Game of Thrones season 4 is creeping closer, and we’re here to help prep you for the premiere with a spoiler-free guide to some of the new characters we’ll be meeting!

Game of Thrones is notoriously savage with its impressive cast of characters, killing off a sizeable number each year. If they didn’t introduce a new wave of lords, ladies, and outlaws each season then the show could no longer be called an epic. While we’re thankful for the turnover, it can sometimes be hard to keep up with all of the new characters – especially when so many of them have long-winded and virtually unpronounceable names. Fear not though, as Hypable has a spoiler free guide to the latest additions of the Game of Thrones cast that will help you cut through the confusion! There are some characters we haven’t featured because it’s difficult to say anything about them without giving away certain plot twists – so we’ve picked eight of the new faces that will be drinking, swearing, having sex and fighting when the series returns. Beware – the article does contain spoiler for the first three seasons of the show.

Martell Sunspear Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken! Ellaria Sand (Paramour)

Featured heavily in both season 4 trailers, Oberyn Martell (commonly known as “The Red Viper”) is one of the big new characters. Oberyn will be played by Pedro Pascal, an actor known for his roles in Graceland and The Adjustment Bureau.

We’ve heard a lot about Dornish wine in the first few seasons, but The Red Viper is the first major character from the southern region of Westeros that’s been introduced. And it’s fitting that he’d be a Prince of Sunspear (the region’s capital). What’s more, he’s a deadly and practised warrior who is rumoured to lace the end of his spear with poison in fights, earning him comparisons to snakes, and the title The Red Viper.

Oberyn travels to King’s Landing to celebrate the wedding of King Joffery and Margaery Tyrell, but he has a hidden agenda. His sister Elia was raped and murdered during Robert Baratheon’s sacking of King’s Landing, and the Prince now seeks justice – but as we hear Tyrion say in the most recent trailer, he’s come to the wrong place.

Bastard of Dorne Dorne None Oberyn Martell (Paramour)

Also popping up a lot in the season 4 trailers, Ellaria Sand will be played by Luther actress Indira Varma.

The bastard daughter of Lord Harmen Uller, Ellaria is Oberyn Martell’s paramour and mother of his four youngest children (affectionately dubbed the “Sand Snakes”). Described as a woman who “draws the eye”, Sand worships a Lysene love goddess. She accompanies The Red Viper on his trip to King’s Landing.

Thenn Clan North of the Wall None Unknown

One of King Beyond the Wall Mance Rayder’s lieutenants, Styr will be played by Russian actor Yuri Kolokolnikov.

Styr is the Magnar (a Wildling’s version of a Lord) of Thenn, and rules with an iron fist. He is described as being bald with no ears, and grey eyes. Most of his role in season 3 was taken by Tormund Giantsbane, including being mistaken for Rayder by Jon when he first enters the wildling camp. Styr is finally showing up now though, and will prove to be a deadly fighter when Game of Thrones returns.

The Night’s Watch The Wall I am the sword in the darkness Brothers of the Night’s Watch

This one’s technically a bit of a cheat, as Alliser Thorne has already appeared in Game of Thrones – but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen him and your memory might be a bit rusty. He is played by Owen Teale.

Last time we saw Alliser, he was making Jon Snow’s life hell on the Wall by putting him through rigorous training and bullying the new crow and his friends. The Night’s Watch’s Master-At-Arms was sent to King’s Landing by Commander Mormont to rally support, following the attack of the undead in the season 1 finale. With the character confirmed as returning this season, we can expect him to have completed his journey and seek an audience with King Joffrey or his small council.

On page 2: Lords, ladies, and bankers

Page 2: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 4: A spoiler-free guide to the game’s new players

The Iron Bank Braavos None Unknown

When Ned Stark arrived in King’s Landing back in season 1, he quickly discovered that the Throne owed The Iron Bank of Braavos a substantial amount of money which had been borrowed to pay for King Robert’s many feasts and tourneys. Now, it looks like the Iron Bank wants the money back.

Tyhco Nestoris is the Braavosi representative sent to reclaim the small council’s debts. However, with a royal wedding coming up and many of the Seven Kingdoms still in open rebellion, retrieving the money will be no easy task. The Doctor Who and Sherlock fans among you will recognise the man portraying him – actor and writer Mark Gatiss.

Tyrell Highgarden Growing Strong Margaery, Loras (Children) Olenna Redwyne (Mother)

With his daughter Margaery about to marry the king of Westeros, it’s no surprise that Mace Tyrell will feature in Game of Thrones season 4. The Lord of Highgarden will be played by seasoned actor Roger Ashton-Griffiths, whose notable films include Gangs of New York and A Knight’s Tale.

Queen of Thorns Oleanna Tyrell describes her son as “a ponderous oaf”, and he has a reputation for being an incredibly stupid, though very kind man. Things may get a bit tense when Mace arrives in King’s Landing, as he was previously named Hand of the King for Renly Baratheon during the deceased king’s rebellion. However, his seemingly endless supplies of money will put him in a powerful position for politics.

Waynwood The Vale Unknown Unknown

Lady Anya Waynwood is head of her house and holds the title “Lady of Ironoaks”. She will be played by Paola Dionisotti, who starred as Aunt Nicholls in the 1999 series Harbour Lights.

House Waynwood is situated in the Vale, and the widow Anya has three sons. She has greying hair and crows-feet, but is described as having an air of nobility about her. In the books, the Lady of Ironoaks was present at Tyrion’s trial in the Eyrie. With Catelyn’s sister Lysa Tully confirmed for season 4, it looks like we’ll be meeting more of the nobles in the Vale – and Lady Anya Waynwood will be one of them.

Frey The Twins Unknown Lord Walder Frey (Grandfather) Roose Bolton (Husband)

Nobody needs to be reminded of the Red Wedding, as the images of the Northmen being slaughtered and Robb Stark decorated with his dire-wolf’s head is still etched into our subconscious. We can expect the tragic events to cast a long shadow over season 4, including the introduction of one of the causes.

Having been promised his bride’s weight in silver if he marries one of Walder Frey’s grand-daughters, the cunning Roose Bolton chose the heaviest – a fifteen year old girl dubbed “Fat Walda Frey” (played by Cockneys vs. Zombies star Elizabeth Webster). Walda is a noisy girl with watery eyes, and leaves The Twins with her husband as he travels North.

Which new ‘Game of Thrones’ character are you looking forward to seeing?