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Rewrote the Dawn Age for the First Men, cleaned up contradictions and corrected early history of the Breaking, moved history around, added references for a lot of things
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  ''- A Game of Thrones<ref>George R.R. Martin. (1996). ''A Game of Thrones - Bran VII''. Voyager Books.</ref>''
  ''- A Game of Thrones<ref>George R.R. Martin. (1996). ''A Game of Thrones - Bran VII''. Voyager Books.</ref>''


The First Men is a overarching term that applied to the descendants of the first peoples to settle Westeros, walking across the [[Arm of Dorne]] during the [[Dawn Age]]. During the period of the early [[Coming of the Andals|Andal invasions]], the term was used in the main by the [[Andals]] to describe the peoples they found dwelling in Westeros when they crossed the Narrow Sea. The First Men themselves would likely more identify with their locality, their region, their gods, and their ruler than consider themselves part of one homogenous people - though certain kings and cultural traditions do preserve the idea of common descent from a single ancestral figure - though the nature of this personage varies greatly from region to region.
The '''First Men''' are the descendants of the first humans to settle [[Westeros]], who walked across the [[Arm of Dorne]] from [[Essos]] in the [[Dawn Age]]. During the [[Coming of the Andals]], the term was used mainly by the [[Andals]] to describe all the peoples already in Westeros when they crossed the [[Narrow Sea]].  
 
The First Men were never a homogenous people however, as they their migrations took place over millennia into Westeros, led by legends such as [[Garth Greenhand]], [[Durran Godsgrief]], and [[Brandon the Builder]], bringing with them traditions, customs, values, and strange [[First Gods|religions]] from region to region that were as different to each other as the Andals were to the First Men<ref name="FirstMen8">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. p.8.</ref>.
 
But all First Men since the days of their ancestors, from Dorne to Beyond the Wall, wielded [[Bronze|bronze]]. With this weapon they conquered Westeros and overpowered the elder races. Now a [[Iron|stronger metal]] in the hands of strangers has appeared, and the First Men do not forget how they took their land.  


== History ==
== History ==
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=== The Dawn Age ===
=== The Dawn Age ===


The First Men began to enter Westeros approximately seven thousand years before the Coming of the Andals, though this period itself took place over a significant period of time, despite myths of a single leader and migration. This period came to an end with the breaking of the Arm of Dorne approximately 5000 B.I. - whether it came about as a result of natural forces, or supernatural ones.
The First Men began to enter Westeros approximately seven thousand years before the Coming of the Andals, though the migrations never took place all, despite myths of a single leader and migration. The migrations came to an end with the breaking of the Arm of Dorne roughly two thousand years ''after'' the First Men first step foot onto Westeros, permanently separating Westeros and Essos. Though it is debated whether it came about as the 'Hammer of the Waters' sent by the [[Greenseers]] of the [[Children of the Forest]] or more mundane natural causes.


It remains unclear in which order the First Men settled Westeros, whether [[Dorne]] was barren and unappealing, or whether it was settled first which prompted other groups to continue northwards beyond the Red Mountains. The peoples of the North would claim that the North was the earliest settled region, on account of the grave of the First King beneath the First Barrow. Other landmarks being given names such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of the [[the North|North]] see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. [[Brandon the Builder]] is also seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the north being settled first is also contradicted by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, which was supposedly an attempt by the [[Children of the Forest|children]] to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.
The First Men settled [[Dorne]] first, but the vast majority found it barren and unappealing and moved northwards to more fertile lands<ref name="Dorne237>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - Dorne: The Breaking''. London: HarperVoyager. p.237.</ref>. The next regions they migrated to over the next few centuries were the [[The Reach|Reach]], the [[The Stormlands|Stormlands]], and the [[The Riverlands|Riverlands]]<ref name="Dorne237>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - Dorne: The Breaking''. London: HarperVoyager. p.237.</ref>. The [[Mountain and Vale]] and the [[the North|North]] were the last to be settled<ref name="Dorne237>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - Dorne: The Breaking''. London: HarperVoyager. p.237.</ref>. The [[Iron Islands|Ironborn]] also begin to appear during these migrations, launching raids on the First Men kingdoms immediately, but it is unknown whether these were also First Men or an [[Deep Ones|entirely different]] people<ref name="IronIslands175>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Iron Islands''. London: HarperVoyager. p.175.</ref>.


The men of [[the Reach|Reach]] similarly claim to be descended from the First King of men in Westeros, in their tradition Garth the Green. In their traditions however, Garth himself is a contradiction - both leading the first men to Westeros, but also having dwelt alone in Westeros for centuries beforehand, treating with the [[Giants|giants]] and the children of the forest. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the Elder Races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.
In every region they settled, bar Dorne, the First Men encountered the elder races of the Giants and the Children of the Forest. Initially they cohabited together, but as the First Men began to farm, erect ring-forts and build settlements in the early days of their arrival, they chopped down woods and [[Weirwoods|weirwoods]] alike. Enraged by the desecration of their [[Old Gods|woodland gods]] the Children attacked the First Men and war broke out between the two races<ref name="FirstMen8">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. p.8.</ref>.  


[[Garth Greenhand]] as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.  
However from the beginning of the conflict, the First Men had many advantages over the Children brought with them, such as horses, stoneworking techniques, and above all else, bronze<ref name="FirstMen8">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. p.8.</ref>. The First Men slaughtered the Children, cut down vast swathes of weirwoods - fearful of the strange Children watching them through their bleeding eyes, and claimed large tracts of land throughout Westeros. The wars between men, giants and the children were many and terrible, but as the conflict continued over centuries and generations, the Children turned in desperation to their [[Greenseers]] who gathered together and with their combined magics broke the Arm of Dorne<ref name="FirstMen8">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. p.8.</ref> and swamped the Neck<ref name="DaveHill">Dave Hill. (2014). ''The North'' in ''Histories & Lore: Season 3''. Home Box Office.</ref>, putting a stop to the migrations and separating Westeros from Essos permanently. This occured about two thousand years after the First Men began migrating westwards.


Whatever the case of where the First Men first settled, what is plain is that wherever they went, they encountered the elder races. The Giants of the Mountains and the Children of the Forest were most often encountered by men - and despite early attempts at cohabitation, this quickly devolved into outright conflict. Men cut down weirwoods, fearful of the strange Children watching them through those bleeding eyes. The wars between men, giants and the children were many and terrible, and did not truly end until the signing of The Pact on the Isle of Faces.
Despite the disastrous losses that befell the First Men, and the mass-death wrought by the first and second 'Hammer of the Waters', they had already been established in Westeros for centuries, and outnumbered both the Children and the Giants three-to-one even after this event<ref name="Dorne237>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - Dorne: The Breaking''. London: HarperVoyager. p.237.</ref>. And the conflict continued over millennia. Eventually, the Children acknowledged they could not win and continuing would spell the end of their people. The kings of the First Men agreed, tired of a war their ancestor's started a both sides met on what would become the [[Isle of Faces]] at the centre of the God's Eye, and there sealed the [[The Pact|Pact]]. The First Men would claim the highlands, the bogs, the plains, and other lands, while the Children would live in the deep forests, in exchange no more weirwoods would be cut down<ref name="FirstMen8">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. p.8.</ref>.
 
==== The First King ====
 
Legends persist of a 'First King' of the First Men, with tales of [[Garth Greenhand]] or the ancestor of [[House Dustin]] leading the First Men over the Arm of Dorne and establishing First Men rule in Westeros<ref name="Reach207-9">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Reach: Garth Greenhand''. Some legends . London: HarperVoyager. pp.207-9.</ref>. But it is unknown whether these tales have any basis in historicity.
 
[[The North#The Men of Winter|Northmen]], claim that the North was the earliest settled region on account of their ancestor the 'First King', alleged leader of all the First Men, who led them to the North and was buried beneath the Great Barrow. Other landmarks such as [[House Locke|Oldcastle]] and First Hollow would also seem to suggest the First Men of the North see themselves as the descendants of the original settlers. Beyond the North, Brandon the Builder is seen as a foundational figure in the emergence of kingdoms elsewhere in Westeros, though this seems unlikely. The notion of the North being settled first is contradicted  by the tale of the second Hammer of the Waters, when the Children of the Forest summoned their magics to turn the Neck into a swamp<ref name="DaveHill">Dave Hill. (2014). ''The North'' in ''Histories & Lore: Season 3''. Home Box Office.</ref> to safekeep the North for themselves, something that would surely seem folly if the First Men were well established in the region.
 
Similarly, the [[The Reach|Reachmen]] nobility claim to be descended from the First King in Westeros, in their tradition [[Garth Greenhand]], or Garth the Green. However, the Greenhand himself is a contradiction as he both lead the First Men to Westeros, but also dwelt alone in Westeros for millennia beforehand, treating with the [[Giants|giants]] and the Children of the Forest<ref name="Reach207-9">George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Reach: Garth Greenhand''. Some legends . London: HarperVoyager. pp.207-9.</ref>. It is possible this confusion comes from the fact that [[Oldtown]] is known to be the only confirmed settlement to predate the First Men, and may have been a site of cultural exchange between the elder races and an as yet unknown culture of men, who may have colonised certain coastal parts of Westeros during the Dawn Age.
 
Garth Greenhand as a potential First King in Westeros who settled in the Reach is also called into question by the existence of the Green Kings - the self-proclaimed High Kings of Dorne who dwell near the mouth of the Greenblood. The similar associations of these kings with the harvest, fertility and a sense of community call into question the unique circumstances of Garth, and the kingdom his declared descendants forged in the Reach.  


=== The Age of Heroes ===
=== The Age of Heroes ===
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Nonetheless, not all First Men have adopted the worship of these gods. The First Gods, the gods the First Men carried with them when they first came to Westeros, endure still in certain pockets of Westeros. In Dorne, where weirwoods never grew and the Children never roamed, the First Men kept their old beliefs in their truest form, recognising the true gods of the world to be the forces of nature; the sun, the winds, the earth, and the seas. What aspect of these the First Men of Dorne focus primarily upon depends on their environment. In the Red Mountains, the earth and its powers and riches are of chief concern. In the dread deserts, the sun alone holds sway. Along the Greenblood, it is the waters that give the life to the earth to grow their precious crops. To these men still, the Gods of the Weirwoods are strange, sinister, and foreign. In other isolated places where Weirwoods have not taken root, these gods survive as well. The Sistermen revere the sea as their mother, and the sky their father. The Ironmen speak of a God in his Watery Halls beneath the waves, and the dread forces of the Storm God. The Gods of the storm are recalled within the ancient traditions of the Stormlanders as well, even if most of them have long since turned away from their fearful worship.
Nonetheless, not all First Men have adopted the worship of these gods. The First Gods, the gods the First Men carried with them when they first came to Westeros, endure still in certain pockets of Westeros. In Dorne, where weirwoods never grew and the Children never roamed, the First Men kept their old beliefs in their truest form, recognising the true gods of the world to be the forces of nature; the sun, the winds, the earth, and the seas. What aspect of these the First Men of Dorne focus primarily upon depends on their environment. In the Red Mountains, the earth and its powers and riches are of chief concern. In the dread deserts, the sun alone holds sway. Along the Greenblood, it is the waters that give the life to the earth to grow their precious crops. To these men still, the Gods of the Weirwoods are strange, sinister, and foreign. In other isolated places where Weirwoods have not taken root, these gods survive as well. The Sistermen revere the sea as their mother, and the sky their father. The Ironmen speak of a God in his Watery Halls beneath the waves, and the dread forces of the Storm God. The Gods of the storm are recalled within the ancient traditions of the Stormlanders as well, even if most of them have long since turned away from their fearful worship.
== Trivia ==
* [[Durran Godsgrief]] was one of the leaders of the First Men who led his followers to the Stormlands. And he may have been present at the sealing of the [[The Pact|Pact]]<ref>George R.R. Martin. (2014). ''The World of Ice and Fire - The Stormlands: The Coming of the First Men''. London: HarperVoyager. pp.223-4.</ref>.


== References ==
== References ==


[[Category:People|First Men]]
[[Category:People|First Men]]
Retrieved from "https://pdxrpbronzeandiron.wikioasis.org/wiki/First_Men"