The North:

*The Old Tongue is based on Gaelic, Rhoynar (the language of Dorne) is based off Spanish.

*The North is a lot more powerful in this story than in canon (and independent, of course). The Free Folk (different to the wildlings), the Iron Islands and the Three Sisters are all vassals to the Stark of Winterfell.

*The population is a lot bigger now, and they have a standing army. Moat Cailin is always on alert for an attack from the south. Due to the North having expanded its territory beyond the Wall, they retain some of their magic and are aware of the wight/White Walker threat. Dragonglass is very valuable in the North, and they have several teams dedicated to tracking down any trace of it and mining it.

*The North and South have been having an on-again, off-again war since the Conquest.

*The North has Griffins, and a select section of the army uses them, but they are more scouts and archers than fighters.

*The First Men still have some magic, and follow the traditions of their ancestors, sacrificing criminals to the weirwoods, etc. The Old Gods are more prominent in this world.

*'Burner' a derogatory term for the Andals used by the First Men. The First Men's devotion to their gods borders on fanaticism, as their gods are active and it strengthens their faith. They see themselves as the 'last bastion of defenders' for the Old Gods.

*The faith of the First Men is based heavily on the Ancient Celtic/Viking religion and a lot of their myths in this mostly come from Ancient Ireland/a bit of the Vikings and other myths and legends that I adjust for the story.

*Green Men are common and highly revered by the First Men. Greenseers are also more common, and act similar to Septons or Septas, in that they preach the tenets of the Old Faith. All followers of the Old Faith put great stock in the words of the greenseers, and revere them highly. It's a great honour to be offered the chance to become one of them. Every Northern child is tested for the ability. Magnar Howland Reed is the current High Greenseer.

*The North do not believe that bastardy is shameful, at least not for the child. The shame is on the parent if they break vows of fidelity, or if they do not support their child.

*Elders are the people responsible for teaching the children of the North about their history, traditions, etc. They can be men or women. There is one in every village and keep. Old Nan is Winterfell's Elder.

*The population is much larger here, so the Watch is stronger. All castles are manned and the men who join have a choice of spending a decade there or a lifetime. Only lifers can be commanders of any rank, and the Watchers are allowed to marry and have children, who are automatically bound to at least a decade of service.

*In 1557 BC, King Artos XVII 'the Scholar Wolf' Stark set up the University of Winterfell. He believed the education was vital for everyone, no matter their rank or gender, and made a law that every child attend a school from the age of five to ten (one for boys and a separate one for girls) where they are taught the basics of reading and writing as well as history and Northern traditions and stories by Elders, and everything else by Scholars, the Winterlands' equivalent to a Maester. After finishing at the school, the students can apply to go to the University and study there as an Apprentice Scholar. If they cannot afford the fee, they can use the Conclave to appeal to the Starks to fund their apprenticeship. They have to work off the loan and keep their work to a certain standard, however. If they cannot do so, they will no longer be funded, and still have to pay off their debts. The Maesters and their Citadel are sometimes accused of stealing the idea for their organization from the Scholars of the University.

*Houses in the North bear the title of 'Ancient' (for any older than 400 years) and/or 'Honourable' (awarded and stripped by the Courts depending on the House's deeds.)

*Life in the Winterlands centres around the tenet that 'the lone wolf dies but the pack survives'. Everyone works hand-in-hand, regardless of rank or feuds, to keep their kingdom strong. It is tradition in the North that every noble child goes to foster at Winterfell for half the year, every year, so as to foster bonds whilst still keeping close to their family. They call themselves the Wolf Pack, and the heir(ess) of the Starks is the Alpha.

*In the Winterlands (The North, the Iron Islands, Hardhome-Stark territory beyond the Wall, and the Three Sisters.) betrothals can only be made official after a lady turns fifteen, and she must be sixteen to marry, as Northern girls tend to flower very young.

*For the Winterlands, inheritance is equal-primogenture. For the Starks, any of the next generation can be declared Crown Prince(ss) but they must pass certain trials first.

*King Rodrik Stark didn't just win Bear Island, he conquered the whole of the Iron Islanders. At first they were belligerent, but now they are some of the Starks' most loyal. The Drowned God is still worshipped, but only by a small section of them.

*Several Houses, the Royces, Daynes, etc, all fled to the Winterlands to escape conversion when the Andals came.

The Army has several different sections:

The Warg Warriors: This is the second most elite part of the Army. There are a thousand of them, and their base is on the coast of Skagos. They are all wargs, taken from their families at age five and raised to be utterly loyal to the Starks. Each is devoted to their duty. It's a mixed gender unit. Every child in the Winterlands is tested on their fifth nameday, regardless of gender or birth and it's considered the greatest honour one can receive to be chosen for the unit. While marriage and families aren't forbidden to the members of the Warriors, they are not common, as the Warriors consider it a hinderance to their duty.

The Wolf Guard: This is a section of the Warg Warriors, assigned as guards for the Starks.

The Griffin Riders: This is the North's 'air force'. Five thousand years ago, Magnara Berena Greystark went on an exploration Beyond-the-Wall and found some. She brought them back and informed King Theon III of what she had discovered. He then sent more of his people out to catch and train them, and they have thrived ever since. The Griffin Riders were key in keeping the Winterlands independent of the Iron Throne.

The Ice Guard: This is the law enforcement of the Winterlands. They ensure that no crime is committed and hunt down any outlaws or brigands, not fight battles. If they discover a criminal, they try them (as required by King Rickard XVI, who made a law ordering that all people be tried and found guilty before being executed, even if caught in the act.) and then, should the criminal be sentenced to death, they are sacrificed to the weirwoods according to First Men law. The Ice Guard also oversees any criminals sentenced to hard labour, ensuring they don't escape (the North doesn't send criminals to the Wall). Many landless second or third, so on, sons join this unit to be able to support their families.

The Twilight Troopers: The Twilight Troopers are the most elite part of the Army, selected from among the Warg Warriors' best recruits. They are a force dedicated to both reinforcing the Night's Watch, defending the settlements beyond the Wall and fighting the wights. All are armed with dragonglass weapons, all are able to warg into at least three animals and are hardened warriors. They are nearly undefeatable. Only White Walkers can defeat them, and they always put up a fierce fight.

The Army of the North: This is the main part of the Northern Army. In 595 BC, King Edric Stark XX decided to figure out a way to increase the population of the Winterlands, seeing as there was so much land unused. He then made a law stating that any family with more than five children would be eligible for a decrease in the amount of taxes they had to pay, the amount lessening a bit more for each child, though there remained a minimum. This caused a huge baby boom. The consequences of this was the need to find a way to employ everyone. Edric's son, Edric XXI, came up with the idea of having a standing army. They would be trained and kept ready to defend against any attacks, unlike the disorganized and untrained smallfolk levies of the other kingdoms. People flocked to the army, and their constant training has made them the greatest army in Westeros. It can field around 130,000 men altogether, slightly more than the Reach. However, it is not undefeatable, and they are careful not to become arrogant.

The Navy of the North: Although Brandon the Burner foolishly destroyed the entire Northern fleet in grief after his father's disappearance at sea, his son was not so short-sighted. Knowing that their lands would be vulnerable without a sea force, King Rickon restored the fleet, naming his second son Benjen as its' Admiral. Benjen took the name of 'Spraystark' and married Asha Greyjoy, becoming the founder of House Spraystark, which ever since has always been involved in the Navy, along with House Starstark, founded by Princess Alayne Stark (the first ever matrilineal house) and the Iron Islanders.

The Conclave: These are inspired by the Cortes of Aragon during the Medieval Age. They are summoned every year, and are filled with representatives of each village in the Winterlands, as well as the nobles. It gives a chance for any grievances to be aired before the King and/or Queen, who is bound by oath to listen and heed it. If a noble is abusing his smallfolk, for example, then if proof is presented before the Conclaves, the Stark must punish them. The Conclave also have to be summoned for the creation of any new houses. They award and strip the title of 'Honourable House', 'Ancient House', etc. If a Stark is abusing their power, the Conclave has the power (with a unanimous vote) to force them to abdicate in favour of a more worthy Stark.

House Stark:

King Eddard XXIX: The secondborn son of King Rickard XXXXX and his wife, Queen Lyarra. Just after his brother married Dowager Princess Barbrey Stark née Ryswell, war broke out between the South and North again, due to Aerys' actions. King Rickard and Prince Brandon were both killed in the fighting. Ned was already Crown Prince, as his brother had failed to be deemed fit for the Weirwood Throne, so he ascended to the Weirwood Throne between the king and prince's deaths. He established a peace with King Rhaegar after Aerys was found dead on the Iron Throne (same way as Maegor) but remained heavily distrustful of the South, like most Northerners. He married Ashara just after the end of the war, and Sara was born ten months later.

Queen Ashara Stark née Dayne: A beloved queen, the elder daughter of Lord Edric Dayne and his wife, Lady Alayne. She is a fierce and strong woman, devoted to her family and the Old Gods. Very charitable and an excellent partner to her husband. She was called the 'Star of the North' as a youth, and retains her beauty despite her age and pregnancies.

Crown Princess Lysara 'Sara' Stark: A strong-willed young lady, her reputation was dealt a blow when she returned from a trip to the Free Cities after an affair with a southron. She has tried desperately to redeem herself ever since, and is devoted to the Winterlands. She repelled the White Walkers when they attempted to attack the Wall, as they do every few centuries.

Princess Arya Stark: A spirited girl interested in fighting and exploration, she intends to go exploring when she is grown, and wishes to never marry. Very proud and occasionally arrogant, but kind-hearted and loving to her people. She is her sister's most dedicated supporter.

Prince Brandon Stark: Bran is asweet and thoughtful boy, well-loved by everyone at Winterfell. He has a fascination with climbing and exploring along the walls and ramparts of the castle. Like his siblings, he is also dutiful and tough-minded, but also possesses a propensity for adventure and excitement; he yearns to see far off places one day and is a greenseer.

Princess Serena Stark: Serena is five years old, sweet and gentle. She is very close to Mariah.

Lady Mariah Snow: Sara's three-year-old illegitimate daughter. Precocious and angelic with a mischievous streak. She often reminds her mother of her father, whose identity she doesn't know.

Lord Robb Snow: The bastard son of Brandon with an unknown woman. Clever enough, but a prodigy in anything related to battle. He was raised as a sibling to Sara, who is only a few months younger than him, and adores her. He is next in line to be Commander of the Winterlander Army.

House Targaryen:

King Rhaegar Targaryen (deceased): A mournful man, and a weak king. He was adored during his youth as hope for a life out from under Aerys' tyranny, but proved to be a procrastinator, waiting and making excuses for years before at last supplanting his father. He was obsessed with an old prophecy, believing himself to be 'the Prince That Was Promised', and then changing his mind and deciding that he was the prince's father. Because of this, he married two women. He was a neglectful husband and father too, preferring to spend all his time studying.

Elia Targaryen née Martell: A kind, clever and loving woman. The much preferred of Rhaegar's consorts. To appease Dorne on his second marriage, she was also the only one to be named 'Queen'. She was humiliated and hurt by her husband's actions, and to try to keep her children's positions secure spent a lot of time and effort doing charitable work and such to make the people (noble and common) love them more than Cersei's children. Her health has been fragile since her early birth, but she manages.

Cersei Targaryen née Lannister: (formerly) One of the most beautiful women in the Kingdoms, three pregnancies and years of bitterness have lessened that beauty, though she is still gorgeous. She has been obsessed with being Queen and marrying Rhaegar since childhood, but reality didn't live up to expectations. She has a (far too) high opinion of her intelligence, is very ambitious and resents that her gender bars her from inheriting her family seat. She's been in an incestuous and adulterous relationship with her twin brother since childhood. She temporarily stopped the relationship for the early part of her marriage, before resentment over Rhaegar's neglect made her re-start it. She is extremely arrogant, thinking that Lannisters are practically gods, and firmly believing her son should rule instead of Aegon. Her best virtue is her love for her children, whom she would do anything for.

Rhaenys Arryn née Targaryen: Eldest child of Rhaegar and Elia's only daughter. She is very like her mother in looks and temperament, save for having a habit of holding grudges and her father's purple eyes. Like her brother Aegon, she considers her Uncle Oberyn to be more of a father than Rhaegar. She is hapily married to Artys Arryn, heir to the Vale, and has just borne their first child. She is the most loved of the princesses, as Daenerys and Valaena were never so charitable.

Aegon Targaryen: Eldest son of Rhaegar and Elia's only son. He is Rhaegar's heir, a cause of much resentment from his stepmother and half-siblings. He outright hates his father and Cersei for humiliating Elia, and like Rhaenys thinks of Oberyn as a father. He is considered to be the perfect prince, handsome, intelligent, a strong warrior/tactician and charismatic. He is married to Margaery Tyrell, who is pregnant with their first child, but is in love with Lord Renly Baratheon, a childhood companion.

Aenar Targaryen: Eldest of Rhaegar and Cersei's children and Rhaegar's second son. He has blonde hair with green eyes, but the rest of his features are classic Valyrian. He is completely insane and sadistic, plus stupid and spoilt. At five, he cut open a pregnant cat and brought it to show his father. Rhaegar was appalled and slapped the child, forbidding him to repeat the action. But other than that, the king did nothing in spite of rumours that Aenar was mad like his grandfather. Due to Cersei, Aenar genuinely believes that he is the rightful king due to being part Lannister, and that his elder brother stole his title.

Valaena Targaryen: Cersei's only daughter, she has been compared to her ancestor Good Queen Alysanne in looks (she is pretty, not beautiful), but she isn't as compassionate or clever as the late queen was. She is rather spoilt, but isn't cruel, unlike her elder full-brother. She loves fashion and music, and her best skill is harp playing. She is said to play as beautifully as her father, able to reduce hardened warriors to tears.

Aelyx (Waters) Targaryen: A chubby version of his uncle-father Jaime, Aelyx is in reality the bastard son of Cersei and Jaime. He's a spoilt but sweet boy, with a love of cats. He prefers reading to fighting, and would like to go to the Citadel one day, but his mother forbids it.

Viserys Targaryen: Prince of Summerhall, he is mad, but not as mad as his father or nephew. He spends most of his time secluded in his keep, disdaining court and its intrigues. He was very vocally against his brother's second marriage (possibly because the more children Rhaegar had, the further from the Throne he was.) and refuses to acknowledge Cersei or her children, labelling her a concubine and the children bastards.

Daenerys Tully née Targaryen: Lady of Riverrun, wife of Edmure Tully. She dislikes her husband, but grudgingly acknowledges that she could have done worse. She dotes on her children and, like her brother Viserys, scorns Cersei as a whore and the children as bastards.

The Ancient and Most Honourable House Dayne:

Magnar: Arthur Dayne (Regent for his nephew)

Magnara: Serena Icewolf (widow of the previous heir, Magnar Alaric, killed fighting some wildlings)

Heir: Edric Dayne

Their keep is 'Starmount', formerly the Dreadfort.

Honourable House of Starstark (matrilineal):

Magnara: Sybelle Starstark, Admiral of the North's Western Fleet, age 34

Magnar: Artos Icewolf age 39

Heir: Lynara Starstark, age 13

Others: Rodrik Starstark, age 15, Jorelle Starstark, age 10

Sigil-a white direwolf with stars on a midnight blue background

Words- We follow the Diamonds of the Sky.

Specializes in seafaring, along with the Seastarks, with whom they have a rivalry that alternates between being friendly and vicious. Their keep, Wolf's Way, is a Harbour city on the coast of the Stony Shore.

Lystark (newest cadet house):

Magnar: Benjen Lystark, younger brother of King Eddard Stark. Warden of the Neck, received Moat Cailin as his seat after its' previous Lord Rickard Wolfguard died heirless (end of House Wolfguard) in the war against Aerys. Age 30

Magnara: Dacey Lystark née Mormont, age 32

Heir: Rickard Lystark, age 4

Others: Lyarra Lystark, age 18 moons

Sigil-A grey wolf's head surrounded by winter roses on a black background.

Words-We Guard the Passage.

Their keep is Moat Cailin.

Honourable House of Seastark:

Magnar: Brandon Seastark, Admiral of the North's Eastern fleet. Age 57

Magnara: Meriah Seastark née Royce. Age 52 (had 10 miscarriages/stillbirths out of 13 pregnancies, very fragile woman)

Heir: Rodrik Seastark. Age 32

Others: Yohn Seastark of the Ice Guard, age 27. Maege Seastark, age 18

Sigil-a ship with a wolf's head on the prow, on a sea-coloured background.

Words-We Rule the Waves.

Specializes in Sailing. Has a rivalry with House Starstark. Their keep, Sailor's Cove, is a Harbour city near Widow's Watch.

The Ancient and Honourable House of Whitewolf:

Magnar: Torrhen Whitewolf, age 39

Magnara: Lysana Whitewolf née Seastark, age 30

Heir: Markus Whitewolf, age 17

Other: Serena Whitewolf, age 15

Sigil- a white wolf on a black background with gold edging.

Words- We See The Gods

Descended from Brandon Snow, brother to Torrhen Stark. They were entrusted with the method of creating glasshouses by the Last King of Winter, and as such are the richest House (save for the Starks themselves) in the North. Their keep, 'The White Wolf's Den' is midway through Moat Cailin and White Harbour.

The Ancient and Honourable House of Icewolf (matrilineal):

Magnara: Alyssa Icewolf, age 68

Heiress: her granddaughter, Erena Icewolf, age 14

Sigil-A sword of ice gripped in the teeth of a grey wolf with a black background

Words-First to Charge, Last to Retreat

Their keep is called 'The Sword's Sheath' and based on the Bay of Ice

The Ancient House of Greystark:

Magnar: Rodrik Greystark, age 49

Magnara: His wife and second cousin, Emelia Greystark, age 33

Heir: Eddard Greystark, age 16

Sigil-a white direwolf on a dark grey background (reversed Stark colours)

Words-Ever Loyal

Their keep is the Grey's Haven, between the Stony Shore and Sea Dragon's point.

The Honourable House of Frostfang (matrilineal):

Magnara: Alysanne Frostfang, age 48

Magnar: Brandon Amber, age 50

Heiress: Raya Frostfang, age 29

Others:Raya's husband, Benjen Harclay age 29, their twin daughters Melessa and Maege age 6

Sigil-a white fang on a blue background.

Words-Strong As the Winter Winds

*These are the main ones who might be mentioned, I will add to it as needed.

*House Blackwood was never exiled in this, and of the canon extinct houses, only the Towers, Fisher of the Stoney Shore and Flints of Breakstone Hill are gone. The Boltons are extinct.