House Mormont

House Mormont of Bear Island are a vassal house who hold fealty to House Stark of Winterfell. They rule Bear Island, an island far to the north-west of Winterfell.

House Mormont's sigil is a black bear in a green wood. Their motto is "Here We Stand".

Members

 * Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, the former head of the family who now serves as commander of the Night's Watch.
 * Ser Jorah Mormont, the disgraced former lord who has fled to the Free Cities after attempting to sell poachers into slavery.
 * Lady Maege Mormont, Jeor's sister and the current head of the family and ruler of Bear Island following her nephew's disgrace.
 * Dacey, Alysane, Lyra, Jorelle and Lyanna, Maege's daughters.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Mormont is a stalwart supporter of the Starks. According to legend King Rodrik Stark won the island in a wrestling match (presumably with the ironborn lord who held the island at the time) and appointed the Mormonts to rule there.

Bear Island is beautiful, but also icy, cold and remote. The Mormont 'castle' is a large, comfortable but still relatively primitive wooden longhouse (due to a lack of stone on the island). Bears still prowl the woods of the island, giving the Mormonts their sigil. The people of Bear Island are fierce, hardy and strong. Unlike most of Westeros, the women of Bear Island are trained in the use of weapons and armour, as they are expected to defend hearth and home should wildling raiders from the Frozen Shore to the north attack.

In the books, Lord Jeor Mormont ruled the house honourably and with distinction. He chose to 'retire' from the role of lord and took the black, joining the Night's Watch and rising rapidly through their ranks until he became Lord Commander, a rank he holds to this day. Jeor felt able to do this as his son Jorah had proven to be a great warrior, winning immense honours during the Greyjoy Rebellion and the following tourney. Lord Jorah proved an effective ruler for several years, until he disgraced himself in an incident involving slavers. Lord Eddard Stark stripped him of his title and lands and Jorah fled to the Free Cities rather than face justice. Jeor's younger sister Maege became the ruling Lady of Bear Island the head of House Mormont, to Jeor's disquiet. However, as members of the Night's Watch serve for life he was unable to return to Bear Island to resume his former rule.

Lady Maege Mormont has since proven to be a strong and effective ruler of the house.