Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire

The fictional world of George R. R. Martin's fantasy epic A Song of Ice and Fire includes a number of organizations, societies, and mercenary companies.

The Alchemists' Guild
The Alchemists' Guild is an ancient society of learned men, sometimes called pyromancers, who have claimed many magical and arcane abilities through the years. In its earlier years, the Guild was very powerful, but by the beginning of A Game of Thrones the Guild's abilities and influence are greatly diminished as the Maesters have largely supplanted them. At the height of their power, Alchemists claimed the ability to transmute metals and create living creatures of flame. In their later years, they still hint at great powers, but the only skill they demonstrate is the creation of wildfire, a volatile liquid similar to napalm and Greek fire. It is typically commissioned for use as a weapon of war, though Alchemists will sometimes use wildfire torches as a display of power.

The Alchemists enjoyed a period of increased influence during the reign of King Aerys II, who took great pleasure in wildfire. Aerys appointed one of the Alchemists, Lord Rossart, as his final hand, and commissioned him to create a vast quantity of wildfire to destroy King's Landing should he lose the War of the Usurper. During the War of the Five Kings, Tyrion Lannister commissioned a great quantity of wildfire for the city's defenses. The Alchemists reported an unexplainable increase in the effectiveness of their spells, where it was quickly noted that it hadn't been as easy since the time of the dragons, which allowed them to create the substance more quickly.

The bearded priests of Norvos
Norvos is home to a group of "bearded priests" that train elite guardsmen. Unwanted children are given to the priests at a young age to enter training, which can be completed as early as the age of sixteen. At the end of a student's training, he "weds" his two-handed longaxe, which will be his principal weapon for life. The priests advise their students, "Keep your longaxe sharp." At the end of the ceremony, the priests brand an axe symbol into the center of the student's chest. The student then takes "simple vows for simple men" consisting of "Serve. Obey. Protect," and enters lifelong service to a master. The priests may send their students to serve rich individuals in distant lands. Areo Hotah, the captain of Doran Martell's guard, is one such student.

The Brave Companions
The Brave Companions is a sellsword company of considerably ill repute. It comprises criminals and outcasts from many nations. During the War of the Five Kings, the band is led by Vargo Hoat, a tall, gaunt, lisping man from Qohor. The band is often called the "Bloody Mummers" by the Westerosi for its members' brutality and outlandish appearance, though they find this name insulting. They are also called the "Footmen" for Vargo's practice of cutting off the hands and feet of prisoners. Some of the company's notable members include Qyburn, a disgraced Maester, Septon Utt, a pedophile and child-killer priest of the Seven, Shagwell, a psychotic jester, and Fat Zollo, a Dothraki.

Tywin Lannister brought the Brave Companions to Westeros during the War of the Five Kings to forage and terrify the lands of his enemies. They went to Harrenhal, where they quarreled with Ser Amory Lorch's men. After Tywin left Harrenhal, the Companions slaughtered the Lannister garrison and opened the gates to Roose Bolton. Vargo Hoat became Lord of Harrenhal for his service to the North, but he grew to suspect that his new Bolton allies would join the Lannisters. When several Companions captured Jaime Lannister, Vargo had Jaime's swordhand chopped off to drive a wedge between Tywin and Roose. The ploy did not work, and Roose soon abandoned Harrenhal. While attempting to rape the imprisoned Brienne of Tarth, Vargo lost an ear and the wound infected. With Lannister reprisal looming and Vargo slowly maddening from a fever, most of the Companions deserted. By the time Gregor Clegane arrived at Harrenhal and killed Vargo, the band had dissolved into smaller groups. In the aftermath of the War of the Five Kings, many Brave Companions became bandits and vagabonds. One particular group led by Rorge, hiding beneath the hound helm of Sandor Clegane, has decimated the town of Saltpans.

Brotherhood Without Banners
The Brotherhood Without Banners, also known as the Knights of the Hollow Hill, is an outlaw organization in George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. Introduced in A  Storm of Swords (2000), but referenced   in earlier novels, the group's goals include fighting the ruling Lannisters and protecting the common people of the the Riverlands from depredation by warriors fighting the War of the Five Kings.

"Brotherhood Without Banners" also became the name of the official George R. R. Martin fan group. The name was adopted in the first half of 2001, and the group held its first major gathering at the 2001 World Science  Fiction Convention in Philadelphia.

History
The Brotherhood is originally founded by Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. In response to the sacking of several Riverland villages, Hand of the King Eddard Stark charges them to bring the Lannister bannerman Gregor Clegane to justice in the name of King Robert Baratheon. Dondarrion, having the command of the party, leads his men into an ambush and is killed. Afterwards, Thoros unintentionally resurrects Dondarrion during a common burial ritual of his god R'hllor. The revived Dondarrion swears to uphold his oath to Robert and resumes his quest for Gregor's head. When Robert dies, his Queen Cersei Lannister's family assumes control of the Iron Throne and Dondarrion's men become outlaws.

As outlaws, Dondarrion's men form the Brotherhood as a way to uphold the spirit of Robert's decree and protect the people. Dondarrion begins leading successful ambushes on Gregor's men and other soldiers on all sides of the ongoing conflicts. Due to the odds against him, however, Dondarrion dies several more times, but is resurrected each time when Thoros performs his burial ritual. Dondarrion develops a heroic reputation and was dubbed "the Lightning Lord" for his Dondarrion arms and his lethal ambushes. His various deaths and inexplicable reappearances feed the Brotherhood's mystique. Despite numerous opportunities, however, the Brotherhood cannot kill Gregor.

The Brotherhood manage to capture and Gregor's brother Sandor Clegane and his captive, Eddard's missing daughter Arya Stark. Dondarrion decides to hold Arya for ransom, but with Eddard dead and the Starks scattered, he hopes to treat with Arya's mother Catelyn's family, House Tully. He puts Sandor on trial for Lannister atrocities; with Arya's eyewitness testimony, Dondarrion convicts Sandor of murdering a butcher boy, but allows him to choose a trial by combat. He fights Clegane personally with a flaming sword, but is killed. The Brotherhood allows Sandor to leave, but without his money or weapons. Thoros resurrects Dondarrion once again, and Arya is later recaptured by Sandor.

After the Red Wedding, the Brotherhood discovers Catelyn Stark's corpse, upon which Dondarrion performs R'hllor's burial ritual. He exchanges his life for hers, finally dying and resurrecting Catelyn's half-decayed body. Though rendered nearly mute from an unhealed throat injury, Catelyn takes the name Lady Stoneheart and becomes the Brotherhood's new de facto leader.

The Faith Militant
The militant wing of the Faith of the Seven consists of armed holy men who pledge themselves to fight injustice and the enemies of the Faith. The two orders of the Faith Militant are the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows. Together they are often called the Sword and Stars. Historically, the orders made trouble for the nobles and royalty of the Seven Kingdoms. King Maegor ultimately disbanded the orders and forbade holy men from ever taking up arms again.

The Warrior's Sons are an order of knights who have renounced their lands and possessions to fight for the Seven. They wear inlaid silver armor over hair shirts, rainbow cloaks, and swords with star-shaped crystals in their pommels. They developed a reputation for fanaticism and implacable hatred for enemies of the Faith. They are the "sword" of the Sword and Stars.

The Poor Fellows are a more humble order for commoners and even women. Acting as a militant counterpart to begging brothers, Poor Fellows wander the realm and escort pilgrims between septs. They carry whatever weapons they can make or find, often axes or cudgels, and wear star badges, red on white. They are the "stars" of the Sword and Stars.

In the aftermath of the War of the Five Kings, religious fervor in the Seven Kingdoms saw an increase. Many pilgrims and refugees, often called "sparrows", took up the badges and arms of Poor Fellows to protect themselves and other homeless victims of the war. Groups of Poor Fellows took to guarding the Great Sept of Baelor and serving particularly pious nobles. Though common-born, the Poor Fellows showed no respect for secular rank or social position. During her reign as Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister officially reinstated both orders of the Faith Militant as a concession to the new High Septon. Many knights, including Cersei's own cousin Lancel Lannister, joined the reformed Warrior's Sons in the aftermath.

The Gallant Men
A sellsword or mercenary company serving the Free Cities.

The Golden Company
The Golden Company is the largest, most famous, and most expensive sellsword or mercenary company in the Free Cities by the events of A Song of Ice and Fire. Despite the notorious unreliability of sellswords, the Golden Company is reputed to have never broken a contract. It was founded by Aegor Rivers, called "Bittersteel", a legitimized bastard of King Aegon IV, after he fled Westeros at the end of the Blackfyre Rebellion. The company's words are, "Beneath the gold, the bitter steel." The Golden Company is said to be made up of exiles, and the sons of exiles. Most recently, the Company broke its contract with the city of Myr, despite the looming war with neighbouring Lys and Tyrosh. The reason for this unprecedented event is the source of speculation in A Feast For Crows.

The Kingsguard
The Kingsguard are the royal bodyguards of Westeros in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire A poetic name often used for them is "the White Swords", or "the White Cloaks". Historically composed of seven knights sworn to a lifetime of service, members are to serve unto death despite age or any physical or mental ailments. During his time as a member of the Kingsguard is not allowed to hold lands, sire children, marry, or have any worldly allegiance except to his monarch. Some of the greatest warriors, battle commanders, swordsmen, and famous historical figures in the history of Westeros have served in the Kingsguard, including members of House Targaryen itself.

The knights of the guard wear all white capes, carry plain white shields and with some occasional exceptions wear little or no ornamentation or sigils on their white armor. This plain but striking attire leads credence to their role of being seen and not heard until their advice is asked. Discretion and wisdom are often as important skills as martial ability being as they are expected to be with their King or Queen at all times, privy to all their secrets, plans and every aspect of their personal lives.

History
The Kingsguard was founded by Aegon the Conqueror of House Targaryen as an elite bodyguard for those of royal blood. A poetic name often used for them is "the White Swords", or "the White Cloaks". Historically composed of seven knights sworn to a lifetime of service, members are to serve unto death despite age or any physical or mental ailments. During his time as a member of the Kingsguard he is not allowed to hold lands, sire children, marry, or have any worldly allegiance except to his monarch. Some of the greatest warriors, battle commanders, swordsmen, and famous historical figures in the history of Westeros have served in the Kingsguard, including members of House Targaryen itself.

The Kingsguard has continuously existed since the Conquest. Its uninterrupted history is recorded in the White Book, a volume maintained by the head of the Kingsguard, known as the Lord Commander, and stored in the Round Room of the White Sword Tower, a four story tower built into one of the walls of the Red Keep of King's Landing. In the White Book, officially known as the Book of the Brothers, each member of the Kingsguard is given one page on which his personal history and a record of his deeds are written. Because of its status as the royal bodyguard and the many remarkable figures who have been members, the Kingsguard has been involved in many major historical events in Westeros.

After the War of the Usurper, Robert Baratheon, the new king, chose to continue the tradition of the Kingsguard. He went as far as to elevate a member of Aerys II's Kingsguard, Barristan Selmy, to the position of Lord Commander. Selmy held that position until dismissed in an unprecedented move by Robert's heir, Joffrey. After Selmy's dismissal the last of the remaining knights from Aerys II's Kingsguard, Joffrey's uncle Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, was appointed Lord Commander.

Historical Members

 * Prince Aemon Targaryen, known as the Dragonknight, later Lord Commander is the regarded as one of the most famous members of the kingsguard and one of the most honorable men in the history of Westoras. Killed defending his brother King Aegon IV from an assassination attempt by two brothers of House Toyne.
 * Ser Ryam Redwyne, later Lord Commander. Thought to be one of the best knights and worst King's Hands that Westeros had ever seen.
 * Ser Criston Cole, later Lord Commander. Called the Kingmaker. His decision to crown Aegon II against the deceased king's wishes lead to the Targaryen civil war known as The Dance of Dragons.
 * Ser Arryk. Died fighting his twin, Erryk, during the civil war known as The Dance of Dragons.
 * Ser Erryk. Died fighting his twin, Arryk, during the civil war known as The Dance of Dragons.
 * Ser Serwyn of the Mirror Shield. A Legendary knight who saved princess Daeryssa from giants.
 * Ser Lucamore the Strong. Called Lucamore the Lusty after it became known he secretly took three wives and fathered numerous children. For this, he was gelded by the rest of the Kingsguard and sent to the Wall by King Jaehaerys I.
 * Ser Terrence Toyne. Executed for having an affair with King Aegon IV's mistress. His execution led to a failed assassination attempt by his two brothers resulting in the death of Prince Aemon.
 * Ser Gyles Greycloak, remembered in the white book as a traitor.
 * Ser Orivel, called Orivel the Open-handed. Remembered in the white book as a coward.
 * Ser Tom Costayne, known as Long Tom Costayne. Was a kingsguard knight for 60 years
 * Ser Adison Hill, rose to become Lord commander of the kingsguard despite his bastard birth.
 * Ser Robert Flowers, known as Red Robert Flowers. Rose to become Lord commander of the kingsguard despite his bastard birth.
 * Ser Michael Mertyns, known as the White Owl.
 * Ser Jeffory Norcross, known as Neveryield.
 * Ser Rolland Darklyn, one of the youngest men ever to join the Kingsguard, was given the white cloak on the battlefield & died within an hour of donning it (Darklyn died but his king survived).
 * Ser Alyn Connington, known as the Pale Griffon. Eventually became Lord Commander.
 * Ser Clerence Crabb. Named after the legendary "Clerence Crabb of Crackclaw point", and known as Ser Clerence the Short despite being over six foot tall because the legendary Clerence Crabb was over seven foot tall.
 * Ser Rupert Crabb
 * Ser Clement Crabb
 * Ser Olyvar Oakheart, known as the Green Oak. Member during the reign of King Daeron the Young Dragon.
 * Ser Duncan the Tall. Famed knight and later Lord Commander. Companion to King Aegon V during the latter's childhood.
 * Ser Gwayne Corbray. Member during the reign of King Daeron the Good. Battled Daemon Blackfyre for nearly an hour at the battle of Redgrass Field during the Blackfyre Rebellion before being defeated.
 * Ser Donnel of Duskendale. Member during the reign of King Daeron the Good.
 * Ser Willem Wylde. Member during the reign of King Daeron the Good.
 * Ser Roland Crakehall. Member during the reign of King Daeron the Good.
 * Ser Gerold Hightower, known as the White Bull. Lord commander of the kingsguard during the reign of Aerys II. Killed at the Tower of Joy.
 * Ser Arthur Dayne, known as the Sword of the Morning. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Killed at the Tower of Joy.
 * Ser Oswell Whent. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Known for his dark humor. Killed at the Tower of Joy.
 * Prince Lewyn Martell. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Uncle of Princess Elia of Dorne. Killed by Lyn Corbray at the Battle of the Trident.
 * Ser Jonothor Darry. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Killed at the Battle of the Trident.
 * Ser Gwayne Gaunt. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Killed during the Defiance of Duskendale.
 * Ser Harlan Grandison. Member during the reign of Aerys II. Died in his sleep prior to War of the Usurper, replaced by Ser Jaime Lannister.

Under Aerys Targaryen prior to the War of the Usurper

 * Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, 'The White Bull'
 * Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning
 * Prince Lewyn Martell
 * Ser Barristan Selmy
 * Ser Oswell Whent
 * Ser Jaime Lannister.
 * Ser Jonothor Darry

Under Robert Baratheon
It should be noted that after the War, King Robert was left in the awkward position of having to fill not one but five vacancies in the Kingsguard. This, along with the blatantly political appointments made by his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister, led many to regard this as a low point in the Kingsguard's history. The continued inclusion of Jaime Lannister despite his betrayal of Aerys II was poorly received by many outside of the Lannister inner circle.


 * Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander. Served under Aerys II. Pardoned by King Robert after the War of the Usurper and promoted to Lord Commander. At this point Ser Barristan was thought by many to be the only member of Roberts Kingsguard that is 'true steel'.
 * Ser Jaime Lannister. Served under Aerys II, who he later slew. Survived the War of the Usurper and retained in his position in the Kingsguard under King Robert.
 * Ser Arys Oakheart
 * Ser Boros Blount
 * Ser Mandon Moore
 * Ser Meryn Trant
 * Ser Preston Greenfield

Under Joffrey Baratheon
The Kingsguard entered an even more controversial time after the death of King Robert. His heir, King Joffrey, dismissed Lord Commander Selmy, something never before done in the history of the Kingsguard. This time period also saw the appointment of an unanointed and brutal House Lannister retainer, Sandor Clegane. These changes in the Kingsguard including the appointment of Lannister loyalists and Loras Tyrell of House Tyrell, Lannister allies in the War of the Five Kings, can be viewed as attempts to make political appointments in order to solidify Lannister power on the throne.


 * Lord Commander Barristan Selmy, dismissed in an unprecedented move by King Joffrey after Robert's death. He later joins Daenerys Targaryen in the far east as her advisor and head of her Queensguard.
 * Lord Commander Jaime Lannister, elevated after Selmy's dismissal. His right hand was amputated by the Brave Companions at Vargo Hoat's order after his capture. Returned to King's Landing by Brienne of Tarth.
 * Sandor Clegane, raised to the Kingsguard when Joffrey dismissed Barristan Selmy, and later deserted the Kingsguard during the Battle of the Blackwater. Controversially, Sandor was raised to the white cloak by King Joffrey in spite of his not being an anointed knight.
 * Ser Arys Oakheart, sent to Dorne as Princess Myrcella's personal guard.
 * Ser Meryn Trant, an elderly but capable fighter. Trant participated in the Battle of Blackwater. He defeated, and possibly killed, Arya's dancing master, Syrio Forel, also a skilled fighter. He is loyal to Cersei.
 * Ser Preston Greenfield, killed trying to save the High Septon from rioters in King's Landing.
 * Ser Mandon Moore, killed by Tyrion Lannister's squire, Podrick Payne at the Battle of the Blackwater after Moore tried to murder Tyrion. When Moore was slain, his place was given to Ser Loras Tyrell as part of Joffrey's wedding contract to Margaery Tyrell.
 * Ser Boros Blount, mocked as "Boros the Belly", Blount is regarded by nearly everyone that knows him as fat and cowardly. He was briefly removed from the Kingsguard for surrendering his ward, Prince Tommen, without a fight to forces acting under orders from Tommen's uncle, Tyrion Lannister. Despite this, no harm came to Tommen and Blount was later reinstated by Tywin Lannister after Sandor Clegane deserted the Kingsguard.
 * Ser Balon Swann. Balon Swann is thought by many to be one of the very few knights that truly deserves the white cloak of the Kingsguard. Ser Balon was raised to the Kingsguard after Preston Greenfield was slain by the riots in Kings Landing. Ser Balon is honest, loyal and an extremely capable fighter, having fought bravely at the battle of the Blackwater. At Tyrion's trial, Ser Balon Swann tried to defend Tyrion, telling the judges that he believed the dwarf not guilty of the murder of King Joffrey.
 * Ser Loras Tyrell, known as the Knight of Flowers and former member of Renly Baratheon's Rainbow Guard, as well as Renly's former lover. An extraordinarily skilled fighter and rider, and a great favorite of the people of Westeros. Also rather vain, rash and headstrong.
 * Ser Osmund Kettleblack, former sellsword. Was raised to the Kingsguard after Boros Blount was stripped of his white cloak by Cersei Lannister.

Under Tommen Baratheon

 * Lord Commander Jaime Lannister
 * Ser Boros Blount, made Tommen's food taster by Ser Jaime Lannister (a shameful post for any knight).
 * Ser Meryn Trant
 * Ser Osmund Kettleblack
 * Ser Balon Swann, sent to Dorne to deliver Gregor Clegane's head to Prince Doran Martell.
 * Ser Loras Tyrell ,Badly wounded and near death after the siege of Dragonstone.
 * Ser Arys Oakheart - killed by Areo Hotah in Dorne during a failed coup. His position remains unfilled in the series at the end of the fourth book, as his death has been kept secret by the Dornish.

Rainbow Guard
During the War of the Five Kings, Renly Baratheon declared himself king of the Seven Kingdoms after the death of his brother King Robert. To reflect his status, he created the Rainbow Guard, a fanciful version of the Kingsguard. Each of the seven members were given a color of the rainbow.

Members:
 * Ser Loras Tyrell, Lord Commander
 * Brienne of Tarth, the Blue
 * Ser Bryce Caron, the Orange
 * Ser Emmon Cuy, the Yellow
 * Ser Guyard Morrigen, the Green
 * Ser Parmen Crane, the Purple
 * Ser Robar Royce, the Red

Following the death of Renly, the Rainbow Guard disintegrated. Brienne fled, having been witness to the death and being blamed for it. Loras went mad from grief and slew Royce and Cuy, whom he blamed for allowing the murder. Guyard Morrigen, Parmen Crane and Bryce Caron joined the forces of Stannis Baratheon. Guyard and Bryce were slain during the siege at King's Landing, while Parmen was arrested at Highgarden. When House Tyrell joined House Lannister against the forces of Stannis Baratheon, Loras fought under the banner of House Tyrell. He later joined the Kingsguard as part of the marriage agreement between Houses Tyrell and Lannister.

Queensguard
Following the death of Khal Drogo, Daenerys Targaryen created a cadre of sworn protectors. Based on the Kingsguard, the group is called the Queensguard in deference to her gender. As Westerosi-style knights are rare in the eastern continent, being a formal knight is not required for members. The current Lord Commander is Barristan Selmy.

Members:
 * Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander
 * Ser Jorah Mormont (Later removed)
 * Aggo, ko and bloodrider to Daenerys
 * Jhogo, ko and bloodrider to Daenerys
 * Rakharo, ko and bloodrider to Daenerys

The Queensguard was created by Daenerys following the death of Khal Drogo, when she declared herself queen and her surviving followers her khalasar. Jorah Mormont took an oath to serve and protect her, similar to that of the Kingsguard, thereby establishing her Queensguard. Three of Drogo's riders who remained with her became her kos and bloodriders after witnessing the birth of the dragons, Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon. By serving as her sworn protectors, they became members of the Queensguard.

Prior to Daenerys Targaryen's campaign against the slavers, Barristan Selmy joined her retinue under a ruse. Upon the revelation of his identity, and for his long service to King Robert the Usurper, he was nearly banished, but was instead sent on a suicide mission alongside Jorah Mormont, who had also betrayed Daenerys. After the successful conclusion of the mission, Barristan proved his loyalty by submitting his fate to Daenerys' will. For failing to submit to Daenerys, Jorah was removed from the Queensguard and banished. Barristan Selmy was readmitted to the service of the Queen and made Lord Commander of the Queensguard.

The Kingswood Brotherhood
The Kingswood Brotherhood was an infamous outlaw company that inhabited the forest outside King's Landing during the last years of Aerys II's reign. The brotherhood was led by Simon Toyne, whose relatives had attempted the assassination of Aegon IV. Other notable members included the Smiling Knight, a deranged but deadly swordsman, Wenda the White Fawn, a female outlaw who branded her prisoners with a fawn, Oswyn Longneck, the Thrice Hanged, and Big Belly Ben. The Brotherhood's exploits included kidnapping many nobles and evading several attempts to capture them.

The Brotherhood was ultimately destroyed by a force led by members of the Kingsguard. Barristan Selmy killed Simon Toyne during the rescue of a captive noble and Arthur Dayne slew the Smiling Knight in single combat. At least one Kingswood bandit, Ulmer, was allowed to join the Night's Watch. Jaime Lannister earned his knighthood for bravery against the Brotherhood and recounted holding his own against the Smiling Knight as a high point in his life.

Maesters
The maesters are a fictional order of scholars and healers/physicians in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. They are also scientists, advisors to the nobility, and occasionally pseudo-religious researchers in the occult. Males of any age may begin training as a maester; females are not permitted to study or join the order. Noble families in Westeros sometimes send their younger sons to the Citadel. The maesters, like the brothers of the Night's Watch, are considered to be servants of Westeros and all its people and in theory have no political allegiance. After finishing his course of study, a maester is assigned to a castle, keep or other holding, and is loyal to the people of that place as a mentor, healer and advisor, regardless of changes in control of that holding. To this end a man who earns his chain is stripped of his family name and from that time on is known only by his title and first name. In practice some maesters hold over old allegiances and loyalties.

Traditions and Culture
Maesters begin their training as novices in the Citadel in the city Oldtown, a domain of House Hightower, bannermen to House Tyrell. Once they begin their study and have been seen as proficient in a particular course of study they are tested and awarded a link of a certain metal to reflect their skill and knowledge. A student with a link is known as an acolyte until he has a full chain; it is not until he has completed extensive study in various subjects and has earned enough links to form a chain (to be worn around the neck) that he is considered worthy of advancement to the title of Maester, no longer a student but a peer. There have been whispers that the maesters have held much more power and sway than they are ready to admit. Archmaester Marwyn suspects that they had a role in the demise of House Targaryen's dragons. Some consider most maesters to be categorically opposed to magic and its influence on Westeros.

The collar
The collar signifies that maesters do not serve themselves, but are instead servants of all of Westeros. The collar consists of several links of different types of metal. These chains are formed from every metal known, but almost no maester will ever wear them all. These metals include:
 * Black iron (Ravenry)
 * Brass
 * Bronze (Astronomy)
 * Copper (History)
 * Electrum
 * Gold (Economics)
 * Iron (Warcraft)
 * Lead
 * Pale steel (Smithing)
 * Pewter
 * Platinum
 * Red gold
 * Silver (Medicine and healing)
 * Steel (Castlecraft and construction)
 * Tin
 * Valyrian steel (Magic and the occult) - Only one in one hundred holds a link of Valyrian steel; the study of magic is looked down upon by most Maesters.

The collar also signifies that a variety of people is necessary to make a functioning society. While people tend to look up to knights and nobles, steel and gold do not make a chain by themselves: the society needs all the other people and occupations, just like the chain needs all the other links. Jewels were also affixed to the links of the Grand Maesters chains, though if this was a symbol of arch maestery of a particular field, or simply largesse on the part of Pycelle is unclear.

The robes
Maesters wear grey robes with a high stiff collar, decorated with gold at the hem, sleeves, and collar, with a gold sash: "He had garbed himself in something very like maester's robes, but white instead of grey [...] Whorls of gold decorated his hem, sleeves, and stiff high collar, and a golden sash was tied about his waist." (A Feast For Crows, p. 340). Maester's robes are also known for having innumerable small pockets about them, particularly within the sleeves.

Practices and observances
Maesters monitor the seasons; when the seasons change they send white ravens to notify the Houses of the change. They also watch the skies for changes; they are the first to notice the comet which appears during the events of the War of the Five Kings. As part of their service, they teach the names of the constellations.

The Citadel
The Citadel is an impressive structure in the city of Oldtown, and is considered the home of all maesters. Here they undergo all of their training from the time they arrive as novices until they have achieved the status of maester. At the entrance of the Citadel are green marble sphinxes.

Archmaester
The perceived "master" of any area of study is given a mask, ring and rod and the title Archmaester in the corresponding metal to signify his expertise. For example, an archmaester who specializes in ravenry will have a mask, ring or rod made of black iron. Archmaesters are the senior members of the Order and are given the right to sit on the Conclave. The Conclave is the governing body of the Citadel and is the same body that elects the Grand Maester, the senior member of the Order and its representative to the King. All the meetings of the Conclave are confidential in nature and conducted behind closed doors at the Citadel only.

Grand Maesters
The Grand Maesters wears many interwoven chains to indicate his office as advisor to the King, but these do not reflect his true studies. Gems are woven into the several chains.

The mountain clans of the Vale
The Mountains of the Moon in the Vale are home to a population of clans with a common culture that is distinct and independent from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms' feudal society. They are a poor people that subsist by raiding local villages and attacking small groups of travelers. The clans have an egalitarian culture without class or gender restrictions. Some women even participate in raids. They are not considered vassals to any master, and will attack even the Lord of the Eyrie if he is not properly protected. The clansmen loot all of their weapons and armor, which are usually of poor quality. Some ride small horses that are suited to the narrow mountain paths. By the beginning of A Game of Thrones, there are more than three thousand warriors among all the clans, but they have not been considered a significant threat for centuries.

The mountain clans themselves include the Milk Snakes, the Moon Brothers, the Stone Crows, the Black Ears, the Burned Men, the Painted Dogs, and the Sons of the Mist. The Black Ears cut an ear off of their prisoners and display them as trophies, but leave their prisoners alive as a show of bravery. As a rite of passage, warriors of the Burned Men mutilate themselves by burning off a body part of their choosing, usually a finger or nipple. The more important the body part burned, the more prestige the warrior gains. The clans cooperate in many ventures, including raids, and some clans share close bonds. Conflicts between the clans are often resolved by payment of blood money, however clansmen are quick to settle personal grievances through violence.

Tyrion Lannister convinced the mountain clans to fight for Tywin Lannister on the promise of quality weapons and plunder. The clansmen fought at the battle of the Green Fork under the command of Gregor Clegane. Afterwards, they followed Tyrion to King's Landing, where several of them served as Tyrion's personal bodyguards and thugs. Tyrion later sent them out again to raid and harass King Stannis' army before the Battle of the Blackwater. After the battle, the Stone Crows took up residence in the Kingswood and continued to raid, while the rest of the clans returned to their mountains.

The Night's Watch
The Night's Watch is an organization dedicated to defending the realms of Westeros in George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. The Night's Watch guard the Wall, a huge fortification built primarily of ice located in the far north of Westeros. The Wall is 300 miles (480 km) long (100 leagues) 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 to forever shut out the inhabitants of the far north (particularly the Others), who had overrun Westeros during that period, before being turned back by unknown forces. 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. 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.

Castles of the Night's Watch
The Night's Watch has, through the centuries, built nineteen castles along the Wall (although no more than seventeen were ever manned at any one time). In reality they are mostly barracks, stables, storehouses, towers and out-buildings as they have no walls and cannot be considered "true" castles. They were purposefully built in this fashion so the Watch could man the Wall itself and defend against threats from the north but be unable to repel attacks from the south should the Watch ever rise in rebellion. Presently, due to manpower shortages, the Watch only mans the Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch although there are plans to regarrison the Nightfort. The question of who will be responsible for this is a point of tension between the Lord Commander of the Watch and King Stannis Baratheon.

(from west to east, castles in bold currently occupied)
 * Westwatch-by-the-Bridge
 * The Shadow Tower
 * Manned by two hundred Brothers
 * Sentinel Stand
 * Greyguard
 * Stonedoor
 * Hoarfrost Hill
 * Icemark
 * The Nightfort
 * the oldest and largest castle of the Night's Watch
 * houses The Black Gate (an ancient door fashioned from weirwood which only opens to a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch) through the Wall
 * Deep Lake
 * built 7 mi east of The Nightfort, and paid for by Good Queen Alysanne
 * Queensgate
 * originally called Snowgate
 * renamed 'Queensgate' after Good Queen Alysanne slept there for one night
 * Castle Black
 * The largest maintained castle, held by nearly six hundred Brothers
 * Oakenshield
 * Woodswatch-by-the-Pool
 * Sable Hall
 * Rimegate
 * The Long Barrow
 * The Torches
 * Greenguard
 * Eastwatch-by-the-Sea
 * The smallest manned fort and the only port that serves the Night's Watch.
 * Reported to have operated a small fleet of black-hulled warships in the recent past, but no mention of these existing in the present.

The "Gift" and the "New Gift"
"The Gift" is a tract of land measuring twenty-five leagues southward from the Wall that the Night's Watch received from long-dead King Brandon Stark of the North. For years, the Watch farmed the Gift but as the organization dwindled there were fewer hands to plow the fields, tend the bees, and plant the orchards, so the wild reclaimed much of the area. Wishing to restore the Night's Watch and reward its loyal service in defence of the realm, Queen Alysanne, wife of King Jaehaerys the Conciliator, doubled the extent of the Gift. Towns and villages that were located within the "New Gift" supported the Night's Watch by their taxes, rendered by goods and labor. In time, the New Gift lost population as people moved south (fleeing wildling raids), further reducing the support structure for the Night's Watch and the Wall.

The nearest point of civilization to the Wall is Mole's Town, a subterranean settlement whose brothel is frequently patronized by brothers of the Night's Watch.

Culture
A man of the Night's Watch serves for life. If he has come voluntarily, he is free to leave the Wall at any time in his training, but if he is at the Wall as a criminal punishment or exile, or after he has taken his vow (which includes a promise not to take a wife or father children), desertion is punishable by death. As already noted some of the men are highborn nobles and knights, but most are criminals: being sent to the Wall is a standard punishment in lieu of execution for serious crimes throughout Westeros. The highborn of the North have traditionally considered it an honor to serve on the Wall; many younger sons of northern families, who are not in line to inherit land, will take the vow. Many of the high-born southerners who serve were sent because they fought on the wrong side of a war or fell afoul of political machinations. Men of the Night's Watch are garbed all in black, a tradition that earned them the nickname "crows". While some use this name derogatorily, many in the Night's Watch have adopted the term for their own use. They are also called "the black brothers".

Life on the Wall is a hard one and ends only in death. As the ranks of the Watch dwindle, fewer of the brothers are nobility or knighted men and a larger number are pulled from prisons. The majority of the officers and leadership of the Watch pulls its men from the upper crust of Westerosi society. An aristocratic or knighted man is almost guaranteed a position as an officer in the Watch, but there are several powerful and influential brothers that are of common blood such as the senior rangers Qhorin the Half-Hand, Blane and Cotter Pyke, commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and a bastard-born pirate. The watch, as a meritocracy, is one of the few places in feudal Westeros where a common man can rise high and even gain command over knights and Lords, rising as far as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

Oath
The oath of the Night's Watch is as follows: ''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.''

Structure
The Night's Watch is broken down into three main groups:


 * Rangers. The rangers are tasked with actively defending the wall and riding out to face the Watch's enemies, including the lawless wildlings as well as the mysterious inhuman Others. They are led by the First Ranger.
 * Builders. The builders are responsible for maintaining the Wall. They are led by the First Builder.
 * Stewards. The stewards handle the day-to-day running of the Wall. They are led by the Lord Steward.

Lord Commander
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch oversees the entire organization. The Lord Commander serves in his office until his death. The position is refilled by election and any man of the Night's Watch may be nominated.

Recent Lords Commander

 * Lord Jeor Mormont, 997th Lord Commander of the Watch, known as "The Old Bear". During the later part of his tenure, he became increasingly worried as more rangers were lost beyond the Wall, including First Ranger Benjen Stark. Also, there were more reports coming in of wildlings either fleeing south or gathering in large numbers to escape or meet some threat. After an attempt to investigate in force, most of the brothers who went with him were killed at the battle on the Fist of First Men. Following this staggering loss, he was murdered by his own rangers during a mutiny.
 * Lord Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, one of the youngest ever. For more information, see Jon Snow.

Past Lords Commander

 * 'Night's King'. 13th Lord Commander who converted the Night's Watch into his own personal army and led it in battle against the King of the North and Joramun, the King-Beyond-the-Wall.
 * Qorgyle. Lord Commander of the Night's Watch before Lord Jeor Mormont and a member of House Qorgyle. His first name is never given.
 * Runcel Hightower. Tried to make the position of Lord Commander hereditary and pass the position to his son.
 * Rodrik Flint. Thought to make himself King-beyond-the-Wall.
 * Tristan Mudd, Mad Marq Rankenfell and Robin Hill. Three Lords Commander who nearly destroyed the Watch when they forgot their vows in favor of their pride and ambition.
 * Brynden Rivers aka Bloodraven. Sent to the Wall ca. 233 AL by King Aegon V, he eventually became Lord Commander.

Brothers

 * Alliser Thorne. Castle Black's Master at Arms and giver of the title "Lord Snow" to Jon.
 * Beardless Dick. A ranger.
 * Benjen Stark. First Ranger and younger brother to Lord Eddard Stark. Missing beyond the Wall and presumed dead.
 * Blane. A senior ranger of common blood, scout and second to the Half-Hand. Killed while in command of the Shadow Tower Men during the Battle at the Fist of the First Men.
 * Bowen Marsh. Lord Steward of the Night's Watch. Led a successful but costly battle against wildling raiders in The Gap, west of the Shadow Tower.
 * Chett. Former steward to Maester Aemon until Samwell Tarly was raised to the post. Sent to the pens to take care of the dogs.  Later, he conspired to kill Jeor Mormont, but was slain and turned into a wight.
 * Cotter Pyke. Commander at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.
 * Donal Noye. One-armed blacksmith at Castle Black. He was personal blacksmith to House Baratheon before losing an arm during Greyjoy's Rebellion. He died fighting Mag the Mighty, King of the Giants, underneath the Wall during the battle at Castle Black.
 * Eddison Tollett. A steward, called "Dolorous Edd" for his sarcastic and black humor.
 * Jarmen Buckwell. A senior ranger. Killed at the Fist of First Men.
 * Lord Denys Mallister. Commander at The Shadow Tower.
 * Lord Janos Slynt. Former commander of The City Watch in King's Landing, later Lord of Harrenhal, and finally a Brother of the Watch. A political lackey of House Lannister, he was exiled to the Wall by Tyrion Lannister, who wanted to rid King's Landing of corruption and himself of Lord Slynt. Tyrion's father Tywin Lannister later tried to make Slynt a tool of House Lannister in the Watch, and nearly turned the election for a new Lord Commander in Slynt's favor.
 * Maester Aemon. Maester of Castle Black and one of the last Targaryens. Died of natural causes at the age of 102 while at sea with Samwell Tarly.
 * Mallador Locke. Knight and ranger. Killed at the Battle on the Fist of First Men.
 * Othell Yarwyck. First Builder of the Night's Watch.
 * Qhorin Half-Hand. Second in command at The Shadow Tower and a ranger of much repute. He allowed Jon Snow to kill him so that Snow would be accepted among the wildlings.
 * Thoren Smallwood. Acting First Ranger after Benjen Stark's disappearance and Jarmen Buckwell's death. Killed by a Wight Bear during battle on the Fist of First Men.
 * Samwell Tarly. Son of renowned battle commander Randyll Tarly. An obese and admitted coward. Sent by Lord Snow to the Citadel for study after the Battle on the Fist of First Men.
 * Satin. A male prostitute sent to the wall. Though terrified, he holds his weight in the wildling assault.
 * Ser Jaremy Rykker. A senior ranger and knight. Killed by a wight at Castle Black.
 * Ser Waymar Royce. Novice ranger and knight, slain by an Other in the prologue to A Game of Thrones.
 * Ser Wynton Stout. An elderly ranger.
 * Small Paul. A simple-minded brother. He was part of a conspiracy to kill Jeor Mormont until the Brothers were attacked at the Fist of the First Men. He saves Samwell Tarly, but was slain by an Other and returned as a Wight.
 * Stonesnake. Ranger from the Shadow Tower. Companion to Qhorin Half-Hand and the most accomplished mountain climber in the Watch. Missing and presumed dead after trying to cross the Frostfangs alone and on foot.
 * Yoren. Senior "wandering crow" or recruiter for the Watch. He attempted to smuggle Arya Stark to the North, but was killed fighting Lannister men who were searching for the outlaw Beric Dondarrion.

The orphans of the Greenblood
After their mass immigration into Westeros, some of the Rhoynar refused to completely assimilate into the Andal culture of their foster land. Calling themselves "orphans" from the river Rhoyne, they made rafts from the wreckage of Nymeria's boats and lived on them in a more traditional Rhoynish fashion. They strive to remain true to their heritage, rejecting the Andals' Seven and continuing to worship Mother Rhoyne and their other gods of old. They pole up and down the river Greenblood, pick fruit, trade with merchants from across the narrow sea, and generally do odd jobs. Despite their cultural isolationism, some orphans of the Greenblood maintain friendships and alliances with the Martells and other assimilated Dornishmen.

Others
The Others, known amongst the wildlings as White Walkers, are a race of creatures that have been recorded to exist north of the Wall. Before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, the Others had not been seen on Westeros since the end of The Long Night over 8,000 years previous. In the Seven Kingdoms, the Others came to be regarded as an extinct race or simply a fairy tale. Events in A Song of Ice and Fire have proven this belief to be untrue.

The Others appear as tall, gaunt humanoids with chalk white skin and eyes of blue so deep it burns like fire. They have only been seen at night, and seem to bring unnatural cold with them. They wear reflective armor that shifts in color with every step, and wield thin crystal swords that seem to give off a bluish hue. Objects struck by their swords can become so cold that they shatter. The Others move with a silent, fluid grace, exhibiting a mastery of swordsmanship. They speak a language other than the Common tongue of Westeros with voices that sound like cracking ice. The Others have a few known weaknesses that are recorded in ancient texts. One is obsidian, often called dragonglass and "frozen fire". Weapons made of obsidian will pierce the Others' armor easily and kill them instantly. In death, the Others seem to melt into a pool of extremely cold liquid. Ancient texts also record a weakness to "dragonsteel", which some Night's Watchmen have speculated to be Valyrian steel. Dragon's flame is also able to destroy Others. Mance Rayder expressed belief that magic wards in the Wall prevent the Others from crossing into the Seven Kingdoms.

Creatures killed by the Others reanimate as undead zombies called wights. The bodies of wights are freezing cold and their eyes glow blue. Wights will attack any living creature around them with surprising strength, and with a certain amount of intelligence and memories of their previous life (as indicated by an assassination attempt of the Lord Commander of the Night Watch). They feel no pain and will continue to fight regardless of injury. Though they can be stopped by total dismemberment, their limbs will continue to move if detached from their bodies. They are highly flammable and will be quickly consumed if set aflame. The Others hold some form of power over wights and can gather them together to attack their enemies en masse. While it is unknown whether wights can cross the Wall on their own, corpses brought through the Wall can still reanimate as wights and even enter castles of the Wall.

Melisandre describes the Others as servants of "the great other", an evil god of darkness, cold, and death who wages eternal war with R'hllor.

The Second Sons
The Second Sons are a sellsword or mercenary company with a long history. Before the Battle of the Three Thousand, the Second Sons fled Qohor and left the city's Unsullied to defend it from an approaching Dothraki khalasar. Prince Oberyn Martell rode with the company for a time. By the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, the company numbers about five hundred soldiers, including lancers and mounted bowmen. They are led by Mero, a large Braavosi called the Titan's Bastard.

During Daenerys's campaign in Slaver's Bay, Yunkai hired the Second Sons to defend it against Daenerys's army of Unsullied. Daenerys gained an easy victory over the Second Sons by giving them a gift of wine and attacking during the night while they were inebriated. Mero escaped and mixed in with Daenerys's followers. He later attempted to kill her, but was thwarted by Ser Barristan Selmy. The remaining members of the company chose to ally with Daenerys, and elected Brown Ben Plumm as their new captain.

The Small Council
The small council is the ruling body of advisors to the King of the Seven Kingdoms. The council convenes in the Red Keep in King's Landing. All councilors are given the title of Lord regardless of their birth and station. A seat on the council is considered a great honor as well as a position of power. The Hand of the King sits on the council and often acts as its head in the King's absence. Two other seats are always reserved for the Grand Maester and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Other traditional seats include the Master of Coin, Master of Ships, Master of Laws, and Master of Whisperers. Additional advisors may also sit on the council. King Robert's council consists of Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Varys, Barristan Selmy, Petyr Baelish, and Grand Maester Pycelle.

After the death of Jon Arryn, King Robert appointed Eddard Stark as his new Hand of the King. After Robert's death, King Joffrey dismissed Eddard, Stannis and Renly from the council for treason. Lord Tywin Lannister was appointed in absentia as Joffrey's new Hand. Tywin sent Tyrion to act as Hand while he was at war. Doran Martell was also given a seat to secure his allegiance to King Joffrey. Once House Tyrell allied with House Lannister and Stannis was defeated at the Battle of the Blackwater, Mace Tyrell, Mathis Rowan, Paxter Redwyne, and Kevan Lannister were given seats on the council for their services. Tywin returned and claimed his position as Hand, giving Tyrion the position of Master of Coin that Petyr Baelish had vacated.

After the murders of Joffrey and Tywin, the council saw a radical change. Queen Regent Cersei dismissed Kevan for his refusal to accept the position of Hand. She also dismissed Lord Varys for suspicion of his involvement in the escape of Tyrion. She appointed Harys Swift as her Hand, Lord Orton Merryweather as Master of Laws, Gyles Rosby as Master of Coin. She also appointed the disgraced Maester Qyburn as the Master of Whisperers against Pycelle's objections, and the bastard-born Aurane Waters, as Master of Ships and Admiral of the Royal Fleet. After Lord Gyles died from a bloody cough, Cersei lowered Lord Harys to Master of Coin and rose Lord Orton to Hand.

After Cersei's imprisonment by the Faith, Orton resigned as hand and fled the city, Aurane left with the city's entire fleet. Grand Maester Pycelle and Lord Harys took control of young King Tommen and effectively made all his decisions for him. They ignored Cersei's requests for aid, dismissed Qyburn, and appointed Kevan Lannister to become Regent of the King (a position he has not yet officially accepted).

The Sorrowful Men
The Sorrowful Men belong to an ancient and sacred guild of assassins in Qarth. They are so named because they always whisper, "I am so sorry," before killing their victims. As assassins, they are not as prestigious or expensive as the Faceless Men.

A Sorrowful Man disguised as a merchant attempted to assassinate Daenerys Targaryen in Qarth. He presented a deadly manticore to her in a jeweled box and delivered his apology before Daenerys could react, but Arstan Whitebeard knocked the poisonous creature away before it struck and thwarted the assassination. Daenerys expressed no expectation of a second attempt by the Sorrowful Men.

The Stormcrows
The Stormcrows are a mercenary company that consist of about five hundred men. The company is primarily mounted, consisting of lancers and mounted bowmen with swords and axes for close work. They polish their helms to a shine and attach black feathers to them in order to distinguish themselves from other companies. The current captain of the company is Daario Naharis.

The company, along with the Second Sons, was hired by Yunkai to help defend it from Daenerys Targaryen's army during her campaign in Slaver's Bay. The slavers' army was primarily infantry, so having the two sellsword companies added cavalry to their defense. Prior to engaging the defending army, Daenerys decided to negotiate with the slavers and captains of the sellswords, hoping to turn the sellswords over to her side and lure the Wise Masters of Yunkai to release the city slaves. The three captains of the Stormcrows, Prendahl na Ghezn, Sallor the Bald and Daario Naharis, rejected her offer through their spokesman, Prendahl. Later that night, Daario Naharis was caught by sentries as he returned to Daenerys. He brought her the heads of his two former co-captains, and offered his and his company's service to Daenerys on the condition that he be sole captain of the company. She tentatively accepts his offer, commanding him to attack the Yunkai'i army in the rear after the battle has begun. Aware that she may be betrayed, she was pleasantly surprised when the Stormcrows fulfilled their commitment. They have since attached themselves to Daenerys's service.

Following the defeat of Meereen, Daario Naharis and the Stormcrows were dispatched to convince the Lhazareen to reopen the overland trade routes.

Unsullied
The Unsullied are eunuch slave soldiers, trained from a young age in Astapor to unquestioning obedience and martial prowess. They fight in formation as light infantry, equipped with short spears, swords, round shields, and distinctive spiked caps. Their training is brutal, designed not only to teach them how to fight, but to strip away all individuality, empathy, and self-worth. They regularly consume an elixir called the Wine of Courage to deaden their sensitivity to pain. Every day they choose new names at random by drawing tokens from a bucket, each consisting of a color and a type of vermin, such as "Grey Worm". Slaves that fail any aspect of their training are killed. Only a third of the slaves to enter training survive to become Unsullied. The results are elite, highly specialized soldiers that fight fearlessly and without question. Though they have a reputation as the best soldiers in the world, Unsullied are not nearly as effective when out of their phalanx formation.

During her campaign in Slaver's Bay, Daenerys Targaryen purchased every Unsullied soldier and trainee in Astapor in order to turn them on their former masters and take the city. In the aftermath, Daenerys freed all of her Unsullied, who unanimously volunteered to follow her as free soldiers. Daenerys commanded them to pick permanent names and form ranks although it was against tradition. With all the Astapori slavers killed, Unsullied training ceased for a while, until the Butcher King Cleon took control of the city from the council appointed by Daenerys. Cleon resumed training Unsullied, this time enslaving sons of former Astapori nobility.

The warlocks of Qarth
The warlocks of Qarth practice mystical arts and aspire to greater knowledge and understanding, along with the power of immortality. They are led by the Undying Ones, extremely old warlocks who reside in a large tower in the city of Qarth, called the House of the Undying or the Palace of Dust. The warlocks drink a hallucinogenic elixir called "shade of the evening" (See also deadly nightshade) made from the blue leaves of a tree, which turns their lips blue after many years.

The Undying Ones sent their agent, Pyat Pree, to Daenerys Targaryen to convince her to seek their aid and wisdom. Against the advice of Jorah, Xaro, and her bloodriders, Daenerys entered the House of the Undying. There, she witnessed many visions, some of the past and some that may foretell the future. In the final chamber, the Undying Ones revealed their true intentions and tried to kill her. Drogon set the tower aflame and Daenerys managed to escape. As the tower burnt down and killed the Undying Ones, Pyat Pree attacked Daenerys, but was stopped by her bodyguards. Left alive, Pyat Pree and the surviving warlocks gather, with the aim of getting revenge on Daenerys.

Wildlings
A wildling is, by definition, any person that lives North of the Wall, although they refer to themselves as the Free Folk. These people are viewed as barbarians by those south of the Wall, people viewed by the wildlings as weak and soft. There are tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of wildlings split into hundreds of tribes, clans, villages and raiding parties. Some, such as the Thenn, live in tightly knit communities while others are seminomadic loners, held down only by their own needs. While there is often conflict between the wildlings and the "crows", the two groups are not beyond some form of cooperation, as lost Brothers have been aided by wildlings and the Watch is not beyond taking wildling children and raising them to be Brothers of the Watch. In recent times, there has been a lot of activity north of the wall as a wildling-born deserter of the Brotherhood, Mance Rayder, gathers wildling forces around him.

Known Wildlings

 * Mance Rayder, known as the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Captured after the Battle of Castle Black.
 * Craster, holds a keep near the Wall and gives begrudging aid to rangers. Murdered along with Lord Commander Jeor Mormont by rangers after the battle on The Fist of First Men.
 * Dalla, wife of Mance Rayder. Died in childbirth after the Battle of Castle Black.
 * Harma, called "Dogshead", an infamous female raider and cynophobe. Killed during the Battle of Castle Black.
 * The Lord of Bones, mocked by rangers (and some wildlings) as "Rattleshirt", a sadistic raider who wears armor made of bone. Captured after the Battle of Castle Black.
 * Orell, a raider and skinchanger. He was killed by Jon Snow while his mind inhabited an eagle. A part of his consciousness became permanently trapped in the eagle, causing it to hate Jon Snow.
 * Osha, wildling woman taken captive by forces of House Stark south of the Wall. Spared execution in exchange for service, she became a guardian and companion to Rickon Stark.
 * Styr, the Magnar of Thenn, chieftain of the Thenns, a warlike wildling tribe. Killed during the Battle of Castle Black.
 * Tormund, known as "Giant's Bane", among other things, a raider prone to tall tales.
 * Val, sister of Dalla. Imprisoned after the Battle of Castle Black.
 * Varamyr "Sixskins", a diminutive skinchanger who is accompanied by three wolves, a snowbear and a shadowcat. After Orell's death, Varamyr took control of his eagle and used it to scout during the battle of Castle Black. Melisandre killed the eagle while Varamyr inhabited it, causing him to go mad.
 * Ygritte, red-haired lover to Jon Snow. Killed in the Battle of Castle Black.