The Thousand Islands are an extensive archipelago in the eastern Shivering Sea off the northern coast of Essos. To the southwest are the Plains of the Jogos Nhai, to the south are Nefer and N'Ghai, and to the southeast is Mossovy.[1]
Geography
The Thousand Islands are a sea-girt scatter of bleak and windswept rocks.[2] According to Ibbenese chartmakers, they actually number fewer than three hundred.[2]
The fish in the waters of the Thousand Islands are described as oddly misshapen, with a bitter and unpleasant taste.[2]
Inhabitants
The folk that dwell on the Thousand Islands are reportedly xenophobes, inimical to strangers. They are hairless and have green-tinged skin. Females file their teeth into sharp points and males slice the foreskins of their members.[2]
The islanders speak an unknown tongue and are said to sacrifice sailors to squamous, fish-headed gods. Likenesses of these gods are visible along the shores when the tide is low, lending credence to the theory of a civilization submerged by the rising of the sea level. Despite being islanders, the inhabitants of the Thousand Islands fear the sea so much they refuse to set foot in the water, even when threatened by death.[2]
History
Some believe the Thousand Islands are the remnants of a drowned kingdom whose buildings were submerged by the rising sea thousands of years ago.[2] Few mariners land on the islands, due to their inhabitants.[2]
History
Sarnori ships sailed the Thousand Islands in the height of their power.[3] There is evidence of historical Ibbenese settlements in the Thousand Islands.[4]
On his third voyage on the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon became the first Westerosi to navigate the Thousand Islands and visit N'ghai and Mossovy.[5] Corlys turned back after reaching the isles,[2] with no man from the Seven Kingdoms sailing further east in the Shivering Sea.[6]
Quotes
Even Corlys Velaryon dared sail no farther east than the Thousand Islands; this was where the Sea Snake turned back on his great northern voyage. In truth, there was no reason for him to continue, save for his hunger to learn what lay beyond the next horizon.[2]
—writings of Yandel
References
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, The Known World.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: East of Ib.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Ib.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Shivering Sea.