Naath, known to the ancients as the Isle of Butterflies,[1] is an island in the Summer Sea off the northwestern coast of Sothoryos.[2] The natives of the island are known as Naathi.[3]
Geography
Naath is west of the Basilisk Isles and northern Sothoryos. It is located east of the southernmost and largest of the Summer Isles, Jhala, and due south of the Valyrian peninsula. Naath is separated from Jhala and Valyria by large stretches of the Summer Sea.[4]
Naath is said to be a fair isle. It contains the ruins of a Valyrian fort with walls of fused dragonstone.[1]
History
During the height of the Old Empire of Ghis, one of their ships briefly landed in the Summer Isles, alerting their inhabitants that lands and peoples existed beyond their own waters. Explorers from the Summer Isles then landed on Naath to the east.[5]
The Ghiscari seized Naath three times, and the isle has frequently been raided by corsairs from the Basilisk Isles. The Valyrian Freehold erected a dragonstone fort, and a company of Volantene adventurers built a trade town with timber palisades and slave pens.[5] The Naathi claim that none of these invaders maintained a permanent presence on the island for more than a single year, however, as the outsiders fell victim to the so-called butterfly fever which does not affect the Peaceful People themselves.[1]
A thousand years ago, Naathi welcomed the ten thousand ships of Rhoynar led by Princess Nymeria, who stopped at Naath after fleeing from their failed attempt to settle in Sothoryos. When they began dying from an unknown illness,[6] however, presumably butterfly fever, the Rhoynar returned to their ships and departed.[6]
Slavers and corsairs learned to limit their time on the island to avoid catching butterfly fever, instead capturing the Peaceful People in brief nighttime raids. The captives were then sold in Valyria and Slaver's Bay.[1] The slaver attacks worsened during the Century of Blood, since Valyria no longer controlled the seas after the Doom. Unwilling to break their vows of total pacifism, even to defend their homes and persons, the Naathi fled from their coasts to the hills and forests. As a result the silk exports which once flowed from Naath have dwindled away.[1]
Missandei and her three brothers,[7] including Mossador and Marselen, were taken from Naath by raiders from the Basilisk Isles and then sold into slavery in Astapor.[3]
Recent Events
A Storm of Swords
Daenerys Targaryen meets Missandei, who is from Naath.[8] After the siege of Meereen, Daenerys promises to take Missandei home to Naath but the scribe declines.[9]
A Dance with Dragons
Daenerys, now Queen of Meereen, offers to send Missandei back to Naath after the death of her brother, Mossador, but the girl reaffirms her preference to remain with Daenerys.[3]
Quotes
One day she hoped to see this fabled isle of Naath. Missandei said the Peaceful People made music instead of war. They did not kill, not even animals; they ate only fruit and never flesh. The butterfly spirits sacred to their Lord of Harmony protected their isle against those who would do them harm. Many conquerors had sailed on Naath to blood their swords, only to sicken and die. The butterflies do not help them when the slave ships come raiding, though.[9]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys: Come. Sit. Talk with me.
Missandei: If it please you. What shall we talk of?
Daenerys: Home. Naath. Butterflies and brothers. Tell me of the things that make you happy, the things that make you giggle, all your sweetest memories. Remind me that there is still good in the world.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Naath.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Map of Valyria
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, The Known World.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.