Taking the Black: Life on The Wall Quiz

Answer: The Night's Watch

The men of the Night's Watch are typically recruited through a trip to the dungeons of the main cities. Any man who has committed a crime may have that absolved by him becoming a member of the Watch.
However, in the centuries past it was an honor to guard the wall and many knights and nobles would take the black in order to serve the realm.

Answer: Brandon the Builder

Beyond the Wall is a stretch of wilderness with many threats, especially a race called "The Others", also known as "White Walkers" in the TV series. Brandon the Builder erected this massive structure in order to protect the Seven Kingdoms from the threat of invasion.

In the time of the novels, the Wall has become poorly maintained as the threat had not been realised for thousands of years.

Answer: Jeor Mormont

Lord Jeor Mormont is the 997th Commander of the Night's Watch. Not much is known about his history, but he is the father of Ser Jorah Mormont, the exiled knight now protecting Daenerys Targaryen. Mormont had previously been the Lord of Bear Island but took the black because of his commitment to the realm, and his realisation that the Wall was not protected as it should be.

Answer: Rangers

The other two orders of the Night's Watch are the Builders and Stewards. Rangers patrol the dangerous area on the north side of the Wall, while Builders physically maintain the integrity of the structure. Stewards are tasked with ensuring that the strongholds are supplied with food and other needs of the Rangers and Builders.

Answer: Jon Snow

Jon Snow is the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. He grew up and was raised as one of the Stark family after being brought home by Stark after Robert's Rebellion. There are many theories on Snow's true parentage, which has led to a lot of speculation, but to date this has not been fully explained.

Answer: Maester Aemon

Maester Aemon is one of the oldest people in Westeros, and one of the wisest. When he was much younger he was offered the crown but would not accept, and the succession passed to his younger brother Aegon V, grandfather of the Mad King.
The maester is responsible for council, as well as healing and communication, the latter being achieved by training crows to carry messages to different parts of the realm.

Answer: Castle Black

Castle Black is where the main force of the Night's Watch are stationed. It is not really a castle but a series of towers and halls seated at the base of the Wall, with a crude elevator system that can take people to the top.

Answer: Samwell Tarly

Samwell Tarly is sent to the Wall when he fails to live up to the expectations of his father, Lord Randyll Tarly. Sam is a bookworm and a self-confessed coward, and is eventually taken for study by Maester Aemon.
During his training he is protected by Jon Snow, and a friendship began between the two very different "Black Brothers"

Answer: Eddard Stark

Eddard Stark is the Lord of Winterfell in the first book. His younger brother Benjen is the First Ranger who goes missing early on, leading to several expeditions being sent to find out what happened to him.

Answer: Mance Rayder

Mance Rayder was captured as a wildling and raised as one of them by the Night's Watch. He later betrayed them and went back to his roots, creating a wildiling army capable of attacking the Wall.