Bear Island

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The North and the location of Bear Island
The North and the location of Bear Island
Bear Island
The North and the location of Bear Island

Bear Island is a remote island in the North that is home to House Mormont. It lies within the Bay of Ice north of Deepwood Motte and south of the Frozen Shore.[1]

The island contains old gnarled oaks, tall pines, flowering thornbushes, moss-covered grey stones, and steep hills with streams. Aside from a few crofters, the inhabitants of Bear Island live along the coasts and fish the seas.[2]

The Mormonts have a wood-walled castle with a smoky keep.[3] Their hall is built of huge logs and is surrounded by an earthen palisade.[2] On the gate there is a carving of a woman in a bearskin with a babe suckling at her breast in one arm and a battleaxe in the other.[4]

History

Bear Island was ruled by House Woodfoot prior to is conquest by the ironborn.[5] House Hoare, which ruled the Iron Islands at the time, added a green tree in the second quarter of their sigil as a reference to their possession of Bear Island.[6] The island returned to the North during the reign of Rodrik Stark, supposedly as a result of a wrestling match. Rodrik then gave the island to House Mormont.[7]

In days past, ironmen and wildlings from the Frozen Shore would raid Bear Island whilst the men were fishing out at sea, leaving the defense of the island to its women. This created a warrior culture among the women.[4]

Lord Jeor Mormont joined the Night's Watch to allow his son, Jorah Mormont, to rule Bear Island. Jorah ruled Bear Island with his wife, Lynesse Hightower, but she decided that the remote isle was no place for a Hightower of Oldtown. After Jorah was caught poaching slaves to support Lynesse's lifestyle, Lord Eddard Stark traveled to Bear Island. However, the disgraced Jorah had already taken ship with his wife by the time Ned arrived. Bear Island thus passed to Jorah's aunt, Maege Mormont.

© Fantasy Flight Games

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Lady Maege Mormont leads the levy from Bear Island that joins the army of Robb Stark.

A Storm of Swords

Maester Aemon sends a raven to Bear Island in a plea for help to defend Castle Black from wildlings.[8]

A Dance with Dragons

When King Stannis Baratheon demands allegiance from the northmen, ten-year-old Lyanna Mormont answers that Bear Island knows only the King in the North, Stark. After the retaking of Deepwood Motte, however, Alysane Mormont joins Stannis's army.

References and Notes