What exactly defines kin-slaying? I mean, killing you immediate family, definitely kin-slaying. Cousins? Sure. Second cousins? Maybe. Your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate? Probably not. Where does the line between kin-slaying and good ol’ regular murder go?

sailormiyoung89:

racefortheironthrone:

It’s a bit complex. 

Immediate family counts. First cousins is a bit unclear, since I couldn’t find examples of first cousins fighting each other in ASOIAF; second cousins don’t count (since Robert Baratheon killing Rhaegar isn’t considered kinslaying by anyone). 

However, foster brothers do count – which is a big part of the reason why the custom of fostering exists in order to prevent future wars by harnessing the power of taboo. 

Doesn’t Rickard Karstark call Robb a kinslayer for executing him? Was that just him making a desperate bid to save his life or is it an indication that kinslaying is taken a lot more seriously in the North?

It’s the former, but less trying to save his life and more trying to do as much damage as possible as he goes down, because Rickard Karstark is a man who believes in burning his bridges while he’s standing on them.