Mormont Bear Lore

It is told that during a great winter - the Mormonts were starving through a bitter time. Food was scarce and warmth was the thing of a distant memory. Many said it was so cold that they would forever be such and never know true warmth again.

A young boy gathering wood saw a baby bear trapped and went to help him. He knew that his people were starving and if he killed it - they would eat. Instead he chose to free the bear. Little did he know the mother bear was watching.

Each time he was sent to gather wood - the bears would bring a rabbit or a couple of squirrels that could be put to a stew to nourish his people.

The boy began to spend more and more time with the bears until he was fully accepted. He returns to his village and tells the tale of the bears and that if they would come with him - they had plenty of food and a warm cave. They would have to purify themselves by bathing and then follow him.

Once the people that choose to follow him were accepted by the bears - they slowly began turning into bears. Thick fur was keeping them warm, and food was keeping them full. Together they would sleep and create more warmth.

After many years - the baby bear the boy saved was now the leader of the bears. In bear speak the now young man told the bear he wanted to go back to his land and be human again. He said his goodbyes and became human once more.

He vowed he would protect the bears of the land and called the place “Bear Island” and the bear agreed they would protect the Mormonts.

Stranger still - since that day forward - Mormonts have the uncanny ability to remain warm in the harshest of conditions while others would be found shivering at a fire they would not. While others could not find food in the bleakest of winters - the Mormont could.