Chapter 59 - Appendices
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The bear spreads.
In the far North on a remote island, an epic battle took place between the living and the dead. The Others marched their army from the northwest and crossed the seas making the Bay of Ice. On an island there they fought and held the island for as long as they could until they were pushed back.
Not everyone left the island, somewhere separated from the army, and some fled into the woods to keep on the battle. When the others were finally defeated the ice bridge that took them over melted back into the waters cutting off the island from the mainland and leaving all of them stranded.
It was these people who lived on the island who found many bears and cubs as it seemed that Warg King bear Claw had been a productive father. For in their army marched many of his fellow warg companies taking with them bears as well giving rise to a new population on the once deserted island.
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The household guards and army.
All Kings need both guards and an army, and so they gather their most loyal men and train them into the warriors that they need. Brandon was no different and gathered any man loyal and willing to join his guards where they were trained, fed, and housed by him. He gathered 500 of the best and trained them into his household guards.
They were taught with both the sword and the spear, they were equipped with bronze armour of breastplate, greaves, helmet, and wooden shield. Then they carried both bronze and obsidian swords or spears for fighting the enemies of the North.
The rest of the king's army came from the levies and villagers of their kingdom. Often equipped in leathers or if fortunate enough bronze armour, and equipped with either bronze or obsidian weapons depending on the village's needs.
Finally, in the Household Guards was the King's Guard made up of around 100 men who were picked for their skill and loyalty and would guard the king and his family at all times.
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A great bright summer.
After the long night, its icy grip finally relinquished, retreating into the far reaches of the northern wilderness. The sun, once obscured by the perpetual darkness, now radiated with newfound brilliance, casting its golden glow upon the snow-covered landscape. The frozen expanse began to thaw, giving way to the emergence of flowing rivers and the slow but steady return of life to the desolate North.
As the days turned to weeks and weeks to months, the transformation of the region was nothing short of miraculous. The snow melted away, revealing the fertile soil beneath. Nature responded with an explosion of vitality—plants sprouted, flowers bloomed, and the once barren land teemed with the resurgence of life. The rivers, once frozen in time, now flowed freely, carrying the promise of renewal and growth.
The long night's departure heralded the arrival of an unusually warm and prolonged summer, even in the traditionally harsh North. It was a season of abundance, where harvests were bountiful, animals and birds returned, and the people reaped the rewards of their resilience. The scars left by the devastating war and the prolonged famine began to heal, though the process would undoubtedly take time.
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The wake of farming practice.
The Invasion of Winter and the Others was a difficult time for most of the farmers and the animals of the world. It was in these dark times that the farmers and elders of the villages all came together to fight against the winters. Instead of farming their patches of land and struggling to keep them alive, they instead all work on single patches of land.
The village elders/ chief of the village worked with the farmers to decide what would be grown and which patches to work on. With all their work they kept their farms going and growing some crops rather than none. Once the Others had left and the sun returned the practice kept strong and was found to be more efficient and productive for the villagers than before the Long Night.
More crops could be grown as entire fields could be organised and farmed by everyone giving rise to the practice of communal farming, worked by the village for everyone's needs. As the longest summer the North had seen came to be crops flooded the markets of all villages, with crops plentiful animals came flooding back as pigs, oxen, chickens, ducks, and more all came back in an explosion of population.
With animals comes manure and more manure means nutrition for crops creating an extensive revitalization of farming in the place most hit by the long night.
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Give me your taxes.
Kings rule the land by the grace of their people, but it is difficult to do so for free when you need resources to look after those people. And so taxes were born. But Brandon knew of the struggles of farmers for he was one and still supports his family that works the household farms.
And so he created a tax based upon the needs of the farmer where only the land is taxed and the rest is kept for the farmer to do so as he wishes. If the farmer grows 100 wheat then the King only takes 5 wheat, the rest the farmer can keep and sell on himself encouraging the farmer to grow as much crop as he can so that both the king and the farmer can have their needed profit.
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The population and trade boom.
With crops and animals starting to flood villages people got busy in both the farms and homes. Households went from single-digit homes to double-digit homes with plenty of food still left on the tables. Farmers and villages had so many crops that it was becoming a problem.
This was the time that new people took to the challenge. They roamed the lands with oxen and carts taking cheap crops and animals and taking them to more troubled lands and making a great profit. For not all lands were perfect or working, from destroyed lands and peoples in both King Umbar and Frost's lands, to difficult growing in the Marsh King and the Flint Kings to his west. Everyone had a need and traders were eager to provide it.
People needed food and were willing to trade whatever was close to them for their needs from odd plants and herbs from the neck to rocks and stones from the hills and mountains of their lands. With the increasing need for both bronze and obsidian traders were willing to pay hefty prices for these goods and bring them to other lands for an even better deal.
They called themselves traders for they traded what people needed with what they had. It was a win for everyone and so the North continued its rise of drastic increase in populations as the North collectively bounced back from their near death.
With so many crops in villages, people tended not to hunt for food especially with animals being so incredibly rare anyway. However, this was exactly what the animals of the north needed, with so much open space before them, and no hunting for them they bloomed in population as well. First, the herbivores drastically ballooned with growing crops and humans letting the animals eat what they could not finish.
Then came the carnivores with so much prey available they hunted until they were full and gave the rest to their young.
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The House income.
With the rise in population, monsters, and beasts in the north the King must work hard to gather their resources to protect and defend what is there. For this, they need to work and access them. The Stark house came from farmers and so kept their farms, expanded them hired others to work them, and kept the profits. After the end of the Long Night Brandon took over ownership of Winterfell village and ran it along with its elder Jorah where together they planned out and built up the village from its ruins.
Jorah in kindness expanded the Stark household farmlands to feed and supply the rising king. With access to large supplies of food and goods from their private farms along with the taxes from the kingdom Brandon formed and expanded the Household Guards and the King's Guard.
Whilst the King's Guard stayed and protected the castle the Household Guards split up with some patrolling and manning the walls of Winterfell village and some protecting the Winterfell Castle. They would keep the peace whilst also protecting the people from monsters and bandits.
With access to these resources, he also created a militia in all villages where men and women were trained to fight when they had the time. Both were chosen to fight for the monsters of the North did not care and so neither did they. They were trained to protect and defend their villages and were often paid from the taxes of the village.
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Warfare.
With power comes conflict and all kings are drawn into it. The Kings of the North this means war. Kings will gather at designated locations and send men toward each other. As the levies and warriors fight, kings choose when and where to send their most skilled men to battle at the other lines.
Men gather into formations of shield walls where spears stab and shields as they try their best to get past their defences. Men push forward or get pushed backward in their lines as they fight each other and if they are fortunate or unfortunate enough they are flanked from the sides and butchered.
Before the times of Kings, humanity fought against the children of the others. This was not a time of grand battles and epic conflict but a time of skirmishing and quick brutal warfare and so kings had not developed into times of grand warfare and battle.
Men stabbed at each other with spears, archers who were few were used sometimes at the beginning of battle but with bows too weak to get past shields and amour were deemed useless for battle and war. Throwing javelins where more effective but was considered expensive and so were often not used. Instead, warriors simply duked it out in skill of arms.
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A tale of hardy romance.
Love can seemingly come from out of nowhere and at the most unlikely of times. For Edric and Lyanna, it was a welcome blessing. Their love bloomed from the depths of battle and their harrowing escape from bandits and brigands. What started as curiosity and appreciation for one another sprouted into times spent together, moments shared fused in rich battle as they explored the journey of their interest in one another.
As their world shifted and the battle continued to plague around them, their solace in one another led to their love finally exploding out of them into a confession to one another. In the unlikely place of death in battle, they started their unit and the start of a family with one another.
It was then, through the years of continued battle with the Others, that they truly found the joy of someone always supporting and being there for them, always returning to a warm and homely bed and someone to tend to the scratches and bumps of battle. Their love fueled each other, even when food was not enough, keeping each other going. A love born of death and war, they shrouded themselves in love and warmth, keeping the cold winter at bay.
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Romance of appreciation.
Love comes in many forms, sometimes in the appreciation of familiarity. Jon could make light of any situation, crafting a joke to suit the occasion. No one appreciated this more than Jocelyn, who was thrust into the hardships of winter after a much more appreciated life as the daughter of a village chief.
Life can drastically change in short amounts of time, and Jon gave Jocelyn something to ground her life. What then started as appreciation bloomed into curiosity and interest in the man who had given Jocelyn further stability outside of her sister. With moments shared around warm fires and laughter-filled nights, interest gave way to love.
With fire fuelling conversation, confessions were made and reciprocated, and in the campfire light night sky, laughter became love.
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A Kingdom rebuilt in the wake of death.
In the wake of victory and the establishment of Brandon's reign, Winterhaven underwent a profound transformation, evolving into its name. Winterfell. Keeping true to their word, the giants diligently carried massive stones from the mountains, aiding Brandon in the ambitious task of rebuilding the village into a sturdy castle.
The newly christened Castle of Winterfell was a very modest structure, yet spacious enough to accommodate Brandon and his family, with additional rooms for guests. This castle, crafted with the sweat and toil of the Northmen and the giants, stood as a testament to the new beginning for Brandon and his people.
It was simple in construction being a large stone box, with but a humble courtyard at the front. Its walkway at the top was the highest part of the village and gave Brandon a great viewpoint of his growing people.
The original wooden palisade that once encircled Winterhaven, now mostly destroyed, underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, rising as a ten-foot-tall stone wall that now guarded Winterfell. This significant undertaking, a collective effort of the villagers, fortified their home and instilled a sense of pride in the hearts of its inhabitants. With pride came a creative flourish and one of the blacksmiths of the village presented Brandon with a bronze crown. A simple open circle etched with the words of his people.
With the completion of the castle, Brandon exercised his right to name his house and chose the simple yet resonant name Stark. To remain humble in the face of power and responsibility, for they are only human. For his house's words, Brandon bestowed upon it "Winter is Coming." To remind all his descendants of what is out there.
With his house established, Brandon gathered all the elders and chiefs of the villages and had them swear the village's loyalty to the Stark house giving taxes in all its forms for his protection and management. Winterfell stood tall as the symbol of his rule, and the foundations of his kingdom were laid, Brandon Stark was recognised and crowned by the people the King of Winter. For their love of him and his acts of bravery and deeds done for them, they gave him his rise to power. For his first act, he went around his lands talking and speaking with his people.
He listened to their concerns, grievances, and aspirations, he came from a farming home and so understood the need to take care of what was yours to look after. His genuine interest in their well-being and willingness to address their issues earned him recognition from his people.
For Brandon's final part, he travelled to a village, specifically where they had been accused of murdering a family. He went to help the people and take responsibility for what his actions indirectly caused.
The transformation of Winterhaven into Winterfell was a proud moment for the village, and now capital of the Winter Kingdom, for they had their proof and accomplishments of their lives rebuilt before them.
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Kingdom of Winter.
With Brandon's Kingdom created he needed help to run it and for this, he turned to friends and family. He appointed both Edric and Lyanna as his captains to help lead and guide his men into battle, Jon he appointed as head of trade to deal with issues of tax and traders. Jocelyn takes to caring for her family and her friend's family as she ends her time in battle.
Theon for his help and deeds in battle takes up the role of Captain of the King's guard and household guards along with Halvar as captain of scouting and news for both the army and kingdom. Then he turns to his sister Alys who runs the household when Brandon is away and takes care of the family when he is away. Finally, he turns to Alys now turned husband Ben who takes care of the Stark farms running them and organising them when needed, he also takes on the title of head of farming in the kingdom looking after the farmers and their needs in the kingdom.
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The Kings of the North.
Many kings had risen during and before the time of the Others, many were quick to fall to their closest kings but rise they all did. Some through conquest and strength of might like the Ryder and Locke King. Some through words and deeds like the Slate and Glover King. Others from positions of power such as the Warg and Marshe King. Others through resources of copper and tin to make bronze such as the Flint and Barrow Kings.
However, they did it, kings rose to control their lands and exert their control over the North.
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The Nights Watch formed.
Hother, having witnessed the devastating power of the Others during the long night, was determined to establish his vigilant force that would stand guard against their return. Thus, he laid the foundation for the Night's Watch, an organization dedicated to the perpetual watch over the far reaches of the North.
Hother named himself the first Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, vowing to keep a vigilant eye for any signs of the Others' resurgence. He envisioned a legacy where each subsequent Night Commander would inherit the duty of guarding the realm from the shadows. Where all men would be sworn into service and to always keep their vows.
To serve as the headquarters of his newly formed Night's Watch, Hother undertook the construction of the Nightfort, a castle strategically positioned along the Wall. Recognizing the magnitude of his task, he sought assistance from the various kings who appreciated the importance of such a defence. Resources from different regions were allocated to build the formidable fortress that would be the front line against the encroaching darkness.
Whispers spread of Hother's meticulous planning, with tales of underground tunnels and vaults being constructed within Nightfort. Rumours even hinted at a collaboration with the children of the forest, who aided in building passages into the Wall and crafting a door that seemed to lead to the other side.
As the Night's Watch took shape, Hother established key positions within the organization. The High Steward is responsible for managing the logistics and resources of the Night's Watch; the First Builder is tasked with overseeing construction and maintenance; and the First Ranger leads expeditions beyond the Wall to gather intelligence and ensure the safety of the realm.
Recognizing the ongoing needs of the Night's Watch and the importance of sustaining its efforts, Brandon, in a strategic move, approached King Harmond to discuss a plan to support Hother and his vigilant brothers. Together, they devised a solution that would not only provide a consistent supply of food but also offer a valuable resource pool.
In a generous gesture, Brandon and Harmond decided to grant Hother the fertile land situated south of the Wall. This land, intended to serve as an essential resource base, would enable the Night's Watch to cultivate crops and collect necessary provisions for their ongoing mission.
In gratitude for this substantial gift, Hother named the land "Brandon's Gift," a lasting testament to the alliance forged between the different regions and their commitment to safeguarding the realm from the lurking threat beyond the Wall.
Thus, the Night's Watch, under Hother's command, stood as a vigilant shield against the looming threat of the Others, ready to uphold its sacred duty for generations to come.
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A New Religion.
As the echoes of war and the Long Night faded away, a new phenomenon began to emerge across the North—a burgeoning religious movement that would soon sweep through the hearts and minds of its people. The catalyst for this spiritual awakening was the profound encounter with the mystical and ancient beings—the Children of the Forest.
In the aftermath of the battles against the Others, some Northern folk, touched by the mystique of the Children and their otherworldly rituals, began to seek a connection with the children of the forest. Through this connection, they learned of their gods. Those who embraced this burgeoning faith found solace in the teachings of the Children, learning to coexist with the mystical spirits of the woods.
As the curious delved into the realms of the Children of the Forest, a nascent religion began to take shape—the worship of the Old Gods. The newly formed believers sought to honour these enigmatic deities.
The religion of the Unrestrained Gods, born from a convergence of war, magic, and spiritual curiosity, began to weave its way into the fabric of Northern culture as their beliefs seeped into them. Commandments such as no slavery or incest and laws of hospitality to care for all that come into your home were secret to the old gods for you cannot hide from the Gods.
However, it was this new rise in religion that sparked the first conflicts in the North as the beliefs of the Olds gods fought against the already set religion of Celtic gods that were set in the North. And with any conflict of belief tensions always rise.
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The Children of the Forest.
The War on the Others was over, and the children's want to stay in the world of the humans was waning. They had to reason to continue to stay with them for they offered them little and risked dragging them into their conflicts. For they had seen the rising tensions with the Kings and wanted no part in their wars with their already low population.
So, they retreated from the world of humans back to their woods and groves. Though not all communication was cut off as their religion did start to spread to the humans, they mostly decided to take care of themselves rather than the problems of humans. With a need to still talk to the humans but not wanting to be drawn into their wars, they gave the humans their ravens.
The ravens had already been used extensively during the war and largely helped keep all parties and groups in contact with one another from organised troops to food and supplies. Seeing it as only a boon to give the humans the chance to talk with the ravens they taught them how. They gave them the parting of wards that speak to the ravens, that allow them to weave word through them and send them with them.
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The North is set on Fire.
In the wake of passing times in the north and as wounds healed others instead festered, constantly gnawing at kings as they looked upon them or reminded of them. The delicate threads of alliances began to strain as relations between some rulers took a downward turn.
The Amber King and the Marsh King found their camaraderie fraying. Increasing skirmishes over disputed territories calmed by Amber King and lingering resentments of men lost due to the Marsh King Lizard-Lion eating some of the Amber Kingsman. Tensions were sparking in the south risking to start a fire to consume the south.
Similarly, the Fisher King and the Ryder King found themselves entangled in a web of disagreements and hostilities. The Fisher King still hot and angry over the Ryder King's mistake in battle leads to a long string of insults thrown at the Ryder King. His most creative letter ending in your reign is a saga of ineptitude, sung in the halls of mockery by bards with a penchant for tragic tales.
The worst though was the mountain clans, who with the death of their leader, quarrelled all day and all night with one another over the right to rule the mountains. With every clan claiming they were the rightful one tensions were high and cooperation between the clans had broken.
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The King's Lands and Friendship.
From the wake of war and battle with the Others came brothers in battle and arms. King Umbar and King Frost showed who they were in battle and so Brandon did the same. He helped them when they needed help the most. Their lands had most been ravaged by the Others and so Brandon gave them food when they were rebuilding their lands.
He also worked together with both the Slate and Greenwood Kings for they seemed like good men who worked well for what they needed. With the rising tensions in the North, the Kings joined together seeing how they were all of similar minds that they would help and defend each other from the aggression of the other kings. And agreed upon the honour of each King to uphold their side of the bargain.