Northern Ireland: Foyle Books

Northern Ireland: Foyle Books

While exploring Darry/Londondarry we came across one of our favorite things: a used book store. We could have spent all day in there. The proprietors at Foyle Books were wonderful and were more than happy to help me find books written by local Irish artists. I will admit that I requested no Irish poets because I had read a number in high school and college and I think I almost committed a crime…

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House Words Wednesdays: House Ryger

Welcome to House Words Wednesdays! Each week, I take a House without known canon or semi-canon words and present what I think could make sense as that House’s motto. You’re free to suggest more as well, if your favored House has not yet been suggested; take a look at this link to see what has already been suggested, and shoot me an ask through Tumblr if you have another House you’d like to see done. 

House Ryger is a noble House of the Riverlands, sworn bannermen of the Tullys of Riverrun. It is not clear how old House Ryger is, since no history is known for them before Robert's Rebellion, but according to Westeros.org the House's seat is Willow Wood (which makes sense, given that the family sigil is a green weeping willow, on a white field). Unfortunately for the Rygers, they enter our knowledge of Westerosi history on the wrong side: Catelyn states that "[t]he Darrys and Rygers and Mootons had sworn oaths to Riverrun as well, yet they had fought with Rhaegar Targaryen on the Trident". We don't know how the Rygers fared during the war, but given the fates of some of their fellow loyalist riverlords - the Darrys losing "half their lands, most of their wealth, and almost all their power", Hoster Tully bringing "fire and sword" against one of Lord Goodbrook's villages - I might expect that the Ryger wealth and power is rather less than it was in the days of the Targaryens. Indeed, I would not be surprised if Hoster Tully encouraged his heir Edmure's friendship with Tristan Ryger to keep an eye on the family - making sure that the next generation of Ryger leadership would be firmly pro-Tully. 

In the modern era of ASOIAF, though, the Rygers seem to have reconfirmed their loyalty to their liege lords. Ser Robin Ryger is the faithful captain of the guard at Riverrun through the first four novels, "of an age with Hoster Tully" and one of the men Catelyn thinks "had spent their lives in her father's service". He attends Robb during his court early in ACOK, attempts to recapture Jaime after Catelyn frees him (though his craft is instead sunk by a neat trick of Brienne's), and eventually chooses the Night's Watch after Riverrun surrenders and the Tully garrison is dispersed. The rest of the Rygers seem just as loyal to the Tully cause: Jaime notes uneasily that "the willow of the Rygers" is missing from the pardoned riverlord force besieging Riverrun, while Westeros.org states that Tristan Ryger was "likely" with Edmure at the Red Wedding, which means he was at least captured, if not slain.

For the Ryger words, I decided on Better Bent Than Broken. The weeping willow on the Ryger sigil is a tree that can bend quite substantially (hence that weeping part) while still growing healthily. I thought such an idea would fit House Ryger well, given the reverses the family seems likely to have suffered for choosing the losing side in Robert's Rebellion. While some might scoff at a family choosing such a somber-looking, rather un-martial device for its sigil, the Rygers might point out that the weeping willow continues to grow despite being bent. Whatever lands and wealth they had lost in Robert's Rebellion, they would continue on so long as they were able. If they were not broken, then they would fight for their Tully lieges; when the Tullys' power was itself broken, Ser Robin made for the Watch, where the last of his strength could be put to its best purpose.

Let me know what you think of these words for House Ryger. Next week goes to a Crownlands family which saw its loyalty to Aerys II quite literally go up in flames.