Othell Yarwyck

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House Yarwyck.svgOthell YarwyckNight's Watch.svg
Othell Yarwyck by Joshua Cairos.jpg
Othell Yarwyck by Joshua Cairós © Fantasy Flight Games

Title First Builder
Allegiances
Culture Westermen
Born Westerlands[1]
Books

Played by Brian Fortune
TV series Game of Thrones:
Season 1 | 4 | 5 | 6

Othell Yarwyck is a member of House Yarwyck who serves as the First Builder of the Night's Watch. In the television adaptation Game of Thrones he is portrayed by Brian Fortune.

Appearance and Character

Othell is a big man with a long lantern jaw.[2]

According to Jon Snow, Othell is stolid and taciturn, but also unimaginative.[3] Cotter Pyke considers the First Builder to be a follower.[4]

Othell considers Hardhome an unholy place.[5] He dislikes the free folk because of raiders like the Weeper,[6] and he considers the wildlings to be undisciplined.[7]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Othell is present as First Builder when the new members of the Night's Watch swear their vows.[8] Othell believes the Lance, the tallest tower of Castle Black, is unstable and risk to topple soon.[9]

A Storm of Swords

Othell survives the fight at the Bridge of Skulls.[1]

The brothers of the Night's Watch left to defend the Wall from the assault by the wildlings name one of the straw dummies after Othell.[10]

During the choosing of the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Othell puts his name forth.[11] After withdrawing his name from the election, he eventually changes his support from Janos Slynt to Jon Snow.[2]

A Dance with Dragons

Othell and Bowen Marsh want to seal the gates of the Wall to prevent wildlings coming south.[12]

Othell and his builders are sent by Lord Commander Jon Snow to restore the Nightfort.[13] Othell later reports back on the advancement of their work. Jon offers him Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun, but Othell declines the aid of the giant.[5]

Jon notes Othell's absence, among others, at the wedding of Alys Karstark and Sigorn, the Magnar of Thenn.[14] Jon orders a reluctant Othell to provide carts and wagons for free folk who are coming through the Wall.[6]

When Jon advises Othell to have wildlings help his builders, Othell explains that most wildlings are poor workers.[7] Othell disapproves of Jon's decision to send Borroq, a wildling skinchanger capable of entering the mind of a huge boar, to Stonedoor as the nearby woods are full of wild boars. Othell departs the Shieldhall when Jon announces his intent on marching south to confront Ramsay Bolton.[7]

Quotes by Othell

Othell: Some of the abandoned castles are scarce more than ruins.

Stannis: Ruins can be rebuilt.
Othell: Rebuilt? But who will do the work?

Stannis: That is my concern. I shall require a list from you, detailing the present state of every castle and what might be required to restore it. I mean to have them all garrisoned again within the year, and nightfires burning before their gates.[4]

—Othell and Stannis Baratheon

Jon: Othell, how goes the work at the Nightfort? I have had a letter from Ser Axell Florent, who styles himself the Queen's Hand. He tells me that Queen Selyse is not pleased with her quarters at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and wishes to move into her husband's new seat at once. Will that be possible?

Othell: We've got most of the keep restored and put a roof back on the kitchens. She'd need food and furnishings and firewood, mind you, but it might serve. Not so many comforts as Eastwatch, to be sure. And a long way from the ships, should Her Grace wish to leave us, but … aye, she could live there, though it will be years before the place looks a proper castle. Sooner if I had more builders.

Jon: I could offer you a giant.[5]

—Othell and Jon Snow

Bad and worse and worst makes a beggar's choice. My lord had as well present us with a pack of wolves and ask which we'd like to tear our throats out.[7]

—Othell to Jon Snow

Quotes about Othell

Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister are no fools, sire. They're good men, and capable. Othell Yarwyck as well, in his own way. Lord Mormont trusted each of them.[15]

Othell Yarwyck was not a man of strong convictions, except when it came to wood and stone and mortar.[2]

—thoughts of Jon Snow

References