Volantis
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
| Volantis City state, one of the Free Cities | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Essos, Free Cities, mouth of Rhoyne |
| Government | Triarchy , Freehold. |
| Religion | Mixed religions |
| Founded | Over 1000 years ago |
| Notable places | The Black Wall, Long Bridge, The Temple of R'hllor, and Merchant's House |
| Organizations | Elephant and Tigers |
Volantis is one of the Free Cities, located at the mouth of the Rhoyne on the eastern continent.
Contents |
Geography
Volantis is the south-easternmost of the Free Cities, located east of the Disputed Lands at the Rhoyne delta. It is said that Volantis sprawls along a bay so vast that it could contain the entirety of Braavos. To the north is the river Volaena. The city is hot and humid.
Volantis is the closest Free City to Slaver's Bay, lying approximately five hundred and fifty leagues from Meereen as the crow flies.[1]
The City
- The Harbor, The city sits on a very deep harbor. Volantenes claim that the hundred isles of Braavos could be dropped into the harbor and disappear. Volantis spreads across the mouth of the Rhoyne and across the hills and marshes on both sides of the river.[2]
- The Black Wall, The Black Wall is a great oval of fused black stone built two hundred feet high by the Valyrians when Volantis was no more than an outpost of their empire. It is wide enough for six four-horse chariots to race around its top abreast, as is done each year to celebrate the founding of the city. No outlander, freeman, or foreigner is allowed inside the Black Wall save at the invitation of those who dwell within. Only scions of the Old Blood who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria itself may live within the Black Wall.[2]
- The Temple of the Lord of Light, The Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis is an enormity of pillars, steps, buttresses, bridges, domes, and towers flowing into one another as if they had all been chiseled from one colossal rock. A hundred hues of red, yellow, gold, and orange meet and meld in the temple walls, dissolving one into the other like clouds at sunset. Its slender towers twist ever upward, frozen flames dancing as they reach for the sky. It is about three times the size of the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing. Before the construction of the temple, the site was a Great Plaza. The Temple is protected by a private army known as the Fiery Hand.
- The Merchant's House, The Merchant's House is the finest inn in Volantis. It is a four story monstrosity that dominates the docks, wharves, and storehouses surrounding it. It is located on Fishmonger’s Square. Its common room, larger than the great halls of half the castles in Westeros, is a dim labyrinth of alcoves and grottoes built around a central courtyard with a trellia of flowering vines and a flagstone floor. Its rooms have very strong locks.
- Long Bridge, The Long Bridge joins the two halves of Volantis across the mouth of the Rhoyne. It is a great span with a road supported by massive piers that the Valyrians built at the height of their glory. Its gateway is an arch of black stone carved with sphinxes, manticores, dragons and other strange beasts. The road is just wide enough for two carts to pass abreast. Buildings rise on either side of the roadway. One can buy almost anything in the shops on the Long Bridge. In the center of the bridge the hands of thieves and the heads of executed criminals are displayed.
Rulers
Volantis is ruled over by three Triarchs, each of whom rules for a year. Each year the freeborn landholders of Volantis can elect a new Triarch or reelect a current one. There are precious few voters west of the river Rhoyne.
The elections are ten days of madness, with torchlight marches, speeches, mummers and minstrels and dancers. Bravos fight duels for the honor of their candidates, and elephants with the names of would-be Triarchs painted on their sides. Some prospective Triarchs even get slave girls and boys to lay with voters, doing anything to win votes.
Only those of old blood who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria can be a Triarch. The Triarchs belong to either the Elephant or Tiger parties. According to Jorah Mormont there has never been a child triarch (as there have been child kings in Westeros) and if one of the Triarchs ever went mad (as Aerys II did) the other two Triarchs would restrict his influence until his year ran out. Some women of good birth who dwell behind the Black Wall have the ability to vote. Three hundred years ago there was a female Triarch, Trianna.
The Elephants are the party of the merchants and moneylenders. The Tigers are old aristocracy and warriors. The Elephants advocate trade and the tigers advocate the sword.
Current Triarchs
Past Triarchs
Commerce
Volantis is key to the slave market, trading heavily with the cities of Slaver's Bay to the east. It is said there are five slaves to every free man in the city.[1]
Volantis use coins, called "honors", with a crown on one face and death's head on the other as part of their Currency.[3] The honors are no bigger then a penny.
Volantenes are known for the red wine they make.[4] Few ships from Westeros come as far as Volantis, and those who do fill their holds with silk and spice from the Jade Sea, then bend their oars for home. [2]
Culture
Tattooing is very common among the populace. Slave owners tattoo their slaves to prevent theft and to show the slave's purpose. Tears are tattooed on the cheeks of pleasure slaves; flames on the cheeks of Slaves of R'hllor; tiger stripes on the cheeks of the city guard; flies on the slaves who clean up dung; and so on. According to semi-canon sources the freeborn citizens tattoo themselves to show prowess in battle and as a record of their exploits.[5] The city is defended by slave guards known as the Tiger Cloaks.
Volantenes are fond of sweet beets, which are in most major culinary dishes in the city.[6] In addition, the board game Cyvasse originated in Volantis and its pieces are sold from the city.
History
Volantis is the oldest of the Free Cities. It was the first colony of the Valyrian Freehold, and still maintains many of its traditions. After the Bleeding Years following the Doom, they considered themselves the heirs to the Freehold and rightful rulers of of the world. They were divided on how to do this; the Tigers favored the sword and the Elephants favored trade. For a century the Tigers held sway and their fleet took Lys while their army captured Myr.
They tried to convince Aegon the Conqueror to aid them in reconquering the Freehold lands. Failing to do that, they tried to swallow Tyrosh themselves. However Pentos and the Storm King came into the war on the side of Tyrosh. Braavos lent a hundred warships to a Lyseni exile and Lys and Myr rose in rebellion, and Aegon came upon his dragon Balerion the Black Dread against them.
The war left the Disputed Lands a waste, and freed Lys and Myr. At the same time, a fleet they sent to recapture Valyria was lost in the Smoking Sea. Qohor and Norvos broke their power on the Rhoyne. The Dothraki came out of the east spreading destruction. At this time, the Elephant party rose up and took control of the government and have been in control ever since. For the last three centuries, at least two of the three Triarchs in power have been Elephants.[7]
Prince Doran Martell met his future wife, Mellario of Norvos, here for the first time.[8] After leaving his wife behind and fleeing Lys Ser Jorah ended up in Volantis for the best part of a year …one step ahead of slavery, owning nothing but his sword and the clothes upon his back. [9]
Recent Events
A Dance with Dragons
The Golden Company cancelled its contract with Myr and is making its way towards Volantis. Quentyn Martell and his two remaining companions searched for a ship in Volantis to take them to Meereen without any luck. They signed on with the Windblown, who were recruiting in the city, in order to get to Slaver's Bay.[2]
Qavo Nogarys tells Tyrion that Benerro preaches that Volantis will surely burn if the triarchs take up arms against the silver queen. He says the city thirsts for war. [10]
Ser Jorah Mormont captures Tyrion Lannister, makes him his prisoner and takes him to Volantis. On the way to the Merchant's House they must pass the Red Temple, they stop to watch Benerro who preaches that Daenerys Targaryen is an ancient hero reborn of the R'hllor faith and encourages many to support her. [9]
The next day Ser Jorah takes Tyrion to meet the widow of the waterfront in the Merchant's House common room to arrange passage to Meereen. While there, Penny attacks Tyrion.[9] On the widow's advice Jorah books passage for himself, Tyrion and Penny on the Selaesori Qhoran which the red priest Moqorro is taking to get to Meereen. Selaesori Qhoran sets sail.[11]
While stopping in Volantis Victarion Greyjoy sees galleys heading to Slaver's Bay taking on provisions. The whole city had seemed drunk. Sailors and soldiers and tinkers had been observed dancing in the streets with nobles and fat merchants, and in every inn and winesink cups were being raised to the new triarchs. All the talk had been of the gold and gems and slaves that would flood into Volantis once the dragon queen was dead.[12]
Victarion thinks to himself that the storms the Iron Fleet encountered will have scattered the Volantenes even as they had his own ships and if fortune smiled, many of their warships might have sunk or run aground. But not all, the green galleys that survived by now could well have sailed around Valyria. They will be sweeping north toward Meereen and Yunkai, great dromonds of war teeming with slave soldiers. Victarion reckons than if the Storm God has spared them, by now they could be in the Gulf of Grief 300 ships, perhaps as many as 500.[12]
Later, in Meereen the Shavepate gives Ser Barristan Selmy the dread news that Volantis has launched its fleet against Daenerys Targaryen, and that Hizdahr means to open Meereen's gates for them. [13]
Quotes
| “ | I hate this city. [2] | ” |
| “ | The city thirsts for war. [10] | ” |
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References and Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man (Quentyn I).
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book, Guardians of Order
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, The Merchant's Man
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 33, Tyrion.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor (Victarion 0).
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 55, The Queensguard (Barristan I).
