Samwell Tarly, and often called Sam, is the current Grand Maester of the Six Kingdoms. He is also a former steward of the Night's Watch and Jon Snow's closest friend. He was forced to join the Night's Watch by his father. Though he is overweight and neither the bravest nor the most skilled of warriors, he is intelligent, well-educated, and insightful, his vast knowledge serving the Night's Watch well in their battles with the forces beyond the Wall. After the Battle of King's Landing, he becomes the new Grand Maester and thus sits on the small council of King Bran the Broken.