Iron Islands: Difference between revisions
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Great Wyk is the largest of the Iron Islands. It lies west of Old Wyk and Orkmont, north of Saltcliffe, and northeast of Pyke. Aside from the distant Lonely Light, it is the westernmost of the major isles of the archipelago.<ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Great Wyk is the largest of the Iron Islands. It lies west of Old Wyk and Orkmont, north of Saltcliffe, and northeast of Pyke. Aside from the distant Lonely Light, it is the westernmost of the major isles of the archipelago.<ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||
The isle is home to several noble houses, including House Farwynd, House Goodbrother, House Hoare, House Merlyn, and House Sparr. The main line of House Goodbrother holds Hammerhorn, a castle set inland in the Hardstone Hills, a rarity among Iron Island keeps, which typically stand near the sea. Other branches of the Goodbrothers dwell at Corpse Lake, Crow Spike Keep, and Downdelving. House Merlyn holds Pebbleton, while the Farwynds reside at Sealskin Point on the western coast, with other branches living on the small isles beyond. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man</ref> | The isle is home to several noble houses, including House Farwynd, House Goodbrother, House Hoare, House Merlyn, and House Sparr. The main line of House Goodbrother holds Hammerhorn, a castle set inland in the Hardstone Hills, a rarity among Iron Island keeps, which typically stand near the sea. Other branches of the Goodbrothers dwell at Corpse Lake, Crow Spike Keep, and Downdelving. House Merlyn holds Pebbleton, while the Farwynds reside at Sealskin Point on the western coast, with other branches living on the small isles beyond. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man</ref> | ||
Great Wyk is rich in natural resources. It holds the greatest deposits of lead, tin, and iron among the Iron Islands. Its mountains were once covered in forests, but much of the timber was long ago consumed for shipbuilding. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Great Wyk is rich in natural resources. It holds the greatest deposits of lead, tin, and iron among the Iron Islands. Its mountains were once covered in forests, but much of the timber was long ago consumed for shipbuilding. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||
Today, blue-green soldier pines still cloak many of the mountains, their color visible even from across the bay on Old Wyk. Under grey skies, these forests give the island a dark, brooding appearance. The seas off Great Wyk are rich with life, crabs, lobsters, swordfish, seals, and whales roam the waters of the Sunset Sea west of the island. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man</ref> | Today, blue-green soldier pines still cloak many of the mountains, their color visible even from across the bay on Old Wyk. Under grey skies, these forests give the island a dark, brooding appearance. The seas off Great Wyk are rich with life, crabs, lobsters, swordfish, seals, and whales roam the waters of the Sunset Sea west of the island. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man</ref> | ||
Great Wyk’s size and wealth make it a vital part of the Iron Islands. Its inland castles, iron mines, and forested hills distinguish it from its smaller neighbors. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Great Wyk’s size and wealth make it a vital part of the Iron Islands. Its inland castles, iron mines, and forested hills distinguish it from its smaller neighbors. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||
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Harlaw is the easternmost of the Iron Islands, lying northeast of Pyke, a day's sail across Ironman’s Bay, and southeast of Orkmont and Blacktyde. To the south, across the wide grey waters of the bay, lies the coast of the Westerlands, with Banefort visible on clear days from Harlaw’s high shores. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Harlaw is the easternmost of the Iron Islands, lying northeast of Pyke, a day's sail across Ironman’s Bay, and southeast of Orkmont and Blacktyde. To the south, across the wide grey waters of the bay, lies the coast of the Westerlands, with Banefort visible on clear days from Harlaw’s high shores. <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 | Second in size only to Great Wyk, Harlaw is the 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 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 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> | ||
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Atop the rocky isle stands the lone keep of [[House Farwynd]], crowned by a great beacon fire that burns without ceasing. It is from this light that the isle takes its name, serving as both a guide and a warning to those who dare the far western seas. Beyond Lonely Light lie no charted lands, only the unending grey horizon. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | Atop the rocky isle stands the lone keep of [[House Farwynd]], crowned by a great beacon fire that burns without ceasing. It is from this light that the isle takes its name, serving as both a guide and a warning to those who dare the far western seas. Beyond Lonely Light lie no charted lands, only the unending grey horizon. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||
The Farwynds of Lonely Light are a queer folk, even by the measure of the ironborn. It is said that they are skinchangers who take the forms of sea lions, walruses, or even whales that haunt the deeps. Darker tales claim that they consort with seals to birth half-human children. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man | The Farwynds of Lonely Light are a queer folk, even by the measure of the ironborn. It is said that they are skinchangers who take the forms of sea lions, walruses, or even whales that haunt the deeps. Darker tales claim that they consort with seals to birth half-human children. <ref name="LonelyLight">George R. R. Martin, ''A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows'', (Bad Hersfeld: Random House LLC US, 2005) The Drowned Man</ref> | ||
From the Lonely Light’s beacon, many bold captains have launched westward, lured by tales of lands beyond the sea. Few return, and those who do speak only of endless waters beneath an empty sky. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | From the Lonely Light’s beacon, many bold captains have launched westward, lured by tales of lands beyond the sea. Few return, and those who do speak only of endless waters beneath an empty sky. <ref name="IronIslands">George R. R. Martin, ''The World of Ice and Fire'', (London: HarperVoyager, 2014) pp. 175-178</ref> | ||