In the Game of Thrones universe, most of our favorite characters come paired with a sigil from the house to which they belong. The Starks have the direwolf, the Lannisters the lion, Targaryens the dragon, Mormonts a bear, Kraken for Greyjoy, and so on.
But a house sigil is not paired with each house member personally, and many—let’s look at Tyrion—do not completely embrace the family they come from or the sigil that is supposed to represent them. If Game of Thrones characters existed in a world more like that of His Dark Materials, what might their daemons be? Would any of them match the sigil of their house?
Daenerys Targaryen - Northern Goshawk
The Mother of Dragons, alas, would not have a dragon as a daemon. Rather, Daenerys would travel the world with a Norther Goshawk by her side. Why the Goshawk? For one, it can fly, and that means that it would have no trouble traveling along with Daenerys when she decided to take a ride on Drogon or one of her other children. As a hawk, the Goshawk is also known for taking down larger prey, and it has a reputation for being particularly territorial and temperamental. Sounds a little bit like a silver-haired queen we all know.
Jorah Mormont - Akita
The former Lord of Bear Island would have a daemon that completely embodied his loyalty and devotion to his Queen. Jorah Mormont would have an Akita at his side. The Akita is called “profoundly loyal,” by the American Kennel Club and is also known for brave as well as alert. They can be standoffish with strangers, though gentle with children. To connect with Jorah’s house sigil, Akitas are also known to look a bit like bear cubs when they are puppies.
Greyworm - Swan
Greyworm, the commander of the Unsullied, may not have a house sigil, but he certainly has quite the protective personality. While he chooses to keep the name he had when he was freed by Daenerys, it is his love of Missandie that would be most apparent in his daemon.
Greyworm’s daemon would be a swan, known for their fierce temperament and aggression, the swan is quite a fighter, much like Greyworm himself. Swans are also known to mate for life and be incredibly loyal. They mate only once and do not seek another mate after a partner’s passing. Greyworm season eight in a nutshell.
Jon Snow - Wolf
Despite his complicated lineage, Jon comes closest to encompassing the sigil of House Stark in his very soul. Jon’s daemon would be a wolf. Generally non-aggressive, the wolf is still strong and knows how to protect itself, and, more importantly, its pack. Wolves bond with their pups, as well as the older wolves they live with. The fact that a wolf is well adapted to the cold is also an important aspect when it comes to Jon’s life in the North and at the wall.
Sansa Stark - Fox
Sansa is known for her red hair just as the fox is, but that’s hardly the only reason her daemon would settle in such a shape. The fox is also known for being able to adapt to different environments, as Sansa is forced to do throughout her life.
While the fox is beautiful and quiet, it is also known as a cunning predator, just as Sansa learns to manipulate and survive in the world around her. They can survive on their own and are often considered secretive. There’s no doubt that Sansa and her daemon would match up exceptionally well.
Arya Stark - Chameleon Snake
The chameleon snake was only discovered in 2006 in part because its ability to change its color has made it hard for scientists to find. That particular skill certainly mirrors Arya’s own experience with the Faceless Men. The ability for a snake to change its color, like a chameleon, is apparently incredibly rare, just like the ability to change faces at the House of Black and White. The chameleon snake is also venomous, and thus very dangerous whether you can see it or not—again very much like the pint-sized assassin from House Stark.
Jamie Lannister - Emperor Penguin
Jamie is quite the swordsman, even after he loses his sword hand, but, by the end of Game of Thrones, fans know there is far more to this Lannister than meets the eye. Jamie’s daemon would take the shape of an emperor penguin.
Penguins are known for their loyalty to their mate and the work they put into parenting the children. Jamie’s unfortunate loyalty to Cersei and his attempt to rescue his daughter Myrcella clearly line up with the choices an emperor penguin would make, as well.
Cersei Lannister - Orangutan
Speaking of loyalty to one’s offspring, Cersei Lannister takes the cake for most obsessed with her offspring. Orangutans are also known for being ridiculously protective of their young, as their parent bond is one of the strongest in nature. The young are incredibly dependent for their first two years of life, and even continue to visit once they are grown. Add to that the incredible strength of an orangutan and its ability to fight, and you have an excellent mirror for what Cersei Lannister finds most important in her life.
Tyrion Lannister - Crow
Tyrion would obviously need a daemon that could conveniently travel with him, and a bird would certainly help. The fact that crows are some of the smartest birds in the world, are known to interact with humans as well as their own species, and can be mischievous and attracted to shiny things all match pretty well with the Tyrion Lannister Game of Thrones fans know and love.
Tormund Giantsbane - Polar Bear
Tormund is loud, boisterous, and used to living in the cold, thus a polar bear would keep him company if he had a daemon of his own. Polar Bears are known for their clear, loud, and communicative growls, as well as for charging straight at threats and opponents. They like to eat and enjoy a good nap once they are full. That certainly sounds like something Tormund could appreciate.
