Desertion

"I know I broke my oath. I know I'm a deserter."

- Will

Desertion is a serious crime in the Seven Kingdoms. It takes place when a man abandons his post in times of war. Deserters are considered outlaws and thus are marked for death.

Within the ranks of the Night's Watch, desertion is considered a form of oathbreaking. Deserters are not only hunted down by sworn brothers of the Watch but also by lords should a deserter enter his lands.

Instances of desertion

 * {Will}, a ranger of the Night's Watch, who fled south after witnessing White Walkers kill his sworn brothers Gared and Waymar Royce. Captured by men of House Stark and executed by Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North.
 * Sandor Clegane dismisses several members of the Brotherhood Without Banners as deserters from House Baratheon and House Stark. He's not entirely accurate, as the Brotherhood is initially formed by survivors of the Battle at the Mummer's Ford, in which a host including Baratheon and Stark men clashed with Ser Gregor Clegane.
 * Rast, Karl and several other black brothers desert the Watch and mutiny against Lord Commander Jeor Mormont while taking refuge at the homestead of the wildling Craster.