The setting of 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad' finds us in the twilight of the 'War of the Five Kings.' With the winners and losers largely decided, the Iron Throne in 'King's Landing' is currently held by 'Tommen Baratheon,' backed by his mother, 'Cersei Lannister' (hereafter Cersei). If you've played the game, you'll remember her meddling as the Queen Regent.

But let’s take a cheeky look at the past. It’s no secret that the Lannister family, led by Cersei, were the architects of the chaos that sparked the entire Game of Thrones. Today, we’re digging into the house of Lannister and its current master of the Iron Throne, Cersei.

The Lannisters: Wardens of the West

House Lannister has some serious pedigree. Long before Aegon the Conqueror arrived in Westeros, they ruled the West as the 'Kings of the Rock.' Unfortunately, Aegon wasn't exactly a pushover, especially with three of the fiercest dragons in history at his beck and call. After their army was turned to literal ash at the 'Field of Fire,' the Lannisters bent the knee. Not exactly the glorious ending one expects from a Great House.

They remained relatively quiet until the events of the main series. Even during the Targaryen civil war, the 'Dance of the Dragons,' they backed the 'Greens' only to see their forces slaughtered and their own backyard, 'Lannisport,' razed to the ground. It was a bleak period, until Tywin Lannister finally turned their fortunes around.

The Root of All Evil: Jamie and Cersei

During 'Robert's Rebellion,' the Lannisters sided with 'Robert Baratheon,' eventually securing their status as in-laws through his marriage to Cersei. The union produced 'Joffrey Baratheon,' 'Tommen Baratheon,' and 'Myrcella Baratheon,' and for a while, they looked like a perfectly happy family.

The shocker, of course, is that all three children were the product of Cersei's affair with her twin brother, 'Jamie Lannister' (hereafter Jamie). When the Hand of the King, 'Jon Arryn,' and the Lord of Winterfell, 'Eddard Stark,' discovered this, they paid with their lives. The fallout from Jamie and Cersei’s dalliance caused an unimaginable amount of suffering.

After Joffrey was poisoned, young Tommen Baratheon ascended the throne. With him being a mere child, Cersei appointed herself 'Queen Regent,' effectively pulling the strings of the realm. She has been busy dismissing letters from the protagonist's father and treating the threat of the White Walkers as mere folklore. If you’re curious about her even more outrageous exploits, you really ought to watch the series yourself.

Cersei’s twin brother, Jamie, was a prodigious swordsman, earning a spot in the Kingsguard at just 15. However, serving under the 'Mad King' Aerys II was a nightmare. The breaking point came during the rebellion when Jamie discovered the King's plot to burn King's Landing to the ground with 'wildfire.' He initially urged the King to surrender, but upon being ordered to kill his own father, Tywin Lannister, Jamie snapped and took down the King and his pyromaniacs, effectively single-handedly preventing a massacre.

Of course, for a Kingsguard member to break his oath and kill his King is a major crime. Jamie claimed it was for the greater good, but without anyone else alive to verify the truth, he was forever branded the 'Kingslayer.' It was a heavy cross to bear and left deep scars on his psyche.

Under the Baratheon dynasty, Jamie thrived as the sole male heir to House Lannister. But fate is cruel; he was captured by the 'Brave Companions' and had his sword hand severed. He nearly spiraled into ruin, but with 'Brienne's' help, he found his footing again, returning to King's Landing with a golden prosthetic and training himself to fight with his left hand.

He was an arrogant prick, certainly, but losing his hand and the subsequent trauma softened him quite a bit. Looking at how he goes out of his way to help the protagonist, he’s definitely the more decent of the twins. Whether we’ll cross paths with him again after he leaves King's Landing remains to be seen.

The Cold Patriarch: Tywin Lannister & The Incoming Tyrion

Once you resolve the issues in the Reach, Olenna Tyrell tips you off that Tywin Lannister has returned to the Westerlands. She suggests that even if Cersei is the Queen Regent, Tywin is the one with the real power. However, the protagonist heads to the Stormlands first, needing to secure obsidian urgently.

Tywin Lannister is the cold-blooded head of the house who served as Hand of the King since the Targaryen era. He is notoriously strict with his children—he's said to have laughed only three times in his life. He treats Cersei as a mere political pawn and prioritizes the house above all else. As the King’s grandfather, he’s the clear victor of the War of the Five Kings, holding power so absolute that even the arrogant Cersei dare not cross him.

If you’re a fan of the show, you’re likely wondering about the whereabouts of 'Tyrion Lannister.' Born with dwarfism and scorned by his father and sister, he remains one of the most beloved characters for his sharp wit and political brilliance. Many players are eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Fortunately, you won't have to wait long. The developers announced in an official stream that the Casterly Rock region is scheduled to launch in Q3, and you'll be able to meet Tyrion there. Let’s wait and see if his charm translates well into the game.