Commonly called "crows" by Wildlings, the men of the Night's Watch are known for their black cloaks and heavy furs to protect them in the coldest place of Westeros. The ranks are divided into three orders:

• Rangers: main military force of the Watch. Adept at scouting and surviving in the harsh cold beyond the wall.
• Builders: engineers responsible for maintaining the Wall, the castles, and forging weapons.
• Stewards: main support system for the daily maintainance of the Watch. Keepers of message ravens, cooks, farmers, and traders.

The Vows

Those who join the ranks by volunteering may end their watch any time during their training. However, no man may leave after he has taken the black. Any deserters are executed by the Lord of Winterfell himself. After taking their vows, Brothers of the Watch cannot own land, marry, or father children. They are also persuaded to cut any ties left with their families, if they were lucky enough to have one. When each brother is ready to take the black, they say their vows either in a sept or before a heart tree.

The vows are as follows:

Varying Opinions

The role and importance of the Night's Watch is heavily debated between two major houses of Westeros.

• According to the Starks
• According to the Lannisters

More concerned with the realms south of the Wall, the Lannisters have cast doubts upon the Night's Watch honorability. Because of the length of peacetime beyond the wall, the Lannisters no longer entertain the idea that white walkers or giants even exist. In current years, the Watch has been forced to recruit from the dungeons and jails of the Southron kingdoms. The Lannisters see the Watch as little more than a group of rapists and thieves playing at war with unruly wildlings. However, a trip to the wall by Tywin's youngest son, Tyrion, changes one Lannister's opinion.