Annotations from item #46268719:

The Nightingale is a famous courtesan in Braavos, renowned for her beauty. She has her own barge, and servants to pole her to trysts.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Dareon once plays for the Nightingale at the House of Seven Lamps.

In Braavos, men are challenged to a duel by bravos if they do not say that the Nightingale is the most beautiful woman in the world when asked. Cat of the Canals claims to Samwell Tarly that her father was killed when he said her mother was more beautiful than the Nightingale.




Annotations from item #46268720:

A member of the Nightrunners
Art by Paolo Puggioni

The Nightrunners are a clan of free folk who live beyond the Wall.

Contents

History

The Nightrunners fought with the Hornfoot people before Mance Rayder, King-Beyond-the-Wall, negotiated a peace.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

The Nightrunners join with Mance Rayder for his attack on the Wall.




Annotations from item #46268721:

Nightshade is a poison. It is one of the more common poisons.

Contents

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Tyrion Lannister sees nightshade in Grand Maester Pycelle's collection of medicines and poisons.

A Storm of Swords

During Tyrion Lannister's trial for the death of King Joffrey Baratheon, Grand Maester Pycelle claims that Tyrion stole a sample of nightshade as well as other drugs from Pycelle's collection.




Annotations from item #46268722:

Nightsong

The stormlands and the location of Nightsong

Nightsong is the seat of House Caron in the southwestern stormlands. The formidable castle

Contents

Layout

Nightsong is known for its Singing Towers.

History

Maester Yandel states the Carons have held Nightsong for many centuries and the castle guarded the western border of the domain of the Storm Kings of House Durrandon, but also that the Kingdom of the Reach once included western marches from Horn Hill to Nightsong.

Nightsong was burned by Lord Fowler in 10 AC during the First Dornish War.

The Vulture King led one of his hosts of Dornishmen to attack Nightsong and Horn Hill. He failed to capture Nightsong, however, and while marching west was defeated by Lady Ellyn Caron, Lord Harmon Dondarrion, and Lord Samwell Tarly during the Vulture Hunt.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Ser Philip Foote kills Lord Bryce Caron during the Battle of the Blackwater. The Iron Throne awards Nightsong to Philip after the battle, forming House Foote of Nightsong.

A Dance with Dragons

The Bastard of Nightsong, Bryce's half-brother Rolland Storm, is the pretender Lord of Nightsong.




Annotations from item #46268723:

Nine-Finger Jack is one of the many legendary heroes of the Riverlands, whose tales date back to the Age of Heroes.




Annotations from item #46268724:

The Nine Eunuchs, also known as the Eunuch Emperors, were members of the dynasty of the pearl-white emperors. They gave the Golden Empire of Yi Ti 130 years of peace and prosperity. One of their contributions to the empire was a great web of stone roads without equal in all the world, save for the dragonroads of the Valyrians.

As young men and princes, they lived like other men, taking wives and concubines and siring heirs, but upon their ascent to the throne each surrendered his manhood root and stem, so he might devote himself entirely to the empire.




Annotations from item #46268725:

The man known as Nine Eyes became one of the infamous Band of Nine, the instigators of the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

History

The Band of Nine were a group of merchants, sellswords and pirates who joined together to carve kingdoms out for themselves. Nine Eyes was captain of the Jolly Fellows, a possible pirate mercenary company.




Annotations from item #46268726:

Ninestars is the seat of House Templeton in the Vale of Arryn.




Annotations from item #46268727:

Nissa Nissa was the wife of Azor Ahai. He sacrificed her to create the famous sword, Lightbringer.

Contents

History

The legend of Azor Ahai states that Azor Ahai, during his third try to forge a sword to battle the darkness with, called Nissa Nissa to him after working on his sword for a hundred days and nights. To finish his sword, he drove it through Nissa Nissa's breast. Her blood, soul, strength, and courage went into the steel of the sword, creating Lightbringer.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Salladhor Saan tells Davos Seaworth about the forging of Lightbringer, and Azor Ahai's sacrifice of Nissa Nissa.

A Storm of Swords

Davos Seaworth wonders whether Edric Storm is to play the part of Nissa Nissa, if Stannis Baratheon is indeed Azor Ahai come again.




Annotations from item #46268728:

"No One" is the eighth episode of the sixth season of HBO's fantasy television series *Game of Thrones*, and the 58th overall. The episode was written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss and directed by Mark Mylod.




Annotations from item #46268729:

Noble Lady is a merchant ship.

Contents

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

The Noble Lady is en route to Oldtown by way of King's Landing, Duskendale and Gulltown with a cargo of salt cod, whale oil, and pickled herring, when it is captured off the coast of Dorne by the *Iron Victory*. The ship is added to the Iron Fleet.

The Winds of Winter

The Noble Lady and the Iron Victory part ways in Slaver's Bay. Wulfe One-Ear captains the Noble Lady, and is given command of the fleet accompanying her to the bay of Meereen. Victarion Greyjoy has packed the Noble Lady's huge holds with armed men, who are to remain hidden until they have come upon the enemy. With the Noble Lady also sail the other, lesser prizes that the Iron Fleet had taken on its long voyage to Slaver's Bay, a lubberly assortment of cogs, great cogs, carracks, and trading galleys salted here and there with fishing boats.

Quotes

The Noble Lady was a tub of a ship, as fat and wallowing as the noble ladies of the green lands.




Annotations from item #46268730:

Noho Dimittis is a representative of the Iron Bank of Braavos.

Contents

About

He is a dour Braavosi. Cersei finds his voice irritating.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Noho travels to King's Landing to convince the Iron Throne to resume paying its debts to the Iron Bank of Braavos. During the first fortnight of his stay at King's Landing, Noho is forestalled by Lord Gyles Rosby, the lord treasurer. Noho meets with Lord Gyles six times, but the latter cannot placate him.

When he is finally allowed to meet with Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, Noho is not amused to be told by Cersei to speak with Gyles a seventh time, as the number seven is sacred to the gods of Westeros. When Noho scowls at her, Cersei brings the audience to an abrupt end, informing him that the Iron Bank will receive its money after the rebellions in the Seven Kingdoms are dealt with.

Quotes

Ser Meryn, show the noble Noho Dimittis to the door.

- Cersei Lannister




Annotations from item #46268731:

Goodwife Nolla was an inhabitant of the Riverlands. She was slain by the forces of House Lannister during the War of the Five Kings.




Annotations from item #46268732:

Lord Norbert Vance is the Lord of Atranta and head of House Vance of Atranta. He is blind.

Contents

History

Lord Norbert squired for Lord Darry in his youth, alongside Ser Brynden Tully.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Lord Norbert is among the river lords who bend the knee to the Iron Throne after the death of Robb Stark at the Red Wedding. He is among the reluctant river lords who join the siege of Riverrun, sent as a representative to the war council for the recalcitrant rivermen. Lord Norbert offers to talk with Ser Brynden Tully in an effort to end the siege. His suggestion is dismissed by Lord Clement Piper.

Family

Behind the Scenes

Norbert is a reference by George R. R. Martin to Norbert, a character in Bad Ronald by Jack Vance.[*citation needed*]




Annotations from item #46268733:

Norjen is one of Aeron Greyjoy's drowned men.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Norjen helps Aeron Greyjoy's resuscitate Emmond.




Annotations from item #46268734:

Normund Tyrell is a maester of the Citadel in service at Blackcrown to House Bulwer..

Family




Annotations from item #46268735:

Lord Norne Goodbrother is Lord of Shatterstone and head of House Goodbrother of Shatterstone.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Asha Greyjoy beaches her ship, the *Black Wind*, beneath Norne's castle and rides overland to the kingsmoot.




Annotations from item #46268736:
Annotation #1 for item #46268736: Wiki: Norren

For the maester of Maidenpool during the Dance of the Dragons, see Norren (House Mooton).

Norren is an Archmaester of the Citadel. His ring, mask and rod are made of electrum.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Samwell Tarly goes to the Citadel to talk with Norren, who he thinks is the Seneschal, except Norren was the Seneschal of the Citadel two years before his arrival and it was now Archmaester Theobald.

Annotation #2 for item #46268736: Wiki: (House Mooton) Norren

Norren was a maester in service to Lord Manfryd Mooton of Maidenpool during the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. He was also the keeper of the *Chronicles of Maidenpool*.

History

When Lord Manfryd Mooton received a letter from Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, ordering him to execute her husband Daemon's paramour Nettles, Maester Norren is among those who are asked for their counsel. When Lord Manfryd, deeply disturbed by the request to break the sacred laws of hospitality, expressed how he wished he had never read the letter, Norren suggested that "Mayhaps you never did."

Norren later showed Prince Daemon Targaryen and Nettles the letter, claiming he had not shown it to anyone else. Daemon called him a bad maester but a good man, and requested that Norren would not say a word to anyone until the next day. The following morning, both Nettles and Daemon departed Maidenpool. After they were gone, Norren went to Lord Manfryd, asking him to take his maester's chain off his neck, bind his hands with it, and to deliver him to Rhaenyra for allowing a traitor to escape. Lord Manfryd replied "Keep your chain. We are all traitors here.", referring to Maidenpool declaring for King Aegon II Targaryen that night, forsaking Rhaenyra's cause.




Annotations from item #46268737:

Map (click to zoom)

The lands surrounding Winterfell and the kingsroad in *Game of Thrones*

The north

The north has been ruled by the Starks for thousands of years from the castle known as Winterfell. The only city in the region is White Harbor, while the most prominent northern towns are the winter town and Barrowton. of noble origin raised in the north are given the surname Snow.

Contents

Geography

See also: Places in the North

Northland Keep by Alyn Spiller © Fantasy Flight Games

George R. R. Martin has indicated that Scotland is an inspiration for the north.

Winterfell, the ancestral seat of House Stark, is a large castle centrally located in the north. Nearby is the winter town. The vast wolfswood, the largest forest of the Seven Kingdoms, extends northwest to the Bay of Ice and Sea Dragon Point. Deepwood Motte, the seat of House Glover, lies in the western wolfswood. House Mormont rules Bear Island in the Bay of Ice. The northern mountains extend from the wolfswood to the Wall and are inhabited by northern mountain clans.

South of the wolfswood is hilly terrain with several large lakes. Torrhen's Square, seat of House Tallhart, is located by the largest of these lakes. Farther west along the Sunset Sea is the Stony Shore, which contains fishing villages. Southeast of the Stony Shore and north of Blazewater Bay is the Rills, plains which are ruled by House Ryswell. East of the Rills and south of Winterfell are the barrowlands, hilly plains dotted with the barrows of the First Men. House Dustin rules the large town of Barrowton. There are unnamed rivers which flow south from Barrowton and near Torrhen's Square into the Saltspear, while another unnamed river divides the Stony Shore from the Rills.

South of the barrowlands is the Neck, an isthmus forming the border with the riverlands to the south. A vast swamp and the source of the Green Fork, the Neck is home to the crannogmen; House Reed rules from the moving castle Greywater Watch.

A large peninsula is located west of the Neck and south of the Saltspear and Blazewater Bay. Flint's Finger, home of House Flint of Flint's Finger, is located on its northern shore, while Cape Kraken and and the Flint Cliffs are located along its western and southern shores, respectively. South of the peninsula are Ironman's Bay and the Iron Islands.

East of the barrowlands is the White Knife, a major river of the north which has its source at Long Lake northeast of Winterfell. Castle Cerwyn, the seat of House Cerwyn, is located near a tributary south of Winterfell. The White Knife runs south to White Harbor, one of the major cities of the Seven Kingdoms and the main port of the north. Southeast of White Harbor is Oldcastle, the seat of House Locke, while farther east are Ramsgate and the Broken Branch, which has its source in the Sheepshead Hills northeast of White Harbor. Widow's Watch, the castle of House Flint of Widow's Watch, is built on an isolated peninsula east of Ramsgate in the Shivering Sea..

Hornwood, the seat of House Hornwood, is located in the Hornwood forest north of White Harbor and south of the Dreadfort, the seat of House Bolton. The Dreadfort lies near the Weeping Water, which flows east to the Shivering Sea. Northeast of the Dreadfort are the forested lands of House Karstark. East of their castle, Karhold, are the Grey Cliffs.

North of Winterfell and the Dreadfort and northwest of Karhold are the lands of House Umber, whose castle of Last Hearth is located in a forest. The Umbers control the Lonely Hills

The Wall is a colossal fortification that protects the north from threats beyond the Wall, such as wildlings. It is separated from the northern lands owing allegiance to Winterfell by the Gift, which are lands of the Night's Watch north of the Umbers' lands.

Winterfell and Moat Cailin are located along the kingsroad, which connects Castle Black at the Wall with the riverlands to the south. There are farms, holdfasts, inns, and villages along the road.

In the video game *Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series*, House Forrester lives at Ironrath in the wolfswod. Their rivals, House Whitehill, live at Highpoint between the wolfswood and the northern mountains., suggests it may be located in the Rills.

Seasons

Northern Infantry by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

The north is strongly affected during the long winters, with thousands of people killed and famine a common occurrence due to poor harvests before winter or the inability to raise crops during the longer winters that last for for years on end. Some greater lords maintain greenhouses at their castles, such as the glass gardens of Winterfell.

Once autumn is declared by the Citadel, the lords of the north store away a part of the grain they have harvested. How much is a matter of choice; between one fifth and one fourth seems prudent, however. Additionally food is smoked, salted, and otherwise preserved ahead of winter. Coastal communities depend on fish and inland ice fishing is common on the rivers and Long Lake. Poor harvests before winter will mean famine, however.

In winter, snows can fall forty feet deep. Rain falls cold and hard, and sometimes turns into hail that can send men running for cover and ruin crops. Even during summer, snowfalls are not unusual but tend to be brief and not particularly damaging to agriculture.

People

Wolves of the North by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games

Most northmen are descended from the First Men, although there have been centuries of intermarriage with the Andals who conquered south of the Neck.

The constant cold and the iron grip of winter set apart the northerners from the people of the kingdoms south of the Neck. The north's terrain and climate do not easily yield the necessities of daily life. Northmen place less of an emphasis on courtly ritual and culture, and instead prefer hunting and brawling. Their tourneys are often melees and rarely feature jousting. Guest right is treasured in the north.

Some northmen live in remote, distant areas where they act as little more than clans and tribes. These remote folk, such as the crannogmen, the northern mountain clans, and the Skagosi, are still vassals of the Starks, however, and are allowed to maintain their own ways and traditions as long as they remain loyal to Winterfell. Some maesters believe the blood of Cape Kraken's people is closer to that of ironborn than northmen.

Most of the north's people still follow the old gods and their heart trees, and have little inclination for newer religions. There are a few houses who follow the Faith of the Seven, including Houses Manderly, Wells, and Whitehill.

Northmen hold the Night's Watch in high regard, and many lords send annual gifts to support the black brothers.

Economy

As the north is largely uncultivated, there are few roads of import there. Most of the inland trade passes by either the kingsroad or the rivers. Trade items from the north include wool,

Military strength

The north's exact military strength has not yet been revealed. According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the north can perhaps raise forty-five thousand soldiers,

A semi-canon source from 2005 places the infantry-to-cavalry ratio at four to one.

The north has had no strength at sea since Brandon the Burner set fire to the remaining fleet of his father, Brandon the Shipwright.

History

Dawn Age

Banner for the North by Tiziano Baracchi © Fantasy Flight Games

The peoples of the north are nearly all descended from the First Men, who settled the land nearly twelve thousand years ago. Little is known of that time, but cryptic runes carved in old stones and the barrows the First Men lived in can still be found in the barrowlands. Ancient forts of the First Men are scattered throughout the north, including a ringfort atop Seal Rock near White Harbor and ruins in Sea Dragon Point. The children of the forest also made weirwood circles.

Kings of Winter

About eight thousand years ago, the legendary Long Night occurred when the Others invaded from the Lands of Always Winter. The event defined and shaped the north, leading to the founding of the Wall, the order of the Night's Watch, the castle of Winterfell and the first Stark Kings of Winter. Brandon the Breaker is said to have allied with Joramun, a King-Beyond-the-Wall, to bring down the Night's King.

The Starks gradually defeated rival kings, such as the Barrow Kings to their south and the Red Kings to their east.

King Jon Stark founded the Wolf's Den at the mouth of the White Knife after driving out sea raiders.

For many centuries the Boltons were bitter rivals of the Starks of Winterfell. The practice of flaying their enemies gave the Boltons a sinister reputation. It is said that a thousand years ago, the Boltons finally swore fealty to the Kings in the North and agreed to abandon their practice of flaying their enemies.

A thousand years before Aegon's Conquest, the Manderlys were driven from the river Mander by House Gardener, the Kings of the Reach, and fled to the north, where they were welcomed by the Starks of Winterfell as their own bannermen..

Targaryen Era

Winterfell Honor Guard by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

The Starks led the north to war during Aegon's Conquest. After the Field of Fire, however, King Torrhen Stark knelt to Aegon the Conqueror rather than face his dragons. The north was included in the Seven Kingdoms and owed allegiance to the Iron Throne of House Targaryen. The Stark Kings in the North became the Lords of Winterfell and Wardens of the North. Some northmen who refused to bend the knee fled into exile in Essos and formed the Company of the Rose.

Queen Alysanne Targaryen convinced her husband, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, to grant the New Gift to the Night's Watch

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Starks supported the blacks against the greens. Lord Roderick Dustin led two thousand northern soldiers, known as the Winter Wolves, during the war, while the Manderlys had knights from White Harbor also support the claim of Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Lord Dagon Greyjoy led the ironborn in raiding the north during the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen; Lord Beron Stark gathered swords to repel them.

The people of the north must be vigilant against wildlings who manage to bypass the Wall. One King-beyond-the-Wall, Raymun Redbeard, was defeated by the Starks and Umbers at Long Lake.

A century ago the Skagosi unsuccessfully rebelled against the Starks, costing the lives of Lord Barthogan Stark and hundreds of his supporters.

Robert's Rebellion

The northmen composed much of the rebel forces during Robert's Rebellion, also known as the War of the Usurper. After King Aerys II Targaryen caused the deaths of Lord Rickard Stark and his heir, Brandon Stark, their successor, Lord Eddard Stark, led armies alongside Lord Robert Baratheon, who was crowned King Robert I at war's end.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Lords of Winter by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

King Robert I Baratheon travels from King's Landing to Winterfell to offer the position of Hand of the King to his old friend, Lord Eddard Stark, which the Warden of the North reluctantly accepts.

When Eddard is later imprisoned in the Red Keep after the death of Robert, his heir, Robb Stark, calls the northern banners to Winterfell and marches south to rescue Eddard

Robb is victorious over House Lannister forces in the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps, but Lord Roose Bolton is defeated by Lord Tywin Lannister on the Green Fork. After hearing that King Joffrey I Baratheon ordered the execution of Eddard, the assembled northern and river lords in Riverrun reject the sovereignty of the Iron Throne and proclaim Robb to be King in the North.

A Clash of Kings

King Robb Stark's Host by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

With Robb campaigning south of the Neck, his younger brother Bran remains as the Stark in Winterfell. Bran hosts various bannermen at Winterfell's harvest feast in 299 AC.

Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton, abducts the widowed Lady Donella Hornwood and claims the lands of the Hornwoods. After hearing that Ramsay starved Donella, the Manderlys skirmish with the Boltons in the Hornwood.

The Iron Islands also declare their independence from the Iron Throne during the War of the Five Kings.

A Storm of Swords

Bran Stark flees with Hodor, Meera Reed, and Jojen Reed from Winterfell. They travel through the northern mountains and the Gift to the Nightfort.

Balon Greyjoy, the self-declared King of the Isles and the North, falls to his death at Pyke.

Robb Stark, King in the North and King of the Trident, intends to march north from the riverlands to expel the ironborn.

King Stannis Baratheon sails from Dragonstone to the Wall to aid the Night's Watch in defeating the wildling army of Mance Rayder, King-beyond-the-Wall, in the battle beneath the Wall.

A Feast for Crows

While south of the Neck, Roose attempts to consolidate control over the north.

A Dance with Dragons

Northern Courser by Dimitri Bielak © Fantasy Flight Games

In 300 AC, Lord Wyman Manderly has completed some forty-six warships.

The Ryswells and Dustins defeat the ironborn at the Fever River.

Roose has a tenuous grasp over the north, considering only the Ryswells and Dustins to be loyal allies because of marriage ties. The Cerwyns, Tallharts, Umbers, and Manderlys are reluctant supporters or are outright plotting against Roose.

Rather than attacking the Dreadfort, Stannis Baratheon is convinced by Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, to travel west from Castle Black to the northern mountains. The mountain clans field him three and a half thousand men,[N 2] and Stannis liberates Deepwood Moote for the Glovers.

After receiving an inflammatory letter from Ramsay, Jon asks for volunteers from the free folk to help him march south toward Winterfell to confront the Bastard of Bolton. Jon is betrayed in the mutiny at Castle Black, however.

The Winds of Winter

At the crofters' village, Stannis discovers that the Karstarks planned to betray him for Roose.

Houses

House Amber
House Ashwood
House Blackmyre
House Blackwood of the Wolfswood
House Boggs
House Bole
House Bolton of the Dreadfort
House Branch
House Burley
House Cassel
House Cerwyn of Cerwyn
House Condon
House Cray
House Crowl
House Dustin of Barrowton
House Fenn
House Fisher of the Stony Shore
House Flint of Breakstone Hill
House Flint of Flint's Finger
House Flint of the mountains
House Flint of Widow's Watch
House Forrester
House Frost
House Glover of Deepwood Motte
House Greengood
House Greenwood
House Greystark of the Wolf's Den
House Harclay
House Holt
House Long
House Hornwood of Hornwood
House Ironsmith
House Karstark of Karhold
House Lake
House Liddle
House Lightfoot
House Locke of Oldcastle
House Magnar of Kingshouse
House Manderly of White Harbor
House Marsh
House Mollen
House Mormont of Bear Island
House Moss
House Norrey
House Overton
House Peat
House Poole
House Quagg
House Redbeard (at the Wall)
House Reed of Greywater Watch
House Ryder of the Rills.
House Ryswell of the Rills
House Slate of Blackpool
House Stane of Driftwood Hall
House Stark of Winterfell
House Stout of Goldgrass
House Tallhart of Torrhen's Square
House Thenn
House Towers
House Umber of the Last Hearth
House Waterman
House Wells
House Whitehill
House Woodfoot of Bear Island
House Woods
House Woolfield
House Wull

Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series

Houses from *Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series* include:

House Branfield
House Forrester of Ironrath
House Glenmore of Rillwater Crossing
House Tuttle
House Whitehill of Highpoint

Quotes

They say those northmen are a savage folk, and their woods are full of wolves.

John the Fiddler to Duncan the Tall

In the south, the way they talk about my Seven Kingdoms, a man forgets that your part is as big as the other six combined.

Robert I Baratheon to Eddard Stark

The north is hard and cold, and has no mercy.

Eddard Stark to Catelyn Tully

The north remembers.

Robb Stark to Brynden Tully

The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done.

Wyman Manderly to Davos Seaworth

Notes

  1. Davos sees twenty-three ships in the harbor (*A Dance with Dragons, Davos II), but according to Lord Wyman, there are "as many more" hidden up the White Knife (A Dance with Dragons*, Davos IV)
  2. Stannis Baratheon had come north with no more than fifteen hundred men (A Dance with Dragons, Davos III), and has five thousand men after the mountain clans join him (A Dance with Dragons, Jon VII).



Annotations from item #46268738:

Northern cavalry. © FFG

Respect of the Old Gods. © FFG

Northern cavalry flank. © FFG

Northern cavalry are horse-mounted warriors of the north.

Because few northerners follow the Faith of the Seven, they rarely choose to become knights. However, the warrior tradition of the north is similar to that of knighthood. Heavy cavalrymen in the north serve a nearly identical function to knights south of the Neck, and are considered knights in all but name.

There are some northerners, such as Ser Bartimus, who are knights but still follow the old gods instead of the Seven.

Quotes

To be a knight, you must stand your vigil in a sept, and be anointed with the seven oils to consecrate your vows. In the north, only a few of the great houses worship the Seven. The rest honor the old gods, and name no knights ... but those lords and their sons and sworn swords are no less fierce or loyal or honorable. A man’s worth is not marked by a ser before his name.

- Luwin to Bran Stark

The men of the winterlands are made of iron and ice, and even my boldest knights fear to face them.

- Tywin Lannister to Tyrion Lannister's clansmen

Those who follow the old gods can be the northern equivalent of knights, but it's not quite the same.

- George R. R. Martin




Annotations from item #46268739:

The mountain clans

Contents

Culture

The quarrelsome clans of the rugged northwest are a hardy people who, like other northmen, claim descent from the First Men and worship the old gods. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most prominent of which are the First Flints, the Wulls, the Norreys, the Burleys, the Harclays, the Liddles, and the Knotts. The most powerful of the clans are the Wulls.

The Flints and Norreys live closest to the Gift, and are thus the most exposed to wildling raiders who cross the Gorge. Clan Norrey in particular is a noted friend of the Night's Watch. Living along the Bay of Ice, the Wulls and other clans have also clashed with the ironborn in the past. These threats and their own inter-clan feuds have instilled a fierce martial spirit in the mountain folk.

In battle, clan champions fight with huge two-handed greatswords or axes and sometimes armor themselves with mail byrnies. They breed hardy mounts in their high valleys and mountain meadows.

Although they do not consider themselves truly highborn, the chiefs of these clans are given the treatment of “lord” by their lieges, the Starks of Winterfell. Among themselves, the clansmen style their leaders as “the [clan name]”; i.e. the chieftain of Clan Liddle would be known as the Liddle. This practice extends to other usage; Lord Eddard Stark is called “the Ned” by the clans.

Given their high latitude and sparse resources, the clans suffer population strain during winter years. The young are sent to the Starks' winter town, and old men often announce that they are “going hunting.” Some are found the next spring; more are never seen again.

According to Lord Roose Bolton, some of the mountain clans still continue the tradition of the first night.

History

Of First Men origin, the clansmen have inhabited the mountains north of the wolfswood for thousands of years. They were eventually included within the domain of the Kings of Winter from House Stark of Winterfell.

The clans have often quarreled with each other, leading the Starks to settle the disputes by force or by calling the chiefs to Winterfell. These feuds are recalled in songs, such as "Black Pines" and "Wolves in the Hills". The clans' territory has also been historically raided by wildlings and ironborn.

The clans have not been visited by a king in centuries, as Torrhen Stark, King in the North, knelt to Aegon I Targaryen during Aegon's Conquest.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

The clans send some men south to fight alongside King Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings. Norreys and Burleys participate in the fighting at the fords of the Trident. However, most of their strength remains in the mountains.

A Dance with Dragons

After the War of the Five Kings, Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch estimates the clans could muster two or three thousand fighting men. Rather than attack the Dreadfort, Jon advises Stannis Baratheon to seek the aid of the clansmen.

When Stannis tries to curry favor with the northern lords by freeing their western strongholds from the ironborn, he begins by enlisting the aid of Old Torghen Flint and Hugo “Big Bucket” Wull. Stannis is the first king the clans have seen since Torrhen Stark knelt before Aegon the Conqueror.

By observing the courtesies suggested by Jon, Stannis is able to rally the mountain folk and liberate Deepwood Motte, earning the loyalty of Houses Glover and Mormont.




Annotations from item #46268740:

Northern mountains

The north and the location of the Northern mountains

The Northern mountains.

Contents

Geography

Jon Snow describes the mountains as located west of the kingsroad and south of the Gift.

The mountains have deep, blue lakes and numerous piney woods. The foothills have russet and gold autumn leaves, but the mountains themselves have grey-green sentinels, spruce, fir, and soldier pines. The hills contain fish in streams and small game, but wildlife is scarcer in the mountains. Other animals include owls, eagles, and pale goats,

The clans have lands and holdfasts throughout the region.

People

The Northern mountains are inhabited by clans who live in the high valleys and mountain meadows. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most powerful of whom are the Wulls.

In summer, the Umbers graze their sheep in the high meadows.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

The party of Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister travels on the kingsroad from Winterfell to Castle Black. West of the road they see grey and rugged flint hills guarded with tall watchtowers. Five days north of Winterfell, they see jagged, snow-covered mountains, blue and grey in color, forming a wall to the west.

A Storm of Swords

Rather than take the kingsroad to the Wall, Bran Stark and his companions travel through the northern mountains, which have no roads among their twisted valleys. They pass a granite upthrust as large as Winterfell. Bran explains the clansmen know of their presence, but will not bother them unless they try to take their goats or horses. The only person they meet is a Liddle taking shelter from freezing rain in a shallow cave.

A Dance with Dragons

Following the advice of Jon Snow, who also provided sure-footed garrons,

Quotes

Meera: Up and down, then down and up. Then up and down again. I hate these stupid mountains of yours, Prince Bran.

Bran: Yesterday you said you loved them.

Meera: Oh, I do. My lord father told me about mountains, but I never saw one till now. I love them more than I can say.

- Meera Reed and Bran Stark

The moon was almost full, the night so clear she could see the mountains, their peaks crowned with snow. Cold and bleak and inhospitable, but beautiful in the moonlight. Their summits glimmered pale and jagged as a row of sharpened teeth. The foothills and the smaller peaks were lost in shadow.

- thoughts of Asha Greyjoy

It has always been a harsh life up there. When the snows fall and food grows scarce, their young must travel to the winter town or take service at one castle or the other. The old men gather up what strength that remains in them and announce that they are going hunting. Some are found come spring. Most are never seen again.

- Jon Snow to Alys Karstark




Annotations from item #46268741:

Norvos, called Great Norvos by its people,.

Contents

City

The nine Free Cities: Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

Location

Norvos sits among the Hills of Norvos, upon the eastern banks of the river Noyne, a tributary of the massive Rhoyne, and is surrounded by limestone hills, dark forests of oak, pine, and beech.

The domains of Norvos stretch as far as the western bank of the Darkwash to the east and the Upper Rhoyne to the west. The Noyne is ruled by Norvoshi river galleys as far south as the ruins of Ny Sar, where she joins the Rhoyne. The city also claims dominion over the Axe upon the Shivering Sea, though the Ibbenese are known to dispute this claim, often bloodily.

Norvos's climate contains sweltering summers and bitter winters, with harsh, cold winds,

Layout

Norvos is made up out of two parts, joined only by a massive stone stair, known as the Sinner's Steps. The high city, where the ancient nobility of Norvos lives, is ringed about by mighty stone walls,

The lower city is located three hundred feet below, at the base of the hill, by the river,

Bells of Norvos

Norvos's three bells govern every aspect of the lives of those in the city. The bells tell the Norvoshi when to rise, sleep, work, rest, when to take arms, when to pray, and when they are permitted to have carnal relations.

Lomas Longstrider counts the bells of Norvos as one of his nine *Wonders Made by Man*.

People

Norvos is a theocracy. While it has a council of magisters, its members are chosen by the bearded priests, who speak for their god and wield the true power in the Free City.

The freeborn of the city, both noble and lowborn, favor long mustachios; Byan Votyris, for instance, dyes his mustachio blue and sweeps it to his ears.

Slaves are also shaved bare. There are whispers of torchlit cellars where slave women mate with wolves.

Norvoshi enjoy wintercakes and *nahsa*, a drink of fermented goat's milk which can be laced with honey.

Doro Golathis is a historian from Norvos.

Economy

A coin of Norvos, as depicted by Nutchapol Thitinunthakorn in *The World of Ice and Fire*

The Norvoshi are well-known for their tapestries.

History

Foundation

The original settlers of Norvos are unknown, but they were not Rhoynar. Some theorize they were mazemakers or Ibbenese, but most believe they were Andals. Hairy men out of the east are said to have driven these original villagers away, but these hairy men were eventually expelled by Prince Garris of Ny Sar. The Rhoynar did not remain, however, preferring instead the warmer lower Rhoyne.

Modern Norvos, like Qohor and Lorath, was founded following a religious schism in the Valyrian Freehold. Dissidents found the religious tolerance of the Freehold intolerable, so the sect of the bearded priests founded Norvos as a theocracy where the "true faith" would be practiced.

Recent History

See also: Century of Blood

Norvos came into conflict with Lorath when Qarlon the Great, trying to become King of All Andals, expanded his domain to the Axe and the headwaters of the Upper Rhoyne and Noyne. The Norvoshi closed the river, and Qarlon came forth to attack them. Two battles were lost by Norvos in the hills, leading Qarlon to march against the city. According to *The Fires of the Freehold*, a hundred dragons from the Valyrian Freehold descended upon the Andals laying siege to Norvos. Qarlon was burned with his army, and Lorath followed shortly thereafter, in the Scouring of Lorath.

During the Century of Blood after the Doom of Valyria, Norvos and Qohor allied together against Volantis. They destroyed much of the Volantene fleet which had control of the Rhoyne in a battle involving fire galleys on Dagger Lake.

Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon visited Norvos and other Free Cities after their wedding.

Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne has visited Norvos,

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Daenerys Targaryen passes Norvos during the journey of Khal Drogo's *khalasar* from Pentos to Vaes Dothrak.

A Feast for Crows

Areo Hotah, the captain of Doran Martell's guards, is from Norvos, where he was raised and trained.

As punishment for his part in the conspiracy to crown Myrcella Baratheon, Ser Andrey Dalt is sent to serve Lady Mellario for three years in Norvos.




Annotations from item #46268742:

Norwin Lannister was a King of the Rock of House Lannister of Casterly Rock. He was known as Norwin the Niggardly for his pettiness.




Annotations from item #46268743:

Not A Blog is the personal blog of George R. R. Martin. Formerly located at LiveJournal, in April 2018 it was moved to Martin's own website. Older entries and comments will remain on LiveJournal, but new updates to the blog will be on Martin's site only.

Information presented by Martin in blog entries and comments is considered semi-canon in canonicity, similar to So Spake Martin.




Annotations from item #46268744:

Notch is a member of the Brotherhood without Banners.

Contents

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Notch was among the Brotherhood who attacked the Brave Companions at the septry in the Riverlands. He tells Arya Stark and Gendry how House Goodbrook suffered under Lord Hoster Tully for supporting the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion.

A Feast for Crows

Notch is listed as a member of Lady Stoneheart's band of outlaws.




Annotations from item #46268745:

Noyne

Western Essos and the location of the Noyne

The Noyne. © FFG

The Noyne is a river in northwestern Essos. The Rhoynar considered it a daughter of the Rhoyne and nicknamed it the Wild Daughter.

History

The Andal king Qarlon the Great extended his control from Lorath to the headwaters of the Noyne, but he was eventually defeated by the Valyrian Freehold.




Annotations from item #46268746:

Nunn's Deep is the site of a gold mine in the Westerlands.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

During the War of the Five Kings, Greatjon Umber captured Nunn's Deep after the Battle of Oxcross.




Annotations from item #46268747:

Nunny is a place in the Reach. It was once the eastern extent of House Osgrey lands.




Annotations from item #46268748:

"Nurse" is the overseer of Yezzan zo Qaggaz's slaves.

Contents

Appearance

Nurse has a long narrow face, and a chin beard bound with gold wire. His red and black Ghiscari hair is shaped into the form of a pair of taloned hands.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

When Tyrion Lannister, Penny, and Jorah Mormont are purchased by Yezzan for his grotesquerie, Nurse is put in charge of his master's new property, instructing them on the rules, disciplining them when necessary, and informing them they should treat Yezzan as if he were their own father.

Nurse eventually succumbs to the Pale Mare. However, Tyrion is implied to have been the ultimate cause of Nurse's death via poisoning. When Nurse falls ill, it falls to Tyrion to act as his caretaker. Tyrion prepares a soup of dogtail "with slivers of mushroom in the broth,"




Annotations from item #46268749:

Nute the Barber is an ironborn raider and the best man of Lord Victarion Greyjoy's crew aboard the *Iron Victory*.

Contents

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Nute

Nute is a thickset man with bandy legs and long arms. His eyes are growing weak. He earned his nickname of "the Barber" due to his ability in his youth to throw an axe so well that it was said he could shave you with it.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Nute the Barber accompanies Victarion Greyjoy to the kingsmoot, where he is one of Victarion's champions.

Nute is among Victarion's crew that boards the Serry ship during the taking of the Shields. Afterward, Nute is raised to the lordship of Oakenshield by Victarion's brother Euron, the new King of the Isles and the North. Victarion suspects this was done to "steal" Nute from him. He tells Nute to refuse, but Nute, pointing out that Victarion cannot offer him the same, accepts the lordship from Euron.

Quotes

Glory is good, but gold is better.

- Nute to Victarion Greyjoy




Annotations from item #46268750:

Nutten is a small town

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

After stopping at the crossroads inn, Septon Meribald intends to travel on, stopping at Nutten, Riverbend and Lord Harroway's Town.




Annotations from item #46268751:

Ny Sar

Western Essos and the location of Ny Sar

Ny Sar is a ruined city in Essos at the confluence of the Rhoyne and the Noyne rivers.

Contents

History

Maester Yandel describes Ny Sar as a "city of fountains, alive with song".

Garris the Grey, Prince of Ny Sar, expelled hairy men who lived where the city of Norvos would later develop. Garris's Rhoynar did not remain in the area, however.

Prince Garin of Chroyane led a combined host of the Rhoynar, but they were defeated by the Volantenes and their Valyrian kin at Volantis during the Second Spice War. Princess Nymeria of Ny Sar, fearing the enslavement of the people of her own city, gathered every ship that remained upon the Rhoyne and filled them full of as many women and children as they could carry. Nymeria led these ten thousand ships down the Rhoyne past Sarhoy and into the Summer Sea, eventually arriving in Dorne.

The ruins of Nymeria's palace are all that remains, a colossal palace of pink and green marble, its collapsed domes and broken spires looming large above a row of covered archways.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Griff, Young Griff, and their company pass Ny Sar on their way to Volantis. Tyrion Lannister sees the ruins on the eastern bank of the Rhoyne: "crooked walls and fallen towers, broken domes and rows of rotted wooden pillars, streets choked by mud and overgrown with purple moss."

Quotes

This is the Ny Sar, where the Mother gathers in her Wild Daughter, Noyne.

Yandry to Tyrion Lannister




Annotations from item #46268752:

Nyessos Vhassar is one of the current ruling triarchs of the Free City of Volantis. He is of the elephant party.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Nyessos, like the other two triarchs, is up for reelection. Griff says that Illyrio Mopatis has paid Nyessos enough to own him eight times over.




Annotations from item #46268753:

Ser Nyles Rowan was a knight of House Rowan during the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen.

History

Nyles participated in the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.




Annotations from item #46268754:

Nymella Toland is the Lady of Ghost Hill and is the head of House Toland. She has two daughters, Valena and Teora.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Lady Nymella is ordered by Prince Doran Martell to delay Ser Balon Swann at Ghost Hill when he arrives. She plans to outdo Lady Jordayne, who had arranged games in his honor.

A Dance with Dragons

Nymella is present at the feast when Balon Swann arrives in Sunspear to deliver the head of Ser Gregor Clegane. She drinks when Ricasso raises a toast to King Tommen Baratheon.

The Winds of Winter

Along with her daughters, Nymella hosts Arianne Martell and her companions when they arrive at Ghost Hill.




Annotations from item #46268755:
Annotation #1 for item #46268755: Wiki: Nymeria

For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.

Nymeria leads her army to Dorne.
Art by Roman Papsuev

Nymeria was a Princess of the Rhoynar. After the Rhoyne was conquered by Valyria, Nymeria led the Rhoynar to Dorne, where she took Lord Mors Martell as her husband. House Nymeros Martell has ruled Dorne since.

Contents

History

Nymeria ruled in Ny Sar, where she had a palace.

She then brought ten thousand ships across the narrow sea to the shores of Dorne in southern Westeros.

Nymeria's life inspired the books *Ten Thousand Ships* and *The Loves of Queen Nymeria*.

Though Nymeria is remembered as a "warrior queen", this is somewhat of a generalization. Nymeria was not herself a warrior who engaged in personal combat, but a skilled general and commander (similar to how by the War of the Five Kings, Tywin Lannister was no longer a "warrior", but still one of the keenest military strategists in Westeros). That being said, many of the Rhoynar refugees in Nymeria's army were warrior-women.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Arya Stark names her direwolf "Nymeria" after the legendary queen.

A Feast for Crows

Looking into the night sky of Dorne, Princess Arianne Martell thinks of a bright white star as Nymeria's star and a milky band behind it as her ten thousand ships.

When Arya Stark and the kindly man devise an origin for "Cat", Arya chooses the name Nymeria for the ship which brought her to Braavos.

Quotes

That is Nymeria’s star, burning bright, and that milky band behind her, those are ten thousand ships. She burned as bright as any man, and so shall I.

Arianne Martell's thoughts

Nymeria’s blood is in me, along with that of Mors Martell, the Dornish lord she married.

Arianne Martell

We will build ten thousand ships as Nymeria once did and take sail with all our people to the land beyond the sunset.

Gylbert Farwynd, at the kingsmoot

Annotation #2 for item #46268755: Wiki: (direwolf) Nymeria

For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.

Nymeria is a direwolf bonded to Arya Stark. She is litter-mate to Grey Wind, Lady, Summer, Shaggydog, and Ghost. She is named after Queen Nymeria of the Rhoyne.

Contents

Appearance

See also: Images of Nymeria

Nymeria has dark golden eyes

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Nymeria is found with her litter-mates near their dead mother in the snow by Jon Snow and Robb Stark. Fearing for Nymeria's life, Arya and Jory are forced to chase her away.

A Clash of Kings

On her march north with Yoren, Arya hears talk of a huge female wolf who leads a pack around the Gods Eye that has no fear of men. Lord William Mooton and his sons ride out to hunt her, but are forced to retreat, losing their hounds in the process.

A Storm of Swords

Arya sees a pack of wolves while searching for Riverrun. The largest of the wolves returns her call when she howls at them. Later she has a wolf dream where Nymeria attacks Iggo of the Bloody Mummers and his companions and kills them.

Nymeria finds the body of Catelyn Tully while bound to Arya Stark through their warg bond

Through her warg bond with Nymeria, Arya finds Catelyn Stark's body in a river. She drags her to the shore and tries to wake her, but realizes she is dead. She flees when she sees men approaching.

A Feast for Crows

From Braavos, Arya has wolf dreams at night where she leads a great pack in the forest.

Septon Meribald reports that a great pack of hundreds of wolves prowls the Trident.

Ser Danwell Frey complains of an unprecedented number of wolves in the Riverlands and tells Jaime that packs of wolves attacked their baggage train as they traveled from the Twins.

A Dance with Dragons

Ghost sees Nymeria singing under the moon and a hundred little grey cousins of her pack singing with her. She was in hills, which were warmer than the Wall and full of food.

Quotes about Nymeria

We had to throw rocks. I told her to run, to go be free, that I didn't want her anymore. There were other wolves for her to play with, we heard them howling, and Jory said the woods were full of game, so she'd have deer to hunt. Only she kept following and finally we had to throw rocks. I hit her twice. She whined and looked at me and I felt so 'shamed, but it was right, wasn't it? The queen would have killed her.

Arya Stark, to Eddard Stark, on freeing Nymeria

Annotation #3 for item #46268755: Wiki: (ship) Nymeria

For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.

The Nymeria is a fictitious galley invented by Arya Stark. The father of her assumed persona, "Cat of the Canals", was a Westerosi oarmaster on the Nymeria.




Annotations from item #46268756:

Nymeria's War was the campaign in which Nymeria of the Rhoynar and Mors Martell conquered the various kings of Dorne and united the land under the rule of House Nymeros Martell.

Prelude

After the defeat of the Rhoynish army by the Valyrian dragonlords in the Second Spice War, Princess Nymeria led the Rhoynar in exile from the Rhoyne aboard ten thousand ships. After years of wandering, the surviving Rhoynar, mostly women, children, and the elderly, landed at the mouth of the Greenblood in southeastern Dorne.

Nymeria made common cause with Mors Martell, Lord of the Sandship, whose lands were dwarfed by those of powerful kings such as House Yronwood.

War

The campaign of Nymeria and Mors to conquer Dorne took years to accomplish, as they had to defeat numerous lords and petty kings in succession. Although the Martells gained the support of the Fowlers,

By war's end Nymeria had sent six self-styled kings to the Wall: Yorick Yrownood, Vorian Dayne, Garrison Fowler, Lucifer Dryland, Benedict Blackmont, and Albin Manwoody.




Annotations from item #46268757:

For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.

Nymeria Sand, nicknamed Lady Nym, is a bastard daughter of Oberyn Martell and a noblewoman from Volantis. She is the second oldest of the infamous Sand Snakes, so named for their bastard origin and the nickame of their father, the "Red Viper". In the television adaptation *Game of Thrones* she is portrayed by Jessica Henwick.

Contents

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Nymeria Sand

Nymeria is twenty-five years old, slim and slender as a willow, with straight black hair worn in a long braid which pulls back from a widow's peak.

Nym dresses gracefully in shimmering lilac robes with a silk cape of cream and copper,

Nymeria is good friends with Jeyne and Jennelyn Fowler.

History

Nymeria's mother comes from the noblest blood of Volantis,

Young Nym sometimes joined in play at the Water Gardens with her sister, Tyene Sand, her cousin, Princess Arianne Martell, and Garin, Andrey Dalt, and Sylva Santagar.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Lady Nym by quickreaver, Fantasy Flight Games ©

Nymeria is abed with the Fowler twins, Jeyne and Jennelyn, when she is told of the death of her father, Prince Oberyn Martell, in King's Landing.

Accompanied by a dozen mounted spearmen, Nym meets Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne and Oberyn's elder brother, en route from the Water Gardens to Sunspear. She demands vengeance for the death of her father and rejects the offer Lord Tywin Lannister made Doran for Gregor's head. Instead of open war, Nymeria wants to assassinate Tywin, his children Queen Regent Cersei and Ser Jaime Lannister, and his grandchild, King Tommen I Baratheon. After visits from Nym's other sisters, Doran has the Sand Snakes arrested and confined in the Spear Tower of Sunspear.

A Dance with Dragons

Nym and her sisters are released and are present at the feast at Sunspear when Ser Balon Swann presents the Mountain's skull to Doran. Balon seems discomforted by her silk gown. When Balon tells the manner of Gregor's death, Nymeria celebrates his suffering. When Ricasso raises a toast to King Tommen, Nym declines with a flick of her wrist.

Doran sends Nym to King's Landing to take the vacant Dornish seat on the small council.

Quotes by Nymeria

Nymeria Sand by Hardcoremiike ©

You know the Fowler words? Let Me Soar! That is all I ask of you. Let me soar, Uncle.

- Nymeria to Doran Martell

Nymeria: Obara would make Oldtown our father's funeral pyre, but I am not so greedy. Four lives will suffice for me. Lord Tywin's golden twins, as payment for Elia's children. The old lion, for Elia herself. And last of all the little king, for my father.

Doran: The boy has never wronged us.

Nymeria: Only royal blood can wash out my father's murder.

- Nymeria and Doran Martell

Ellaria: Where does it end?

Nymeria: It ends in blood, as it began. It ends when Casterly Rock is cracked open, so the sun can shine on the maggots and the worms within. It ends with the utter ruin of Tywin Lannister and all his works.
Ellaria: The man died at the hand of his own son. What more could you wish?

Nymeria: I could wish that he died at my hand. If he had, his dying would not have been so easy.

- Ellaria Sand and Nymeria

Doran: We need a voice in council, an ear at court. Be careful, though. King's Landing is a pit of snakes.
Nymeria: Why, Uncle, I love snakes.

- Doran Martell and Nymeria

Quotes about Nymeria

Nymeria was least dangerous when nearly naked. Elsewise she was sure to have a dozen blades concealed about her person.

- thoughts of Areo Hotah

Hotah studied each of them in turn. Obara, rusted nails and boiled leather, with her angry, close-set eyes and rat-brown hair. Nymeria, languid, elegant, olive-skinned, her long black braid bound up in red-gold wire. Tyene, blue-eyed and blond, a child-woman with her soft hands and little giggles.

- thoughts of Areo Hotah

The Lady Nym. But no lady, if even half of what Qyburn reports is true. A bastard daughter of the Red Viper, near as notorious as her father and intent on claiming the council seat that Prince Oberyn himself had occupied so briefly.

- thoughts of Kevan Lannister

Family




Annotations from item #46268758:

Prince Nymor Martell was the ruling Prince of Dorne during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen.

History

During the War of Conquest, Dorne had defied the Targaryens and their dragons, but in 4 AC, King Aegon began his campaign on Dorne, in an attempt to finalize his Conquest. This First Dornish War would last until 13 AC.

In 13 AC, Nymor's mother, Princess Meria Martell, the Yellow Toad of Dorne, died, and Nymor inherited the rule of Dorne. Already old and failing, Nymor wanted peace, so he send a delegation, led by his daughter and heir, Princess Deria Martell, to King's Landing, to negotiate a peace with King Aegon I - a peace between two Kingdoms, two equals, not a peace between a vassal and its overlord.

Deria indeed suggested the peace, and it is said that King Aegon was about to refuse, when she handed him a letter from Nymor. King Aegon read the letter (and clenched it so hard his hands started to bleed), burned it once finished, and flew to Dragonstone on Balerion without a word. When he returned the next morning, he agreed to the peace and signed a treaty.

It is unknown what the contents of the letter was that Nymor had written, but maesters have speculated. Had Nymor revealed to Aegon that his beloved sister-wife, Queen Rhaenys, had not died at Hellholt,

The answer to those questions is unknown, but the peace that Nymor and Aegon agreed on in 13 AC would last throughout Aegon's entire reign.

Family




Annotations from item #46268759:

Archmaester Nymos is an archmaester at the Citadel in Oldtown.




Annotations from item #46268760:

Nysseos Qoheros was a Volantene and the author of *Journals*. Among the events he reports the fate of Triarch Horonno, who tried to declare himself triarch for life and was executed for it.




Annotations from item #46268761:

Nysterica is a septa assigned to House Tyrell.

Contents

Appearance

Nysterica is homely and has a pox-scarred face, but seems happy.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Septa Nysterica accompanies Lady Margaery Tyrell to King's Landing for her wedding to King Joffrey I Baratheon.

A Feast for Crows

Nysterica is one of four septas to examine Margaery's maidenhead after Ser Osney Kettleblack comes forward with claims that he slept with her. The four septas find the maidenhead not intact, which becomes the grounds for Margaery's arrest. Nysterica is confined to a penitent's cell for failure to do her duty.




Annotations from item #46268762:

The Oakenseat was the ancestral throne of the Gardener kings. According to legend it was a living throne, carved unto an oak planted by Garth Greenhand himself.




Annotations from item #46268763:
Annotation #1 for item #46268763: Wiki: Oakenshield

Oakenshield

The Reach and the location of Oakenshield

Oakenshield port. © FFG

For the abandoned castle of the Night's Watch along the Wall, see Oakenshield (Wall).

Oakenshield is one of the Shield Islands in the Reach. The easternmost of the isles, it lies near the mouth of the river Mander. Lord Hewett's Town, the seat of House Hewett, is found on the island.

Contents

History

The Shield Islands have traditionally guarded the Mander from incursions by sea.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

The island is captured during the Battle of the Shield Islands by the ironborn. King Euron Greyjoy names Nute the new Lord of Oakenshield.

Annotation #2 for item #46268763: Wiki: (Wall) Oakenshield

Oakenshield

The North and the location of Oakenshield

*Oakenshield is also the name of one of the four islands that make up the Shield Islands.*

Oakenshield is an abandoned castle along the Wall belonging to the Night's Watch. Castle Black lies immediately to its west. Next along the Wall to the east is Woodswatch-by-the-Pool.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Stannis Baratheon inspects the ruins of Oakenshield and Queensgate.




Annotations from item #46268764:

Oakenshield Castle is the semi-canonical name.

Contents

Layout

Lord Hewett's castle is small but strong. Its thick walls and oaken gates are reminiscient of the iron-and-oak sigil of the Hewetts. It sits above the harbor and has green-roofed towers.

Recent Events

A Feast of Crows

During the Battle of the Shield Islands, the ironborn led by King Euron Greyjoy storm the castle. Euron holds his victory feast here and makes the noble ladies, daughters, and daughters-in-law of Lord Humfrey Hewett serve the ironborn themselves. Euron sleeps with Falia Flowers, Humfrey's bastard daughter and a former serving girl of the castle.




Annotations from item #46268765:

"Oathbreaker" is the third episode of the sixth season of HBO's fantasy television series *Game of Thrones*, and the 53rd overall. The episode was written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and directed by Daniel Sackheim. It aired on May 1st, 2016,




Annotations from item #46268766:
Annotation #1 for item #46268766: Wiki: Oathkeeper

Jaime Lannister gifts Oathkeeper to Brienne of Tarth.
Art by nejna

A depiction of Oathkeeper © Valyrian Steel

Oathkeeper's lion-headed pommel © Valyrian Steel

For the Game of Thrones episode, see Oathkeeper (TV).

Oathkeeper is a Valyrian steel longsword, which is forged by Tobho Mott.

Contents

Appearance

See also: Images of Oathkeeper

It has grey-black and red ripples through the steel, with the red almost as dark as the grey. Its scabbard glitters gold and is decorated with a row of lion's heads and smoldering red rubies.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Lord Tywin Lannister has the armorer Tobho Mott melt down Eddard Stark's Valyrian steel greatsword Ice, to make a sword for House Lannister. Mott has enough metal to make two swords, one longsword and a slightly smaller sword. He attempts to tint the swords crimson for the color of House Lannister, but the metal absorbs the color, resulting in ripples of nearly-black grey and red almost as dark as the grey.

Tywin presents the sword as a gift for his elder son, Ser Jaime Lannister.

A Feast for Crows

Brienne of Tarth is initially reluctant to use Oathkeeper, considering it almost a "magic sword", but wields it to slay Pyg and Timeon at the Whispers,

A Dance with Dragons

Brienne appears at Pennytree while Jaime is camped there. She bears Oathkeeper, and tells Jaime that to fulfill her quest, Jaime must come alone with her to save Sansa Stark from the Hound, claiming they are a day's ride away.

Quotes

This one was thicker and heavier, a half-inch wider and three inches longer, but they shared the same fine clean lines and the same distinctive color, the ripples of blood and night.

Tyrion Lannister, comparing Oathkeeper to Widow's Wail

There was a time that I would have given my right hand to wield a sword like that. Now it appears I have, so the blade is wasted on me. Take it.

Jaime Lannister, to Brienne of Tarth

Black and red the ripples ran, deep within the steel. Valyrian steel, spell-forged. It was a sword fit for a hero.

Brienne of Tarth's thoughts

She had failed Renly, had failed Lady Catelyn. She must not fail Jaime. He trusted me with his sword. He trusted me with his honor.

Brienne of Tarth's thoughts

Even the sound of it is sharper than an ordinary sword.

Brienne of Tarth's thoughts

Annotation #2 for item #46268766: Wiki: (TV) Oathkeeper

"Oathkeeper" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series *Game of Thrones*, and the 34th overall. The episode was written by Bryan Cogman, and directed by Michelle MacLaren. It aired on April 27, 2014.

Contents

Plot

In King's Landing

Ser Jaime Lannister continues his sword training with Bronn, who urges him to visit his brother, Tyrion. In the dungeon, Jaime and Tyrion discuss Joffrey's murder. Tyrion claims he had no role in the murder, but knows that nothing will change his situation, as Cersei will not rest until he is dead. Jaime tells Tyrion that Cersei has offered a knighthood to whomever captures Sansa, but Tyrion is also confident in her innocence. In the gardens, Lady Olenna tells Margaery that she will soon depart for Highgarden. Olenna encourages Margaery to bond with Tommen before Cersei can turn him against her, and assures Margaery that, while straightening her necklace, she never would have allowed her to marry cruel Joffrey. At night, Cersei speaks to Jaime in her chambers. She chastises him for failing to protect Joffrey, and for his capture and release by Catelyn Stark. Jaime tries to tell her of Tyrion's innocence, but she will not listen, dismissing him after ordering more men to guard Tommen. Margaery visits Tommen in his chamber to discuss their impending marriage, and begins to form a relationship with him, per her grandmother's advice.

In the morning, Jaime gives his Valyrian steel sword to Brienne, along with new armor, and charges her with finding and protecting Sansa. He also has her, though reluctantly, take on Podrick Payne as a squire in order to prevent him from becoming involved in Tyrion's trial and to keep him safe. When she is ready to depart, she names the sword "Oathkeeper", which Jaime approves of.

At Sea

Sansa is informed by Lord Petyr Baelish that they are bound for the Vale of Arryn, as he will soon marry her aunt, Lysa. Sansa accuses Baelish of having a hand in the murder of the King, but he denies any direct involvement. He points out to Sansa that a stone was missing from the necklace Dontos gave to her, and she deduces that the stone was likely the poison used in the murder. Sansa says she does not believe Baelish would murder Joffrey, as he made him the Lord of Harrenhal and gave him wealth and power, but Baelish claims that by having no motive to kill Joffrey, he will not be suspected of the crime. He also claims that his new allies can offer him more than the Lannisters would.

In the North

In the courtyard at Castle Black, Jon spars with Grenn, and instructs several Night's Watch brothers on how wildlings fight. Ser Alliser Thorne breaks up the training, ordering Jon to get back to his steward duties. Janos Slynt tells Thorne that it may be wise to send Jon on an expedition to Craster's Keep, as he earlier requested, so the mutineers can kill him and prevent him from being elected as the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. While getting his sword he speaks with and befriends Locke, a new recruit of the Night's Watch who, unbeknownst to Jon, is secretly an agent of Roose Bolton on a mission to kill him, Bran, and Rickon. Later, Samwell and Jon discuss Bran's group moving beyond the Wall, before being informed by Locke that Thorne wants to see Jon. Thorne tells Jon that he will allow him to lead a group to Craster's Keep, and Jon rallies several of his brothers to his cause, including Grenn, Edd, and Locke.

Across the Narrow Sea

At Daenerys's request, Missandei teaches Grey Worm to speak the common tongue by talking about how they both became slaves. At nightfall, Grey Worm leads a group of Unsullied into Meereen through the sewers, where they come upon a large group of slaves discussing Daenerys and her army. The Unsullied group arms the slaves with swords, and through the night, the slaves kill their masters and free themselves. In the morning, Daenerys orders the remaining masters executed, having them nailed to posts as they had slave children killed to mark each mile to Meereen.

Beyond the Wall

At Craster's Keep, Karl orders Rast to feed "the beast", as he drunkenly insults him and tells tales of his own legend in King's Landing. One of Craster's former wives enters the Keep and presents Karl with Craster's last child, a son. The women call for it to be given to the gods, and Rast takes the child out into the forest, leaving it behind. On the way back, he taunts Ghost, Jon Snow's direwolf, who the mutineers have caged. Nearby, Bran and his companions hear the infant's cries, and he uses his warg abilities to send Summer in search of the baby. As Summer, Bran sees Ghost caged, but before he can help, the wolf falls into a trap and Bran awakens in his own body. The group spies on Craster's Keep, but before they can try to free Summer, they are captured by the mutineers. Bran, Jojen, and Meera are taken to Karl, who forces Bran to admit his true identity.

Meanwhile, deep in the Lands of Always Winter, a White Walker is seen riding a dead horse and carrying Craster's last son. It places the baby on a small altar of ice; after a moment, another White Walker picks up the child and touches its face, causing its eyes to turn blue.




Annotations from item #46268767:

Obara Sand is the bastard daughter of Oberyn Martell and an Oldtown whore. She is the eldest of the infamous Sand Snakes. In the television adaptation *Game of Thrones* she is portrayed by Keisha Castle-Hughes.

Contents

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Obara Sand

Obara is a big-boned woman near to thirty, long-legged, with close-set eyes and with the same rat-brown hair of her mother

A prickly, hot-tempered woman,

Obara is a confident rider who uses spurs, often to the point where the animal is bloody, and she always rides stallions.

History

Obara chose her father, Oberyn Martell, over her mother, a prostitute, when Oberyn came to Oldtown to claim her. Obara's mother drank herself to death within a year.

Obara spent part of her youth at the Water Gardens.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Obara Sand by Tristan Denecke © Fantasy Flight Games

Obara meets Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, at the Water Gardens, demanding vengeance for her father, Oberyn Martell, who was slain by Ser Gregor Clegane in King's Landing. Obara wants to slay Gregor's liege, Lord Tywin Lannister, and burn Oldtown. Doran says he will think about it. After more visits by her half-sisters, Doran orders the arrest of all the Sand Snakes.

A Dance with Dragons

Obara and her sisters are released from the Spear Tower and are present at the feast when Ser Balon Swann presents the Mountain's skull to Doran. She places Gregor's skull on top of a marble column because Maester Caleotte cannot reach it.

When discussing Gregor's death with her sisters, Areo Hotah, Arianne Martell, Ellaria Sand, and Prince Doran, Obara vouches for war against House Lannister, causing Ellaria alarm.

The Winds of Winter

Areo Hotah joins Obara during her journey.

Quotes by Obara

Choosing the Spear by Tristan Denecke © Fantasy Flight Games

The day my father came to claim me, my mother did not wish for me to go. 'She is a girl,' she said, 'and I do not think that she is yours. I had a thousand other men.' He tossed his spear at my feet and gave my mother the back of his hand across the face, so she began to weep. 'Girl or boy, we fight our battles,' he said, 'but the gods let us choose our weapons.' He pointed to the spear, then to my mother's tears, and I picked up the spear. 'I told you she was mine,' my father said, and took me. My mother drank herself to death within the year. They say that she was weeping as she died.

- Obara to Doran Martell

Give me back my spear, Uncle. Cersei sent us a head. We should send her back a bag of them.

- Obara to Doran Martell

Quotes about Obara

Obara Sand always walked too fast. She is chasing after something she can never catch, the prince had told his daughter once, in the captain's hearing.

- thoughts of Areo Hotah

Quick and strong as she was, the woman was no match for him, he knew ... but she did not, and he had no wish to see her blood upon the pale pink marble.

- thoughts of Areo Hotah

Hotah studied each of them in turn. Obara, rusted nails and boiled leather, with her angry, close-set eyes and rat-brown hair. Nymeria, languid, elegant, olive-skinned, her long black braid bound up in red-gold wire. Tyene, blue-eyed and blond, a child-woman with her soft hands and little giggles.

- thoughts of Areo Hotah

Family




Annotations from item #46268768:

Obella Sand is the second bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell and his paramour Ellaria Sand. She is the sixth of the famous 'Sand Snakes'.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

After the death of Prince Oberyn, Obella, her mother and her sisters are all taken into custody. Obella and her family are sent to the Water Gardens, where she - along with her elder sister Elia - becomes a terror of the pools.

The Winds of Winter

Obella is sent to Sunspear to serve as cupbearer to the wife of Manfrey Martell, castellan of Sunspear.

Family




Annotations from item #46268769:

Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell, also known as the Red Viper, is a member of House Martell and is the younger brother of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne. Oberyn has eight bastard daughters called the Sand Snakes, the four youngest of whom are by his current paramour, Ellaria Sand. In the television adaptation *Game of Thrones* Oberyn is portrayed by Pedro Pascal.

Contents

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Oberyn Martell

Oberyn has the features of a salty Dornishmen. He is a tall, slender, graceful, and fit man,

Oberyn has always been fierce.

Rumor has it that Oberyn is bisexual.

Oberyn has an interest in fine horseflesh.

Oberyn is a renowned warrior,

History

Early life

In his youth, Oberyn was fostered at Sandstone.

At the age of sixteen, Oberyn was found in bed with the paramour of Lord Edgar Yronwood, so the lord challenged him to a duel. The duel was to first blood, given the prince's youth and high birth, and both took cuts. Edgar's wounds festered and killed him. Oberyn has been known as the "Red Viper" ever since by friends and foes alike, due to rumors that he fought the duel with a poisoned blade.

Oberyn traveled extensively in the Free Cities, where he learned much about poisons and perhaps even darker arts. He had studied at the Citadel, going so far as to forge six links of a maester's chain before he grew bored. He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the narrow sea, riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own company. It is said that he beds both men and women, and has begotten eight bastard daughters, called the Sand Snakes.

Prince Oberyn was unhorsed by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Ser Barristan Selmy at a tourney at Storm's End.

Baratheon Era

Oberyn had a close relationship with his sister Elia. It is currently unknown where Oberyn was during Robert's Rebellion, possibly having remained in Dorne or been serving in Essos in a free company.

During the Sack of King's Landing, Ser Gregor Clegane raped and murdered Elia and also killed her son, Prince Aegon Targaryen. Another Lannister knight, Ser Amory Lorch killed her daughter, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. After hearing of these deaths, Oberyn attempted to raise Dorne for the exiled Prince Viserys Targaryen. The new Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn, travelled to Sunspear in the year following the war, and was able to keep the peace, but Oberyn has desired revenge ever since.

Oberyn is primarily responsible for giving modern revitalization to the ongoing feud between his House and the Tyrells, because he accidentally crippled Willas Tyrell in a tourney. Oberyn struck Willas's breastplate clean, but the boy's foot caught in a stirrup as he fell and his horse fell on top of him. Oberyn sent his own maester to help treat Willas, who holds no grudge against Oberyn. The two correspond via raven message as both share a passion for horses.

Oberyn and his brother Doran, Prince of Dorne, worked in secret for years planning on bringing an end to the reign of King Robert I Baratheon and destroying House Lannister.

Oberyn eventually granted knighthood on his squire, Ser Daemon Sand.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

The Red Viper vs The Mountain - by zippo514©.

Prince Oberyn comes to King's Landing to claim his brother Doran's small council seat, and to finally receive justice for the death of his sister Elia,

Oberyn gives King Joffrey I Baratheon a red gold scorpion brooch for the royal wedding.

When Tyrion is accused of Joffrey's murder, Oberyn is one of the judges. The day before a judgement is to be pronounced, Oberyn offers to be Tyrion's champion in a trial by combat, if Tyrion tells who is guilty of the murder of Elia. Tyrion takes Oberyn up on his offer. He denies any involvement of his father, Tywin, but tells Oberyn that Amory killed Rhaenys and Ser Gregor Clegane killed Elia and Aegon. Oberyn knows already that Gregor will be his adversary.

Oberyn wounds Gregor several times by finding chinks in his armor, severing Gregor's hamstring after the latter tires from chasing him. He breaks his spear in Gregor's belly, but rather than killing him, Oberyn insists that Gregor confess to Elia's murder. Changing the tide of the battle, Gregor trips Oberyn and smashes his armored fist into Oberyn's face, dashing out the prince's brains after first destroying his teeth and knocking out his eyes. Before killing Oberyn, however, Gregor roars his guilt in killing Elia and Aegon for all to hear.

A Feast for Crows

Oberyn achieves posthumous vengeance as Ser Gregor Clegane dies a slow and agonizing death.

Oberyn's daughters, the Sand Snakes, seek vengeance for his death; Prince Doran Martell orders Areo Hotah to place them under arrest to keep the peace.

A Dance with Dragons

After Gregor Clegane's skull has been brought to Sunspear, Oberyn's family wonders how to be certain it was indeed Gregor's. Tyene Sand claims to know which poison Oberyn had used during his duel with Gregor and states that if his spear so much as broke Gregor's skin, Gregor could not have survived.

Quotes by Oberyn

Oberyn Martell by Bella Bergolts©.

Ellaria: You're going to fight that?
Oberyn: I'm going to kill that.

—Oberyn and Ellaria Sand

Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne, you raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.

—Oberyn to Gregor Clegane

If you die before you say her name, I will hunt you through all seven hells.

—Oberyn to Gregor Clegane

Quotes about Oberyn

Oberyn has always been half-mad.

Tywin Lannister to Tyrion Lannister

The man's infamous, and not just for poisoning his sword. He has more bastards than Robert, and beds with boys as well.

Jaime Lannister to Tywin Lannister

He knew the man only by reputation ... but the reputation was fearsome.

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

Oberyn was ever the viper. Deadly, dangerous, unpredictable. No man dared tread on him.

Doran Martell to the Sand Snakes

Family

Behind the Scenes

The Visconti of Milan, whose arms depicted a blue viper, were an inspiration for Oberyn, the Red Viper.




Annotations from item #46268770:

Observations Upon the Recent Blood-Letting on the Stepstones is, according to a semi-canon source, a text about the War of the Ninepenny Kings by Grand Maester Pycelle. In the work Pycelle praises the deeds of Ser Tywin Lannister and his brothers, Ser Kevan and Tygett, during the campaign in the Stepstones.

Quotes

Those who beheld these proud young lions on the battlefield might rightly wonder how such could ever have sprung from the loins of the quivering fool beneath the Rock.

- writings of Pycelle




Annotations from item #46268771:

Ocean Road

The Reach and the location of the Ocean Road

The Ocean Road,.

Route

The Ocean Road

The Ocean Road begins at Lannisport and runs south along the western coast of Westeros overlooking the Sunset Sea. It passes through the forest around Crakehall and then to Old Oak. It continues southeast along the coast, opposite the Shield Islands. It then moves inland to Highgarden on the Mander.




Annotations from item #46268772:

Archmaester Ocley is an archmaester at the Citadel in Oldtown.




Annotations from item #46268773:

An octopod is a sea creature that dwells in the oceans off Westeros. The New Castle of the Manderlys features paintings of them slithering amongst rocks and sunken ships.




Annotations from item #46268774:

"Off to Gulltown" is an old song about traveling to Gulltown to see a fair maid.

Contents

Known Lyrics

Off to Gulltown to see the fair maid, heigh-ho, heigh-ho.

I’ll steal a sweet kiss with the point of my blade, heigh-ho, heigh-ho.

I’ll make her my love and we’ll rest in the shade, heigh-ho, heigh-ho.

History

Ser Arlan sang the song while he rode with Dunk to the tourney at Ashford Meadow in 209 AC. He changed the lyrics to "Off to Ashford."

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Tom of Sevenstreams is singing it when he, Anguy, and Lem encounter Arya Stark, Gendry, and Hot Pie.




Annotations from item #46268775:

"Oh, Lay My Sweet Lass Down in the Grass" is a love song.




Annotations from item #46268776:

Old Anchor

The Vale and the location of Old Anchor

Old Anchor is the seat of House Melcolm in the Vale of Arryn. It is located east of Ironoaks where a river flows into the narrow sea. Longbow Hall is to the north and Runestone is to the south across a bay of the narrow sea.




Annotations from item #46268777:

Old Bill Bone is a sellsword and a member of the Windblown.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Old Bill Bone is part of the siege of Astapor. He plays dice with Books, Beans and Archibald Yronwood after the siege.




Annotations from item #46268778:

Old Blood refers to some of the population in Volantis, noble families who can prove unbroken descent from old Valyria itself.

Contents

About

The scions of the Old Blood are influential and consider themselves to be of superior breeding. In Volantis, only those who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria can be triarchs, and only those of the Old Blood are allowed to live within the Black Walls of eastern Volantis. Furthermore, only they can invite slaves, freedmen, or foreigners to pass beyond the Black Walls.

The Old Blood supports the tiger party, which is made up of old aristocracy and warriors. They tend to be imperialists and advocate the sword.

Many of the Old Blood of Volantis still keep the old gods of Valyria.

According to semi-canon sources, the Old Blood descends not of dragonlords or other Valyrian nobles but of the lowborn footsoldiers that made up the only inhabitants of Volantis for the first hundred years of the city.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

According to Qavo Nogarys, a customs officer of Selhorys, the actions of Daenerys Targaryen has smashed the slave trade which Volantis and Qarth relied on. This has made Daenerys enemies of the Old Blood behind the Black Wall and beyond.,

Behind the Black Wall, lords of ancient blood sleep poorly, listening as their kitchen slaves sharpen their long knives. Slaves grow our food, clean our streets, teach our young. They guard our walls, row out galleys, fight our battles. And now they look east, they see this young queen shinning from afar, this breaker of chains. The Old Blood cannot suffer that.

Quotes

Outlanders, foreigners, and freedmen were not allowed inside the Black Wall save at the invitation of those who dwelt within, scions of the Old Blood who could trace their ancestry back to Valyria itself.

Volantis has had no female triarch since [Trianna], though some women have the vote. Women of good birth who dwell in ancient palaces behind the Black Walls, not creatures such as me. The Old Blood will have their dogs and children voting before any freedman.

- the widow of the waterfront, to Tyrion Lannister




Annotations from item #46268779:

Crackbones is a legendary hero from Crackclaw Point.

Contents

History

Old Crackbones is remembered for bringing peace to Crackclaw Point before Aegon's Conquest, though the peace did not last long beyond his death.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Dick Crabb mentions Crackbones when he describes the history of Crackclaw Point to Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne.

Quotes

Crackbones fought a dragon too, but he didn't need no magic sword. He just tied its neck in a knot, so every time it breathed fire it roasted its own arse.

Dick Crabb to Brienne of Tarth




Annotations from item #46268780:

The harpy is a Ghiscari symbol

Five great wars were fought between Ghiscar and the Freehold

The Old Empire of Ghis

Contents

History

The Old Empire reigned supreme over much of Essos while the Valyrian Freehold was still young and savage. It rose from the ancient city of Ghis in Ghiscar and grew into a military, economic and cultural powerhouse.

At its height Ghis fielded highly-disciplined lockstep legions of free soldiers reputed to have been nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. The architecture of Ghis was dominated by massive brick towers and pyramids built using slave labor. Its symbol was the harpy. The Ghiscari expanded south to Sothoryos and the Basilisk Isles, building Gorosh as a penal colony at Wyvern Point, Zamettar at the mouth of the Zamoyos, and Gorgai on the Isle of Tears.

The Old Empire fell five thousand years ago. In the last great war the Valyrians smashed the Ghiscari legions and used their dragons to burn Ghis and its pyramids to the ground. After Ghis was burned, the Valyrians sowed the fields with salt and sulfur to prevent any surviving inhabitants from returning.

With the destruction of Ghis, the Old Empire collapsed and most of the original Ghiscari bloodline was wiped out. The surviving populations of the empire rebuilt what they could from the wreckage. The outlying colonies of Slaver's Bay rose to prominence: Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen. These cities established themselves as a hub of the global slave trade and became extremely wealthy. The island city of New Ghis was also founded.

During the Century of Blood after the Doom of Valyria, the Dothraki destroyed northern Ghiscari colonies, whose ruins are now called Krazaaj Has, Vaes Mejhah, and Vaes Efe.

Government

It is unclear if the Ghiscari Empire was in truth an "empire", as no emperors have ever been mentioned. Thousands of years later, Hizdahr zo Loraq's grandiose list of titles includes the phrase "Scion of Old Ghis, Octarch of the Old Empire". This may imply that the empire was actually ruled by a council of eight people - or it could simply refer to something such as eight regional governors underneath an emperor, or it could also be a military title or rank. Moreover, given how far removed in time Hizdahr is from the actual Ghiscari Empire from 5,000 years in the past, it is uncertain if this title has any substantial basis in the old empire's actual practices.

Known Ghiscari cities

The symbol of the Old Ghiscari Empire

People

Main article: Ghiscari

The Ghiscari people are mongrels of a dozen races and peoples driven together by the empire and its fall. They are spread over a large area around Slaver's Bay, west of the Gulf of Grief.

Ghiscari have dense, dark amber skin and wiry hair with red highlights. Men of the Slaver Cities are known to wear their hairs teased, oiled, and twisted into fantastic shapes. They have wear cloaks of yellow with copper disks sewn on. Their tunics are embroidered linen. Below the waist they wear pleated linen skirts and sandals. The richest classes, who are primarily made up of slavers, wear the tokar and are fond of rich foods, such as dogs, octopus stew, and duck eggs.

Legacy

The Old Ghiscari language, culture, and gods were largely forgotten over time and the Ghiscari adopted the language of their Valyrian conquerors. Today they speak a dialect of High Valyrian. statues are all that remain of the Old Empire's glory days.

The Unsullied tactics are considered a remnant of Old Ghis. They are trained to fight in the same disciplined lock-step manner and are considered the legions of Old Ghis come again, but are slaves instead of free men. The free iron legions of New Ghis are also inspired by the lockstep legions of old.

The harpy was adopted as a symbol by all the Slaver Cities and their silver coins are stamped with a harpy. The Good Masters of Astapor, the Wise Masters of Yunkai, and the Great Masters of Meereen have been training slaves for generations, much as their predecessors did, and are experts at it.




Annotations from item #46268781:

Old Ferry is a place in the Riverlands. It is unknown which noble house it belongs to.

History

Old Ferry was burned by the dragon Vhagar during the Dance of the Dragons.




Annotations from item #46268782:

The Old Gate is one of the seven huge gates that surround the huge walls of King's Landing. It is located near the center of the northwestern wall near Rhaenys's Hill.

History

History

In the reign of Maegor I Targaryen, Maegor had his own wife and queen; Alys Harroway tortured to death and executed. Following her death, Alys body was cut into seven parts and mounted on spikes above each of the seven gates of the city, one of which was above the Old Gate.

During the Dance of the Dragons, a massive riot broke out in the city. The captains of the Old Gate and Dragon Gate managed to sally out and restore some semblance of order to the streets north and east of Rhaenys's Hill.




Annotations from item #46268783:

Old Ghis

Slaver's Bay and the location of Old Ghis

The Fall of Old Ghis by Marc Simonetti ©.

Ghis emblem - the harpy

Old Ghis is a ruined city in Essos. It is located in southwestern Ghiscar, east across the Gulf of Grief from the Valyrian peninsula., by thousands of years.

Contents

History

Old Empire

Ghis was founded by Grazdan the Great.

In the dawn of days the city of Ghis opened its gates and poured forth its lockstep legions to control Slaver's Bay and the Gulf of Grief. With their lockstep discipline and absolute obedience the Old Empire of Ghis ground nations beneath their boots, destroying that which they did not enslave.

Fall

Ghis was brought to ruin following a series of wars with the Valyrian Freehold.

The city of New Ghis developed on an island south of Ghiscar and the Ghiscari Strait. The ruins of Ghis are now known as Old Ghis.

Quotes

Old Ghis ruled an empire when the Valyrians were still fucking sheep, and we are the sons of the harpy.

- Kraznys mo Nakloz to Daenerys Targaryen

Five times had Old Ghis contended with Valyria when the world was young, and five times had gone down to bleak defeat. For the Freehold had dragons, and the Empire had none.

- thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen




Annotations from item #46268784:

Old Ghiscari is a language which began in the Old Empire of Ghis.

Contents

Language

Old Ghiscari is a guttural-sounding language, described by Tyrion Lannister as harsh and ugly

History

Old Ghiscari developed from the ancient city of Ghis in Ghiscar. The region was conquered by the Valyrian Freehold in five Ghiscari wars, however, and the Ghiscari people became slaves of Valyria. The Slaver Cities instead came to speak bastard Valyrian, High Valyrian corrupted and flavored with Ghiscari.

A mongrel tongue,

Characters familiar with the Ghiscari tongue

Quotes

You need a bee up your nose to speak Ghiscari properly.

- Tyrion Lannister to Haldon Halfmaester




Annotations from item #46268785:

The Old Grey Gull is a priest of the Drowned God. His true name is unknown. He lives on a rock.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

The Old Grey Gull leaves his rock and informs the island of Harlaw of Aeron Greyjoy's calling for a kingsmoot.

A Dance with Dragons

The Old Grey Gull is taken and imprisoned as part of King Euron Greyjoy's hunt for the missing Aeron.




Annotations from item #46268786:

Old Henly is a steward of the Night's Watch. He is well past seventy years old.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Old Henly is among the men that Bowen Marsh leaves behind to defend Castle Black. He dies during the attack on Castle Black.




Annotations from item #46268787:

For other articles sharing the same title, please see this disambiguation page.

John Mudd, also known as Old John Mudd, was a sellsword in service to the Golden Company. He was the father of Young John Mudd.

History

His surname Mudd is of a house that had once loomed large in the histories of the Seven Kingdoms. He may or may not have been of House Mudd, as in the free companies a man can call himself whatever he chooses..




Annotations from item #46268788:

Yandry claims this huge horned turtle is the Old Man of the River.
Art by Puppy-Chow.

The Old Man of the River is a lesser god of the Rhoynar. He is the son of Mother Rhoyne, and his form is that of a giant turtle. According to Rhoynar beliefs, the Old Man of the River fought the Crab King for dominion of all life below the flowing water.

The giant turtles of the Rhoyne, the Old Men of the River, are named after him.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

In Dorne, Garin explains the history of the orphans of the Greenblood to Myrcella Baratheon, including their devotion to Mother Rhoyne. When Ser Arys Oakheart says that he had heard the Rhoynar worshipped a turtle god, Garin explains that the Old Man of the River is a lesser god, the child of Mother Rhoyne.

A Dance with Dragons

When the *Shy Maid* sails down the Rhoyne at Ny Sar, they see a huge horned turtle, which Yandry claims is the Old Man of the River himself.




Annotations from item #46268789:

Not to be confused with the Old Man of the River, a lesser Rhoynish god.

A huge horned turtle, one of the Old Men of the River, which Yandry believes is the Old Man of the River himself.
Art by Puppy-Chow.

The Old Men of the River are a species of gigantic turtle that live in the river Rhoyne. They are held sacred by the Rhoynar as the consorts of Mother Rhoyne.

Contents

History

According to legend, the first of the Rhoynish Wars, the First Turtle War, began when Valyrians killed one of these gigantic turtles.

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

When the *Shy Maid* sails down the Rhoyne at Ny Sar, they see an exceptionally huge horned turtle, which comes to the surface and bellows at them. Ysilla says they are blessed to see it, and Yandry declares it to be the Old Man of the River, not just any turtle but the actual god that gives its name of the turtles.

Tyrion Lannister sees a large turtle shell, painted in different colors, decorating a stone inn at Selhorys.




Annotations from item #46268790:

The Old Mint is located within the city walls of White Harbor at Fishfoot Yard. It has huge oak and iron doors.

Contents

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

While at Winterfell for the harvest feast, Lord Wyman Manderly meets with Bran Stark, Ser Rodrik Cassel, and Maester Luwin. He proposes to mint coins at White Harbor for Robb Stark, King in the North.

A Dance with Dragons

While in Fishfoot Yard Davos Seaworth notices that the Old Mint's doors are open, while they had always been closed during his previous visits to Fishfoot Yard. Davos glimpses hundreds of women and children and old men living inside, huddled on the floor on piles of furs. Some have little cookfires going. Most are smallfolk from up the White Knife, while others are from Hornwood. With the Bastard of Bolton running loose they have sought sanctuary inside White Harbor city's walls.

What Lord Wyman Manderly means to do with them no one knows. They survive by begging and stealing. Many young girls have become prostitutes, while any boy that stands five feet tall can find a place in Lord Manderly's barracks, as long as he can hold a spear.

When he hears that the people staying in the Old Mint have come for sanctuary Davos despairs, thinking:

They came here for refuge, to a city untouched by the fighting, and here I turn up to drag them back into the war.




Annotations from item #46268791:

The Old Mother was a pirate queen who became one of the infamous Band of Nine, the instigators of the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

History

The Band of Nine were a group of merchants, sellswords and pirates who joined together to carve kingdoms out for themselves.




Annotations from item #46268792:

The Old Mother's Son is a galley in the fleet of Salladhor Saan. Her name seems to be inspired by the Old Mother, a pirate queen of the Band of Nine.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Salladhor Saan's pirate fleet, including his Old Mother's Son and *Valyrian*, tries to board a galley from Volantis near the Stepstones. They kill the captain, but the ship gets away. In Braavos, a mate from the galley tells Cat of the Canals about the incident.

A Dance with Dragons

While sailing from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, the Old Mother's Son is driven onto the rocks of Skagos.




Annotations from item #46268793:

Nan, generally referred to as Old Nan, is a servant woman at Winterfell. In the television adaptation *Game of Thrones* she is portrayed by Margaret John and in a Season 6 flashback by Annette Tierney.

Contents

Appearance

See also: Images of Nan

Nan is an ugly old woman. She is toothless, shrunken and wrinkled. Almost blind, she is too weak to climb stairs and has only a small amount of hair left to cover her head.

History

Old Nan is Hodor's great-grandmother, and tells the Stark children wild tales from beyond the Wall.

Nan is the oldest person at Winterfell. She came to Winterfell to nurse a Brandon Stark, which one is unsure, only that his mother had died birthing him. This Brandon Stark is believed to be either the brother of Lord Rickard Stark or a brother of his father. Nan lost both of her sons during Robert's Rebellion, her grandson during Greyjoy's Rebellion, and her daughters moved away and died. Her only living relative is Hodor.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Bran Stark remembers the stories that Old Nan told him about those who live beyond the Wall while watching the execution of Gared, a deserter of the Night's Watch.

A Clash of Kings

Bran, curious about the sudden appearance of the red comet in the sky, asks Old Nan what she believes it signifies. She replies that the comet means one thing: dragons. She also claims to be able to smell them.

Arya Stark uses the alias Nymeria, or Nan for short, after introducing herself as such to Lord Roose Bolton after the fall of Harrenhal.

A Feast for Crows

After the sack of Winterfell, Old Nan is among the captives held at the Dreadfort.

A Dance with Dragons

According to Theon Greyjoy, Old Nan is most likely dead.

Tales

Some of Old Nan's tales include:




Annotations from item #46268794:

Old Oak

The Reach and the location of Old Oak

Old Oak is the seat of House Oakheart.

History

The petty kings of House Oakheart joined the Kingdom of the Reach, the realm of King Garth III Gardener, through a pact of friendship and mutual defense.

There are tapestries at Old Oak that show historical conflicts between the Oakhearts and Dornishmen.




Annotations from item #46268795:

The Old Ones are gods said to have lived deep below the ruined subterranean cities on the island of Leng. The jungles of the island contain odd, overgrown ruins of unknown origin, which lead to massive underground labyrinths and caverns. The god-empresses of Leng are said to have had congress with the Old Ones, and they instructed the empresses on at least four occasions to massacre foreigners, at least according to the *Jade Compendium*.

When the YiTish emperor Jar Har conquered Leng, the warriors he sent into the ruins either returned mad or vanished altogether, so the emperor ordered the ruins' entrances to be sealed under penalty of death. According to legend, however, the Old Ones still dwell underground.

Behind the Scenes

The Old Ones may be a reference by George R. R. Martin to H. P. Lovecraft's Old Ones.




Annotations from item #46268796:

The Old Palace. © Fantasy Flight Games

The Old Palace is a palace in Sunspear, the seat of House Martell in Dorne.

Contents

Layout

Rising from the Old Palace is the slender Spear Tower, a massive tower of stone. It thrusts up from the surrounding community, stretching one hundred and fifty feet tall, with a spear of gilded steel atop that adds a further thirty feet. Highborn prisoners can be confined in cells at the top of the Spear Tower.

The Tower of the Sun has a dome of gold and leaded glass. Beneath the dome sits the throne room, a large round room with thick windows and many colored glass. The floors are made of pale marble. Within the throne room there are two seats on a dais, near twins to one another, the only difference being that one is inlaid with the Martell spear on its back and the other features the blazing Rhoynish sun that flew from the masts of Nymeria's ships. The spear seat is used by the ruling Prince of Dorne.

History

The Old Palace was built after the union of the Rhoynar with the Dornishmen, as the Sandship had been the seat of House Martell prior to Nymeria's War. The Old Palace's towers are built in the Rhoynish fashion.

During Aegon's Conquest, Rhaenys Targaryen flew to abandoned Sunspear, where her demand for submission was rejected by Meria Martell, Princess of Dorne.

In the Defenestration of Sunspear during the First Dornish War, Lord Rosby was thrown from the top of the Spear Tower.

When King Baelor I Targaryen visited Dorne after the death of his predecessor, King Daeron I Targaryen, he was hosted by the Prince of Dorne in the Old Palace.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

While at the Water Gardens, Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne, tasks his seneschal, Ricasso, with opening his apartments in the Tower of the Sun.

Because of his gout, Doran must be carried by Areo Hotah up the long stone stairs of the Tower of the Sun when he returns to Sunspear. Doran has Areo imprison the older Sand Snakes in the cells atop the Spear Tower.

While a guest at Sunspear, Myrcella Baratheon has chambers in the Tower of the Sun.

A Dance with Dragons

Doran hosts a feast for Ser Balon Swann in the Old Palace's feast hall, after which he meets with the Sand Snakes and Arianne in his solar.




Annotations from item #46268797:

Old Places of the Trident is a manuscript by Archmaester Laurent in which he claims the children of the forest tended to thirty-one weirwoods on High Heart.




Annotations from item #46268798:

The Old Stone Bridge is an inn next to an old stone bridge. It is a tall, timbered building on the road between Rosby and Duskendale in the crownlands.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Brienne of Tarth stays here during her search for Sansa Stark.




Annotations from item #46268799:

Old Tattersalt is a member of the Night's Watch. He is the captain of the *Blackbird*. He is named "Old Tattersalt" for the stained and faded black clothes he wears. He has a large belly and seldom talks.

Contents

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Tattersalt captains the Blackbird on its voyage to Braavos.

A Dance with Dragons

Again captaining the Blackbird, Tattersalt is second-in-command during Cotter Pyke's expedition to Hardhome.




Annotations from item #46268800:

The Old Tongue is the language of the First Men, brought to Westeros during their invasion over twelve thousand years ago. It is a harsh, clanging language.

Language

The Old Tongue is the language spoken by the First Men of old, the current giants and free folk. Only few terms and translations are known from this language, as George R.R. Martin has not developed the actual language. On the developing of languages for *A Song of Ice and Fire*, the author stated:

"I don't have a whole imaginary language in my desk here, the way Tolkien did."

Tolkien was a philologist, and an Oxford don, and could spend decades laboriously inventing Elvish in all its detail. I, alas, am only a hardworking SF and fantasy novel, and I don't have his gift for languages. That is to say, I have not actually created a Valyrian language. The best I could do was try to sketch in each of the chief tongues of my imaginary world in broad strokes, and give them each their characteristic sounds and spellings.

George R. R. Martin

Houses descended from the First Men tend to have simple, short names, often descriptive.

The First Men had their own writing system of the Old Tongue. In addition, they also had a runic writing system.

Known translations

Several names of terms and names are described in the published material:




Annotations from item #46268801:

The Old Way is a term used by the ironborn when discussing their ancient tradition of reaving and plunder.

Contents

Customs

Plunder

In the Old Way, only women were allowed to buy ornaments (e.g., jewelry), whereas warriors were only allowed to wear the jewelry if they had paid the iron price for it, i.e. if they had acquired it from the corpses of enemies they had slain himself.

Labor

Under the Old Way, farming and mining are derided as unsuitable for free men, but fishing is respected.

Military

Under the Old Way, the ironborn lived by the axe

Execution

The Old Way dictated that a captive would have to be executed by giving him to the Drowned God, thus drowning him in salt water.

Thralldom

The Old Way allowed the ironborn to capture men and women on their raids, bringing them back to the Iron Islands. These captive thralls

While thralls are made to perform labor on the Iron Islands for those by whom they have been captured,[*citation needed*] they are not considered to be slaves. Taking slaves is not considered to be the Old Way.

Medicine

Healing a person's wounds the Old Way meant healing the wound with fire and seawater.

History

Under the Old Way, many a kingsmoot was held to elect the King of the Iron Islands.

During his Conquest, Aegon the Conqueror pacified the ironborn and outlawed the custom, at least within Westeros, as the ironmen were allowed to prey on the shipping and settlements of the Free Cities and far away places. Those that continue to act in such a manner are said to be keeping to the Old Way.

Stealing women was made a crime throughout the Seven Kingdoms by Aegon, and reavers were forbidden to pray upon the king's domains, although these prohibitions have only been sporadically enforced by Aegon's successors.

Although sporadic attempts have been made by the ironborn to restore the Old Way to the islands (e.g., by Dagon Greyjoy




Annotations from item #46268802:

Old Willow is a place in the Riverlands. It is unknown which noble house it belongs to.

History

Old Willow was burned to ash by the dragon Vhagar during the Dance of the Dragons.




Annotations from item #46268803:

Old Wyk is one of the islands that make up the Iron Islands, located in Ironman's Bay and inhabited by the ironborn. It is located east of Great Wyk and west of Orkmont.

The island is home to the noble houses Drumm, Goodbrother of Shatterstone, and Stonehouse.

Windy hills and cruel black mountains make up much of Old Wyk, and Nagga's hill is located on it near Nagga's Cradle.

Contents

History

High Kings

The ironborn consider Old Wyk to be the holiest of all the Iron Islands.

The Grey King's Hall was where kingsmoots to choose the High King of the Iron Islands were held for thousand of years, beginning with the crowning of Urras Greyiron by Galon Whitestaff. His son, Erich I Greyiron, later tried to claim the crown without a kingsmoot, but opposition from Galon led to Erich renouncing his claim and the selection by kingsmoot of Old Wyk's rock king, Regnar Drumm.

Ragged Ralf was a famous reaver from the island.

Iron Kings

The selection of high kings through the kingsmoot ended when Urron Greyiron gathered his rivals to Old Wyk and slaughtered them amidst Nagga's ribs. Old Wyk's rock and salt kings were reduced to lords sworn to hereditary dynasties of iron kings.

When a sept was built on Old Wyk during the reign of King Horgan Hoare, the priests of the Drowned God burned the sept, killed the septon, and drowned its congregation. The king reacted by slaughtering the priests of the Drowned God, earning him the sobriquet Horgan Priestkiller.

Iron Throne

In the aftermath of the War of Conquest, the priest-king Lodos of Old Wyk briefly opposed Aegon I Targaryen, the new Lord of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

There were succession battles on Old Wyk and Pyke after the death of Dalton Greyjoy.

Ser Barristan Selmy led the attack on Old Wyk during Greyjoy's Rebellion.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Balon Greyjoy sends Dagmer Cleftjaw to roust the Stonehouses and the Drumms on Old Wyk.

A Feast for Crows

At Pebbleton, Aeron Greyjoy preaches that a kingsmoot should be held on Nagga's hill on Old Wyk to choose the new king.

A Dance with Dragons

Following Euron's election as iron king, Asha Greyjoy flees the small island for Ten Towers and then Deepwood Motte.




Annotations from item #46268804:

The old blind dog is an old guard dog Sansa Stark befriends when she is staying at the seat of House Baelish on the Fingers. He is aged, too sick and toothless to walk the guard with Bryen anymore. Mostly all he does is sleep but when Sansa pats him he whines and licks her hand and after that they are fast friends.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

"I’ll have that song from you". © Kallielef

During her stay Sansa sits bored and restless by the fire beside the old blind dog.

The night of Petyr Baelish and Lysa Arryn’s wedding Sansa goes outside the flint tower and stays there for a long time. When she goes back inside to seek her bed she finds the old blind dog in her little alcove beneath the steps, and lies down next to him. He wakes and licks her face. A drunken Marillion then approaches and attempts to have his way with Sansa. The old dog raises his head and growls but the singer gives him a cuff which sends him slinking off. Ser Lothor Brune comes to Sansa’s aid and gets rid of Marillion.

That night Sansa hardly sleeps at all. She dreams of her wedding night and Tyrion Lannister’s eyes devouring her as she undressed. However, he his bigger than Tyrion has any right to be, and when he climbs into the bed his face is scarred only on one side and he rasps,

I’ll have that song from you.

She awakens and finds the old blind dog lying beside her once again. She says to him,

I wish that you were Lady.




Annotations from item #46268805:

The old gods are nameless deities

Contents

The old gods

The old gods are *"based on animism and traditional Pagan beliefs of Wicca and various other Celtic systems and Norse systems"*, melted into one construct.

The free folk beyond the Wall believe that the gods are everywhere – in the rocks, streams, birds, and beasts – and that they take the deceased down into the earth and trees.

It is said that the sigh of the wind and the rustle of leaves are the old gods speaking back to worshippers.

Worshippers of the old gods believe that no man can tell a lie in front of a heart tree, as the old gods know when men are telling a lie.

The old gods were worshipped by the children of the forest, and eventually by the First Men, sometime after signing the Pact.

Practices

Various actions, such as incest,

Worship

The godswood of Winterfell in *Game of Thrones*

Worshippers visit godswoods, groves contained within castles throughout the Seven Kingdoms, where a heart tree can be found. These trees, which have faces carved into them, are considered to be sacred. The heart trees are usually weirwoods, and godswoods are often the only places where living weirwoods still remain

Prayer

There are no priests, no holy texts, no songs of worship, and practically no rites that go with the worship of the old gods.

Marriage customs

A marriage ceremony takes place in front of a heart tree.

Marriage ceremonies are rather short and contain no priests. The bride is escorted to her groom, who awaits her in front of the weirwood tree in the godswood, and a ceremonial conversation follows, where the identity of the bride, of the groom, and of the person giving the bride away are established. The bride is asked to accept her husband, and upon her agreement (*"I take this man"*) bride and groom join hands, kneel before the heart tree, and bow their heads in token of submission. When they rise following a moment of silent prayer, the groom removes the maiden’s cloak, and places the bride’s cloak around her shoulders, after which he will carry her to the feast in his arms.

Marriage vows said at swordpoint are not held to be valid, but even if the marriage occurred under force, a lord might claim the marriage to be legal if e.g. lands are at stake.

Lords in Westeros once had the right to the first night, the custom of bedding newly-wed women before their husbands. Queen Alysanne convinced King Jaehaerys I to abolish it,

Funeral customs

Specific funeral customs are not known. However, nobles houses appear to bury deceased family members in crypts beneath their castles. The Starks of Winterfell, traditionally worshippers of the old gods,.

History

Ancient History

The old gods were originally worshiped by the children of the forest in most of Westeros in the Dawn Age, thousands of years before the arrival of the First Men from Essos via the Arm of Dorne. The First Men warred with the children and, believing that the greenseers of the children could see through the eyes of the weirwoods,

In time, however, the First Men made peace with the children at the Isle of Faces within the Gods Eye, agreeing to the Pact. In time, they adopted the gods of the children as their own.

When Corlos spared lion cubs within Casterly Rock, the old gods are said to have rewarded him by revealing gold in Casterly Rock.

Arrival of the Andals

Worship of the old gods remained strong across Westeros until the Andal invasion, with the Andals bringing their Faith of the Seven with them from Andalos. The Andals gradually conquered the south of Westeros.

Recent History

Humfrey I Teague, King of the Rivers and the Hills, attempted to suppress worship of the old gods in the riverlands, resulting in the downfall of House Teague and control of the riverlands by House Durrandon.

During the tourney at Harrenhal, a crannogman prayed to the old gods of north and Neck.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Lord Eddard Stark visits the godswood of Winterfell after the execution of Gared.

Although raised in the Faith of the Seven, Samwell Tarly decides to swear the vows of the Night's Watch at a weirwood grove north of the Wall, rather than at the sept of Castle Black.

Bran Stark prays at Winterfell's godswood for the success of his brother Robb in southern Westeros, but Osha warns that the old gods now only have power in the north.

Within the Red Keep, Sansa Stark prays to the old gods in the castle's godswood and to the new gods of the Seven in the sept.

A Clash of Kings

According to Lord Jon Umber, the red comet is a sign of vengeance from the old gods for the execution of Lord Eddard.

Survivors of the Battle of Oxcross claim that Robb is marching with the support of the old gods of the north.

Arya Stark prays to the old gods within the godswood of Harrenhal.

A Storm of Swords

During the retreat toward Craster's Keep after the fight at the Fist, Samwell prays to any god who will listen.

When the brotherhood without banners visits the ghost of High Heart, the dwarf woman claims the stirring old gods will not let her sleep.

Stannis Baratheon offers to legitimize Jon Snow after the battle beneath the Wall and name him Lord of Winterfell. Jon decides to refuse, however, since Melisandre would require the burning of the castle's godswood.

A Feast for Crows

Arya refuses to dispose of Needle in Braavos, believing that the olds gods want her to keep Jon's gift.

A Dance with Dragons

Melisandre requires that submitting free folk burn weirwood branches to symbolize their acceptance of R'hllor.

Ser Bartimus admits that although he is a knight, he still follows the old gods.

Bran learns from the three-eyed crow and children of the forest in a cave beyond the Wall. Greenseers rest within the roots of weirwoods.

Lord Roose Bolton announces to his bannermen at Winterfell that the old gods will destroy Stannis with a blizzard for his worship of R'hllor.

Quotes

For her sake, Ned had built a small sept where she might sing to the seven faces of god, but the blood of the First Men still flowed in the veins of the Starks, and his own gods were the old ones, the nameless, faceless gods of the greenwood they shared with the vanished children of the forest.

- thoughts of Catelyn Stark

Castle Black had no godswood, only a small sept and a drunken septon, but Jon could not find it in him to pray to any gods, old or new. If they were real, he thought, they were as cruel and implacable as winter.

- thoughts of Jon Snow

Slight as they were, the children were quick and graceful. Male and female hunted together, with weirwood bows and flying snares. Their gods were the gods of the forest, stream, and stone, the old gods whose names are secret.

- Luwin to Bran Stark

I see you talking to the heart tree. Might be the gods are trying to talk back.

- Osha to Bran Stark

The Mother was merciful, all the septons agreed, but the Seven had no power beyond the Wall. This was where the old gods ruled, the nameless gods of the trees and the wolves and the snows.

- thoughts of Samwell Tarly

Tyrion: I confess, I know little of the old gods. Perhaps someday you might enlighten me. I could even accompany you.
Sansa: No. You ... you are kind to offer, but ... there are no devotions, my lord. No priests or songs or candles. Only trees, and silent prayer.

- Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark

The maesters will tell you that King Jaehaerys abolished the lord's right to the first night to appease his shrewish queen, but where the old gods rule, old customs linger.

- Roose Bolton to Theon Greyjoy

Bran: What do the trees remember?
Jojen: The secrets of the old gods. Truths the First Men knew, forgotten now in Winterfell ... but not in the wet wild. We live closer to the green in our bogs and crannogs, and we remember. Earth and water, soil and stone, oaks and elms and willows, they were here before us all and will still remain when we are gone.

- Bran Stark and Jojen Reed