Iron Islands: Difference between revisions
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== Pyke == | == Pyke == | ||
Pyke is one of the larger islands of the Iron Islands, a harsh and stony archipelago. East of Saltcliffe, southeast of Great Wyk, and southwest of Harlaw, Pyke lies but a day's sail from Harlaw’s shores. Pyke is not as vast or wealthy in resources as Great Wyk, Harlaw, or Orkmont. <ref>George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | Pyke is one of the larger islands of the Iron Islands, a harsh and stony archipelago. East of Saltcliffe, southeast of Great Wyk, and southwest of Harlaw, Pyke lies but a day's sail from Harlaw’s shores. Pyke is not as vast or wealthy in resources as Great Wyk, Harlaw, or Orkmont. <ref name="Theon1">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | ||
On Pyke is the seat of [[House Greyjoy]]. Pyke is so ancient that no one can say with certainty when it was built, nor name the lord who built it. Like the Seastone Chair, its origins are lost in mystery. <ref name="Pyke">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 193</ref> | On Pyke is the seat of [[House Greyjoy]]. Pyke is so ancient that no one can say with certainty when it was built, nor name the lord who built it. Like the Seastone Chair, its origins are lost in mystery. <ref name="Pyke">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 193</ref> | ||
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Below the towering cliffs, sheltered from the worst of the storms, lies Lordsport. The seat of [[House Botley]]. Lordsport offers the safest anchorage on Pyke and serves as the primary point of arrival for ships braving the perilous waters to Pyke. | Below the towering cliffs, sheltered from the worst of the storms, lies Lordsport. The seat of [[House Botley]]. Lordsport offers the safest anchorage on Pyke and serves as the primary point of arrival for ships braving the perilous waters to Pyke. | ||
To the north, along the rocky coast, stands Iron Holt, the seat of [[House Wynch]], another of the island’s powerful houses. The seas around Pyke are notorious for sudden storms and treacherous currents, and cold winds sweep ceaselessly across the island’s barren hills.<ref>George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | To the north, along the rocky coast, stands Iron Holt, the seat of [[House Wynch]], another of the island’s powerful houses. The seas around Pyke are notorious for sudden storms and treacherous currents, and cold winds sweep ceaselessly across the island’s barren hills.<ref name="Theon1">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | ||
Once that isle was ruled by rock kings and salt kings, before the rise of [[Urron Greyiron]]. <ref name="The Black Blood">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 183-186</ref> | Once that isle was ruled by rock kings and salt kings, before the rise of [[Urron Greyiron]]. <ref name="The Black Blood">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 183-186</ref> | ||
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Second in size only to Great Wyk, Harlaw is by far the wealthiest and most densely populated of the Iron Islands. While other isles remain stark and thinly peopled, Harlaw boasts more villages, holds, and keeps than any of its kin. The island is dotted with small stone towns and harbors where longships are built and repaired, and trade flows through its markets. Beneath Harlaw’s low hills lie rich veins of lead, tin, and iron . <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Second in size only to Great Wyk, Harlaw is by far the wealthiest and most densely populated of the Iron Islands. While other isles remain stark and thinly peopled, Harlaw boasts more villages, holds, and keeps than any of its kin. The island is dotted with small stone towns and harbors where longships are built and repaired, and trade flows through its markets. Beneath Harlaw’s low hills lie rich veins of lead, tin, and iron . <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||
Once Harlaw was thick with ancient forests, but these were long ago felled by the shipwrights of the isles. Even so, the ironborn here have adapted; while horses are rare across the Iron Islands, the islanders ride sturdy Harlaw ponies and ox-carts remain a common sight along the winding roads. <ref>George R. R. Martin, ''A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | Once Harlaw was thick with ancient forests, but these were long ago felled by the shipwrights of the isles. Even so, the ironborn here have adapted; while horses are rare across the Iron Islands, the islanders ride sturdy Harlaw ponies and ox-carts remain a common sight along the winding roads. <ref name="Theon1">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | ||
Harlaw is ruled from Ten Towers, the great seat of House Harlaw, whose power on the isle is unrivaled. Though noble houses such as the Volmarks and Stonetrees hold large lands and boast fierce captains, even they bend the knee to Ten Towers. <ref>George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | Harlaw is ruled from Ten Towers, the great seat of House Harlaw, whose power on the isle is unrivaled. Though noble houses such as the Volmarks and Stonetrees hold large lands and boast fierce captains, even they bend the knee to Ten Towers. <ref name="Theon1">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2000) Theon I</ref> | ||
===Notable House=== | ===Notable House=== | ||