Children of the Forest

The first people of Westeros, who carved faces in the weirwoods.

The Children of the Forest were the first inhabitants of Westeros, a nature-worshipping Stone Age species who carved the faces of their gods into weirwood trees.

Quick Facts

Home: Westeros (first inhabitants)
Gods: Faces carved in weirwoods

Lore & Background

When the First Men tried to cut down the forests and farm the land, a war of thousands of years followed, ended by an agreement called the Pact. It began the Age of Heroes, in which the First Men took up the Children's religion.

Reader's Guide

In the television series the Children lead Bran into the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven, and in a vision Bran sees them create the Night King by stabbing a captured man with dragonglass. They are killed when the White Walkers attack the cave.

The Children and the First Men later allied to drive back the Others, and the Wall was built to bar the way from the far north; some legends say the Children helped Brandon the Builder raise it. In the Andals' lands the Children were slaughtered and disappeared.