Editing Summer Isles (section)

==Military==
The Summer Islanders traditionally utilized long thrusting spears, short stabbing spears, slings, wooden shields, and little armor.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}} The isles produce some of the best archers in the [[known world]], and their special bows have a longer range than most others, giving their merchant boats added defense against pirates.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1174 Military Questions], June 21, 2001</ref> Aside from [[dragonbone]],{{Ref|ADWD|61}} the best bows come from the [[goldenheart]] tree which are only found on the Summer Isles.{{Ref|AGOT|30}}{{Ref|AFFC|Prologue}} The archers fire yard-long shafts.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}} 

The Summer Isles are known for their [[swan ship]]s, which were first designed by [[Xanda Qo]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}} [[Koj]] has been the main center of shipbuilding in the islands since the time of [[Malthar Xaq]] thousands of years ago, with three-quarters of all swan ships being built there. Each swan ship has a complement of red archers wielding goldenheart bows.{{Ref|AFFC|35}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}} 

According to [[maesters]], the Summer Islands are by and large a peaceful place. Warfare is highly ritualized, taking place on days and times chosen by their priests. Battles more closely resemble [[tourney]] melees in [[Westeros]]. Two opposing teams of warriors, both male and female, meet at a battlefield chosen and consecrated in advance by their priests. It is forbidden to use goldenheart bows, only spears and slings. Such "wars" rarely last longer than a single day. The losers who survive are not executed or mutilated but must leave the islands in exile, while the winners gain what was in dispute, such as the loser's lands. In this way, only the warriors themselves are harmed. The Summer Islanders have not attempted to conquer other nations.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}}