A Game of Thrones (1996) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

show spoilers

• Eddard "Ned" Stark (aka Warden of the North, Lord of Winterfell): Warden of the North, Lord of Winterfell. A quiet man of honour, courage and intelligence. Has long brown hair, a closely trimmed beard shot with white, and grey eyes; 35 years old
• Catelyn Stark: "Cat" - "Lady of Winterfell" - Wife of Lord Eddard Stark, daughter of House Tully of Riverrun. She is fiercely protective of her five children, but resents the presence of Jon Snow, Eddard's bastard son. Has fair skin, auburn hair and blue eyes. Has a younger sister Lysa. Grew up with Petyr Baelish.
• Jon Snow: 14 years old. The bastard son of Eddard Stark, by a mother of unknown identity, he was raised at Winterfell side-by-side with the true-born Stark children. He is much like his father in character and appearance. Slender with fair skin, brown hair and grey eyes.
• Robb Stark: 14 years old. The oldest true born Stark son, heir to Winterfell. Like his siblings, he knows his duty and bears it without complaint. Big and broad with fair skin, auburn hair and blue eyes
• Sansa Stark: 11 years old; The eldest Stark daughter, she is notably graceful and pretty and admires the Queen's court, excelling at all things ladylike. Has thick auburn hair and blue eyes.
• Arya Stark: 9 years old. Youngest daughter of Eddard and Catelyn, she dislikes domestic tasks and feminine pursuits, instead opting for adventure and sword fighting. She is a fiercely cunning and resourceful girl. Looks like her father and half-brother, Jon Snow, with brown hair and grey eyes.
• Bran Stark: "Brandon Stark" - 7 years old. The second to youngest Stark son, he aspires to become a knight. Has auburn hair and blue eyes. Loves to climb.
• Rickon Stark: 3 years old; The youngest Stark son; Has auburn hair and blue eyes
• Hodor: Real name is "Walder" - A simple-minded giant who works as a stableboy at Winterfell; Old Nan's great-grandson; Nearly seven feet tall; His arms are thick with muscle and matted with brown hair, might have giant blood in his veins.
• Robert Baratheon: King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm; Married to Cersei Lannister; Eddard Stark's oldest friend; A man who loves drinking, fighting and "whoring", against his wife's will; He is called "The Usurper" by his enemies, due to the fact that he rebelled against the previous king, Aerys Targaryen; Used to be clean-shaven, clear-eyed, and muscled like a maiden’s fantasy at six and a half feet tall, now he has a girth to match his height and a beard as coarse and black as iron wire covering his jaw to hide his double chin and the sag of the royal jowls, but nothing could hide his stomach or the dark circles under his blue eyes
• Joffrey Baratheon: "Prince Joffrey Baratheon" - "Joff" - 12 years old; Son of Cersei and Robert, heir to the Iron Throne. He is spoiled and willful, with an unchecked temper. Is very tall for his age with a thick tangle of blond curls hanging down to his neck and deep green eyes.
• Tommen Baratheon: "Prince Tommen" - 7 years old; A plump young boy with long white-blond hair.
• Myrcella Baratheon: "Princess Myrcella" - Not quite 8 years old; A wisp of a girl with her hair a cascade of golden curls
• Cersei Lannister: "Queen Cersei Lannister" - 31 years old; Tywin Lannister's eldest child, twin to Jaime and sister to Tyrion, she is the most ruthless of her siblings. Beautiful and crafty, her ambition is thwarted only by her impatience with the tedium of details. Has long golden hair and green eyes.
• Jaime Lannister: "Ser Jaime Lannister" - "The Lion of Lannister" - 31 years old; Twin to Cersei and brother to Tyrion, he is a knight of the Kingsguard and is often called "The Kingslayer" due to his part in the usurpation of Aerys Targaryen. He has hair as bright as beaten gold and flashing green eyes
• Tyrion Lannister: "The Imp" - A dwarf, a son of Tywin Lannister. His height and appearance are scoffed at but his cunning and intelligence are difficult to equal. His head is too large for his body, with a brute’s squashed-in face beneath a swollen shelf of brow. One green eye and one black one peer out from under a lank fall of hair so blond it seems white.
• Daenerys Targaryen: "Princess Daenerys" - "Dany" - "Stormborn" - Daughter of King Aerys Targaryen and Queen Rhaella Targaryen, she was conceived and born during the War of the Usurper. She and her brother Viserys wander the Free Cities, depending on wealthy patrons such as Illyrio Mopatus. Has long, silver hair and violet eyes; 13 years old
• Viserys Targaryen: Second son of King Aerys Targaryen and Queen Rhaella Targaryen and older brother to Daenerys who schemes to retake the Iron Throne from which his house was ousted. He arranges Daenery's marriage to the Dothraki Khal Drogo in the hopes of using the Dothraki to help him retake the throne of Westeros. A gaunt young man with nervous hands and a feverish look in his pale lilac eyes. 21 years old; Has silver-blond hair and lilac eyes
• Khal Drogo: "Drogo son of Bharbo" - Drogo is a powerful khal, or warlord, of the Dothraki people; Very tall with skin the color of polished copper; Has thick mustachios bound with gold and bronze rings, hair black as midnight braided and hung with tiny bells that ring softly as he moves, the end of it brushes against the back of his thighs and eyes as dark as onyx; No more than 30 years old; has never been defeated in battle
• Jorah Mormont: "Ser Jorah Mormont" - A knight who fled Westeros after the ouster of House Targaryen; He is discovered across the sea in Pentos by Viserys Targaryen and enters his and Daenerys' service; An older man, past forty and balding, but still strong and fit; Son of Jeor Mormont; Has a neck and shoulders like a bull, and coarse black hair covers his arms and chest so thickly that there is none left for his head.
• Lysa Arryn: "Lysa Tully" - "Lady Regent of the Vale" - Sister of Lady Catelyn Stark; Widow of former Hand of the King, Jon Arryn; Resides in the Eyrie with her only son, Robert Arryn; Has long auburn hair and pale, watery blue eyes; Is thick of body with a pale and puffy face
• Jon Arryn: "Lord of the Eyrie"- "Warden of the East"- A second father to Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon; Husband of Lysa Tully. He is also "Hand of the King" to Robert Baratheon.
• Robert Arryn: 6 years old; Only son of Jon Arryn and Lysa Tully; A painfully thin child, small for his age and sickly all his days; Has fine brown hair and is spoiled by his mother.
• Petyr Baelish: Also known as "Littlefinger" - Master of Coin of the Seven Kingdoms; Childhood friend of Catelyn Stark and her sister Lysa Tully; Known for his political manipulation; Sigil is a silver mockingbird; A small man, slender and quick, with the sharp features, laughing grey-green eyes, a little pointed chin beard and threads of silver in his dark hair; Still shy of 30 years old
• Mance Rayder: Self styled King Beyond the Wall
• Jeor Mormont aka: Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at the Wall; A gruff old man with an immense bald head and a shaggy grey beard; 68 years old
• Hugh of the Vale: "Ser Hugh of the Vale" - Jon Arryn's squire
• Sandor Clegane: "The Hound" - Younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane, retainer of House Lannister; Tall and muscled with black hair, grey eyes and horrible burn scars on the left side of his face; Prince Joff's bodyguard; 28 years old
• Ghost: An albino (white as snow with red eyes) direwolf, adopted by Jon Snow. Ghost is a litter-mate to the five (non-albino) direwolves belonging to Jon's five half-siblings.
• Grey Wind: Robb Stark's direwolf. Litter-mate to the direwolves that belong to Robb's siblings
• Lady: Sansa Stark's direwolf. Litter-mate to the direwolves that belong to Sansa's siblings. The smallest of the litter, the prettiest, the most gentle and trusting. Has bright golden eyes and thick grey fur.
• Nymeria: Arya Stark's direwolf. Named after Queen Nymeria of Rhoynar. Litter-mate to the direwolves that belong to Arya's siblings. Has dark golden eyes.
• Summer: Bran Stark's direwolf. Litter-mate to the direwolves that belong to Bran's siblings. Has silver and smoke fur with eyes of yellow gold.
• Shaggydog: "Shaggy" - Rickon Stark's direwolf. Litter-mate to the direwolves that belong to Rickon's siblings. Has black fur and green eyes. Much wilder than his litter-mates.
• Waymar Royce: "Ser Waymar Royce" - Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; The youngest son of an ancient house with too many heirs; A handsome youth of eighteen, grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife
• Will: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Was a poacher before he joined the Night’s Watch
• Gared: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Past fifty years old
• Maester Aemon: Maester at Castle Black; Has clouded, milk-white eyes, and is blind. He always supported Jon Snow
• Old Nan: Storyteller at Winterfell, a wet nurse to the Stark children. Has been wet nurse to Stark children for many generations. She is the oldest person at Winterfell.
• Theon Greyjoy: Eddard Stark's hostage and ward; A lean, dark youth with black hair; 19 years old
• Jory Cassel: Captain of Eddard Stark's household guard
• Hullen: Eddard Stark's master of horse
• Harwin: Hullen’s son; One of Eddard Stark's men
• Rodrik Cassel: "Ser Rodrik" - Master-at-arms of Winterfell; A great stout keg of a man with magnificent white cheek whiskers
• Desmond: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Brandon the Builder: Thousands and thousands of years ago, Brandon the Builder had raised Winterfell, and some said the Wall.
• Benjen Stark: "Ben" - Eddard's brother; First Ranger of the Night’s Watch; Has blue-grey eyes.
• Maester Luwin: Maester at Winterfell; A small grey man with grey eyes
• Aerys Targaryen II: "The Mad King" - Son of Jaehaerys
• Hoster Tully: "Lord Hoster Tully" - Catelyn & Lysa's father
• Grand Maester Pycelle: Maester in the Red Keep
• Brynden Tully: "Knight of the Gate" - "Brynden the Blackfish" - Catelyn & Lysa's uncle; Sigil is a black fish; Has grey hair that was once auburn and deep blue eyes; Five years younger than his brother Lord Hoster
• Illyrio Mopatis: "Magister Illyrio" - A dealer in spices, gemstones, dragonbone, and other, less savory things. He is immensely fat with a forked yellow beard.
• Rhaegar Targaryen: "Prince Rhaegar" - "Prince of Dragonstone" - Son of Aerys II; Heir to the Iron Throne; Older brother to Daenerys and Viserys; Slain by King Robert on the Trident
• Elia Martell: "Princess Elia of Dorne" - Wife to Rhaegar Targaryen; Murdered during the Sack of King’s Landing
• Rhaenys Targaryen: "Princess Rhaenys" - Rhaegar's daughter by Elia of Dorne; Murdered during the Sack of King's Landing
• Aegon Targaryen: Rhaegar's son by Elia of Dorne; Murdered during the Sack of King’s Landing
• Willem Darry: "Ser Willem Darry" - A great grey bear of a man; Halfblind
• Khal Moro: Dothraki
• Rhogoro: Son of Khal Moro
• Brother to the Archon of Tyrosh: Brother to the Archon of Tyrosh; Has a green beard
• Balon Greyjoy: Father to Theon Greyjoy; Was the self-proclaimed King of the Iron Islands
• Rickard Stark: "Lord Rickard Stark" - Ned’s father; Had a long, stern face; Deceased
• Brandon Stark: Was the true heir, the eldest son of Rickard; Had been 20 when he was strangled by order of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen; Was to wed Catelyn Tully of Riverrun a few days later; Ned’s brother
• Lyanna Stark: "Lya" - Ned’s beloved sister; 16 years old; Robert had loved her and she was to have been his bride; Deceased
• Tywin Lannister: "Lord Tywin" - "Tywin son of Tytos" - Warden of the West; Father of Cersei, Jaime & Tyrion; In his mid 50's; Tall with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach and thin arms corded with muscle; Once had thick golden hair now his head is shaved as well as his lip and chin but has side-whiskers, two great thickets of wiry golden hair that cover most of his cheeks from ear to jaw and pale green eyes flecked with gold
• Arthur Dayne: "Ser Arthur Dayne" - The Sword of the Morning, deadliest of the seven knights of Aerys' Kingsguard
• Ashara Dayne: "Lady Ashara Dayne" - Beautiful young sister of Arthur Dayne; Tall and fair, with haunting violet eyes. Dies before the events of the book.
• Septa Mordane: Instructor of needlework and other womanly arts at Winterfell, with a bony face, sharp eyes, and a mouth made for frowning.
• Beth Cassel: Ser Rodrik’s little girl and one of Sansa's friends.
• Jeyne Poole: The daughter of Winterfell’s steward; Sansa’s dearest friend
• Lew: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Donnis: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Serwyn of the Mirror Shield: A knight of the Kingsguard
• Ryam Redwyne: "Ser Ryam Redwyne" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Aemon the Dragonknight: "Prince Aemon the Dragonknight" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Ser Erryk: A knight of the Kingsguard; Ser Arryk twin; Died on one his twins sword hundreds of years ago
• Ser Arryk: A knight of the Kingsguard; Ser Erryk's twin; Died on one his twins sword hundreds of years ago
• Gerold Hightower: "Ser Gerold Hightower" - "The White Bull" - Was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
• Barristan Selmy: "Ser Barristan Selmy" - "Barristan the Bold" - Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and councillor to King Robert and to Aerys Targaryen before him; The greatest living knight; An old man with white hair and pale blue eyes, yet he seems strong and graceful
• Boros Blount: "Ser Boros Blount" - A knight of the Kingsguard; A ugly, bald man with a jowly face, a broad chest and short, bandy legs
• Meryn Trant: "Ser Meryn Trant" - A knight of the Kingsguard; Has droopy eyes and a beard the color of rust
• Gage: Cook at Winterfell
• Mikken: Blacksmith at Winterfell
• Stannis Baratheon: "Lord Stannis" - Robert's brother; Bald brother
• Renly Baratheon: Lord of Storm's End and councillor to King Robert; Robert's brother; 22 years old; Very handsome, tall and powerfully made, with jet-black hair that falls to his shoulders and frames a clean-shaven face, and laughing green eyes
• Septon Chayle: Septon at Winterfell; A young man
• Irri: Dany's handmaid; A bride gift from Viserys; A copper-skinned Dothraki with black hair and almond shaped eyes; Will teach Dany riding; 13 years old
• Jhiqui: Dany's handmaid; A bride gift from Viserys; A copper-skinned Dothraki with black hair and almond shaped eyes; Will teach Dany the Dothraki tongue; 13 years old
• Doreah: Dany's handmaid; A bride gift from Viserys; A fair-haired, blue-eyed Lysene girl; Will instruct Dany in the womanly arts of love; Almost 20 years old
• Haggo: One of Drogo’s bloodriders
• Cohollo: Oldest of Drogo’s three bloodriders; A squat bald man with a crooked nose and a mouth full of broken teeth
• Qotho: One of Drogo’s bloodriders
• Alyn: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Wylla: Rumored to be Eddard Stark's ex-lover; Possibly Jon Snow's mother; Ned refuses to speak of her
• Lord Varys: "The Spider" - The king's master of whisperers; An eunuch; A plump, perfumed and powdered man; As hairless as an egg
• Yoren: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Looks stooped and sinister with a beard as black as his clothing; Smells sour
• Balerion: "The Black Dread" - One of the three great monsters of song and story, the dragons that Aegon Targaryen and his sisters had unleashed on the Seven Kingdoms of old.
• Meraxes: One of the three great monsters of song and story, the dragons that Aegon Targaryen and his sisters had unleashed on the Seven Kingdoms of old.
• Vhaghar: One of the three great monsters of song and story, the dragons that Aegon Targaryen and his sisters had unleashed on the Seven Kingdoms of old.
• King Loren of the Rock: The Lannisters' ancestor
• King Mern of the Reach: Joined forces with the remote Lannister ancestor, King Loren of the Rock, over three hundred years before the events of this book, to oppose the Targaryen conquest. Died in the Field of Fire.
• Morrec: Tyrion’s man
• Vayon Poole: Winterfell’s steward
• Hallis Mollen: "Hal" - A muscular guardsman with a square brown beard
• Mycah: Arya's friend; A butcher’s boy; 13 years old; Has a coarse, freckled face and thick red hair
• Ilyn Payne: "Ser Ilyn" - The crowns headsman; A gaunt grim man; Has a pockmarked and beardless face, with deepset eyes and hollow cheeks; Though not an old man, only a few wisps of hair remain to him, sprouting above his ears, but those he had grown long as a woman’s; Has pale colorless eyes; Aerys Targaryen had his tongue ripped out with hot pincers.
• Raymun Darry: "Ser Raymun Darry"
• Moreo Turnitis: Ship Captain; Has a forked green beard
• Aron Santagar: "Ser Aron Santagar" - King Robert's master-at-arms
• Maegor Targaryen: "Maegor the Cruel" - Son of Aegon Targaryen
• Loras Tyrell: "Knight of Flowers" - Youngest son of Mace Tyrell; 16 years old; His hair is a mass of lazy brown curls and his eyes are like liquid gold
• Alliser Thorne: "Ser Alliser Thorne" - Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; 50 years old; A compact, spare and hard man, with grey in his black hair and eyes like chips of onyx; The master-at-arms for the Night’s Watch
• Grenn: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; 16 years old
• Jeren: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; A septon’s son
• Todder: "Toad" - Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; A short, ugly boy with an unpleasant voice
• Dareon: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; Was an apprentice singer before going to the Wall
• Pypar: "Pyp" - Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; Small boy with the large ears
• Halder: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; Apprenticed as a stonemason before going to the Wall; 16 years old; Tall and muscular
• Donal Noye: Armorer for the Night’s Watch; Only has one arm
• Cotter Pyke: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Baseborn son of a tavern wench; Commands Eastwatch by the Sea
• Bowen Marsh: "Lord Steward" - Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; A man as round and red as a pomegranate
• Helman Tallhart: Eddard Stark's ally; Sigil is three sentinel trees
• Galbart Glover: Eddard Stark's ally; Banner is scarlet with a silver mailed fist
• Wyman Manderly: "Lord Wyman Manderly" - Eddard Stark's ally; Near 60 years old; A stout man with a massive belly and fingers as fat as sausages; Banners is a white merman with trident in hand, rising from a blue-green sea
• Jaremy Rykker: "Ser Jaremy Rykker" - Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Commands the rangers in the absence of Benjen Stark
• Jyck: Tyrion’s man
• Maege Mormont: "Lady Maege Mormont" - House sigil is a black bear; Sister of Jeor Mormont; Stout and grey-haired; Dresses in mail like a man
• Yohn Royce: "Lord Yohn Royce" - "Bronze Yohn" - Father of Ser Waymar Royce; Has bronze armor thousands and thousands of years old, engraved with magic runes that ward him against harm
• Denys Mallister: "Ser Denys"
• Jacks: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Porther: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Tomard: "Fat Tom" - One of Eddard Stark's guardsman; A portly man with the ginger-colored whiskers; Near 50 years old
• Syrio Forel: A slight man with a bald head and a great beak of a nose; Arya's "dancing master"; Was first sword to the Sealord of Braavos
• Jhogo: Part of Daenerys' khas; A youth of sixteen years, whip-thin, fearless, quick to laugh, with the faint shadow of his first mustachio on his upper lip.
• Quaro: Part of Daenerys' khas
• Maester Colemon: Maester at The Eyrie; A thin and nervous man with too little hair and too much neck
• Samwell Tarly: "Sam" - Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch; Elder son of Lord Randyll Tarly; A very fat boy with a great round moon of a face and pale eyes; Family sigil is a striding huntsman in scarlet; 15 years old
• Rast: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch
• Albett: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch
• Randyll Tarly: "Lord Randyll Tarly" - A bannerman to the Tyrells of Highgarden; Father of Samwell Tarly
• Lady Tarly: Mother of Samwell Tarly
• Dickon Tarly: Brother of Samwell Tarly; 11 years old
• Quorin Halfhand: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch from the Shadow Tower
• Mace Tyrell: Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South
• Rowan of Goldengrove: "Lord Rowan of Goldengrove"
• Janos Slynt: Commander of the City Watch
• Margaery Tyrell: 14 years old; Sister of Loras Tyrell; A lovely young girl with doe's eyes and a cascade of soft brown hair
• Varly: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Beric Dondarrion: "Lord Beric Dondarrion" - Has red-gold hair; Banner is a night sky slashed with purple lightning; Almost 22 years old
• Tobho Mott: Armorer; Sigil is a hammer
• Gendry: Apprentice to Tobho Mott; Looks to be about 14 years old; A tall boy, his arms and chest corded with muscle; Has thick, shaggy black as ink hair and blue eyes
• Masha Heddle: Innkeep; A very fat woman
• Jason Mallister: "Lord Jason Mallister" - Has brown hair salted with white; Bannerman to the Tullys; Banner is indigo with the silver eagle of Seagard
• Patrek Mallister: Son of Jason Mallister
• Sheila Whent: "Lady Sheila Whent" - Last of her line; Lives with her ghosts in the cavernous vaults of Harrenhal; Bannerman to the Tullys; Sigil is a black bat
• Walder Frey: "Lord Walder Frey of the Crossing" - Has outlived seven wives; Has twenty-one living sons, thirty-six grandsons, nineteen great-grandsons, and numerous daughters, granddaughters, bastards, and grandbastards;Bannerman to the Tullys; Banner bore twin towers, dark blue on a field of pale silver-grey; Almost 90 years old
• Marillion: A singer; A youth of some 18 years
• Alia of Braavos: Favorite singer of Ser Rodrik
• Jonos Bracken: "Lord Jonos" - Bannerman to the Tullys; Sigil is a red stallion
• Gregor Clegane: "Ser Gregor Clegane" - "The Mountain That Rides" - Older brother to Sandor Clegane; Well over seven feet tall with massive shoulders and arms thick as the trunks of small trees; 31 years old; Banner is three black dogs on a yellow field
• Thoros of Myr: "The Red Priest" - Warrior priest; Has a shaved head; Favorite weapon is a flaming sword
• Balon Swann: "Ser Balon Swann" A knight of the Kingsguard
• Bryce Caron: "Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches" - Banner is a field of nightingales
• Andar Royce: "Ser Andar Royce" - Bronze Yohn’s heir
• Robar Royce: "Ser Robar Royce" - Ser Andar Royce's younger brother
• Horas Redwyne: "Ser Horas Redwyne" - Ser Hobber's twin; Sigil is a grape cluster
• Hobber Redwyne: "Ser Hobber Redwyne" - Ser Horas' twin; Sigil is a grape cluster
• Jared Frey: "Ser Jared" - Son of Lord Walder Frey's by his second wife
• Hosteen Frey: "Ser Hosteen" - Son of Lord Walder Frey's by his third wife; His mother was a Crakehall
• Danwell Frey: "Ser Danwell" - Son of Lord Walder Frey's by his third wife; His mother was a Crakehall
• Emmon Frey: "Ser Emmon" - Son of Lord Walder Frey
• Theo Frey: "Ser Theo" - Son of Lord Walder Frey
• Perwyn Frey: "Ser Perwyn" - Son of Lord Walder Frey
• Martyn Rivers: Bastard son of Lord Walder Frey
• Jalabhar Xho: An exile prince from the Summer Isles; Has skin as dark as night
• Lothor Brune: Freerider
• Lancel Lannister: "Lance" - King Robert's squire; Ser Kevan Lannister’s son; Nephew to Lord Tywin; Cousin to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion
• Tyrek Lannister: King Robert's squire; Nephew to Lord Tywin; Cousin to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion
• Anguy: A young archer; An unheralded commoner from the Dornish Marches
• Cayn: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Chiggen: A squat sellsword
• Bronn: A sellsword; Bone thin with black eyes, black hair and a stubble of beard
• Mohor: One of the Brackens man-at-arms in the service of Lord Jonos
• Willis Wode: "Ser Willis Wode" - Lady Whent's man
• Kurleket: A great fat oaf with short-cropped hair and a pig's face; One of the Brackens man-at-arms in the service of Lord Jonos
• Lharys: One of the Brackens man-at-arms in the service of Lord Jonos; An ungainly-looking man with wild tufts of rust-colored hair
• Roose Bolton: "Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort" - House sigil is a flayed man; His eyes are curiously pale, almost without color
• Tanda Stokeworth: "Lady Tanda" - Wants to wed her younger daughter to Petyr Baelish
• Donnel Waynwood: "Ser Donnel Waynwood" - 20 years old; A stocky youth with a wide nose and a shock of thick brown hair
• Nestor Royce: "Lord Nestor Royce" - High Steward of the Vale and Keeper of the Gates of the Moon; A massive, barrel-chested man; Bronze Yohn’s cousin, from a lesser branch of House Royce; Has a square, plain face, silver hair and a heavy build
• Mya Stone: 17 or 18 years old; A wiry girl with dark hair cropped short and straight around her head
• Mychel Redfort: Mya's love; Squire to Ser Lyn Corbray
• Lyn Corbray: "Ser Lyn Corbray" - Is slender as a sword and handsome; Heir to an ancient but impoverished house, vain, reckless, hot-tempered... and, it was whispered, notoriously uninterested in the intimate charms of women.
• Vardis Egen: "Ser Vardis Egen" - Captain of Jon Arryn’s household guard; A stocky, silver-haired man
• Heward: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Wyl: One of Eddard Stark's men
• Chataya: A tall, elegant woman with skin as black as ink; Runs a brothel
• Barra: Has fine, dark hair like black silk
• Selyse Baratheon: "Lady Selyse" - "Selyse Florent" - Stannis' wife. Everybody thinks she is ugly.
• Aggo: Dothraki; Part of Daenerys' khas
• Rakharo: Dothraki; Part of Daenerys' khas
• Joseth: A stick-thin stableman whom Robb had named master of horse while Hullen was away.
• Stiv: Deserter of the Night's Watch
• Hali: A wildling; Short woman
• Osha: A wildling; Tall woman with shaggy brown hair
• Farlen: Kennelmaster at Winterfell
• Quent: The youngest of Robb Stark's guardsmen; His beard is a soft brown fuzz
• Wayn: One of Robb Stark's guardsmen
• Mord: Turnkey of the Sky Cells at the Eyrie
• Eon Hunter: "Lord Eon Hunter" - Has gouty legs
• Lady Waynwood: Widow
• Martyn Cassel: Jory’s father; Eddard Stark's friend
• Theo Wull: Eddard Stark's friend
• Ethan Glover: Had been Brandon’s squire; Eddard Stark's friend
• Mark Ryswell: "Ser Mark Ryswell" - Soft of speech and gentle of heart; Eddard Stark's friend
• Howland Reed: "The Crannogman" - Eddard Stark's friend
• Lord Dustin: Eddard Stark's friend
• Oswell Whent: "Ser Oswell Whent" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Karyl Vance: "Ser Karyl Vance" - "Lord Karyl Vance" - Has a winestain birthmark that discolors his face
• Marq Piper: "Lord Piper" - "Ser Marq Piper" - A swaggering bantam rooster of a youth; A fast friend of Edmure Tully
• Morton Waynwood: "Ser Morton Waynwood"
• Gueren: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch
• Matthar: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch
• Three-Finger Hobb: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch
• Cuger: Recruit in training for the Night’s Watch
• Clydas: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; One of Maester Aemon's stewards; Short, bald, and chinless, with small pink eyes like a mole
• Chett: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; One of Maester Aemon's stewards; Has a wen on his neck the size of a pigeon's egg and a face red with boils and pimples
• Gunthor son of Gurn: "Gunthor son of Gurn of the Stone Crows"
• Shagga son of Dolf: Of the Stone Crows
• Conn son of Coratt: Of the Stone Crows
• Torrek: Of the Stone Crows
• Jaggot: Of the Stone Crows
• Arys Oakheart: "Ser Arys Oakheart" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Joss: A brewer
• Rhaego: "The stallion who will mount the world"
• Khal Ogo: A khal of a Dothraki khalasar.
• Fogo: Khal Ogo's son; The khalakka
• Khal Jommo: Has four wives
• Preston Greenfield: "Ser Preston Greenfield" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Captain Qos: Captain of the Wind Witch
• Septon Celladar: The septon of Castle Black. He has a strong tendency to alcoholism.
• Othell Yarwyck: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; First Builder
• Borcas: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch at Eastwatch
• Othor: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Ben Stark’s man
• Jafer Flowers: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Ben Stark’s man
• Bass: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Kennelmaster at Castle Black
• Chett: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Ranger
• Dywen: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Old forester
• Hake: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Ranger
• Ketter: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Ranger
• Rickard Karstark: "Lord Rickard Karstark" - Banner is night-black emblazoned with a white sunburst
• Harrion Karstark: Lord Rickard's oldest son
• Eddard Karstark: Lord Rickard's son
• Torrhen Karstark: Lord Rickard's son
• Lord Cerwyn: Soft-spoken; Wants to marry Robb to his daughter, a plump, homely maid of 30 years; Sigil is a battle-axe
• Lord Flint: Regarded as one of the worst commanders of the Night's Watch, for trying to make himself King-Beyond-the-Wall.
• Robett Glover: Lives in Deepwood Motte as a member of the the ruling family of that fortress. Friend to Eddard Stark.
• Lord Hornwood: A jovial man; Banner is a brown bull moose on a dark orange field
• Greatjon Umber: "Lord Umber" - Sigil is a roaring giant in shattered chains
• Byan Votyris: Merchant Captain; A diminutive Norvoshi with skin like old leather and a bristling blue mustachio that swept up to his ears
• Wylis Manderly: "Ser Wylis Manderly" - Lord Wyman's son; A very fat man with an ostentatious walrus mustache and a bald head; Is quiet and formal
• Wendel Manderly: "Ser Wendel Manderly" - Lord Wyman's youngest son; A very fat man with an ostentatious walrus mustache and a bald head; Is loud and boisterous
• Lord Derik: better known as Erik Ironmaker or Erik the Just or Erik Anvil-Breaker, is an old man. He weighs around twenty stone and is eighty-eight years old. He has white hair and his long, massive beard is white too. He has to be carried about in a chair.
• Chella daughter of Cheyk: Of the Black Ears; A small hard woman
• Ulf son of Umar: Of the Moon Brothers
• Timett son of Timett: Of the Burned Men; Not 20 years old yet; Put out his own left eye with a white-hot knife when he reached the age of manhood; His fellow Burned Men were so awed by his choice of an eye that they promptly named him a red hand (war chief)
• Flement Brax: "Ser Flement Brax" - Sigil is a unicorn
• Kevan Lannister: "Ser Kevan Lannister" - Lord Tywin's only surviving brother
• Tytos Blackwood: "Lord Tytos Blackwood"
• Addam Marbrand: "Ser Addam Marbrand" - A rangy man with dark copper hair that fell to his shoulders; Banner is a burning tree, orange and smoke
• Mandon Moore: "Ser Mandon Moore" - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Lord Gyles: Sickly
• Dontos Hollard: "Ser Dontos the Red" - A funny drunk
• Bryce Caron: "Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches"
• Stevron Frey: "Ser Stevron" - Lord Walder Frey's heir; Past 60 year sold; Has watery grey eyes
• Jonos Bracken: "Lord Jonos Bracken"
• Doran Martell: Prince of Dorne
• Oswell Whent: "Ser Oswell Whent"
• Joyeuse Frey: "Lady Joyeuse" - "Joyeuse Erenford" - Lord Walder's eighth wife; A pale frail girl of 16 years
• Ryger Rivers: Bastard son of Lord Walder Frey
• Whalen Frey: Son of Lord Walder Frey
• Merrett Frey: Son of Lord Walder Frey; Has a son named Walder
• Ronel Rivers: Bastard son of Lord Walder Frey
• Olyvar Frey: Son of Lord Walder Frey
• Elmar Frey: Youngest son of Lord Walder Frey
• Endrew Tarth: "Ser Endrew Tarth" - Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch
• Pate: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; A builder
• Rudge: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch; Armorer
• Matt: Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch
• Black Harren: Aegon slew him and claimed his kingdom.
• Mago: Dothraki who rides in the khas of Ko Jhaqo
• Ko Jhaqo: Dothraki
• Mirri Maz Duur: A godswife or Maegi to the Great Shepherd; A heavy, flat-nosed woman
• Maester Marwyn: A maester in Asshai
• Lord Lefford: Lannister bannerman; Has charge of the stores and supplies
• Podrick Payne: Tyrion's squire; A distant cousin to Ser Ilyn Payne
• Shae: A whore
• Lord Lydden: Lannister bannerman
• Lord Serrett: Lannister bannerman
• Ser Flement: Lannister bannerman; Banner is a purple unicorn
• Smalljon Umber: a great character
• Daryn Hornwood: Dead before the book begins, leaving the lands to his widow.
• Dacey Mormont: Lady Maege's eldest daughter and heir to Bear Island; A lanky six foot tall woman
• Lord Westerling: Gawen Westerling is Lord of the Crag and head of House Westerling.
• Lord Banefort: Lord Quentin Banefort is the Lord of Banefort and head of House Banefort.
• Garth Greenfield: "Ser Garth Greenfield"
• Lord Estren: Lord Regenard Estren is the Lord of Wyndhall and head of House
• Tytos Brax: "Ser Tytos Brax"
• Mallor the Dornishman: A healer of the sheep herders.
• Eroeh: A timid girl Dany had rescues
• Khal Pono: A bloodrider for Khal Drogo.
• Harys Swyft: "Ser Harys Swyft" - His daughter is married to Ser Kevan Lannnister
• Lord Brax: Ser Flement Brax's father
• Tytos Blackwood: "Lord Blackwood" - A hard pike of a man with close-cropped salt-and-pepper whiskers and a hook nose
• Forley Prester: "Ser Forley Prester"
• Vargo Hoat: Freerider
• Amory Lorch: "Ser Amory Lorch"
• Maester Vyman: Maester at Riverrun
• Silver: A horse
• Dancer: Bran's horse

Quotes edit see section history

• “Stick em with the pointy end.”

  Arya stark

• “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends. It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace. They never are.”

  Jorah Mormont

• “I beg to differ. Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “Winter is coming.”

  Lord Eddard Stark

• “A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.”

  Eddard Stark

• “Ser Vardis is a knight, sweet lady. This other fellow, well, his sort are all cowards at heart. Useful enough in a battle, with thousands of their fellows around them, but stand them up alone and the manhood leaks right out of them.”

• “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it and it will never be used to hurt you.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “You have juice on your face, Your Grace.”

  Arya Stark

• “Hard men for a hard time.”

  Mr Louen

• “I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind . . . and a mind need books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “Maester Luwin made a little boy of clay, baked him till he was hard and brittle, dressed him in Bran's clothes, and flung him off a roof. Bran remembered the way he shattered. "But I never fall," he said, falling.”

  Narrator

• “We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.”

  Maester Aemon

• “There's your peace. Joffrey saw to that when he decided to remove Ned Stark's head. You'll have an easier time drinking from that cup that you will bringing Robb Stark to the table now. He's winning, in case you haven't noticed.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “Winter is coming.”

  House Stark Motto

• “A Lannister always pays his debts.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “A bastard had to learn to notice things, to read the truth that people hid behind their eyes.”

  Jon Snow

• “Something about the howling of a wolf took a man right out of his here and now and left him in a dark forest of the mind, running naked before the pack.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?" "That is the only time a man can be brave."”

  Bran Stark, Ned Stark

• “We all need to be mocked from time to time, Lord Mormont, lest we start to take ourselves too seriously.”

  Tyrion Lannister

• “Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true. Look with your eyes. Hear with your ears. Taste with your mouth. Smell with your nose. Feel with your skin. Then comes the thinking, afterward, and in that way knowing the truth.”

  Syrio Forel

• “Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”

  Night's Watch vow

• “In the game of thrones, you win or you die.”

  Cersei Lannister

• “...for the Dothraki believed that all things of importance in a man's life must be done beneath the open ski.”

  Narrator

• “Well, I'll not press you if you feel so strong about it, though I swear, at times you're so prickly you ought to take the hegehog as your sigil.”

  Robert Baratheon

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Winterfell: It is the ancestral home and seat of power of House Stark, which has ruled the North for millenia. It was supposedly built by Brandon the Builder with the help of giants. It lies on the Kingsroad that runs from King's Landing to the Wall.
• The Narrow Sea: The Narrow Sea is the body of water lying to the east of Westeros. It separates Westeros from the continent of Essos to the east, and runs from roughly east of White Harbour (where it empties into the Shivering Sea) to the Stepstones, which separate it from the Summer Sea.
• King's Landing: the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. It is situated on the Blackwater river on the spot where Aegon the Conqueror landed in Westeros to begin his conquest. The main city is surrounded by a wall, manned by the City Watch of King's Landing, also known as the Gold Cloaks. Within the walls, the city's natural landscape is dominated by three hills, named after Aegon and his two sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. Poorer smallfolk build shanty settlements outside the city. King's Landing is extremely populous, but rather unsightly and dirty compared to other cities.
• Beyond-the-Wall: The most northern area of the explored territory. It is said to be inhabited by wildlings and undead creatures.
• Riverrun: The ancestral seat of House Tully, shaped in a triangle. It has been held by House Tully for over a thousand years. It is situated between the Red Fork of the Trident and the Tumblestone in the Riverlands.
• The Wall: A massive fortification built primarily of ice located in the far north of Westeros. The Wall is 100 leagues or 300 miles (480 km) long and over 700 feet (210 m) high. It extends from the Frostfangs mountain range in the west to the Bay of Seals in the east. According to Westerosi legend, it was built after the period known as "The Long Night" by the nearly mythical Brandon the Builder over 8,000 years prior to the present setting, in an attempt forever to shut out the inhabitants of the far north (in particular the Others), who had overrun Westeros during that period, before being turned back by an alliance of men and the almost-mythical Children of the Forest. Several mentions in the text suggest that the Wall was much smaller at the time, having been built upon by the Night's Watch over the centuries to its present size. The Wall is also embued with mystical defenses which keep the Others from crossing into the realms of men so long as the Wall stands. However, at the time of the series' events the severely reduced numbers of the Night's Watch necessitate limited, irregular maintenance duty and complete ignorance of the Wall's magical qualities. There are nineteen of Night's Watch castles along the wall, though no more than seventeen were ever been manned at any one time. Now only three castles are manned (Castle Black, the Shadow Tower & Eastwatch) due to the reduced numbers of the Night's Watch.
• Castle Black: The Night's Watch center stronghold
• Isle of Faces
• Eastwatch: The Night's Watch stronghold on its grey windswept shore
• Shadow Tower: The Night's Watch stronghold hard by the mountains where the Wall ends
• Old Valyria
• Pentos: One of the Nine Free Cities
• The Eyrie: The ancestral home of House Arryn, the Erie is located in the Vale of Arryn, roughly in the mid east of Westeros. It is a very mountainous region, and the castle itself is built in three stages up a very tall and treacherous spire called the Giant's Lance. It is notorious for its dungeons, called the Sky Cells, and for its unique form of execution, the Moon Door.
• The Vale of Arryn: Under the rule of House Arryn, one of the oldest lines of Andal nobility and, before Aegon's conquest, Kings of Mountain and Vale. In it, the Eyrie is a castle high in the mountains, very hard to reach except by a narrow path.
• Vaes Dothrak: The city of the horselords.
• Westeros: The name of the continent in which the story takes place.
• Highgarden: Highgarden is a fortress in the south. It is a lush and beautiful land southwest of King's Landing. It's currently owned by the Tyrells, a noble family known for beauty and grace.
• Dorne: Dorne is one of the constituent parts of Westeros. It was an independent kingdom until long after Aegon the Conqueror's day, until it was brought into the realm by political alliance and marriage into House Targaryen just over a century ago. House Martell rules over Dorne from their castle at Sunspear.
• Myr: One of the Nine Free Cities
• Dragonstone: Eastern island, stronghold of Lord Stannis
• Braavos: One of the Nine Free Cities that lies along the western shores of the continent of Essos, across the Narrow Sea from Westeros. It is the northern-most of the Free Cities and the most powerful, with a formidable fleet and immense economic power derived from its banking institutions and its many mercantile interests. The city is famed for its courtesans, its bank, is powerful ships and the massive statue that guards its entrance.
• Tyrosh: One of the Free Cities. People from Tyrosh wear bright colors and dye thier hair.
• Qohor: One of the Free Cities
• Volantis: One of the Free Cities.
• Lys: One of the Free Cities
• Port of Ibben: The Port of Ibben is a large settlement on the large island of Ibben, which is located in the Shivering Sea approximately one thousand miles due east of Skagos. The Port of Ibben is known to be a whaling and trading port, where furs and sealskins are among the items traded.
• Summer Isles
• Iron Islands: The Iron Islands are one of the constituent regions of Westeros. The Iron Islands were long an independent nation confined to their islands before they invaded Westeros roughly a century before the War of Conquest, eventually going on to conquer the Riverlands. They were defeated by Aegon the Conqueror and forced to swear fealty to him. Homeland of Theon Greyjoy
• Storm's End: Storm's End is a fortress on the east coast of Westeros. The ancestral seat of House Baratheon, it lays just inland of Shipbreaker Bay and is one of the most impenetrable castles.
• Casterly Rock: Stronghold of the Lannister family
• Shadow Lands: The lands beyond Asshai in the far south-east of the explored world. Myths say that dragons were originally native to these lands.
• Asshai: Far eastern land
• White Harbor: White Harbor is the smallest of Westeros's major cities but the largest settlement north of the Neck. It is located on the mouth of the White Knife, the principal river of the North, and is the seat of House Manderly. The city has access to very good fishing grounds and is also the home of many silversmiths.
• The Stonn Dancer: Captain Moreo Turnitis' fourth ship, and his fastest, a two-masted galley of sixty oars.
• Moat Cailin: Was the great stronghold of the First Men; Now a ruin, only three towers remain standing where there were twenty: The Gatehouse Tower, The Drunkard's Tower and The Children's Tower
• Norvos: One of the Free Cities
• Horn Hill: Seat of House Tarly
• Seagard: Seat of House Mallister
• The Wind Witch: Ship
• Karhold
• Mother of Mountains
• Greywater Watch
• Mole's Town: The town nearest to Castle Black, where the brother's go for whores.
• The Red Keep: Castle in the capital - Kings Landing
• Mountains of the Moon
• The Twins: Strong towers that guard a river crossing, held by the Freys
• The Whispering Wood: Woods near Riverrun
• Moat Cailin
• Great Sept of Baelor: Sept in King's Landing
• Bear Island: Bear Island is a large island in the Bay of Ice, north-west of Deepwood Motte and Winterfell. Bears live in the forests and give the island its name and the ruling house its heraldic symbol. Bear Island is the stronghold of House Mormont.
• Deepwood Motte: Deepwood Motte is a fortress in the North of Westeros. The Deepwood Motte was captured by the Ironborn during the war of Balon Greyjoy.
• Harrenhal: Harrenhal is a fortress located just north of God's Eye and south of the Trident. It changes hands a few times throughout the series, and was most recently held by the Lannisters. It is well-known for being haunted, and no house has held it for long.
• Maegor's Holdfast: The strongest place in the Red Keep, a castle within the castle, surrounded by a deep dry moat lined with spikes.
• Trident River: The longest river in Westeros it runs from the Neck to the Bay of Crabs, it has three forks: The Green Fork runs throught the Twins, the Blue Fork goes to the ruins of Oldstones, and the Blue Fork runs past Riverrun. There are few safe crossings of the Trident.
• Citadel of Oldtown: Where maester's are trained and chained
• The Neck
• Lannisport: Harbor near Casterly Rock
• The Red Fork: Runs past Riverrun
• The Haunted Forest
• The Bloody Gate
• The Fingers: A rocky outcropping North of the Vale of Arryn. They are rockiy and inhospitipal the poeple who liver there are poor. Littlefinger is from the fingers and that is how he got his name.
• The Kingsroad: The Main Road from Kings Landing to the Wall
• The Reach
• The Kingswood
• Dornish Marches

Organizations edit see section history

show spoilers

• House Stark: "Starks of Winterfell" - The Starks trace their descent from Brandon the Builder and the ancient Kings of Winter. For thousands of years, they ruled from Winterfell as Kings in the North, until Torrhen Stark, the King Who Knelt, chose to swear fealty to Aegon the Dragon rather than give battle. Their blazon is a grey direwolf on an ice-white field. The Stark words are "Winter Is Coming". The principal houses sworn to Winterfell are Karstark, Umber, Flint, Mormont, Hornwood, Cerwyn, Reed, Manderly, Glover, Tallhart, Bolton.
• House Tully: "Tullys of Riverrun" - The Tullys never reigned as kings, though they held rich lands and the great castle at Riverrun for a thousand years. During the Wars of Conquest, the riverlands belonged to Harren the Black, King of the Isles. Harren’s grandfather, King Harwyn Hardhand, had taken the Trident from Arrec the Storm King, whose ancestors had conquered all the way to the Neck three hundred years earlier, slaying the last of the old River Kings. A vain and bloody tyrant, Harren the Black was little loved by those he ruled, and many of the river lords deserted him to join Aegon’s host. First among them was Edmyn Tully of Riverrun. When Harren and his line perished in the burning of Harrenhal, Aegon rewarded House Tully by raising Lord Edmyn to dominion over the lands of the Trident and requiring the other river lords to swear him fealty. The Tully sigil is a leaping trout, silver, on a field of rippling blue and red. The Tully words are "Family, Duty, Honor". Lesser houses sworn to Riverrun include Darry, Frey, Mallister, Bracken, Blackwood, Whent, Ryger, Piper, Vance.
• House Baratheon: "Baratheons of Storm's End" - The youngest of the Great Houses, born during the Wars of Conquest. Its founder, Orys Baratheon, was rumored to be Aegon the Dragon’s bastard brother. Orys rose through the ranks to become one of Aegon’s fiercest commanders. When he defeated and slew Argilac the Arrogant, the last Storm King, Aegon rewarded him with Argilac’s castle, lands, and daughter. Orys took the girl to bride, and adopted the banner, honors, and words of her line. The Baratheon sigil is a crowned stag, black, on a golden field. Their words are "Ours is the Fury". The principal houses sworn to Storm’s End are Selmy, Wylde, Trant, Penrose, Errol, Estermont, Tarth, Swann, Dondarrion, Caron. The principal houses sworn to Dragonstone are Celtigar, Velaryon, Seaworth, Bar Emmon, and Sunglass.
• House Lannister: "Lannisters of Casterly Rock" - Fair-haired, tall, and handsome, the Lannisters are the blood of Andal adventurers who carved out a mighty kingdom in the western hills and valleys. Through the female line they boast of descent from Lann the Clever, the legendary trickster of the Age of Heroes. The gold of Casterly Rock and the Golden Tooth has made them the wealthiest of the Great Houses. Their sigil is a golden lion upon a crimson field. The Lannister words are "Hear Me Roar"! Principal houses sworn to Casterly Rock are Payne, Swyft, Marbrand, Lydden, Banefort, Lefford, Crakehall, Serrett, Broom, Clegane, Prester, and Westerling.
• House Targaryen: "The Old Dynasty HOUSE TARGARYEN" - The Targaryens are the blood of the dragon, descended from the high lords of the ancient Freehold of Valyria, their heritage proclaimed in a striking (some say inhuman) beauty, with lilac or indigo or violet eyes and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. Aegon the Dragon’s ancestors escaped the Doom of Valyria and the chaos and slaughter that followed to settle on Dragonstone, a rocky island in the narrow sea. It was from there that Aegon and his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys sailed to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. To preserve the blood royal and keep it pure, House Targaryen has often followed the Valyrian custom of wedding brother to sister. Aegon himself took both his sisters to wife, and fathered sons on each. The Targaryen banner is a three-headed dragon, red on black, the three heads representing Aegon and his sisters. The Targaryen words are "Fire and Blood".
• House Greyjoy: The Greyjoys of Pyke claim descent from the Grey King of the Age of Heroes. Legend says the Grey King ruled not only the western isles but the sea itself, and took a mermaid to wife. For thousands of years, raiders from the Iron Islands—called “ironmen” by those they plundered—were the terrors of the seas, sailing as far as the Port of Ibben and the Summer Isles. They prided themselves on their fierceness in battle and their sacred freedoms. Each island had its own “salt king” and “rock king.” The High King of the Isles was chosen from among their number, until King Urron made the throne hereditary by murdering the other kings when they assembled for a choosing. Urron’s own line was extinguished a thousand years later when the Andals swept over the islands. The Greyjoys, like other island lords, intermarried with the conquerers. The Iron Kings extended their rule far beyond the isles themselves, carving kingdoms out of the mainland with fire and sword. King Qhored could truthfully boast that his writ ran “wherever men can smell salt water or hear the crash of waves.” In later centuries, Qhored’s descendents lost the Arbor, Oldtown, Bear Island, and much of the western shore. Still, come the Wars of Conquest, King Harren the Black ruled all the lands between the mountains, from the Neck to the Blackwater Rush. When Harren and his sons perished in the fall of Harrenhal, Aegon Targaryen granted the riverlands to House Tully, and allowed the surviving lords of the Iron Islands to revive their ancient custom and chose who should have the primacy among them. They chose Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke. The Greyjoy sigil is a golden kraken upon a black field. Their words are "We Do Not Sow". Lesser houses sworn to Pyke include Harlaw, Stonehouse, Merlyn, Sunderly, Botley, Tawney, Wynch, Goodbrother.
• House Arryn: The Arryns are descended from the Kings of Mountain and Vale, one of the oldest and purest lines of Andal nobility. Their sigil is the moon-and-falcon, white, upon a sky blue field. The Arryn words are "As High As Honor". The principal houses sworn to the Eyrie are Royce, Baelish, Egen, Waynwood, Hunter, Redfort, Corbray, Belmore, Melcolm, and Hersy.
• The Night's Watch: “Night's Watch at The Wall” - Dedicated to defending the realms of Westeros; The Night's Watch guards the Wall. The Wall is also embued with mystical defenses which keep the Others from crossing into the realms of men so long as the Wall stands. However, at the time of the series' events the severely reduced numbers of the Night's Watch necessitate limited, irregular maintenance duty and complete ignorance of the Wall's magical qualities. Along (and perhaps in conjunction) with the Watch's ignorance of its greatest defense, the Brothers of the Watch seem to have forgotten that their greatest antagonists are the Others, leading them to focus on defense against unorganized bands of human wildlings inhabiting the lands beyond the Wall. For the vast majority of the Watch's recent history, it has served as a practical penal colony, filled with petty and violent criminals, political exiles, and vanquished nobility. Although their numbers are dwindling and the title of Brother of the Night's Watch no longer holds the honor and prestige it once did, the core of the Watch remains composed of capable and dedicated men. These men now serve the Watch and the Realm of Men by helping ensure that the barbarian human settlers of the areas north of the Wall, known as wildlings, are not allowed to raid south of the Wall, with their ancient task all but forgotten by time and mostly replaced by practical, modern concerns.
• Kingsguard: The finest swords in all the realm. There are only seven of them at a time, and they wear white armor and have no wives or children, but live only to serve the king.
• House Mormont: "Mormonts of Bear Island"
• House Tyrell: The Tyrells rose to power as stewards to the Kings of the Reach, whose domain included the fertile plains of the southwest from the Dornish marches and Blackwater Rush to the shores of the Sunset Sea. Through the female line, they claim descent from Garth Greenhand, gardener king of the First Men, who wore a crown of vines and flowers and made the land bloom. When King Mern, last of the old line, perished on the Field of Fire, his steward Harlen Tyrell surrendered Highgarden to Aegon Targaryen, pledging fealty. Aegon granted him the castle and dominion over the Reach. The Tyrell sigil is a golden rose on a grass-green field. Their words are "Growing Strong". Principal houses sworn to Highgarden are Vyrwel, Florent, Oakheart, Hightower, Crane, Tarly, Redwyne, Rowan, Fossoway, and Mullendore.
• House Martell: Nymeria, the warrior queen of the Rhoyne, brought her ten thousand ships to land in Dorne, the southernmost of the Seven Kingdoms, and took Lord Mors Martell to husband. With her help, he vanquished his rivals to rule all Dorne. The Rhoynar influence remains strong. Thus Dornish rulers style themselves “Prince” rather than “King.” Under Dornish law, lands and titles pass to the eldest child, not the eldest male. Dorne, alone of the Seven Kingdoms, was never conquered by Aegon the Dragon. It was not permanently joined to the realm until two hundred years later, and then by marriage and treaty, not the sword. Peaceable King Daeron II succeeded where the warriors had failed by wedding the Dornish princess Myriah and giving his own sister in marriage to the reigning Prince of Dorne. The Martell banner is a red sun pierced by a golden spear. Their words are "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken". The principal houses sworn to Sunspear include Jordayne, Santagar, Allyrion, Toland, Yronwood, Wyl, Fowler, and Dayne.
• Faceless Men of Braavos: Assassins
• Stone Crows: Clansmen from the Mountains of the Moon
• Moon Brothers: Clansmen from the Mountains of the Moon
• Burned Men: Clansmen from the Mountains of the Moon
• Black Ears: Clansmen from the Mountains of the Moon
• Silent Sisters: Add a description of this organization.
• City Watch: "The Gold Cloaks"
• Wildlings: Barbarian human settlers of the areas north of the Wall
• The Sorrowful Men: A guild of Qartheen assassins
• Dosh Khaleen: Khaleesi widows; A group of withered crones
• The Lamb Men
• The Children of the Forest: The original inhabitants of Westeros, they are small like children and live in the forests they are believed to all be dead.
• The Others: monsters that live north of the wall

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Arakh: A long, razor-sharp blade, half sword and half scythe.
• Archon: A ruler.
• Aurochs: A large, recently extinct European bison (Bos primigenius), having a smaller and higher head than the North American bison. The ancestor of domestic cattle.
• Barbican: The outer defense of a city or castle, especially a double tower above a gate or drawbridge.
• Bloodrider: More than a guard; they were the khal’s brothers, his shadows, his fiercest friends. “Blood of my blood” Drogo called them, and so it was; they shared a single life. The ancient traditions of the horselords demanded that when the khal died, his bloodriders died with him, to ride at his side in the night lands. If the khal died at the hands of some enemy, they lived only long enough to avenge him, and then followed him joyfully into the grave. In some khalasars, the bloodriders shared the khal’s wine, his tent, and even his wives, though never his horses. A man’s mount was his own.
• Castellan: The governor of a castle.
• Crannog: A partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuaries, often used as dwellings.
• Destrier: A knight's warhorse.
• Direwolf: A close relative of the wolf, but larger and stronger. A grey direwolf in a white field is the banner of House Stark.
• Dosh Khaleen: A group of crones in Vaes Dothrak, widows of the deceased Khals.
• Grumkins: Fictitious monsters that little children hear about in nursery stories, the kind spoken of in the same breath as ghosts, goblins, vampires, the bogeyman, etc.
• Garron: A small, sturdy workhorse; also, an unwelcome or untimely request, the act of asking for a favour.
• Godswood: A grove of trees sacred to the old gods; a term invented by Martin, but basedon tree worshipping practces described by anthroplogists on Earth. Godswoods often have dendroglyphs , images of human like figures carved into the living wood of the trees as was practiced by the Moriori people of New Zealand.
• Holdfast: A stronghold or castle; a term invented by Martin.
• Khal: A Dothraki warlord, commanding a tribe of tens of thousands of warriors and non-combatants.
• Khaleesi: The wife of the khal.
• Khalasar: A tribe of Dothraki horse riders that can count tens of thousands of men.
• Maester: The maesters are an order of scholars, healers, postmen, and scientists who are trained at a school called the Citadel.
• Hummock: A hillock, knoll, or mound.
• Sigil: A seal, sign or symbol.
• Sept: A church or temple; the term is not used in this sense outside of Martin's works. Likely derived from the Latin septem ("seven"), referring to the seven gods and seven kingdoms.
• Septon: A priest; the term is not used in this sense outside of Martin's works. Likely derived from the Latin septem ("seven"), referring to the seven gods and seven kingdoms.
• Septa: A priestess; the term is not used in this sense outside of Martin's works. Likely derived from the Latin septem ("seven"), referring to the seven gods and seven kingdoms.
• Humus: The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.
• Hobble: To tie or strap together the legs of a horse or other animal to prevent it from straying.
• Torc: A neck ornament consisting of a band of twisted metal.
• Midden: A dunghill or refuse heap.
• Manse: A large stately house; a mansion.
• Tabard: A sleeveless jerkin consisting only of front and back pieces, with a hole for the head
• Porticullis: A latticed grille or gate made of wood, metal or a combination of the two, often fortifying the entrances to medieval castles.
• Postern: A back or side entrance.
• Motley: The particolored costume of a jester.
• Whicker: A snigger; a soft, breathy whinny.
• Wight: A Middle English term meaning any sentient being or person. Since Tolkien, the term has been widely used to mean an eerie or supernatural being.
• Weirwood: A type of tree with white branches and trunk, and red, hand-shaped leaves, often carved with a face. The word weir means protection or guard.
• Warren: A network of interconnecting rabbit burrows; often used colloquially to mean a densely populated building or district.
• Nitre: Potassium nitrate, used especially as a fertilizer and explosive.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

show spoilers

• Stag and Direwolf Interaction: Symbolic animal references.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by A Clash of Kings.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. George R. R. Martin (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Boštjan Gorenc (Translator)
2. Stephen Youll (Cover Artist) - Bantam, 1996
3. Jeff Jones (Illustrator) - Meisha Merlin, 2000
4. Larry Rostant (Cover Artist)
5. Roy Dotrice (Narrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Locus Fantasy Award (1997: Best Fantasy Novel, Winner)
• World Fantasy Award (Finalist, 1997: Best Novel)
• British Fantasy Award (Finalist, 1997: Best Novel)
• Hugo Award (Finalist, 1997: Best Novel)
• Nebula (Finalist, 1997: Best Novel)
• Ignotus Award (2003: Best Foreign Novel)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3563.A7239 G36 1996
• Dewey: 813.54 20

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Language (not recommended for young readers)

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Authors, A-Z › ( M ) › Martin, George R.R.
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Series
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Epic
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Dark

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Amazon
• Audible
• Author's Website
• Wikipedia Page of Series

Movie Connections edit see section history

• Game of Thrones (IMDb): TV Adaptation of the Song of Ice and Fire Books

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history