Arya Stark (Maisie Williams)

Arya is the youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark and a tomboy. She has a direwolf named Nymeria. She witnessed her father’s execution and having escaped King’s Landing, Arya poses as a boy. In great danger she travels with a troupe that includes Robert Baratheon’s bastard son Yoren, a Night’s Watch recruiter and is headed for The Wall.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Drinklage)

Having been named Hand of the King by Tywin Lannister, Tyrion is to rule King’s Landing and act as regent to Joffrey’s figurehead. Tyrion carries out his duty out of a love and hope for his brother Jamie, that he might be able to bargain his safe return. He brings the prostitute Shae with him to court; she is his only comfort in a political environment that wants nothing but to manipulate him.  He is nicknamed “The Imp” and he is a dwarf. Tyrion is Jamie and Cersei’s younger brother. He is clever although frequently discounted as stupid because he is a dwarf and he uses this to his advantage. Tyrion becomes an enemy of the Starks after he is captured and tried by Lady Catelyn for crimes he did not commit. He decides to join his father’s war against the Starks.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington)

The young Night’s Watchman is Ned Stark’s bastard son. He is being groomed by the Commander for leadership and now joins a host that ventures beyond The Wall to investigate the supernatural threat that would have taken the Commanders life were it not for Jon’s intervention. This same supernatural threat looms in the cold, winter darkness, north of The Wall waiting to invade. Jon Snow is the bastard son of Ned Stark. His direwolf is called Ghost.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke)

Having lost her husband the great Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo to betrayal, Dany is alone in the world. She has been abandoned by most of her husband’s army and has miscarried his child. Out of her despair she commits  an act of supernatural magnitude. She walks into the heat of the funeral pyre fire with her dragon eggs. Impervious to the flames she emerges naked from the flames with  three infant dragons clinging to her. Her remaining servants are witness to this extraordinary act. She is the exiled princess of the Targaryen dynasty. She is determined to reclaim her birthright and the Iron Throne.