Editing Night's Watch (section)

==Organization==
===Structure===
[[File:Nights Watch orders.jpg|thumb|350px|Orders of the Night's Watch, from ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' Blu-ray]]
:{{Main|Stewards|Builders|Rangers}}

The Night's Watch consists of three orders: [[stewards]], [[builders]], and [[rangers]]. All are subject to the [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], and each of the three orders is led by its own officer, the [[Lord Steward]], the [[First Builder]], and [[First Ranger]], respectively. These officers are appointed by the lord commander.{{Ref|aCoK|6}}

* [[Stewards]] are responsible for an assortment of critical functions, providing vital day-to-day services. They hunt and farm, tend horses, gather firewood, cook meals, make clothing, maintain weapons, and bring supplies needed by the Night's Watch from the South.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} Like other members of the Watch, the stewards must be ready to fight at a moment's notice, and all have received at least basic combat training. [[Bowen Marsh]] serves as the [[Lord Steward]] or First Steward.

* [[Builders]] are responsible for tending to and maintaining the Wall and its castles. The order provides masons, carpenters, miners, and woodsmen to this end.{{Ref|aGoT|41}} [[Othell Yarwyck]] leads them as the [[First Builder]].

* [[Rangers]] are the main fighting force, adept at surviving in the wilderness and tasked with scouting and patrolling the [[haunted forest]] beyond the Wall. They actively defend the Wall and ride out to face the Watch's enemies, including [[wildlings]] and legendary [[Others]].{{Ref|aGoT|41}} The [[First Ranger]] is [[Benjen Stark]].

Recruiters for the Night's Watch are called [[wandering crow]]s.{{Ref|ACOK|6}} The organization also includes [[septon]]s, [[maesters]], and, at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], sailors. Because brothers come from throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]] or even [[Essos]], there is an unspoken pact to not discuss politics or former loyalties.{{Ref|ACOK|6}} When war breaks out in the Seven Kingdoms, the Night's Watch tries to remain neutral by honoring all kings and obeying none.{{ref|AWOIAF|Men of the Night's Watch}}

One blast of a sentry's horn represents returning rangers,{{Ref|AGOT|52}}{{ref|ASOS|Prologue}} while two are used for wildlings{{ref|ADWD|49}} and three for [[Others]].{{ref|ASOS|18}} Two long blasts followed by a short one are used as a call to mount horses.{{ref|ASOS|18}}

While wildlings and the Watch are often seen as seen as ancient enemies,{{ref|ASOS|73}} the black brothers are friendly with some free folk, such as [[Craster]]{{ref|ACOK|23}} and [[Haggon]].{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}} There is greater commerce between the two peoples than generally known,{{ref|ASOS|7}} and some wildlings trade at Eastwatch.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}

===Leadership===
[[File:Ryan Valle Old Bear MormontII.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Jeor Mormont]], [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], by Ryan Valle © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] is the final authority and oversees the entire order. A lord commander serves in office until the day he dies, when a replacement is elected by the men of the Watch. Any man of the Night's Watch can be nominated to be the lord commander.{{ref|ASOS|75}}

At [[Castle Black]], Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]] is advised by First Ranger [[Benjen Stark]], First Builder [[Othell Yarwyck]], and Lord Steward [[Bowen Marsh]]. He also entrusts leadership to Ser [[Jarman Buckwell]], Ser [[Mallador Locke]], Ser [[Jaremy Rykker]], [[Thoren Smallwood]], and Ser [[Ottyn Wythers]].{{ref|AGOT|21}}{{ref|ASOS|Appendix}} Ser [[Denys Mallister]] is the commander at the [[Shadow Tower]], while [[Cotter Pyke]] has command at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]]. [[Maesters]] advising the senior leadership are [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] at Castle Black, [[Mullin]] at the Shadow Tower, and [[Harmune]] at Eastwatch.{{ref|ASOS|Appendix}}

An honorable opportunity to command, rise in rank, and enjoy hunting north of the Wall are reasons why men join the Night's Watch voluntarily.{{ref|ACOK|66}} The majority of the officers and leadership of the Watch are pulled from the upper crust of Westerosi society. A noble or [[knight]]ed man is almost guaranteed a position as an officer in the Watch,{{ref|AGOT|21}}{{ref|AGOT|60}} but there are several powerful and influential brothers that are of common birth as well, such as the senior rangers [[Qhorin Halfhand]], [[Blane]], and Cotter Pyke, a [[bastard]]-born pirate. The Watch, as a meritocracy, is one of the few places in [[feudalism|feudal]] Westeros where a [[smallfolk|common man]] can rise high.{{ref|AGOT|19}} 

===Recruitment===
Once, serving on the Wall was honor and a sign of selfless devotion to duty, with many [[knight]]s, honorable men, and nobles taking the black voluntarily. The Night's Watch is now often seen only as a way to avoid punishment, suitable less for knights than for the dregs of Westeros. These men are salvaged from dungeons by traveling recruiters known as [[wandering crow]]s.{{ref|ACOK|6}} Disgraced nobles, bastards, and the unwanted legitimate offspring of nobles can be encouraged to take the black, making many of today's Watch a surly and dissatisfied lot.{{ref|AGOT|26}}

Those who come voluntarily are free to leave during any time of their training, but no man may leave after he has said vows.{{ref|AGOT|41}} Any deserters are sentenced to death.{{ref|AGOT|1}} After taking the vows, the men of the Watch cannot own any land, marry, or father children. Men are also encouraged to sever any ties left with their families, if they are lucky enough to have one.{{ref|AGOT|41}}

===Vows===
[[File:Tim Truman Marched to the Wall.jpg|350px|thumb|New recruits being marched to the Wall, by Tim Truman © Fantasy Flight Games]]
When recruits are considered ready to take the black, they say their vows either in a [[sept]] or before a [[heart tree]]. The vows are as follows:
{{Quote|Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.{{Ref|AGOT|48}}}}

According to [[George R. R. Martin]], the Night's Watch would not give its oaths to a boy that is seriously minor, like a twelve year old;{{Ref|SSM|1054}} the only known exception is [[Osric Stark]], who was elected [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]] at the age of ten.{{Ref|AFFC|5}}

Once a man takes his vows, his crimes and debts are forgiven.{{ref|AGOT|48}} If an outlaw recruit refuses to swear his vows, however, he is expected to pay the penalty for his crime.{{ref|AGOT|41}}

Brothers of the Night's Watch serve for life.{{ref|ASOS|45}} It is customary to finish a black brother's eulogy with the words, "And now his watch is ended."{{ref|ASOS|33}} [[Castle Black]] contains a [[lichyard]],{{ref|AFFC|5}} and [[knight]]s can be laid to rest in ancient tombs near the lichyard or burned on a pyre.{{Ref|ADWD|69}}

===Military Strength===
The [[Military strength|numbers]] of the Night's Watch have long been dwindling.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Wall and Beyond: The Night's Watch}} During [[Aegon's Conquest]], the Night's Watch numbered ten thousand strong.{{ref|AGOT|60}} However, by {{Date|298}}, their strength has dwindled to less than a thousand.{{ref|AGOT|21}} Of these thousand, six hundred are stationed at [[Castle Black]], two hundred at the [[Shadow Tower]], and fewer at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]].{{ref|AGOT|21}} 

In late {{Date|233}}, when Ser [[Brynden Rivers]] was sent to the Wall, two hundred men went with him. Many of them were archers from Rivers's personal guard, the [[Raven's Teeth]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}