Franklyn Flowers
Franklyn Flowers is a sellsword of the Golden Company, a bastard of the Reach who rose from a washerwoman mother to become a knight and captain under the exiled lord Jon Connington. He is a scarred, ugly, and brutally effective fighter, known for his loyalty to Connington and his role in the swift capture of Griffin's Roost, where he led the assault that opened the castle's gates.
Identity and Background
Franklyn Flowers is a bastard of the Reach, born when a lord's son raped his mother, a washerwoman at Cider Hall. He claims the name Flowers, the customary surname for bastards of the Reach, and jokingly styles himself "a sort o' brown apple Fossoway," referencing the noble house of that region. His appearance is as rough as his origins: a big-bellied, shambling hulk of a man with a seamed face crisscrossed with old scars, one ear that looks as if a dog chewed on it, and a missing left ear. Despite his low birth, he rose through the ranks of the Golden Company, eventually being knighted and made a captain. He is a veteran of many battles, and his scarred face and missing ear testify to a life of violence.
Role in the Golden Company and the Capture of Griffin's Roost
Flowers serves as a captain in the Golden Company, a sellsword company of exiled Westerosi. He is a trusted subordinate of Jon Connington, the exiled Lord of Griffin's Roost and Hand of the King to the pretender Aegon Targaryen. When Connington's forces land in the stormlands to reclaim his ancestral seat, Flowers is given command of the assault on Griffin's Roost. He leads his men through the brush to approach the castle's gatehouse unseen, carrying a ram they had fashioned back at camp. The gate is found closed but not barred, and Flowers' men break through at the second blow, quickly overwhelming the defenders. The attack is so swift that only four of Connington's men are lost, and the castle falls within minutes. After the victory, Connington tasks Flowers with searching the keep and kitchens and rousting out everyone found there, ensuring no one escapes.
Personality and Loyalty
Flowers is a blunt, profane, and loyal soldier. He is not given to courtly graces; his speech is coarse and his manner direct. He is fiercely loyal to Connington, whom he greets with a bone-crushing hug and a stream of profane affection. He is also a pragmatist, understanding the need for swift, decisive action. When Connington proposes a plan to take Storm's End by guile, Flowers supports it, though he notes that the young prince Aegon will not like being kept safe. He is a man of action, more comfortable with a sword in his hand than with strategy, but he is also a capable leader, trusted by Connington to carry out critical missions. His loyalty is to the cause of restoring Aegon Targaryen to the Iron Throne, and he is willing to fight and die for it.
