Spearwives of the Keep

The Spearwives of the Keep are a clan almost entirely composed of women. They descend from Craster, the last master of Craster's Keep. In the aftermath of his murder, his wives, who were all born from his seed, rallied around their eldest, Ferny, who successfully guided her kinswomen through the invasion of the White Walkers.

The Spearwives of the Keep are so named because the vast majority are spearwives: women warriors of prowess. They are lead by a mistress and ruled over by a clan circle. The current mistress is Myrtle.

Traditions
Craster's policies from over a century past have had a profound and lasting effect on the traditions of the Spearwives. For instance, men are not allowed to join the clan or live at the Keep. Boys born at the Keep are raised until adulthood, when they are sent out into the wilderness to join another clan. As of 433 AC, they are delivered to the Crippled King as tribute.

The mistress has her first pick of captured men; the Clan Circle, by eldest to youngest, have the next pick; the remainder of the clan selects last. Captured men can be gifted to others as a sign of respect or affection. Sisters of the Circle often do this to accrue favour, for the Spearwives hold significant sway as a collective.

Nearly all spearwives are trained with a spear, sword, or bow. All are expected to scout, raid, and fight. Tasks around the settlement are distributed evenly among the Spearwives, barring the Clan Circle.

The Clan Circle, or Circle of Sisters, is generally comprised of the mistress's immediate kin. More distant kin (i.e. the other spearwives) are known to have joined the Circle based on merit or popularity. All are formally appointed by the mistress, including the boys' representative. The Circle tends to the day-to-day affairs of the settlement, assigning tasks, resolving conflicts, and ensuring proper maintenance. The Circle elects the next mistress upon the death of her predecessor, and while the Circle typically confirms the nominated heir, anyone with a majority can win the election. Janna, the eighth mistress, was the first and only mistress to be elected in this fashion.

The Keep
The Keep is nestled atop a low hill just south of the Milkwater's eastern arm. To the northwest is the First of the First Men, to the south Whiteree, to the southwest the Shadow Tower, and to the southeast Castle Black.

The Keep proper is situated at the northwestern tip of the settlement. It is surrounded by smaller wood lodges. The entire settlement is defended on the outside by a well-built palisade and an earthen dike, inside of which there is a midden heap, a pigsty, a sheepfold, and a small stable. There are two gated entrances – one facing southeast, the other southwest – and one side entrance that faces north towards the adjacent stream.

The Keep proper is a an impressive, two-floored lodge built from reinforced wood and stone; the newer, sturdier exterior was built on top of the old keep. The first floor of the Keep is low and long. It has a single room with a stone hearth, beds along the walls, a long, bisecting table, and a deep larder underneath the floor. A set of stairs hugging the eastern wall climbs up to the second floor. The second floor is thinner but more spacious than the first due to its vaulted ceilings. A round weirwood table occupies the front portion of the room while chairs and smaller tables occupy the rest. Private nooks with fur beds line the walls. Two doors lead out from the front facing wall onto a balcony that overlooks the settlement.

Recent Events

 * 423 AC: Janna, mistress of the Spearwives, attends a gathering of chieftains at Whitetree. She is killed in the ensuing Night's Watch raid
 * Myrtle, Janna's nominated heir, is confirmed as the ninth mistress of the Spearwives after a political standoff with her aunt, Harma. Myrtle exiles all of her aunts and cousins save Nella and her children
 * 425 AC: Upgrades to the Keep's hearth and larder are completed just as the Blue Winter strikes
 * 429 AC: Resurgent after the Blue Winter, the Spearwives wax with influence in the region
 * 431 AC: An alliance is struck between Myrtle and the Essosi from Hardhome, to whom she offers Thistle, her cousin, in marriage
 * 433 AC: Myrtle attends the coronation of the Crippled King and is among the first to formally pledge her allegiance to him
 * 437 AC: Cregard Stark is captured by the Spearwives and brought before Myrtle. After a trial to prove his worth, a secret arrangement is secured between them. Ties between the Spearwives and the Night's Watch are reestablished

Known Members

 * Myrtle, the current mistress. She brokered the reestablishment of ties with the Night's Watch
 * Thistle, one of the Crippled King's wives. She is renowned for her beauty
 * Nella, the clan's eldest member. She is Myrtle's aunt and Thistle's mother
 * Janna, the previous mistress. She was Myrtle's mother. She died fighting crows in 423 AC during their raid on Whitetree
 * Dalla, Myrtle's nominated heir and eldest half-sister
 * Rose, the clan's fiercest fighter