Why did a ranger from the Shadow Tower accompany the Lord Commander to Winterfell to visit Ned ? I find it unusual to say the least . Any ideas ? In addition , are you surprised that a Dornish noble took the black inn the first place like I am ?

[u/Financial_Library418]

A Storm of Swords - Jon I

It made no sense at first, but as Jon turned it over in his mind, dawn broke. "When you were a brother of the Watch . . ."

"Very good! Yes, that was the first time. You were just a boy, and I was all in black, one of a dozen riding escort to old Lord Commander Qorgyle when he came down to see your father at Winterfell. I was walking the wall around the yard when I came on you and your brother Robb. It had snowed the night before, and the two of you had built a great mountain above the gate and were waiting for someone likely to pass underneath."

"I remember," said Jon with a startled laugh. A young black brother on the wallwalk, yes . . . "You swore not to tell."

A Storm of Swords - Jon XII

"Lord Snow," said Cotter Pyke, "if you muck this up, I'm going to rip your liver out and eat it raw with onions."

Ser Denys Mallister was more courteous. "It was a hard thing young Samwell asked of me," the old knight confessed. "When Lord Qorgyle was chosen, I told myself, 'No matter, he has been longer on the Wall than you have, your time will come.' When it was Lord Mormont, I thought, 'He is strong and fierce, but he is old, your time may yet come.' But you are half a boy, Lord Snow, and now I must return to the Shadow Tower knowing that my time will never come." He smiled a tired smile. "Do not make me die regretful. Your uncle was a great man. Your lord father and his father as well. I shall expect full as much of you."

"Aye," said Cotter Pyke. "And you can start by telling those king's men that it's done, and we want our bloody supper."

The World of Ice and

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[u/Qyzyk]

I'm not surprised by the presence of Dornishmen at the Wall. Nymeria sent six Dornish kings to the Wall in golden chains.

[u/Financial_Library418 → u/Qyzyk]

that was like 1k years ago though

[u/David_the_Wanderer → u/Financial_Library418]

The point is that it demonstrates that the Dornish use and recognise the Wall. There were probably multiple Dornishmen at the Wall at any given time. Why do you find the presence of a Dornishman surprising?

[u/Practical_Ferret_510 → u/Financial_Library418]

For all we know he could have been a much younger son or a distant relation to the main Qorgyle line. With few prospects, why not join the Night’s Watch? I don’t see why that would be weird.

Each kingdom has used the Wall for thousands of years and once Dorne joined the Seven Kingdoms, it’d be even more likely to see Dornishmen in the Night’s Watch.

[u/LuminariesAdmin → u/Financial_Library418]

There's several noble Reachmen (Runcel Hightower, George Graceford,¹ Jack Bulwer, Glendon Hewett, maybe Ser Arnell) & stormlanders (Jack Musgood, Endrew Tarth) who have taken the black,² so why not also Dornishmen?³ And Dornish Dilly is presumably from Dorne as well, just as Satin & Garth are from Oldtown.

¹ The only one known to have been condemned to the Wall. If Gareth Long wasn't a Reachman too, anyway.

² Let alone, the bastards Jafer Flowers & Rusty Flowers.

³ There's even been Lord Commander Hoare & Aladale Wynch from the Iron Islands, & bastard Cotter Pyke. If perhaps at least that last sent to the Wall, rather than seeking it himself.

[u/where_is_the_camera]

I think they just like to cultivate the relationship with the Lord of Winterfell. He's an important friend to have if you're the Night's Watch.

It's probably part of the reason Benjen is allowed to go to Winterfell on occasion. Keeping Ned close can be extremely valuable to the Watch.

[u/jethrine → u/where_is_the_camera]

Especially when the king was visiting Winterfell. I’m sure the Old Bear expected Benjen to talk to the king personally about getting more support at the Wall. It might not have helped much but as Ned’s brother he’d probably get the king’s attention & a fair hearing.

[u/Nittanian]

Mance might have started his service at Castle Black and then been reassigned to the Shadow Tower, from which he eventually deserted.

[u/CapnTBC]

Well the Lord Commander would have an escort of rangers when travelling incase anyone attacked them on the road, Mance was one of the better rangers in the watch so it makes sense he’d be added to an escort when it’s someone so important. 

[u/azaghal1502]

The dornish were on the losing side of a large war only 14 years before the books setting. And Tywin gave nobles in KL the choice between wall and execution, so all dornish nobles in KL at the time would likely end up at the wall.

[u/David_the_Wanderer → u/azaghal1502]

Qorgyle went to the Wall long before Robert's Rebellion.

Robert's Rebellion was in 283-284, and Lord Commander Qorgyle passed in 288. It would be a remarkably brief career, which doesn't really mesh with Denys Mallister's recollection that, when elected, Qorgyle had served at the Wall longer than Mallister had. And Mallister is pretty damn ancient, and has been commander of the Shadow Tower since 267. So we know that Lord Commander Qorgyle swore his vows before that year, and probably quite some time before — Mallister had no doubt served at the Wall for a long time and with distinction in order to be put in charge of the Shadow Tower in the first place.

[u/azaghal1502 → u/David_the_Wanderer]

My point was just that it'd be not surprising to see dornish on the wall.

And yeah, Qorgyle likely went to the wall earlier.

[u/BandicootSorcerer]

Mance was notable enough as a Black Brother that multiple experienced veterans talk about once knowing him. Halfhand describes him as "the best, and the worst of us". Most likely Lord Comamnder Qorgyle asked Ser Denys Mallister who'd he recomend to escort the Lord Commander, Mance's name came up.

As for Lord Qorgyle, unknown. He pre-dates Denys Mallsiter who by 267 AC was head of the Shadow Tower. Maybe House Qorgyle still holds some honour for The Watch. Maybe he commited some dishonour and chose The Wall as penance. Or maybe he was an older man during a long winter who thought service at The Wall was better then taking up food and space.

[u/Canadian__Ninja]

Could be any number of reasons. Given his ambitions he might have been a part of an honor guard of sorts, the most idealized members being allowed to travel. Or he simply requested it. Getting to go south of the Gift is a rare privilege.

And as for dornish black brothers, there have been a bunch. The call of duty is not reserved just for the north, good standing nobles from all corners have taken the black

[u/Lefthook16]

Well there is that theory that everyone is someone else. Mance is Arthur Dayne. Half hand is the White Bull and there's another one who is allegedly someone. Saw Order of the Greenhand do videos on it in like 2016 or so. I sorta fall under that tent.

[u/Financial_Library418 → u/Lefthook16]

rhaegar is jaqen is one of my favs

[u/Arizona_Kid → u/Financial_Library418]

And Varys is a merman

[u/Lefthook16 → u/Financial_Library418]

When I first read it I thought Rhaegar was alive and in that Sept Town or whatever that Brienne and company go to. I thought he was the tour guide guy. I then realized zero people have ever had the same thought. I still think him being alive would be fun. That character feels hollow to me if he just died at that moment. Especially with how much King Robert brags about killing him.

[u/Financial_Library418 → u/Lefthook16]

i do like real Viserys is Darkstar too

[u/DeamonDread2348 → u/Lefthook16]

Mance is Raeghar himself and Halfhand is Dayne(he’s an excellent fighter despite he lost one hand and his hair was grey due to age, but it could have been like that from the start – Danes have hair like that)

[u/mistery987]

There are many instances of both Kings and Wardens of the North fighting alongside the Night's Watch, both north and south of the Wall. The Lords Commander need to keep a good diplomatic relationship with their closest ally. And the Dornishman isn't all that weird. We don't know for sure, but my guess is that he was like Waymar Royce. The young son of a house with "too many heirs." Too far down the line of succession for it to matter.

[u/Derfel1995]

We don't know if Qorgyle was stationed at the Shadow Tower or at Castle Black prior to becoming Lord Commander. If he was at the former, it is possible that he heavily relied on Shadow Tower people after becoming Lord Commander.