Raven

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Raven caries a message

Ravens are a species of large, black-feathered birds native to Westeros. Similar to common ravens of Earth, only stronger with better homing instinct. Ravens are used to carry messages between castles and cities, while Doves and pigeons can also be trained to carry messages, ravens are a stronger flyers, larger, bolder, far more clever and better able to defend itself against hawks.

The maester of each castle usually tends to its stock of ravens. Maesters raise a breed of large, white ravens at the Citadel that are said to be more intelligent and are sent out to mark the change of seasons. Ravens sometimes imitate human speech like parrots.

The logistics of how ravens deliver message is that most ravens are trained to fly to a specific castle. Some few can be taught to fly between two castles. Such birds are greatly prized. And once in a very great while, a raven who can learn the names of three or four or five castles, and fly to each upon command. Birds as clever as that come along only once in a hundred years[1]

The children of the forest taught the First Men to use ravens to communicate over long distances. Only greenseers shape-shifted and spoke through the bird.

References and Notes

  1. The Winds of Winter, Theon's sample chapter, made available on GRRM's website as of Dec 28th, 2011