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has taken me so long to do it/complete it, hell if you've read any of the books you'll understand that explaining the series is no simple task. I'm going to explain the major houses and what I think are important aspects of A Song of Ice and Fire
This is a long post so settle in and get ready!
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of novels written by George RR Martin. There are 5 books in total that are completed, apparently there were going to be 7 books but GRRM has stated he might have to extend the series to 8 books. The first book, A Game of Thrones, has been adapted by HBO into a television series, which finished in June, and a second season is currently being filmed. The series takes place in an alternate medieval reality and mostly centers around the kingdom of Westeros, but surrounding countries and their people do come into play as well.
Westeros is made up of seven separate kingdoms or regions but is ruled by a singular king. To help the king govern/rule, there are several noble families throughout Westeros. Each family has their own sigil, a coat of arms which depict the families' colours and a picture which represents the house they are a part of. Each family also has 'words', kind of like a family motto. These noble families have bannermen, lesser lords and knights who are loyal them and who can be called upon to fight with their liege lord, which of course creates complications when serving your lord conflicts with serving the king. (which does happen FYI)
Its important to note that the seasons are not set like ours, seasons can last years on end. For example in A Game of Thrones, we learn that the summer has lasted 9 years and SPOILER ALERT: its ending. We are told that a long summer is usually followed by a long winter. This is important!
There are many noble families in Westeros but I will only explain the main families that appear in the first book.
House Stark
Sigil: A grey direwolf on a white field
Words: Winter is Coming
Ancestral Home: Winterfell, North of the Neck or simply the North
House Stark is made up of Lord Eddard Stark, his wife Lady Catelyn Stark (nee Tully), their five children, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. Also part of their household is Eddard's (Ned) bastard son Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy, the son of Lord Balon Greyjoy who is the ward of Lord Stark. Ned also has a younger brother Benjen, who is part of the Night's watch, which I will explain later on. The Starks were once kings of the north, until one of their ancestors Torrhen Stark submitted to Ageon the conqeror, who basically centralized power in Westeros. Ned is the second son of Rickard Stark. His elder brother Brandon and his father were killed by the previous king, Areys Targaryen, their deaths along with the kidnapping of his sister Lyanna by the Prince, ignited the rebellion that placed Ned's best friend Robert Baratheon on the Irone Throne.
At the beginning of A Game of Thrones a direwolf is found dead, her 6 cubs orphaned. There are 6 cubs for each of Ned Stark's children. Grey Wind is Robb's wolf; Lady is Sansa's wolf; Nymeria is Ayra's wolf; Summer is Bran's wolf; Shaggydog is Rickon's wolf (in his defense he's like 3 in the books); and finally Ghost is Jon's wolf. Each wolf is important to the Stark children, they reflect their personality and even serve as protectors for the children.
Unlike the other houses in Westeros the Starks, who are descended from the First Men, worship the old gods, whose names are forgotten. All that is left from the old religion are the faces carved into weirwood trees. Those who worship the old gods pray at the base of these trees.
The entire series sort of focuses on the Stark family and all they have to deal with, so they are an important family within A Song of Ice and Fire.
House Baratheon
Sigil: A black crowned stag on a gold background
Words: Ours is the fury
Ancestral Home: Storm's End, The Stormlands
House Baratheon is made up of King Robert Baratheon, who rules all of the seven kingdoms. His wife Queen Cersei Baratheon (nee Lannister). Their three children, Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen. Also there is Robert's younger brother Stannis, his wife Selyse (nee Florent), and their daughter Shireen. Lastly there is Renly, Robert and Stannis' youngest brother.
The kidnapping of his betrothed Lyanna Stark and the murder of her father and eldest brother at the hands of the "Mad King", Areys Targaryen, ignited the rebellion that saw House Targaryen fall, and Robert on the throne. Lyanna died before her marriage to Robert, so Lord Jon Arryn arranged for him to marry Cersei Lannister instead. Robert never got over Lyanna, which contributed to a tumultuous, loveless, marriage with Cersei.
After the rebellion Robert gave Renly the ancestral seat of House Baratheon at Storm's End and he gave Stannis the ancestral seat of the Targaryen's, Dragonstone.
House Targaryen
Sigil: A red three headed dragon on a black background.
Words: Fire and Blood
Ancestral Home: Dragonstone
The last remaining members of House Targaryen are King Viserys and Princess Daenerys. During the rebellion their father King Areys was murdered by Jaime Lannister. Their older brother Prince Rhaegar, who was heir to the throne, was killed by Robert Baratheon in The Battle on the Trident. Rhaegar's wife Princess Elia (nee Martell) and their children Princess Rhaenys and Prince Ageon were murdered by Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch on the order of Tywin Lannister. Their mother, Queen Rhaella, who was pregnant with Daenerys during the rebellion, was able to escape to Dragonstone with Viserys. She died soon after the birth of her daughter.
The Targaryen's now live in exile across the narrow sea, evading King Robert's assassins. In an attempt to win back his rightful place on the throne Viserys, marries his sister off to a Dothraki horse lord Khal Drogo, making her Khalessi.
The Targaryen's ruled Westeros for over 300 before the rebellion. They believed in keeping bloodlines pure, marrying brother to sister, which explains the 'madness' prevalent within the Targaryen family. Typical features of the Targaryen's are silver hair and violet eyes. The Targaryens were the only ones who could tame and controll dragons, which aided in Ageon the Conqueror in winning Westeros, and it is believed they can tolerate hotter temperatures than the average person. However dragons have been extinct for just over a century when A Game of Thrones begins
House Tully
Sigil: A silver trout leaping on a background of red and blue
Words: Family, Duty, Honour
Ancestral Home: Riverrun, the Riverlands
House Tully is made up of Lord Hoster Tully, his son and heir Edmure Tully, and Hoster's only brother Brenden "Blackfish" Tully. His eldest daughter Catelyn is married to Eddard Stark, his second daughter Lysa, is Jon Arryn's widow. Hoster's wife Minisa (nee Whent) died giving birth to Edmure.
When his daughters were young Lord Tully fostered Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, who became close friends with both Tully sisters. He was however, later sent away when Hoster discovered that he had impregnated Lysa, although it was Catelyn whom Petyr truly loved. Lysa was forced to abort her child.
House Lannister
Sigil: A golden lion on a crimson background
Words: Hear me roar
Ancestral Home: Casterly Rock, the Westerlands
House Lannister is made up of Lord Tywin Lannister, his eldest son Jaime, and his youngest son Tyrion. Tywin's only daughter and Jaime's twin sister Queen Cersei is married to King Robert Baratheon. Also a part of House Lannister is Kevan Lannister, Tywin's younger brother and his closest advisor, as well as Kevan's children Lancel, Willem, Martyn and Janei. Tywin's wife, Lady Joanna Lannister died while giving birth to Tyrion.
Jaime Lannister is a member of the kingsguard a brotherhood sworn to protect the king and the royal family. Kingsguard members forsake any claims to land and cannot marry, they will die in the service of the king. When Jaime murdered King Areys he was nicknamed 'Kingslayer' which is considered as a type of insult, he was however pardoned by Robert Baratheon when he took the throne and was able to remain a part of the brotherhood.
Tyrion is a dwarf and he is nicknamed 'The Imp'. He is the youngest son of Lord Tywin and Lady Joanna. He is unloved by his father and sister, only his brother Jaime loves him and accepts him. Tyrion is fond of drinking and whoring much to the chagrin of his father.
Lord Tywin was "Hand of the King" for King Areys but when his proposal to marry Cersei to Rhaegar was refused, Tywin left King's Landing. It is believed that this rebuff was the reason why Tywin supported the rebellion against the Targaryen's. Lord Tywin is responsible for the murder of Princess Elia and her two children.
House Lannister is the richest family in the Seven Kingdoms due to the gold mines that lie within their kingdom. The king often borrows money from his father in law, which gives the Lannisters a lot of power within Westeros.
House Tyrell
Sigil: A golden rose on a green background
Words: Growing Strong
Ancestral Home: Highgarden, The Reach
(House Tyrell is massive so I will only mention Lord Tyrell and his immediate family)
House Tyrell is made up of Lord Mace Tyrell, his wife Lady Alerie Hightower; his eldest son and heir Willas Tyrell; his second son Garlan Tyrell; youngest son Loras Tyrell often called "The Knight of the Flowers"; his daughter Margaery Tyrell; and his mother Olenna Redwyn also referred to as the Queen of Thorns.
In the first book not too much is mentioned of the Tyrells beyond Loras, they do however a play bigger role in the subsequent novels, and are still an important family in Westeros.
House Arryn
Sigil: A white moon and eagle on a blue background
Words: As high as honour
Ancestral Home: The Eyrie, The Vale
House Arryn is made up of Lord Robert (sometimes called Sweet Robyn) Arryn; and his mother Lady Lysa Arryn (nee Tully). Lord Robert's father, Lord Jon Arryn was Hand of the King for King Robert but mysteriously fell sick and died. Lysa believes he was murdered. Lord Robert is only six years old, he is a frail sickly child, and he is suffers from fits. He is the only surviving child of Lord Jon and Lady Lysa Arryn who suffered many miscarriages and stillbirths. Many people believe the reason for this was because Jon Arryn was decades older than Lysa, in fact he is several years older than his father-in-law Hoster Tully.
Jon Arryn fostered Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark when they were boys, and supported them in their rebellion against the Targaryens.
House Martell
Sigil: A gold spear piercing a red sun
Words: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Ancestral Home: Sunspear, Dorne
House Martell is made up of Prince Doran, his children Princess Arianne, Prince Quentyn, and his brother Prince Oberyn nicknamed the Red Viper. Prince Oberyn also has eight bastard daughters which have been nicknamed the Sandsnakes.
Unlike other houses in Westeros, House Martell practices equal primogeniture, which means the eldest child inheirts the titles and lands no matter what their sex. So in this case Arianne will inherit her father's seat not her brother. The Martells resisted the Targaryen's rule (often by force) until a marriage between the two houses (not the marriage between Elia and Rhaegar) brought peace, this is why Martells have distinct cultural practices among the major houses of Westeros.
House Greyjoy
Sigil: A golden Kraken on a black background
Words: We do not sow
Ancestral Home: Pyke, Iron Islands
House Greyjoy is made of up of Lord Balon Greyjoy, his son Theon who has been fostered by the Starks, his daughter Asha, and his brothers Euron, Victorian, and Aeron. The Greyjoys rule the Iron Islands and once led a rebellion against King Robert, they were however defeated and Balon's son Theon was taken as a hostage and fostered by Ned Stark to ensure that Balon would not raise another rebellion.
The "Iron Born" do not worship the same gods as the other Houses in Westeros, they worship the "Drowned God" as it is by sea that they make their living. Aeron is now a priest serving the Drowned God and is referred to as Damphair.
The Wall
The Wall is an architectural wonder and was built by Brandon "The Builder" Stark. It separates the kingdom of Westeros and the uncivilized land in the North. The wall is made entirely of ice, its 300 leagues long and 700 leagues high. It was built to protect the realm from Wildlings (uncivilized people) and the Others.
The Others
The Others are a race of humanoids. They have pale white skin, and blue fiery eyes. They are described as demons who hate all living things. They fight with crystal swords and ride the corpses of dead animals. The attack in the cold dark night, and move swiftly and in silence, and are nearly invisible when they attack. The Others are difficult to kill but they can be defeated with Obsidian also known as dragonglass, and it is also believed that Valyrian steel or dragonsteel can also harm them. However the Others or Whitewalkers have not been seen for 8000 years and they are widely believed to only be a myth.
The Night's Watch
The Night's Watch is a sworn brotherhood of men who forsake all their titles, claims, and land to protect the realm of men. They cannot marry, produce children, and they must be celibate. The Night's Watch all dress in black, a physical marker that shows that the Night's Watch does not partake in the politics of the South. What once was a great honour has now deteriorated to an almost exile where criminals, bastards, peasants, and younger sons born of noble houses go to scratch out a life for themselves. Jon Snow and his Uncle, Benjen Stark are men of the Night's Watch.
Bastards
Bastards in Westeros cannot inherit any titles or lands from either of their parents, nor do they share the last names of either their father or mother, instead Bastards are given the last names according to their region. For example because he is born in the north Ned's son Jon is given the surname Snow; Prince Oberyn's daughters, all bastards, are given the last name Sand because they were born in Dorne. Bastards are thought to be naturally lusty and treacherous as they were born out of sexual desire and deceit. However, depending on the father of the child, they may grow up in relative comfort or they may be forgotten (if even acknowledged at all) and neglected.
The Faith of the Seven
The faith of the seven is a religion, that worships the seven reflections of a single god; they are The Smith, who represents labour and craftsmanship; The Maiden, who represents chastity and innocence; The Warrior who represents strength in battle; The Crone, who represents wisdom; The Stranger, who represents death and the unknown; The Father, who represents justice; and The Mother, who represents fertility and motherhood. The Faith of the Seven is practiced by nearly everyone in the seven kingdoms except for the Iron Born and those in the North who worship the old gods.
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