Since taking the black is basically the default penalty for most grave crimes in Westeros (as the preferable option to death), I am kind of surprised after analisys that the NW A) is yet such few members B) does not have more political convicts or politiclly disgruntled “exiles” among its ranks (we know of Ser Alliser and Bloodraven mostly) and C) has thus not attempted more often to rise against the realm in blackfyre fashion. What’s your take on this?

A. Well, keep in mind that the NW doesn’t reproduce itself. So increases in manpower aren’t self-sustaining.

B. Well, there haven’t been that many political events that would give rise to members – the Greyjoy Rebellion and Robert’s Rebellion, sure…but before that you’d have to go all the way back to the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion some seventy-odd years. 

C. Rise against it…from a defenseless and isolated penal barracks at the edge of the known world, with the wildlings on one side and the Starks on the other?