| Mormont's raven | |
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 Jeor Mormont's raven, by Sandara Tang © Fantasy Flight Games | |
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| Species | Raven |
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Mormont's raven is a pet raven of Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
Appearance and Character
The raven of Jeor Mormont has shrewd[3] and beady black eyes[4] and big black wings.[5] Jon Snow describes it as an "old raven", though its exact age remains unknown.[6][N 1] It has been described as huge[2] and scruffy.[3] It seems to be rather large for its species.[3]
The raven can speak, often repeating one or two words. Typically it is something recently said by people nearby, but it is often uncannily appropriate.[2][3]
This raven is particularly fond of fruit and corn, eating kernels out of Jeor's hand; the Lord Commander keeps corn in his pocket.[4][5] Maester Aemon considers this a rather rare trait, since most ravens prefer meat.[6] Jon considers it bold, fearless, and clever.[3]
The raven flies to Jeor when he whistles,[7][4] and sometimes walks across the Lord Commander's shoulders.[6][8] The bird quorks when Jeor strokes his head with his thumb.[6]
History
The raven has served as the companion of Jeor Mormont for "long years".[3]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
At Castle Black, Alliser Thorne orders recent recruit Jon Snow to report to Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Jon first notices the raven perched on the arm of Jeor. The Lord Commander gives Jon a letter that has arrived from Winterfell for him. The message was written by Robb Stark, informing Jon that Bran Stark has recovered from a coma. Though the boy is crippled, Jon is happy that his brother is going to live. The raven flies to the shoulder of Jeor, crying "Live! Live!"[7]
During a meal, Alliser and Tyrion Lannister insult each other. Bystanders laugh, while the raven caws loudly from above a window, repeating the last word of Tyrion: Duel![4] Tyrion finds the bird annoying and privately considers throttling it. He decides against it, not wanting to insult Jeor.[4]
Later, Jon is forced to fight the wight of Othor. Jon improvises and uses Jeor's oil lamp to start a fire. The raven starts cawing Burn, seemingly on its own initiative.[9] When Jeor rewards Jon with Longclaw, the raven repeats many words of their conversation.[6] Jeor thinks poorly of the boiled mutton prepared by Three-Finger Hobb, and the raven refuses to touch grey haunch.[6]
After Jon unsuccessfully attempts to desert the Night's Watch to avenge his late father, Lord Eddard Stark, he brings Jeor's breakfast to the Lord Commander the next morning. The raven pecks at an egg and is fed some of Jeor's ham. Jeor asks whether Jon finds the war of Robb Stark to be more important than their own war. The raven flaps its wings and starts repeating War. Jon finds the words to be song-like. Jeor suggests that Eddard himself sent Jon to the Wall, though nobody truly knows why. The raven repeats the question: Why?[8]
A Clash of Kings
The raven is present with Jeor when Jon meets with the Lord Commander in his solar.[5]
Lord Commander Mormont brings his raven with him while commanding the great ranging,[10] and it continues to repeat various words of Jeor's conversations. It appears to be grumpy when soaked at Craster's Keep.[1] The raven screams when Qhorin Halfhand reports that Mance Rayder is searching for something in the Frostfangs.[11]
A Storm of Swords
Chett and others on the ranging plan to mutiny and murder Jeor. Small Paul is convinced to assist once he is told he can have Mormont's raven afterwards.[12]
The raven survives the fight at the Fist and accompanies his master to Craster's Keep.[13] Jeor is mortally wounded during the mutiny which takes place at Craster's, and the raven is present when Jeor gives his dying wish for his son Jorah to take the black. When Craster's wives urge Samwell Tarly to quickly leave with Gilly to escape Craster's sons, the raven repeats their instructions.[13]
During a pause in the battle beneath the Wall, Jon Snow is sent to meet with Mance Rayder. As Jon travels to Mance's tent, he sees a raven eating the brain of a slain giant. The bird screams Snow at Jon and flies away.[14]
In the aftermath of Mance's capture by Stannis Baratheon, elections for the position of Lord Commander of the Night's Watch are held at Castle Black in the cellar beneath the armory. No candidate has enough votes to secure election, and a new vote is taken. A large kettle, used as the ballot box, is brought to the hall's table by Samwell and Clydas. When Clydas takes off the lid of the kettle, a raven bursts out from inside. As it flies around the cellar three times, Samwell says he recognizes the bird, proclaiming it to be Mormont's raven. The raven lands on the table, next to the place where Jon is seated. Repeating the word snow, it spreads its wings and flies to Jon, perching on his shoulder. Ser Alliser Thorne, believing that Samwell is trying to fool them, is certain that this is one of several ravens which Samwell has trained to say snow, while Mormont's raven had a richer vocabulary. The raven looks at Jon and asks for corn. It soon changes its tune, repeating a new word: Kettle? This convinces the men that this is indeed Mormont's raven, and helps decide the election in favor of Jon. Samwell insists that he had nothing to do with the raven's appearance, claiming that it even scared him.[2]
A Feast for Crows
The raven dwells with Jon Snow, the new Lord Commander,in his quarters. When Samwell offers kernels of corn to the bird, it aggressively pecks at his hand.[15]
A Dance with Dragons
The raven wakes Jon up in the morning asking for corn.[3] According to Jon, the raven ate Jeor's face after he died.[3][16]
When Jon goes to visit Mole's Town, the raven awaits him on a chestnut tree carved with a face. The bird flaps down when Jon whistles.[17]
Jon calls the raven a thief after it makes off with his breakfast bacon.[18] The bird is present when Jon meets with Tycho Nestoris.[19]
Jon has a dream in which he defends the Wall from wildlings and wights, and he wakes to find himself in bed with Mormont's raven pecking at his chest and calling him Snow. As Jon dresses, the raven keeps some distance from him and mutters the familiar words Corn, King, and Snow. When the raven twice says Jon Snow, Jon finds this peculiar, as he cannot remember any previous instance of the raven using his full name.[20]
Mormont's raven seems agitated at the same time as Ghost, Jon's direwolf. The raven attends Jon's meeting with Tormund Giantsbane, during which Tormund jokes with Jon about receiving the bird as a gift. After speaking in the Shieldhall, Jon is stabbed in the mutiny at Castle Black.[21]
Words and phrases spoken by Mormont's raven
- Ben Jen[8]
- Black[9]
- Blood[15][16]
- Bones[22]
- Boy[9][6]
- Burn[9]
- Claw[6]
- Corn[7][1][13][15][3]
- Crow[6]
- Dead,[23] one of its favorite words[3]
- Die[11][16]
- Duel[4]
- Eat[17]
- Ended[13]
- Father[6]
- Fool[4]
- Free[18]
- Girl[19]
- Girls[21]
- Go[13]
- Gone[10]
- Good[24]
- Help[19]
- Jon Snow[20]
- Kettle[2]
- Kill[17]
- King[5][20]
- Know[8]
- Live[7]
- Me[5][13]
- No[16]
- Now[13]
- Obey[15][16]
- Off[17]
- Old[5][23]
- Price[19]
- Sit[9]
- Slave[1]
- Snow[5][2][20]
- Something[11]
- Son[13]
- Sorry[24]
- Strong[5]
- Supper[2]
- Take it[6]
- Thief[18]
- Waits[11]
- Wall[1]
- War[8]
- Well[6]
- Wish[13]
- Who will[6]
- Why[8]
- Yes[1]
Quotes by the raven
Raven: Corn! Corn! Corn! Corn!
Jeor: Don't you believe it, I just fed him.[9]—The raven and Jeor Mormont to Jon Snow
—The raven, Jon Snow, and Jeor Mormont
Raven: Corn?
Jeor: Ignore that wretched beggar bird, Jon, it's just had half my bacon.[1]—The raven and Jeor Mormont to Jon Snow
Alliser: Ser Piggy thinks we're all fools, brothers. He's taught the bird this little trick. They all say snow, go up to the rookery and hear for yourselves. Mormont's bird had more words than that.
Raven: Corn? Kettle? Kettle? Kettle?[2]—Alliser Thorne and the raven
Eddison: Beg pardon, shall I fetch m'lord some breakfast?
Raven: Corn. Corn, corn.
Eddison: Three corns and one roast raven.[3]
Jon: Roast raven. And half a pint of ale.
—Eddison Tollett, the raven, and Jon Snow
Quotes about the raven
Doubtless old Mormont would take it amiss if he throttled the creature.[4]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Grief and noise. That's all they're good for, ravens. Why I put up with that pestilential bird ...[6]
—Jeor Mormont to Jon Snow
Jon: Lord Mormont's raven likes fruit and corn.
Aemon: He is a rare bird. Most ravens will eat grain, but they prefer flesh. It makes them strong, and I fear they relish the taste of blood. In that they are like men ... and like men, not all ravens are alike.[6]—Jon Snow and Aemon Targaryen
Chett said I could have the Old Bear's raven, the one that talks. I saved food for it and everything.[24]
Pypar: Sam, Sam, Sam the wizard, Sam the wonder, Sam Sam the marvel man, he did it. But when did you hide the raven in the kettle, Sam, and how in seven hells could you be certain it would fly to Jon? It would have mucked up everything if the bird had decided to perch on Janos Slynt's fat head.
Samwell: I had nothing to do with the bird. When it flew out of the kettle I almost wet myself.[2]—Pypar and Samwell Tarly
—Jon Snow to the raven
That bird is too clever by half. It had been the Old Bear's companion for long years, but that had not stopped it from eating Mormont's face once he died.[3]
—thoughts of Jon Snow
Notes
- ↑ The lifespan of the Common Raven depends on its living conditions. In the wild, the average raven lives for 10 to 15 years. Some survive longer, dying between the 20th and 23rd year of their lives. In captivity, a raven can survive longer still. A number of individual ravens of the Tower of London managed to reach or surpass the 40th year of their lives.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 23, Jon III.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 3, Jon I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 52, Jon VII.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 13, Jon II.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 43, Jon V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Prologue.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 33, Samwell II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 21, Jon V.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 39, Jon VIII.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 44, Jon IX.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 58, Jon XII.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 28, Jon VI.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 34, Jon IV.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 18, Samwell I.