Stormlands

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The stormlands with the major strongholds

The stormlands[1][2] are one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms on the continent of Westeros. The Kingdom of the Storm was a sovereign nation until Aegon's Conquest, in which the last Storm King was slain. The region is so-named for the savage and frequent autumn storms that batter the coast after beginning in the Summer Sea.[3]

The stormlands are ruled from the castle of Storm's End by House Baratheon. Notable bannermen of the region include Buckler, Caron, Connington, Dondarrion, Errol, Estermont, Penrose, Selmy, Staedmon, Swann, Tarth, and Wylde.[4][5] Noble bastards raised in the stormlands are given the surname Storm.[6]

Geography

Storm's End by Marc Simonetti ©

The stormlands are bordered to the north by the crownlands, west by the Reach, south by Dorne and the Sea of Dorne, and east by Shipbreaker Bay and the narrow sea. They are one of the smaller regions of Westeros, a land of harsh mountains, stony shores, and verdant forests, including the kingswood and the rainwood along Cape Wrath. Major rivers include the Slayne and part of the Wendwater.[2]

The windswept plains and grasslands of the Dornish Marches, located in the south-west in a long salient along the Red Mountains, serve as an effective buffer zone between the stormlands and their old enemies of the Reach and Dorne.[3][7]

A few islands, including Tarth and Estermont, are also considered part of the stormlands. Ships coming across the narrow sea avoid the notorious Shipbreaker Bay and its storms,[8] though the seas along the stormlands can be clear and blue. The waters around Tarth are particularly famed for their clear blue color, earning Tarth the name "Sapphire Isle".[9]

People and Economy

Stormlands fiefdoms - Illustrated by Andrew Hall © Fantasy Flight Games

The stormlands are thinly populated compared to most of the Seven Kingdoms, and their people have a reputation for being stormy like their weather.[3] The province is known for its fierce warriors and sailors.[7] Many smallfolk in the stormlands claim descent from a promiscuous Storm King, Ronard Storm.[10]

Although it is rainy, the region is fertile enough.[11] There are no cities in the stormlands due to the strong martial culture of the storm lords, but larger fortresses such as Bronzegate are often supported by several small towns.[12] The Weeping Town is a thriving port on the Sea of Dorne.[3] The kingsroad runs north from Storm's End to King's Landing in the crownlands.[13]

Military strength

According to a semi-canon source from 2005, the population of the stormlands is diffused, and the region can perhaps raise some thirty thousand men.[14]

The Dornish Marches of the stormlands were the first line of defense against Dornish incursions from the south, so they have strong martial traditions and a number of strong castles, especially the marcher lords.[11] The marcher lords are acclaimed for their bowmen.[7]

History

Storm Kings

During the Dawn Age, the woods of the stormlands were inhabited by children of the forest, while giants dwelled in the foothills of the Red Mountains. The land was then settled by First Men who came to Westeros across the Arm of Dorne. Deities worshipped by the stormlanders of antiquity included the sea god and the goddess of the wind.[15] War ensued between the elder races and the humans until the Pact.[16] The First Men of old often carved their tales into wood.[10]

The stormlands were consolidated by the Storm Kings, House Durrandon of Storm's End, who were founded by Durran Godsgrief. In time, the Durrandons gained dominion over Cape Wrath and the rainwood, what would become the kingswood, Massey's Hook, and islands in the narrow sea, such as Tarth and Estermont.[3] Storm Kings fought river kings for control of lands north of the Blackwater Rush, and sometimes Storm's End controlled lands as far as Maidenpool and the Bay of Crabs.[17][3] The Dornish Marches were created as bulwarks against Dorne to the south and the Kingdom of the Reach to the west.[7]

The Storm Kings defended the stormlands during the coming of the Andals, but eventually the First Men intermarried with the Andal newcomers.[18] Himself aided by Andals, Gyles III Gardener, King of the Reach, conquered the lands north of the rainwood, but he failed to capture Storm's End after besieging it for two years.[19] King Arlan III Durrandon vanquished the river kings of House Teague, extending the Storm Kings' domain north to the Neck for three centuries.[4][20]

Stretched thin by their conquests,[18] the power of the Storm Kings gradually declined due to pressure from House Gardener and Dornishmen.[17] King Arrec Durrandon lost the riverlands to Harwyn Hardhand, who became King of the Isles and the Rivers, although the stormlands fended off Harwyn's son, King Halleck Hoare.[21] The rivermen found the ironborn to be crueler masters than the stormlanders.[20]

Arrec's grandson, King Argilac Durrandon, killed King Garse VII Gardener at Summerfield and also fought alongside Pentos and Tyrosh against Volantis during the Century of Blood.[22][17]

House Baratheon

During Aegon's Conquest, Argilac the Arrogant was slain by Orys Baratheon in the battle known as the Last Storm. The last Storm King's lands, titles, sigil, and house words were claimed by Orys, who married Argilac's daughter, Argella. King Aegon I Targaryen named Orys, his half-brother, as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, and Orys became the first Hand of the King.[23] Traditionally part of the stormlands, the northern kingswood and Massey's Hook became part of the crownlands, a new province sworn to House Targaryen of King's Landing.[3]

Now sworn to the Targaryens ruling from the Iron Throne, the storm lords participated in the bloody First Dornish War and the Vulture Hunt.[24][25]

Prince Lucerys Velaryon was slain by Prince Aemond Targaryen at Storm's End at the start of the Dance of the Dragons.[26] Lord Borros Baratheon and his stormlanders secured King's Landing for the greens during the Moon of the Three Kings, but they were defeated by the Lads in the Battle of the Kingsroad.[23]

Even after Dorne joined the Seven Kingdoms, many stormlords, especially the marcher lords, resented the Dornish presence in the court of King Daeron II Targaryen.[27]

In 206 AC, Lords Caron and Dondarrion suppressed the Vulture King, with the father of Ser Manfred Dondarrion taking nearly four thousand infantry and eight hundred cavalry into the Red Mountains.[28]

Robert's Rebellion

Robert's Rebellion saw House Baratheon raise a rebel alliance against King Aerys II Targaryen, who called for the head of Lord Robert Baratheon. After Robert returned from the Vale of Arryn to call his banners, he defeated recalcitrant bannermen at Summerhall and eventually marched for Ashford.[29] Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden and a Targaryen loyalist, invaded the stormlands from the Reach. Robert's middle brother, Stannis Baratheon, defended their family's seat during the siege of Storm's End, and Davos smuggled food past the Redwyne fleet to aid Stannis's garrison.[8]

Robert claimed the Iron Throne, forming the royal House Baratheon of King's Landing, after the deaths of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, killed in the Battle of the Trident, and King Aerys, betrayed by Ser Jaime Lannister during the Sack of King's Landing.[30] The siege of Storm's End was lifted when Lord Tyrell knelt to Robert's friend, Lord Eddard Stark.[31] Stannis then led the assault on Dragonstone and was given that castle by Robert, although Stannis resents that their youngest brother, Renly, eventually succeeded Robert as Lord of Storm's End.[8]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

King Robert I Baratheon dies after hunting boar in the kingswood.[32] Rather than kneel to the new king, Robert's alleged son Joffrey, Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, escapes King's Landing and allies with the Tyrells of Highgarden.[33]

A Clash of Kings

During the War of the Five Kings, Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, sends Ser Davos Seaworth to court the storm lords, but they remain loyal to their liege lord, Renly.[8] Possibly, as many as some twenty thousand stormlanders join Renly.[34]

While Renly's host is slowly progressing toward King's Landing, Stannis sails from Dragonstone and besieges Storm's End.[35] After Renly's death,[36] the stormlords change their allegiance to Stannis.[37] After a shadow kills Ser Cortnay Penrose, Storm's End opens its gates to Stannis.[38] The king divides his forces, with Stannis marching north on the kingsroad for the capital and Ser Imry Florent leading the royal fleet which sails for Blackwater Bay.[13] Stannis is defeated by the Lannisters and Tyrells in the Battle of the Blackwater, however.[39] Many of the stormlords kneel to King Joffrey I Baratheon.[40]

A Storm of Swords

Aside from the garrisons of Ser Gilbert Farring at Storm's End and Ser Rolland Storm at Dragonstone, the remaining lords loyal to Stannis travel with him to defend the Wall and Castle Black from wildlings.[41] King Joffrey dies at his wedding feast,[42] and he is succeeded by his younger brother, Tommen.[43]

A Feast for Crows

Lords Mace Tyrell and Mathis Rowan lay siege to Stannis's garrison at Storm's End. Mace returns to King's Landing when he hears that his daughter, Queen Margaery Tyrell, has been arrested, however, leaving Mathis to continue the siege of Storm's End.[44]

A Dance with Dragons

Many of the nobles with Stannis, such as Ser Patrek of King's Mountain and Ser Justin Massey, hope to win lands in the north, as their lands in the south are lost to them.[45][46]

Led by Harry Strickland and Jon Connington, the Golden Company sails from Essos for Westeros in supprot of Aegon Targaryen. The landing of the Golden Company occurs in the stormlands, with the sellswords quickly taking Estermont, Cape Wrath, Griffin's Roost, Greenstone, Rain House, and Crow's Nest.[47]

The Winds of Winter

Content.png
Warning
This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.

Sellswords are said to have taken Tarth, most of Cape Wrath, and half the Stepstones.[48]

Houses

House Baratheon.svg House Baratheon of Storm's End
House Bolling.PNG House Bolling
House Buckler.png House Buckler of Bronzegate
Cafferen.png House Cafferen of Fawnton
House Caron.png House Caron of Nightsong
House Cole.svg House Cole
House Connington.svg House Connington of Griffin's Roost
Dondarrion.png House Dondarrion of Blackhaven
Errol.png House Errol of Haystack Hall
House Estermont.PNG House Estermont of Greenstone
House Fell.PNG House Fell of Felwood
None.svg House Foote of Nightsong
Gower.PNG House Gower
House Grandison.PNG House Grandison of Grandview
House Hasty.PNG House Hasty
Herston.png House Herston
Horpe.png House Horpe
Kellington.png House Kellington
House Lonmouth.PNG House Lonmouth
House Mertyns.PNG House Mertyns of Mistwood
House Morrigen.PNG House Morrigen of Crow's Nest
Musgood.png House Musgood
Peasebury.png House Peasebury of Poddingfield
House Penrose.PNG House Penrose of Parchments
House Rogers.png House Rogers of Amberly
Seaworth sigil coat.png House Seaworth
Selmy.png House Selmy of Harvest Hall
House Steadmon.PNG House Staedmon of Broad Arch
House Swann.PNG House Swann of Stonehelm
Swygert.png House Swygert
House Tarth.PNG House Tarth of Evenfall Hall
House Toyne.PNG House Toyne
House Trant.png House Trant of Gallowsgrey
House Tudbury.png House Tudbury
Wagstaff.png House Wagstaff
House Wensington.PNG House Wensington
None.svg House Whitehead of the Weeping Town
House Wylde.svg House Wylde of Rain House

References

  1. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
  2. 2.0 2.1 The World of Ice & Fire.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands.
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  5. The World of Ice & Fire, House Baratheon.
  6. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: The Men of the Stormlands.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 21, Jaime III.
  10. 10.0 10.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Durrandon.
  11. 11.0 11.1 So Spake Martin: The Stormlands, August 05, 2000
  12. A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 58, Davos III.
  14. A Game of Thrones: d20-based Open Gaming RPG.
  15. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
  16. The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: The Coming of the First Men.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  18. 18.0 18.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: Andals in the Stormlands.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Andals in the Reach.
  20. 20.0 20.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  21. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: The Black Blood.
  22. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  23. 23.0 23.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
  24. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  25. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons.
  26. The Princess and the Queen.
  27. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
  28. The Hedge Knight.
  29. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  30. The World of Ice & Fire, The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion.
  31. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  32. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
  33. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  34. House Tyrell, with the Reach behind them, is said to field seventy thousand men after the Battle of the Blackwater (A Storm of Swords, Tyrion V). When they still supported Renly, he had an army of ninety thousand strong (A Clash of Kings, Catelyn II), suggesting that some twenty thousand might have been stormlanders.
  35. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 22, Catelyn II.
  36. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
  37. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42, Davos II.
  38. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
  39. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 62, Sansa VII.
  40. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  41. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  42. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  43. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime IX.
  44. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Mathis Rowan.
  45. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
  46. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 49, Jon X.
  47. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  48. The Winds of Winter, Arianne I