Glossary
The Andals - A tribe of men who invaded Westeros roughly 6,000 years ago. They wiped out the Children of the Forest and most of the First Men, and brought with them the Faith of the Seven.
Black Brothers - Nickname for men of the Night's Watch, due to their all-black garb. AKA Crows.
The Children of the Forest - The original inhabitants of Westeros and worshipers of the Old Gods. They are believed to have been druidic creatures with magical qualities.
The City Watch - The police force of King's Landing.
The Dothraki - A nomadic tribe of horse lords that reside on Essos.
Essos - A continent east of Westeros, across the Narrow Sea.
The First Men - The first humans to populate Westeros over 12,000 years ago. Their descendants mostly reside in the North and worship the Old Gods.
Godswood - A wooded area used as a place of worship by those who pray to the Old Gods.
Gold Cloaks - Nickname for members of the City Watch.
Greyjoy Rebellion A recent war (9 years before the beginning of the series) in which Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands revolted against the Seven Kingdoms. The rebellion was quashed, and Balon's only surviving son Theon was sent to Winterfell as a hostage of House Stark.
The Hand of the King - The King's foremost agent and adviser. It is said that "What the king dreams, the Hand builds."
Hodor - Hodor.
The Hound - Nickname for Sandor Clegane, Joffrey's protector. Sandor is a younger brother to Ser Gregor Clegane, AKA the Mountain.
Ice - The ancestral two-handed greatsword of House Stark, now wielded by Ned Stark. Ice is forged of Valyrian steel.
The Iron Throne - The literal seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms, from which the King conducts his business. It is fashioned from a thousand swords.
Khal - A chieftain of the Dothraki; commands a Khalasar.
Khalasar - All the Dothraki that follow a single Khal; can number in the tens of thousands.
Khaleesi - The wife of a Khal.
The King's Justice - Refers either to the royal executioner (Ser Ilyn Payne), or more generally to a sentence of execution by royal decree.
Kingslayer - Nickname for Ser Jaime Lannister for killing King Aerys Targaryen (whom he was sworn to protect) during Robert's Rebellion.
Knight of Flowers - Nickname for Ser Loras Tyrell, whose house sigil is a rose.
Littlefinger - Nickname for Petyr Baelish, a member of the king's small council, because he was small as a child and grew up in a land called the Fingers.
Maesters - A highly-trained order of healers and academics. Maesters often serve noble houses in the capacity of teacher, adviser, and doctor.
The Mountain - Nickname for Ser Gregor Clegane due to his immense size. Gregor's younger brother is Sandor Clegane, AKA the Hound.
Night's Watch - Order of men sworn to defend the Seven Kingdoms against the dangers that lie north of the Wall. Men who swear their vows to the Night's Watch must serve for life.
The Old Gods - Nameless, nature-based deities worshiped by the First Men and their descendants.
The Red Keep - The royal castle in King's Landing.
Robert's Rebellion - A recent war (17 years before the beginning of the series) in which Robert Baratheon, the current King, led a revolt against the previous King, Aerys Targaryen.
Sept - Place of worship for those who pray to the Seven.
Septa - Female clergy member of the Faith of the Seven.
Septon - Male clergy member of the Faith of the Seven.
Ser - A title granted to knights.
The Seven - The most widely-worshiped deities in Westeros. The Seven are akin to the Catholic Trinity, in that each god represents both a singular entity and a part of the whole. The Seven are: the Father, the Smith, the Warrior, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, and the Stranger.
The Seven Kingdoms - The dominion of King Robert, located in the continent of Westeros. They are Dorne, the Iron Islands, the North, the Reach, the Stormlands, the Vale, and the Westerlands.
Silent Sisters - A sect of women devoted to the Faith of the Seven and sworn to a vow of eternal silence. They oversee the rites of the dead.
The Small Council - A group of the King's closest advisers. Consists of the Hand (Ned Stark), the Master of Coin (Petyr Baelish), the Master of Laws (Renly Baratheon), the Master of Ships (Stannis Baratheon), the Master of Whispers (Varys), and Grand Maester Pycelle.
The Spider - Nickname for Lord Varys, the Master of Whispers.
"Taking the black" - Euphemism for joining the Night's Watch.
Valyria - A place in Essos that was home to the original Targaryens, as well as the source of all dragons. 300 years ago it was destroyed in an unknown cataclysm called the Doom.
Valyrian Steel - A coveted alloy used in weaponcraft. Valyrian steel blades are said to have been forged with magic; they are stronger, sharper, and lighter than normal blades. When the Doom befell Valyria, the secrets of forging Valyrian steel were lost, making existing Valyrian steel blades a rare and precious commodity.
The Wall - 700 foot-high barrier separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wild lands to the north. It was built over 8,000 years ago and is manned by the Night's Watch.
Westeros - The continent containing the Seven Kingdoms, the Wall, and the free territory to the north.
White Walkers - A feared race of mythical creatures said to live north of the Wall. They have not been seen for over 8,000 years.
Wildlings - Free folk who live north of the Wall. Wildlings don't adhere to the laws of the Seven Kingdoms.