Page 10: Beyond the Wall

Beyond the Wall is the large area of Westeros that lies North of the Wall. It is the only part of the continent that is not part of the realm of the Seven Kingdoms. 

The lands beyond the Wall are mostly uncharted. Immediately North of the Wall on the East, is the Haunted Forest, a vast taiga-forest extending from the Wall to the furthest uncharted North called the Lands of Always Winter. On the West coast is a large mountain chain called the Frostfangs. There are rumours that the Frostfangs contain valleys that are heavily settled because they are heated by volcanic activity.

The People

The lands beyond the Wall are inhabitated by numerous tribes of "Free Folk" known by the people of the Seven Kingdoms as "wildlings". Some are semi-nomadic hunters, some are little more than savages and primitive raiders, but others are settled in small villages. 

The Lands of Always Winter is an area where there is always snow even during the warmest of summers. The wildlings control some areas, but it extends into subarctic wastelands that are not hospitable to human life. It is said that White Walkers originate from this region.

White Walkers differ greatly from humans. They are taller and have long whispy white hair. They have pale white skin that is wrinkly but stretched tautly across their frames, giving them a gaunt and mummified appearance. They have glowing blue eyes.

Mance Rayder is a wildling that is left at Castle Black as an infant. He is raised there and becomes a well-respected member of the Watch. As a young man, he deserts his post to live with the wildlings. He manages to unify a number of tribes and becomes King-Beyond-the-Wall. 

Tormund Giantsbane is a renowned leader and raider among the Free Folk and Mance Rayder's most trusted lieutenant.

Ygritte is a Free Folk spearwife (warrior woman) who is part of the force lead by Mance Rayder. She falls in love with Jon Snow (a Night Watchman).

Mance has unified the Thenn, the Hornfoots, the Ice-River Clans, the Cave People and the Giants even though they don't get along with each other. A long winter is expected and the wildlings want to flee South in terror of the White Walkers. They have a better chance of success if they work together.

The giants are a non-human race considered to be mythical by the people of the Seven Kingdoms, but who do exist in reality.

Craster is a wildling who lives in a fortified homestead called Craster's Keep. He sometimes shelters Night's Watchmen in return for otherwise leaving him alone and occasional bribes.

Craster has a number of wives and daughters. When his daughters get old enough, he marries them and incestuously fathers children with them, getting rid of male offspring by leaving them for the White Walkers.

Gilly is one of Craster's daughters. She gives birth to a son and runs away with Samwell Tarly (a Night's Watchman).

The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Jeor Mormont, is killed by his own men who rebel when Mormont does not stand up to Craster.