Game of Thrones Houses Infographic

0: Game of Thrones

1: Lord Eddar "Ned" Stark

Eddard Stark, informally called "Ned", is Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He is a POV character. He and Catelyn Tully Stark have five children, and he claims a bastard son, Jon Snow. Eddard is known for his sense of honor and justice; he dislikes deceit, intrigue, and secrecy. Though his family finds him kind, some consider his reserved personality a sign of coldness and disdain. Ned is also a devout follower of the Old Gods, the gods of the First Men. These gods are also said to be the gods of the children of the forest, original inhabitants of Westeros.

Ned was fostered by Jon Arryn at the Eyrie, alongside Robert Baratheon. Ned befriended Robert, and came to consider Lord Arryn a second father. King Aerys II demanded that Arryn send him the heads of the two wards. Arryn refused, launching a rebellion in which Ned and Robert joined as lords of their houses and chief commanders. Shortly before the final battles of the rebellion, Ned married Catelyn Tully, who had been betrothed to Ned's brother Brandon before his death. Ned was present, along with Howland Reed, at a tower on the Dornish border known as the "Tower of Joy" when his sister Lyanna died there, an incident that haunted Ned ever after.

Once the conflict had ended and Robert had taken the throne, Ned returned home, bringing with him a bastard son, Jon, about whose origins he refused to speak. He spent the next fifteen years as Lord of Winterfell. He rarely left his lands, and did not involve himself in the complex intrigues of the southern courts.

King Robert travelled to Winterfell to ask Eddard to replace Arryn as Hand of the King, the monarch's closest advisor. Ned wanted to decline, but went south at his wife's urging to investigate Arryn's death. He discovered that Robert's children were actually sired by Cersei's brother,Jaime Lannister. Pursuing his usual forthright, honorable approach, he confronted Cersei, giving her opportunity to flee in disgrace. Instead, Cersei used her time to orchestrate Robert's assassination. Cersei imprisoned Ned for treason and her council arranged banishment for a plea bargain. However, Joffrey capriciously had him publicly beheaded, against Cersei and her council's wishes.

Eddard Stark is played by Sean Bean in the HBO adaption of the books.

2: King Robert Baratheon

At the beginning of the novels Robert Baratheon has been king of Westeros for 15 years. During his youth he was a formidable warrior, but now he is described as a bearded fat man, fond of hunting, wenching, and drinking.

Robert was fostered at the Eyrie along with Eddard Stark of the North. The two became close to each other and also to their foster father Lord Jon Arryn. He later became betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna Stark, whom he loved deeply although from a distance.

Hearing that Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna, Robert was outraged. Brandon Stark, Lyanna's brother, rode to King's Landing to rescue her, but he was captured and executed by King Aerys. Eventually Aerys ordered Jon Arryn to give him the heads of Robert and Eddard Stark. Jon Arryn instead rose in rebellion against Aerys thereby beginning Robert's Rebellion/ War of the Usurper. Though Robert won his war and killed Rhaegar personally on the Trident, Robert did not get Lyanna back, as she died under unknown circumstances. Robert was thereafter haunted by her memory, and bore a deep hatred against Targaryens in general and Rhaegar in particular.

In the aftermath of the war, Robert assumed the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. He married Cersei Lannister to cement her family's loyalty to his rule. He named Jon Arryn his Hand of the King and left much of the governance of the realm in Arryn's hands. Fond of feasts, celebrations, and tourneys, Robert squandered the vast treasury left by King Aerys eventually leaving the crown heavily in debt. He was killed by a wild boar while hunting, leaving the realm divided. His squire, Lancel Lannister, contributed to his death by fortifying his wine to make it more potent so he was more drunk than usual when he squared off against the boar. This led to the War of the Five Kings, during which most of the novels take place.

Robert Baratheon is played by Mark Addy in the HBO adaption of the books.

3: Theon Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy, a POV character, is the son and heir apparent of Balon Greyjoy. He was taken hostage and raised as a ward by Eddard Stark at Winterfell for ten years. He is caught between the Stark and Greyjoy worlds, belonging to neither in full.

Theon was raised with the Stark children and tutored along with them in all disciplines. He became close friends with Robb Stark, and supported him in several battles after Eddard's death. Robb sent him to the Ironborn's islands to seek a Stark/Greyjoy alliance. His Greyjoy family criticized Theon's mainland ways and rejected Robb's proposal. Balon sent him to raid the northern shores, but he ignored those orders and captured Winterfell in an attempt to win his family's esteem. Bran and Rickon Stark escaped. After a fruitless search, Theon killed two peasant boys, deceiving both Winterfell and the rest of Westeros into believing the corpses belonged to Bran and Rickon, consolidating his victory. Theon held Winterfell for a short time, but was ultimately captured and taken to Roose Bolton's Dreadfort. He remains there as prisoner. Some of the Ironborn, including his sister Asha, believe him dead.

4: Princess Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys Targaryen aka Daenerys Stormborn or Dany is a fictional POV character from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. She is a beautiful girl with silver hair and violet eyes, and one of the last members of the ancient Targaryen Dynasty, the former royal family ofWesteros.

Daenerys' pregnant mother and her brother Viserys Targaryen fled to the island fortress of Dragonstone, where her mother died in labor during a monstrous storm. Shortly thereafter, Dragonstone fell to the rebel forces and Daenerys and Viserys were smuggled away to the Free City ofBraavos.

In the years that followed, she and Viserys wandered among the nine Free Cities looking for aid to retake the Iron Throne. Daenarys at the beginning of the series was a very beautiful but shy and meek young woman who was terrified of her brother Viserys' temper. In the Free City of Pentos, the Targaryens were the guests of Illyrio Mopatis, a rich and powerful magister. Illyrio and Viserys arranged to marry the thirteen-year-old Daenerys to Khal Drogo, a warlord of nomadic Dothraki. Viserys hoped to gain Drogo's army to conquer Westeros. At her wedding, she received a set of three petrified dragon eggs from Illyrio. Although she was frightened by Drogo at first, the fierce warlord proved to be gentle and considerate toward his young bride, and she grew to love him. The freedom and power of her new role as khaleesi (queen) helped Daenerys blossom into a strong and confident young woman, even beginning to stand up to Viserys.

Daenerys, her brother, and the khalasar traveled east to Vaes Dothrak, where Daenerys was presented to the crones, who prophesied that her child would be a long-prophesized Dothraki conqueror. Viserys grew increasingly impatient, demanding that Drogo help him retake his crown. This led Khal Drogo to "crown" him by dumping a pot of molten gold over his head, killing him.

Daenerys took pity on a slave, a maegi and wise woman. Drogo was wounded severely in battle, and was near death. Danaerys ordered the wise woman to save his life. A blood magic ritual went horribly wrong, ending with Dany's unborn child being slain in her womb by the magical forces and Drogo reduced to a zombie-like state. Daenerys ended Drogo's life herself, and entered the flames of his funeral pyre with her dragon eggs. This hatched the eggs, birthing the first three dragons in the known world for centuries. Daenerys herself remained unburned, and she became the first female Dothraki leader, a khal in her own right.

Daenerys sent out scouts in all directions. One returned with three emissaries from Qarth. Daenerys accompanied them to Qarth, hoping for aid in conquering Westeros, but the merchants of Qarth were only interested in obtaining her dragons. A warlock invited her to visit his leaders, the Undying Ones. Daenerys realized that the warlocks were plotting against her. Daenerys considered the suggestion of the third emissary, a masked woman from Asshai, that she must go further east to conquer the west.

In Qarth an assassin tried to kill Dany, but an old man (actually Barristan Selmy in disguise) intervened. He and a eunuch revealed themselves as agents of magister Illyrio. Illyrio had sent three merchant ships to transport Dany and her people to Pentos. Daenerys claimed the three ships and their cargo for her own, and continued to the east.

Daenerys next traveled to Slaver's Bay, a region whose cities thrived on the sale and labor of slaves. In Astapor, she purchased an army of elite eunuch slave soldiers called The Unsullied. She used them to conquer the city and then freed them, but they decided to follow her. She set out for the city of Yunkai. Daenerys convinced the Yunkai forces to switch sides. The entire Yunkish army was slain, captured, or put to flight and Yunkai surrendered a few days later.

Near Meereen, Daenerys was nearly killed, but Arstan Whitebeard slew the assassin and revealed himself as Barristan Selmy. He claimed he had sought her out as the true heir to the Seven Kingdoms. Selmy also revealed that Daenerys's trusted sworn knight had been sending reports on her actions to King's Landing, hoping for a pardon from King Robert. Daenerys felt betrayed by each of them, though both fervently wished to atone for their actions. The city was won with minimal blood. Having captured Meereen, Dany turned her eyes toward Westeros, but learned that there was much she did not know about ruling.

Daenarys Targaryen was to be played by Tamzin Merchant in the HBO adaption of the books. However, on April 29, 2010, it was announced that Merchant was no longer part of the series, her role as Daenerys has been recast and Emilia Clarke will now play Daenerys Targaryen.

5: Jaime Lannister

Younger twin to Cersei, and son of Tywin and Joanna, Jaime Lannister (a POV character) is one of the most famous knights in all of Westeros. He became a knight and ascended to the Kingsguard. Two years after his induction he murdered the mad king during the sack of King's Landing, earning him the epithet "Kingslayer". He shares his sister's arrogance, amorality, and striking good looks. In A Storm of Swords he becomes a point-of-view character.

Jaime was an immensely talented warrior from his youth. He gained honors for valor in the field during the suppression of the Kingswood Brotherhood and was invited to join the Kingsguard at the age of 15, becoming its youngest ever member. It was a great honor; however, his true reason for accepting was to be closer to his lover, his own twin sister Cersei. The honor was tarnished when he realized that his appointment was a way for King Aerys to deprive the powerful Lord Lannister of his eldest son and heir, since knights of the Kingsguard renounce their lands and titles and take a vow of celibacy. Seeing Aerys's true purpose, Tywin resigned as Hand, and returned with Cersei to Casterly Rock. With his sister gone, and tasked with guarding a king he now realized to be insane and cruel, Jaime became increasingly disenchanted with his role.

During Robert's Rebellion, Aerys kept Jaime out of the fighting to secure the continued loyalty of the Lannisters. However, after the Battle of the Trident, Jaime discovered that Aerys planned to burn King's Landing and all of its inhabitants rather than let Robert Baratheon take them. When Tywin Lannister tricked Aerys into letting his troops into King's Landing and began to sack the city, King Aerys attempted to put this plan into action. Jaime responded by killing the king, earning him the epithet "Kingslayer" and a reputation as an evil and dishonorable man. Jaime later reflected that he is often reviled for what he considers to be his finest act.

Jaime is arrogant, impulsive and amoral. He attempted to protect the secret of his incestuous relationship with Cersei by throwing the seven year old Bran Stark from a high window at Winterfell. He was captured by Robb Stark and spent much of the War of the Five Kings imprisoned at the Tully stronghold of Riverrun. He was freed by Catelyn Stark in exchange for the freedom of her daughters Sansa and Aryaand his oath to never take arms against the Starks or Tullys again.

During his journey back to King's Landing, Jaime's sword hand was cut off by his father's former sell-swords. Having lost his identity-defining martial prowess and with the example of the honorable Brienne of Tarth, Jaime began to re-evaluate his life. He managed to defeat the Tullys without actually taking up arms against them, and has dispatched Brienne to rescue the Stark girls and keep them safe from his family. Since leaving King's Landing, Jaime has also been training with Ser Ilyn Payne. While he hopes to eventually learn to fight left-handed, his progress has been very slow.

Jaime Lannister is played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the HBO adaption of the books.

6: Tyrion Lannister

yrion Lannister, (a POV character from the start of the series) is Tywin's third child, a highly intelligent dwarf mockingly nicknamed "The Imp" and "Halfman". Though Tyrion shares his father's talent for political maneuvering, he receives little respect from Tywin because of his deformity, sharp tongue, penchant for whoring, and the death of his mother during his birth. He is capable of cruelty to his enemies, but also has great sympathy for fellow outcasts and the mistreated. Overall, Tyrion is a classical quick-witted trickster figure.

Tyrion joined the royal family on their fateful trip to Winterfell, after which he visited The Wall. Jon Snow and Tyrion came to be unlikely friends during this time, brought together by their common lot in life as outcasts.

On Tyrion's return south, Catelyn Stark arrested him as the attempted murderer of her son Bran Stark and brought him to the Eyrie, seat of the deceased Jon Arryn and his widow, Lysa, Catelyn's sister. There Lysa Arryn put him on trial for that crime, as well as the murder of her late husband Jon Arryn. Tyrion escaped punishment with the victory of his champion, the sellsword Bronn, in a trial by combat. After leaving the Eyrie, he recruited the fierce and undisciplined mountain clans of the Vale with promise of steel and glory. Back at court in King's Landing, Tyrion suspected that he would need protectors against his family members, including possible assassination attempts from his sister, Cersei.

Tywin made Tyrion his temporary replacement as Hand of the King. Tyrion entered a bitter power struggle with Cersei, and consistently outplotted her. He also arranged for wildfire-filled ships and a massive chain boom that eventually devastated Stannis Baratheon's fleet during the Battle of the Blackwater, contributing greatly to the victory against Stannis. Stannis' men attempted to breach a major city gate. Tyrion alone seemed to appreciate the gravity of the situation and led a sortie beyond the walls to secure the gate area. Riding a horse and wielding an appropriately sized battle-axe, Tyrion led his men, unexpectedly experiencing the adrenaline-fueled high of "battle fever". He then took a severe facial wound (the loss of most of his nose) in an assassination attempt during the fighting. During recovery, he (correctly) suspected that Cersei was to blame.

Forced into a political marriage with Sansa Stark. Tyrion took pity on his unwilling bride and did not force consummation. The two were wrongfully accused of the murder of King Joffrey; however, Sansa fled, and only Tyrion stood trial. Cersei's champion was the formidableGregor Clegane. The notoriously skilled duelist Prince Oberyn Martell volunteered to champion Tyrion. Gregor Clegane managed to kill Oberyn, and Tyrion was condemned to death. However, he was secretly freed from his prison cell by his brother Jaime and a reluctant Varys. Before leaving the castle, Tyrion visited his father's room via the secret tunnels, and killed him in cold blood.

Tyrion has since fled across the narrow sea, his motives unknown even to himself.

Tyrion is played by Peter Dinklage (the top choice of many of the fans and the series author George R. R. Martin as well)^[1] in the HBOadaption of the books.

7: Catelyn Stark

Catelyn Tully Stark (a POV character) is Hoster's eldest child and once his heir until the birth of her brother. She is the wife of Eddard Starkof Winterfell and mother of their five children, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon. Catelyn is seen as honorable and upright by acquaintances, holding duty over desire as a governing principle of behavior. She has a deep love for family and a strong faith in the Seven. However, she regards Jon Snow as an outsider to her family, and has never forgiven Eddard for bringing him into her household. She has a strong and stately beauty, with auburn hair, blue eyes, and long fingers.

After Bran was attacked by an assassin, Catelyn traveled to King's Landing to inform Eddard. There, Petyr Baelish told her that the dagger used in the attack belonged to Tyrion Lannister. Attempting to return home unseen in order to prepare for possible war, she encountered and arrested Tyrion, taking him to the Vale of Arryn for trial, where he escaped execution. This arrest was a casus belli of the war that followed.

Catelyn met her son Robb and aided him in leading his rebellion against King Joffrey. She traveled to Bitterbridge in an attempt to broker an alliance with surviving Baratheon brothers Stannis and Renly, but was unsuccessful. She witnessed Renly's murder and took Brienne of Tarthinto her service as an armswoman. The two returned to Riverrun, and Catelyn attempted to persuade her brother Edmure out of his shortsighted plans to attack Tywin Lannister's men at Stone Mill, again to no avail. Upon hearing of her younger sons' murder at the hand ofTheon Greyjoy, she freed prized Stark war hostage Jaime Lannister in a covert attempt to exchange him for her daughters, captives at King's Landing.

Robb placed Catelyn under house arrest at Riverrun, but allowed her to attend Edmure's wedding at the Twins. Despite her wariness throughout the ceremony, she, Robb, and many of Robb's men were murdered by members of House Frey, an act of treachery that earned it the name "The Red Wedding". Three days later she was resurrected by Beric Dondarrion, who gave his life for hers. Her face remains mutilated, her throat is still slit, leaving her limited ability to speak, and she is able to go without sleep. She became consumed with the desire for vengeance over her family's betrayal and murder. She took the name "Lady Stoneheart" and assumed command of Dondarrion's outlaw band the Brotherhood Without Banners. She led the Brotherhood to mercilessly pursuing and executing everyone she perceived to be a traitor.

Catelyn Stark is played by Michelle Fairley in the HBO adaption of the books.

8: Petyr Baelish

Lord Petyr Baelish, nicknamed "Littlefinger," serves as Master of Coin (treasurer) of the Seven Kingdoms at the beginning of the series. He is described as handsome, but quite short. Though a lord, his ancestral holding is an extremely small and poor stretch of land on the Fingers. His nickname (bestowed by Edmure Tully in childhood) is a disparaging reference to his holdings, in addition to being a bawdy play on words.

Petyr is a childhood friend of Catelyn and Lysa Tully. He loved Catelyn, while Lysa loved him. Eventually, he challenged Brandon Stark for Catelyn's hand in marriage, but was defeated. During his fevered convalescence, Lysa had a sexual relationship with him and conceived. LordHoster Tully banished Petyr from his house and had Lysa drink a potion to abort the pregnancy. Subsequently, he has claimed at court and in private that he had deflowered both of the Tully girls; it is unclear what Baelish truly believes happened and what, in fact, did happen.

Lysa remained devoted to Petyr after the incident, convincing her elderly husband Jon Arryn to appoint Petyr to a financial post for the king. A combination of brilliance at both finance and intrigue fueled his quick rise to the position of Master of Coin.

For recruiting House Tyrell to the Lannister's side, Petyr received Harrenhal, the largest castle in the realm, and nominal authority over the war-torn Riverlands, which technically made Baelish a high lord. His new status allowed him to marry the widowed Lysa Arryn. After her death, he added the title of Lord Protector of the Vale of Arryn.

Petyr is the mastermind behind much of the political turmoil that occurs in the novels, and is arguably the secret architect of the entire War of the Five Kings: Petyr arranged the assassination of Jon Arryn, by manipulating Jon's wife Lysa to poison him and then write a secret letter to Catelyn Stark framing the Lannisters for it. Petyr further aggravated the Stark-Lannister divide when, after Joffrey arranged an attack on Bran Stark's life, Petyr lied to Catelyn and claimed the dagger used in the assassination attempt belonged to Tyrion Lannister.

After the final defeat of House Stark in the Red Wedding, Petyr arranged (with Olenna Tyrell) to assassinate King Joffrey at his wedding (again, Tyrion was blamed for the deed). Petyr smuggled Sansa Stark out of King's Landing and brought her to the Vale, disguised as his bastard daughter. He now claims that he has plans to help Sansa regain the North and has arranged for her betrothal to Harry Hardyng (heir to the Vale of Arryn should Robert Arryn die). He has made advances on Sansa himself, claiming she looks much like her mother.

The role of Petyr Baelish will be played by Aidan Gillen in the HBO adaption of the books.

9: Prince Joffrey Baratheon

Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the three royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old at the beginning of the series. Joffrey is a strong-willed child and has a vicious temper and an unchecked sadistic streak. As a Lannister, he is tall, blonde, and handsome. Raised as Robert's son, he was actually fathered by Jaime Lannister. Robert never questioned Joffrey's parentage, but he was never fond or close to the child.

Along with the rest of the royal family, Joffrey made the trip to Winterfell after Jon Arryn's death. He began to court pretty Sansa Stark, Eddard's daughter to whom he was betrothed. After an incident with the fiery young Arya Stark, his true personality showed through his polished manners, which earned him Arya's hatred.

As the new Hand of the King, Eddard Stark discovered that Joffrey and his siblings were actually born of incest between Cersei and her brother Jaime. To protect this secret Cersei arranged for Robert's death and then arrested Eddard. Young Joffrey took the Iron Throne as Robert's heir. Sansa pleaded with Joffrey, who promised banishment for Eddard, but instead ordered his public beheading before Sansa's own eyes. This act was the major trigger that plunged Westeros into the War of the Five Kings. Joffrey ruled with whim and caprice, overriding his advisors. He frequently had his guards beat Sansa for his amusement. As his Hand, only Tyrion stood up to Joffrey's orders. His cruelty made him unpopular, and he was nearly killed in a public riot.

Joffrey married Margaery Tyrell as a political strategy. At their wedding feast Joffrey was poisoned and died. Cersei blamed the deed on Tyrion. It is later revealed that Joffrey was responsible for the attempt on Bran Stark's life. Joffrey paid a man to kill Bran with a stolen dagger.Catelyn Stark believed that Tyrion was the culprit, which led her to take him hostage. This inevitably caused even more animosity and bloodshed between Houses Stark and Lannister, and triggered the events that transpire in the books.

Joffrey Baratheon is played by Jack Gleeson in the HBO adaption of the books.

10: Ser Jorah Mormont

Ser Jorah Mormont, an exiled knight, was one of the most trusted companions of exiled princess Daenerys Targaryen. 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.

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. Daenerys, who saw him as more of a father figure, always refused. Jorah's earlier betrayal was revealed by Barristan Selmy in A Storm of Swords and Daenerys sent both on a dangerous mission to prove their loyalty after past deceits. After completing the mission, Selmy was contrite and humble, and was pardoned. Though Mormont's betrayals were more significant, he was bitter and proud. He was not forgiven, and was banished from her service.

Jorah Mormont will be played by Iain Glen in the HBO adaption of the books.

11: Jon Snow

Jon Snow is a POV character and the supposed bastard son of Eddard, by a woman named Wylla, a wet nurse serving House Dayne. His direwolf companion is the silent, albino Ghost.

Jon is of an age with Robb. Ned brought him to Winterfell after Battle of the Tower of Joy, which only Ned and Howland Reed survived. Despite his wife Catelyn's objections, Ned insisted on taking responsibility for the boy, and he grew up side-by-side with the trueborn Starks. He has a long face, grey eyes and lean build, with strong Stark coloring; in fact, he looked more northern than any of Lady Stark's trueborn children (except Arya).

As Jon grew up, his position became increasingly awkward. Jon's uncle Benjen Stark suggested that the Watch could use a man like Jon. At the Wall, Jon initially felt contempt for the lowborn, often criminal members of the Watch. Eventually he put aside his prejudices and united the recruits first against the sadistic master-at-arms, and protected cowardly but good-natured Samwell Tarly. Jon came to accept the men of the Night's Watch as his new brothers. Initially resentful of his appointment to the steward corps, Jon soon came to realize he was being groomed for future leadership. Jon, as the Commander's eyes and ears, joined a scout expedition to investigate the disappearances of several rangers. Jon was ordered to infiltrate the wildings, He joined the massive wildling army, met Mance Rayder, and learned his plans to cross the Wall. Jon rejoined the Watch, taking command of the few men left defending the Wall. Despite overwhelming odds, Jon successfully held off the wildlings' assaults until the timely arrival of Stannis Baratheon's army, and "Lord Snow" was voted the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

Jon's next challenge was Lord Stannis. Stannis needed a new Lord at Winterfell, one who could secure the North; he offered in exchange his royal decree making Jon Snow into the Lord Jon Stark of Winterfell. Jon remembered his oath to the Night's Watch and refused Stannis's offer, while welcoming Stannis's support and coordinating the Wall's defense with him. However, Snow does not trust Stannis. He is also deeply suspicious of the Lannisters for murdering his father and brother—with the sole exception of the disfigured dwarf, Tyrion, to whom Jon pledged friendship before the war began.

Jon has no idea who his mother might be. In the first book of the series, Ned Stark claims that he "dishonored" his marriage to Catelyn with awet nurse named Wylla who was employed at Starfall, but nothing more is known about her; Catelyn has also speculated that his mother was Ashara Dayne, also of Starfall, but when she brought it up, Ned refused to answer. Howland Reed, who accompanied Ned to the Tower of Joy and from there to Starfall, is believed to be the only living character to know the truth.

Jon Snow is played by Kit Harington in the HBO adaption of the books.

12: Queen Cersei Lannister

Older than Jaime by mere moments, Cersei (a POV character) is the twin sister of Jaime Lannister with golden hair and bright green eyes. After Robert's Rebellion she married the new King, Robert Baratheon, and became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. A willful and ambitious woman, Cersei resents the restrictions put on her for her sex. She is always concerned for the safety of her children, Joffrey, Myrcella, andTommen. She has no respect for her husband, King Robert.

Cersei's three children were all fathered by her brother Jaime, rather than her husband. This secret was discovered by Jon Arryn, Eddard Stark and Stannis Baratheon, Being an honest man, Eddard offered Cersei an opportunity to flee before he broke the news to King Robert. Cersei however had no intention of leaving; ultimately, this led to Eddard's downfall.

Cersei has since climbed the ladder of power. She arranged for the death of her husband, King Robert. After that, she put her 13-year-old son Joffrey on the throne, ruling as Queen Regent. However, when leaving for battle, as Hand of the King, her non-twin brother, Tyrion curtailed much of Cersei's policy. Several characters in the series state that Cersei wants power but does not wield it well.

When both her eldest son and father Tywin were murdered in quick succession Cersei believed that Tyrion was guilty of both. She resumed her regency over her younger son, the eight-year-old newly crowned King Tommen, As Tywin's eldest child, she was also acknowledged as the Lady of Casterly Rock. Thus empowered and unrestricted, Cersei began her regime by filling Tommen's Small Council with her own supporters and agents, disregarding previous arrangements. The changes she made to the Small Council along with some of the men she choose to fill it were not held in high regard by many of the lords and smallfolk.

Cersei grew to suspect that her powerful Tyrell allies, now relatives through Tommen's marriage to Margaery Tyrell, were trying to seize control of the kingdom. She began a campaign to remove the Tyrells in King's Landing from positions of influence and authority, including her son's wife Margaery, and Loras, a member of the Kingsguard. This alienated Jaime, who had begun drifting away from his family, even further and he abandoned her to her own political paranoia. Another potentially ill-fated decision was her refusal to honor the debts of the Crown, angering powerful institutions such as the Iron Bank of Braavos and the Faith. As a result the Faith refused to bless King Tommen and the Iron Bank of Braavos refused any new loans to Westeros but called in all the debts from their previous loans which caused economic chaos.

A plan to have Margaery Tyrell seduced, failed as Margaery did not respond to his seduction. Her henchman (Osney Kettleblack) confessed to the High Septon the complete and actual truth (Osney had slept with Cersei and smothered the previous High Septon with a pillow at Cersei's command). Cersei was arrested and detained to await trial in a tower cell at the Great Sept of Baelor. Her ministers abandoned her and seized control of the government while she was imprisoned. Accused of capital crimes, her only hope lay in a Kingsguard champion to stand for her in a trial by combat. she sent Jaime a letter begging for his help. Jaime throws her letter into the burning fireplace as snow begins to fall on Riverrun, and winter descends on Westeros.

Cersei Lannister is played by Lena Headey in the HBO adaption of the books.

13: Bran Stark

Catelyn and Eddard's second son, Bran (a POV character) is a boy who enjoys climbing and exploring Winterfell. He is adventurous and tough-minded, "almost a man grown" at seven years old. He is named for his deceased uncle Brandon, elder brother of Eddard. He dreams of one day being a great knight. His direwolf companion is (eventually) named Summer.

King Robert visits Winterfell to convince Eddard Stark to serve as his Hand. Many of the party go hunting in Winterfell's woods, but Bran is deemed too young and stays behind. He climbs numerous castle walls, and sees a curious thing: Queen Cersei and her twin brother Jaime Lannister in an intimate situation. Jaime pushes Bran from the window to preserve their secret. Bran survives, although comatose with a broken back. Catelyn is hysterical with grief. Eddard, Arya, and Sansa had already left for King's Landing and Jon Snow left for the Wall—of the immediate Stark family, just Catelyn, Robb, and Rickon are left behind with Bran. A would-be assassin is dismayed to find Catelyn in Bran's room. Catelyn successfully defends her life. As they struggle, Bran's fiercely protective direwolf enters and tears out the assassin's throat. Catelyn leaves Winterfell for King's Landing to confront the assassin's boss.

Bran has visions of himself falling again, and dreams of a three-eyed crow flying by his side. He experiences a number of seemingly prophetic visions. He awakens from his coma, and is immediately greeted by his direwolf, Bran names the wolf "Summer". Bran is paralyzed from the waist down. He has also repressed the events immediately before his fall. Bran slowly realizes that he has gained the ability to assume Summer's wolf consciousness. The rare individuals in Westeros who are able do this are referred to as wargs.

After Robb is crowned King in the North, Bran, as Robb's heir, became the Prince of Winterfell and ruled the castle while his brother is at war with the Lannisters (the War of the Five Kings). Meera and Jojen Reed of Greywater Watch stay at Winterfell to help him. They are the children of Eddard Stark's trusted comrade, Howland Reed, come to pledge the fealty of House Reed, Jojen Reed recognizes Bran's ability as a warg and instructs him on how to use this skill properly. Jojen claims that if Bran goes north beyond the Wall, he could find his three-eyed crow. When Theon Greyjoy betrays the Starks and captures Winterfell, Bran and his companions Meera and Jojen head north. They eventually end up at the Nightfort, an abandoned castle at the Wall. Inside, they meet Samwell Tarly, who, at the behest of Coldhands, takes them through "The Black Gate", a hidden gate at the bottom of a well.

Bran does not make an appearance in A Feast for Crows; his tale will continue in the forthcoming A Dance with Dragons.^{[citation needed]}

Bran is played by Isaac Hempstead-Wright in the HBO adaption of the books.

14: Prince Viserys Targaryen

Second son of Aerys II, Viserys fled Westeros along with his sister Daenerys, and spent the next fifteen years wandering the Free Cities. He is a cruel, ambitious man, blunt of speech and given to violent mood swings. He hopes to return to Westeros and reclaim his father's throne. He is often mocked as the Beggar King since he must rely on the generosity of those sympathetic to his cause.

Viserys arranged the marriage of Daenerys to Khal Drogo, hoping to buy Drogo's armies with her, and to use them to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms. Viserys was blind to reality; he saw himself as a rightful ruler of the people of Westeros, never noticing that even his sister and his sworn knight Jorah Mormont scorned his petty, vindictive nature. Despite a constant loss of dignity and standing among Drogo's khalasar for his outrageous behavior, he continued to demand Drogo's aid and verbally abuse his sister until Drogo "crowned" him with molten gold. Viserys did not survive, although his plan did, as Daenerys' marriage to Drogo gained her control of the khal's army.

Viserys Targaryen is played by Harry Lloyd in the HBO adaption of the books.

15: Robb Stark

Robb is Eddard Stark's eldest legitimate child, and the heir to Winterfell. He is the only major Stark that is not a POV character. He bears great responsibility with scant complaint, and shares his father's devotion to honor and justice. His appearance favors his Tully side, with a stocky build, blue eyes, and thick auburn hair. His companion direwolf is named Grey Wind.

When Eddard became the King's Hand, Robb remained at Winterfell to rule in his father's stead. Upon Eddard's execution, Robb was declared King in the North by his father's bannermen, who rallied to his cause. Robb won many great battles against the Lannister armies, which led him to be known as the "Young Wolf", but he believed that he botched the non-martial aspects of the war.

His downfall was triggered by failure to fulfill one of his mother's pacts that cemented his shaky alliances. As part of an agreement with House Frey, she pledged to Lord Walder Frey that Robb would marry a Frey woman. Instead, Robb married Jeyne Westerling, daughter of a minor House serving House Lannister. Full of conflicting emotions over deflowering her after she tended his battle wound, Robb quietly wed Jeyne, naming her his queen. The controversial marriage incited the rage of House Frey; Robb offered an apology to Lord Frey for breaking his pledge, and believed the matter resolved.

Lord Frey's apparent forgiveness was proved false when Robb attended his uncle's wedding to a Frey: Robb, his wolf Grey Wind, his mother, and many of his men were murdered by Frey soldiers. Roose Bolton personally slew the young king, and his body was defiled. Because of the bloodshed, this event became known as the Red Wedding. The incident outraged Robb Stark's surviving loyal bannermen, and sullied the honor of House Frey, which had violated one of the oldest traditions of the Seven Kingdoms: that of the safety of guests who have been given food and shelter.

Shortly before Robb was murdered, he may have designated an heir, believing his brothers and his sister Arya to be dead. Robb and his mother agreed that his sister Sansa, as the sole remaining lawful child of Eddard Stark, should be specifically disinherited to forestall her prospective children by Tyrion Lannister from having claim to Winterfell. He had suggested Jon Snow as the most plausible heir to Winterfell, as a son of Eddard Stark, though whether or not this was made official is never explicitly revealed to the reader. While many of the lords that knew the identity of Robb's chosen heir were slain at the Red Wedding, others still live that know who it is.

Although young, Robb was a brilliant tactician and strategist. He demonstrated this brilliance on several occasions, such as when he outmanouvered Lord Tywin Lannister and rescued Riverrun, subsequently capturing Jaime Lannister. It is also revealed that he planned to assail the impregnable Moat Cailin from three directions and his commanders were confident the plan would work. However, he never had the chance to put the plan in action. Like his father Ned, Robb was short-sighted of the political games being played throughout the war, a flaw that cost him the alliance of the Freys, the Karstarks and the Boltons and ultimately, his life.

Robb Stark is played by Richard Madden in the HBO adaption of the books.

16: Sandor Clegane "The Hound"

Sandor Clegane is the younger brother of Gregor Clegane and a retainer to House Lannister. He is nicknamed "The Hound", as 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 and skilled fighters in Westeros. As a child he received gruesome facial burns when his brother pushed his head into a brazier, leading to Sandor's hate of his brother and his fear of fire. That his brother became a knight, despite his brutality only getting worse, led to Sandor's resentment and contempt for the hypocrisy of knighthood and the 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. 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 defended her from Joffrey's physically abusive efforts at shaming her. The use of wildfire, a substance resembling napalm, during the battle for King's Landing, led him to flee the fighting and desert. Before fleeing, he sought out Sansa Stark and offered to take her along with him. In her panic, Sansa refused, but recognized how afraid the man had been in battle.

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. He chose trial by combat and defeated Beric Dondarrion, after which The Brotherhood stripped him of his possessions and set him free. Sandor returned to get his tourney winnings back, but kidnapped Arya Stark instead, with the intention of ransoming her off to one of her relatives. At a roadside inn they met three of Gregor's men and Sandor was seriously injured in the ensuing fight. His wounds infected and Arya abandoned him in the forest.

Sandor's fate becomes uncertain after this point. The head of a nearby monastery claimed to have buried "The Hound" after encountering him dying on the riverside, but it is hinted at that Sandor himself may still be alive and have joined the monastery. Meanwhile Rorge, a particularly nasty criminal, obtained Sandor's helm and assumed his identity during a brutal spree of banditry. This led to stories that the hound was still alive and terrorizing the riverlands. Rorge was later killed by Brienne of Tarth and the helm was then taken by Lem Lemoncloak, a member of the Brotherhood without Banners.

17: Sansa Stark

Catelyn and Eddard's elder daughter, Sansa (a POV character) has traditional feminine graces and is a strong believer in the world of chivalry portrayed in stories and songs. She is traditionally beautiful, with high cheekbones, vivid blue eyes, thick red hair and, as she grows up, a tall and graceful figure. She excels at many female leisure activities, including singing, dancing, baking lemoncakes, fashion, and social graces. She has a strained relationship with her sister Arya, whose interests are opposite in many respects and bewildering to Sansa. Her direwolf companion was named Lady.

When her father Eddard became the Hand of the King, eleven-year old Sansa was delighted at the prospect of life at court in King's Landing, and thrilled to be betrothed to the handsome Prince Joffrey. She adored Joffrey in spite of his violent mood swings. Still trusting those at the royal court to be noble, she unknowingly aided the queen's plot against Eddard. It was only when her father was beheaded at Joffrey's command that Sansa saw Joffrey for what he really was.

No longer certain whom she could trust, she remained courteous to everyone she met, including Joffrey's scarred personal bodyguard Sandor Clegane, who was by turns brusque and gentle with her. During this time she also learned to lie, or at least to say things that could be misinterpreted to her advantage.

Sansa was forced to marry the king's uncle, the sardonic dwarf Tyrion Lannister. Dismayed by her new husband's hideous appearance and horrified by the deaths of her siblings and parents, a now thirteen-year old Sansa hid her feelings and tried to present a genteel facade though repelled at the thought of sex with her misshapen husband. Tyrion never forced her to consummate the marriage.

Sansa escaped King's Landing on the day of Joffrey's wedding during the chaos caused by Joffrey's poisoning and death. She was yet again disillusioned when she learned that her gallant rescuer was paid by Petyr Baelish. Baelish took her to the Eyrie,incognito as Baelish's bastard daughter. Baelish married Sansa's aunt, Lysa Arryn, whom Baelish later killed. Sansa became the mistress of the Eyrie and learned something of courtly intrigues from Baelish. Baelish planned for her marriage to Harrold Hardyng, the heir to House Arryn, followed by the eventual revelation of her true identity and the reclaiming of Winterfell in her name.

Sansa Stark is played by Sophie Turner in the HBO adaption of the books.

18: Sen títuloArya Stark

Arya (a POV character) is a spirited tomboy with an interest in fighting and exploring. Her character contrasts with her elegant sister Sansa, whom she often describes as "stupid". Arya displays great resourcefulness, cunning, and an unflinching ability to accept hard necessity. She is skinny, athletic, and often mistaken for a boy. She has strong Stark family features, with a long face and brown hair. She is said to take after her fiery aunt Lyanna in temperament and appearance. Her direwolf companion is named Nymeria.

Arya was forced to abandon her direwolf Nymeria to protect the animal's life after an incident which created in Arya a deep hatred for the crown prince and the queen. While at court, she trained under Syrio Forel, a celebrated Braavosi swordsman. Under his strict but creative tutelage, Arya learned to fence in the Braavosi style. During the purge of Starks from the Red Keep, Syrio held off Arya's attackers, and she lived on the streets until the day of her father's public execution. Yoren, a recruiter from the Night's Watch, smuggled her out of the city.

With no family or home, and being hunted for a highborn prisoner, Arya traveled with several groups under different names. She and her chance companions were captured and recaptured numerous times. During one skirmish, Arya saved the lives of Jaqen H'ghar and two others. At Harrenhall, she worked as a servant girl. Jaqen, a man she had saved, arrived at the castle. He recognized Arya, and offered her three murders for the lives she saved, to restore cosmic balance. She named two choices. For the last death, she chose Jaqen himself. In an effort to make her unsay his name he helped her free the imprisoned northmen, her father's men; before they parted, Jaqen gave her an ancient coin, which would ensure free passage on any Braavosi ship. Arya escaped once more, and was captured again.

Sandor Clegane then stole her away to return her to her brother Robb and collect a rich reward. Clegane and Arya reached the Frey castle just as Arya's brother and mother were slaughtered. Clegane decided that the only place left to take her was to the Vale of Arryn, which was ruled by Arya's aunt, the Lady Lysa. On the way, Clegane took a seemingly mortal wound, and Arya retrieved her stolen sword Needle from a corpse. Clegane's wound deteriorated, and Arya left him to die. Arya then caught a ship to Braavos at the nearby town of Saltpans. Upon arrival at Braavos she became an acolyte of the Faceless Men, the elite and terrifying company of professional assassins to which Jaqen H'ghar belonged. Arya's training included abandoning all personal identity. One night she drank milk with a "bitter aftertaste" and awoke blind the next morning.

Arya Stark is played by Maisie Williams in the HBO adaption of the books.

19: Khal Drogo

Drogo is a powerful khal, or warlord, of the Dothraki people, a tribal nation of expert riders and raiders in the steppes beyond the Free Cities. He is an accomplished warrior and has never been defeated in battle. Early in the series, he takes Daenerys Targaryen as his wife.

Viserys Targaryen conspired with Magister Illyrio to marry Daenerys to Drogo in order to get his support in an invasion of Westeros. Though Daenerys was initially unhappy with the arrangement, Drogo proved to be a sensitive husband and lover despite his fearsome behavior with his men. After a failed poisoning attempt on Daenerys' life, he promised to invade Westeros to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms for the Targaryens, but Viserys's impertinence ultimately caused Drogo to kill him. Drogo maintained his promise for the benefit of his wife, but was wounded by an enemy khal before he could begin the invasion. The wound festered and Drogo lost the ability to ride his horse. Most of his khalasar of Dothraki abandoned him, but Daenerys unwittingly sacrificed their unborn child for a spell to revive him. The spell worked, but left him mindless. Daenerys smothered him out of pity, and the flames of his funeral pyre ultimately hatched her dragon eggs. She named her favorite dragon after her husband - the powerful black, Drogon.

Actor Jason Momoa plays Drogo in the HBO adaption of the books.