Cortnay Penrose

While Lord Renly served on the Small Council in King's Landing, Ser Cortnay was left in command of Storm's End. He was also entrusted with raising Edric Storm, Robert Baratheon's only publicly acknowledged bastard, a boy he came to care for over the years.

Those who knew him considered him a commander tested in real battle.

After Renly's murder, Ser Cortnay sent ravens asking for help to break the siege Stannis Baratheon had laid on the castle, promising loyalty to whoever came to his aid. He demanded to see Renly's body before agreeing to surrender. No one came, and Storm's End was left isolated.

At the parley beneath the walls, Stannis demanded the surrender of the castle and of Edric himself; Cortnay refused, threw down his glove at Stannis's feet and challenged him to single combat, taunting those who had abandoned Renly to join Stannis's side. Stannis refused the duel and warned him he would take the castle by force.

At some point in the exchange he told Stannis: «Let the Others take your Lord of Light, and wipe their arses with that rag you wear.»

Stannis learned from Melisandre that she had seen Cortnay's death in the flames. That same night he sent Davos Seaworth along with the priestess, and a shadow born of her killed the castellan.

His lieutenant, Lord Elwood Meadows, handed over the castle and Edric Storm without further resistance.