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| “ | Minds are like swords, I do fear. The old ones go to rust. | „ |
| ~ Grand Maester Pycelle to Eddard Stark |
| “ | Pycelle: All I did, I did for House Lannister! Always ... for years ... your lord father, ask him, I was ever his true servant ... twas I who bid Aerys to open his gates.... Tyrion: So the Sack of King's Landing was your work as well? |
„ |
| ~ Grand Maester Pycelle and Tyrion Lannister. |
Grand Maester Pycelle is a supporting antagonist in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.
Pycelle is a Grand Maester of the Citadel and a sycophant who dabbles in poison and politics. He served in King's Landing and on the small council for over 40 years. Although sworn to serve the realm, he has always been more loyal to House Lannister since the realm saw peace and prosperity during Tywin Lannister's service as Hand of the King to Aerys II Targaryen.
In total, Pycelle served six kings during his time in office: Aegon V, Jaehaerys II, Aerys II, Robert I, Joffrey I, and Tommen I. Pycelle lived from year 216 to 300 AC, dying at the age of 84.
One of Pycelle's writings is Observations Upon the Recent Blood-Letting on the Stepstones, a text about the War of the Ninepenny Kings. The work is also politically ingratiating toward the more recent ruling generation of House Lannister, as Pycelle praises the deeds of Ser Tywin Lannister and his brothers, Ser Kevan and Tygett, during the Iron Throne's campaign in the Stepstones against the Band of Nine, while criticizing their father, Lord Tytos Lannister, as the "quivering fool".
He was portrayed by Julian Glover, who also played General Veers in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Aris Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only, Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Aragog in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Overview[]
To protect House Lannister and prevent their fall from grace, he let Jon Arryn die by sending away Jon's maester, who was actually succeeding in saving Jon's life. Pycelle used Maester Colemon's young age as a pretext to replace him in treating the dying Jon, then deliberately let him die while knowing Colemon was doing a good job. He also tried, but failed, to give milk of the poppy to the dying King Robert I Baratheon before Lord Eddard Stark could speak alone to him. Unbeknownst to most, it was also him who advised the Mad King to open the gates of King's Landing for the waiting Lannister army, resulting in the sack of the city and the death of the King by the hands of Jaime Lannister and Prince Rhaegar's family by the hands of Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch.
He is a cunning, cravenly and wily man and knows how to act in politics despite being disliked by many in King's Landing. Despite all of this, he genuinely cares only for peace and order in the realm, because he wants to live a quiet, pleasant life without conflicts. As a maester, he's actually truly loyal to the Citadel rather than any noble house. He does pretend to be completely loyal to the Lannisters, especially Tywin and Kevan Lannister, but he will only serve a capable ruler.
He served for 6 kings during his time as Grand Maester: Aegon V, Jaehaerys II, Aerys II, Robert I, Joffrey I, and Tommen I.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Pycelle forged his maester's chain during the realm of King Maekar I Targaryen. The first king he served was Aegon V Targaryen.
After Lord Tywin resigned his position as Hand of the King, Aerys focused his paranoia on his heir Prince Rhaegar, who was weary of his father's behavior. The court was divided between those loyal to the king and those loyal to the prince. Grand Maester Pycelle and the Hand of the King, Lord Owen Merryweather tried to keep the peace between the factions. Pycelle dispatched a letter to Oldtown, for the Citadel, writing that tensions and division at court strongly resembled those before the Dance of the Dragons, Pycelle was fearful of a civil war between those loyal to the king and those who supported Rhaegar would break out unless some accord could be reached that would satisfy both factions. Pycelle urged Aerys to attend the Tourney at Harrenhal, warning him that Lord Walter Whent might have used this event to prepare a rebellion for Rhaegar.
During Robert's Rebellion the main force of the royal army was destroyed by the rebels led by the lords Robert Baratheon, Jon Arryn, Eddard Stark, and Hoster Tully. Lord Owen Merryweather failed to prevent the insurrection and was exiled under the accusation of indirectly helping the rebels, and his successor Lord Jon Connington was exiled as well for failing to defeat Robert. Pycelle was one of the few surviving people to know about Aerys' wildfire plot and after the Hand Lord Qarlton Chelsted was burned for opposing the plan and resign his position, the pyromance Wisdom Rossart became the new Hand. After Prince Rhaegar's death and the destruction of most of the royal army at the Trident, the army of the westerlands marched to the gates of King's Landing before the rebels could. It was Pycelle who urged and convinced Aerys to open the gates to Lord Tywin, hoping for Tywin to become king. However Tywin wanted to please Robert, who had a stronger claim to the throne due to the Baratheons being cousins to the Targaryens. Pycelle's advice led to the Sack of King's Landing and the deaths of many, however it also caused Ser Jaime to betray and kill the king and his 3 main pyromancers, preventing the execution of the wildifre plot. In the following years only 3 places with the king's wildfire have ben found: the dungeons of the Red Keep, the Dragon Pit, and the Great Sept of Baelor. The rest remains lost and still underground.
Pycelle is pardoned by Lord Robert Baratheon, just like the rest of the small council, the Lannisters, and the Merryweathers. Since Robert was a poor ruler, Pycelle kept promoting the interest of House Lannister on the small council for years.
A Song of Ice and Fire[]
During his service Pycelle's lack of loyalty as a maester angered and caused suspicions on many people, including Jon Arryn, Cersei Lannister, Stannis Baratheon, Varys, Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Mace Tyrell, Taena Merryweather, and Kevan Lannister. Pycelle often tends to blame Varys for all the bad things that happen at court, using the mistrust and fear that everyone has for the eunuch, often accusing Varys of being a sorcerer.
During the War of the Five Kings, Tywin Lannister sends his son Tyrion to rule in his stead in King's Landing and fix the damages made by Cersei and King Joffrey I Baratheon. Tywin orders Tyrion to get rid of Lord Janos Slynt and test the loyalty of the remaining members of the small council, to avoid possible help for King Stannis or King Renly. Tyrion does it by forging an alliance between House Lannister and House Martell, in which Pycelle is found treacherous. Tyrion removes him from his position and the small council and has him thrown in the black cells. A short time later however, he's released but still stripped of his titles.
After the Lannisters and the Tyrells defeat Stannis Baratheon at the Battle of the Blackwater, the Enclave of the Citadel sends a message to the court to make known their annoyance of the removal of Pycelle, because only the Enclave has the power and right to unmake Grand Maesters, unless they are guilty of a crime against the realm. The Arch Maesters want to send Maester Gormon, born as Gormon Tyrell, to replace Pycelle and Tywin promptly reinstates Pycelle as Grand Maester to avoid another Tyrell's presence in the capital. Pycelle is then also reinstated on the small council, since his actions were against the vengeful Martells (and he was actually right since both Doran and Oberyn hate the Lannisters).
Pycelle helps Cersei and Tywin by supporting them at the trial of Tyrion Lannister, accused of killing Joffrey. Pycelle and other 2 maesters help the court by confirming that Joffrey was indeed poisoned bt the Strangler.
Following Tywin's death, the relationship between Pycelle and Queen Regent Cersei becomes more strained. Cersei blames him for the bad state of Tywin's corpse (actually a result from poisoned drink by Oberyn Martell) and the death of the sick Lord Gyles Rosby. Lady Taena also reports Cersei that Pycelle is often found with Queen Margaery Tyrell. Pycelle is also very angered by Cersei's decision: she creates chaos everywhere and he's bothered by Qyburn's presence on the small council, Cersei refusing to honor the debts owned to the Iron Bank of Braavos and the Faith, her decision to allow the Faith to re-institute the Faith Militant. Cersei also deliberately damages the Lannister-Tyrell alliance, refusing the Tyrells to gather their fleets against King Euron Greyjoy, stating that King Stannis was the priority among their enemies.
After pressure from Cersei, Pycelle admits publicly to giving the 15 years old "virgin" Margaery moon tea, a contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy. This discovery is crucial in Cersei's efforts to frame Margaery for adultery and treason, delivering her to the captivity of the High Septon.
Cersei considers replacing Pycelle. But she's arrested by the Faith, and Pycelle successfully seizes control of the small council, now able to decide himself who's going to rule the Seven Kingdoms for King Tommen. Pycelle finds no opposition because at the time the lords Mace Tyrell, Paxter Redwyne, and Mathis Rowan are out of the capital to deal with Stannis's forces at Dragonstone and Storm's End, while the Hand Lord Orton Merryweather and Aurane Waters have abandoned the capital in fear of the Faith. Pycelle personally removes Ser Osfryd Kettleblack as commander of the City Watch so Osfyrd will not be able to use the Watch to try and free Cersei and his brother Osney, both of whom are prisoners of the Faith. He also raises Humfrey Waters of the Dragon Gate to command the Watch. Qyburn states to Cersei that the realm is effectively being ruled by Pycelle and Ser Harys Swyft. Pycelle dispatches a message to Ser Kevan Lannister offering him the regency.
Pycelle grows weary of Mace Tyrell, who arrived in King's Landing with his army and another one led by Lord Randyll Tarly. Lord Tyrell is angry at Pycelle for revealing Margaery requests for moon tea, ruining the official statements about her virginity and humiliating her in public. Worried about his personal safety, Pycelle requests a guard from Ser Kevan. However, Pycelle is killed anyway, not by Tyrell men but by Lord Varys, who removes both him and Kevan to ensure they cannot repair the damage Cersei had done to the kingdom and the Lannister-Tyrell alliance. Kevan is killed in Pycelle's room, because he was doing too good at restoring the king's peace. Kevan and Pycelle's death will also provoke Cersei's madness and paranoia towards House Tyrell and many other enemies at court.
Death[]
In the television series, Cersei grows more and more weary and annoyed with feeble Pycelle, who's not loyal to her at all, due to his tendence to serve competent rulers, while Cersei gives the most important duty to the despised Qyburn. After having been imprisoned by the Faith, with her trial, which she would likely lose. ahead, Cersei decides to get rid of all her enemies in the capital in a bold stroke. Pycelle is one of her victims and is lured into Qyburn's dungeon by use of a forged letter. There, he is confronted by Qyburn who apologizes and tells Pycelle that, despite his many flaws, he does not deserve to die like this. He claims that in order to usher in the new, the old has to be put to rest and orders several of his little birds to finish off Pycelle. The children known as the "little birds" draw daggers and attack Pycelle who, despite trying to fight back, is thrown off his feet and stabbed and hacked at multiple times.
In the novels, neither Cersei nor Qyburn have part in Pycelle's death. While meeting with Kevan Lannister, Pycelle reveals that he fears that Mace Tyrell wishes him dead for testifying in his daughter's trial. Kevan advises him to hire guards and the two part ways. Later, Kevan is told by a messenger that Pycelle is awaiting him in his chambers. Upon arriving, Kevan finds Pycelle slumped over his desk and believes him to be asleep. He is then hit by a crossbow bolt in the groins and sinks to the ground. Expecting the Maester to be able to save him, Kevan cries out but then realises that Pycelle is not sleeping but dead, his head smashed in by a massive book on which blood, bone and brains are clear visible. Kevan is then approached by Varys, who apologizes (like Qyburn in the series) and tells that Kevan and Pycelle would have likely been able to undo the chaos Cersei created. After telling him that Pycelle's and Kevan's deaths will be likely blamed on Tyrion or the Tyrells, Varys orders Kevan to be finished off.
Brief summary of Pycelle's service during the fourth and fifth books[]
Despite his villainy and political bias in favor of House Lannister (under Tywin and Kevan's rule, whom Pycelle respected), Pycelle's first concern was always a peaceful realm where he keeps his political seat of power until he dies. His disdain for chaos and internal instabilities is shown during Cersei's disastrous regency.
- Pycelle and Cersei's relationship became more and more strained, with Cersei noting how Pycelle grew choleric towards her, to the point it was hard for her to speak to him without him being rude. Pycelle is visibly angry at some of Cersei's most dishonest schemes that would have achieved nothing except creating more enemies and further destabilize the realm. Pycelle was upset at how Cersei continuously undid Tywin's hard work in restoring the King's peace.
- After Lord Gyles Rosby dies, leaving no immediate heir, Pycelle is angry when Cersei dishonestly claims that Gyles' wish was to pass his lands and wealth to her son, King Tommen. Knowing this was a blatant lie, Pycelle tried to object that Gyles had ward at Rosby, who should inherit Rosby's holdings, but Cersei dismissed the ward as "too low" of birth. However, Cersei's attempt of embezzlement was later ignored by Pycelle and the Lord Regent Kevan, who instead planned to decide between six claims put forward to succeed House Rosby.
- When Cersei gets arrested by the Faith of the Seven for perjury, fornication, regicide, and deicide, Pycelle didn't support her at all and cut all ties with her. Instead, he personally stripped Cersei of her regency, seized control of the small council, fired Qyburn (though he allowed him to remain one of the Crown's whisperers), and removed Cersei's minion, Osfryd Kettleblack, as commander of the gold cloaks so that he would not be able to use the soldiers to try and free Cersei and his brother Osney from their imprisonment from the Faith. For a brief time, Pycelle held full administrative control of the capital King's Landing, and Qyburn commented that he ruled effectively, along with Ser Harys Swyft, as Pycelle's act of being clueless and nearly senile was mostly a façade. Pycelle offered Ser Kevan Lannister offering him the realm's regency to rule on King Tommen's behalf and undo Cersei's political damage.
- After Lord Gyles Rosby dies, leaving no immediate heir, Pycelle is angry when Cersei dishonestly claims that Gyles' wish was to pass his lands and wealth to her son, King Tommen. Knowing this was a blatant lie, Pycelle tried to object that Gyles had ward at Rosby, who should inherit Rosby's holdings, but Cersei dismissed the ward as "too low" of birth. However, Cersei's attempt of embezzlement was later ignored by Pycelle and the Lord Regent Kevan, who instead planned to decide between six claims put forward to succeed House Rosby.
In his final days of life, Pycelle was terrified and wary of Lord Mace Tyrell, who was in wroth with him for having revealed Queen Margaery Tyrell's confidential visits and her request for moon tea by exposing her to the Faith and the whole court as a liar and a false maiden, as Pycelle confessed he was bringing moon tea to Margaery, which planted the seeds to her arrest, leading to the Faith checking her private parts and confirming she's not a virgin (whether her broken hymen was caused by first-time sex or horse riding, there's still the fact that Margaery had Pycelle bringing her moon tea).
- Pycelle was pressured into exposing Margaery by Cersei, who accused him of having switched to House Tyrell's side and insinuated other accusations, such as Pycelle being a pedophile who regularly visited 8 year-old Lady Alysanne Bulwer to sexually molest her. To avoid such accusations and even getting imprisoned a second time or possible sharp interrogations, Pycelle confessed he gave Margaery moon tea.
- In his final days, Pycelle had personal guards, requested from Ser Kevan, out of fear for his personal safety due to the possibility of Lord Tyrell sending assassins as revenge for Margaery. Pycelle's fears ultimately prove justified, as he is killed in his own private chambers. However, he was not killed by Tyrell men but by the traitor Lord Varys, who assassinates both Pycelle and Kevan with his little birds to ensure they cannot repair the damage Cersei did to the realm, the Lannister-Tyrell alliance, and keep the tensions between the Crown and the Faith. Because Pycelle and Kevan proved to be good administrators, Varys felt he had to remove both of them, in order to leave Cersei and the new High Septon to deal with Lords Tyrell and Randyll Tarly now in power.
Quotes[]
By Pycelle[]
| “ | Tyrion: How many have you betrayed, I wonder? Aerys, Eddard Stark, me ... King Robert as well? Lord Arryn, Prince Rhaegar? Where does it begin, Pycelle? Pycelle: [while Shagga keeps holding his axe against his throat] You ... were not here. Robert ... his wounds ... if you had seen them, smelled them, you would have no doubt ... Tyrion: Oh, I know the boar did your work for you ... but if he'd left the job half done, doubtless you would have finished it. Pycelle: He was a wretched king ... vain, drunken, lecherous ... he would have set your sister aside, his own queen ... please ... Renly was plotting to bring the Highgarden maid to court, to entice his brother ... it is the gods' own truth ... Tyrion: And what was Lord Arryn plotting? Pycelle: He knew. About ... about ... Tyrion: [quickly snaps to avoid Pycelle talking about it in front of Shagga and Timett] I know what he knew about. Pycelle: He was sending his wife back to the Eyrie, and his son to be fostered on Dragonstone ... he meant to act ... Tyrion: So you poisoned him first. Pycelle: No. Tyrion: Tsk. I saw the tears of Lys among your potions. And you sent away Lord Arryn's own maester and tended him yourself, so you could make certain that he died. Pycelle: A falsehood! |
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| ~ Pycelle is confronted by Tyrion Lannister about his repeated treasons and schemes, with Pycelle indirectly revealing he was one of the first people who knew about the true parentage of Cersei's children. |
| “ | Yes ... yes, Colemon was purging, so I sent him away. The queen needed Lord Arryn dead, she did not say so, could not, Varys was listening, always listening, but when I looked at her I knew. It was not me who gave him the poison, though, I swear it. [weeping] Varys will tell you, it was the boy, his squire, Hugh he was called, he must surely have done it, ask your sister, ask her. | „ |
| ~ Pycelle confesses that he deliberately let Jon Arryn die by a poison, while Maester Colemon was saving him, much to Tyrion's disgust and causing Tyrion to have him confined in a black cell. |
| “ | Ser Jaime, I have seen terrible things in my time. Wars, battles, murders most foul... I was a boy in Oldtown when the grey plague took half the city and three-quarters of the Citadel. Lord Hightower burned every ship in port, closed the gates, and commanded his guards to slay all those who tried to flee, be they men, women, or babes in arms. They killed him when the plague had run its course. On the very day he reopened the port, they dragged him from his horse and slit his throat, and his young son's as well. To this day the ignorant in Oldtown will spit at the sound of his name, but Quenton Hightower did what was needed. Your father was that sort of man as well. A man who did what was needed. | „ |
| ~ Pycelle to Jaime Lannister, about Quenton Hightower and Tywin Lannister. |
About Pycelle[]
| “ | Tyrion: My noble father labors so diligently that I scarce see him anymore. Tell me, is it true that he's restoring Grand Maester Pycelle to the small council? Varys: It is, my lord. Tyrion: Do I have my sweet sister to thank for that? Varys: Not at all, my lord. Thank the archmaesters of Oldtown, those who wished to insist on Pycelle's restoration on the grounds that only the Conclave may make or unmake a Grand Maester. Tyrion: I seem to recall that Maegor the Cruel's headsman unmade three with his axe. Varys: Quite true. And the second Aegon fed Grand Maester Gerardys to his dragon. Tyrion: Alas, I am quite dragonless. I suppose I could have dipped Pycelle in wildfire and set him ablaze. Would the Citadel have preferred that? Varys: Well, it would have been more in keeping with tradition. Thankfully, wiser heads prevailed, and the Conclave accepted the fact of Pycelle's dismissal and set about choosing his successor. After giving due consideration to Maester Turquin the cordwainer's son and Maester Erreck the hedge knight's bastard, and thereby demonstrating to their own satisfaction that ability counts for more than birth in their order, the Conclave was on the verge of sending us Maester Gormon, a Tyrell of Highgarden. When I told your lord father, he acted at once. Tyrion: I see. So my father decided to nip the rose before it bloomed. [chuckles] Pycelle is a toad. But better a Lannister toad than a Tyrell toad, no? Varys: Grand Maester Pycelle has always been a good friend to your House. |
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| ~ Tyrion Lannister and Varys, about Pycelle's full reinstatement. |
| “ | Without his beard, Pycelle looked not only old, but feeble. Shaving him was the cruelest thing Tyrion could have done, thought Jaime, who knew what it was to lose a part of yourself, the part that made you who you were. Pycelle's beard had been magnificent, white as snow and soft as lambswool, a luxuriant growth that covered cheeks and chin and flowed down almost to his belt. The Grand Maester had been wont to stroke it when he pontificated. It had given him an air of wisdom, and concealed all manner of unsavory things: the loose skin dangling beneath the old man's jaw, the small querulous mouth and missing teeth, warts and wrinkles and age spots too numerous to count. Though Pycelle was trying to regrow what he had lost, he was failing. Only wisps and tufts sprouted from his wrinkled cheeks and weak chin, so thin that Jaime could see the splotchy pink skin beneath. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Jaime while observing Pycelle's state after his stay in the black cells, thinking that Tyrion went too far. |
Victims[]
- Lord Jon Arryn - Assisted. Deliberately let him die by the poison called Tears of Lys after sending Maester Colemon away from Jon's chambers, as he was saving him by purging him. Done by his own initiative to protect the truth of Cersei Lannister's children's true parentage.
Trivia[]
- In the second novel, Pycelle confessed to Tyrion Lannister that he deliberately dismissed Lord Jon Arryn's own young maester, Colemon, under the pretext of age and experience, while Jon's health was notably improving and Colemon was saving him from the lethal effects of the expensive poisonous potion called Tears of Lys. While he took care of Jon, making sure to ease his pain, Pycelle let him die to prevent him from revealing the true parentage of Cersei's bastard children to King Robert I Baratheon, which would've resulted in a war against Lord Tywin Lannister, whom Pycelle supported.
- Colemon was successfully saving Jon Arryn's life with a purgative, which is a way to save a person who ingested the Tears of Lys, provided the medic acts timely. King Aegon III Targaryen's wife, Queen Daenaera Velaryon, and Iron Throne's ward Gaemon Palehair were both poisoned with the tears of Lys when they were children (allegedly by Lord Unwin Peake). Grand Maester Munkun managed to save Daenaera's life with a purgative, like Colemon was doing with Jon, although he was too late to save Gaemon, who quickly died. Aware that death by the tears can be prevented through purge, Pycelle immediately acted and halted Colemon's efforts to allow Jon's death.
- Pycelle, who loved Tywin's previous 20 year-long rule as Hand of the King to King Aerys II Targaryen, also confessed to have betrayed House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion, switching to the rebel side after the Battle of the Trident, and successfully advising the Mad King to open King's Landing's gates to Tywin and his army of the Westerlands, which led to the Sack of King's Landing, where many citizens and royals were massacred and raped.
- He also attempted to avoid Lord Stannis Baratheon's ascension to the Iron Throne when King Robert was in his deathbed, by trying to prevent Lord Eddard Stark from revealing the truth of Cersei's children. Pycelle acted always to prevent a war between Baratheons and Lannister and to prevent Stannis becoming king. When Robert dismissed all his attendants from his bedchamber except Ned, Pycelle quickly tried to give milk of the poppy to Robert before Ned could speak to him in private, only for Robert was smash the cup from Pycelle's hand before he could give it to him. Luckily for Pycelle and Cersei, Ned didn't even reveal the truth of Cersei's children to Robert.
- In the second novel, following his arrest, Pycelle's private stocks of poisons was inspectioned by Tyrion. This ends up backfiring on Tyrion in the third novel, as some of Pycelle's poisonous potions are stolen and Tyrion's sister, Cersei, accuses him of having murdered her son Joffrey. During Tyrion's trial, Pycelle testifies at the court and jury that Tyrion stole some of his lethal potions, one of them the strangler, which was used to murder King Joffrey.
- Interestingly, Pycelle's dialogue in the same book has him stopping him to give a brief and longer description of another specific potion that has nothing to do with Joffrey's death: Widow's blood, which shuts down a man's bladder and bowels, until he drowns in his own poisons, rotting from within. This is the only poison that George R. R. Martin has Pycelle describe in detail while he lists his potions, being is careful to have the reader take note of how it works.
- A known theory is that someone, possibly Prince Oberyn Martell, might have poisoned Tywin's wine during Tyrion's trial by combat, in which Oberyn fought against Ser Gregor Clegane to avenge the rape and murder of his sister, Princess Elia Martell, and the murders of her children. However, there is no evidence that Oberyn poisoned Tywin other than his infamous affinity for using poison.
- When Tyrion murders Tywin, the latter was seemingly struggling to defecate on his privy. When Tyrion kills him, Tywin's bowels open and release a generous amount of feces. After Kevan has Tywin's body moved back to Tywin's own bed, it is noted how Tywin's wound emanate a foul rotting smell, despite the corpse being fresh, with Cersei wondering what's the matter with it. During the arrangements for Tywin's funeral, the body's smell only grows worse and wider, strangely rotting so quickly, as if it was already dead for longer. Pycelle, who's in charge of taking care of the body, has the Silent Sisters remove the organs from Tywin's body, which is filled with sweet-smelling herbs. None of this helped to remove the stench, and during Tywin's funeral inside the Great Sept of Baelor's main hall, the attendants are disgusted and shocked at how much Tywin's corpse stinks, possibly due to the work of poison. Cersei furiously accused Pycelle of having made a "stinking mockery" out of her father.
- A known theory is that someone, possibly Prince Oberyn Martell, might have poisoned Tywin's wine during Tyrion's trial by combat, in which Oberyn fought against Ser Gregor Clegane to avenge the rape and murder of his sister, Princess Elia Martell, and the murders of her children. However, there is no evidence that Oberyn poisoned Tywin other than his infamous affinity for using poison.
- Interestingly, Pycelle's dialogue in the same book has him stopping him to give a brief and longer description of another specific potion that has nothing to do with Joffrey's death: Widow's blood, which shuts down a man's bladder and bowels, until he drowns in his own poisons, rotting from within. This is the only poison that George R. R. Martin has Pycelle describe in detail while he lists his potions, being is careful to have the reader take note of how it works.
