The First Builder

The First Builder is one of the three high officers of the Night's Watch, charged with the maintenance, repair, and construction of the Wall and all the fortresses along its length. During the command of Jon Snow, the office is held by Othell Yarwyck, a stolid and unimaginative man who is often at odds with the Lord Commander's policies regarding the free folk and the restoration of the abandoned castles.

Role and Responsibilities

The First Builder oversees all building projects at Castle Black and the other forts along the Wall. This includes the repair of the switchback stair after the wildling attack, the restoration of the Nightfort for Queen Selyse, and the ongoing work to make the other abandoned castles habitable. Yarwyck is constantly complaining about a lack of builders and the poor quality of the free folk as laborers, stating that they are "sloppy, careless, lazy" and that there is "hardly a mason amongst them." He is also responsible for the ice cells and the storerooms beneath the Wall, where the Watch's provisions are kept.

Relationship with Jon Snow

Yarwyck is a conservative figure who is deeply suspicious of Jon Snow's decisions. He opposes the admission of wildlings through the Wall, arguing that they are more trouble than they are worth and that they will betray the Watch. He is a consistent voice of dissent alongside Bowen Marsh, and Jon often finds his counsel to be unhelpful. When Jon proposes to garrison the abandoned castles with free folk, Yarwyck objects, and when Jon decides to ride south to confront Ramsay Bolton, Yarwyck and Marsh slip out of the Shieldhall, signaling their disapproval.

Key Actions and Decisions

Yarwyck is tasked with restoring the Nightfort for Queen Selyse, a project he describes as requiring years of work. He is also involved in the counting of the Watch's stores, where he supports Marsh's gloomy assessments. When Jon suggests using the giant Wun Wun as a worker, Yarwyck refuses, fearing the creature. His most significant act is his silent departure from the Shieldhall when Jon announces his intention to march on Winterfell, a clear act of defiance that foreshadows the mutiny against the Lord Commander.