Frostfangs

The Frostfangs are a range of snow-capped mountains located far north of the Wall, forming a formidable barrier of ice and rock. They are a place of extreme cold and desolation, where the peaks are perpetually covered in snow and glaciers grind slowly through the valleys. This inhospitable terrain is the ancestral home of the Thenns, a distinct people among the free folk who live in a hidden vale surrounded by high peaks, mining tin and copper for bronze and forging their own arms and armor.

Geography and Significance

The Frostfangs are a vast, rugged mountain range that defines the northern landscape beyond the Wall. They are characterized by their extreme altitude, permanent snow cover, and treacherous glaciers. The Thenns, a people apart from other free folk, have lived in a hidden vale at the north end of the Frostfangs for thousands of years, isolated by the surrounding high peaks. This isolation has made them different from other wildlings, as they have lords and laws, and are known for their skill in metalworking, mining tin and copper to forge bronze weapons and armor.

The Horn of Joramun

The Frostfangs are also the location where Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, claimed to have found the legendary Horn of Joramun. According to the tale, Joramun had died thousands of years ago, but Mance discovered his grave beneath a glacier high up in the Frostfangs. The horn, black and banded with old gold and eight feet long, was said to have the power to wake giants from the earth and bring down the Wall. This discovery was a key part of Mance's legend and his threat to the Seven Kingdoms, though the horn was later burned by Melisandre.

Narrative Role

The Frostfangs serve as a symbol of the wild, untamed lands beyond the Wall, a place of ancient secrets and formidable natural power. They are the source of the Thenns' unique culture and the legendary horn that represented the greatest threat to the Wall's integrity. The range's harsh environment underscores the peril and isolation of life north of the Wall, and its association with the Horn of Joramun ties it directly to the central conflict between the free folk and the Seven Kingdoms.