Mormont's raven

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Mormont's raven
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Jeor Mormont by reneaigner.jpg
Jeor Mormont and Mormont's raven by Rene Aigner©

Allegiance Night's Watch
Race Raven
Books

Mormont's raven is a pet raven of Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He can speak, usually repeating a one syllable word twice. Typically it is a word just said by one of the people around, however it is often uncannily appropriate.

Appearance and traits

Mormont's raven has beady black eyes and [1] and big black wings. [2] Jon Snow describes it as an "old raven", though its exact age remains unknown. [3] [4] At some point it is described as a "huge raven". [5] It seems to be rather large for its species. [6]

This raven is particularly fond of fruit and "corn" (grain). Maester Aemon considers this a rather rare trait, since most ravens prefer meat. [3] The raven is typically scruffy in appearance. Jon Snow considers it bold and fearless. He also considers it clever, too clever. [6]

History

Mormont's raven served as the companion of Jeor Mormont for "long years". [6]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

At Castle Black, Alliser Thorne orders recent recruit Jon Snow to report to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Jon first notices Mormont's raven, perched on the arm of Jeor. Mormont gives Jon a letter that has arrived from Winterfell for him. The message was written by Robb Stark, informing Jon that Bran Stark has recovered from a coma. Though the boy is crippled, Jon is happy that his brother is going to live. The raven flies to the shoulder of Jeor, while repeating the last word of Jon: Live! [7]

During a meal, Alliser Thorne and visitor Tyrion Lannister insult each other. Bystanders laugh, while the raven caws loudly from above a window, repeating the last word of Tyrion: Duel! [1] Tyrion finds the bird annoying and privately considers throttling it. He decides against it, not wanting to insult Jeor. [1]

Later, Jon is forced to fight a wight. Jon improvises and uses Jeor's oil lamp to start a fire. The raven starts cawing Burn, seemingly on its own initiative. [8]

After Jon attempts to desert to avenge his late father, Jeor asks whether Jon finds the war of Robb Stark to be more important that their own war. The ongoing wars mentioned are the War of the Five Kings and the Conflict Beyond the Wall. The raven flaps its wings and starts repeating: War. Jon finds the words to be song-like. Jeor suggests that Eddard Stark himself sent Jon to the Wall, though nobody truly knows why. The raven repeats the question: Why?[9]

A Clash of Kings

Jeor Mormont with his raven by Wouter Bruneel.

Lord Commander Mormont brings his raven with him while commanding the Great Ranging. It continues to repeat various words of those having conversations with Mormont.[10]

A Storm of Swords

Jeor Mormont feeding his raven - by Amok ©

Mormont's raven survives the Battle of the Fist of the First Men, and manages to accompany his master to Craster's Keep. After Mormont is murdered during the mutiny he seems to disappear.

Later, the elections for the position of Lord Commander of the Night's Watch are ongoing. No candidate has enough votes to secure election, and a new vote is about to take place. A large kettle is used as ballot box. Samwell Tarly and Clydas transport the kettle. When Clydas takes off the lidd of the kettle, a raven bursts out from inside. It then flies three times around the room finally it landing on the table, next to the place where Jon Snow is seated. It starts repeating the name: Snow. It then spreads its wings and flies to Jon, perching on his shoulder. [5]

Samwell claims to recognize this bird, proclaiming it to be Mormont's raven. Alliser Thorne laughs, claiming that Samwell is trying to fool them. He is certain that this is one of several ravens which Tarly has trained to say Snow, while Mormont's raven had a richer vocabulary. [5] The raven looks at Jon and asks for corn. It soon changes its tune, repeating a new word: Kettle?. This act helps convince the present men that this is indeed Mormont's raven, and helps decide the election in favor of Jon. [5] Samwell insists that he had nothing to do with the raven's appearance, claiming that it even scared him. [5]

A Feast for Crows

The raven dwells with new Lord Commander Jon Snow in his quarters, and continues to repeat certain words from ongoing conversations.[11]

Jon Snow - by Michael Komarck ©

A Dance with Dragons

Jon has a dream where he defends the Wall, facing the Others and their wights. He faces various people from his past. [12] [13] The dream continues with a "gnarled hand" roughly seizing his shoulder. Jon turns to face the owner of the hand and there the dream ends. He finds himself in bed with Mormont's raven pecking at his chest. It calls him Snow. As Jon dresses, the raven keeps some distance from him and mutters from the other side of the room. He recognizes some familiar words: Corn, King, Snow. Then the raven twice calls him by full name: Jon Snow. Jon finds this peculiar as he cannot remember any previous instance of the raven using his full name.[12]

References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 21, Tyrion III.
  2. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 6, Jon I.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
  4. The lifespan of the Common Raven depends on its living conditions. In the wild, the average raven lives for 10 to 15 years. Some survive longer, dying between the 20th and 23rd year of their lives. In captivity, a raven can survive longer still. A number of individual ravens of the Tower of London managed to reach or surpass the 40th year of their lives.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 3, Jon I.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
  8. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 52, Jon VII.
  9. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
  10. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 43, Jon V.
  11. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 58, Jon XII.
  13. The persons depicted include the eagle of Orell, Ygritte, Donal Noye, Dick Follard, Qhorin Halfhand, and Robb Stark.