Yoren

Yoren is a recurring character in Game of Thrones. He is played by Francis Magee and débuts in the third episode of the first season. Yoren is a recruiter for the Night's Watch.

Background
Yoren is a sworn brother of the Night's Watch and serves as a recruiter. His job is to travel the Seven Kingdoms searching for fresh recruits, either willing ones or (more frequently) criminals seeking redemption by joining the order.

Season 1
Tyrion Lannister befriends Yoren at Castle Black, enjoying the fact that Yoren has a sense of humour, unlike most of his comrades. Yoren counts Benjen Stark as a close friend and ally and sees him off when he departs on a ranging beyond the Wall. He agrees to travel with Tyrion on the Kingsroad back to King's Landing to pick up more recruits from the city dungeons.

Yoren and Tyrion stay at Winterfell on the road south. He is still travelling with Tyrion when they reach the Crossroads Inn, where he witnesses Tyrion being taken into custody by Catelyn Stark. Yoren rides with all speed to the Red Keep, where he is able to warn Eddard Stark about his wife's actions before they become public. Eddard agrees to let Yoren trawl the city dungeons for fresh recruits for the watch.

Eddard is arrested for treason when he questions the legitimacy of the king's successor, Joffrey Baratheon. Eddard is brought to the Great Sept of Baelor to stand trial and Arya watches from the square. She climbs on Baelor's statue, where Eddard spots her. Eddard manages to point her out to Yoren, asking him to protect Arya. Despite a confession Eddard is unexpectedly executed on Joffrey's orders. Yoren cuts Arya's hair and instructs her to pose as a boy. He intends to take her north along with a group of 20 recruits for the Night's Watch.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels Yoren is a stalwart soldier of the Watch, not the most refined member but loyal and trustworthy. His travels frequently bring him to Winterfell, and he knows the members of House Stark and has a certain loyalty to them.