The Night's Watch vs. the Supernatural Threat

A Game of Thrones

The Watch faces the return of the Others and the wights, a threat beyond human politics.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Signs The First Signs from "A Game of Thrones". The Omen The Prologue The Others kill Ser Waymar Royce. The threat is established but dismissed by most. The Deserter Gared is executed for desertion.

The First Signs from "A Game of Thrones". The Omen The Prologue The Others kill Ser Waymar Royce. The threat is established but dismissed by most. The Deserter Gared is executed for desertion.

The Omen The Prologue The Others kill Ser Waymar Royce. The threat is established but dismissed by most. The Deserter Gared is executed for desertion. Ned Stark beheads him, unaware of the true danger. The Direwolf The dead direwolf with an antler in its throat is a sign of conflict between Stark and Baratheon, but also foreshadows the coming winter.

The Wight Attack The Wight Attack from "A Game of Thrones". The Dead Rise The Discovery Jon and the rangers find the bodies of Benjen's men. They are wights. The Attack The wights attack Castle Black.

The Wight Attack from "A Game of Thrones". The Dead Rise The Discovery Jon and the rangers find the bodies of Benjen's men. They are wights. The Attack The wights attack Castle Black.

The Dead Rise The Discovery Jon and the rangers find the bodies of Benjen's men. They are wights. The Attack The wights attack Castle Black. Jon fights one and uses fire to destroy it. The Realization The Night's Watch realizes the Others are real and the threat is imminent. Mormont decides to lead a great ranging.

early in the story, prologue and after

near the end of the book