Samwell Tarly, first born son of Lord Randyll Tarly and Melessa Florent, was raised in their
families ancestral home of Horn Hill in the Reach. A rigid and traditional man, Sam’s
father had been one of the greatest warriors and commanders in the Seven Kingdoms, responsible
for Robert Baratheons sole defeat at the Battle of Ashford, during his mighty Rebellion against
the Targaryens. And so it was with great disappointment that,
despite his best efforts, Sam was no warrior. His soft and passive along with his lack of
interest in physical exertions, caused the boy to grow overweight, unable to defend himself
in anyway. Perhaps Lord Tarly’s greatest disappointment
came during a trip to the Arbor, where a possible betrothal had been arranged for Sam. But his
son was so bullied and humiliated by the other boys of the keep, that he returned Sam to
Horn Hill in shame. Yet at last Lord Tarly’s dreams of a proper
heir were realized, when his second son Dickon was born, and proved to be the warrior he
had always wanted. With Sam’s father distracted by his new
child, the first born son of House Tarly was able to pursue his own passions like studying
history and music, now able to devout himself entirely to his natural gifts.
And while he enjoyed himself for a time, when Sam reached maturity, his freedom ended, with
his father refusing to allow him to inherit the Lordship of their family, threatening
to murder Sam, if he did not abandon his claim to House Tarly and join the Night’s Watch.
Sam then made his way to the Wall, where his physical deficiencies made him the target
of scorn and bullying by both initiates and instructors. With Ser Alliser Thorne naming
him Ser Piggy in mockery. However Jon Snow, a fellow trainee and the
bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark, took pity on him, becoming friends and even defending
him against all who mistreated him. Recognizing Sam’s abilities as an intellectual,
Jon even arranged for old Maester Aemon to take on Sam as a steward, so his skills might
serve the watch. Sam became close to Jon, even abandoning the
faith of the Seven, to take his vows at the Heart Tree, honoring the Old Gods with his
northern friend. Sam was then chosen to join the Great Ranging
of Jeor Mormont North of the Wall, where he was given charge of their communication Ravens.
On their way North, they camped with their wilding ally Craster, a depraved man who married
his daughters and sacrificed his infant sons to the Others.
There Sam befriended Gilly, one of Craster’s daughter/wives, pregnant with a child she
feared would be a boy, and be killed as a sacrifice.
Yet, with Sam unable to help in anyway, he was forced to leave with the Great Ranging,
travelling to the Fist of the First Men, where they were attacked the Others and forced into
retreat. Sam was able to release the Ravens before
their defenses completely shattered, but was unable to keep pace with the Night’s Watch
survivors as they marched south. Sam’s friend Small Paul stayed with him,
helping him as much as possible, but they soon became separated from the main group,
and were attack by an Other. Sam’s friend was quickly killed but Sam was able to stab
the creature with an obsidian dagger, destroying him and determining that they were vulnerable
to dragonglass. This action earned Sam the nickname Sam the Slayer, though most of the
Night’s Watch used the name in derision, believing Sam had invented the story.
When Sam arrived at Craster’s Keep, meeting up with the other survivors, the lack of food
and harsh conditions cause a mutiny, with both Craster and Jeor Mormont killed in the
fighting. Before the Lord Commander died however, he spoke his final words to Sam, admitting
that his greatest wish was for his son Jorah Mormont to regain his honor by joining the
Night’s Watch. Sam, seeing no hope in the situation, took
Gilly and her newborn son, running away into the forest.
As the journeyed south, they were attacked by wights, the undead servants of the Others.
And while sam attempted to use dragonglass against them, it proved ineffectual, finding
that Fire was the best way to kill them. However they soon were outnumbered, and were
only save by the mysterious creature known as Coldhands, who rescued them, and escorted
them south. He then asked Sam to deliver a message to someone who he would find hiding
out in the abandoned Nightfort on the other side of the wall.
To his surprise he found the brother of his best friend Bran Stark and instructed the
boy and his companions to find Coldhands north of the wall, so he might lead them where they
need to go. Sam then took Gilly to Castle Black, where
he used his strategic mind to politically maneuver the candidates for Lord Commander,
into voting for Jon Snow as a compromise candidate. Jon Snow proved an able commander, sending
Samwell, Maester Aemon and Gilly to Old Town, where Sam might see to Gilly’s safety and
train as a Maester. However, fearing the death of Mance rayder’s
child, whom Lady Melisandre wished to sacrifice to her Red God, Jon Snow switched the children,
causing Gilly to leave Castle Black with the son of the Wildling King, and her own child
left behind at the Wall. For a time Gilly suffered from a terrible
depression, but after witnessing the death of Maester Aemon who died during the journey
south, she recovered and became the romantic partner of Samwell Tarly.
In Braavos, Sam’s companion Dareon who had been appointed a recruiter for the Watch,
abandoned his duties, becoming a Tavern bard. Sam labelled him a deserter and attacked the
man, but was ultimately ejected from the building, taking an ailing Maester Aemon and Gilly aboard
a ship called the Cinnamon Wind, for the rest of their journey to Old Town.
It would be during the second half of their journey, that Maester Aemon would die, having
shared with Sam his final thoughts concerning the stories being told of Daenerys Targaryen
and her dragons. Stating that since the word Dragon was gender neutral, the prophecies
may be describing Daenerys as the Prince that was Promised, and that were he not so old
and ill, he might have gone to her as an advisor. After his death, Sam arrives in Old Town,
and sends Gilly and the child to horn Hill, where they might find safety with his family,
telling them that the boy was his bastard son.
Same then made his way to the Citadel where he began his training as a Maester. There,
he met with Archmaester Marwyn, who asked that Sam recount Aemon’s final words concerning
Daenerys. When Marwyn learned that Aemon did indeed
believe Daenerys was the prophesied savior of humanity, he swore Sam to secrecy on the
topic, and left Old Town aboard the Cinnamon Wind, determined to find the Dragon Queen
and offer his services as Maester and Advisor. Meanwhile, Sam was instructed to finish his
training as quickly as possible, and return as soon he could, to the Night's Watch.