Liam Ironarm

Liam Ironarm
Biographical Information
Born	405 H.E.
Died	July 439 H.E.
Nationality	(Nationality is never revealed in the book)
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Hair	Red
Eyes	Blue-Green
Family Information
Lover	Alanna of Trebond (former)
Affilliation
Affiliation	Shang Warriors
Bibliographical Information
Universe	Tortallan Universe Universe character

Liam Ironarm, the Shang Dragon, studied Shang, a type of martial arts since he was four years old. He was the oldest Shang Dragon in a long time, and died at 34 years of age.

Because the Shang school is located in a secret place in Maren, he was most likely raised in the country. He did travel a lot once he was finished with his training, however. As a Shang warrior, he was very skilled in all sorts of combat, especially hand-to-hand fighting.

The Lioness

He met The Lioness while she was staying at an inn in Maren. He bought her a drink and flirted with her, finding her inexperience with flirtation and men amusing. She later discovered that he was the Dragon from the innkeeper. While she was riding out, she was so tired that she fell off her horse. Liam found her, helped her, and brought her back to the inn. They began a sort of romantic relationship, much to the horror of Coram Smythesson, her manservant. Later, when Claw's men tried to kill Alanna and Coram in an alleyway, Liam stepped in, saving them, though he claimed that they would have been victorious in the end. Alanna was wounded from a gash in the arm, and he and Coram nursed her back to health, becoming friends with the other man.

He and Alanna fenced together, drawing a crowd at the inn. She won and he admired her prowess at the sword openly. When Alanna tried to get him to teach her some of Shang, he claimed that she was far too old to study it. After a while, he gave in, and taught her a few kicks and punches.

Throughout his romance with Alanna, he showed some disdain for her noble birth, claiming that few nobles actually knew what was going on in the world. As she learned from Myles of Olau, her knowledge of world events was actually quite expansive. When Liam discovered that she had magic, after she talked to her cat Faithful, Liam revealed that he was afraid of magic, but he would be willing to continue their romantic relationship and give it more tries. He accompanied them into Sarain, which was undergoing a civil war between the Lowlanders and the K'miri tribes. They discovered two young women there, who were revealed to be Thayet jian Wilima, the daughter of the Lowlander warlord Adigun jin Wilima and the K'miri princess Kalasin, and her young servant, Buriram Tourakom. Thayet and Buri accompanied them on their quest for the Dominion Jewel, when later learning that they would be turned away from sanctuary at the temples.

They traveled to the Roof of the World in order to face Chitral. Liam was further and further unnerved by Alanna's uses for magic, and claimed that she was cheating and dishonorable. At a small inn at the Roof of the World, when Alanna came down in a dress, he was also unnerved by this, and said that the dress was not sensible. Thayet later explained to Alanna that it wasn't just about the dress for Liam, but also that he could not seem to be able to put Alanna into a category, and that she kept doing things that were unexpected for him. When Alanna ignored his advice to wait out the storm to retrieve the Dominion Jewel, he was furious with her when she returned, and did not talk to her. Any romance that they shared was gone by this point, although they stayed friendly and civil.

Now that they had the Dominion Jewel, they started back for Tortall. They were met by Raoul of Goldenlake, who brought them back to Corus. All members of the party returned with Alanna. Liam was presented to King Jonathan, who had succeeded his father as king of Tortall. He did remark to Alanna, once he saw her in her presentation outfit (wide pants, with black tunic and earrings), that he did have some regrets about the ending of their relationship.

When Duke Roger threatened the livelihood of Tortall, Liam stayed to help fight the treacherous duke. He died in battle, and the king and queen honored his passing. They named their third-born child, and second-born son after the Shang Dragon, Prince Liam of Conté.

Physical description

Liam has red hair, eyes that change color according to his mood, and a scarred pock marked face. He also has a mustache, a heavy set jaw, a broken looking nose, and a body full of muscle. He is described by Alanna of Trebond as attractive.