Difference between revisions of "Long Night"

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'''The Long Night''' is the name given to a period in history where a terrible darkness fell across [[Westeros]] and the east. It occurred approximately eight thousand years before [[Aegon's Landing]], in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste to much of the world through famine and terror.  
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[[File:The long night.jpg|thumb|350px|Long Night that lasted a generation]]
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[[File:Long night wight.jpg|thumb|350px|Raising the dead to fight the living]]
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[[File:Zombies.jpeg|thumb|350px|[[Wights]] eating human flesh|thumb|right]]
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'''The Long Night''' is the name given to a period in history where a terrible darkness fell across [[Westeros]] and the east. It occurred during the [[Age of Heroes]] approximately eight thousand years before the [[War of Conquest]], in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste through famine and terror.{{ref|aGoT|24}}
  
 
==War for the Dawn==
 
==War for the Dawn==
In the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called [[The Others]] emerged from the uttermost north, wielding razor-thin swords of ice and raising the dead to fight the living. The [[Children of the Forest]] and their allies, the [[First Men]], fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance. The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of [[dragonglass]] could kill them. A great hero, who in the eastern tradition is known as [[Azor Ahai]], led the war against the Others wielding his sword of fire, [[Lightbringer]]. Eventually the Others were driven back into the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. [[Brandon Stark]], known as Bran the Builder, raised a great [[Wall]] of ice, gravel and magic, stretching one hundred leagues from the Gorge to the [[Shivering Sea]] to prevent the Others coming again. Brandon Stark was declared the First King in the North. The fortress of [[Winterfell]] (and possibly [[Storm's End]] in the south) was built at this time, and the [[Night's Watch]] founded to maintain a watch on the Wall. A later prophecy claimed that the Others would return and Azor Ahai, [[the Prince that was Promised]], would be reborn to lead the fight.
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According to legends, in the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called the [[Others]], emerged from the uttermost north, the polar regions of the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. They wielded razor-thin swords of ice and raised [[wight]]s to fight the living. The [[children of the forest]] and their allies, the [[First Men]], fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance.{{Ref|aGoT|24}}
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The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of [[dragonglass]] could kill them.{{ref|ASOS|33}} The first members of the [[Night's Watch]] drove the Others back in the [[Battle for the Dawn]].{{ref|ACOK|21}} Other legends state a great hero, who in the eastern tradition is known as [[Azor Ahai]], led the war against the Others wielding his sword of fire, [[Lightbringer]], driving the Others back. In the [[Westeros]]i tradition, he may be known as the [[last hero]].
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Steps were taken to ensure that the people would never be caught offguard by an invasion from the North again. [[Bran the Builder]] supposedly raised the [[Wall]], an imposing structure of solid ice and [[magic]], stretching one hundred leagues from the [[Gorge]] in the west to the [[Shivering Sea]] in the east, cutting off the [[Lands of Always Winter]] from the remainder of [[Westeros]]. The Night's Watch guarded the Wall and protected the people from the threat that lay to the north.
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A later prophecy claims that the Others will return and Azor Ahai will be reborn to lead the fight. There is also a similar prophecy about [[the prince that was promised]].<ref>[[A Game of Thrones (game)|A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book]], Guardians of Order</ref>
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===Rhoynish account===
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The [[Rhoynar|Rhoynish]] tell of a darkness that made the [[Rhoyne]] dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the [[Selhoru]], until a hero convinced the many children of [[Mother Rhoyne]], such as the [[Crab King]] and the [[Old Man of the River]], to put aside their bickering and join in a secret song that brought back the day.
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===YiTish legend===
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According to the inhabitants of [[Yi Ti]], the sun hid its face for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, disaster only averted by the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail.
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==Quotes==
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{{Quote|The oldest histories we have were written after the [[Andal]]s came to [[Westeros]]. The [[First Men]] only left us runes on rocks, so everything we know about the [[Age of Heroes]] and the [[Dawn Age]] and the Long Night comes from accounts set down by [[septon]]s thousands of years later. There are [[archmaester]]s at the [[Citadel]] who question all of it.{{Ref|AFFC|5}}}} - [[Samwell Tarly]], to [[Jon Snow]]
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==References and Notes==
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{{references|2}}
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{{Wars in Westeros}}
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[[Category:Events|Long Night]]
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[[Category:Wars|Long Night]]
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[[Category:Westeros|Long Night]]
  
[[fr:Histoire_des_Sept_Couronnes#La_Longue_Nuit_.28vers_-8000.29]]
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[[es:Larga Noche]]
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[[fa:شب طولانی]]
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[[fr:Histoire des Sept Couronnes#La Longue Nuit (vers -8000)]]
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[[zh:长夜]]
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[[ru:Долгая Ночь]]

Revision as of 22:10, 10 December 2014

Long Night that lasted a generation
Raising the dead to fight the living
thumb

The Long Night is the name given to a period in history where a terrible darkness fell across Westeros and the east. It occurred during the Age of Heroes approximately eight thousand years before the War of Conquest, in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste through famine and terror.[1]

War for the Dawn

According to legends, in the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called the Others, emerged from the uttermost north, the polar regions of the Lands of Always Winter. They wielded razor-thin swords of ice and raised wights to fight the living. The children of the forest and their allies, the First Men, fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance.[1]

The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of dragonglass could kill them.[2] The first members of the Night's Watch drove the Others back in the Battle for the Dawn.[3] Other legends state a great hero, who in the eastern tradition is known as Azor Ahai, led the war against the Others wielding his sword of fire, Lightbringer, driving the Others back. In the Westerosi tradition, he may be known as the last hero.

Steps were taken to ensure that the people would never be caught offguard by an invasion from the North again. Bran the Builder supposedly raised the Wall, an imposing structure of solid ice and magic, stretching one hundred leagues from the Gorge in the west to the Shivering Sea in the east, cutting off the Lands of Always Winter from the remainder of Westeros. The Night's Watch guarded the Wall and protected the people from the threat that lay to the north.

A later prophecy claims that the Others will return and Azor Ahai will be reborn to lead the fight. There is also a similar prophecy about the prince that was promised.[4]

Rhoynish account

The Rhoynish tell of a darkness that made the Rhoyne dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the Selhoru, until a hero convinced the many children of Mother Rhoyne, such as the Crab King and the Old Man of the River, to put aside their bickering and join in a secret song that brought back the day.

YiTish legend

According to the inhabitants of Yi Ti, the sun hid its face for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, disaster only averted by the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail.

Quotes

The oldest histories we have were written after the Andals came to Westeros. The First Men only left us runes on rocks, so everything we know about the Age of Heroes and the Dawn Age and the Long Night comes from accounts set down by septons thousands of years later. There are archmaesters at the Citadel who question all of it.[5]

- Samwell Tarly, to Jon Snow

References and Notes