King Argilac Durrandon - The World of Ice and Fire (2014)

Although the power that the Storm Kings of House Durrandon was greatly diminished from what they used to own, King Argilac was a "belligerent" leader, eager to keep the title of the Storm King and challenge any of the other six warring Kingdoms that attempted to undermine the rule of the Stormlands. He was the grandson of Arrec Durrandon and father to his only daughter Argella.

From a young age, Argilac took part in battle, defending his lands from an attack by the Martells of Dorne. He was also driven by the thought of gold and glory, joining forces with an alliance to combat the "imperialist tigers" from Volantis, decided that he would lead an army of his soldiers east and oppose the armies wanting to reclaim the city of Myr (the "Disputed Lands") for themselves.

Twenty years later, Argilac also killed the King of the Reach Garse VII Gardner during the battle of Summerfield. He had a violent enmity with Princess Meria Martell, calling her the "Yellow Toad of Dorne".

As he aged, his fighting technique and body began to get affected and weakened. After hearing that his grandfather had lost the Trident to the forces of House Hoare and it's leader Harren the Black, Argilac began to feel paranoid, seeing it as a threat to his dominance over the Stormlands. In an attempt to cement his power, he offered his daughter Princess Argelle to King Aegon I Targaryen as a bride, promising her an impressive dowry of "all the lands east of the Gods Eye". However Aegon declined the offer, reminding him that not only did he have two wives, but also that the lands he had been offering as a dowry also belonged to the Lord of Harrenhal for many years. He reacted with fury at the counter proposal that King Aegon I had proposed - Argelle's hand and all the promised lands, with the addition of Massey's Hook and the lands "south to the river Wendwater and the headwaters of the Mander," which would be given to Lord Orys Baratheon. Argilac violently refused this, believing that Orys was the bastard brother of Aegon, and declaring that he would not let his daughter marry a bastard. As an act of defiance, he had the hands of Aegon's envoy cut off and sent back to Dragonstone in a box, attaching a note that famously said "These are the only hands your bastard shall have."

Argilac refused the King's royal decree that there would now only be one King of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, whilst also declining the command to bend the knee and ensure the continuation of his lands and title as a vassal - a sign of mercy and good faith on King Aegon's part . He called for his banners, receiving the aid of the full force of the Stormlands and prepared to defend themselves against the Targaryens, who threatened to end all those who opposed Aegon's rule.

King Argilac gathered his forces in Storm's End, his ancestral home and seat of power, where he had heard the news of King Harren's death and the destruction of Harrenhal by dragonfire. Deciding that he would not allow himself to die in a manner similar to that of Harren, King Argilac rode into battle to meet his enemies on the battlefield.

He eventually met with the Targaryen forces (led by Orys, Hand of the King) south of the Bronzegate one stormy day. Believing them to be at a disadvantage from the weather, Argilac called for an attack (in a battle that would become known as the Last Storm), ignoring the council of his commanders to wait for more favourable conditions for all. Although they managed to cut through many of the Baratheon forces, they were met by Queen Rhaenys and Meraxes, who burned Argilac's personal guard. He was thrown from the saddle of his horse, who was so scared at the sight of the dragon. Hower he continued to fight, cutting his way through troops until he came face to face with Orys. He refused to stand down when offered by Lord Barartheon. Managing to wound Orys, he was felled by the younger lord in single combat.

In honour of his valour and his daughter (who the Hand did indeed marry), Orys Baratheon took on the family sigil and words of House Durrandom, as well as the castle of Storm's End.


Appearances:

1. None

Mentions:

1. "The Doom of Valyria (First Mentioned)
2. "The Conquest" 
3. "Andals in the Stormland"
4. "House Baratheon" (Last Mentioned)