The The That the Brotherhood without banners was created, indirectly, by Ned Stark, is but one of many details about the group that's easy to

overlook.

Catlin leads the group now, under a different name, of course, but she has well played an

indirect role in creating it.

Her seizure of Tyrion was met with Tywin's unleashing of atrocities across the Riverlands.

His goal in that was to lure Ned Stark out from the Red Keep, because Ned Stark leads from

the front.

It was a predictable thing to happen.

And then he would capture Ned and swap him for Tyrion, and that would be the end of it.

But thanks to Jamie, who ended up

helping break Ned's leg, that plan failed, and instead we got the brother-in-without banners.

And they have been a significant part of the story ever since. A unique part as well. They are

mostly a group of commoners, peasants, and what Westrose would call the lowborn.

Most of a Song of Ice and Fire is focused on the nobility, which makes sense, but the story

would be incomplete without the regular folk.

How they deal with war and deprivation and suffering and whatever else is yet to come.

What they hope for, how they see the greater conflict through

different eyes. They have a different set of what's important to them. War impacts all levels

of society. Now, while Taiwan and Rob and Renley and Stanis and Baylon and everybody else are fighting

over castles and titles, the commoners are fighting for their lives.

And the Brotherhood is one of the only organizations, the chief organization, helping them out.

Who took on the Bloody Mummers directly? The worst thing going in the Riverlands.

...