The Others are mysterious ice creatures from the northmost part of Westeros, beyond the Land of Always Winter. Known by many names, including the Cold Gods, White Walkers, and White Shadows, many people have argued over their existence and their characteristics. As it has been millennia since their last appearance, they were allegedly extinct. However, they appear at the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Appearance
The Others are tall with pale flesh and icy-blue eyes that shimmer like stars. They have pale blue blood, and their bones are as shiny as milkglass. Though Old Nan believed they were dead creatures, George R. R. Martin stated they were not.
The Others, like knights, wear armor that reflects and changes color to the surrounding environment. They wield blades of ice and are quicker and better fighters than knights. The ice sword of the Others glows, and when it clashes against steel, it makes a unique sound, similar to an animal screaming in pain. When the sword touches fire, a sharp screech occurs. The Others’ blades can freeze and shatter steel because it is cold.
Besides ice blades and the ability to bring the cold, the Others can resurrect corpses to become wights. They use necromancy like no one can to bring dead people to life. It is unsure if they can control the dead like skinchangers control their animals. However, the wights follow them wherever they go. The Others can also resurrect animals and ride dead horses. There are even some stories of them riding giant ice spiders.
The Others bring the cold and night with them and allegedly only appear at night and retreat when the Sun comes out. However, these are all speculations as no one has information on their biology. Besides coming with the cold, mist also accompanies the Others. Though they seem to be invincible, they hate fire and iron. They are also said to speak a language that sounds like ice cracking on a winter lake.
Legend
There are many theories about the Others. Old Nan stated they were beats that hated everything with warm blood, while Melisandre of Asshai said they were the cold children of the Great Other, the antithesis of R’hllor. Stannis Baratheon called them demons of ice and snow, while the Free Folk believed the humanoids could smell life. According to stories, the wildlings gave the children they stole from the Seven Kingdoms to the Others, and their women slept with the creature to produce abominations. Some practices continued as Craster gave his male children to the Cold Gods.
Weaknesses
The Others have a few weaknesses. However, one recorded in ancient texts is obsidian, also called dragonglass. A weapon made from such material could kill an Other. Some accounts state Others are susceptible to dragonsteel, also called Valyrian steel. However, when George R. R. Martin got asked if Valyrian Steel could kill an Other, he said that even the Night’s Watch would like to know the answer.
History
Origin
In his book Lies of the Ancient, Archmaester Fomas speculated that the Others were descendants of the First Men, who migrated up north. He stated the tales about them made the Starks look heroic. However, Fomas’s book contained many erroneous conclusions.
The Long Night
About eight thousand years ago, the Others came from the Land of Always Winter, bringing with them darkness and cold. They plundered and killed every living thing in their path. However, the Last Hero arose and traveled with his flaming sword to meet the Children of the Forest for help. He then led an army against the Others in the Battle for the Dawn. After the creature’s defeat, the Wall came into existence. In tales from Asshai, the Azor Ahai led the battle against the creatures of cold with his sword, Lightbringer.
Night King
The thirteenth Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch was said to have married a woman who looked like an Other. He brought her to the Nightfort and proclaimed himself King. However, Joramun, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, and Brandon the Breaker, the King of Winter, defeated him.
After the Long Night ended, all traces of the Others vanished. The people of Westeros eventually started believing they never existed and were just the stuff of fiction.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
While on a mission beyond the Wall, Ser Waymar Royce gets attacked by five Others. Though he tries to fight them off, his steel sword gets shattered, and he dies. However, he gets resurrected as a wight and kills another brother of the Night’s Watch, Will. Gared witnesses the scene and flees. However, he gets arrested, and Lord Eddard Stark executes him.
When Tyrion Lannister reaches Castle Black, Lord Commander Mormont tells him that some people sighted Others. However, Tyrion disproves the tale. Meanwhile, Old Nan tells Bran Stark the story of the Long Night. When Bran travels in the wolfswood, he meets six wildlings, and one of them states he does not want to return to Mance Rayder because of fear of the White Walkers.
A Clash of Kings
On reaching Craster’s Keep, Jon Snow meets Gilly, one of Craster’s wives. She tells him that her father gave his male children to the Cold Gods.
A Storm of Swords
While camping at the Fist of the First Men, Ghost finds a cache of weapons, including dragonglass daggers. Jon hands most of the artifacts to Sam. When wights attack the men of the Night’s Watch at the Fist, the survivors flee. On returning to Craster’s Keep, Samwell and his group get attacked by a wight. Small Paul dies. During the confrontation, Sam stabs the Other with an obsidian dagger, killing him. At Craster’s Keep, a mutiny occurs, and Lord Mormont gets killed. Sam flees with Gilly.
A Dance with Dragons
As the new lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jon meets Tormund, a Free Folk chief, and asks him to take his people into the Seven Kingdoms. He tasks other men of the Night’s Watch to remove the Free Folk from their settlements and bring them into the Seven Kingdoms. However, his actions make his men angry, and they stab him in a mutiny.
Relevance in Adaptations
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, the Children of the Forest created the first White Walker during their fight with the First Men. They had magic to resurrect the dead, making them form an army. After their defeat, they retreated. However, they returned thousands of years later. When Daenerys Targaryen learns of the Night King and White Walkers, she travels to Westeros to face them. However, her dragon gets killed and resurrected. In the final battle of Winterfell, Arya Stark killed the Night King, defeating the White Walkers.
The Others: Creatures of Ice
Many fans agree that the Others are the primary villains of George R. R. Martin’s novels. The mysterious creatures control the dead and will likely try to destroy humanity. Their existence completes the magical aspect of A Song of Ice and Fire, as Martin gives very little information on the magic of his world.
FAQs
Who are the Others?
Also called the Cold Gods and White Walkers, the Others are humanoid creatures of ice. They bring the cold with them and can raise the dead as an army.
Are Others stronger than knights?
Yes. Others are superior to humans physically. They are faster, and no one knows if they feel pain. They can also raise the dead and control them.
What are the weaknesses of the Others?
The Others hate fire and can get killed by obsidian. Though some speculate that Valyrian steel can kill them, no one has tested it out yet.
Why did most people in the Seven Kingdoms not believe that the Others were real?
The Westeros felt the Others were just beasts of legend. Their existence is shrouded in mystery, and their powers seem too much to be true.