The Game of Thrones universe is expanding even more ahead of its return.
The fantasy franchise is officially getting a new HBO release ahead of the premiere for House of the Dragon season 3 later this summer. Following the end of the original series, the world of Westeros has successfully expanded across two ongoing spinoff TV shows set at various points hundreds of years in its past. In addition, other stories in the franchise are also being developed, including the movie Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest, which focuses on how House Targaryen became the ruling power of the fantasy world.
The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”
🐺StarkWinter is Coming
🦁LannisterHear Me Roar
🐉TargaryenFire and Blood
🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury
🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow
01
The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle?
✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly.
02
Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order?
✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family.
03
Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons?
✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born.
04
The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place?
✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines.
05
Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name?
✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series.
06
Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater?
✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place.
07
Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark?
✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself.
08
In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king?
✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King.
The Citadel · Results Sealed Your Westeros Record
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Did you claim the Iron Throne — or lose your head?
Now, Deadlinehas confirmed that, ahead of House of the Dragon‘s return on HBO, the network will be launching multiple Game of Thrones podcasts in Europe in June of this year. The podcasts, which will be available on HBO Max, will engage fans of Westeros through discussions about all three existing TV shows. Releases will be The Game of Thrones Anniversary Podcast Special, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Podcast, and The Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon. All three podcasts will be released in June.
Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen with dragons
In addition to the podcasts as a whole, a special video podcast for the House of the Dragon series will be released in June to accompany the arrival of season 3, which premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, June 21, 2026. In addition to the Game of Thrones podcast, there will also be a Harry Potter podcast about the original eight movies, releasing in Europe today, May 19, 2026, ahead of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV remake.
This podcast push for the world of Westeros is one of many from HBO, with shows like The Last of Us and The Pitt already having podcasts to their names. The decision to release said podcasts in Europe ahead of House of the Dragon‘s return can help build hype for the series overseas, while also giving fans a wider, more concrete connection to Westeros ahead of its premiere. The addition of podcasts correlated with the franchise’s other shows makes it all the more widespread for a larger crowd of franchise fans.
As of writing, there are multiple years of Game of Thrones content that will be coming out as the decade continues. While House of the Dragon season 3 premieres this year, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is expected to be released in early 2027, production currently ongoing. This will be followed by House of the Dragon season 4 in 2028, which wraps up the spinoff focused on the Dance of the Dragons. The movie’s release date is unclear, but Aegon’s Conquest is in active development.
The podcasts help to uplift the ongoing tales in the world of Westeros, while acting as a reminder of the past that they’re built upon. This makes for a significant expansion of the Game of Thrones franchise, helping to engage fans more readily with the existing shows while also building upon the development of Westeros in major ways. The podcast’s expansion into Europe will help them reach a global audience, too, making for a perfect addition to the ever-expanding franchise.