Stannis Baratheon

*this is a continuation of my Month of Thrones series. Note that there are no spoilers past season three for my non-book readers* 

Source



"I ask you, why did the gods inflict me with brothers?"

More affectionately known as 'Stannis the Mannis' to some in the fandom, he is the archetype for the middle child. He doesn't get the automatic lordship and titles as his older brother, and he also isn't as charismatic and handsome as his older brother and this greatly affect his personality. He is a very serious man that has a strong sense of honor and justice.When we first see Stannis, he leaves for Dragonstone after feeling slighted for being overlooked by his brother again, this time for Hand of the King.

When he was 13,  he witnessed his parents dying of the coast of Storm's End, which probably caused the coldness that he more outwardly portrays. He then promptly gave up his religion (The Gods of the Seven) out of anger, which proves interesting later to see him take up the the R'hllor so easily (though it is only for the power that is promised). He is most known for holding against the Siege at Storm's End during Robert's Rebellion (with the aid of Davos Seaworth, which easily could have changed the tide of the war with the Tyrell forces spending all of the time in the war with this siege. Despite this, he was given Dragonstone even though his younger brother hardly contributed to the war.

Before the events of the show, Stannis had been investigating Cersei's children for legitimacy with Jon Arryn but he died before that could go further. After this happens, he goes back to Dragonstone to plan his next moves as legally and biologically he would be the rightful heir to the throne with Cersei's incest/infidelity. He then declares himself heir and king and sends letters announcing the bastardy of Cersei's children to the rest of the realm. He soon comes under the influence of Melisandre, who is a priestess serving the Red God. Stannis takes up her religion and starts doing sacrifices to bring luck and fortune to his cause. Then he goes to Storm's End to treat/parley with Renly (who also declared himself king) that ends in the death of Renly (through Meliandre's magic) and the influx of more troops. Next he moves to King's Landing, where he and his troops fight through wildfyre to try to take the city but are then promptly defeated when the newly allied Tyrell/Lannister forces show up. Now dejected, he returns to Dragonstone not sure of what to do next. The combined forces of Davos and Melisandre convince him to take he forces to help the Wall against the Others.

Stannis still has a large role to play in the story as we get to see how his new campaign in the North will fare and also how/if the prophecy declaring the deaths of the impostor kings (Joffery, Balon, Robb) gets completed since there has already been one death. Melisandre and Davos will likely still be competing for Stannis' attention. We hopefully get to see Stannis' wife Selyse continue into her madness/piousness (she gives Lysa Arryn a run for her money) to be contrasted with the sweetness of the disfigured Shireen. Most people either love or hate Stannis, but I feel like he is just a guy trying to do the right thing with the wrong approach (Melisandre/The Red God) so maybe we will see him separate from that and do things his own way.