Difference between revisions of "Dreadfort"

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{{quote|Theon was not afraid to die. Underneath the Dreadfort, he had learned there were far worse things than death. Ramsay had taught him that lesson, finger by finger and toe by toe, and it was not one that he was ever like to forget.{{ref|ADWD|37}}}} - thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]
 
{{quote|Theon was not afraid to die. Underneath the Dreadfort, he had learned there were far worse things than death. Ramsay had taught him that lesson, finger by finger and toe by toe, and it was not one that he was ever like to forget.{{ref|ADWD|37}}}} - thoughts of [[Theon Greyjoy]]
  
==References and Notes==
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==References==
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{{Region North‎}}
 
{{Region North‎}}
  
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[[Category:Castles]]
 
[[Category:Castles]]
 
[[Category:House Bolton]]
 
[[Category:House Bolton]]
 
[[Category:Places in the North]]
 
[[Category:Places in the North]]
  
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[[es:Fuerte Terror]]
 
[[es:Fuerte Terror]]
 
[[fa:درد فورت]]
 
[[fa:درد فورت]]

Revision as of 13:57, 23 February 2018

For the seat of House Baelish, see Drearfort.
Dreadfort
Castle
The north and the location of the Dreadfort
The north and the location of the Dreadfort
Dreadfort
Artwork by lykhaon ©
Location Westeros, the north
Government House Bolton, feudal lord
Religion old gods

The Dreadfort is a fortress in the north and the seat of House Bolton in northeastern Westeros. Located on the banks of the upper Weeping Water, it is southeast of the Lonely Hills and north of the Sheepshead Hills. The Dreadfort is north of Hornwood, south of Last Hearth, and southwest of Karhold.[1]

Househould

Steelshanks Walton serves as Lord Roose Bolton's captain[2] and Nage is one of his guards. Ben Bones is the castle's kennelmaster[3] and Tybald serves as maester.[4] Letters from the Dreadfort use pink sealing wax.[5]

Layout

The Dreadfort is a strong fortress, with high walls and triangular merlons that look like sharp stone teeth. It has thick stone walls and massive towers.[6] Its great hall is dim and smoky, with rows of torches grasped by skeletal human hands jutting from the walls. Long tables stand before a dais with a high table. The hall has a vaulted ceiling and wooden rafters turned black from smoke.[7]

The Dreadfort is ill omened, for it is said the Boltons keep torture chambers and a special room where they hang the flayed skins of their enemies, including several Kings in the North.[8]

Boltons are buried beneath the Dreadfort.[9]

History

The Dreadfort – by Franz Miklis © Fantasy Flight Games

The Dreadfort was the seat of the Red Kings from House Bolton during the Age of Heroes. The Boltons eventually submitted to the Kings in the North from House Stark near the start of the Andal invasion.[10]

The Dreadfort once joined House Greystark of the Wolf's Den in rebellion against the Starks.[11] Centuries ago, the Boltons rose up against King Harlon Stark and the Dreadfort held out for two years under siege before the Boltons surrendered.[6]

The servant Reek twice stole perfume from Lady Bethany Bolton's bedchamber because of his horrid smell.[9]

Domeric Bolton, the heir of Lord Roose Bolton, died at the Dreadfort[12] after visiting his baseborn brother, Ramsay Snow, along the Weeping Water.[9] Maester Uthor called it a sickness of the bowels, but Roose blamed poison.[9] Lord Bolton subsequently brought Ramsay to live at the Dreadfort.[13] The Bastard of Bolton has earned a dark reputation from hunting women, and victims who give him good sport are sometimes the namesake for hounds in the Dreadfort's kennel.[9]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Prisoners in the Dreadfort – by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games

Dreadfort men under the command of Lord Roose Bolton join the northern host called by Robb Stark at Winterfell.[8]

A Clash of Kings

Lady Donella Hornwood learns that Ramsay Snow, the bastard son of Roose, is massing men at the Dreadfort. She is concerned, as the lands of House Hornwood lands adjoin those of the Boltons.[13] While returning from Winterfell's harvest feast, Donella is seized and forced to wed Ramsay. In response, Lord Wyman Manderly seizes Hornwood to prevent Ramsay from occupying it,[14] and White Harbor knights battle Dreadfort men in the Hornwood forests. News reaches Winterfell via Ser Rodrik Cassel, but he does not have the manpower to stop them.[15]

"Reek", a servant of House Bolton, is captured by Rodrik after the supposed death of Ramsay. After the capture of Winterfell by Theon Greyjoy, "Reek" aligns himself with Theon. Because Theon lacks the manpower to hold Winterfell, he allows "Reek" to leave to hopefully gather a few hundred reinforcements.[16] However, "Reek" returns to Winterfell with six hundred men from the Dreadfort. He attacks Rodrik's army of Stark loyalists in a battle at Winterfell, reveals himself to be the still-living Ramsay Snow, and orders the sack of Winterfell.[17]

A Storm of Swords

Lothar Frey reads a letter to Robb Stark, now King in the North, at Riverrun. According to Big Walder Frey, the women and children who survived the sack of Winterfell, which allegedly was caused by Theon's ironborn, were taken to safety at the Dreadfort by the Bastard of Bolton.[18]

Maester Aemon sends a raven to the Boltons in a plea for help to defend Castle Black from wildlings.[19]

The hosts of Roose and Robb meet at the Twins for the wedding of Lord Edmure Tully. Robb agrees with Roose to keep Theon captive at the Dreadfort.[20] The Boltons turn on their Stark allies, however, and aid the Freys in slaughtering them at the Red Wedding.[21] King Tommen I Baratheon signs decrees which name Roose the new Warden of the North and which legitimize Ramsay Snow as Ramsay Bolton.[22] The Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister, intends for the Dreadfort to battle the ironborn for control of the north.[23]

A Feast for Crows

Ramsay serves as castellan of the Dreadfort.[24]

A Dance with Dragons

Theon Greyjoy is kept in a dungeon below the castle where he has been subjected to Ramsay's flaying since the sack of Winterfell.[7] Big Walder and Little Walder Frey eventually bring the mutilated Theon, now called "Reek", to Ramsay's feast with Arnolf Karstark and Hother Umber.[7]

Ramsay marches with a host to resolve the siege of Moat Cailin.[25] Arnolf writes to Stannis Baratheon at Castle Black that the Dreadfort is weakly garrisoned with fewer than fifty men, half of them servants. However, Jon Snow explains that the Dreadfort is a strong castle, and he convinces Stannis to instead march from Castle Black to Deepwood Motte.[6]

Quotes

Lord Roose never says a word, he only looks at me, and all I can think of is that room they have in the Dreadfort, where the Boltons hang the skins of their enemies.[8]

Robb Stark


I know the Dreadfort. It is a strong castle, all of stone, with thick walls and massive towers. With winter coming you will find it well provisioned. Centuries ago, House Bolton rose up against the King in the North, and Harlon Stark laid siege to the Dreadfort. It took him two years to starve them out.[6]

Jon Snow


The boy he'd been before had been ironborn, true enough, but Reek had come into this world in the dungeons of the Dreadfort.[25]

- thoughts of Theon Greyjoy


Theon was not afraid to die. Underneath the Dreadfort, he had learned there were far worse things than death. Ramsay had taught him that lesson, finger by finger and toe by toe, and it was not one that he was ever like to forget.[26]

- thoughts of Theon Greyjoy

References