Difference between revisions of "Oldstones"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
m (References and Notes)
m (Quotes)
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
| width = 400
 
| width = 400
 
| float = right
 
| float = right
| caption = [[The Riverlands]] and the location of Oldstones
+
| caption = The [[riverlands]] and the location of Oldstones
| alt = The Riverlands and the location of Oldstones
+
| alt = The riverlands and the location of Oldstones
 
}}
 
}}
 
|}
 
|}
'''Oldstones''' is the name given to the remnants of an ancient castle in the northern [[riverlands]] that once belonged to [[House Mudd]].  Its original name has long been lost.  The local [[smallfolk]] gave it its new name of "Oldstones". {{Ref|aSoS|45}}
+
'''Oldstones''' is the name given by [[smallfolk]] to a ruined castle in the northern [[riverlands]]. Once the seat of [[House Mudd]], its original name has long been lost.{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
  
 
==Layout==
 
==Layout==
The ruined stronghold sits on a hill above the [[Blue Fork]] of the [[Trident]]. Nothing but its foundations remain and a sepulcher of the ancient [[King of the Rivers and the Hills|River King]] [[Tristifer IV Mudd]].{{Ref|aSoS|45}} The curtain wall of Oldstones once encircled the brow of the hill upon which it sits, like the crown on a king’s head. However only the foundation now remain and a few waist-high piles of crumbling stone spotted with lichen.{{Ref|aSoS|81}}
+
The ruined stronghold sits on a hill above the [[Blue Fork]] of the [[Trident]].{{ref|ASOS|45}} The overgrown and stony road slowly goes twice around the hill before reaching the summit.{{Ref|aSoS|Epilogue}} Beneath the castle ruins, the lower slopes of the hill are thickly forested with ash, elms, oaks, pines, and [[sentinel]]s. The landscape also contains blackberry, bracken, gorse, sedge, and thistle.{{ref|ASOS|Epilogue}}
  
Its foundations remain amongst the weeds to show where the walls and keeps had once stood, but the local smallfolk had long ago made off with most of the stones to raise their barns and [[sept]]s and holdfasts. The only remnants of the keep are mossy hummocks, behind which is the godswood.{{ref|ASOS|81}}
+
Only the foundations remain among the weeds to show where the dismantled walls of Oldstones had once stood.{{ref|ASOS|45}} The curtain wall which once encircled the brow of the hill now consists of waist-high piles of crumbling stone spotted with lichen, and the ruins are extensive near the former gatehouse.{{Ref|aSoS|Epilogue}} The only remnants of the keep are mossy hummocks, behind which is the godswood.{{ref|ASOS|81}}  
  
Where the gatehouse once stood the ruins are more extensive and a rider must dismount to lead their horse through them. Once inside the vanished walls the weeds are chest high.
+
A great carved [[w:sepulcher|sepulcher]] rests in the castle yard, half-hidden in waist-high brown grass among of ash trees. The weathered sepulcher entombs [[Tristifer IV Mudd]], [[King of the Rivers and the Hills]]. The stone is cracked and crumbling at the corners and discolored by splotches of white lichen, while [[w:Rosa canina|wild roses]] creep up over the king's feet almost to his chest.{{ref|ASOS|45}}
  
Beneath the castle ruins, the lower slopes of the hill are thickly forested. There are gorse, bracken, thistle, sedge and blackberry bushes between pines and grey-green sentinels. Elsewhere skeletal elm, ash and scrub oaks choke the ground like weeds.  
+
Near Oldstones is a bridge across the Blue Fork, older and smaller than the bridge downstream at [[Fairmarket]].{{ref|ASOS|45}}
  
The road up to Oldstones goes twice around the hill before reaching the summit.{{Ref|aSoS|81}} It is overgrown, stony and is slow going even in the best of times.  
+
==History==
 +
[[File:Here Lies Tristifer.png|350px|thumb|right|[[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]] and [[Robb Stark]] contemplate King [[Tristifer IV Mudd]]'s tomb. Art by onionjulius]]
 +
The castle now called Oldstones was the seat of [[House Mudd]], who succeeded in unifying more of the [[riverlands]] than previous [[First Men]] dynasties. [[Tristifer IV Mudd]], [[King of the Rivers and Hills]], beheaded [[Roland II Arryn]], [[King of Mountain and Vale]], at Oldstones during the [[coming of the Andals]]. However, the Mudds were eventually overwhelmed by [[Andal]] warlords such as [[Armistead Vance]], and their castle fell to ruin over the centuries.{{ref|ASOS|45}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Vale: The Eyrie}} [[Smallfolk]] made off with most of the stones to raise barns, [[holdfast]]s, and [[sept]]s.{{ref|ASOS|45}}
  
===The sepulcher===
+
During the occupation of the riverlands by the [[Storm Kings]], Ser [[Lymond Fisher]], the [[Knight of Oldstones]], unsuccessfully claimed to be a [[river king]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}
At the center of what once would have been the castle’s yard, a great carved [[w:sepulcher|sepulcher]] still rests, half-hidden in the waist high brown grass amongst a stand of ash trees. The sepulcher entombs [[Tristifer IV Mudd|Tristifer]], the Fourth of His Name, King of the Rivers and the Hills.{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
 
  
The lid of the sepulcher was carved into a likeness of the man whose bones lie beneath, but the rain and the wind has worn down the carving. The king had worn a beard, but otherwise his face is smooth and featureless with only the vague suggestions of a mouth, a nose, eyes and the crown about his temples.
+
There is [[My Jenny's song|a song]] about [[Jenny of Oldstones]].{{ref|ASOS|43}}{{ref|ASOS|45}}
  
The king’s hands are folded over the shaft of a stone warhammer that lies upon his chest.  Once the warhammer would have been carved with the runes that told its name and history, but the runes have been worn away.{{Ref|aSoS|45}} The stone itself is cracked and crumbling at the corners and discolored here and there by spreading white splotches of lichen, while [[w:Rosa canina|wild roses]] creep up over the king’s feet almost to his chest.
+
[[Hoster Tully]], the [[Lord Paramount of the Trident]], once camped at Oldstones with his daughter, [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]], and his ward, [[Petyr Baelish]], while traveling to [[Seagard]]. Catelyn played at being Jenny, while Petyr pretended to be the [[Duncan Targaryen|Prince of Dragonflies]].{{ref|ASOS|45}}
 
 
==History==
 
The castle now called Oldstones was the seat of [[House Mudd]], who succeeded in unifying more of the riverlands than previous dynasties. During the [[Andal invasion]], King [[Tristifer IV Mudd]] defeated King [[Roland II Arryn]], beheading the [[Andals|Andal]] [[King of Mountain and Vale]] himself at Oldstones. However, the Mudds were eventually overwhelmed by Andal warlords such as [[Armistead Vance]] and their castle fell to ruin over the centuries.{{ref|ASOS|45}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Eyrie}}
 
 
 
During the occupation of the riverlands by the [[Storm Kings]], Ser [[Lymond Fisher]], Knight of Oldstones, unsuccessfully claimed to be a [[river king]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Riverlands}}
 
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
[[File:Here Lies Tristifer.png|350px|thumb|right|[[Catelyn Tully|Catelyn]] and [[Robb Stark|Robb]] contemplate King [[Tristifer IV]]'s tomb.<br>Art by onionjulius]]
 
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
On the way to [[the Twins]] [[Robb Stark]] encamps upon the hill overlooking the [[Blue Fork]], within the ruined stronghold castle of the ancient river kings. [[Catelyn Tully]] finds him standing sombrely by the sepulchre.  
+
The rising waters of the [[Blue Fork]] wash away the bridge near Oldstones.{{ref|ASOS|45}} On the way to the [[Twins]], [[Robb Stark]], the [[King of the Trident]], encamps upon the ruins of Oldstone atop the hill. recalling the fate of King [[Tristifer IV Mudd]], Robb discusses with his mother, [[Catelyn Stark]], whom he will name has his successor, as he and his queen, [[Jeyne Westerling]], have not yet any children. Against his mother's wishes he plans to legitimize his half-brother, [[Jon Snow]], and name him his heir.{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
  
Catelyn remembers that she had camped at Oldstones once with her father [[Hoster Tully]], on their way to [[Seagard]].{{Ref|aSoS|45}} She recalls that [[Petyr Baelish]] was with them too. When Robb asks if the castle has a name she tells him that all the smallfolk called it Oldstones when she was a girl.  Robb then remembers that there was [[My Jenny's song|a song]] about [[Jenny of Oldstones]]. Catelyn thinks to herself that she had played at being Jenny that day and had even wound flowers in her hair.  Petyr had pretended to be her [[Prince of Dragonflies]]. She thinks they could not have been more than twelve.
+
After the [[Red Wedding]], during which Robb and Catelyn were betrayed by [[House Frey]], the [[brotherhood without banners]] abducts [[Petyr Frey]]. [[Merrett Frey]] travels to the snowy ruins of Oldstones with the ransom for Petyr Pimple, the grandson of his half-brother [[Stevron Frey|Stevron]]. When Merrett enters Oldstones hears faint music coming drifting through the trees from somewhere deep within the castle. As he reaches the site of Tristifer's sepulchre, he finds [[Tom of Sevenstreams]] sitting cross-legged atop it, fingering the strings of his woodharp, along with other outlaws. Petyr is revealed to have already been hanged in the [[godswood]]. A revived Catelyn allows the outlaws to surround Merrett, take his gold, and hang him for his own involvement in the Red Wedding.{{Ref|aSoS|Epilogue}}
  
Robb discusses whom he will name as his successor with Catelyn, as he and his wife, [[Jeyne Westerling]], have not yet any children. Against his mother’s wishes he tells her that he plans to legitimise his half-brother, [[Jon Snow]], and name him his heir.{{Ref|aSoS|45}}
+
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 +
The murderers of Merrett flee Oldstones, with one band escaping Lord [[Lucias Vypren]] at [[Fairmarket]].{{ref|AFFC|30}}
  
Much later, after the [[Red Wedding]] has taken place, [[Merrett Frey]] travels to the ruins of Oldstones with the ransom for his half-brother [[Stevron Frey|Stevron's]] grandson, [[Petyr Frey|Petyr Pimple]]
+
==Quotes==
 +
[[File:Jenny of Oldstones by Rae Lavergne.jpg|thumb|[[Jenny of Oldstones]] by Rae Lavergne]]
 +
{{quote|'''Robb''': Does this castle have a name?<br>'''Catelyn''': Oldstones, all the [[smallfolk]] called it when I was a girl, but no doubt it had some other name when it was still a [[House Mudd|hall of kings]].{{ref|ASOS|45}}|[[Robb Stark]] and [[Catelyn Stark]]}}
  
When Merrett enters he hears faint music coming drifting through the trees from somewhere deep within the castle.  As he reaches the site of King Tristifer’s sepulchre, he finds [[Tom of Sevenstreams]] sitting cross-legged atop it, fingering the strings of his woodharp. He encounters the rest of [[Brotherhood without banners|the outlaws]] who had captured Petyr, who is revealed to have been hanged in the godswood. They surround Merrett, take the gold he carried for the ransom and hang him.{{Ref|aSoS|81}}
+
{{quote|High in the halls of the kings who are gone, [[Jenny of Oldstones|Jenny]] would dance with her ghosts ...{{ref|ASOS|Epilogue}}|[[Merrett Frey]] recalling [[Jenny's song]]}}
  
 
==Chapters that take place at Oldstones==
 
==Chapters that take place at Oldstones==
Line 62: Line 59:
  
 
[[Category:House Mudd]]
 
[[Category:House Mudd]]
 +
[[Category:Castles]]
 
[[Category:Places in the Riverlands]]
 
[[Category:Places in the Riverlands]]
[[Category:Castles]]
 
 
[[Category:Ruins]]
 
[[Category:Ruins]]
  
 
[[es:Piedrasviejas]]
 
[[es:Piedrasviejas]]
 
[[fr:Vieilles-Pierres]]
 
[[fr:Vieilles-Pierres]]
 +
[[ru:Старые Камни]]
 
[[zh:&#33618;&#30707;&#22478;]]
 
[[zh:&#33618;&#30707;&#22478;]]
[[ru:Старые Камни]]
 

Latest revision as of 00:27, 7 February 2019

The riverlands and the location of Oldstones
The riverlands and the location of Oldstones
Oldstones
The riverlands and the location of Oldstones

Oldstones is the name given by smallfolk to a ruined castle in the northern riverlands. Once the seat of House Mudd, its original name has long been lost.[1]

Layout

The ruined stronghold sits on a hill above the Blue Fork of the Trident.[1] The overgrown and stony road slowly goes twice around the hill before reaching the summit.[2] Beneath the castle ruins, the lower slopes of the hill are thickly forested with ash, elms, oaks, pines, and sentinels. The landscape also contains blackberry, bracken, gorse, sedge, and thistle.[2]

Only the foundations remain among the weeds to show where the dismantled walls of Oldstones had once stood.[1] The curtain wall which once encircled the brow of the hill now consists of waist-high piles of crumbling stone spotted with lichen, and the ruins are extensive near the former gatehouse.[2] The only remnants of the keep are mossy hummocks, behind which is the godswood.[3]

A great carved sepulcher rests in the castle yard, half-hidden in waist-high brown grass among of ash trees. The weathered sepulcher entombs Tristifer IV Mudd, King of the Rivers and the Hills. The stone is cracked and crumbling at the corners and discolored by splotches of white lichen, while wild roses creep up over the king's feet almost to his chest.[1]

Near Oldstones is a bridge across the Blue Fork, older and smaller than the bridge downstream at Fairmarket.[1]

History

Catelyn and Robb Stark contemplate King Tristifer IV Mudd's tomb. Art by onionjulius

The castle now called Oldstones was the seat of House Mudd, who succeeded in unifying more of the riverlands than previous First Men dynasties. Tristifer IV Mudd, King of the Rivers and Hills, beheaded Roland II Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale, at Oldstones during the coming of the Andals. However, the Mudds were eventually overwhelmed by Andal warlords such as Armistead Vance, and their castle fell to ruin over the centuries.[1][4][5] Smallfolk made off with most of the stones to raise barns, holdfasts, and septs.[1]

During the occupation of the riverlands by the Storm Kings, Ser Lymond Fisher, the Knight of Oldstones, unsuccessfully claimed to be a river king.[4]

There is a song about Jenny of Oldstones.[6][1]

Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Trident, once camped at Oldstones with his daughter, Catelyn, and his ward, Petyr Baelish, while traveling to Seagard. Catelyn played at being Jenny, while Petyr pretended to be the Prince of Dragonflies.[1]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

The rising waters of the Blue Fork wash away the bridge near Oldstones.[1] On the way to the Twins, Robb Stark, the King of the Trident, encamps upon the ruins of Oldstone atop the hill. recalling the fate of King Tristifer IV Mudd, Robb discusses with his mother, Catelyn Stark, whom he will name has his successor, as he and his queen, Jeyne Westerling, have not yet any children. Against his mother's wishes he plans to legitimize his half-brother, Jon Snow, and name him his heir.[1]

After the Red Wedding, during which Robb and Catelyn were betrayed by House Frey, the brotherhood without banners abducts Petyr Frey. Merrett Frey travels to the snowy ruins of Oldstones with the ransom for Petyr Pimple, the grandson of his half-brother Stevron. When Merrett enters Oldstones hears faint music coming drifting through the trees from somewhere deep within the castle. As he reaches the site of Tristifer's sepulchre, he finds Tom of Sevenstreams sitting cross-legged atop it, fingering the strings of his woodharp, along with other outlaws. Petyr is revealed to have already been hanged in the godswood. A revived Catelyn allows the outlaws to surround Merrett, take his gold, and hang him for his own involvement in the Red Wedding.[2]

A Feast for Crows

The murderers of Merrett flee Oldstones, with one band escaping Lord Lucias Vypren at Fairmarket.[7]

Quotes

Jenny of Oldstones by Rae Lavergne

Robb: Does this castle have a name?
Catelyn: Oldstones, all the smallfolk called it when I was a girl, but no doubt it had some other name when it was still a hall of kings.[1]

High in the halls of the kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with her ghosts ...[2]

Chapters that take place at Oldstones

References