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Mance deserts the Night's Watch because he wants to be free. But later, he becomes a rallying point for the wildlings, drawing them together to fight the Night's Watch. We later learn that (mild ASOS and Season 3 spoiler.)

Mance's intentions are somewhat benign - he only wants to settle his people safely beyond the Wall to protect them against the Others.

But what I don't understand is why he deserted beyond the Wall in the first place. If he was aware of the threat of the Others - as an experienced ranger of the Night's Watch might have been - it would have made far more sense to go into hiding south of the Wall. What purpose did it serve for him to unite the wildlings?

Mance deserts the Night's Watch because he wants to be free. But later, he becomes a rallying point for the wildlings, drawing them together to fight the Night's Watch. We later learn that (mild A Storm of Swords and Season 3 spoiler.)

Mance's intentions are somewhat benign - he only wants to settle his people safely beyond the Wall to protect them against the Others.

But what I don't understand is why he deserted beyond the Wall in the first place. If he was aware of the threat of the Others - as an experienced ranger of the Night's Watch might have been - it would have made far more sense to go into hiding south of the Wall. What purpose did it serve for him to unite the wildlings?

Mance deserts the Night's Watch because he wants to be free. But later, he becomes a rallying point for the wildlings, drawing them together to fight the Night's Watch. We later learn that (mild ASOS spoiler.)

Mance's intentions are somewhat benign - he only wants to settle his people safely beyond the Wall to protect them against the Others.

But what I don't understand is why he deserted beyond the Wall in the first place. If he was aware of the threat of the Others - as an experienced ranger of the Night's Watch might have been - it would have made far more sense to go into hiding south of the Wall. What purpose did it serve for him to unite the wildlings?

Mance deserts the Night's Watch because he wants to be free. But later, he becomes a rallying point for the wildlings, drawing them together to fight the Night's Watch. We later learn that (mild ASOS and Season 3 spoiler.)

Mance's intentions are somewhat benign - he only wants to settle his people safely beyond the Wall to protect them against the Others.

But what I don't understand is why he deserted beyond the Wall in the first place. If he was aware of the threat of the Others - as an experienced ranger of the Night's Watch might have been - it would have made far more sense to go into hiding south of the Wall. What purpose did it serve for him to unite the wildlings?