyn attempted to claim her dragons Rhaegal and Viserion with the help of the Windblown. He succumbed in Meereen to massive burn injuries inflicted by the dragon Rhaegal, despite Missandei's efforts.
- Meris, mockingly called Pretty Meris, a Westerosi sellsword and the only woman in the company. She is the company's torturer and also serves as a commanding officer and loyal enforcer of the Tattered Prince. She is usually emotionless and cold, but she also joins her fellow sellswords when it comes to make fun of someone. She regarded by her own comrades as untrustworthy, despite having never caused problems for the Windblown. She is a thumb under six feet tall and has blond hair. She is earless, with a slit nose and scars crossing both her cheeks. There is talk that underneath her shirt only scars are left by the men who cut off her breasts, although this rumor remains unconfirmed. Her eyes are described as cold and dead, like two grey stones. Born in Westeros, Meris has been with the free companies for twenty years, and now nothing pretty is left in her, neither inside or outside. She was reportedly raped by half the members of an unidentified sellsword company. She uses a crossbow. According to Old Bill Bone, Meris can stretch out a man's dying for a moon's turn. She had sex with Dick Straw several times. Both Quentyn Martell and Daenerys Targaryen find Meris frightening and intimidating. She was the commander of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys in Meereen. After a brief imprisonment, Meris was released by Daenerys to serve as a mediator for the negotiations with the Tattered Prince. Helping Quentyn to steal one or two of Daenerys's dragons, Meris forced some Brazen Beasts (Daenerys' new city guard of Meereen) to give the Windblown their daily code word, possibly by torturing them.
- Myrio Myrakis, a Pentoshi sellsword.
- Myrio Myrakis's cousin, a Pentoshi serving as the Tattered Prince's cupbearer. His name is unknown.
- Ser Orson Stone the Bastard Knight, a Westerosi exile from the Vale of Arryn. A red-faced man who joined the company along with his brother. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- {Orson's brother}, a sellsword who had been dispatched by the Tattered Prince to the Sorrows for unspecified reasons. He presumably died there, possibly assaulted by Stone Men, pirates, or other dangers dwelling there.
- Dick Straw, a sellsword of Westerosi origins and a member of House Straw, a family from an unspecified region. His culture is that of the Free Cities, however. A very undisciplined man with blue eyes, white hair, and an unsettling smile. The Tattered Prince has had him whipped more than any man in the Windblown. Dick has had sex with Pretty Meris a few times. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Unnamed cook, who had been a member of the Windblown in the past. Originally a foot soldier of the company, he had deserted only to be caught. When he was confronted by the Tattered Prince, the reason he gave as his excuse for leaving before his contract expired was because the Windblown's food was so "wretched" that he had to flee before it would made him sick. In response, the Tattered Prince allegedly cut his foot off, roasted it up, and then fed it to the deserter. He then made the man the Windblown's camp cook, with their meals reportedly improving significantly. When the man's contract was fulfilled, he signed another to stay longer. The man's current whereabouts and status are unknown.
- Webber, a short and muscular sellsword of Westerosi origins and presumably a descendant of House Webber, a family from the Reach. He has spider tattoos across his head, chest, and arms. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Will of the Woods, a Westerosi sellsword. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. When he met Daenerys and knelt to her, he was also leering at her. Currently imprisoned beneath the Great Pyramid with his comrades.
- Ser Archibald Yronwood, or just Arch, who joined the company under the name Greenguts. A Dornish knight belonging to the ethnic group of Stony Dornishmen (fair skinned and mostly influenced by the Andals and the First Men) and a member of House Yronwood. A six-and-a-half-feet tall man, broad of shoulder and huge of belly, with legs like tree trunks, hands the size of hams, and no neck. He wields a spiked warhammer, a dagger, and fine armor. He is calmer and more rational than the hot-headed Gerris Drinkwater. He lost all his hair from a childhood malady. During the journey from Dorne to Volantis, he lost his cousin, Ser Cletus Yronwood, when his group's ship was attacked by pirates near the Disputed Lands. He was part of the Westerosi Windblown contingent sent by the Tattered Prince to go over to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. He deserted the company after managing to meet the Queen, only to end up involved with the Windblown again after Drogon's rampage in Daznak's Pit. Currently and presumably back to the Windblown's camp outside Meereen.
Gallery[]
The Tattered Prince, first and only commander of the Windblown company, as well the founder.
The Tattered Prince (2)
The Tattered Prince as he leads his soldiers to battle on his huge grey warhorse.
The Tattered Prince riding through the massacre at Astapor on his grey warhorse.
The Tattered Prince, if the show had adapted him faithfully.
Caggo Corpsekiller, the Tattered Prince's right-hand man.
.jpg "Caggo Corpsekiller (2).jpg (585 KB)")
Caggo Corpsekiller (2)
Caggo Corpsekiller (3)
Denzo D'han, the Tattered Prince's left-hand man.
Meris (or known mockingly as Pretty Meris), torturer for the Windblown.
Pretty Meris (2)
Pretty Meris (3)
Pretty Meris (4)
Meris, if the show had faithfully included her.
Baqq (meaning Beans in High Valyrian and Myrish), a Myrish crossbowman.
Gerrold (or Black Gerrold by his companians, to distinguish him from Gerris Drinkwater, who is now refereed to as Dornish Gerrold.)
Old Bill Bones, a sellsword from the Summer Islands.
Books, a Volantene sellsword and an avid reader.
Ser Gerris Drinkwater, under the alias of either Drink or Dornish Gerrold.
Gerris Drinkwater (1)
Ginger Jack
Lewis Lanster, possibly a distant relative to House Lannister.
Lucifer Long
Prince Quentyn Martell of Dorne, under the mocking alias Prince Frog.
Quentyn, Gerris, and Archibald all joined the Windblown in disguise in order to reach Daenerys.
Myrio Myrakis, a Pentoshi sellsword (oddly depicted in Tyroshi fashion), whose cousin serves as Tatter's cupbearer.
Ser Orson Stone (or the Bastard Knight by his companions).
Dick Straw
Webber, a possible descendent to House Webber.
Webber (2)
Will of the Woods
Ser Archibald Yronwood, under the alias Green Guts for his seasickness.
Archibald (2)
Archibald Yronwood (3)
Archibald Yronwood (4)
(From left to right; top to bottom:) "Pretty" Meris, the Tattered Prince, Caggo Corpsekiller, Denzo D'han, and Prince Quentyn Martell.
The calvary of the Windblown.
Quentyn's party have a meeting with Tatters, Denzo, Caggo, and Meris in a dim wine cellar to discuss Quentyn's failed betrothal to Daenerys as well as a plan to steal one or two of her dragons.
Caggo strikes down King Cleon's mounted corpse with a single blow of his Valyrian arakh.
