Editing Beyond the Wall

{{About|the northernmost region of Westeros|the ''Game of Thrones'' episode|Beyond the Wall (TV)|the book|Beyond the Wall (book)}}

[[File:Westeros - Byound the wall.jpg|thumb|400px|Lands Beyond the Wall and its major locations (click to zoom)|link=Special:FilePath/Westeros - Byound the wall.jpg]]

'''Beyond the Wall''' is a general term for the northernmost area of [[Westeros]], the lands north of the [[Wall]] and the [[Seven Kingdoms]].

==Geography==
[[File:Martina Pilcerova The Wall.jpg|thumb|350px|The [[Wall]], by Martina Pilcerova © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The lands beyond the [[Wall]] are primarily wild, untamed and uncharted. The climate is harsh and bitter, especially in the far north in the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. The region immediately north of the Wall includes the [[haunted forest]], a vast taiga-forest which covers most of the area, extending from the Wall to the furthest lands of [[Thenn (valley)|Thenn]].{{Ref|TLOIAF|Beyond the Wall}} While no true roads exist, numerous game trails, paths, and old streambeds, called "[[ranger]] roads", are used by the [[Night's Watch]] and [[free folk]] alike.{{Ref|ACoK|13}}

The haunted forest extends from the eastern coast to a large mountain chain in the west, the [[Frostfangs]]. These inhospitable mountains extend an unknown distance to the north. Notable features include the [[Giant's Stair]] and the [[Skirling Pass]]. The [[Milkwater]], the great river beyond the Wall, has its origins in the Frostfangs. Thenn is a hidden valley in the mountains.{{Ref|ASOS|26}}

Southwest of the Frostfangs is the [[Frozen Shore]], a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the [[Bay of Ice]]. Along the east coast is the [[Antler River]], which flows into the [[Shivering Sea]]. The easternmost region beyond the Wall is the forested peninsula [[Storrold's Point]], which contains the ruins of the only free folk town, [[Hardhome]].{{Ref|ADWD|39}}{{Ref|TLOIAF|Beyond the Wall}}

Beyond all of these areas, in the furthest north, is the [[Land of Always Winter]]. The haunted forest ends and gives way to these polar regions, which are unexplored.

Animals living beyond the Wall include [[deer]], [[eagle]]s, elk, hares, rams, [[shadowcat]]s, [[snow bear]]s, and [[Wolf|wolves]].{{Ref|ACOK|51}}{{Ref|ADWD|0}}

Flowers include [[coldsnaps]], [[frostfires]], [[piper's grass]], and wildflowers.{{Ref|ACOK|51}} Trees include chestnuts, [[ironwood]]s, [[oak]]s, [[sentinel]]s, [[soldier pine]]s, and [[weirwood]]s.{{Ref|AGOT|48}}{{Ref|ACOK|23}}{{Ref|ADWD|35}}

==People==
[[File:Tomasz Jedruszek FortheWatch.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Rangers]] of the [[Night's Watch]] battle [[free folk]] in the [[haunted forest]], by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The people inhabiting the land refer to themselves as the "[[free folk]]", but are known by the people of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] as "wildlings". The lands beyond the Wall are bitterly cold year round, but many free folk reside from the furthest reaches of the [[haunted forest]] to the hidden valleys of the [[Frostfangs]], including the valley of [[Thenn (valley)|Thenn]]. The [[Thenns]] are surrounded by [[cave dwellers]], [[Hornfoot]]s, [[giants]], and the [[ice-river clans]]. Other tribes include [[Nightrunners]] and [[men of the Frozen Shore]].{{Ref|ASOS|15}}

Some free folk are little more than savage and primitive raiders, but other groups live in small, settled communities and villages. Due to the impracticality of agriculture in the far north, many of them are hunters.

[[Maesters]] believe that [[giants]] are extinct, but some still live beyond the Wall.{{Ref|AGOT|53}} A group of [[children of the forest]] reside within the [[cave of the three-eyed crow]].{{Ref|ADWD|13}} The [[Others]] are rumored to originate in the depths of the [[Land of Always Winter]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|4}}

==History==
===Older History===
[[File:Brynden Rivers in the north by Wyatt Abernathy.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Brynden Rivers]] beyond the [[Wall]], by Wyatt Abernathy]]
[[Redwyn]], a [[ranger]] of the [[Night's Watch]], explored from the [[Shadow Tower]] to [[Lorn Point]] during the reign of [[Dorren Stark]], [[King in the North]].{{Ref|ACOK|6}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|1}} Another king, [[Theon Stark]], joined the Night's Watch in a venture north of the [[Wall]] which weakened the [[free folk]] for a generation.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|1|1}}

[[Hardhome]] was mysteriously destroyed six hundred years ago.{{Ref|ADWD|39}}

===Targaryen Era===
During the suppression of the [[Night's Watch rebellion of 50 AC]], Ser [[Raymund Mallery]] and other rebels fled from [[Sable Hall]] to the lands north of the [[Wall]]. [[Walton Stark]], [[Lord of Winterfell]], pursued them but was slain by [[giants]] in the [[haunted forest]]. The rebels were eventually slain by [[cannibalism|cannibal]] wildlings who delivered Raymund's head to [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]].{{ref|FAB|A Surfeit of Rulers}}

[[Lothor Burley]], [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], brought Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] atop the Wall in {{date|58}} so she could see the haunted forest. The queen attempted to fly [[Silverwing]] north of the Wall three times, but the [[dragon]] refused each time and veered away.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}

Lord Comamnder [[Brynden Rivers]] vanished during a ranging beyond the Wall in {{Date|252}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|15}}

===Recent History===
[[Mance Rayder]] was attacked by a [[shadowcat]] while ranging, and was healed by a wildling woman, a [[wisewoman's daughter]]. While he recuperated, she mended his torn cloak with swatches of red silk. Upon returning to the Wall, Ser [[Denys Mallister]] required Mance to replace his mended cloak with one of uniform black. This infringement of freedom caused Mance to abandon the Shadow Tower{{Ref|ACOK|53}} and live with the [[free folk]] in the way he wished.{{Ref|ASOS|7}}

Mance spent years gaining gathering various tribes into one host, seeking support from clan mothers and [[magnar]]s. He made peace between  [[Harma Dogshead]] and the [[Lord of Bones]], the [[Hornfoots]] and the [[Nightrunners]], and the [[men of the Frozen Shore]] and the [[ice-river clans]].{{Ref|ASOS|15}} Opposed by five other would-be [[Kings-Beyond-the-Wall]], Mance gained the support of [[Tormund]] of [[Ruddy Hall]] and [[Styr]] of [[Thenn (valley)|Thenn]] and slew the three rivals who refused to submit.{{Ref|ASOS|73}}

Texts about the region include ''[[History of the Kings-Beyond-the-Wall]]'' by Maester [[Herryk]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|2|1}} and ''[[Hardhome: An Account of Three Years Spent Beyond-the-Wall among Savages, Raiders, and Woods-witches]]'' by Maester [[Wyllis]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|2|2}}

It is sometimes suggested that the lords of the [[north]] be allowed to extend their power beyond the Wall to end the threat of wildling raids.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|2|1}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Game of thrones by grr martin by marcsimonetti.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Jon Snow]] take in the view beyond the [[Wall]], by Marc Simonetti © LeYa Brasil]]
Ser [[Waymar Royce]] leads a ranging party in the [[haunted forest]], but he is slain by [[Others]] and rises as a [[wight]].{{Ref|AGOT|0}} [[Benjen Stark]], the [[First Ranger]], searches for Waymar beyond the Wall, but Benjen also disappears.{{Ref|AGOT|19}} Ser [[Jaremy Rykker]] and [[Qhorin Halfhand]] search for Benjen to no avail.{{ref|AGOT|26}}

[[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Jon Snow]] view the northern lands from atop the [[Wall]].{{Ref|AGOT|21}} Jon says his vows for the [[Night's Watch]] in a grove of [[weirwood]]s within the haunted forest.{{Ref|AGOT|48}}

The bodies of [[Othor]] and [[Jafer Flowers]] are found in the haunted forest. When they are brought back to Castle Black, the bodies rise as [[wights]], attacking [[Jeor Mormont]]{{ref|AGOT|52}} and killing Jaremy.{{ref|AGOT|60}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
Jon Snow participates in the [[great ranging]] to investigate the [[conflict beyond the Wall]]. The Night's Watch discover that [[Whitetree]] has been abandoned.{{Ref|ACOK|13}} Jon is captured by [[Rattleshirt]] in the [[Skirling Pass]] and fights [[Qhorin Halfhand]] to the death.{{Ref|ACOK|68}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
[[Wights]] overwhelm the [[Night's Watch]] in the [[fight at the Fist]].{{Ref|ASOS|0}}{{Ref|ASOS|18}} After the [[mutiny at Craster's Keep]], [[Samwell Tarly]], [[Gilly]], and other survivors flee south for the Wall.{{Ref|ASOS|33}}{{Ref|ASOS|75}}

[[Mance Rayder]], the [[King-Beyond-the-Wall]], leads the [[free folk]] into attacking the gate through the Wall at [[Castle Black]]. They are defeated by [[Stannis Baratheon]] in the [[battle beneath the Wall]], however.{{Ref|ASOS|73}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
With Mance a captive of Stannis, the free folk host is broken, with some submitting to Stannis and the Night's Watch and others scattering.{{Ref|ADWD|0}} Jon Snow, now [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], frees [[Val]] so she can find [[Tormund]] in the wilderness and negotiate the passage of his followers through the Wall.{{Ref|ADWD|39}}{{Ref|ADWD|53}} Jon sends [[Cotter Pyke]] with ships to rescue free folk at [[Hardhome]], but the free folk do not trust the Night's Watch and Maester [[Harmune]] writes of dead things in the water.{{Ref|ADWD|58}}

[[Coldhands]] leads [[Bran Stark]], [[Hodor]], [[Meera Reed]], and [[Jojen Reed]] through the haunted forest to the [[cave of the three-eyed crow]].{{Ref|ADWD|13}} 

==Quotes==
[[File:The heart of winter by steves3511-da9uubp.jpg|thumb|350px|The heart of winter, by Stephen Najarian ©]]
{{Quote|'''Eddard''': [[Mance Rayder]] is nothing for us to fear.<br>
'''Catelyn''': There are darker things beyond the [[Wall]].{{ref|AGOT|2}}|[[Eddard Stark]] and [[Catelyn Stark]]}}

{{Quote|'''Tyrion''': You do want to know what's on the other side, don't you?<br>
'''Jon''': It's nothing special. The [[rangers]] say it's just [[haunted forest|woods]] and [[Frostfangs|mountains]] and frozen lakes, with lots of snow and ice.<br>
'''Tyrion''': And the [[grumkin]]s and the [[snark]]s. Let us not forget them, Lord Snow, or else what's [[Wall|that big thing]] for?{{ref|AGOT|19}}|[[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Jon Snow]]}}

{{Quote|North of the [[Wall]], things are different. That's where the [[children of the forest|children]] went, and the [[giants]], and the other old races.{{Ref|AGOT|66}}|[[Osha]] to [[Bran Stark]]}}

{{Quote|[[Mother (the Seven)|The Mother]] was merciful, all the [[septon]]s agreed, but [[Faith of the Seven|the Seven]] had no power beyond the [[Wall]]. This was where the [[old gods]] ruled, the nameless gods of the trees and the [[wolves]] and the snows.{{ref|ASOS|18}}|thoughts of [[Samwell Tarly]]}}

{{Quote|Beyond the gates the monsters live, and the [[giants]] and the [[Wights|ghouls]], he remembered [[Old Nan]] saying, but they cannot pass so long as the [[Wall]] stands strong.{{Ref|ASOS|24}}|thoughts of [[Bran Stark]]}}

{{Quote|'''Jeor''': There is no crime so foul as for a guest to bring [[mutiny at Craster's Keep|murder into a man's hall]]. By all the [[laws]] of the hearth, we—<br>
'''Dirk''': There are no laws beyond the [[Wall]], old man. Remember?{{ref|ASOS|33}}|[[Jeor Mormont]] and [[Dirk]]}}

==Behind the scenes==
According to [[George R. R. Martin]], the lands beyond the Wall are probably larger than [[w:Greenland|Greenland]]. The terrain closer to the Wall is reminiscent of forested [[w:Canada|Canada]], while the Arctic lands further north have tundra and ice fields.<ref name=smartertravel>SmarterTravel: [https://www.smartertravel.com/game-of-thrones-exclusive-george-r-r-martin-talks-season-two-the-winds-of-winter-and-real-world-influences-for-a-song-of-ice-and-fire/ George R.R. Martin Talks Season Two, 'The Winds of Winter,' and Real-World Influences for 'A Song of Ice and Fire'] (April 1, 2012)</ref>

==References==
{{References}}

{{Region Beyond the Wall}}
{{Regions}}

[[Category:Beyond the Wall| ]]
[[Category:Places beyond the Wall| ]]

[[es:Más allá del Muro]]
[[fa:آنسوی دیوار]]
[[fr:Au-delà du Mur]]
[[pt:Para Lá da Muralha]]
[[ru:Земли за Стеной]]
[[tr:Sur'un Ötesi]]
[[zh:塞外]]