Minor houses in A Song of Ice and Fire
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Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. This page serves as a list of those characters that are members of minor Houses. For characters who play important roles in the series, see Characters from A Song of Ice and Fire. See List of characters in A Song of Ice and Fire for a comprehensive list.
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[edit] House Clegane
House Clegane is sworn to House Lannister. The first Ser Clegane was kennelmaster at Casterly Rock until he saved Lord Tytos Lannister from a lion and lost a leg in the effort. As a reward, Lord Tytos gave him lands and a towerhouse and took his son as his squire. Their sigil is three dogs on a yellow field; the three dogs represent the dogs that saved Lord Tytos.
[edit] Gregor Clegane
Ser Gregor Clegane, head of House Clegane and Sandor Clegane's older brother, is a retainer to House Lannister. Gregor is a freakishly large man, over seven and a half feet tall, and possesses enormous strength. For this he is often called "The Mountain That Rides" or simply "The Mountain". Ser Gregor is so large and powerful that he is able to wear the heaviest plate armor into battle, making him almost invincible. It is said that no other man in the Seven Kingdoms would be strong enough to walk (let alone fight effectively) in such heavy armor. Further, he carries an unusually large greatsword in battle. Because it is so long, Gregor has the advantage of an extremely long reach. Given his awe-inspiring strength, Gregor can wield this sword with just one hand/arm, making him unimaginably dangerous. Gregor's helm is said to be somewhat round and cylindrical in shape with a flat top, upon which sits a stone fist, as if punching up toward the sky. Ser Gregor is well known for his size, cruelty, brutality, and absolute dominance on the battlefield (Tywin Lannister says that Gregor is "huge and terrible in battle", which is a chilling description coming from a man as ruthless and implacable as Tywin). Gregor is known to torture nearly all of his prisoners (regardless of their gender) simply for his own amusement. His own men usually express great fear of him, because of his mercurial nature; they are wholly unable to predict his violent, dark moods and impulses. For instance, Gregor once killed one of his own men just for snoring too loudly. His powerful voice can be heard all over the battlefield (making him an effective commander) and is said to sound like breaking rocks.
Gregor's history is dark and filled with blood. He is responsible for Sandor's facial scars. Specifically, at a young age, he held his six year old brother's face to a hot brazier as punishment for taking a discarded toy of his. There were rumors that Gregor killed his father, sisters, and his first two wives. He has committed numerous rapes and murders, but his most infamous deed came in his service to House Lannister during Robert's Rebellion. He was one of the first Lannister soldiers to enter King's Landing during its sack at the end of Robert Baratheon's rebellion. He killed the infant Aegon (son of Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen) by, reportedly, dashing his head against the wall; then, he violently raped and killed Rhaegar's wife Elia of Dorne, supposedly with the boy's blood and brains still on his hands.
During the War of the Five Kings, Ser Gregor led raiding parties in the Riverlands as a bannerman for Tywin Lannister. His band caused enormous destruction by burning, raping, torturing, and killing entire villages with impunity. For a time he unknowingly held Arya Stark as a captive, and because she is a POV character in the series, the reader is able to witness several of Ser Gregor's atrocities with some intimacy.
When Tyrion Lannister demanded trial by combat to prove his innocence in the murder of Joffrey Baratheon, Gregor championed Cersei (Tyrion's accuser). Elia's brother Oberyn Martell, seeing a chance to fulfill his family's long-held wish of vengeance against her defilers, championed Tyrion in opposition. Gregor fought with his very heavy armor and wielded a his enormous greatsword in one hand, but Oberyn outfought him with light armor, speed, and a poisoned spear. At the end of the fight, Oberyn had actually pinned Gregor to the ground by impaling him through the chest with the poisoner spear. However, instead of simply finishing the killing quickly, Oberyn insisted on getting a confession from Gregor, in front of the crowds of King's Landing who had assembled to witness the violent trial. Again and again Oberyn demanded that Gregor admit that he had raped and killed Elia. During this display, Oberyn was careless enough to stand above Gregor and place his foot on Gregor's chest. This was a poor decision, given Gregor's enormous strength. Even when poisoned and pinned to the ground, Gregor managed to grab hold of Oberyn's leg and pull him close with a one-armed bear hug that broke several of Oberyn's ribs. Gregor then, loudly, boasted that he did indeed rape Elia. He also demonstrated, on Oberyn, the manner in which he killed her. First, by gouging out her eyes and smashing out her teeth with mailed fingers, then killing her by smashing her skull with a mailed fist. The final demonstration shattered Oberyn's skull and killed him.
Despite Gregor's victory, Oberyn's poison resulted in a long, agonizing death by mortification. Insensible and dying, he was brought to the medical experiment dungeons below King's Landing by Qyburn and has not been seen since. Qyburn told Cersei that the poison was Manticore venom which had been thickened with sorcery so that it would stretch out his agony instead of killing instantly. An enormous skull said to be Gregor's was sent to Dorne as recompense for the deaths of Elia, Aegon, and Oberyn. However, the story makes mention of Qyburn's engineering an unbeatable "champion" for Cersei, and Qyburn orders a breastplate too large for any man known to live in Westeros. This has generated speculation as to whether the Seven Kingdoms have seen the last of Gregor Clegane.
[edit] Sandor Clegane
Sandor Clegane is the younger brother of Gregor Clegane and a retainer to House Lannister. He is nicknamed "The Hound," in part because his family arms feature three dogs, and in part for his savage nature in battle and unquestioning obedience to his masters. For much of the series he wore a distinctive helm in the shape of a snarling dog's head. He is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in Westeros, though his frequent drunkenness has been known to compromise his skill. As a child, Sandor received gruesome facial burns when his older brother Gregor shoved his face into a brazier for playing with one of Gregor's toys without permission. Since that time, he has had a crippling fear of fire, and an unremitting hatred for his brother. Over the years, Gregor's brutality has worsened, and despite this (or because of it) he was knighted. This paradoxical turn of event leaves Sandor feeling much resentment and contempt for the (hypocrisy of) knighthood and knights of Westeros.
Sandor acted for a time as bodyguard and servant of Joffrey Baratheon, who regularly called him "Dog". He won the Hand's Tourney after saving Loras Tyrell from Gregor's wrath. While drunk off his winnings, Sandor became enamored with Sansa Stark, but also mocked her for her polished manners, calling her a "little bird" who chirps on command. Sandor was eventually named to the Kingsguard, despite refusing to become a knight, and in this capacity he was often assigned to watch over Sansa. Despite his loyalty to Joffrey, he frequently and strategically (and surreptitiously) defended her from Joffrey's physically abusive efforts at shaming her. Despite all, he fought heroically during the Battle of the Blackwater, however as the Wildfire's burning intensified, his fear of flames was provoked to the point that he would no longer fight. Rather, he returned to the castle and refused to reengage in battle. This refusal led to him being excoriated by Tyrion (among several others). Thus he deserted the castle, the battle, and his duties as a member of the Kingsguard. However, before fleeing, he became very drunk and sought out Sansa Stark. The way their encounter was written, it seemed as if he might advance on her violently, however it became quite clear that he did not intend to harm her in any way. Rather, he offered to take her along with him. In her panic, Sansa refused, but recognized with shock and pity how afraid the man had been in battle. Sandor asked her to sing him a song, which she did, and which brought him to tears.
As a vagabond, he was arrested by the Brotherhood without Banners, which also had Arya Stark in its custody. The Brotherhood put Sandor on trial for Lannister atrocities - Arya in particular hated Sandor with a passion because he had once killed a friend of hers (Mycah, the butcher's boy). He chose trial by combat, facing the Brotherhood's leader Beric Dondarrion. Beric fought with a flaming sword, perhaps to trick his opponent, but Sandor managed to defeat him despite his fear of the blade's fire. The Brotherhood stripped him of almost all his possessions, but set him free nonetheless. Sandor returned to the Brotherhood to get his tourney winnings back, but kidnapped Arya Stark instead, with the intention of ransoming her off to one of her relatives. He took her to meet her brother Robb Stark at the Twins, but arrived during the Red Wedding massacre. Sandor stole Arya off again in the hopes of ransoming her off to another family member (possibly her lady aunt, Lysa). At a roadside inn, however, they ran afoul of three of Gregor's men (Gregor Clegane himself was not present) and Sandor was seriously injured in the ensuing fight, mainly because he was very drunk and off balance. After his wounds became infected he was no longer able to confine Arya. Still hating him for killing her friend, Arya abandoned him, refusing even to grant his request for the mercy of a quick death.
Sandor's fate becomes uncertain after this point. The head of a nearby monastery claimed to have buried the "Hound" after encountering him dying in the woods. He also stabled Sandor's warhorse, Stranger, at the monastery. However, there are hints in the passages that suggest that Sandor may still be alive, and has joined the monastery. Meanwhile, a deserter from the Brave Companions, Rorge, recovered Sandor's helm from his apparent gravesite (the monk who buried him lamented the fact that he left the Hound's helm as the grave marker) and assumed his identity during a brutal spree of banditry. Rorge was later killed by Brienne of Tarth and the helm was then taken by Lem Lemoncloak, a member of the Brotherhood without Banners. However, because Rorge had engaged in such violent acts of murder and other depravity while donning the Hound's helm, widespread speculation began throughout Westeros, suggesting that the Hound was riding along the Riverlands perpetuating these crimes, while he was actually with Arya. Thus, much of the realm has come to think of Sandor as being similar to his brother.
[edit] House Dayne
A sworn house to House Martell whose loyalty to House Targaryen during the War of the Usurper led to the death of many of its famed members. Their seat is the stronghold of Starfall. They are famed for possessing the greatsword Dawn, said to be forged from the heart of a falling star. Its wielder is titled the "Sword of the Morning", but the honor is not passed on by heredity (no new Sword of the Morning has been named since the death of the last during Robert's Rebellion). Their sigil is a sword and a falling star on a lavender background. A branch of House Dayne are the Daynes of High Hermitage.
[edit] Allyria Dayne
Once betrothed to Beric Dondarrion. Aunt to Edric Dayne.
[edit] Arthur Dayne
Known as "The Sword of the Morning", a truly legendary member of the Kingsguard and wielder of Dawn, the famous sword of house Dayne. In Westeros, Valyrian steel swords are typically the most prized and are passed down from one generation to the next. However, Dawn may be among the very most well recognized and highly esteemed swords in the realm, despite not being made of Valyrian steel. Rather, Dawn was forged from the contents of a falling star. Dawn's blade is said to be exceptionally sharp and strong (even when compared to Valyrian steel). Unlike the smoky darkness found in Valyrian blades, Dawn glows an almost milky white (hence its name). As arguably the realm's greatest knight and swordsman, Dayne led the campaign that destroyed the Kingswood Brotherhood, and killed the Smiling Knight.
Dayne was killed fighting Eddard Stark and his companions, most notably Howland Reed at the Tower of Joy, but the exact circumstances are unclear. The events surrounding his death are only detailed to some vague degree in a dream that Ned experiences in A Game of Thrones. In the dream, Ned remembers his journey to the Tower of Joy with Reed to retrieve his sister, Lyanna. Lyanna was taken there (whether forcibly or willingly the reader does not yet know) by Rhaegar Targaryan. In order to access Lyanna in the tower, Ned needed to pass through the knights of the Kingsguard, whom Rhaegar had brought with him for protection. Dayne's prowess in battle should not be underestimated by the reader - his skill and the legend of his sword are mentioned throughout the series with a sense of reverence and respect saved for only the greatest of Westerosi warriors (perhaps only Barristan Selmy receives such high praise). Therefore, how he was defeated by Ned and his men is a very significant mystery of the series, as yet uncovered. This particular event seemed to bring Ned and Reed closer than ever as friends, and lends much intrigue to the nature of Reed's character, who has yet to appear in the story. During Ned's dream, before the battle at the Tower of Joy begins, Dayne demonstrates restrained (but clear) confidence and pride in his own abilities, as well as a notable sense of duty and loyalty to Rhaegar. Indeed, he was one of Prince Rhaegar's closest friends.
Dayne is often referred to as a brand of bygone, extinct knight not only with unsurpassed skill, but also with a sense of chivalry and dedication to the crown he swore to protect. Jaime Lannister reflects that this appears to be missing in "present day" Westeros, as the most skilled knights are commonnly without honor (e.g., Gregor Clegane).
Aside from Ned's dream, the only occasion for the reader to become acquainted with Dayne is in POV character's reflections on the history of Westeros. For example, Jaime Lannister has considered the legend of Dayne, and makes indirect reference to his tremendous skill in battle. In the "modern" times in which Jaime is a member of the Kingsguard (before the loss of his hand), he was generally considered one of the Realm's best swordsman. Jaime, however, suggests that he does not think that even at his best did he possess the skills of The Sword in the Morning.
[edit] Ashara Dayne
Sister of Ser Arthur, possessing great beauty and purple eyes. Suggested to be the lover of Eddard Stark and mother of Jon Snow. While the latter is a dubious proposition, the former connection was lent some credibility by the children of Howland Reed, one of Eddard's staunchest bannermen and closest friends during the War of the Usurper. It is said she committed suicide at the conclusion of Robert Baratheon's rebellion by leaping from the Palestone Sword, a tower of Starfall. The reason for this act is a matter of speculation.
[edit] Edric Dayne
Lord of Starfall and Head of House Dayne. Squire to Beric Dondarrion. He has dark blue, almost purple eyes and pale blond hair, indicating a heritage similar to that of the Targaryens (the only other family to have purple eyes and extremely pale hair).
[edit] Gerold Dayne
Called Darkstar, he is the Knight of High Hermitage and an infamous fighter. He has the purple eyes of the Dayne family. Gerold was a member of Arianne Martell's plot to place Myrcella Baratheon on the Iron Throne; when the plot was foiled by Prince Doran Martell, Gerold attempted to kill Myrcella before escaping, scarring her face in the process. Has shown jealousy towards his cousin Arthur Dayne, annoyed that he is the only Dayne that is remembered.
[edit] House Florent
A house sworn to House Tyrell, but also known to chafe at their fealty owed to them. The Florents, like the Tyrells, claim descent from extinct House Gardener, the royal line of the defunct Kings of the Reach. The Florents believe that they have a superior line of descent, and by rights should possess Highgarden. The Florent seat is Brightwater Keep. Their sigil is a fox surrounded by flowers. Following Lord Tywin's victory at the Battle of the Blackwater, Tywin dispossessed the Florents of their holdings and awarded them to House Tyrell as a reward for loyal service.
[edit] Alester Florent
Lord of the House. Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon. Lord Alester attempted to send a peace offer to Lord Tywin following the defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater. For this perceived traitorous act, he was sent to the dungeons of Dragonstone and was subsequently burned. He was the grandfather of Samwell Tarly and the uncle of Selyse Florent. His daughters Melessa and Rhea are the Ladies of Horn Hill and the Hightower respectively.
[edit] Selyse Florent
Wife to King Stannis. She is a severe-looking woman - tall and thin with big ears, a pointed nose, and the hint of a mustache on her upper lip. She had pale eyes. A follower of Melisandre, she adopted the faith of R'hllor. She was instrumental in convincing Stannis to seize Edric Storm. Later, she nearly succeeded in convincing him to sacrifice the boy for her faith.
[edit] Alekyne Florent
Lord Alester's son, and heir to Brightwater Keep. Upon the dispossession of his family, he sought refuge with his sister Rhea and her husband in Oldtown. His sisters are Melessa and Rhea. Selyse is his cousin.
[edit] Melessa Florent
Wife to Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill, and mother of Samwell and Dickon Tarly; Melessa is the daughter of Alester, and sister of Rhea and Alekyne. Selyse is her cousin.
[edit] Rhea Florent
Wife to Lord Leyton Hightower of Oldtown. Rhea is the daughter of Alester, and sister of Melessa and Alekyne. Selyse is her cousin.
[edit] House Mormont
House Mormont is sworn to House Stark. It was noted that unlike many houses, the women also served as warriors. Their seat is located on Bear Island. Their sigil is a bear standing upright in front of trees, on a field of green.
[edit] Dacey Mormont
Eldest daughter to Maege, and Heir to the House as no living males are able to inherit the title. Warrior and companion to Robb Stark, she was killed at the Red Wedding.
[edit] Jeor Mormont
- For more, see Jeor Mormont.
Known as "The Old Bear", Jeor gave up his lands to serve as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Brother of Lady Maege Mormont and father to Ser Jorah Mormont.
[edit] Jorah Mormont
Ser Jorah Mormont, an exiled knight, was one of the most trusted companions of Daenerys Targaryen, a young contender for the Iron Throne. Middle-aged but still strong and fit, Ser Jorah is a capable warrior. Mormont fled Westeros to escape execution for trading in slaves, and entered the service of the last Targaryens, Viserys and Daenerys.
Jorah's first wife miscarried three times and died after the third. He fought in Greyjoy's rebellion and received a knighthood for his bravery. After a tournament held in Lannisport to celebrate the victory, he met Lynesse Hightower and was immediately smitten with her, asking to wear her favor in the tournament. He won an improbable victory and named her queen of love and beauty. That night, he asked Lord Leyton for her hand, and he acquiesced. They were happy until they arrived at Bear Island, a land of trees and raw nature very different from Oldtown. Jorah spent large sums of money trying to keep her happy, bankrupting himself and finally breaking the law by selling slaves meant for service at the Wall. He fled to Lys with her, but she soon left him to become a treasured member of a harem of the local royalty. Thereafter he wandered the Free Cities for five years.
At this point, his fortunes changed. Viserys Targaryen noticed Ser Jorah at the party celebrating the engagement of his sister, Daenerys, to Khal Drogo and took him into his service. Jorah, hoping for a royal pardon, became a spy for the Iron Throne, reporting all of the Targaryens' movements to Varys, King Robert's spymaster; however, he fell in love with Daenerys and eventually ceased his reports. He proclaimed his love repeatedly and suggested they marry, claiming she would never find a man more loyal than he, but Dany, who saw him as more of a father figure, always refused. Jorah's earlier betrayal was then revealed by Barristan the Bold, and Daenerys sent both on a dangerous mission to prove their loyalty after past deceits, half hoping they would perish. Both survived. Selmy was contrite and humble, and was pardoned. Though Mormont's betrayals were more significant, he was bitter and proud, still seeing Daenerys as a young girl rather than as his queen. He was therefore not forgiven, and was banished from her service, to be killed if she saw him again. He has not been seen since.
[edit] Maege Mormont
Younger sister to Jeor. After Jorah's exile to the east, she became Lady of the House. A warrior and bannerwoman to King Robb Stark, she participated in the Battle of the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps. She was sent North by Robb just before the Red Wedding.
[edit] House Redwyne
House Redwyne is sworn to House Tyrell. Their seat is the Arbor. Wines of the Arbor are famed throughout Westeros; as a result their sigil is the grape on a purple field. They provide a significant portion of the Tyrells' fleet. Redwyne is a powerful house with strong ties to the Tyrells. Lady Olenna is the mother of the current Lord Tyrell, while Lord Mace's sister is married to Lord Paxter Redwyne.
[edit] Paxter Redwyne
Lord of the Arbor, and member of the Small Council. During the War of the Usurper, Paxter kept his loyalty to House Targaryen, besieging Storm's End for nearly a year. After the death of King Aerys II, he surrendered his forces to troops loyal to King Robert. His wife is Mina Tyrell, sister of Lord Mace Tyrell, and daughter of the Queen of Thorns, Olenna Redwyne.
[edit] Horas and Hobber Redwyne
Sons of Lord Paxter Redwyne by his wife Mina Tyrell, they are nicknamed "Horror" and "Slobber" and are grossly overweight.
They were held hostage at King's Landing by Cersei Lannister in order to prevent House Redwyne form joining forces with Renly Baratheon. They were released after Mace Tyrell swore allegiance to Joffrey Baratheon.
[edit] Olenna Tyrell
Born Olenna Redwyne, she married Lord Luthor Tyrell, the late lord of Highgarden. Called the "Queen of Thorns," she was the mother of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden as well as two daughters, Janna and Mina, married to Lord Paxter Redwyne. She convinced Sansa Stark to confide in her about King Joffrey's vicious nature. Afterwards, to protect her granddaughter, she conspired with Petyr Baelish to poison King Joffrey.
See: Olenna Redwyne of House Tyrell
[edit] House Reed
A House sworn to House Stark. Their seat is at Greywater Watch. Their sigil is a lizard-lion on a dark green field.
[edit] Howland Reed
Howland Reed is the Lord of Greywater Watch and holds dominion over the crannogmen of the Neck. He is one of Eddard Stark's closest friends.
Virtually all that is known about Howland Reed comes from Eddard Stark's poppy-induced dream in A Game of Thrones and Meera's veiled story to Bran in A Storm of Swords. Meera's story involves a crannogman that she does not call by name. Therefore it is not possible to affirm that the story is about Howland. However, Meera and Jojen's familiarity with the main character (and events that would be known only to him), their surprise that Bran had never heard the story (given that the main character may have been very close friends with Bran's father), and the character's being a contemporary of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon, all point to the main character being their father, Howland Reed. Therefore, any "facts" about his life or character are questionable and require further confirmation and elaboration. From Meera's story, it is likely that Howland is short (as most crannogmen are), strong, and courageous. Bran asked if "the crannogman" had the greensight, and Jojen quickly answered that he did not.
Meera states that one day "the crannogman" wanted to travel to the Isle of Faces (where few have ever ventured) to meet with the Children of the Forest. Thus, being courageous, he set out in his canoe and rowed down the Greenfork River to the Trident. There, he pulled his boat from the river and walked to the God's Eye Lake, and rowed to the Isle of Faces, at its center. "The crannogman" likely spent an undefined amount of time on the isle (it is said that he stayed for the duration of a winter, which in Westeros could have been years), though his activities there were not described (Meera said "that is a story for another day"). After rowing from the isle back to the shore of the God's Eye, "the crannogman" came upon the largest castle in the realm of Westeros: Harrenhall, where there was a large tournament attended by many lords and knights from the Seven Kingdoms.
There, "the crannogman" first met the individuals who were clearly the Starks (they were all referred to as "wolves" of different types) during the tournament at Harrenhall, when he was beset by rowdy squires and protected by the She-Wolf (clearly Lyanna Stark, Lord Eddard's sister). A mystery challenger, small in stature and wearing mismatched armor, dubbed "The Knight of the Laughing Tree" (so named for the sigil on his shield, which was a Weirwood Tree with a smiling face carved into it), later entered the joust to defend "the crannogman's" honor, though the knight's true identity remains unknown (during Meera's telling of the story, Bran is convinced that the mysterious knight is "the crannogman" himself). After kneeling on the shores of the God's Eye, facing toward the Isle of Faces and praying to the old gods, the mystery knight then challenged three specific knights to jousts. He only selected those whose squires had treated him so violently the day before. He unhorsed each of them (one was a Frey from the Twins) but he did not seek a ransom for their horses and armor. Rather, he stated that teaching their squires honor was ransom enough. Given these events, this knight was a favorite of the spectators. "The Storm Lord" (almost certainly Robert Baratheon) insisted that he would unmask the mystery knight the following day. The King (most likely the mad King Aerys) insisted on knowing the identity of the knight. However, on the following day, when the mystery knight was to be rewarded for his skill (and when his identity would have been demanded), the mystery knight was gone. The only sign of him was his shield, which was left hanging in a tree. This is how Meera's story ended.
It is known for certain that Howland fought alongside Eddard during the Usurper's Rebellion, and accompanied Eddard's group to the Tower of Joy to reclaim Eddard's abducted sister Lyanna. There they found three members of the Kingsguard (including "The Bull" Hightower and Arthur Dayne) waiting for them, guarding Lyanna. Only Howland Reed and Eddard survived. Eddard later claimed that Howland Reed had saved his life from Ser Arthur Dayne that day (Dayne was the most famous knight of the Kingsguard and one of the most legendary warriors in the history of Westeros). With Eddard's death, Howland is the only remaining person known to have witnessed the mysterious events that took place in the tower that day.
At the onset of the War of the Five Kings, Lord Howland sent his teenaged children, Jojen and Meera, to pledge the Reeds to Robb Stark as King of the North. His crannogmen have defended the Neck against invaders, from Lannisters to Freys to Ironmen. His children now guard Bran, the Stark heir.
[edit] Jojen Reed
Howland Reed's younger child, Jojen is barely an adolescent when he arrives at Winterfell, but his gravity and mature personality make him seem older. Indeed, Old Nan's nickname for him is "Little Grandfather". He has unusually deep green eyes and wears green clothing.
Jojen has greensight, the power of prophetic dreams. Jojen knows a great number of arcane things that he gleans from his dreams, including the day of his death. He arrived at Winterfell along with his sister Meera to pledge the Reeds' support to Winterfell and Robb after Eddard's death. In the midst of the War of the Five Kings, this pledge at first was believed to be meaningless, as Robb and House Stark appeared to need help in the form of soldiers. However it soon becomes apparent that Jojen and Meera were sent in order to help House Stark through Bran, not Robb. Thus the story suggests that House Stark is fighting on two fronts, and Jojen and Bran's mission is not fully revealed.
When Jojen is introduced into the story, his powers of prophesy appear to stand out as particularly strong, especially to Bran. However Jojen surprises Bran by saying that Bran's powers (such as prophesy, warging, etc) are far stronger than his own. The only reason Bran is not able to utilize this vast power, Jojen suggests, is because he has never exercised the discipline to harness it. Therefore, Jojen creates a number of activities for Bran to develop his powers. For example, Jojen suggests that Bran slip into Summer's mind and not submit to the wolf's desires like exploring the woods and hunting, but rather that he maintain human control of the animal and use its body to do things such as pile stones or mark trees in certain, effortful ways. Bran resists this, but Jojen continues to encourage him.
When Bran tells Jojen of his own green dream (i.e., of his conversation with the "Three Eyed Crow" while he was in a coma after his fall in A Game of Thrones), Jojen takes an immediate and deep interest in this information. In fact, he seems to recognize something of vast (and yet undisclosed) importance in Bran. Jojen thus pushes Bran, with much urgency, to travel north of the Wall to find The Three Eyed Crow.
While Theon sacked Winterfell, Jojen, Meera, Bran, Hodor, Rickon, and Osha hid in the castle's tombs. After the violence had ended, the group split, and Osha went her own way with Rickon and Shaggydog, whereas Jojen, Meera, Bran, Hodor, and Summer fled north. At the very end of A Storm of Swords, they pass through a secret gate under the Wall (with Sawell Tarly's help), in search of The Three Eyed Crow and a mysterious entity known as Coldhands. No more is currently known about Jojen, as A Feast for Crows contained no Bran POV chapters.
[edit] Meera Reed
Howland Reed's daughter and oldest child. She is short and slim with long brown hair and green eyes. She is a skilled huntress, particularly in her use of a small net and a small trident/frog spear.
Meera and Jojen met Bran Stark at the harvest feast at Winterfell. She accompanied Bran and Jojen when they fled Winterfell after the castle was seized by Theon Greyjoy.
Although Meera is older than Jojen, she is often seen deferring to her younger brother's wisdom and insight. She shows a sense of reverence for his green dreams.
Whereas Jojen is stern and serious, Meera is more cheerful and warm in personality. In some ways, she evidences maternalistic instincts in her interactions with Bran. In A Storm of Swords, Meera seems to be a wealth of mysterious stories (e.g., the story of "The Knight of the Laughing Tree"), which she related to Bran. Her stories, however, rarely offer the listener (or reader) a straightforward account of events. For instance, instead of using names, she refers to persons in her stories with what appear to be code names, such as "The Young Wolf" or "The She-Wolf". Cross referencing these names with other accounts of historical events in the series (particularly those related to the Stark family), suggests that Meera refers to Eddard and his siblings; however, this is never confirmed by Meera or Jojen. Overall, the stories seem to convey that her father and Eddard Stark forged a close relationship many years ago, and that this relationship has much to do with Meera and Jojen's arrival to help Bran. As the series current stands, the Reed children possess knowledge that they have yet to share in full - both about the history of their father and their family, as well as the purpose for the mission with Bran.
[edit] House Royce
House Royce are bannermen to House Arryn. Their seat is located at Runestone. Their sigil is a shower of pebbles on an orange field. There are two branches of House Royce:
[edit] Royce of Runestone
[edit] Bronze Yohn
Renowned warrior and Lord of the House. He has a lined face, grey hair, and slate-grey eyes set beneath bushy eyebrows. Lord Yohn Royce is a close friend to his kinsman Eddard Stark, having dwelt in Winterfell for a time when his youngest son Ser Waymar Royce travelled north to take up the black of the Night's Watch. Bronze Yohn was a member of the Lords Declarant, a group of Lords that had misgivings about the legitimacy of Petyr Baelish as Lord Protector of the Vale following Lysa Tully's death.
[edit] Robar
A younger son of Yohn Royce. Knight and member of the Rainbow Guard under King Renly, known as "Robar the Red". Slain by Loras Tyrell in his grief and madness.
[edit] Waymar
A younger son of Yohn Royce. Novice ranger of the Night's Watch. Died at the hands of an Other when ranging for the Night's Watch and became a Wight.
[edit] Royce of the Gates of the Moon
[edit] Nestor
Far cousin to Lord Yohn Royce, he belongs to the minor branch of the house. He was caretaker of the Gates of the Moon, an Arryn castle that is as famous as The Eyrie. In order to secure his loyalty, Lord Protector Petyr Baelish granted him ownership of the Gates after the War of the Five Kings. After becoming owner of the Gates of the Moon, Nestor designed a new banner for his branch of the family, consisting of a gate on an orange background. He has a son, his heir Ser Albar Royce, and a daughter, Myranda.
[edit] Albar
The heir of Lord Nestor.
[edit] Myranda
The only daughter of Lord Nestor, Myranda is a lively and vivacious young widow, who is said to be shrewd and much sharper than she appears.
[edit] House Tarly
A house sworn to House Tyrell. Their seat is Horn Hill. Their sigil is a striding huntsman.
[edit] Randyll Tarly
Lord of House Tarly; Randyll is married to Melessa Florent. Famed battle commander and wielder of Heartsbane, a Valyrian greatsword. He led an army that inflicted the only defeat on the rebellious forces of Robert Baratheon at the Battle of Ashford. A martinet, he was disappointed in his gentle, timid firstborn son and did not want Samwell for his heir. When a younger son, Dickon, was born, Lord Tarly forced Samwell to join the Night's Watch. Tarly is regarded as one of the finest soldiers in the realm and throughout the series his skills at command are acknowledged and held in respect by several other characters such as Tyrion Lannister, Kevan Lannister and Stannis Baratheon.
When House Tyrell joined its cause to Joffrey, Tarly was sent by Tywin Lannister to deal with the Northern army attacking Duskendale. Tarly's army after a bloody battle defeated the Stark force and restored order to the area; Tarly then went to secure Maidenpool after Lord Mooton bent the knee to Joffrey after the events of the Red Wedding. His forces were seen by Brienne of Tarth rebuilding the town and restoring order. Tarly has also captured and hanged dozens of outlaws (some belonging to the Brotherhood without Banners) and broken men. Tarly was last heard to be marching his forces from Maidenpool to Kings Landing to aid Mace Tyrell's force (marching there as well from Storms End) in rescuing Tyrell's daughter Margaery from imprisonment by the Faith.
[edit] Samwell Tarly
Samwell Tarly (a POV character) is the elder son of Lord Randyll Tarly. Fat, timid, and unsure of himself, he is nonetheless intelligent and thoughtful. He is a Brother of the Night's Watch.
Initially bullied by the other recruits and taunted by the trainer, Ser Alliser Thorne, for his cowardice, Sam was then befriended by Jon Snow, who was instrumental in having Sam made Maester Aemon's steward. While beyond The Wall with the Lord Commander Mormont, Sam slew an Other, discovering their susceptibility to dragonglass, for which he was nicknamed "Sam the Slayer."
He was instrumental in the selection of Jon Snow as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, cleverly manipulating the other candidates for the Lord Commander's post so that they all supported Jon Snow against Janos Slynt. At Jon's command, Sam traveled to the Citadel, with Maester Aemon and the wildling Gilly, to train as a maester. At sea, he began a relationship with Gilly, but was ashamed as a brother of the Night's Watch must never marry and have children. He planned to take Gilly and her son to his father's seat at Horn Hill where she and the baby would be safe. At Maester Aemon's command, he tried to get a maester sent to Daenerys Targaryen; upon hearing Sam's tale, Archmaester Marwyn (derisively called the Mage by his peers) set off to find her. Sam agreed to stay at the Citadel and train to be a maester, after which he intends to return to the Wall.
[edit] House Umber
A House sworn to Winterfell and House Stark. Their seat is the Last Hearth. Their sigil is a giant, breaking free of chains.
[edit] "Greatjon"
Jon Umber, Lord of the House, known as the "Greatjon" for his huge size. The Greatjon brought men to Winterfell when Robb Stark called the banners. He challenged the young lord's authority at first, until Grey Wind bit off two of his fingers. After this incident, he became Robb's most fervent supporter. He led the van of Robb's army as it moved south and participated in the Battle of the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps. After Riverrun was relieved, he was the first lord to proclaim Robb the King in the North. He is believed to have survived the Red Wedding and is being held captive at the Twins by House Frey.
[edit] "Smalljon"
Jon Umber, son of the Greatjon. Battle companion to Robb Stark, killed at the Red Wedding.
[edit] House Westerling
House Westerling is sworn to House Lannister. Their seat is The Crag. Their sigil is six white shells on a yellow field. The Westerlings are an old and well-regarded family, though their lands and incomes have dwindled over the years.
[edit] Jeyne
The fifteen-year old daughter of Lord Gawen Westerling and his wife, Lady Sybell. She is a slightly naive and mild-mannered girl, caught up in high politics and far-reaching schemes.
Jeyne met Robb Stark, King in the North, when he and his bannermen captured her father's castle and recuperated there from their wounds after a recent battle. As he convalesced, Robb received word that House Stark's ancestral seat, Winterfell, had been taken, and all inhabitants, including his younger brothers Bran and Rickon, had been put to the sword. During this time of grief, Jeyne "comforted" him; the only honorable thing to do thenceforth was to wed her, which Robb did. However, in doing so, he broke his vow to marry a lady of House Frey. Furthermore, as the Westerlings were bannermen of House Lannister, who was at war with House Stark, the marriage put House Westerling in a dangerous position.
By and large, the Lannisters should have been inclined to consider Jeyne's marriage as treason, but Lord Tywin Lannister seemed strangely unperturbed by the turn of events; indeed, Tywin was quick to pardon the Westerlings after the war was over, and even delivered marriages and rewards to them for their "treason". It is later implied that the Westerlings attempted to make the best of a bad situation by turning their cloaks back to Lannister crimson the moment they could, and that their efforts helped make the Red Wedding possible.
Despite the muddled circumstances of their meeting, there was genuine love and affection between Jeyne and her lord husband, in addition to the hormones which sparked off their marriage. Jeyne, though, was often confused and bewildered by Robb's moodiness. She once asked his mother, Catelyn, for advice, and then began to understand that his worries over the war were influencing his behavior. She was eager to bear him an heir, and was encouraged to do so by Catelyn and by her mother, who gave her a posset to increase fertility. When Jaime Lannister, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, met Jeyne and her mother at Riverrun, Jeyne appeared to be miserable at Robb's death and furious with her mother for confiscating the crown Robb had made for her, and for lying about said posset, which was actually a fertility-suppressing concoction.
Jeyne was last seen riding away with a Lannister company who had tacit instructions to kill her should she be abducted, so she could not serve as a rallying point as Robb Stark's widow. Although Sybell expressed some degree of satisfaction over Robb's murder, a defiant Jeyne ripped her robes as a sign of open mourning.
[edit] Sybell
Lady of the House. Mother to Jeyne. Born to House Spicer, and the granddaughter of a maegi (which translates as wise woman and colloquially in the east refers to a blood witch. Maegi has a very bad connotation, at least to Dothraki). As a result of this background, she was reputed to have knowledge of herbology and medicines, and regarded as ambitious and scheming.
After the marriage of her daughter to King Robb Stark, Sybell conspired to prevent the conception of an heir. Lady Sybell confirmed to Jaime Lannister that she was directed by Tywin to ensure that Jeyne didn't conceive a possible Stark heir, strongly suggesting that her potions were contraceptive in nature and not intended to augment fertility. Her actions proved fortuitous as Jaime pardoned the family at his father's direction.
[edit] Raynald
Loyal battle companion to Robb Stark in the latter days of his campaign. Last seen during the Red Wedding attempting to free Grey Wind from a net the Frey's threw over the dire wolf. He took a number of arrows before going over a wall and disappearing into the river.
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