Dothraki
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
The Dothraki people are a culture of warlike nomads who wander the vast grasslands of the Dothraki Sea. The Dothraki have copper skin and dark almond eyes. They live in tribes called khalasars, each led by a chief called a khal. Khalasars are broken into groups, called khas, which are each led by one of the khal's captains, called khos. When a khal dies, a new khal may take control of the khalasar or the khos may break away and form new khalasars led by their former khos. Dothraki are expert riders and their horses are of prime importance in their culture, used for food, transportation, raw materials, and warfare.
Khalasars rely heavily on raiding neighboring nations, and each other, for subsistence. Mounted archery forms the backbone of their strategy. Warriors also use whips and curved cavalry swords called arakhs. They eschew armor as cowardly and typically wear painted vests and horsehair breeches. Men grow their hair in braided topknots, which they must cut whenever they are defeated in battle. They mark victories by putting bells in their braids, often taking bells from the Dothraki they have slain. Thus, a warrior's topknot is a symbol of his prowess.
Khalasars have no fixed settlements. Dothraki can erect large grass canopies for special occasions, but typically live in portable tents, always on the move. The Dothraki have only one permanent city, called Vaes Dothrak, which serves as their capital. While khalasars are typically rivals on the plains, in Vaes Dothrak all Dothraki must behave as brothers. No one may spill blood or draw a blade in the city, on pain of death. The wives of khals, called khaleesis, live in Vaes Dothrak after their husbands die. There they rule over all the khals as the Dosh Khaleen.
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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Across the narrow sea. |
