The Children of the Forest - Complete Guide to Westeros (2011)

Originating from the beginning of time, the Children of the Forest were the original inhabitants of Westeros. Forming settlements for themselves in cranogs, caves and hearts of the
forests, they worshipped the Old and Faceless Gods, going so far as to have their most powerful mages - The Greenseers - carve faces into the centre of weirwood trees.

They were hunters, developing blades out of pure obsidian and bows that were crafted from weirwood.

They were considered by all sources of the legends to be small and beautiful humanoids with an affinity to the arcane arts.

When the First Men arrived from Essos across the Arm of Dorne, the Children took up arms against the invaders, who had declared the country for themselves and began slashing and burning their forests and weirwoods. The war was long and bloody, leaving much destruction in it's wake, however eventually came to an end when the two sides negotiated a truce.

Meeting the First Men on the God's Eye, the two formed The Pact, which was an agreement that the men could have all land, with the exception of the forests. A second condition was that the invaders would no longer be allowed to cut down weirwood trees. Finding the terms to be agreeable, the pact was forged, with the Children carving a face into every tree on the island (The Island of Faces) in the name of the Gods.

Brandon the Builder enlisted the Children to aid them in building the Wall, with the intention that it would lead to the prevention of the Long Night repeating itself.

However the pact was shattered when the Andals arrived and slaughtered most of the Children, forcing them
to retreat to the furthest possible reach of the North.


Appearances:

1. "The Children of the Forest, The First Men, and The Andals" (First Appearance)
2. "The Old Gods and the New" (Last Appearance)

Mentions:

1. "House Stark"  (First and Only Mention)