Ghosts

Jenny of Oldstones, dancing with the ghosts of Duncan Targaryen and Betha Blackwood. Art by Naomimakesart ©

Ghosts, sometimes called shades or wraiths, are said to be spirits of the dead which have not been laid to rest and can appear to the living.

Culture

To keep vengeful spirits within the crypt of Winterfell, House Stark places an iron longsword across the lap of each stone statue of the Lords of Winterfell.

The hour of ghosts is one of the named hours.

Ghostskin is a white moss found in the Neck.

The ghost grass of the Shadow Lands is said to glow in the dark with the spirits of the damned.

When summer is warm and humid before the arrival of a colder autumn, old men refer to it as a "spirit summer", giving up its ghosts at last.

Ghost Hill is the seat of House Toland in Dorne, and they once had a ghost on their banner.

Vaes Leisi is a ruined settlement in the forests of northern Essos. Its name in the Dothraki language means "City of Ghosts", and it was the home of a vanished people the Dothraki called the Ifequevron, or "woods walkers".

Grey Ghost is a longship of the Iron Fleet.

Jenny's song includes the lyrics "High in the halls of the kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with her ghosts..."

History

Legends of the Shivering Sea claim that drowned spirits rise at night to drag the living down into grey-green depths.

The ancient cities of Sothoryos are said to be full of ghosts.

It is said that northern ghosts, hungry for southron blood, appear at the ruins of Moat Cailin at night.

Rangers of the Night's Watch claim that Hardhome is haunted by ghouls, demons, and burning ghosts with an unhealthy taste for blood. Old Nan refers to the abandoned castles of the Watch along the Wall as ghost castles; the Nightfort is especially said to be haunted by ghosts.

Harrenhal is said to be haunted by fiery spirits after its burning during Aegon's Conquest. The Tower of Ghosts is one of the ruined castle's towers, the spirits of Harren the Black and his sons are said to haunt the cellar of the Wailing Tower, and some believe that the spirits of falcons are found in the castle's mews.

The ghosts of children of the forest are said to haunt High Heart in the riverlands, and the ghost of High Heart is a dwarf woman who lives at the hill.

Some claim that Lann the Clever haunts Casterly Rock as a ghost.

Serwyn of the Mirror Shield is said to have been haunted by the ghosts of the knights he killed.

The Grey Ghost was a reclusive dragon who lived at Dragonstone.

Old Nan has told the children of Lord Eddard Stark that the Red Keep has ghosts, and she has referred to sunrise wisps of pale mist as "morning ghosts" returning to their graves.

Robb Stark and Jon Snow once pranked their younger siblings in the crypt of Winterfell. Robb brought Sansa, Arya, and Bran down to the end of the crypts where their own tombs would be, and when Sansa worried about spiders and rats, Robb told her that there were worse things in the crypts, saying "this is where the dead walk". A pale white ghost then emerged from an open tomb, moaning for blood, and Sansa ran shrieking while Bran grabbed onto Robb and sobbed. However, Arya punched the spirit and discovered that it was only Jon, covered in flour.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Jon Snow names his direwolf pup "Ghost". Art by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games

Will sees that the crystal swords of the Others shimmer with a "ghost-light" around their edges.

Eddard Stark visits the crypt of Winterfell with King Robert I Baratheon, and notes that the swords on the laps of the most ancient Lords of Winterfell have long ago rusted away to nothing. He hopes this does not mean their ghosts are free to roam Winterfell.

Jon Snow gives the name Ghost to his albino direwolf because the pup is mute and white.

During the journey of Khal Drogo's khalasar from Pentos to Vaes Dothrak, they skirt the tumbled ruins of a vast dead city (possibly Vaes Khadokh or Vaes Khewo) where ghosts are said to moan among blackened marble columns.

Catelyn Stark tells her uncle, Ser Brynden Tully, of the tales of the ghosts that haunt Moat Cailin at night.

Daenerys Targaryen dreams that she is traveling down a long hall towards a red door. As she runs, she sees the hall is lined with ghosts wearing the faded raiment of kings, with silver, gold, and platinum hair and jeweled eyes, wielding swords of pale fire. They urge her to move faster, and as they scream "Faster!" in unison, she launches into the air with dragon wings bursting from her back.

A Clash of Kings

Jhiqui and Irri advise Daenerys against staying in Vaes Tolorro, believing that the abandoned city is haunted by evil ghosts who feast at night. Daenerys replies that she is not afraid of ghosts, and that dragons are stronger than ghosts.

Lord Leo Lefford mocks the idea of ghosts at Harrenhal, but he always keeps a candle burning by his bed.

After Arya Stark secretly has targets in Harrenhal assassinated by Jaqen H'ghar, some nervous residents blame the deaths on the ghost of Harren Hoare. Arya wants to tell them it isn't Harren, that she is "the ghost in Harrenhal", and begins to think of herself by that title.

When Tyrion Lannister offers to move Sansa Stark into the Tower of the Hand under his protection, she fears that will make it more difficult for Ser Dontos Hollard to help her escape the castle. She tells Tyrion that since the Tower was where her father Eddard Stark's men were killed, their ghosts would give her nightmares, and Tyrion accepts the excuse.

In Qarth, Jhogo tells Daenerys that the House of the Undying is a haunt of ghosts and maegi.

After Qhorin Halfhand commands Jon Snow to execute the spearwife Ygritte, she tells Jon to strike hard and fast with his sword, Longclaw, or she will come back and haunt him.

After the capture of Winterfell and the supposed deaths of Bran and Rickon Stark, Theon Greyjoy claims he has laid to rest the ghosts of his own brothers, Rodrik and Maron Greyjoy. However, Theon is haunted by the memory of the miller's sons that Reek killed so that Theon could present their bodies as Bran and Rickon, having nightmares and feeling like small ghostly hands are tugging on his cloak when the wind blows.

After Renly Baratheon's death, his famous green armor is seen leading the van against his kinslayer brother Stannis Baratheon during the battle of the Blackwater. "Renly's ghost" kills Ser Guyard Morrigen and a dozen other knights, causing many of the men in Stannis's host who had once been Renly's to again change sides. Maester Ballabar reports to Tyrion Lannister that smallfolk are claiming that Renly's ghost saved King's Landing from Stannis.

A Storm of Swords

Rumors and songs abound of Renly's ghost winning the Battle of the Blackwater. Art by Sanrixian ©

Tyrion asks Bronn about the rumors of Renly's ghost. Bronn says that he saw nothing but the battle being routed, but there are hundreds of men in King's Landing who will claim they saw Renly's ghost killing one man or another. Captain Khorane Sathmantes tells Davos Seaworth of the end of the battle, saying that King Renly's shade was reportedly seen slaying men while leading the van. Allegedly his armor had a ghostly glow from wildfire, and his antlered helm was covered in golden flames.

Ygritte tells Jon Snow that Mance Rayder and the free folk have been searching for the Horn of Winter. She says that they opened dozens graves of heroes and kings, letting out all their shades into the world, but were unable to find the horn.

After leaving Harrenhal, Ser Jaime Lannister has a nightmare where he and Brienne of Tarth are in a cavern below Casterly Rock, and are confronted by the ghosts of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the Kingsguard knights Oswell Whent, Jon Darry, Lewyn Martell, Gerold Hightower, and Arthur Dayne. When Jaime wakes, he asks the former maester, Qyburn, if he believes in ghosts, and Qyburn replies that he believes that some part of a human soul must remain in this world after death. He further states that the archmaesters of the Citadel did not care for his theories, except for Marwyn.

At the Nightfort, Bran Stark recalls all the ghost stories that Old Nan used to tell about the haunted castle. When Bran hears something coming out of the kitchens' well, he thinks it is a ghost or monster, but it is only Samwell Tarly and Gilly, climbing a secret staircase.

Following King Joffrey I Baratheon's wedding to Margaery Tyrell, Hamish the Harper performs "Lord Renly's Ride" during the wedding feast. Hamish sings of Renly's ghost repenting from his attempt to usurp his nephew Joffrey, returning to this world to defend the realm from Stannis, and then returning to Highgarden to see his true love's face one last time.

After Joffrey's death at his wedding, Tyrion Lannister is accused of his murder. Petyr Baelish uses the opportunity to secretly spirit Tyrion's wife, Sansa Stark, out of King's Landing. On Jaime Lannister's journey to the city, he hears of many rumors of Joffrey's murder, including from a House Rowan archer who claims that Sansa did the murder with Tyrion, and afterwards vanished in a puff of brimstone, whereafter a ghostly direwolf was seen prowling the Red Keep, blood dripping from his jaws.

Jaime takes command as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and asks Ser Loras Tyrell about "Renly's ghost", wanting to know who actually wore Renly's armor at the Blackwater. Loras reluctantly reveals that it was his brother, Ser Garlan Tyrell, who fit the armor better than Loras did. He tells Jaime that the masquerade was done per the suggestion of Petyr Baelish, who said the appearance of Renly's ghost, returned for vengeance, would frighten Stannis's men.

A Feast for Crows

Unafraid of Harrenhal, Ser Bonifer Hasty tells Jaime that according to The Seven-Pointed Star, a pious man armored in his faith cannot be harmed by spirits, wights, and revenants.

Leaving the Eyrie, Sansa Stark hears the wind howling through the Mountains of the Moon and thinks it sounds like an enormous ghost wolf.

A Dance with Dragons

Theon Greyjoy, one of the ghosts in Winterfell. Art by theghostofpyke ©

Having returned to Winterfell for Ramsay Bolton's wedding, a regretful Theon feels that the castle is full of ghosts for him. He begins to think of himself as one of the ghosts in Winterfell. In the godswood of Winterfell, Theon sees Bran's face in the weirwood and momentarily thinks he is being haunted by his ghost, before recalling that they had not actually killed Bran and Rickon Stark, but instead only miller's sons. He hears the tree whispering his name and Bran's, and believes the ghosts of Winterfell are speaking to him.

Ellaria Sand asks the vengeful Sand Snakes if they believe Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon must die before the shades of Rhaenys and Aegon Targaryen can rest.

One of the six trebuchets built by Yunkai for the second siege of Meereen is called Ghost of Astapor.

Victarion Greyjoy gives the names Ghost and Shade to two Yunkai galleys he captures in Slaver's Bay, since he intends for them to return to Meereen to haunt the Yunkishmen.

In the camp of the Second Sons outside Meereen, Tyrion Lannister encounters a young sellsword, Kem, who tells Tyrion he was part of Stannis's army at the battle of the Blackwater, and fled when Renly's ghost attacked.

Quotes

If it happens that I die, go to the nearest of your father's friends and have him take you back to Summerhall. Don't try to cross the whole Reach on your own. See you don't forget, or my ghost will come and clout you in the ear.

—Duncan the Tall to Aegon Targaryen

By ancient custom an iron longsword had been laid across the lap of each who had been Lord of Winterfell, to keep the vengeful spirits in their crypts. The oldest had long ago rusted away to nothing, leaving only a few red stains where the metal had rested on stone. Ned wondered if that meant those ghosts were free to roam the castle now. He hoped not.

—thoughts of Eddard Stark

And when night falls, there are said to be ghosts, cold vengeful spirits of the north who hunger for southron blood.

—Catelyn Stark to Brynden Tully

Irri: Ghosts. Terrible ghosts. We must not stay here, Khaleesi, this is their place.
Daenerys: I fear no ghosts. Dragons are more powerful than ghosts.

—Irri and Daenerys Targaryen

This is the haunted forest, he told himself. Maybe there are ghosts here, the spirits of the First Men. This was their place, once.

—thoughts of Jon Snow

Theon: I've laid my brothers' ghosts to rest.
Asha: Our brothers. Did you bring their ghosts from Pyke, brother? And here I thought they haunted only Father.

—Theon and Asha Greyjoy

Renly's shade. Davos wondered if his sons would return as shades as well. He had seen too many queer things on the sea to say that ghosts did not exist.

—thoughts of Davos Seaworth

Jaime: Do you believe in ghosts, Maester?
Qyburn: Once, at the Citadel, I came into an empty room and saw an empty chair. Yet I knew a woman had been there, only a moment before. The cushion was dented where she'd sat, the cloth was still warm, and her scent lingered in the air. If we leave our smells behind us when we leave a room, surely something of our souls must remain when we leave this life?

—Jaime Lannister and Qyburn

Jaime: This castle has an ill repute, and one that's well deserved. It's said that Harren and his sons still walk the halls by night, afire. Those who look upon them burst into flame.
Bonifer: I fear no shade, ser. It is written in The Seven-Pointed Star that spirits, wights, and revenants cannot harm a pious man, so long as he is armored in his faith.

—Jaime Lannister and Bonifer Hasty

He was trapped here, with the ghosts. The old ghosts from the crypts and the younger ones that he had made himself, Mikken and Farlen, Gynir Rednose, Aggar, Gelmarr the Grim, the miller's wife from Acorn Water and her two young sons, and all the rest. My work. My ghosts. They are all here, and they are angry.

—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy