Bite

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The north and the location of the Bite
The north and the location of the Bite
Bite
The north and the location of the Bite
The Vale of Arryn and the location of the Bite
The Vale of Arryn and the location of the Bite
Bite
The Vale of Arryn and the location of the Bite
Storm Dancer by Ryan Barger © Fantasy Flight Games © Fantasy Flight Games

The Bite is a long bay of eastern Westeros, located between the north and the Vale of Arryn.[1]

Geography

The Three Sisters and Pebble are islands within the Bite.[2]

To the west the Bite reaches the Neck, and the landscape between the kingsroad and the bay is a bleak and barren shore.[3] The cold salt sea[3] has strong winds[4] and opens onto the narrow sea and the Shivering Sea to the east.[2] To the south are the Mountains of the Moon and the Fingers.[5]

White Harbor is located at the mouth of the White Knife in the bay's north, and Oldcastle is then found to the southeast along the northern coast.[2] Farther to the northeast are Ramsgate and the Broken Branch, near where the Bite meets the deeper seas.[6]

Culture

Fisherfolk from White Harbor sail the Bite,[7] and Sistermen have a reputation for smuggling and wrecking.[5]

History

Pirate kings of the Three Sisters controlled the Bite and neighboring waters in antiquity.[8] House Arryn, the Kings of Mountain and Vale, gained control of the Sisters through the War Across the Water.[8]

During the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon flew on Vermax over the Bite to Sisterton and White Harbor.[9] In 132 AC, Winter Fever crossed the Bite from the Sisters to White Harbor.[10]

After the outbreak of Robert's Rebellion, Lord Eddard Stark attempted to return to the north with the aid of a fisherman from the Fingers. The fisherman drowned during a storm, but his daughter was able to transport Ned to the Three Sisters. Some say Lord Stark impregnated the daughter, who gave birth to Jon Snow.[5]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik Cassel sail on Storm Dancer from White Harbor to King's Landing. Strong winds in the Bite contribute to Rodrik becoming seasick.[4] During his coma, Bran Stark sees his mother and Rodrik sailing across the Bite during one of his dreams.[11]

A Clash of Kings

Stannis Baratheon tasks Ser Davos Seaworth with sailing on Black Betha north from Dragonstone to the Bite, delivering the king's letters to settlements along the way.[12]

A Dance with Dragons

While sailing for Braavos, Sloe-Eyed Maid is blown by a gale into the Bite, and the ship is wrecked at Sweetsister.[5]

The remnants of Salladhor Saan's fleet sails toward White Harbor with Davos. Tired of storms and Stannis's inability to pay, Salladhor sets Davos loose in a rowboat near Sisterton and sails for the Stepstones.[5]

Lionstar transports three Freys to Sisterton and then White Harbor.[13] Ser Wylis Manderly returns to White Harbor from Maidenpool.[7]

Quotes

For thousands of years, these islands had boasted their own cruel kings, pirates and raiders whose longships sailed the Bite, the narrow sea, and even the Shivering Sea with impunity, plundering and reaving as they would and returning to the Sisters laden with gold and slaves. These depredations finally led the Kings of Winter to send their own war fleets to seek dominion over the Sisters—for whoever holds the Three Sisters holds the Bite.[8]

—writings of Yandel

The Three Sisters were islands in the Bite. Dunk had heard septons say that the isles were sinks of sin and avarice.[14]

—thoughts of Duncan the Tall

There's ships that go between the Sisters and White Harbor all the time. We sell them crabs and fish and goat cheese, they sell us wood and wool and hides.[5]

References

  1. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Bite.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 20, Reek II.
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, Map of the North by Michael Gellatly.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale.
  9. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  10. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  11. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 17, Bran III.
  12. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  13. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
  14. The Mystery Knight.