Difference between revisions of "Free Cities"

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m (Braavos)
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Notable Pentoshi:
 
Notable Pentoshi:
*[[Varys]], a eunuch and spy master for several Westerosi Kings.
 
 
*[[Illyrio Mopatis]], a powerful Magister.
 
*[[Illyrio Mopatis]], a powerful Magister.
 
*The [[Tattered Prince]], commander of the mercenary company The [[Windblown]].
 
*The [[Tattered Prince]], commander of the mercenary company The [[Windblown]].
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Notable Lyseni:
 
Notable Lyseni:
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*[[Varys]], a eunuch and spy master for several Westerosi Kings.{{Ref|aGoT|25}}
  
 
*[[Salladhor Saan]], a flashy pirate and [[Mercenary#Sellsail|sellsail]] who befriended [[Davos Seaworth]] and fought for [[Stannis Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Blackwater]] during the [[War of the Five Kings]].
 
*[[Salladhor Saan]], a flashy pirate and [[Mercenary#Sellsail|sellsail]] who befriended [[Davos Seaworth]] and fought for [[Stannis Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Blackwater]] during the [[War of the Five Kings]].

Revision as of 02:05, 18 January 2014

Free Cities grouped along the western coast of Essos
Nine Free Cities on the continent of Essos:
Pentos, Braavos, Lys, Qohor, Norvos, Myr, Tyrosh, Volantis, Lorath

The Free Cities are a group of nine city-states grouped along the western coast of the eastern continent. They trade and interact frequently with the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Geography

The nine city-states composing the Free Cities lie Across the Narrow Sea, east of Westeros, on the western side of the eastern continent, mostly on islands or along the coast. There are significant differences between the geography of the various cities, from the thick forests around Qohor, to the rolling hills of Norvos, to the tiny islands of Braavos. Mountains to the east separate the coast from the plains of the Dothraki Sea, though gaps in the mountain range provide the Dothraki people some access to the Free Cities. To the north are the Shivering Sea and Ibben, an island inhabited by sealskin-clad whalers. To the south are Slaver's Bay and a series of straits leading to the Jade Sea in the far east.

The Nine Free Cities

Although the Free Cities are distinct states they share a common ancestry in being former Valyrian colonies (except for Braavos, founded by refugees). Some, like Braavos, have unique and independent cultures, while others, like Pentos and Myr, share many cultural traits. Though all nine Free Cities speak Valyrian, their dialects have changed the language so much that it is almost like nine different languages.

Tywin Lannister always held the Free Cities in contempt, saying that they fight with coins instead of swords adding that gold has its uses, but wars are won with iron.

Pentos

Pentos is a major trading port on a bay of the western coast. Dominated by an architecture of square brick towers it is headed by a Prince that is chosen by the de facto rulers of the city, known as Magisters. Khalasars occasionally make their way this far from the Dothraki Sea, but the Pentoshi are spared much of the raiding and invasions by paying tribute to their khals. Men from Pentos wear dyed and forked beards. As in many Free Cities, slavery is outlawed, but the wealthy and powerful members of the city have the ability to flout these laws by keeping servants collared in bronze.

Notable Pentoshi:

Braavos

Unique among the Free Cities in that Braavos was not a Valyrian colony, but a secret refuge from Valyrian expansion. A seafaring city composed of many tiny islands, Braavos is known for its swashbuckling bravos and its Guild of assassins, the Faceless Men. It is also famed for the Titan of Braavos, which is a fortified statue and lighthouse that straddles the entrance channel to the city.

Notable Braavosi:

Lys

Lys is another of the Free Cities that sits astride a series of islands. The Lysene have a tendency to be tall and fair of skin and eyes, unlike most inhabitants of the Free Cities. Lys is well known for its pleasure houses, training slaves in the arts of love and selling them as concubines and bed-slaves. Lys also frequently fights over control of the Stepstones and the Disputed Lands. There appears to be a love goddess whose worship is peculiar to Lys.

Notable Lyseni:

  • Varys, a eunuch and spy master for several Westerosi Kings.[1]

Qohor

The Free City of Qohor is situated on the main continent, in the vast Forest of Qohor. It is known for its fine tapestries and its smiths, who have the rare ability to reforge Valyrian steel, even directly infusing the metal with a variety of different colors. The Black Goat is a prominent god in the city. Qohor's city guard has been comprised solely of Unsullied eunuch slave soldiers ever since the Battle of the Three Thousand, when 3,000 Unsullied soldiers successfully defended the city against over 25,000 Dothraki horsemen. Guardsmen tie braids of human hair to their spears to commemorate the Dothraki cutting their braids in salute to Qohor's defenders.

Notable Qohoriks:

  • Vargo Hoat, called "the Goat" and "the Crippler", leader of the brutal mercenary company called the Brave Companions, known to their detractors as the Bloody Mummers.

Norvos

Norvos sits on the main continent in two parts, one atop a high hill and the other beside a low river. The city has three large bells, each with its own name and distinctive voice, that are rung frequently. The surrounding area is a land of rolling hills, terraced farms, and white-stucco villages. The climate is fairly mild. Norvosi can be recognized by their dyed and upswept mustaches. The city is run by a council of magisters that are known to pay tribute to passing Dothraki khalasars. It is also home to a group of bearded priests that train elite guardsmen. These guardsmen swear oaths of duty and consider themselves wedded to their distinctive long axes.

Notable Norvosi:

Myr

Myr is a coastal city renowned for their master lenscrafters, intricate lace, and fine carpets. The dark eyed and dark skinned Myrmen are similar to Norvosi and Pentoshi in that they are ruled by magisters that are known to pay tribute to passing Dothraki khalasars. Myr is a hub of trade in both slaves and their signature green nectar wines. Myr frequently fights over control of the Disputed Lands.

Notable Myrmen:

Tyrosh

A coastal city-state ruled by an Archon, Tyrosh is infamous for its avarice. Traders deal extensively in slaves and Tyroshi pear brandy. The city features an abundance of pleasure houses, but they are not as highly regarded as those in Lys. Tyroshi master armorsmiths make intricate armor in fantastic shapes. Tyrosh is a popular center for the hiring of sellswords. The city is often drawn into the ongoing conflicts over the Disputed Lands and the Stepstones. The Tyroshi often wear forked beards and pointed mustaches dyed in bright colors.

At the start of the War of the Ninepenny Kings, the Band of Nine conquered Tyrosh and put Alequo Adarys the Goldentongued into power. Six years after the Band was crushed at the Stepstones, Alequo was deposed.

Notable Tyroshi:

Volantis

The southernmost of the Free Cities, Volantis is situated nearest Slaver's Bay and does extensive trade in slaves, glassware and wines. They are ruled by an elected triarchy. Volantene sellswords are often recognizable by their tattooed faces. It is not uncommon for the Volantene to mark their slaves and servants with tattoos as well. Volantis is sometimes drawn into conflicts over the Disputed Lands.

Lorath

Lorath is a port city on a group of islands. Jaqen H'ghar posed as a Lorathi for a time, wearing long hair dyed red on one side and white on the other.

Quotes

“They fight with coins instead of swords”. [2]

Tywin Lannister


“The spice lords and the cheese kings”. [2]

Tywin Lannister


Lord Tywin had always held the Free Cities in contempt. [2]

Tyrion’s thoughts


References and Notes