Raventree Hall

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Raventree Hall
Castle
Raventree Hall © FFG
Raventree Hall by Yoann Boissonnet © Fantasy Flight Games
Location Riverlands
Government House Blackwood, Feudal lord
Ruler Lord Tytos Blackwood
Religion Old gods
Founded Age of Heroes
Named for Its raven-covered weirwood[1]
The riverlands and the location of Raventree Hall
The riverlands and the location of Raventree Hall
Raventree Hall
The riverlands and the location of Raventree Hall[2]
The godswood of Raventree Hall, with its enormous weirwood and hundreds of ravens - by Elena María Vacas

Raventree Hall, often called simply Raventree,[3][4][1] is the seat of House Blackwood in Blackwood Vale in the riverlands. The castle is located north of Riverrun, southwest of Oldstones, and west of Fairmarket. Ironman's Bay is to the northwest.[2][5]

Layout

See also: Images of Raventree Hall

Raventree has high, ancient stone walls with moss climbing up them. There are two huge, square towers flanking the gate and a square tower at each angle in the wall. It is also defended by a deep moat lined with stone. Inside the walls are a muddy outer ward and a cavernous timber keep.[1]

Lord Blackwood's solar in the keep is large and airy, with great beams of dark oak. Wool tapestries adorn its walls, while latticework doors with panes of diamond-shaped yellow glass overlook the godswood of Raventree Hall. It contains a high-backed chair.[1]

The godswood contains a dead, ancient weirwood of colossal size. Every evening at dusk hundreds of ravens come and roost all night on the dead weirwood as they have for thousands of years.[1]

Near the castle, a rise overlooking a stream gives a view of two of Raventree's gates.[1]

History

The Blackwoods made Raventree their seat in the riverlands after they were driven from the wolfswood by the Kings of Winter.[6]

The Blackwoods claim that Raventree's great weirwood was poisoned by the Brackens.[1]

The Storm King Arlan III Durrandon married a daughter of Lord Roderick Blackwood beneath Raventree's weirwood. When Roderick rebelled against House Teague, Arlan relieved King Humfrey I Teague's ensuing siege of the castle.[7]

Lord Blackwood hosted Queen Alysanne Targaryen and Princess Daella Targaryen when the princess was fifteen. Daella was charmed by Royce Blackwood, but refused to marry him after learning the Blackwoods followed the old gods.[8]

Widow Fairs were held at Raventree after the Dance of the Dragons.[9] The bones of Ser Addam Velaryon were stored by Lord Benjicot Blackwood at Raventree for eight years after the Second Battle of Tumbleton, until Lord Alyn Velaryon had his brother's remains interred at Driftmark in 138 AC.[10]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

During the War of the Five Kings, the stronghold is taken by Lord Tywin Lannister and Ser Kevan Lannister due to the absence of Lord Tytos Blackwood, who is at Riverrun.[3]

A Clash of Kings

Following the Battle of the Camps, Tytos is allowed to depart Riverrun by Robb Stark, King of the Trident. Tytos leads the liberation of Raventree Hall.[11]

A Storm of Swords

Ser Garth Greenfield is held captive in the castle.[12]

A Feast for Crows

Raventree is besieged by Lord Jonos Bracken after the Red Wedding. Lord Karyl Vance implores Ser Jaime Lannister to intervene, knowing that Lord Blackwood would never surrender to Lord Bracken.[13]

A Dance with Dragons

In the wake of the Red Wedding and the submissions of Riverrun and Seagard, Raventree Hall is the last castle in the riverlands refusing to declare for King Tommen I Baratheon. Jaime Lannister goes to Raventree and negotiates the surrender of Lord Tytos, taking his son Hoster as a hostage to ensure good behavior.[1] Tytos intends to have the bones of Lucas Blackwood, a son who was killed at the Red Wedding, buried in the godswood beneath the great weirwood.[1]

Chapters that take place at Raventree Hall

Quotes

Raventree Hall was old.[1]

—thoughts of Jaime Lannister

My hall might lack for food, but never for courtesy.[1]

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, map of Westeros.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  4. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 74, Arya XIII.
  5. The Lands of Ice and Fire, Jaime Lannister's route on the Journeys map.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Kings of Winter.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  8. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and ALysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  9. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  10. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Overthrown.
  11. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
  12. A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
  13. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.