Come July 15, 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad' will launch its first official season, 'Northern Banner Selection: Frost and Steel'. You will choose one of three houses to serve as a bannerman, competing against others. Choose carefully, as you only get a single chance to switch your allegiance.

But what actually defines these three houses? The developer notes offer slogans that are, frankly, a bit vague. So, I have put together a breakdown of their backstories, peppered with some original lore to help you decide where your loyalty lies.

The Guardians of the Far North: 'Umber'

House Umber is an ancient lineage that once boasted its own kings in the North. Since bowing to the Starks as the true Kings in the North, they have been the most steadfast of vassals. They were at the vanguard of every major conflict, from Robert's Rebellion to the War of the Five Kings.

Their seat, 'Last Hearth', sits at the very edge of the continent. Proximity to the Wall means constant raiding by wildlings, which has forged the Umber soldiers into brutal, hardened warriors. In the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' miniature game, this is reflected in their berserker units—dual-wielding axes. It fits perfectly with the 'strength and savagery' theme promised for Season 1.

The head of the house, 'Greatjon Umber', is a giant of a man, standing over 2m tall with a boisterous personality. When Robb Stark called his banners, the Greatjon famously drew his blade during an argument over who would lead the vanguard. When Robb's direwolf bit off the Greatjon's finger, the situation nearly turned fatal. Robb diffused the tension by claiming the Greatjon was simply carving meat for the host, to which the Greatjon replied, 'The meat is tough.' Despite losing a finger, the Greatjon was evidently impressed by Robb's grit and became one of the Stark loyalists.

Currently, however, House Umber is on the decline. They lost a massive portion of their forces in the War of the Five Kings, and the head of the house was taken hostage at the Red Wedding. With wildling raids intensifying, they are struggling just to survive. The game captures this grim reality well, as you will find the lands plagued by wildlings and Bolton soldiers bullying the locals right in front of Last Hearth.

Notably, this house has the deepest connection to the protagonist. The protagonist's father, 'Marrok Tire', was best friends with the Greatjon, and the protagonist and their siblings were raised as wards of House Umber. You can see this bond when you first meet 'Lysaene Umber', the acting head of the house, who welcomes the protagonist with genuine warmth.

The Shield of the North: 'Hornwood'

Most Northern houses suffered during the War of the Five Kings, but the tragedy of House Hornwood is particularly bleak. Lord 'Halys Hornwood' fell at the Battle of the Green Fork, and the only heir, 'Daryn Hornwood', died at the Battle of the Whispering Wood. The rule of the land fell to the widow, 'Donella Hornwood'.

With the house on the brink of extinction, Northern lords lined up to court Donella. She was well past her prime, making the spectacle a farce of land-grabbing. Even men older than her own father, such as 'Mors Umber' or 'Wyman Manderly', made their ambitions clear. Donella resisted them all with quiet resolve.

Tragically, the one who eventually seized the inheritance was the notorious 'Ramsay Snow'. Ramsay kidnapped Donella, forced a marriage, and coerced her into signing a will naming him the heir. Once he achieved his goal, he locked her in a tower to starve to death, leaving the Hornwood lands to groan under his cruel tyranny.

The game reflects this desperate situation. The main story in the region centers on the conflict between 'Davion', who seeks vengeance against the Boltons at any cost, and 'Linvelli Hornwood', who prioritizes the survival of the remaining people. You will also encounter pathetic processions of refugees fleeing the Bolton oppression toward White Harbor.

The Rulers of White Harbor: 'Manderly'

House Manderly was originally a powerful house from the Mander river basin in the South. They were so influential that some claim the river was named after them, but after losing a struggle against House Peake, they were forced into exile in the North.

The Starks, then Kings in the North, welcomed them and granted them 'Wolf's Den', one of their own castles, and tasked them with guarding the White Knife river. In gratitude for this mercy, House Manderly has remained deeply loyal to the Starks ever since.

Because of their Southern roots, they differ from other Northern houses—most notably in religion. They follow the 'Seven' of the Andals rather than the 'Old Gods'. You can see the friction this causes in the White Harbor side quest, 'The Old and the New'.

The head of the house is 'Wyman Manderly'. He is the most corpulent man on the continent, often mocked as a lord too fat to ride a horse. While he appears gentle and soft, appearing a coward to some, he is in fact incredibly intelligent and calculating. He also harbours an unshakeable loyalty to the Starks.

In the original novels, he is a complex figure who harbors a deep hatred for the Freys and Boltons for violating guest right, yet plays the part of a sycophant to save his hostage son. The TV series, however, portrayed him as a defeated, grief-stricken man, which disappointed many fans of the source material. The version of Wyman Manderly in the game is similarly mourning his son and in seclusion, leaving the administration of White Harbor to his cousin, 'Maron Manderly'.