Difference between revisions of "Qarth"

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| places = [[House of the Undying]], [[Hall of a Thousand Thrones]], Temple of Memory, The triple walls of Qarth
 
| places = [[House of the Undying]], [[Hall of a Thousand Thrones]], Temple of Memory, The triple walls of Qarth
| organizations = [[Thirteen]], [[Tourmaline Brotherhood]], [[Ancient Guild of Spicers]], [[Sorrowful Men]], [[Warlocks]] .
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| organizations = [[Thirteen]], [[Tourmaline Brotherhood]], [[Ancient Guild of Spicers]], [[Sorrowful Men]], [[Warlocks]]
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[[File:Qarth Walls HBO.jpg|thumb|350px|Qarth city walls]]
 
[[File:Qarth Walls HBO.jpg|thumb|350px|Qarth city walls]]
  

Revision as of 09:26, 14 May 2012

Qarth
Mercantile, Port, city-state
Qarth HBO.jpg
Location Essos
Government Pureborn, Oligarchy
Religion Mixed Religions
Founded in ancient times.
Notable places House of the Undying, Hall of a Thousand Thrones, Temple of Memory, The triple walls of Qarth
Organizations Thirteen, Tourmaline Brotherhood, Ancient Guild of Spicers, Sorrowful Men, Warlocks
Qarth city walls

Qarth is an ancient port city located on the south coast of the Essos continent. Situated in a central location, Qarth is a gateway of commerce and culture between the east and west, and the north and south.[1] Brimming with wealth, the city's architecture makes a grand display. It is home to warlocks and merchant princes, and nominally ruled by the Pureborn, however the powerful guilds Thirteen, Tourmaline Brotherhood and the Ancient Guild of Spicers all attempt to play a role in the governance of the city. On entering Qarth Daenerys thinks to herself that the magnificence of the city cannot be denied.

The city

It is nominally ruled by the Pureborn, Seated in the Hall of a Thousand Thrones. They deal with all matters of civic importance, commanding the 'Civic Guard' and the fleet of ornate war galleys which rule the straits between the seas. However, the powerful guilds Thirteen, Tourmaline Brotherhood and the Ancient Guild of Spicers all attempt to play a role in the governance of the city.

Qarth located to the southeast of Lhazar and the Red Waste, with the great slaver cities Meereen, Astapor, and Yunkai to the west. On the shores of the Jade Sea controlling the straits that link the Summer Sea to the fabled Jade Sea, Its position makes it the gateway between the lands of Westeros, Free Cities and Slaver's Bay, and more eastern lands such as Asshai, the Shadow Lands, and Yi Ti.

Having been at the crucial point for centuries, Qarth is brimming with wealth, the city's architecture makes a grand display. Its buildings painted in shades of rose, violet, and umber. Its streets are lined with bronze statues, its fountains carved to form the shapes of fantastic creatures, and its thoroughfares lined with arches of bronze decorated in precious stones. It has one of the greatest ports in the world, it is sheltered harbor full of colors, with large stone quays reserved for the ships of the various trade guilds and at the far end of the harbor are the quays left for the ships that come from a far.[2]

Winesinks, warehouses, gaming dens, cheap brothels, and temples to peculiar gods all cluster together. All manner of people from cutpurses and cutthroats to spellsellers and momeychangers mingle amongst folk hawking their wares at the waterfront that acts like a massive never-closing marketplace where goods (usually stolen) can be had at a fraction of what they cost at a bazaar.[3]

  • Defences, Qarth surrounded by three walls of thirty, forty, and fifty feet in height, respectively engraved with portraits of animals, war, and lovemaking. The outer wall is made of sandstone, the middle wall of grey granite and the inner wall of black marble. The outer gates are banded with copper, the middle with iron and the innermost gates studded with golden eyes. The city's buildings, are of many different colors, including rose, violet, and umber. Slender towers rise throughout the city and fountains adorn every square. There is a great arcade where the heroes of the city stand three times as large as they did in life atop columns of green and white marble.[1] The three walls of Qarth have not been used for defense in centuries, but they still stand, representing the power of the city. The triple walls of Qarth is one of the nine wonders made by man reported in the book, Wonders Made by Man, by Lomas Longstrider[4]
  • House of the Undying, also known colloquially as the 'Palace of Dust', was the center of power for the warlocks of Qarth. It was destroyed by a dragon belonging to Daenerys Targaryen. After its destruction, ghost grass was found growing in the 'Garden of Gehane' and phantom tortoises were seen carrying messages between the windowless houses on Warlock's Way.[3]
  • Hall of a Thousand Thrones, The seat of government in Qarth. The Pureborn rule from this place, sitting atop their wooden chairs, rising in curved tiers. It has marble floors and a high-domed ceiling painted with past events from Qarth's history. The chairs are large, carved and gilded with goldwork, lapis, onyx, jade and amber. No two are the same.[5]
  • Temple of Memory, It is the site of traditional sacrifices.[5]

The People of Qarth

The Qartheen are a tall and pale people, called the 'Milk Men' by the Dothraki for their complexion.[1] They pride themselves on their sophistication and consider weeping in times of strong emotion to be a mark of civilization. The Qartheen fashion for women leaves one breast exposed, while men favor beaded silk skirts. They seat themselves on cushions on the floor. [1] Wealthy merchant of Qarth sometimes place jewels in their nose [2]

Warriors of Qarth wear scaled, copper armor and snouted-helms with copper tusks and long, black silk plumes and some of its guards ride camels.[1]

Marriage

Husbands and wives retain their possessions after marriage, however there is a marriage custom on the day of the wedding. A groom may ask for any one item from his brides possessions and the bride may ask for any one item of the grooms possessions. Whatever is asked by either cannot be refused and is considered to now belong to the other. This is seen as a gift of devotion by the bride and groom to each other.[5]

The Undying of Qarth

Qarth is most famous for its warlocks, known as the Undying of Qarth, who are feared and respected throughout the East. Like the Alchemists' Guild of the Seven Kingdoms, however, the warlocks' power and prestige have waned over the years. Most warlocks have blue lips. They drink shade-of-the-evening, which makes their lips turn blue. The center of the warlocks power comes from the House of the Undying.[1]

There is a saying in Qarth concerning the warlocks,

"A warlock's house is built of bones and lies."[1]

Sorrowful Men

Qarth is also home to a guild of assassins known as the Sorrowful Men, who whisper, "I am so sorry," just before they kill their victims.[5] The Qartheen are nothing if not polite.

References and Notes