A Wiki of Ice and Fire - User contributions [en]

Iron Islands

2013-02-19T09:14:36Z

Castellan: several minor edits/proofreading

[[File:Iron Islands.jpg|350px|thumb|Map (click to zoom)|link=Special:Iron Islands.jpg]]

The '''Iron Islands''' is one of the constituent regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], and was formerly a sovereign nation by the [[Kingdom of the Iron Islands|same name]], until the [[War of Conquest]]. The Iron Islands are home to a fierce people, calling themselves the [[Ironborn]], and are currently ruled by [[House Greyjoy]] from the castle of [[Pyke]].

==Geography==
The Iron Islands consist of a group of seven islands in [[Ironman's Bay]], located on the western coast of [[Westeros]], roughlly west of the [[Riverlands]] and northwest of the [[Westerlands]] and south of the [[North]]. The seven islands are named [[Pyke]], [[Great Wyk]], [[Old Wyk]], [[Harlaw]], [[Saltcliffe]], [[Blacktyde]], and [[Orkmont]]. They are the smallest and least populous of the regions of the [[Seven Kingdoms]].

The Iron Islands are small, barely-fertile rocks. The seas around the islands are rocky and stormy, offer few safe harbors and often wreak havoc on the islands with their considerable force. The island of Pyke once extended as a spur of land like a sword out of the sea, but that outcropping has long since shattered, and it is now in essence three separate isles. 

;Notable Locations
* [[Pyke]], the seat of House Greyjoy, is an ancient fortress built atop several rocky towers jutting out of the sea. Connected by treacherous rope bridges, it would be a major challenge for any invading army.

==People==
:{{Main|Ironborn}}

The inhabitants of these harsh isles are known as [[Ironmen]] to the rest of Westeros, Ironborn amongst themselves. The Ironborn are men of the sea, and their naval supremacy was once unmatched. They are considered independent, fierce and sometimes cruel. They live in a harsh land and they hold no love for the peoples of the mainland and their soft green ways. The [[Faith of the Seven]] of the [[Andals]] and the [[Old Gods]] find small favor with the Ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their native [[Drowned God]].

==Economy==
The islands are sparse and rocky with a thin, stony soil that makes it hard for the smallfolk to farm, often having to do without the animals that might make their job easier, such as oxen or horses.{{Ref|aCoK|24}} Their mines do not produce the precious metals of the [[Westerlands]]; iron can be obtained, but only through backbreaking labour. With so little wealth on the islands themselves, it is not difficult to understand why the Ironborn of old turned to raiding.

==History==
The Iron Islands were settled by the [[First Men]] many thousands of years ago. Legends claim that at that time, they discovered what would be called the [[Seastone Chair]] upon the shores of [[Old Wyk]].{{Ref|aCoK|24}} For much of their history, each island was its own kingdom and had its own two kings: a rock king (who ruled the land) and a salt king (who commanded at sea), with a [[King of the Iron Islands|High King]] chosen at [[Kingsmoot]] by these petty kings. This changed 5,000 years prior to [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]], when King [[Urron Greyiron]] slaughtered the assembled kings and established a hereditary throne. [[House Greyiron|His dynasty]] lasted a thousand years, until the [[Andals]] swept over the Iron Islands.{{Ref|aCoK|11}}

Under the rule of [[House Hoare]], the [[ironborn]] managed to bring the [[Riverlands]] and much of the western coast of [[Westeros]] under the rule of the Iron Islands. Their line ended with the death of King [[Harren Hoare|Harren the Black]] and his sons at [[Harrenhal]], the monstrous castle he had built on the shores of the [[Gods Eye]]. [[Aegon I]] came to Harrenhal intending to make Harren bend the knee. Harren refused to yield and the castle was too strong to storm, so Aegon rode his dragon [[Balerion]] over the walls and roasted King Harren and his sons in their tower.{{Ref|aCoK|26}} With Harren's death the River lords rose in rebellion, led by [[House Tully]], throwing the ironborn back to their islands, where the ironborn elected [[House Greyjoy]] of Pyke to rule over them, submiting to Aegon and the [[Iron Throne]]

{{Region Iron Islands|state=uncollapsed}}
{{HousesIslands|state=collapsed}}

==References and Sources==
{{References|2}}
{{EnWP|Westeros|small=yes}}

[[Category:Iron Islands]]
[[Category:Places in Westeros]]

[[fr:Îles de Fer]]
[[ru:Железные Острова]]
[[Zh:铁群岛]]

Talk:Dorne

2013-02-19T08:54:12Z

Castellan:

==Suggested improvements to map==

I realise it must be hard to obtain maps at all but in this article it would be good to have the map match the text (copied below), so that the reader can look from the text to the map to find the features discussed.

None of the features mention in the paragraph below are labelled on the map and some aren't included as its not topographic. I'd suggest a larger portion of the seas be shown, so they can each be labelled, the Stepstones should be labelled (on the map you can sort of see one thing that might be a step stone) and it would be good if it was topographic so the Red Mountains could be shown, along with the ways through them. The detailed map in the article on The North is an example of what might be useful. Obviously, I have no map skills or I'd do it.

''Dorne is bordered by the Sea of Dorne to the north, the islands known as the Stepstones to the east, and the Summer Sea to the south. Stretched between them is the mountain range known as the Red Mountains, which separates Dorne from the remainder of the Seven Kingdoms by land. There are only two major passes though the Red Mountains, connecting Dorne with the rest of the continent by land, the Stone Way Pass and the Prince's Pass. The Prince’s Pass leads to the Reach, while the Boneway exits the mountains near Summerhall.''

[[User:Castellan|Castellan]] 08:52, 19 February 2013 (UTC)

Talk:Dorne

2013-02-19T08:52:40Z

Castellan: suggested improvements - need new or revised map

==Suggested improvements to map==

I realise it must be hard to obtain maps at all but in this article it would be good to have the map match the text (copied below), so that the reader can look from the text to the map to find the features discussed.

None of the features mention in the paragraph below are labelled on the map and some aren't included as its not topographic.

I'd suggest a larger portion of the seas be shown, so they can each be labelled, the Stepstones should be labelled (on the map you can sort of see one thing that might be a step stone) and it would be good if it was topographic so the Red Mountains could be shown, along with the ways through them. The detailed map in the article on The North is an example of what might be useful. Obviously, I have no map skills or I'd do it.

''Dorne is bordered by the Sea of Dorne to the north, the islands known as the Stepstones to the east, and the Summer Sea to the south. Stretched between them is the mountain range known as the Red Mountains, which separates Dorne from the remainder of the Seven Kingdoms by land. There are only two major passes though the Red Mountains, connecting Dorne with the rest of the continent by land, the Stone Way Pass and the Prince's Pass. The Prince’s Pass leads to the Reach, while the Boneway exits the mountains near Summerhall.''

[[User:Castellan|Castellan]] 08:52, 19 February 2013 (UTC)

Currency

2013-02-19T07:45:24Z

Castellan: a number of small proofreading changes

[[File:Currency westeros1.jpg|thumb|300px|Depiction of Silver Stag of King [[Aegon I Targaryen]], By Tom Maringer © 2007]]
[[File:Currency westeros3.jpg|thumb|300px|Depiction of Silver Stag of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]], By Tom Maringer © 2007]]
[[File:Currency westeros2.jpg|thumb|300px|Depiction of Copper Star of King [[Robert Baratheon]] Initially it was created as a copper penny, but the coin ended up being too large and heavy for a penny and GRRM
changed it to star.<ref name=SSMCoinage/> By Tom Maringer © 2007]]

Coins of copper, silver and gold are the main currency in the world of [[George R. R. Martin]]’s [[A Song of Ice and Fire]] although some cultures in it rely solely on barter, and in some cities, slaves are a medium of exchange.

==Westeros==
===Seven Kingdoms===
Coins are used in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], chiefly Gold Dragons, Silver Stags and Copper Stars and Pennies. Gold Dragons are used mostly used by rich merchants and noble lords and ladies, while smallfolk tend to exchange copper and silver coins and barter is common in rural areas among the smallfolk and up along the Wall.

The current currency was established shortly after the unification of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] following the [[War of Conquest]] and was used through the whole Targaryen rule and continued after [[Robert's Rebellion]]. The king's coinage is one of the most visible manifestations of royal authority. The minting of the coins, exchange rates, and like matters are overseen by the [[Master of Coin]].

Gold Dragons bear the face of the king in whose time they were minted in, as well as his name.<ref>''[[The Hedge Knight]]''; page 477 of the original US Hardcover edition of ''Legends''</ref> During the rule of [[House Targaryen]] the reverse bore the three-headed dragon. Although the Silver Stags are known for the stag they bear, they were in use during the time of the [[The Hedge Knight]], eighty years before [[Robert Baratheon]], whose sigil was a stag, came to power. Copper Pennies usually bore the [[Seven-Pointed Star]] associated with the [[Faith of the Seven]].

Specific values of each of the coins are not mentioned directly in the books and are based on a [[Help:Referencing_and_Canon|semi canon]] source, the [[A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying]] game by Green Ronin. Their value in ascending order:

;Copper Coins:
* Penny and Halfpenny.
* Half Groat, 2 pennies.
* Groat, 4 pennies.
* Star, 8 pennies.
;Silver Coins:
* Stag, 7 stars or 56 pennies
* Moon, 49 stars or 392 pennies
;Gold Coins:
* Dragons, 30 Moons, 210 Stags or 11,760 pennies.

The coins most commonly encountered are: Half-Pennies, Pennies, Stars, Stags and Dragons; rarely does anyone have the change on levels between.

;Pre-Conquest currency:
There are older coins, still in use from before the [[War of Conquest]]. In ''A Feast for Crows'' we learn of gold coins of the [[Kingdom of the Reach]], which were known as 'hands', they feature the hand-shaped sigil of [[House Gardener]] on one side and the face of a king on the other, with each coin roughly half the value of a golden dragon.{{Ref|aFfC|7}}{{Ref|aFfC|16}}


=== Iron Islands===
The [[Ironborn]] of the [[Iron Islands]] follow their old ways, they can trade only what has been taken by force.

===Beyond the Wall===
The lands [[Beyond the Wall|north of The Wall]] are harsh lands, the [[Free Folk]] inhabiting those lands usually barter for goods amongst themselves based upon the needs of the parties involved. Free Folk have been known to trade with the [[Night's Watch]] rangers and smugglers from the Free Cities and perhaps Westeros as well, exchanging goods in the little coves on the eastern coast along the Shivering Sea. They take steel weapons and armor in return for furs, ivory, amber, and [[obsidian]] and have little use for coins.{{Ref|aSoS|54}}

==Essos==
===Dothraki===
The [[Dothraki]], who control much of the [[Essos]] mainland, are said to "not believe in money". They do not engage in trade, instead they have a sort of honour system where they accept gifts and then give gifts in return, but they do so in their own time.

===Slaver bay/Free cities===
As their name implies, the city states of [[Slaver's Bay]] main trade are [[slave]]s. a practice derived more than five thousand years ago from the [[Ghiscari Empire]] and the [[Valyrian Freehold]] which succeeded it. Slaves are bred and trained to perform all the work of daily life. Slaver's Bay and many of the Free cities economy is based on this slave labor. It can be said that slaves are used as a form of currency in [[Slaver's Bay]] and other cities.

[[Essos]] major port cities are trade hubs connecting the east and west, with traders introducing various coinage. Known coins in use are:
* Honors are gold coins which were used in [[Qarth]] and [[Volantis]]. They are no bigger then a Seven Kingdoms penny, bearing a crown on one face and death's head on the other.{{Ref|aCoK|63}}<ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]], [[Tyrion I (A Dance with Dragons)|Tyrion I]]</ref> Gold Honors are used in [[Meereen]].{{Ref|aDwD|2}}
* In [[Lys]], coins are oval in shape and have a naked woman stamped on them.<ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]], [[The Blind Girl (A Dance with Dragons)|The Blind Girl]]</ref>.
* In [[Braavos]] there are square iron coins<ref>[[A Dance with Dragons]], [[The Blind Girl (A Dance with Dragons)|The Blind Girl]]</ref>.
* In [[Volantis]] the economy is heavily reliant upon slave trade.

==Orders of magnitude== 
* At the time of ''[[The Hedge Knight]]'' ({{Date|209}}) it was not unusual for a plain yet complete set of good steel armor with greaves, gorget and greathelm to cost 800 stags, roughly four dragons.
* At the beginning of the novels, the Iron throne is more than six million dragons in debt,{{Ref|aGoT|20}} which represents a colossal sum. Approximately half of this debt was to [[House Lannister]], the rest to [[Mace Tyrell]], the [[Iron Bank of Braavos]], several [[Tyroshi]] trading cartels, and to the "church" of the [[Faith of the Seven]]. Subsequently, the Crown debt only increased with a total of 900,674 gold dragon in debt to the Faith.
* The [[History_of_Tourneys_in_Westeros#The_Hand.27s_tourney|Hands tournament]] reward was 40,000 dragons to the winner of the joust, 20,000 dragons to the second, 20,000 dragons to the winner of the melee, and 10,000 dragons to the winner of the archery competition.{{Ref|aGoT|20}}
* A Lysene pirate prince with two dozen ships under his command might command 30,000 gold dragons a month for his service as a sellsail{{Ref|aCoK|10}}
* 1,000 gold dragons are promised by [[Edmure Tully]] to whoever captures [[Jaime Lannister]] after his escape/release from captivity in [[Riverrun]].
* 300 gold dragons represent a formidable ransom for a knight, even if he belongs to a large noble house.{{Ref|aSoS|44}} while 100 gold dragons represent a reasonable ransom for a younger son of a noble family{{Ref|aSoS|81}}
* During the [[War of the Five Kings]], prices soared in the capital. Six coppers for a melon, a silver stag for a bushel of corn, and a gold dragon for a side of beef or six skinny piglets were all shockingly high prices.{{Ref|aSoS|32}}

==See also:==
*[[Iron Bank of Braavos]]
*[[Ancient Guild of Spicers]]
*[[Thirteen]]
*[[Tourmaline Brotherhood]]

==References and Notes==
{{References|3|refs=
<ref name=SSMCoinage>So Speak martin, [[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1243/ Blackwoods-Brackens Feud and Coinage]], August 13, 2003</ref>
}}

[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Westeros]]
[[es:Monedas]]
[[fr:Monnaies]]
[[ru:Деньги и цены]]
[[zh:货币]]

Melisandre

2013-02-19T07:14:56Z

Castellan:

{{Infobox character
| Character_name = '''Melisandre'''
| image = [[File:melisandre_by_carriebest.jpg|300px]]
| image_caption = Melisandre by [http://www.carriebest.com Carrie Best]
| Alias = The Red Priestess The Red Woman Red Woman The King's Red Shadow{{Ref|aDwD|17}} Lady Red{{Ref|aDwD|17}} Lot Seven
| Title =
| Allegiance = Faith of [[R'hllor]]
| Race =
| Culture = [[Asshai]]
| Spouse =
| Place_of_Birth = [[Asshai]]
| Date_of_Birth =
| Place_of_Death =
| Date_of_Death =
| Books = [[A Clash of Kings]] (Appears) [[A Storm of Swords]] (Appears) [[A Feast for Crows]] (Mentioned) [[A Dance with Dragons]] (POV)
| coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = Carice van Houten
| TV_series = [[Game of Thrones - Season 2|Season 2]] {{!}} [[Game of Thrones - Season 3|Season 3]]
}}

'''Melisandre''' is a priestess of [[R'hllor]] and a [[Shadowbinder]], hailing from the eastern city of [[Asshai]]. She has joined the entourage of [[Stannis Baratheon]], believing him to be [[Azor Ahai]] reborn, a hero destined to defeat the [[Great Other]]. She has become an influential advisor to him and his family.{{Ref|aCoK|Prologue}}

==Appearance and Personality==
Melisandre is a great beauty, with long hair the color of burnished copper and pale, unblemished skin. She is slender and graceful, and taller than most [[knight]]s. She has full breasts, a narrow waist, and a heart-shaped face. Her voice is sonorous, with an exotic accent. As is the custom of the [[R'hllor|Red priests]] of her faith, she wears red or crimson clothing, usually long gowns of silk. She is never without the red gold choker that fits snuggly around her neck. When she works magic, the ruby setting glows with power.{{Ref|aSoS|54}} It can burn her if the magic worked is particularly demanding. It is possible that the birth of [[Daenerys Targaryen|Daenerys]]' dragons has increased her powers.

Melisandre is a mysterious woman who trusts completely in the power of her god and the visions he grants her in the flames. She calmly rebuts all those who doubt her and scoffs at the followers of other gods as deluded. Unlike many others with prescient abilities, she has complete faith in her ability to correctly interpret visions. She is careful to present herself as mysterious, serene and powerful, wearing cool clothing even in the cold of [[the Wall]], for example. Although she is genuinely skilled with [[magic]], she enhances this with various smokes and powders that she keeps concealed in her robes. Melisandre says she has practiced her art for "years beyond count" and may be very old.{{Ref|aDwD|31}} She has the ability to invoke a deadly [[shadow assassin]] against her enemies.

==Early Life==
As a [[slave]] called '''Melony''', Melisandre was sold to the Red Temple at an early age. Melisandre can recall that Melony was "Lot Seven", most likely on the auction block. {{Ref|aDwD|31|page 410}}
[[File:Melisandre_Kate_Niemczyk.jpg|‎ Melisandre - by Kate Niemczyk ©|thumb|260px|right]]
==Recent Events==
===''A Clash of Kings''===

Melisandre came to [[Dragonstone]] because she believed [[Stannis Baratheon]] is [[Azor Ahai]] reborn and destined to defeat the [[Great Other]] the antithesis of her god. She turns Stannis' wife, Lady [[Selyse Florent]], and several other members of Stannis’s court from the [[Faith of the Seven]] to her red god. Fearing Melisandre's influence and her unnatural power, Stannis' [[maester]], [[Maester Cressen|Cressen]], tried to poison her but failed. After seeing her ability to resist the poison, Stannis is convinced by Melisandre to embrace her god and burn all the statues of the [[Faith of the Seven|Seven]] on [[Dragonstone]],{{Ref|aCoK|Prologue}} although he remains a less committed follower than his wife and some others in his court. Melisandre proclaims Stannis [[Azor Ahai]] reborn and has him pull a burning sword from the idols, declaring it to be the legendary [[Lightbringer]].{{Ref|aCoK|10}}

[[File:Melisandre_GOT.jpg|300px|thumb|Carice van Houten as Melisandre of Asshai]]

Stannis's brother [[Renly Baratheon]] has also made a claim for the [[Iron Throne]] and has a huge army on the march, so Stannis [[Siege of Storm's End (299)|moves against]] their family's ancient seat at [[Storm's End]].{{Ref|aCoK|31}} Drawing on the strength of Stannis, Melisandre conjures a [[shadow assassin]] which she uses to murder Renly after he refuses to bend the knee to his older brother.{{Ref|aCoK|33}} Even after Renly's death, forces loyal to him continue to hold Storm's End in his name. After Ser [[Cortnay Penrose]], who was left charge of the castle, refuses to yield, Melisandre has [[Davos Seaworth]] sail her under the stronghold. There she births another shadow assassin which she releases to slay Penrose. Melisandre is then sent back to Dragonstone and is not present during the [[Battle of the Blackwater]]. This is done so no one could say Stannis won his throne via sorcery.{{Ref|aCoK|42}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
After the [[Battle of the Blackwater|failed attack]] on [[King's Landing]], [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] retreats to [[Dragonstone]]. It is there that [[Davos Seaworth|Davos]] hatches a plan to kill Melisandre, believing her to be responsible for the defeat on the [[Blackwater Bay|Blackwater]]. Melisandre claims to have learned of this plan through the flames, and has Davos arrested.{{Ref|aSoS|10}} She also pleads for Stannis to give her [[Edric Storm]], bastard son of [[Robert Baratheon]], as there is power in king's blood and he can be sacrificed to "wake the stone dragon." Stannis refuses; however she is able to leech some of Edric's blood. Stannis casts the leeches into the flames while stating the names of the "three false kings:" [[Balon Greyjoy]], [[Robb Stark]], and [[Joffrey Baratheon]].{{Ref|aSoS|36}} In time, each of the three perish.

Stannis next moves his forces to the [[Wall]], after hearing of their plight through a letter sent by the [[Night's Watch]] brought to his attention by Davos.{{Ref|aSoS|63}} Melisandre accompanies him and is a part of the battle that sees the [[wildling]] forces crushed and [[Mance Rayder]] captured. During the battle, Melisandre kills the eagle that was once [[Skinchangers#Orell|Orell's]] [[skinchanger|warg]] with flames.{{Ref|aSoS|76}}

===''A Feast for Crows''===
Following the [[battle of the Blackwater|battle]], Melisandre urges [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] to let her have [[Mance Rayder|Rayder]]'s son since she was unable to get [[Edric Storm]] (who had been smuggled away from [[Dragonstone]] by [[Davos Seaworth|Davos]] to keep him safe from Melisandre). Before she can get to the babe, however, [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]], [[Jon Snow]], secretly switches Mance's child with [[Gilly]]'s, a wildling girl befriended by [[Samwell Tarly]].{{Ref|aFfC|16}} Thus the wilding prince is safely spirited to [[Oldtown]] and out of the reach of Melisandre.{{Ref|aFfC|45}}

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[File:Melisandre by riavel.jpg|thumb|250px|[http://riavel.deviantart.com/ Melisandre by Riavel©]]]
Melisandre remains at the [[Wall]] when [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]] marches south to face the [[House Bolton|Boltons]].{{Ref|aDwD|17}} Her powers are much stronger at the Wall. She constantly searches her fires for visions. When she looks into the flames, she sees a “wooden face, corpse white” with a thousand red eyes, accompanied by a boy with a wolf’s face. She assumes that they are servants of the [[Great Other]].{{Ref|aDwD|31}} She asks to see [[Azor Ahai]], hoping for [[Stannis Baratheon|Stannis]], but sees only [[Jon Snow]] surrounded by skulls, his face changing between that of a man and that of a wolf. When she sees Jon, she also sees enemies surrounding him, and warns him of daggers in the dark.{{Ref|aDwD|3}} She also tells him that she sees his sister, [[Arya Stark]], as a girl in grey on a dying horse, fleeing from her marriage toward [[Castle Black]].{{Ref|aDwD|28}} She continually tries to warn him of these visions, but he refuses to listen. The vision of the girl on the horse comes to pass, but the girl is [[Alys Karstark]], not Arya.

When [[Mance Rayder]] is to be burned as a deserter, Melisandre places a glamour over him, making him appear as the wildling, [[Rattleshirt]]. Rattleshirt in turn was glamoured made to look like Mance, and killed in his place. She eventually reveals Rattleshirt’s true identity to Jon Snow, and sends him to [[Winterfell]] to rescue "Arya" (not knowing that it is actually [[Jeyne Poole]]) in an attempt to win his trust. She also predicts the deaths of three rangers of the [[Night's Watch|Watch]]. When they are returned by the [[Weeper]] to the Wall as eye-less heads atop spears as she predicted, Jon Snow begins to take her visions more seriously, but is still wary of her.

Melisandre then tells Lord Snow that the [[wildlings]] will next attack at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea|Eastwatch]], as she has seen in the flames towers by the sea engulfed in a black and bloody tide. She acknowledges, however, that the towers of her vision did not look like those at Eastwatch. When Snow plans to send men to [[Hardhome]] on a rescue mission, she urges him not to, claiming it is a lost cause and that she has seen that none of the ships he sent there will return.{{Ref|aDwD|69}}
==Quotes==
{{Quote|These little wars are no more than a scuffle of children before what is to come. The [[Great Other|one whose name may not be spoken]] is marshaling his power ... a power fell and evil and strong beyond measure. Soon comes the cold, and the [[Long Night|night that never ends]] ... Unless true men find the courage to fight it. Men whose hearts are fire.{{Ref|aSoS|36}}}}
Melisandre, to [[Davos Seaworth]]

{{Quote|We all must choose. Man or woman, young or old, lord or peasant, our choices are the same. We choose light or we choose darkness. {{Ref|aDwD|10}}}}

{{Quote|One realm, [[R'hllor|one god]], one king {{Ref|aDwD|10}}}} Chanting along with the [[Queen's Men]]. The slogan has noted similarities to a historical one: "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" (German for " "One People, One Nation, One Leader").

{{Quote|Alone we are born and alone we die, but as we walk through this black vale we draw strength from one another...{{Ref|aDwD|49}}}}

==References and Notes==
{{references|3}}
{{EnWP|Kingsguard|small=yes}}

{{POV Characters}}
[[Category:Red Priests]]
[[Category:Characters from Asshai]]
[[Category:Slaves and freedmen]]
[[Category:POV characters]]
[[es:Melisandre]][[fr:Melisandre]][[ru:Мелисандра]][[zh:梅丽珊卓]]

North

2013-02-18T10:02:39Z

Castellan: Several small proofreading changes to text.

[[File:The North2.jpg|350px|thumb|Map (click to zoom)|link=Special:FilePath/The North2.jpg]]
[[File:The North and Kingsroad.jpg|thumb|350px|The lands surrounding [[Winterfell]] and the [[Kingsroad]]]]

'''The North''' is one of the constituent regions of [[Westeros]] and was a sovereign kingdom before the [[War of Conquest]]. The region covers the entire area south of the [[Wall]] and north of [[the Neck]]. The North has been ruled by [[House Stark]] for thousands of years from the castle known as [[Winterfell]]. Other notable houses of the region include [[House Bolton|Bolton]], [[House Umber|Umber]], [[House Karstark|Karstark]], and [[House Manderly|Manderly]]. [[Bastardy|Bastards]] born in the North are given the surname Snow.

== Geography ==
'The North' is vast in size, it is the largest of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] regions, nearly as large as the the other six kingdoms combined. The region is sparsely populated, with vast wilderness, forests, pine-covered hills and snow-capped mountains, speckled with tiny villages and holdfasts. Its climate is cold and harsh in the winter and occasionally it will snow even in the summer.

The North has two major land barriers. First, to the north is the [[Wall]], home of the [[Night's Watch]], who defend its northern border from the [[wildling]] threat from the [[Beyond the Wall]]. Second, to the south is the triangle of impassable bogs and marshes of [[the Neck]]. The narrowness of the region and the difficulty of its terrain make it a natural border for the North, and [[Moat Cailin]], a formidable fortress, overlooks the only causeway through, and protects it from invasion. It is here the [[King In The North|Kings in the North]] held off countless southron invasions.

The North is bound on each side by major seas: the [[Shivering Sea]] to the east and the [[Sunset Sea]] to the west. Scattered along the eastern and western shores are numerous islands, both inhabited and uninhabited. Two major rivers cut through the lands, the [[White Knife]] that runs to the bustling port of [[White Harbor]] allowing trade up river to Winterfell, and the [[Last River]] that runs towards [[Last Hearth]].

===Notable locations===
:{{See also|:Category:Places in the North{{!}}Places in the North}}

* [[Winterfell]], a large castle located at the center of the North, the ancestral seat of [[House Stark]].
* [[White Harbor]], one of the major cities of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] and the main port city of the North.
* [[The Neck]], an isthmus forming the border with the South. It is a vast swamp, home to the [[crannogmen]], features the ruined castle [[Moat Cailin]], and is a natural location to mount a defense against southron invasions.
* The [[Wall]], a colossal fortification that protects the north from the wild-lands beyond. Separated from The North proper by The [[Gift]], lands of the [[Night's Watch]].
* [[Skagos]], a remote island in the [[Shivering Sea]]. Said to be inhabited by cannibals and [[unicorns]].
* The [[Wolfswood]], a vast expanse of forest stretching from Winterfell to the [[Stony Shore]] of the region's west coast.
* The [[Barrowlands]], a hilly plain dotted with the barrows of the [[First Men]].
* The [[Grey Cliffs]], a series of cliffs in the North along the shore of the [[Narrow Sea]], east of [[Karhold]].
* The [[Rills]], an area in the North west of the [[Barrowlands]] and east of the [[Stony Shore]].

== People ==
The Northmen are nearly all descended from the [[First Men]]. They are known as a straight forward, hardy, tough breed who hold the comforts of the south in disdain. Most of them still follow the [[Old Gods]] and their weirwood trees, and have little inclination for the [[Faith of the Seven|new gods]]. There are a few exceptions, like [[House Manderly]] of [[White Harbor]], who are blood of the [[Andals]] and keep to the [[Faith of the Seven]]. The North terrain and climate don't easily yield the necessities of daily life.

The constant cold and the iron grip of winter set apart the northerners from the people of the kingdoms south of the Neck. Their whole life rests on the fact that winter is coming and they have to prepare themselves in order to survive it. In such an environment there is no place for hollow courtesies, courtly rituals, nor fancy culture and [[tourneys]]. Never having been in touch much with the southron customs, the people, and especially the [[House Stark|Starks]], live by a very strict code of honor not tainted by the intrigue that marks the southron courts. The northmen have long memories. A lord who does not seek his rightful vengeance threatens to have his own men turn on him.

Some of the Northmen live in remote, distant areas where they act as little more than clans and tribes of savage warriors. Even these remote folk, such as the [[crannogmen]], the [[Northern mountain clans]] and the [[Skagosi]], are vassals of the Starks, and are allowed to maintain their own ways and traditions as long as they remain loyal to Winterfell.

Heraldry in the North is significantly simpler than that in the South, showing the lesser influence that chivalry has had there; and due to its religious aspect, most northmen refuse to take holy orders and thus cannot become [[knight]]s. Nevertheless, Northmen do hold the Night's Watch in high regard.

==Seasons==
The North is particularly badly affected during the long winters, with thousands of people killed and famine not an uncommon occurrence due to poor harvests before winter or the inability to raise crops during the longer winters that last for for years on end, outside of special "glass gardens" and castles built on or near hot springs, like [[Winterfell]], or volcanic vents, like the [[Dreadfort]].

Once autumn is declared by the [[maesters]], the lords of the North store away a part of the grain they have harvested. How much is a matter of choice; between one fifth and one fourth seems prudent, however. Additionally food is smoked, salted, and otherwise preserved ahead of winter. Coastal communities depend on fish, although even in winter ice fishing is common on the rivers and [[Long Lake]]. Poor harvests before winter will mean famine, however.

In winter, snows can fall forty feet deep. Rain falls cold and hard, and sometimes turns into hail that can send men running for cover and ruin crops. Even during summer, snowfalls are not unusual but tend to be brief and not particularly damaging to agriculture.

== Commerce ==
As the North is largely uncultivated, there are few roads of import there. Most of the trade inland passes either by Kings Road or the rivers. Wool is one trade item from the North.{{Ref|aCoK|17}} There are silversmiths at [[White Harbor]].{{Ref|aSoS|73}}

==History==
The peoples of the North are nearly all descended from the [[First Men]], who settled the land nearly 12,000 years ago. Little is known of that time, but cryptic runes carved in old stones and the barrows the First Men lived in can still be found in the [[Barrowlands]].

About 8000 years ago, [[the Long Night]] occurred, when the [[Others]] invaded, an event that defined and shaped the North, leading to the founding of the [[Wall]], the order of the [[Night's Watch]], the castle of [[Winterfell]] and the first Stark Kings.


{{Template:Region North|state=uncollapsed}}

{{Template:HousesNorth|state=collapsed}}

==References and Notes==
{{References|2}}


[[Category:Places in Westeros]]


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