In the book "A Song of Ice an Fire" (Game of Thrones is based on it), by George R. R. Martin, Ned Stark is the patriarch of the Stark family. The Stark family rules Winterfell, a province in Westeros. Eddard "Ned" Stark is honorable, strong and virtuous. These qualities however, are weaknesses in the George R. R. Martin's cut-throat, dog-eat-dog world. And Ned eventually succumbs to the less honorable, but more powerful, Lannisters.