First Men

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire

The First Men were the culture of humans who first set foot on Westeros. The influence of the First Men is still felt in Westeros, most strongly in the North.

[edit] History

Around 12,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the First Men came to Westeros from the eastern continent by crossing the landbridge called the Arm of Dorne. As they settled in the new land, they chopped down the carved weirwoods that were sacred to the children of the forest's gods and burned them. This provoked a war between the children and the First Men. Though the children had powerful magic, which they used to shatter the Arm of Dorne into an island chain, the First Men were larger, stronger, and more technologically advanced. The war went in their favor until the two sides reached a peace agreement, called the Pact, on the Isle of Faces. The First Men gave dominion over the forests to the children and promised not to cut down any more weirwood trees. In return, they received claim to the rest of the Westeros.

The Pact began 4,000 years of friendship between the two peoples. The First Men set aside their religion to worship the children's nature gods. When the Others began to invade from the far north of Westeros, the First Men and the children joined forces in the War for the Dawn. A legendary hero called Azor Ahai is said to have lead the coalition against the Others, wielding a fiery sword called Lightbringer. The Others were driven back, and the Night's Watch was created to keep them at bay.

Around 6,000 years before Aegon's Landing, the Andals began their invasion of Westeros. For several hundred years the First Men and the Andals fought for control of the continent. Eventually, the Andals conquered the southern half of the continent, while the Kings of Winter stopped all Andal incursions through the Neck at Moat Cailin. While much of their culture was lost over the millenia, the people of the North retained the spirit of the First Men.

[edit] Culture

The First Men spoke the Old Tongue, a harsh, clanging language that is still spoken by some wildlings and the giants. Names originating from the Old Tongue tend to be short, simple, and descriptive. They wrote with runes, which they carved on rocks and into metal, but the meanings behind most runes became lost in time.

The First Men wielded bronze swords and large, leather shields. They rode horses into battle. They lived in barrows and obeyed the laws of hospitality. Hosts were expected to serve guests bread and salt upon arrival, and guests received protection once they had eaten. Disputes were often handled by paying a blood price, even for crimes such as murder. If a man was to be executed for his crimes, the man delivering the sentence was expected to wield the killing blade himself.