[Application]

[antleredcrown]

OOC

Handle: Mimi
Contact: wherethefigslie
Over 18? Yes
Characters Played: None

THE CHARACTER

Character Name: Renly of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name, The King in Highgarden
Series: Game of Thrones (television show)
Canon Point: Posthumously (post "The Ghost of Harrenhal")
Character Age: 27 at point of death
Background: Information on Renly can be found here.

Personality:

"He inspires no love or loyalty. He's not a king. I am."

As a child, Renly lived a charmed life in Storm's End. He enjoyed reading and running through the halls with a play crown on, declaring, "Look at me, I'm a wizard! Look at me, I'm a king!" However, because Renly is the youngest of the Baratheon brothers, and King Robert has a male heir, Renly quickly gave up hope on ever becoming king. In point of fact, he never really had the desire to become king. That is until Loras Tyrell, Renly's squire and longtime lover, suggested he would make a much better king than his brother Robert.

This is true, in theory. Renly's main strength is that he is charismatic in the extreme, but in a way that manages to be genuine. Despite the Tyrells attempting to starve out the Baratheons, Renly makes peace with them by making Loras his page, and maintains that peace by marrying Margaery. He remembers people, especially people most others would forget. Renly approaches a soldier who had wounded his leg and asks after him by name, then inquires about his injury and his family. He defends Brienne of Tarth for her strength and skill in the field, and once danced with her at a ball to save her from being teased, thereby winning her loyalty. He has charm and humour and is able to win people over with the skillful use of these traits. Renly has a dry wit and vein of sarcasm that endears him to most, cracking jokes to lighten the mood of tense situations.

The common folk adore him, and he genuinely cares about his people in return. Renly inspires devotion in people. Loras dies swearing an oath to Renly as his one true king, Brienne avenges his death, and his bannermen are ready to go into battle for him despite his inexperience.

He is merciful, and a fair ruler. He judges with a sound mind and an open heart, which is rare among the Baratheons. For instance, when he strikes an accord with the Starks, he allows Robb Stark to continue calling himself King in the North so long as he swears his allegiance. He knows how much the title means to the Starks, and has no qualms with allowing them this title if it will strengthen their treaty. He also marries Margaery Tyrell, despite being in love with her brother, in order to strengthen the bond between the Baratheons and the Tyrells. It is a strong political move, as it puts him in the position of King in Highgarden, giving him Highgarden's finances and soldiers in preparation for the battle for the Iron Throne.

Renly is also a fantastic judge of character. Being on Robert's small council and privy to all the business that transpires in the kingdom, Renly sees how wasteful his brother can be, and how uncaring he has become. Robert had come to rule through fear, whereas Renly wants to be a king who rules through love and respect.

After Robert is mortally wounded, Renly approaches Ned Stark, Robert's second in command and The Hand of the court, and proposes that they quietly get rid of Joffrey, next in line for the throne. He predicts that Joffrey, alongside his mother, would rule the realms tyrannical and without mercy, which he sees as unacceptable.

He sees his middle brother, Stannis, as strident and uncaring, and therefor unfit to rule. He also sees the negative influence of Melisandre on his brother and how that would poorly effect the kingdom. With Loras's encouragement, he decides to go against Stannis and King's Landing to claim the throne for himself. Unfortunately, he is killed by one of Melisandre's spells before he is able to ride into battle.

Renly's one great weakness is that he has never firsthand seen a battle. He was very young when Robert's rebellion took place and therefore did not take part. While he does enjoy watching tournaments and jousting, he has a tendency to faint at the sight of blood. (He once threw up after seeing a knight's eye come out of its socket.)

Though he has loyal knights on his side, in particular Loras Tyrell and Brienne of Tarth, Renly has never properly led them into battle. He is truly a child of summer who has never seen a hard day in his life, though his heart is in the right place.

His youth and inexperience do him a discredit; he believes he can go about doing things his way, and it will work out in the end. It is Loras who reminds him that his marriage to Margaery must me consummated for it to be legitimate, despite Renly putting it off for as long as possible. Margaery underlines this point, saying the kingdoms will not be peacefully ruled until they can produce an heir.

Powers/Abilities:
→ Political savvy
→ Charisma and wit
→ Well-read
→ Some combat training (though by no means extensive)
→ Master of Laws on the king's small council

Power Nerfs (if applicable): n/a

Inventory:
→ Small clothes (undershirt, shorts, stockings)
→ Leather trousers (1 pair)
→ Leather boots (1 pair)
→ Velvet doublet (1)
→ Chainmail for the upper body
→ Leather sword belt (1)
→ Sword (1, no additional powers)
→ Peach (1)

Incentives: Renly is exceedingly loyal to those he loves. Any threats against Loras especially would be met with instant obedience. Threats against his brothers, Stannis and Robert, would be met with heavy negotiation.

SAMPLES

TDM top level with two prompts.