Editing Arnolf Karstark

{{Infobox character
| arms = Karstark
| title = 
| firstname = Arnolf
| lastname = Karstark
| image = [[File:Arnolf_Karstark.jpg|250px]]
| image_caption = Arnolf Karstark by [https://www.deviantart.com/dragonman14x Robert O'Leary]
| Alias = Lord Arnolf{{Ref|ADWD|62}}
| Title = [[Castellan]] of [[Karhold]]{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}}
| Allegiance = [[House Karstark]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Northmen]] 
| Spouse =   
| Issue = [[Cregan Karstark]]{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}<br>[[Arthor Karstark]]{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}<br>Daughters{{Ref|ADWD|17}}
| Place_of_Birth = [[Karhold]]{{Ref|AWOIAF| Arnolf Karstark}}
| Date_of_Birth = In or before {{Date|237}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages#Arnolf Karstark|Arnolf Karstark]] calculation.''</ref>
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (appendix)<br>''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' (appears)<br>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'' (appears)
| Played by =
| TV_series =   
| Coat-of-arms =   
}}

[[File: Marc_Fishman_ArnolfK_I.jpg|Arnolf Karstark - by Marc Fishman ©|thumb|250px|right]]

'''Arnolf Karstark''' is a member of [[House Karstark]] and the uncle of Lord [[Rickard Karstark]].{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}} He is the [[castellan]] of [[Karhold]],{{Ref|AFFC|Appendix}} but the followers of [[Stannis Baratheon]] refer to him as '''Lord Arnolf''' as a courtesy.{{Ref|ADWD|62}}

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Arnolf Karstark|l1=Images of Arnolf Karstark}}
Arnolf is gaunt, crooked, and bent from age, and he walks with a blackthorn cane.{{Ref|ADWD|62}} His left shoulder is half a foot higher then his right. Arnolf has a scrawny neck, squinty grey eyes, and is a few white hairs away from complete baldness. His teeth are yellow and his ragged, forked beard is grey and white.{{Ref|ADWD|12}}{{Ref|ADWD|62}} [[Theon Greyjoy]] considers Arnolf, whose grey woolen cloak is bordered in [[sable]], to be "a poor excuse for a man".{{Ref|TWOW||[[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
Arnolf became castellan of [[Karhold]] when Lord [[Rickard Karstark]] and his sons marched south with [[Robb Stark]] during the [[War of the Five Kings]].{{Ref|ADWD|3}} Rickard was eventually executed at [[Riverrun]] for treason by Robb,{{Ref|ASOS|20}} and his last surviving son, [[Harrion Karstark|Harrion]], is a captive of the [[House Lannister|Lannisters]]{{Ref|ADWD|62}} at [[Maidenpool]].{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}} After [[Stannis Baratheon]] sends a declaration of his arrival at [[Castle Black]] and a demand for fealty, Arnolf is the only [[north]]erner to respond favorably to him, pledging Stannis his support.{{Ref|ADWD|3}} Since [[Jon Snow]], the new [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], has rejected Stannis's offer of becoming Lord of [[Winterfell]], Stannis leans toward offering the castle to Arnolf.{{Ref|ADWD|17}}{{Ref|ADWD|62}}

Although [[Theon Greyjoy]] does not recognize them, Arnolf and [[Hother Umber]] are seated next to [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]] during the feast held at the [[Dreadfort]] before Ramsay marches on [[siege of Moat Cailin|Moat Cailin]].{{Ref|ADWD|12}}{{Ref|TWOW||[[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]}} Arnolf writes to Stannis that the [[House Bolton|Boltons]] left the strong Dreadfort with only fifty men. However, Jon convinces Stannis to recruit the [[northern mountain clans]] and liberate [[fight by Deepwood Motte|Deepwood Motte]] from the [[ironborn]].{{Ref|ADWD|17}}

At [[Barrowton]], Theon learns from Ramsay and his father, Lord [[Roose Bolton]] that Arnolf is conspiring against Stannis. Roose intends for Arnolf to betray Stannis when he marches on Winterfell.{{Ref|ADWD|32}}

[[Alys Karstark]], the daughter of the late Lord Rickard, flees from Karhold for the protection of Jon Snow at the [[Wall]]. She reveals that Arnolf responded favorably to Stannis in hope that when the [[Iron Throne]] heard of the pledge they would execute her captive brother, Lord Harrion. Harry's death would make Alys the heir and Arnolf would then force her to marry his son, [[Cregan Karstark|Cregan]], to claim Karhold. Roose has promised Arnolf a full pardon for this service to the Lannisters.{{Ref|ADWD|44}} [[Clydas]] sends a [[raven]] to Deepwood on Jon's behalf in hopes of informing Stannis, and the Lord Commander has Cregan imprisoned when he tries to retrieve Alys from Castle Black.{{Ref|ADWD|49}}

Arnolf has his army meet up with Stannis at a [[crofters' village]] during the king's [[march on Winterfell]], bringing four hundred spears, two score archers, a dozen mounted lances, and  Maester [[Tybald]]{{Ref|TWOW||[[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]}} with a cage of [[raven]]s. Ser [[Justin Massey]] is skeptical of the claims of Arnolf and his kin that Winterfell can be taken from the Boltons.{{Ref|ADWD|62}}

===''The Winds of Winter''===
{{Warning/twow}}
[[Tycho Nestoris]] brings Jon Snow's message from Deepwood to Stannis in time, and Tybald admits that he sent a raven with Stannis's location to Roose Bolton at Winterfell. Stannis has Arnolf, his son [[Arthor Karstark|Arthor]], and three grandsons brought before him on the pretext of breaking their fast. Upon entering the village's watchtower, Arnolf notices the chained Theon Greyjoy in the corner and realizes that Stannis is aware of his planned treachery.{{Ref|TWOW||[[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]}}

Stannis's knights surround the five Karstarks; two of Arnolf's grandsons attempt to resist and are badly injured, but Arnolf does not put up a fight. Stannis vows that all five will die, but whether quickly or by fire will depend on their cooperation.{{Ref|TWOW||[[Theon I (The Winds of Winter)|Theon I]]}}

==Family==
{{Karstark tree}}

==Quotes by Arnolf==
{{Quote|'''Justin''': You will not take [[Winterfell]]!<br>
'''Arnolf''': Aye, we will. We'll take it for [[Eddard Stark|the Ned]] and for [[Arya Stark|his daughter]]. Aye, and for the [[Robb Stark|Young Wolf]] too, him who was [[Red Wedding|so cruelly slaughtered]]. Me and mine will show the way, if need be. I've said as much to [[Stannis Baratheon|His Good Grace]] the king. March, I said, and before the moon can turn, we'll all be bathing in the blood of [[House Frey|Freys]] and [[House Bolton|Boltons]].<br>
'''Justin''': Your courage is admirable, Lord Karstark, but courage will not breach the walls of Winterfell.{{Ref|ADWD|62}}|[[Justin Massey]] and Arnolf}}

==Quotes about Arnolf==
{{Quote|Homage is the duty every leal subject owes his king. Yet [[Eddard Stark|your father]]'s bannermen all turn their back on me, save the [[House Karstark|Karstarks]]. Is Arnolf Karstark the only man of honor in the [[north]]?{{Ref|ADWD|3}}|[[Stannis Baratheon]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}

{{Quote|Arnolf is rushing to [[Winterfell]], 'tis true, but only so he might put his dagger in your king's back. He cast his lot with [[Roose Bolton]] long ago ... for gold, the promise of a pardon, and poor [[Harrion Karstark|Harry's]] head. Lord [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] is marching to a slaughter.{{Ref|ADWD|44}}|[[Alys Karstark]] to [[Jon Snow]]}}

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:House Karstark]]
[[Category:Castellans|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Characters from the North|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Characters with grey eyes|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Hunchbacks|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Nobles|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Spies|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Turncloaks in the War of the Five Kings|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Supporters of Stannis Baratheon in the War of the Five Kings|Karstark, Arnolf]]
[[Category:Supporters of Tommen Baratheon in the War of the Five Kings|Karstark, Arnolf]]

[[es:Arnolf Karstark]]
[[fr:Arnolf Karstark]]
[[nl:Arnolf Karstark]]
[[pt:Arnolf Karstark]]
[[ru:Арнольф Карстарк]]
[[zh:阿诺夫·卡史塔克]]