House Marbrand

DISCLAIMER: THE SYMBOLS IN THIS SET ARE FROM THE HBO TV SERIES, NOT THE ORIGINAL NOVELS.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s famous series of novels (collectively known as “A Song of Ice and Fire”), the television series “Game of Thrones” first premiered in 2011 on the channel HBO. It is set in a fantasy world heavily based on the society and culture of the European Middle Ages. Two primary continents, known as Westeros and Essos, make up the bulk of the visible landmass in this world, with the former being featured in storylines much more frequently. While typical elements from fantasy stories, such as dragons and various forms of magic, are seen throughout the series, in the long run these generally take a backseat to the military conflicts, political machinations and family dynamics that are the principle focus of the story.

The continent of Westeros is made up of many different regions, each of which has its own culture and history. Most of these regions form constituent parts of a single political realm, which is presided over by a ruling monarch. While the monarch holds ultimate power over the realm, local governance of each region is handled by a “Great House”, a noble family whose members answer directly to the sovereign. Each region also possesses any number of “Vassal Houses” who owe their loyalty to the governing Great House in one capacity or another. House Marbrand is one of the Vassal Houses in The Westerlands, and their ancestral keep is known as Ashemark, located near the mouth of the Tumblestone River. The sigil of House Marbrand is flaming tree on a field of grey, and their motto is “Burning Bright”.

In the series, House Marbrand plays virtually no role at all, but they do carry significant weight in the history that George R.R. Martin developed for his world. The Marbrands have especially close ties to their overlords, House Lannister. The two Houses intermarried in a previous generation, so all the Lannisters and their descendants who appear in the series share some degree of blood with House Marbrand.