Editing Volantis (section)

==Population==
[[File:Marc Fishman TriarchsElephant.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A [[Triarchs of Volantis|triarch]] being transported by [[elephant]], by Marc Fishman ©]]
Volantis is a freehold, like [[Valyrian Freehold|Valyria of old]], with all freeborn landholders having a voice in the city's governance.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{ref|ADWD|6}}

Despite depopulation by ancient wars, Volantis is still the most populous of the [[Free Cities]].{{Ref|ADWD|27}} [[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], considers the Volantenes to be “strange and subtle”.{{Ref|AFFC|40}} Like the tongues of all Free Cities, the [[Volantene language]] is a form of [[Valyrian languages|bastard Valyrian]].{{ref|AGOT|11}}{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: Valyria's Children}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities}}

The Volantenes feel that people of quality should not travel afoot, but instead by [[palanquin]] or in a ''[[hathay]]''. Travelling afoot can taint a person in the eyes of both the native-born Volantenes and the foreign captains in the city.{{Ref|ADWD|6}} According to semi-canon sources the freeborn citizens [[tattoo]] themselves to show prowess in battle and as a record of their exploits.{{Ref|RPG|guardiansorder}}

The [[Old Blood]] refers to some of the population in Volantis, noble families who can prove unbroken descent from old [[Valyria]] itself. Only those of the Old Blood are allowed to live within the [[Black Walls]] of eastern Volantis, and only they can invite slaves, freedmen, or foreigners to enter.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|6}} Freeborn Volantenes with enough property can vote. There are precious few voters on the western side of Volantis, over the river.{{Ref|ADWD|27}}  

===Slaves===
There are five [[slavery|slaves]] for each free man in Volantis.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|5}}{{Ref|ADWD|6}} It is custom in Volantis to have the faces of slaves [[tattoo]]ed, to mark their status.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}{{Ref|ADWD|6}} This custom is similarly practised in the cities under the control of Volantis, like [[Selhorys]].{{Ref|ADWD|22}}

Known slave tattoos of Volantis include:
{{Columns|2|
*Squares of motley, from neck to scalp: [[fool]]s and jesters.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ACOK|Prologue}}
*A wheel tattooed upon one cheek: driver of a ''[[hathay]]''.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|6}}
*A mask of blue feathers.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*A lightning bolt that runs from jaw to brow.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*A [[coin]] upon the cheek.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*A [[leopard]]'s spots.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*A [[skull]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*A jug.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}
*Flies on the cheeks: slaves collecting [[elephant]] and [[horse]] dung.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
*Flames across the cheeks, chin and forehead: [[red priest]]s of the faith of [[R'hllor]].{{Ref|ADWD|27}}{{Ref|ADWD|33}}{{Ref|ADWD|56}}{{Ref|ADWD|63}}
*Flames across the cheeks: members of the [[Fiery Hand]].{{Ref|ADWD|47}}
*A [[horse]]head on the cheek: workers in stables.{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
*[[Tiger]] stripes, green as [[jade]], across the cheeks: slave soldiers.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|22}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
*A single tear beneath the right eye: [[prostitutes]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|22}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}}
*A cog's figurehead upon one cheek: slaves bound to a [[ship]].{{Ref|ADWD|33}}
}}

===Military===
Volantis is a dominant land power,{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}} though its soldiers are slaves.{{ref|ADWD|22}}{{ref|ADWD|56}} The [[Volantene fleet]] has hundreds of galleys.{{ref|ADWD|56}}

===Triarchs===
:{{main|Triarch of Volantis}}
Volantis is ruled by three triarchs chosen annually through festive and tumultuous elections. While foreigners might see the elections as chaotic, they are usually peaceful. All freeborn who own land, regardless of gender, are allowed to vote.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|6}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}} The triarchs are chosen from amongst the noble families who can prove [[Old Blood|unbroken descent from old Valyria]], and will serve until the first day of the new year. The triarchs of Volantis are considered so elevated that they are not allowed to have their feet touch the ground during their year of service.{{Ref|ADWD|6}} The elections last ten days, with much campaigning and bribery.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Volantis}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}}

The triarchs belong to one of two political parties, the [[Elephants (Volantis)|elephants]] and the [[Tigers (Volantis)|tigers]]. The elephants are the party of the merchants and moneylenders advocating trade, while the tigers are old aristocracy and warriors interested in conquest.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Doom of Valyria}} At no time since the [[Century of Blood]] has more than one tiger been named triarch.{{Ref|ADWD|14}} Some of the first elephants were women, one of whom, [[Trianna]], was returned four times. Volantis has not had a female triarch for three hundred years.{{Ref|ADWD|27}}

The current triarchs are the tiger [[Malaquo Maegyr]] and the elephants [[Doniphos Paenymion]] and [[Nyessos Vhassar]].{{ref|ADWD|14}}{{Ref|ADWD|Appendix}}