Absent "A Song of Ice and Fire" characters

Strong Belwas

Strong Belwas is a eunuch from Meereen. He was born a slave and was trained as a warrior to fight in the infamous fighting pits of Meereen. He claims that he never lost a fight while in the pits. Strong Belwas was known to allow his opponent to cut him once, then to go on the offensive and kill them. He is covered in scars and is quite proud of these marks, as they resemble all the men that have tried and failed to kill him.

Strong Belwas was bought by Illyrio Mopatis (the Pentoshi magister who fostered Daenerys and Viserys in the beginning of the series) after many years of fighting in Meereen. Illyrio then sends Strong Belwas with three ships to Daenerys in order to bring her back to Pentos. Belwas is accompanied by Arstan Whitebeard (Barristan Selmy) and together they thwart the assassination attempt on Daenerys' life.

From this moment onward, Belwas enters into Dany's service as a bodyguard. He is present when Dany takes the Unsullied and has the masters killed in Astapor. He is by her side as she treats with the sellsword commanders outside the walls of Yunkai. Most notably, it is Belwas, not Daario Naharis, that defeats the champion of Meereen. Belwas injures the horse of the champion, then is able to defeat the champion in a sword fight. Belwas precedes to cut off the head of his foe, presents it to the Meereen onlookers, and then defecates in their direction. Finally, without getting past the TV series, Strong Belwas (along with some companions) enter into Meereen through the sewers and take the city.

TL;DR Strong Belwas is a complete and total badass. He guards Dany and kills the champion of Meereen in awesome fashion.

Vargo Hoat

Vargo Hoat is the leader of the Brave Companions, an untrustworthy sellsword company that resides in Westeros. He is originally from Qohor and is known for severing the limbs of his prisoners. Hoat also has a significant lisp. He is known as cunning and cruel.

Hoat and the Brave Companions are hired by Tywin Lannister to burn and pillage the Riverlands. They report back to Harrenhal, where Tywin has settled for the time being. When Tywin and the Lannister force leave Harrenhal, Hoat decides to betray his employer by seeking out Roose Bolton. Bolton and Hoat come to an agreement where the Brave Companions let the North take Harrenhal. In exchange for Hoat's service, Bolton promises him the title of the Lord of Harrenhal. Hoat allows the North to take Harrenhal from the Lannisters that remain at the castle. When Bolton shows up, Hoat stays at Harrenhal and seeks out enemies of the North.

Brienne and Jaime are eventually captured by the Brave Companions, and are brought back to Harrenhal. It is Vargo Hoat that orders Jaime's right hand to be severed.

When Bolton leaves Harrenhal, Hoat remains at the castle believing that he can defend his title. Eventually, Tywin sends Grgor Clegane (The Mountain That Rides) to retake Harrenhal. Clegane succeeds and all Brave Companions that remain at the castle are killed. Hoat is taken prisoner. Over the course of his imprisonment, Hoat is slowly dismembered by Clegane. The limbs and other pieces of Hoat's body are cooked in the soup and then fed to him and all the other prisoners at Harrenhal. When Gregor Clegane is summoned by Cersie Lannister to fight in the trial by combat during the trial of Tyrion Lanninster, Clegane finally decides to kill Vargo Hoat.

TL;DR Vargo Hoat fought for the Lannisters. He betrayed them by joining the North. Then Hoat gave the order to cut off Jaime Lannister's sword hand. Hoat dies a slow and gruesome death.

Edric Storm

Edric Storm is one of Robert Baratheon's 16 bastard children. He is said to be a mirror image of his father. Edric lived at Storm's End before being taken to Dragonstone with Stannis.

Melisandre wants to sacrifice Edric for his king's blood. She is unable to do as she wishes because Davos frees the boy and ships him off to the Free Cities. Davos also assigns several men to protect this boy on his journey.

I know this character seems unimportant, but his plot hole in the show was filled by Gendry. In the books, Gendry never left The Brotherhood Without Banners. However, in the show, Gendry is taken to Dragonstone by Melisandre for the king's blood sacrifice. Davos frees Gendry and puts him on a rowboat...by himself..... andddd we haven't seen Gendry since. I have a hard time believing that this kid is able to row to safety across the Narrow Sea, but we will have to see what happens in Season 5.

TL;DR If Edric Storm was in the show, there wouldn't be the mystery of Gendry in the rowboat.

Willas Tyrell

Willas Tyrell is the eldest son of Mace Tyrell, making him the heir to Highgarden.

During his first tournament, Oberyn Martell knocked Willas from his horse. Willas' foot was caught in a stirrup which brought the horse down on top of him. This left the eldest Tyrell son with a crippled leg. The crippling of Willas led to enmity between Tyrells and the Martells, even though Willas did not blame Oberyn for his injury.

Due to his handicap, Willas focused on scholarly studies. He is considered a much more capable leader than his father, Mace. Olenna Tyrell (the bitchin matriarch of the Tyrell house, aka The Queen of Thorns) has a very high opinion of Willas.

Sansa Stark is told that she has the option to marry Willas (in the show Loras is offered, but in the book Loras is in the Kingsguard and thus is unable to marry). Tywin discovers the plan and thwarts it by marrying Tyrion to Sansa before the Tyrells can sneak her away to Highgarden.

Tywin then tries to arrange for Cersie to marry Willas, sealing the alliance between the Lannister and Tyrell houses.

TL;DR Willas Tyrell is the intended betrothed of Sansa and then Cersie, instead of Loras. He is crippled, but intelligent and charismatic. There are more Tyrell children than just Loras and Margaery.

Garlan Tyrell

Garlan Tyrell is the Mace Tyrell's second oldest son. Garlan is a skilled fighter, but does not desire fame like his younger brother Loras.

Garlan leads the vanguard of the Tyrell-Lannister force in the Battle of the Blackwater. He wears Renly Baratheon's suit of armor, making it seem as though the ghost of Renly is present during the fight. This serves to unnerve the men that pledged to Stannis after Renly's death. After the battle, Garlan is rewarded the title of the Lord of Brightwater Keep.

During Sansa's wedding to Tyrion, Garlan comforts Sansa while they dance, assuring the young girl that Tyrion is a "bigger man than he seems". While at the wedding of Margaery and Joffrey, Garlan praises Tyrion's actions that saved King's Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater. He tells Tyrion that he is made to do great deeds.

TL;DR Garlan Tyrell is a genuine and likable guy, but also a fearsome warrior. Again, there are more Tyrell children than just Loras and Margaery.

Marillion

Marillion is a singer and harpist. He roughly eighteen years old and is quite vain.

Marillion meets Catelyn Stark at an inn during the capture of Tyrion Lannister. He accompanies the party to the Eyrie, where he hopes to become a famous singer. This part of the storyline for his character is shown in the show. He is present when the group is attacked by mountain clansmen and is in the audience during Tyrion's trial by combat in the Eyrie.

In the show, after the trial at the Eyrie, Marillion leaves for King's Landing. We see him next in the throne room, playing a song that mocks the late King Robert. Joffrey has his tongue ripped out. This differs greatly from the book, where Marillion plays an important part.

In the book, Marillion stays at the Eyrie and becomes the favorite singer of Lady Lysa. He becomes a sort of man-whore and beds as many maids as he can. He is there for the wedding of Petyr Baelish and Lady Lysa. After the wedding, Marillion gets drunk and tries to rape Sansa.

In the aftermath of Petyr and Sansa's kiss, Marillion is ordered by Lysa to bring Sansa to the her. Marillion is present for Lysa's over the top interrogation of Sansa and actually plays the harp so that the guards do not hear the commotion. After Petyr throws Lysa through the moon door, Marillion is used as the scapegoat. He is arrested and tortured and confesses that he killed Lysa. In return for his confession he is allowed to keep his life but loses his eyes and a few fingers. Marillion is kept in the sky cells, where he spends his nights singing. His voice haunts Sansa and the young Robert (Robin). Sansa later tells Robert that Marillion is dead, but the boy claims he can still hear his singing.

TL;DR Marillion is a talented and vain singer that eventually takes the fall for the murder of Lysa Arryn.

Jeyne Westerling

Jeyne Westerling is a shy, pretty girl and the eldest daughter of Lord Gawen Westerling and Sybell Spicer.

Jeyne is the girl that Robb Stark marries, betraying his oath to House Frey. They first meet after Robb's expedition through the Westerlands, where he is injured by an arrow. Robb is with Jeyne when he finds out that his younger brothers have been killed by Theon. Jeyne "comforts" him, and Robb being a man of honor, marries the soiled maid a day later. This is what ultimately leads to the infamous Red Wedding, for which Jeyne is not present.

Robb tried everyday to impregnate Jeyne, but in the end his efforts proved fruitless. This is actually due to Jeyne's mother being a sneaky little bitch and secretly giving Jeyne a form of birth control. As it turns out, Jeyne's mother had been in contact with Tywin Lannister the entire time. Jeyne mourns Robb's death and is escorted back home.

In the show she is replaced by Talisa Maegyr of Volantis. I am not sure why they made this change. Was it really necessary to change Robb's love interest?

TL;DR Jeyne Westerling is the actual girl that Robb Stark marries. She is the reason the King in the North dies a horrible death.

Donal Noye

Donal Noye is an armorer, smith, and steward in the Night's Watch. He used to be a smith and a soldier for the Baratheons. Donal is a large and imposing man, even though he only has one arm.

Donal started out as the smith at Storm's End, where he forged Robert Baratheon's famed warhammer. It was during the siege at Storm's End when Donal lost his arm. After that, he decided to take the black.

Donal councils Jon Snow as soon as the young man arrives at the Wall. He recommends that Jon take it easy on the other recruits because Jon has the upper hand. Donal tells Jon that his years of experience embarrass the other recruits and that will make his peers resent him. Jon is angered by this at first, but then sees the sense in it. Because of Donal's advice, Jon is able to befriend the other recruits. Jon even works with Donal in the armory.

During the Great Ranging beyond the Wall, Donal is one of the few men to stay behind at Castle Black. Donal is present when Jon returns to the castle after his escape from the wildlings. Donal carries Jon to Maester Aemon for treatment and holds Jon down while the old maester goes to work.

During the attack of the wildlings, Donal is given command at Castle Black. He leads the brothers at the top of the Wall in their fight against the free folk. When a giant, Mag the Mighty, begins to break through the gate, Donal leaves with several men to go defend the Wall's entrance from the imminent danger. He passes the command to Jon Snow telling him that the Wall is his. Donal Noye loses his life in the battle with the giant, but only after thrusting his sword through the throat of his foe.

TL;DR Donal Noye is a badass smith who councils Jon Snow and kills the giant at the gate during the wildling attack on the Wall.

(Sidenote: Grenn should still be alive)

Coldhands

Coldhands is a mysterious figure from beyond the Wall. He appears to be a white walker, but is also intelligent and is able to speak. Coldhands dresses in the attire of the Night's Watch, but uses a scarf to conceal his face. He also has a dope flock of ravens that are under his command.

Not much is known about the origins of Coldhands, and there are plenty of theories, but he first shows up to rescue Sam, Gilly, and the baby from an attack by white walkers. Coldhands addresses Sam as "brother" and guides the group that escaped Crastor's Keep through the haunted forest and to the Black Gate of the Nightfort, underneath the Wall. Coldhands is unable to pass beneath the Wall, due to its magic, but he instructs Sam to bring Bran Stark through the Black Gate so that Coldhands can help Bran on his journey.

Sam does as he is told and leads Bran, Hodor, Meera, and Jojen through the Black Gate. Coldhands guides this group through the forest and all the way to the cave of the three-eyed crow. Along the way, it is Coldhands that kills the traitors from the Night's Watch.

Coldhands is the reason that Sam was able to return safely to the Wall and he is also the reason that Bran and his companions are able to safely reach their destination at the cave. Without Coldhands, Sam and and his group would be dead, and Bran and his group would be dead as well. Bran, Hodor, Meera, and Jojen do not just happen upon the cave (like in the show), they are escorted there by a sweet character that will not appear in the television series.

TL;DR Coldhands protects and guides Sam, Gilly, and the baby as they return to the Wall. He also protects Bran, Hodor, Meera, and Jojen as they journey North of the Wall. Coldhands is an intriguing character and it is a shame that he will not be in the show.