One of the most fascinating elements ofGame of Thronesis the clash of cultures across the roughly 2.3 million miles of Westeros. The rugged, individualistic, proud survivors who live in the North naturally conflict with the wealthy, pious, luxurious citizens of King’s Landing. Some groups command more of the spotlight than others. The crannogmen of the Neck are rarely mentioned, not that they want the attention.
Even the obscure groups, families, and housesinGame of Thronesearn a believable history and culture. George R. R. Martin is famously meticulous in establishing the trends and forces across Westeros. While some contribute to the narrative more than others, everyone feels carefully considered and well-thought-out. The Known World comes to life with varied details thanks to that work.
What is the Neck?
Roughly 12,000 years before Aegon’s Conquest, the First Men crossed the natural land bridge from their home continent, Essos, to the new world of Westeros. These were the firsthumans to inhabit Westeros, but not the first intelligent life. Two indigenous species ruled the land. The Children of the Forest were small, green-skinned folk who worshiped nature and wielded powerful magic. The giants were massive humanoids with immense physical strength and limited intellectual capacity. As humans arrived, they angeredthe Children of the Forestby cutting down their sacred trees. War ravaged the land for 2,000 years. The Children’s nuclear option was a magic spell called the “hammer of the waters.” They first used it to destroy the bridge and halt the First Men’s invasion. When that failed, they prepared to drop the hammer on the most narrow region of the continent. They tried to split Westeros in half but only flooded the land, soon known as the Neck.
Who lives in the Neck?
The Neck became an inhospitable swampland. The hammer of the waters didn’t defeat the First Men but did encourage them to seek a diplomatic solution. They agreed to a peace treaty that gave humans control over most of Westeros while the Children would hold the deep forests. After they signed the Pact, someof the First Mendecided to settle where they were. The Neck is not an easy place to live. Its residents weave thatch and reeds atop massive log rafts to form floating villages in the marsh. These gigantic houseboats are called crannogs, dubbing their owners crannogmen. Living in a wet nightmare creates a specific type of pride. Young Meera Reed describes her homeland like this:
Our land protects its own. An outsider will find in the Neck an endless morass of suckholes, quicksands, and green grass that looks solid to the unwary eye but turns to water the instant you tread it.
The crannogmen consider themselves an offshoot of the First Men who settled in the North. The two groups have a lot in common. Like those who reside near Winterfell, the natural hardships of their land forge a rugged individualism in the crannogmen. TheNorthmen are considered legendaryin their martial skills. The never-ending fight for survival trains them for battle better than any boot camp ever could. The crannogmen do not earn the same celebration. They tend to be small and frail, frequently underfed by the limited resources in the swamps. Some call them mudmen, bog devils, and frog-eaters as insults. They are reclusive people. While the North has evolved over generations, a trip to the Neck is like time-traveling back to learn how First Men lived thousands of years ago.
Who rules the Crannogmen?
Crannogmen first unified under a ruler called the Marsh King.House Stark annexed theNeck after defeating the last Marsh King and taking his daughter as his wife. The crannogmen were among the only First Men to ward off the Andal invasion. Their floating stronghold, inhospitable terrain, and savage guerrilla tactics kept their culture safe. Rickard Stark took the Neck a few hundred years before Aegon’s Conquest. They have a mutually beneficial arrangement. The North supplies men to protect the Neck if it’s attacked, and the Neck harasses invaders that would try to assault the North.House Reed controls the Neckfrom a seat of power in Greywater Watch. They are proud, loyal vassals of House Stark. Howland Reed, the family’s current head, was among Eddard Stark’s closest friends. Despite the name-calling, their bond is firm.
The crannogmen are a unique group in Westeros. They have the pride of the First Men and a history of survival in impossible circumstances, but few respect their unusual talents. The idea of a culture that has resisted change for thousands of years illustrates how far the North has come. It’s a fascinatingbranch of a better-known people. The crannogmen might not have the power of their Northern brothers, but they deserve some of the prestige that the group commands. They’re the gatekeepers of the North. Don’t underestimate the people of that swamp.
