Rhoyne

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Flow of the Rhoyne in western Essos

The Rhoyne is one of the main rivers of the eastern continent, Essos.

Geography

See also: Images of the Rhoyne

The Rhoyne originates from the confluence of two of its tributaries, the Upper Rhoyne and the Little Rhoyne, southeast of the ruins of Ghoyan Drohe in northwestern Essos. Its course runs southeast and meets the Noyne just north of Ny Sar. The Rhoyne continues southeast to Dagger Lake, where it is joined by the Qhoyne. After Dagger Lake, the Rhoyne runs south, with the Golden Fields along its western bank. The Rhoyne continues south, with the Lhorulu flowing into it at the Sorrows and the Selhoru connecting at Selhorys.[1]

It is said the southern Rhoyne becomes so wide that someone in its center cannot see its shores.[2] The Volaena reaches the Rhoyne just north of Volantis. A giant delta forms at its mouth, upon which Volantis sits along the Summer Sea.[3][1] The Long Bridge crosses the Rhoyne in Volantis.

Settlements and ruins along the Rhoyne include Ny Sar, Chroyane, Selhorys, Valysar, Sar Mell, Volon Therys, and Volantis. Places on tributaries include Ghoyan Drohe on the Little Rhoyne, Qohor and Ar Noy on the Qhoyne, and Norvos on the Noyne.[1]

The Rhoyne is known for its river pirates, who hide on and around the many islands of Dagger Lake.[4] Timber from the Forest of Qohor is shipped downriver, since the cities and towns of the southern Rhoyne have depleted many of their forests.[5] Giant turtles known as the Old Men of the River live in the Rhoyne.[2]

History

During the Long Night, the Rhoyne may have frozen as far south as its confluence with the Selhoru.[6]

The watershed of the Rhoyne was the homeland of the Rhoynar, an iron-working people who founded several city-states along its banks.[7] The hills and forests contained savage peoples, but the powerful Rhoynar ensured peace along the river and its tributaries.[8]

After conquering the Old Empire of Ghis, the Valyrian Freehold began expanding west and founded their first colony, Volantis, at the mouth of the Rhoyne. The Rhoynar served as a buffer against Valyrian expansion to the northwest, however, so the Valyrians instead pressured the Andals to the west.[9]

The Rhoynar wielded water magic during the later Rhoynish Wars, but they were overwhelmed by the dragonlords of Valyria. Queen Nymeria led the surviving Rhoynar in ten thousand ships from their homeland to Dorne in southern Westeros, and the Rhoynar cities fell into ruin. Nymeria wed Lord Mors Martell in Dorne, forming House Nymeros Martell. Their new seat, Sunspear, was named after the spear of the Martells and the sun of the Rhoyne.[10]

There are few Rhoynar remaining along the Rhoyne's banks. Among them the river holds a god-like status, and in their faith it is called "Mother Rhoyne".[11]

During the Century of Blood after the Doom of Valyria, Norvos and Qohor used fire galleys at Dagger Lake to end Volantene control over the northern Rhoyne.[2] The Rhoyne south of the Sorrows is still patrolled by Volantene galleys,[2] while the headwaters of the Rhoyne are dominated by Great Norvos[12] and Qohor controls the river north of Ar Noy. The waters between Ar Noy and the Sorrows have been left to pirates.[2]

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Tyrion Lannister, Jon Connington, Aegon Targaryen, and their companions sail on the Shy Maid from Ghoyan Drohe toward Volantis.[13][2][14] Tyrion is abducted by Ser Jorah Mormont at Selhorys,[15] however, and they board the Selaesori Qhoran at Volantis.[16] Quentyn Martell[17] and Victarion Greyjoy[18] also stop at Volantis during their journeys toward Meereen. The Golden Company sails from Volon Therys[19] for Westeros.

Quotes

She is the greatest river in the world.[2]

Mother Rhoyne waxes so wide that a man upon a boat in the center of the stream cannot see a shore to either side.[2]

Behind the Scenes

In a 1993 draft of the map of Westeros, Rhoyne was not a river in Essos, but an island to the southwest of the Reach (the Arbor).[20]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Lands of Ice and Fire, Free Cities.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  3. A Dance with Dragons, Map of the Free Cities
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  6. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Long Night.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Valyria's Children.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
  9. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Arrival of the Andals.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Sunspear.
  11. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Norvos.
  13. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
  14. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 18, Tyrion V.
  15. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
  16. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 27, Tyrion VII.
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  19. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord.
  20. Clint Stevenson, Updated pic of the original map of Westeros, turned in to George RR Martin's editor in 1993 along with the first manuscript (Twitter.com), Oct 10, 2022