'The North Logic Puzzle (ASoIaF)' Solution

So, we begin with Ned Stark already placed in the grid for us. The position of Catelyn is specified quite early on. Enter ‘Catelyn’ in E6 as told.

To move on, we must remember that Ned’s sister is called Lyanna Stark, and that his bastard son is Jon Snow. Enter ‘Lyanna’ in C1, and ‘Jon’ in A2.

So we find out from the clue in A2 that the other two corner positions are occupied by two of Ned’s other close relatives. Ned’s eldest daughter is, of course, Sansa Stark. And his younger brother is Benjen Stark. The clue in A1 earlier told us also that Catelyn is the only female character in her row. Therefore ‘Sansa’ must belong in E1, and ‘Benjen’ must belong in A6.

We are told in E1 that all six of the Stark direwolves are in the quiz – their names being Grey Wind, Ghost, Lady, Nymeria, Summer and Shaggydog. A6’s hint lets us know that those direwolves are either directly above or directly below their owner. We can safely put ‘Ghost’ in A3, and ‘Lady’ in E2.

Before we move on too fast, we must first see if we can put any more Starks into the grid. The clue in E2 mentions something about direwolves, and we know from the other clue in A6 that where there are direwolves, there are Stark children. The clue in C1 states that Ned’s legitimate children are either in row 1 or row 6. The clue in E2 tells us that Rickon is adjacent to three direwolves, and we KNOW that must mean there are three Stark children in a row. The only spot possible for Rickon to be is in C6, since it is only in C6 that Rickon can be adjacent to three direwolves in B5, C5 and D5… with the ones in B5 and D5 belonging to two of Rickon’s siblings in B6 and D6. Since the clue in A1 earlier said that there are no female characters in row 6 aside from Catelyn, we can determine that it is Bran and Robb Stark who are in B6 and D6, although not necessarily in that order. Arya on the other hand must go in row 1. The clue in E2 also said that Jon is adjacent to two direwolves… therefore Arya must be in B1 in order for her direwolf to occupy B2. Enter ‘Arya’ in B1, ‘Nymeria’ in ‘B2’, ‘Shaggydog’ in C5′ and ‘Rickon’ in C6.

Don’t forget that Ned has one more sibling – the older ‘Brandon Stark’. Since we know Robb Stark and the younger ‘Bran Stark’ belong in row 6, we can safely place ‘Brandon Stark’ in D1.

So we get a lot of new clues given to us, but we should try and focus on locating where certain characters are if there are a lot of clues for them. A good character for that now would be Old Nan. The hint in A3 mentions that Old Nan is diagonal to Hodor and two direwolves. The clue in C5 says that Old Nan also shares a diagonal with Catelyn and Ramsay Snow. We know where the six direwolves will be – only we don’t know whether B5 contains Summer or Grey Wind. However, Lady (in E2) and the direwolf in B5 are the only ones to create a diagonal line long enough to fit both Hodor and Old Nan in. Taking into account that Old Nan must be in that diagonal between B5 and E2, as well as in a diagonal with Catelyn in E6… we can be sure that Old Nan is in C4. Enter ‘Nan’ in C4.

Don’t forget the clues that helped us locate Old Nan also mentioned Ramsay Snow and Hodor. Ramsay should be in B3 in order to share a diagonal with Catelyn and Old Nan (this is according to the clue in C5), given that D5 is already occupied by one of the direwolves. Hodor belongs in D3 for similar reasons outlined in A3. Enter ‘Ramsay’ in B3, and ‘Hodor’ in D3.

So the clue that’s just popped up in D3 mentions that four characters are in the same row. We know that row 5 has two direwolves in place there already, so the only logical place these four unplaced characters can do is in row 4. One of those characters is Meera, who is actually mentioned in C6. The hint in C6 says that both Meera and Jojen are diagonal to Sansa… meaning they have to be in A5, B4, C3 or D2. So the only logical place in row 4 for Meera to be in is B4.

Earlier clues, B1 and C4, mention Syrio (or the ‘First Sword of Braavos’) is diagonal to both Theon Greyjoy (the ‘Turncloak’) and Roose Bolton (the Leech Lord). We also know that Theon and Roose are in row 4, thanks to the clue in D3. The only place that makes sense for Syrio to be is in C2, since there is no other available cell that is diagonal to two of these three cells: A4, D4, E4. So enter ‘Syrio’ in C2.

The clues in B1, C4 and D3 told us that Roose and Theon are either in A4 or E4 in order to share a diagonal with Syrio from row 4. D3 also revealed to us that Osha is in row 4 as well, together with Roose, Theon, Meera and Old Nan. This can only mean Osha is in D4. The clue in B3 also talked about Osha and Jojen being in the same diagonal. C6 said Jojen has to be in a diagonal with Sansa as well. Since we know that Osha is in D4, Jojen has to be in C3 in order for us to place him in a diagonal with Sansa and Meera in a diagonal as well. In sum: enter ‘Osha’ in D4′ and ‘Jojen’ in C3.

Now, the clue that has just popped up in C3 talks about Rodrik Cassel and Jory Cassel… which are trickier characters to recall perhaps but they’re the ones we need. We learn that they are in column E. The clue in D3 told us that either Roose or Theon occupies E4, so the Cassels must be in E3 or E5. B3 mentioned very specifically that Jojen and Osha are the only alive people in their diagonal by the time you reach the end of ‘A Game of Thrones’. So which Cassel goes in E5 (i.e., which Cassel is still alive at the beginning of ‘A Clash of Kings’)―Jory or Rodrik? Enter ‘Rodrik’ in E3, and ‘Jory’ in E5, since Jory is the one that dies in ‘A Game of Thrones’.

E3 gives us new information: the fake ‘Arya Stark’ is in D2. Enter ‘Jeyne’ in D2.

We’re nearing the end now, and we still have to somehow determine where Roose and Theon fit in within row 4, which direwolf is in B5 and which one is in D5, and whether Bran or Robb is in B6 or D6. But what about that seventh empty cell―A5? A long time ago, if you had found the tenth Stark to occupy rows 1 and 6, the clue in D1 mentions that Maester Luwin is in this quiz. Not only that, but it also mentions that he’s adjacent to two POV characters. Out of Bran, Grey Wind, Robb, Roose, Summer and Theon… the only POV characters out of those list are Bran and Theon. So, enter ‘Luwin’ in A5, ‘Bran’ in B6, and ‘Theon’ in A4.