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This is a listing of brothers of Night's Watch in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For the main character index, see here

The Night's Watch

The Black, The Black Cloaks, The Black Brothers, The Crows

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Coat of arms of the Night's Watch

"We never knew! But we must have known once. The Night's Watch has forgotten its true purpose, Tarly. You don't build a wall seven hundred feet high to keep savages in skin from stealing women. The Wall was made to guard the realms of men… and not against other men, which is all the wildlings are when you come right down to it. Too many years, Tarly, too many hundreds and thousands of years. We have lost sight of the true enemy. And now he's here, but we don't know how to fight him."

—Lord Commander Jeor Mormont

The oldest institution in Westeros, the Night's Watch exists solely to guard the Wall, an enormous barrier built of ice to shield Westeros from the ancient threat of a Zombie Apocalypse. It is a cross between a monastic order and special forces brigade. They remain neutral to the conflicts within the Seven Kingdoms. In ancient days, it was an esteemed noble order, like the Kingsguard. Nowadays, only those in the North consider the Night's Watch a noble calling. To the rest of the realm, they believe the ancient threat is long gone and to them, the Wall has become a place to ship criminals so the Watch can make use of them. Many nobles come join the Night's Watch as a result of political struggles. However, noble-born illegitimate sons, second and third legitimate sons of noble Houses and other members of ancient families — particularly in the North (such as the Starks) — do join the Watch on their own choice for the sake of honor and duty.

Joining the Night's Watch is called "taking the Black" and all members serve for life. Like his uncle, Benjen Stark, and generations of Starks before him, Jon Snow joins the Night's Watch and quickly takes on a leading role in the group.

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Night's Watch

Ancient Tradition: The Night's Watch dates back at least several thousand years, being founded after the Long Night — and in the legend of the last hero during the Long Night — to prevent a disaster like that from happening again according to legend.
Animal Motif: Men of the Watch are often referred to as "crows", particularly by the Wildlings. Maester Aemon notes that crows are smart but willing do scary things, like eating carrion, so they are hated and misunderstood. It's not only literally due to their black cloaks and clothes, but also pejoratively, because the Wildlings consider them as untrustworthy and sneaky as crows.
Anti-Hero: While they are sworn to defend the realms of men and join for life, there are some members who are this trope that are not necessarily good people (albeit, there are definitely some good people among the ranks, some of who joined for the sake of honor and duty and/or family tradition). However, some other members who aren't necessarily good people were once criminals who preferred to serve than being jailed or killed. Second, although they're sworn to protect humanity from the Others, many members consider wildlings exempt from their oath's protection — except for Jeor Mormont, Jon Snow, and Samwell Tarly, who do see that the wildlings are part of the realms of men and deserve their protection (granted, there are wildlings who tried attacking Westeros, but that was mainly to get across the Wall to safety and because their ancestors were simply on the wrong side of the Wall when it was built, hinting they don't allow anyone crossing into Westeros, even if they're not enemies but ordinary people looking to survive, yet are condemned to eternal winter and possible death north of the Wall). Third, the commitment of some Watch members to their oaths reaches Knight Templar level at times. The tales of the Night's King, Rat Cook, 79 Sentinels and Brave Danny Flint also show that some members of the Night's Watch can be as savage as they believe the wildlings to be.
Anti-Mutiny: Played with. Many of Jon's reforms in A Dance With Dragons have sound reasoning, as they are made in the interest of saving everyone (including the wildlings) from the oncoming army of the dead and do align with the Watch's original mission to protect the realms of men — but some of these changes are contrary to traditional interpretations and views of those in the Watch. Some members of The Night's Watch resist Jon's plans for allying with the wildlings against the Others, and for sending a ranging party to rescue the ships sent to rescue wildlings at Hardhome — however, Jon explains that they must also save the wildlings because they are part of the realms of men which the Watch is sworn to protect as the wildlings are people too, and that any living person who dies north of the Wall will rise to become part of the Others — the threat the Watch was built to defend against. Some of these Watch members also don't like involving the Night's Watch with Stannis, thus making it a prime target of retribution at the hands of Lord Bolton. When Jon decides to go south to deal with Ramsay Bolton after receiving a series of threats, which amounts to breaking his vow of not getting involved in the wars of the realm, a group of Watch members turn on him.
Appeal to Inherent Nature: Invoked. The Night's Watch purpose is to defend the realms of men from the threats beyond the Wall (the Others), and wildlings are men — which both Mormont and Jon point out. However, because of the threat's retreat over time, this devolved into defending the territories south of the Wall from wildling invaders, basically to protect the status-quo. Yet, since the ancient threat of the Others has recently returned, Watch members and wildlings alike should be banding together as humankind to survive this threat — which both Lord Commander Mormont and Lord Commander Jon Snow recognize — but unfortunately, not everyone is on the same boat.
Badass Creed:
"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."
- It gets a cool echo in the traditional final words in the eulogy usually given at a dead Night's Watch man's funeral: "His name was ____________, and now his watch is ended."
Boxed Crook: Far too many of the men of the Watch are criminals who joined up as an alternative to harsh punishment such as mutilation, castration, or death.
The Cassandra: The Watch's warnings that bad stuff is going down beyond The Wall and that they need help is routinely ignored.
Chaste Hero: Supposedly, although most of them still get around whenever they have the opportunity. This is tolerated by the superiors because trying to enforce the oath of chastity would do more harm than good, (and it has been pointed out that the oath prohibits marriage and fathering children, not sex per se).
- Mole's Town, the nearest settlement, apparently has several brothels that do quite good business with brothers that have snuck away for an evening. How is it that members an impoverished sworn brotherhood can actually pay for their services is never brought up, but there is more to compensation than coin. ^note
Child Soldiers: The Watch will take males of any age willing to defend the realm, including young boys.
Deconstructed Character Archetype: Of The Chosen Many. What is the point of an elite specialist fighting force if the enemy they were created to fight hasn't appeared in thousands of years? The quality of their recruits thus drops and they turn into an Army of Thieves and Whores and the Watch becomes the laughing stock of the realm and disillusions eager recruits like Jon Snow.
Gondor Calls for Aid: They ask for help to guard against resurgent Others but, through the first 3 books, and only Stannis Baratheon answered.
How the Mighty Have Fallen: They used to be highly respected, but now they're just made up of crooks, orphans, unwanted sons and disgraced nobles. Yoren laments that a man of the Night's Watch used to be welcomed and feasted everywhere he went in Westeros, and now he can't even take a few ears of corn from a field without being treated like a dirty thief.
Humble Hero: Being a Night's Watchman means doing service to the realm, whether you're doing it out of a sense of duty or are just Trading Bars for Stripes. "Hold no crowns and win no glory," indeed.
In It for Life: Men of the Night's Watch serve for life, with their vow ending with "I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come." Once they have taken their vows, the sentence for attempting to desert the Night's Watch is death.
Interservice Rivalry: A bit between the rangers vs. the stewards and builders. The rangers tend to support more aggressive tactics and scouting beyond the Wall, while the stewards and builders would prefer to simply fortify the Wall and seal all the entrances to the other side. This divide only intensifies after Jon Snow becomes Lord Commander, as the rangers tend to have his back on allowing the wildlings to come through the Wall and help defend it against the Others. The stewards and builders, few of whom have seen or fought the Others and have little experience with wildlings outside of their attacks on the Wall, would prefer to let them die. There are some exceptions to this.
Ironic Nickname: Many members have these, such as "Small Paul" and "Giant".
Men of Sherwood: The Legion of Lost Souls Night's Watch has dozens of rank and file members who handle themselves well and never act as a Red Shirt Army except during the Great Ranging, and plenty of minor characters still survive that bloodbath. Even members who die tend to have prominent scenes in multiple chapters, or even multiple books, first.

Mildly Military: As a combination of a military order, a monastic order, and a gulag, the Night's Watch naturally doesn't run quite the same as a normal army.
The Oathbreaker: Has had its share of deserters and traitors, but the Night's King was its most infamous example.
Old Master: The senior members often are the wise and skilled old men types. Special mention goes to Maester Aemon and Jeor "Old Bear" Mormont.
Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: By the time of A Game Of Thrones, they're composed mostly of criminals, outcasts, disgraced nobles, enemies of politically powerful people, and the like, alongside diminishing numbers of castle-trained members such as second sons, noble-born bastard sons, and ex-knights who voluntarily join the Watch. It doesn't stop them all from being an effective fighting force.
Reassigned to Antarctica: One of the reasons people are sent to the Wall is to get rid of them; Janos Slynt, for example, and Cersei Lannister's original plan for Eddard Stark.
Schizo Tech: Castle Black is the only place in the world that has a working elevator.
Shout-Out: The creed of the Night's Watch is highly inspired by "A Song to Mithras", a poem by Rudyard Kipling in Puck of Pook's Hill, which has a section set in Hadrian's Wall and the Roman soldiers who guarded it:
"Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn,
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure till the dawn
Look on Thy children in darkness. Oh, take our sacrifice!
Many roads Thou hast fashioned: all of them lead to the Light''

A Storm Is Coming: The reason why this group was founded.
Taking the Veil: Or taking the black, which used to mean something.
Trading Bars for Stripes: Joining the Watch is now a popular way of avoiding jail. Because many realms (except for the North) stopped most of their support to the Watch once the threat it was built to defend against seemed to become a Sealed Evil in a Can, a good portion of its ranks have now become an Army of Thieves and Whores alongside diminishing numbers of highly-born castle-trained members.
The Wall Around the World: At the northern end of it, at least.
Unfriendly Fire: the Lords Commander of the Night's Watch have an alarming tendency to die by the hands of their own men.
Vow of Celibacy: The Night's Watch oath includes the pledge to take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children. However, some Night's Watchmen enjoy visiting a brothel in Mole's Town...well, mayhaps if you don't get married and pull out, it doesn't count.
We ARE Struggling Together: They get hit with this hard. The simple truth is that most of the Night's Watch is made of murderers and rapists and a large number of them launch a mass desertion while retreating back to the Wall from the Great Ranging. Most of them, and several loyal men, die and are turned into wights. Ideological differences also create problems for Lord Commander Jon Snow as other senior members oppose his actions and insist on continuing to view the wildlings as enemies rather than the Others. Outside the Watch itself, personal dislikes hamper their efforts. Tyrion's scorn for Allister Thorne has him leave the man waiting to see the king, during which time his proof of the Other's wights rots away. Catelyn's resentment for Jon Snow gets passed to her family, and Brynden Tully mistakenly suspects Jon's rise in authority in the Night's Watch is a plot by Tywin Lannister as a result.
We Have Become Complacent: Jeor Mormont invokes this about the Watch in one of his final appearances, raging to Samwell Tarly that the Watch allowed themselves to forget their true purpose (namely fending off a race of primordial ice demons), losing all knowledge of their true enemy and how to fight them, as well as allowing themselves to become just a glorified penal colony.

Commanders

Commander Cotter Pyke

"I fight best with a deck beneath me, not a horse, and Castle Black's too far from the sea."

A bastard son from the Iron Islands and Commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.

Apocalyptic Log: The messages he sends by raven to Jon from Hardhome read like this.
Brutal Honesty: This is one of the traits that makes Ser Denys Mallister dislike Cotter, arguing that a commander of the Night's Watch needs to know how to properly deal with important guests and lords.
The Captain: Of the warship Talon.
Colonel Badass: During the Wildling attack on the Wall, he successfully defends the eastern portion of it and captures Rattleshirt at Long Barrow.
Commanding Coolness: What he lacks in refinement and polish, he gains in just being that effective in the field.
Covered with Scars: He had the pox at some point in his life which left his face covered in scars, which he grew a beard to try and hide.
Heroic Bastard: He is now a loyal senior member of the Night's Watch, but it is implied that he used to be a Bastard Bastard before being sent to the Wall.
Never Learned to Read: He cannot read or write, and depends entirely on Maester Harmune to read messages to him at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and write his responses.
Noble Male, Roguish Male: The Roguish Male to Ser Denys Mallister's Noble Male. The traits that each one argue make them more suited for command of the Night's Watch are the same ones the other argues make them a bad choice.
The Rival: To Ser Denys Mallister, commander of The Shadow Tower.
Seadog Beard: Well, he attempts it, at least. It's not as impressive as some, thanks to the pox. Still, "grizzled" describes him well.
The Unreveal: It's unclear how a bastard son from the Iron Islands came to join the Night's Watch, as this is a very unlikely thing to do from the Ironborn; he was most likely captured, as he is mentioned to have been a reaver and a murderer before taking the Black. Fittingly, he is an experienced sailor and a ship's captain.
Villainous Widow's Peak: He is not villainous anymore, but he used to be.
What Happened to the Mouse?: He is sent by Jon Snow on a dangerous rescue mission to save Wildlings at the abandoned Hardhome settlement, the last raven sent by him mentions "dead things in the water". It is unknown if he is still alive and in what condition.

Commander Denys Mallister

Ser Denys Mallister

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"The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is a lord, first and foremost. He must be able to treat with other lords... and with kings as well. He must be a man worthy of respect."

Commander of the Shadow Tower. He is the uncle of Lord Jason Mallister, the current head of House Mallister. He has a deep distrust of Ironborn due the historical hatred his house bears towards the Iron Islands.

Always Someone Better: Before Jon is elected Lord Commander, Mallister had twice been passed over for the position; he justified this to himself by saying that his time would come, eventually. After dropping out in favor of Jon, and to prevent Slynt from becoming commander, he returns to the Shadow Tower knowing that his time will never come. He takes it quite well, considering, but warns Jon not to make him regret backing his election.
Commanding Coolness: It's the Night's Watch. They don't believe in less.
I Coulda Been a Contender!: He's passed over twice for the position of Lord Commander, and when the opportunity comes a third time, he's too old for it.
Knight in Shining Armor: Notably so: a very rare beast on the Wall.
Nice Guy: He is insanely polite to everyone.
Noble Male, Roguish Male: The Noble Male to Cotter Pyke's Roguish Male. The traits that each one argue make them more suited for command of the Night's Watch are the same ones the other argues make them a bad choice.
Old Soldier: He has served in the Night's Watch for at least thirty-three years, having had a career as a tournament knight before then.
The Rival: To Cotter Pyke, commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.

Commander Bedwyck

Giant

An experienced ranger sent to the wall for poaching. Becomes commander of Icemark in A Dance with Dragons.

Cool Old Guy: He's an understanding, helpful older guy.

Ironic Nickname: "Giant", due to being five feet tall.
Never Learned to Read: Or write: he claims on a good day he could barely write his name.

Rank Up: Gets placed in command of restoring and defending Icemark.
The Sneaky Guy: Can move quickly and quietly, and is a great climber, so he was used as a scout and lookout on the Great Ranging.

Commander "Iron" Emmett

A ranger posted at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea before becoming the new master-at-arms for Castle Black. He is later given command of Long Barrow.

Amazon Brigade: Given command of one at Long Barrow, which is where Jon Snow sends all the Wildling spearwives who have agreed to defend the Wall. Emmett is entrusted with the command since Jon knows he would never forsake his vows or mistreat the women.

Blood Knight: Is said to love fighting. When Jon beats him bloody in a training session, Emmett just laughs it off and jokes about it.

Master Swordsman: He was regarded as the best swordsman at Eastwatch, and is one of the best in the Night's Watch as a whole.
Nice Guy: He is extremely easygoing and loyal.
Rank Up: First to master-at-arms for Castle Black, then given command of Long Barrow.
Sergeant Rock: He is a much better master-at-arms for Castle Black than Ser Alliser Thorne ever was, being a natural teacher who loves fighting and knows how to pass on that love to his trainees without coddling or abusing them.
Undying Loyalty: He becomes one of Jon's biggest supporters.

Other leaders

Maester Aemon Targaryen

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"What is honor, compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms, or the memory of a brother's laughter? Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our glory, and our great tragedy."

The oldest man in Westeros, he is a maester and a member of the Night's Watch. He was a prince of House Targaryen many years ago, and was offered the crown after he took his vows. He refused and went to the Wall rather than undermine his brother Aegon after he was crowned.

See the House Targaryen page.

Affectionate Nickname: When his niece Rhaelle was little, she used to call him "Uncle Maester."
Bald Mystic: He has lost all his hair to old age and he provides insightful advice, due to the vast amounts of knowledge he's accumalated over a century, little of which he has forgotten.
Beware the Quiet Ones: When Jon's life is on the line thanks to Thorne and Slynt Aemon pulls out all the stops to help him. He shoots down Septon Cellador's paltry evidence regarding Jon's faith in the Old Gods as proof he is sympathetic to the wildlings, points out Jon's dedication and skill in the defense of Castle Black and his previous upstanding service to Mormont, and when all else fails, goes directly over Slynt and Thorne's heads to bring in Cotter Pyke, who informs the pair they don't have the authority to arbitrarily execute Jon.
Big Brother Mentor: Although not much older than Aegon and certainly not the eldest of Maekar's sons, Prince Aemon Targaryen was the nearest any of Egg's brothers came to being this before he was made to start training in the Citadel and had to break most ties — but, he didn't manage to break them all. Which goes to show: he started being a reasonable person a very long time ago. Heck, Egg even liked the nickname big brother Aemon gave him, as it was given with warmth and not as a taunt. How far would Aemon go to look after his little brother? He went to the Wall so Egg's right to the throne wouldn't fall into any dispute. That's how far. And, no guesses which member of his long-dead family he started talking to when his mind started to wander towards the end: little bro.
Aemon: Egg, I dreamed that I was old.
Big Brother Instinct: He passed at the chance to become king in favor of his younger brother Aegon, then joined the Night's Watch so nobody could use him against Aegon in a political power play.
Character Death: Passes away of old age in Feast. He was 102.
Child Prodigy: He was noted to be bookish as a child, so his grandfather sent him to the Citadel. Aemon became a full maester when he was only 19.
Conflicting Loyalty: To the Watch and his house. He chose to honor his vows, but had to watch as House Targaryen fell to utter ruin under the Mad King and nearly all his relatives were killed or forced into hiding in exile.
Cool Old Guy: Hanging out with Maester Aemon doesn't exactly come across as the greatest hardship you could ever face on the Wall. He's full of all sorts of interesting information, if you're willing to listen to his sound advice he tailors to your problems, that is.
Cool Uncle: Though Aemon never had children himself, he has fond memories of his siblings' children, indicating that he was very close to them. Egg's daughter Rhaelle would call him "Uncle Maester". He likely also played this role for his great-great nephew Rhaegar, considering that they frequently wrote to each other about history and prophecies.
Dead Guy Junior: Named after his grandfather's (Daeron II "The Good") uncle (or father) Ser Aemon Targaryen, the Dragonknight.
- Gilly also plans to name Dalla's son Aemon.
Despair Speech:
Aemon: My ravens would bring the news from the south, words darker than their wings, the ruin of my House, the death of my kin, disgrace and desolation. What could I have done, old, blind, frail? I was helpless as a suckling babe, yet still it grieved me to sit forgotten as they cut down my brother's poor grandson, and his son, and even the little children...
Due to the Dead: In a world like this where so many people die screaming, it's significant that not only does Aemon have a peaceful and painless death after living a full life, but he gets an honorable funeral besides, attended by Sam, Gilly and the Summer Islanders aboard the Cinnamon Wind.
Friend to All Children: Gilly notes that he's wonderful at handling Dalla's baby.
Healing Hands: Comes with being a maester.
Jock Dad, Nerd Son: His father was a formidable warrior, but Aemon preferred books over battle.
Last of His Kind: Aemon thinks he is this because has spent much of the latter portion of his life unaware that Viserys and Daenerys still live. And also so does Aegon. He actually does not find out until right before his death he still has living relatives.
Long-Lived: At the start of the series he is 100 years old, having outlived most of his family and friends.
Mentor Archetype: To Jon and Sam.
Monochromatic Eyes: Due to cataracts.
Nice Guy: Very much. The kindness he extends to Sam is only one indication.
Not Afraid to Die: Subverted. He admits to Sam that he is afraid to die, despite being so old that he's known for a while that death was just around the corner.
Offered the Crown: And not only famously refused it, but joined the Night's Watch so he would be ineligible to rule and thus not be a target of conspiracy.
Old Master: He was blind with age and in very poor health, but his hands were steady and his mind sharp, and when he spoke, the Night's Watch listened.
Reassigned to Antarctica/Locked Away in a Monastery: While he chose to be a maester and to go to the Wall to protect his brother Aegon, it's also said that he didn't became Archmaester and was left to freeze because he's a Targaryen, and therefore linked to magic (which the Citadel hates).
Reasonable Authority Figure: Along with Jeor Mormont's leadership, it's Maester Aemon's advice and knowledge that holds the Night's Watch together. With Jeor dead and Aemon sent to Oldtown and dying en-route, the tensions among the Night's Watch explode into a mutiny against the new Lord Commander, Jon Snow.
Rule of Three: Like all Targaryens. The gods tested his vows three times and each time he stuck by them.
Scatterbrained Senior: In the last few days of his life, Aemon's mind grows confused, rambling about prophecies and dragons, and during his lucid moments expressing regret that he is too old to help Daenerys and pleading with Sam to tell the maesters that she is the Prince who was Promised.
That had been one of his last good days. After that the old man spent more time sleeping than awake, curled up beneath a pile of furs in the captain’s cabin. Sometimes he would mutter in his sleep. When he woke he’d call for Sam, insisting that he had to tell him something, but oft as not he would have forgotten what he meant to say by the time that Sam arrived. Even when he did recall, his talk was all a jumble. He spoke of dreams and never named the dreamer, of a glass candle that could not be lit and eggs that would not hatch. He said the sphinx was the riddle, not the riddler, whatever that meant.
Shed the Family Name: He put aside his House name when he took his vow of service as a Maester. This leaves Jon shocked to learn that he was a Targaryen.
Snub by Omission: While he's dying, he mentions wanting to see each of his siblings once more... except the Ax-Crazy Big Brother Bully Aerion.

Janos Slynt

Janos Slynt is the commander of the King's Landing City Watch. The son of a butcher, Slynt's true loyalties lie with whoever pays his salary. Which is actually Littlefinger. He's made Lord of Harrenhal by Joffrey but gets sent to join the Night's Watch after Tyrion begins cleaning King's Landing of his sister's allies. He conspires to become Lord Commander, but his refusal to follow Jon Snow's orders after he is elected to the post ends up getting him executed.

Ain't Too Proud to Beg:
- As Tyrion is sentencing him to the Night's Watch, the only time he cracks is when he thinks Tyrion is threatening his children and begins begging for their lives.
- When Jon chooses to spare Slynt from being hanged and decides to behead him himself in accordance to the ways of the First Men.
Animal Motifs: He is often compared unflatteringly to a frog.
Bald of Evil: He is a bald Slimeball.
Better the Devil You Know: When Jon Arryn tried to remove him from the post for his corruption, Robert argued that since they all steal, it's better to have one they know because the next man might be worse. Stannis opines that this was one of many instances of Littlefinger's words coming out of Robert's mouth.
Stannis Baratheon: Do not trifle with me, my lord. I saw the proof Jon Arryn laid before the small council. If I had been king you would have lost more than your office, I promise you, but Robert shrugged away your little lapses. "They all steal," I recall him saying. "Better a thief we know than one we don't, the next man might be worse." Lord Petyr's words in my brother's mouth, I'll warrant. Littlefinger had a nose for gold, and I'm certain he arranged matters so the crown profited as much from your corruption as you did yourself.
Bling of War: When commanding the Gold Cloaks, he wore elaborate black armor with gold filigree.
The Brute: In Littlefinger's plot to betray Ned.
The Corrupter: Not only is he a corrupt man, but has also corrupted the City Watch as an institution through selling positions and promotions and making them agents of state terror, basically the citybound version of the Mountain's men.
Didn't Think This Through:
- When he threatens Tyrion, it doesn't initially seem to have occurred to him that Tyrion (the acting Hand of the King at the time) could be a threat to his children...until Tyrion starts asking how many sons he has. Fortunately for him, Tyrion has no intention of punishing children for their father's crimes.
- Tries to flaunt his status prior to being forced to take the black as a way to scare Jon. Jon promptly has him executed because he refused to follow orders.
Dirty Cop: Known for taking bribes and selling positions and promotions. Half the officers pay him part of their salaries.
Stannis Baratheon: Janos was hardly the first gold cloak ever to take a bribe, I grant you, but he may have been the first commander to fatten his purse by selling places and promotions. By the end he must have had half the officers in the City Watch paying him part of their wages. Isn’t that so, Janos?
Dude, Where's My Respect?: He is outraged whenever someone does not show him the respect that he thinks is his due. The fact that he has never done anything worthy of respect and that even his "allies" do not really like him never dawns on Janos.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The only redeeming moment he's had in the books is his concern when he believed Tyrion was threatening his children.
Family Theme Naming: Janos and his sons Morros, Jothos and Danos.
Fatal Flaw: Believing himself untouchable because he has "powerful friends" (the Lannisters), which means squat on the Wall.
Fish out of Water: A slippery Southron who tries playing the political game in the North.
Hate Sink: Janos is a greedy, corrupt, two-faced scumbag and Professional Butt-Kisser who will do anything and everything in order to get more power for himself. His crimes include having a baby daughter of Robert's killed along with her mother and betraying Ned Stark to get him executed.
Hope Spot: Thinks he's getting one when Jon declares he won't be hanged... and then swiftly has it dashed when Jon draws his sword and tells Edd Tollett to fetch him a block.
Insistent Terminology: Insists on being called "m'lord" when dealing with Jon Snow. He also generally refers to Jon as "bastard" or "turncloak", only ever addressing him respectfully about two seconds before Jon takes his head off.
- Ironically his insistence upon being referred to under a noble title betrays his lowborn origins as he habitually says "m'lord" rather than "my lord". At one point Jon mockingly begins emphasizing the proper pronunciation in every sentence as if to instruct him how it's meant to be said.
Just a Kid: Believes he can browbeat and intimidate Jon on account of his youth. Jon swiftly proves that while young, he is not going to let Slynt walk over him.
Leave No Witnesses: Stannis claims Slynt had two gold cloaks who were willing to testify he was corrupt discreetly murdered before they could condemn him.
Janos Slynt: [after Stannis accuses him of being corrupt] Lies, all lies! A strong man makes enemies, Your Grace knows that, they whisper lies behind your back. Naught was ever proven, not a man came forward...
Stannis Baratheon: Two men who were prepared to come forward died suddenly on their rounds
Meaningful Name: Janos sounds a lot like Janus, the two-faced Roman God.
Nouveau Riche: He's raised to lordship and given the ancient castle of Harrenhal for betraying Ned Stark. Nevertheless, he still eats, drinks and speaks like a commoner, and all the nobles consider him nothing more than an "upjumped butcher's son".
Denys Mallister: This so-called "Lord of Harrenhal" is a butcher's whelp upjumped by the Lannisters. Small wonder he is venal and corrupt.
Off with His Head!: Karmic when considering his betrayal led to Ned's execution and the one to behead Slynt is none other than Ned Stark's bastard son.
Oh, Crap!: His reaction to the following pronouncements... 'Please take Lord Janos to the Wall... and hang him'.
Overranked Soldier: After arriving on the Wall, he takes temporary command of the Night's Watch due to no Lord Commander being present and the fact that he was a lord. He is clearly not cut out for the position at all.
Professional Butt-Kisser: Tries to pull one of these in the hopes of getting Stannis to support his attempt to become Lord Commander. Stannis, who hates such practices and already despises Janos for his corruption, flatly retorts Slynt is wasting his time.
Janos Slynt: Your Grace, let me say how pleased we are to be summoned here. When I saw your banners from the Wall, I knew the realm was saved. ‘There comes a man who ne'er forgets his duty,’ I said to good Ser Alliser. ‘A strong man, and a true king.’ May I congratulate you on your victory over the savages? The singers will make much of it, I know—
Stannis Baratheon: The singers may do as they like. Spare me your fawning, Janos, it will not serve you.
Punch-Clock Villain: When compared with the likes of King Joffrey, Queen Cersei and Littlefinger.
Rags to Riches: From son of a butcher to lord of one of the greatest castles in Westeros. Not that he ever gets to see it, because not long after he's raised to a lordship, Tyrion quickly packs him off to the Wall for his part in the massacre of Robert's bastard children and his betrayal of Ned Stark.
Reassigned to Antarctica: Tyrion sends him to the Wall after learning that he had sent one of his men to execute a bastard baby of King Robert and her mother and that he had played a part in the execution of Ned Stark.
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Nobody, not even Cersei, really bats an eye when Tyrion sentences Janos to the Wall for purging Robert's bastards and betraying Ned, and many consider it a justified action given Janos' actions.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Thinks his "friendship" with the Lannisters will ensure his safety, even on the Wall. He is wrong.
Slimeball: As his master Littlefinger, but less apparently benign.
Small Name, Big Ego: Spends a solid amount of his appearance talking about his own importance or how his "friends" the Lannisters are lucky to have him as an ally. One of the few times the Lannisters ever bother to mention him, Tywin can do nothing but snort with derision at the upjumped son of a butcher. And nobody moves a finger or even lifts an eyebrow when Tyrion sends him to the Wall.
- This trait gets even more ridiculous when he arrives at the Wall and seems to think that everyone there should be automatically bowing down before him due to being a "lord" and continues to call himself Lord of Harrenhal, even though he never saw it and has lost all claim to it (by both being revoked by Tyrion and that the vows of the Night's Watch prevent him from owning land). He even claims that Mance asking for terms is because he heard Janos arrived on the Wall and now knows he has no chance of defeating the Night's Watch with someone like him in charge. He even threatens that Tywin Lannister will punish the Watch severely if they execute him (unaware that Tywin is A) dead and B) despised Slynt).
Smug Snake: Thinks really high of himself because he has attained lordship and a seat in the Small Council. His smugness leads him to openly defy his Lord Commander before the entire Night's Watch. He gets sentenced and beheaded by Jon Snow, the son of the man he had betrayed, for disobedience. It also doubles as Karmic Death.
Third-Person Person: Not always, but usually namedrops himself as though it's a name people should remember and take note of. See Small Name, Big Ego above.
Token Evil Teammate: Of the senior Night's Watch officers, Slynt is the only one who could truly be called evil.
Too Dumb to Live:
- Cersei invokes this about Slynt, stating he only took two men with him to arrest Barristan Selmy and didn't consider Selmy might choose to fight rather than come quietly.
- Later, when he becomes a man of the Night's Watch, repeatedly insulting a superior officer and refusing his orders turns out to not be a great idea. It leaves him short a head.
Undignified Death: All of his defiance towards Jon ends up deserting him, and he meets his death crying and begging almost incoherently on the execution block.
Uriah Gambit: Slynt sends Jon to assassinate Mance Rayder, hoping that Jon will be killed in the process.
Villains Want Mercy: Slynt desperately pleads for Jon to spare him. Jon doesn't.
Villainous Breakdown: Slynt has a complete one when he realises Jon fully intends to execute him.
Villainous Friendship: With Ser Alliser, although Jon notes that most of Janos' ideas are too clever for him and thinks that Alliser is simply pulling the higher-ranked officer's strings and that no real friendship exists beyond their hatred of Jon. The fact that Alliser so easily gives up on trying to stop Janos' execution seems to confirm this.
Villain with Good Publicity: There are rumors in King's Landing that he was sent to the Night's Watch because he was too bluff and honest for Tyrion's liking.
Would Hurt a Child: While he doesn't do the deed himself, he orders his men to carry out the execution of Robert's bastard children from King's Landing, including a baby girl. This disgusts Tyrion so much that he has Slynt packed off to the Wall.
Janos: A good commander knows his men, Tyrion. Some are good for one job, some for another. Doing for a babe, and her still on the tit, that takes a certain sort. Not every man'd do it. Even if it was only some whore and her whelp.
You Killed My Father: Although he does his best to look past it, Jon never forgets the fact Slynt played a part in Ned's downfall and execution.
Jon's thoughts: There is blood between us. This man helped slay my father and did his best to have me killed as well.

Septon Cellador

The resident septon at Castle Black.

The Alcoholic: Cellador is often described as constantly "being in his cups." . Strongly implied to be the drunk septon who Tyrion bribed with a bag of silver to marry him and Tysha.
Commander Contrarian: Along Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck, he's one of the Night's Watch leaders that resist Lord Commander Snow's reforms.
Disney Villain Death: Is threatened with this by Donal Noye during the Battle of Castle Black. Cellador is singing a pacifistic hymn to the Seven urging both sides to stay their hands; Noye hears it and roars that if the Septon stays his hand, he will be booted off the top of the Wall.
The Fundamentalist: He's actually distrustful of those who worship the old gods because they share the religion of the Free Folk. When Jon Snow is arrested under Slynt's orders, he's ready to believe the latter's accusations and distrusts Jon's sincerity because he made his vows before a heart tree.
Only One Name: If he had any surname, he dropped it when joining the Faith of the Seven.

Maester Mullin

The combative Maester of the Shadow Tower.

Badass Bookworm: He's specifically noted as being a fighter as well as a maester, with the former trait being more pronounced in him.
Combat Medic: A healer and a fighter who treats the casualties of the Battle at The Bridge of Skulls.
The Ghost: So far he has only been mentioned or seen in appendixes.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Based on the ending of the fifth book, his saving the life of an injured Bowen Marsh is having bad consequences.

Maester Harmune

The drunken Maester of Eastwatch-by-The-Sea, who, due to Cotter Pyke's illiteracy, writes all of his letters.

The Alcoholic: To the point where it interferes with his duties.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Like Pyke, he was last reported at Hardhome under dire circumstances.

Ser Glendon Hewett

Second in command and master-of-arms of Eastwatch-By-The-Sea and a crony of Alliser.

Horrible Judge of Character: He distrusts Jon, is described as the closest thing to a friend Alliser Thorne has, and is a crony of sorts to Janos Slynt.
Jerkass: He's quick to believe the worst of Jon and hits him a lot while placing him under arrest for suspicion of aiding the Free Folk.
Old Soldier: He is described as tall and seasoned.
You Are in Command Now: He is temporarily placed in command of Eastwatch when Cotter Pyke journeys to Hardhome, troubling Jon due to his open animosity towards Jon and friendship with his enemies.

Builders

First Builder Othell Yarwyck

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/othell_yarwyck_by_joshua_cairos.jpg

Hailing from the Westerlands, Othell is in charge of the builders, who maintain the Wall and the forts of the Night's Watch.

Almighty Janitor: Yarwyck and the builders are often overlooked until the crisis becomes more pronounced and they are needed to repair parts of the wall and ready more forts to be garrisoned.
Commander Contrarian: Practically any decision Jon makes after becoming Lord Commander is opposed by Yarwyck, although he is less confrontational than Bowen Marsh.
Commuting on a Bus: During A Dance With Dragons, he comes in and out of the story as he divides his time between Castle Black and overseeing the rebuilding of other castles along the Wall.
Fantastic Racism: Towards giants. He wrongly believes they eat human flesh when they are actually vegetarians.
Jerkass Has a Point: He isn't wrong about how difficult it is for the Watch and the Free Folk to work together, although he isn't too interested in working past that either.
Kneel Before Frodo: He gracefully accepts that he isn't the man to lead the Night Watch (reasoning that if he was, more people would have voted for him) and supports Jon as the right man for the job. After Jon takes over though, their relations get a little less tranquil.
Knight in Sour Armor: He argues with Jon's strategies but does work with him to try and keep things functioning. At least so far.
Lantern Jaw of Justice: He has a firm jaw and tends to side on what he thinks will mean more order and getting things done.
Obstructive Bureaucrat: To Jon after he becomes Lord Commander.

Halder

Stone Head

"It's the builders for me. What use would rangers be if the Wall fell down?"

A apprentice stonemason before being sent to the Wall, Halder trained alongside Jon and several other recruits. After training he was assigned to the builders.

Demoted to Extra: Unlike some of Jon's other friends, Halder doesn't remain as prominent after the first book.
Curb-Stomp Battle: Him versus Samwell Tarly on Sam's first day of training, and Ser Alliser makes him continue it even after it is clear that Sam cannot stand up. Halder really did not want to do it though and is grateful that Jon's protests gave him reason to stop.
In-Series Nickname: Ser Alliser mocks him as Stone Head during training.
Nice Guy: He is friendly and affable, and supports Jon immediately alongside Pyp to convince the other recruits to not follow Ser Alliser's orders to abuse Sam.
Put on a Bus: Near the start of A Dance With Dragons, Halder is sent with Toad to the Shadow Tower by Jon.
True Companions: With Jon, Sam, Grenn, Pyp, and Todder.
Unskilled, but Strong: He can put a lot of power behind his blows, but doesn't have very good technique and tires quickly. He gets a little better after some training from Jon, but is still assigned to the builders because his stonemason skills trump his strength and fighting skills.

Hareth

Horse

A stablehand from Moletown, Hareth fled to the Wall when Wildlings struck south of the Wall. He ended up joining the Night's Watch and was assigned to the Builders.

In-Series Nickname: Horse, due to being big and having buck teeth.
Jumped at the Call: After coming to the Wall, he was one of the handful of people from Moletown who stayed to defend it after it became safe to leave Castle Black and began expressing immediate interest in joining the Night's Watch.
Undying Loyalty: To Jon Snow.

Young Henly

An aging builder.

Old Soldier: Young Henly is pushing sixty but is the front lines making barricades against Mance's army and then fighting them.
One-Steve Limit: His nickname comes from another Watch member being Old Henly.
We Hardly Knew Ye: He falls to Mance's army with little characterization or page-time.

Spare Boot

A one-legged builder.

Bearer of Bad News: During the battle of Castle Black.
Spare Boot: At the gate! Mammoth at the gate!
An Arm and a Leg: He lost a leg at some time in the past.
I Shall Taunt You: After an arrow fired at him merely hits his wooden leg he yank it out and waves it mockingly at the enemy
Only Known by Their Nickname: His given name has never been mentioned.

Alf of Runnymudd

One of the Builders at Castle Black.

Ambiguously Gay: He seems to be close with the ranger Garth Greyfeather, anxiously enquiring after him while saying he's too smart to have died, then grieving when he is stated as being one of the dead.
Only One Name: Indicating his Smallfolk status.

Spotted Pate of Maidenpool

A Builder at Castle Black

Early-Bird Cameo: In the first book when its mentioned he made the new pommel for Longclaw.
Hold the Line: He helps Donal Noye defend the tunnel against Mag the Mighty. This turns into a Heroic Sacrifice.
Off with His Head!: Mag the Mighty twists his head off.
One-Steve Limit: Pate is a pretty common Westeroes name.

Recruiters

Yoren

"Been bringing men to the Wall for close on thirty years. All that time, I only lost three."

A recruiter of the Night's Watch, he travels the Seven Kingdoms to bring new recruits (mostly criminals) back to the Wall.

Body Horror: A mild and fairly mundane version. Yet, it's rather hard to suppress the wish to scratch when you read about the small ecology of parasites he carries with him.
Brutal Honesty: He is not a fan of mincing words, so when informing Robb, Bran, and Rickon of Benjen's disappearance, he tells them that their uncle is most likely dead.
Cruel to Be Kind: When Arya is in his care, he's harsh to the point of beating her and insistently calls her "boy" with a noticeable scowl in his voice. This isn't out of sadism or genuine anger, but to keep her safe, as if the others find out who she is they're likely to turn on her; and as she's a grieving child who's not thinking pragmatically, his harshness is the only way to get through to her.
Dark Is Not Evil: He dress all in black, as befits a man of the Night's Watch, and has dark hair, an unkempt appearance, surly attitude, and genuinely appears fairly thuggish. He also goes out of his way to help Ned, rescues Arya from King's Landing, and is genuinely protective of his recruits, to the point that he dies while trying to keep them safe. (It's worth noting that the recruits are mostly urchins and criminals, and he has no connection to them, except that they're his responsibility).
Due to the Dead: He is buried by some of his surviving recruits at Arya's insistence.
Dying Moment of Awesome: Takes down four Lannister soldiers before being cut down.
Good is Not Nice: Yoren is a cynical, abrasive, unkempt and blunt. He's also courageous, honorable and committed to his duty.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's brash, doesn't soften his words, and is harsh to "Arry" to the point of whooping her. His ultimate goals, however, are to get the recruits safely to the Wall and Arya safely to her family.
Knight in Sour Armor: While he may bemoan the lack of respect the Night's Watch gets and the quality of the recruits he brings to the Wall, he is very dedicated to the order and its purpose.
Mentor Occupational Hazard: He takes Arya under his protection and gives her some pointers on how to survive on the road. Then he get's killed by the Lannisters, forcing her to survive with just her own skill and a few of the other survivors.
Old Soldier: He's been around the block a bit, put it that way.
Oral Fixation: He has a habit of chewing sourleaf. When he wants to make a show of contempt, he spits the juices on the ground.
Pet the Dog: Specifically ensures that Arya doesn't see her father being beheaded.
Recruiters Always Lie: It is implied he uses any tactics available to drum up recruits for the Watch, though as most of them are in prison to begin with they don't exactly have much to lose. Martin has jokingly commented that Yoren recruited Dolorous Edd to the Night's Watch by telling him it was a good place to meet girls.
Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: The Night's Watch are supposed to be neutral in regards to the affairs of the realm, but Yoren chooses to get Arya out of King's Landing, saving her from eventual capture and execution at the queen's hands.
Undying Loyalty: To the Night's Watch, and by extension his brothers on the Wall. Thus he feels some loyalty to Benjen Stark, which is why he brings word to Eddard Stark about Catelyn Stark kidnapping Tyrion Lannister.

Conwy

A recruiter who brought Satin, Aron, Emrick and various others to the Wall.

Commuting on a Bus: He arrives back at the wall with new parties of recruits twice, then departs again.
Flat Character: Practically nothing has been revealed about his past or personality so far.

Dareon

A singer accused of raping a nobleman's daughter, although he insists that it had been consensual and that she only claimed rape after her father caught them. He becomes a steward at Eastwatch-By-The-Sea, but later gets assigned to become a recruiter, with the hope his singing ability will draw in recruits.

The Alcoholic: Drinks a lot of firewine aboard the Blackbird on the voyage to Braavos.
Ambiguous Innocence: We never do find out if he was really innocent of raping Lord Rowan's daughter. He claims he is, but considering how he later abandons his vows, he doesn't exactly come across as reputable.
Animal Motifs: Sam thinks of him as a crow transformed into a peacock after he uses the coin from his singing to replace his Night's Watch blacks with colorful, fancy clothes—beautiful, but proud, vain and useless.
Asshole Victim: After wasting Sam and Maester Aemon's money on whores and dissolution which eventually contributes to Maester Aemon's death from illness, his death at Arya's hands is fittingly karmic.
Beautiful Singing Voice: Maester Aemon calls his singing voice "honey poured over thunder."
Jerkass: Not obvious when first introduced, but becomes extremely clear when he treats Sam and Maester Aemon horribly on the voyage to Oldtown and he decides to desert the Night's Watch in Braavos.
Non-Action Guy: He is said to not be much of a swordsman.
The Oathbreaker: Sleeps with prostitutes in Braavos before eventually deciding to desert completely.
Significant Wardrobe Shift: When he decides to desert, he throws his black Night's Watch clothes in a canal and garbs himself in vair, velvet, and cloth-of-gold.
Slashed Throat: Arya executes him this way and dumps his body into a canal after learning he is a deserter from the Night's Watch.
Took a Level in Jerkass: Is a fairly reasonable guy in the first book, but suddenly transforms into a major asshole come book four.
Ungrateful Bastard: He had the chance to become a recruiter in one of the warmer and nicer cities in Westeros, but he decides to abandon the Watch entirely.
Wandering Minstrel: His life before being sent to the Wall. When he becomes a recruiter, he is to do this again, only singing songs about the Night's Watch to recruit people. He decides not to do this and settles down in Braavos, spending the money he makes singing on prostitutes.

Recruits

Rast

A rapist sentenced to the Wall. He is part of Jon Snow's training group.

The Bully: Towards Samwell Tarly in particular. While all the other recruits are convinced by Jon, Pyp, and Halder to go easy on Sam, Rast refuses and looks forward to beating him in training. A midnight visit from Jon, Pyp, Grenn, and Ghost put an end to that idea quickly though.
Demoted to Extra: He never graduates from training and stays at the Wall during A Clash of Kings. He reappears briefly in A Storm of Swords to die during the wildling attack on Castle Black.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Killed by a Thenn wielding a spear. The Thenn is so strong he actually lifts Rast up into the air on it.
In-Series Nickname: Ser Alliser calls him Rat.
Jerkass: He has no redeeming qualities and is a vile sadistic rapist.
Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: None of the recruits like him due to his crimes and he has absolutely zero positive traits.
Token Evil Teammate: Of the recruits in Jon's group, Rast is the only one who never makes friends with him or shows any kind of Hidden Depths. Not that this bothers Jon and the others, since they want nothing to do with Rast.

Yoren's last recruits

Tarber, Cutjack, Koss, Kurz, Woth, Reysen, Murch, Dobber, Praed, Qyle, Gerren, and Urreg

A mixture of orphans, criminals and volunteers who Yoren takes back to the wall in a party which also includes Arya and Gendry (as well as J'aqen, Lommy, Hot Pie, Rorge and Biter), only for them to come under attack on the way there. Technically speaking, none of them ever arrive at the wall to officially join the organization but they fight and serve as if they have.

Blow That Horn: Kurz carries a large horn that he blows at signs of trouble.
Carry a Big Stick: Cutjack is a former stonemason who carries his hammer as a weapon.
Classical Hunter: Koss and Kurz, who keep the group fed.
Closest Thing We Got: Woth was once an oarsman on a galley and is thus the closest thing the group has to a sailor as they try to find a boat.
Cool Old Guy: Reysen needs a walking stick to walk but doesn't hesitate to brandish it to protect Gendry and is also a Deadpan Snarker.
Deadpan Snarker: Reysen quips that he'd rather join the City Watch due to how cold the Wall is, and when told to surrender in the name of the king, calls out which king's name?
Doomed Hurt Guy: Kurz survives and escapes the conflict that wipes out most of the group but takes a mortal wound and dies soon afterwards.
Due to the Dead: When Praed dies, Tarber drops some acorns in his grave so a tree will grow and mark the spot. Cutjack also helps bury the dying woman they found at the village.
Face Death with Dignity: Kurz spends his last hours trying to impart useful information to the others.
Forgotten Fallen Friend: Downplayed, but Arya has yet to think back on any of them since the end of the second book, despite all of the time they spent surviving together, even as she continues to remember Lommy Greehands, a Dirty Coward and Jerkass.
Hot-Blooded: Woth's a bit irritable with Arya and cuffs Reysen for making a dumb comment.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Woth is imapled by a spear meant for Yoren as the final fight begins.
Incurable Cough of Death: Praed has a nasty cough and dies of natural causes a few days outside of Kings Landing, with the absence of his cough being noticed before his death.
Jumped at the Call: Reysen, Cutjack, Praed, Qyle and Woth all joined the watch voluntarily.
Know When to Fold 'Em: Koss and Qyle try to surrender to the approaching Lannister's after the group is overrun and being defeated. It doesn't work.
Mentor Occupational Hazard: Kurz provides an odd example, only imparting all of the survival skills he knows to the others after being mortally wounded.
Nobody Here but Us Birds: Kurz knows how to sound like a bird and a dog.
Oh, Crap!: Dobber quickly deduces a village is being burned with a glance at the horizon, seeing a red spot burning in the distance.
Only a Flesh Wound: Kurz tries to claim this about an arrow to his shoulder but the wound soon turns mortal.
Orphan's Ordeal: Tarber is one of the groups orphans.
Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: A bunch of people from varied lots in life who work pretty well together, although most end up dying.
Robbing the Dead: Dobber does this at Gendry's orders when they find a dead soldier.
Roguish Poacher: While Koss and Kurz are being sent to the wall for poaching both seem like decent guys.
Run for the Border: They try to make it through the Riverlands and into The North ahead of the marauding Lannister forces. They don't make it.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Tarber and Cutjack eventually take the food that's left and abandon the others as things get especially desperate. Also might count as Took a Level in Cynic and/or Took a Level in Jerkass, considering that both had been pretty decent up to that point. Arya feels deeply betrayed by this, although not enough to include them among the list of enemies she starts praying for to die in her next few pov chapters.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Murch is furious at Rorge and Biter for mocking a dying and mutilated woman.
Stealth Expert: Koss is a skilled hunter who creeps near and observes a camp of nearby Lannister soldiers.
Stout Strength: Cutjack and Woth are both a bit stout but tough.
Super-Reflexes: Kurz catches a fish with his bare hands.
Surprisingly Sudden Death: Dobber is killed grappling with a Lannister soldier, with the others not even realizing he's dead until Lommy has finished off his opponent with a stone to the head.
That Old-Time Prescription: Tarber treats a wound Kurz suffers with moss and mud.
Those Two Guys: Koss and Kurz have similar sounding names, are both poachers who spend a lot of time together foraging, and when Koss comes to Gendry's defense from the gold cloaks, Kurz does the same, saying "Him and me."
Trading Bars for Stripes: Koss, Kurz, Dobber and Gerren all were recruited from the dungeons.
Uncertain Doom: Reysen, Murch, Gerren and Urreg aren't specifically noted as dying but don't escape with Arya and the other known survivors.
You Shall Not Pass!: They band together to threaten the gold cloaks coming for Gendry.

Hop-Robin

Hop-Robin.

A club-footed recruit brought in during the second book who remains in training.

Non-Action Guy: Observing his awkward practice fights makes Jon reflect Hop-Robin's probably destined for the stewards.
Red Right Hand: His clubfoot gets commented on a lot.

Jace

A cobbler's son from Fair Isle.

Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: He finds the idea of a three-on-one fight to be unfair.
The Worf Effect: He is one of the three best fighters among the current recruits, Jon fights him and the other two (Aron and Emrick) at once as a combat lesson.

Sailors

Old Tattersalt

Captain of the Night's Watch galley Blackbird.

Dropped a Bridge on Him: A couple chapters after he heads out for Hardhome. Maester Harmune's letter says that Tattersalt's ship was lost with all hands and doesn't even describe the circumstances.
Large and in Charge: He is an authoritative captain with a large belly.
Number Two: He is second to Cotter Pyke during the expedition to the Wildling village of Hardhome.
The Quiet One: He talks very little.
Tempting Fate: His first chapter has him commenting how easily his ship could break up and kill them all if it hit a rock. Later he's lost at sea.

Russ Barleycorn

Captain of The Night's Watch vessel Storm Crow.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: His ship is attacked and nearly swamped by the Wildings they're trying to save.
What Happened to the Mouse?: His ship loses six men repulsing Free Folk boarders and it is unknown if he was one of them, or what kind of situation he (and the rest of the expedition) are in even if they survived that.

Night's Watch Animals

Ghost

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screen_shot_2022_10_02_at_32226_pm.png

"He's not like the others. He never makes a sound. That's why I named him Ghost. That, and because he's white. The others are all dark, grey or black."

—Jon Snow to Benjen Stark

Jon Snow's pet direwolf, who is his near constant companion. Ghost is named so due to being albino and mute.

Action Pet: Ghost is more of a scouter than a killer: but, don't think that makes him less action-orientated. He's helped Jon take down several enemies.
Albinos Are Freaks: Alluded to when Theon tries to kill him when he is discovered. Jon compares his conflicted feelings about his illegitimacy to Ghost's albinism, and takes him because they are both outcasts.
Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance: Ghost's pure white fur and red eyes resemble the faces on heart trees, white weirwood and red sap.
Bond Creature: Even after learning the nature of wargs/skinchangers and their animal thralls, Jon recognizes the connection between him and his direwolf goes deeper than that. Ghost is a part of him.
Chameleon Camouflage: White fur, white snow — and, one vanishing Ghost.
The Dreaded: None of the Wildlings will touch Jon whenever Ghost is around, a fair few having seen what happened to Qhorin Halfhand, but mainly because wargs and their wolves are still generally remembered and dreaded. With just cause. Janos Slynt is likewise terrified of Ghost and uses his presence to accuse Jon of being an abomination.
Empathy Pet: Ghost is the first of his siblings to open his his eyes and crawl away from their dead mother, looking for safety. A lot like Jon, who has to mature quickly due to being a bastard and living in a world where he doesn't belong.
Evil-Detecting Dog: Although he is silent, Ghost is a handy-dandy wight-and-Other detector, along with other types of danger. When Jon bothers to stop and listen, that is.
Heroic Mime: Unlike the other direwolves, Ghost doesn't vocalize at all. So, when he does let loose with a howl... you know it's big.
Meaningful Name: Ghost is also well-named: he quietly turns up without warning quite a lot. Even Jon doesn't always know exactly where he is even when he knows he's somewhere close. And, he sometimes even fudges the "somewhere close" thing, too.
Not Now, Kiddo: When Ghost becomes increasingly uncontrollable to the point of going berserk, Jon leaves him locked in his quarters and attributes it to his desire to fight a huge boar owned by a wildling warg. It's because several of his Night's Watch brothers are about to betray him.
- In an interesting parallel, this is the exact same mistake that got Robb Stark killed; his direwolf Grey Wind was unusually aggressive shortly before the Red Wedding, but Robb locked him up instead of listening to him. Time will tell if Jon shares his brother's fate.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Ghost stops being silent the day Jon is betrayed by his brothers.
Silent Snarker: Ghost manages, upon occasion, to give the impression of snarking a little at Jon in a friendly manner. His stealth appearances do have a tendency to be about when Jon has said he's not exactly sure where he is, for example. Some of his disappearances do the opposite, too.
Stealth Hi/Bye: All Stark direwolves can all be pretty hard to keep track of when they wish to be (just ask the Ironborn and Bolton trackers), but Ghost is the best of the bunch at pulling this trope. White fur + ice and snow = Cheshire wolf.
White Wolves Are Special: Ghost is the only pup in his litter to have been born with white fur. But like his siblings, he has a special bond with his owner that lets Jon see through his eyes.

Mormont's Raven

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jeors_raven.jpg

Lord Mormont's pet talking raven, which displays an unusual tendency to say apropos things. After Mormont's death, Jon Snow cares for the raven.

The Bus Came Back: It goes missing after Mormont's death, but reappears dramatically during the Lord Commander elections. It could just as easily have just flown off to somewhere slightly warmer and less likely to wind up pinion-deep in Others, but it didn't.
Clever Crows: This particular corvid is not just clever, but suspiciously insightful and rather appropriately ironic and sardonic for a bird. His rather unsettling habit of saying the right word at the right moment may have to do with Bloodraven's habit of warging crows to spy around Westeros.
Polly Wants a Microphone: It has a disturbing habit of repeating chilling words during tense conversations. It also asks for corn a lot... often at points where an ice-breaker would be used by a good Fool.
Put on a Bus: The raven vanishes after the mutiny during the Great Ranging.
Snarky Nonhuman Sidekick: To Jeor and later to Jon, some of its lines count as snarks.
Trademark Favourite Food: It's very fond of corn, and its constant begging for the stuff provides comic relief in the scenes where it appears.
Vitriolic Best Buds: Mormont is clearly fond of the bird and it of him, but during stressful moments it's constant chattering and begging for corn get on his nerves. At one point he wonders aloud why he keeps the annoying animal around at all.

Historical Members

Ser Olyver Bracken

One of the two Kingsguard who defected from Maegor the Cruel to join Jaehaerys. Despite his good intentions, Jaehaerys sent him and Raymund Mallery to the Wall for abandoning their oath. At the Wall he and Raymund tried to mutiny, but while Mallery managed to escape for a time, Bracken was executed by Lord Walton Stark.

Defector from Decadence: How he saw leaving Maegor for Jaehaerys.
My Nayme Is: Olyver instead of Oliver.
The Oathbreaker: Not only he broke his vows to serve the king (regardless of how legitimate he was), he also broke his vows to the Night's Watch.
Off with His Head!: Decapitated by Walton Stark using Ice.
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Jaehaerys said he had no room for turncloaks in his Kingsguard, so he and Raymund were packed to the Wall instead. He was later executed for betraying his oaths to the Night's Watch.

Ser Raymund Mallery

One of the two Kingsguard who defected from Maegor the Cruel to join Jaehaerys. Despite his good intentions, Jaehaerys sent him and Olyver Bracken to the Wall for abandoning their oaths. He and Bracken tried to mutiny and fled Beyond the Wall, leading to the death of Lord Walton Stark.

Captured by Cannibals: Seems to have been his ultimate fate.
Decapitation Presentation: A chieftain delivered his head to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea half a year later, claiming his wildlings had eaten him and his fellow deserters.
Defector from Decadence: How he saw leaving Maegor for Jaehaerys.
The Oathbreaker: Not only he broke his vows to serve the king (regardless of how legitimate he was), he also broke his vows to the Night's Watch.
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Jaehaerys said he had no room for turncloaks in his Kingsguard, so he and Olyver were sent to the Wall instead.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Raymund and his few supporters tried to pull this after Olyver Bracken's execution by Walton Stark; unfortunately, the wildlings didn't care that Raymund was a deserter from the Watch and promptly killed him and his fellow crows.
Archmaester Gyldayn: As for Ser Raymund Mallery and the other deserters, the wildlings gave them a cold welcome. Rebels or no, the free folk had no use for crows.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: His flight beyond the Wall prompted Lord Walton Stark to pursue him, a choice that led to Walton being killed by giants.

Legendary Members

Danny Flint

Brave Danny Flint

"A girl who dressed up like a boy to take the black. Her song is sad and pretty. What happened to her wasn't."

A brave young girl, who joined the Night's Watch by disguising as a boy. It did not turn out well for her, as she was discovered and subsequently raped and murdered by her former brothers. Her ghost is said to be one of the many things wandering the Nightfort.

Action Girl: Joined the Night's Watch to fight for their cause.
Famous Ancestor: Or rather an infamous, unfortunate ancestor to House Flint.
In-Universe Nickname: "Brave Danny Flint" is the title of a song about her fate.
Rape as Drama: Getting gang raped to death by the guys who were your colleagues mere hours ago? Fairly dramatic, yes.
Sweet Polly Oliver: Deconstructed; she joined the Night's Watch by posing as a boy but got discovered and was raped and killed as a result.
Too Dumb to Live: Not a good idea for a woman to join a group with rapists as members.

Mad Axe

Mad Axe had once walked these yards and climbed these towers, butchering his brothers in the dark.

—Bran Stark's thoughts on reaching the Nightfort.

A member of the Night's Watch famous for murdering his sworn brothers at the Nightfort.

Ax-Crazy: A crazed killer that murders his sworn brothers, with a literal axe to boot.
Beard of Evil: Had a red beard.
Beware the Quiet Ones: He took off his boots and silently prowled the halls of the Nightfort at night to murder his brothers.
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": His real name is unknown, he's unstable, he wields an axe, and he's called "Mad Axe".
Evil Redhead: A redhead Serial Killer.
Serial Killer: Of Night's Watch members.
The Unreveal: We never learn why Mad Axe killed all his comrades in cold blood.

The 79 Sentinels

"They left their posts in life, so in death their watch goes on forever."

—Bran Stark

Seventy nine brothers of the Night's Watch who deserted their post at the Nightfort and were entombed at the Wall as punishment.

Buried Alive: Were bricked up inside the Wall so their watch would never end.
Dangerous Deserter: They deserted the Night's Watch, becoming outlaws.
Karmic Death: Buried Alive within The Wall for deserting their posts.
Hell Is War: Have to spend their afterlives serving the Watch.
Honor Before Reason: Lord Ryswell delivered the seventy nine deserters back to the Wall, including one who was his youngest son.
Together in Death: Lord Ryswell joined the Watch so he could be buried close to his son.

The Rat Cook

Another infamous figure of the Night's Watch. As the name suggests, he was a cook of the Night's Watch who was supposedly offended by an Andal King, who then visited the Nightfort. As revenge, the Rat Cook served him a delicious pie of bacon... and his own son's flesh. The king enjoyed the pie so much he asked for a second helping. The gods cursed the cook by turning him into a fat, white rat which could only survive by feasting on its young. He was condemned to run the halls of the Nightfort. Rather than because of the murder or the forced cannibalism, they did it because he broke the rules of Sacred Hospitality.

See the Legendary Figures page.

Characters / A Song of Ice and Fire - The Night's Watch

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