Great Wyk

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Great Wyk among the Iron Islands

Great Wyk is the largest of the islands that make up the Iron Islands.[1] Noble houses of the isle include Houses Farwynd, Goodbrother, Merlyn, and Sparr.[2] Humbles also live on Great Wyk.[3]

Geography

Great Wyk by Juan Carlos Barquet © Fantasy Flight Games

Aside from the Lonely Light, Great Wyk is the westernmost of the major isles. It is west of Old Wyk and Orkmont, north of Saltcliffe, and northeast of Pyke.[4] Nagga's Cradle is between the coasts of eastern Great Wyk and southern Old Wyk.[5]

Hammerhorn, the seat of the main line of House Goodbrother, is located in the Hardstone Hills. Other branches of the Goodbrothers on Great Wyk live at Corpse Lake, Crow Spike Keep, and Downdelving.[1] The Merlyns reside in Pebbleton,[1] while the Farwynds live at Sealskin Point.

Unlike the other isles, Great Wyk is so large that some of its castles, such as Hammerhorn, are inland instead of near the Sunset Sea or Ironman's Bay.[1] Blue-green soldier pines cover the mountains of Great Wyk, which are visible from the southern shore of Old Wyk.[6]

Economy

Great Wyk is the richest of the Iron Islands in ore, having lead, tin, and iron. It was once covered in forest but the timber was used extensively for shipbuilding.[7] Great Wyk is richer than Pyke.[8]

History

Older History

Great Wyk by Cris Urdiales ©

Like the other Iron Islands, Great Wyk was ruled in antiquity by rock and salt kings chosen in kingsmoots, and the numerous petty kings of the ironborn eventually came together to choose a High King of the Iron Islands.[9] King Harrag Hoare included longships from Great Wyk in his forces when he attacked the north of Theon Stark.[10] The rock and salt kings were reduced to lords when Urron Greyiron ended the kingsmoots and ruled henceforth as hereditary King of the Iron Islands.[9]

Thousands of years ago, sailors from Great Wyk discovered the Lonely Light after being blown off course.[11]

The first sept in the Iron Islands was built on Great Wyk during the reign of King Wulfgar Hoare.[12] Hoare Castle, the seat of House Hoare on Great Wyk, was destroyed by Ser Aubrey Crakehall after the defeat of King Hagon Hoare.[12] During the rule of later Hoare kings, merchants and traders from Great Wyk were known to call at Lannisport, Oldtown, and the Free Cities.[12]

Iron Throne

Following the death of Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers, during Aegon's Conquest, rival claimants rose on Great Wyk, Harlaw, Old Wyk, Orkmont, and Pyke. King Aegon I Targaryen ended the fighting with his invasion of the Iron Islands in 2 AC.[13][8] Aegon the Conqueror visited Great Wyk during one of his royal progresses.[14]

When Lodos the Twice-Drowned rose in rebellion, Goren Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, led a hundred longships to Old Wyk and Great Wyk to defeat Lodos on behalf of King Aenys I Targaryen.[15]

After the death of Lord Dalton Greyjoy, Great Wyk supported the pretender Sam Salt, who claimed to be descended from House Hoare, in a struggle for power in the Iron Islands. Ser Leo Costayne invaded the isles on behalf of Lady Johanna Lannister, but he was slain by Arthur Goodbrother on Great Wyk.[16]

Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, subdued Great Wyk on behalf of his brother, King Robert I Baratheon, during Greyjoy's Rebellion.[17]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Gormond Goodbrother by Kip Ayers © Fantasy Flight Games

Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, sends his daughter Asha to Great Wyk to meet with Lord Gorold Goodbrother.[18] Sparrs, Merlyns, and Goodbrothers travel from Great Wyk to Pyke when Balon calls the banners.[18] During the War of the Five Kings, Balon declares himself first King of the Iron Islands[19] and then King of the Isles and the North.[20]

A Feast for Crows

Aeron Greyjoy, a priest of the Drowned God, is drowning men on the shores of Great Wyk when he learns from the Sparr, Steffarion Sparr, and Gormond Goodbrother of the death of his eldest brother, King Balon, and the priest travels to Hammerhorn to meet with Lord Goodbrother. At Pebbleton, Aeron Damphair calls for a kingsmoot to be held to choose Balon's successor.[1]

Goodbrothers,[21] Sparrs,[21] Humbles,[21] and Merlyns[6] depart Great Wyk for the kingsmoot on Old Wyk, in which Euron Greyjoy is chosen king against Aeron's intentions.[6]

A Dance with Dragons

After the selection of Euron, Aeron's drowned men claim the priest has gone into hiding on Great Wyk.[17]

Quotes

Great Wyk was the largest of the Iron Islands, so vast that some of its lords had holdings that did not front upon the holy sea.[1]

—thoughts of Aeron Greyjoy

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 1, The Prophet.
  2. A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
  3. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 20, Reek II.
  4. A Feast for Crows, Map of the Iron Islands
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, Map of the Iron Islands.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
  8. 8.0 8.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Greyjoys of Pyke.
  9. 9.0 9.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Kings of Winter.
  11. Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Black Blood.
  13. Fire & Blood, Reign of the Dragon - The Wars of King Aegon I.
  14. Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
  15. Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  16. Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
  20. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 18, The Iron Captain.