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''They were a poor folk, fishers and frog-hunters who lived in houses of thatch and woven reeds on floating islands hidden in the deeps of the swamp. It was said that they were a cowardly people who fought with poisoned weapons and preferred to hide from foes rather than face them in open battle.'' | |||
''- A Clash of Kings<ref>George R.R. Martin. (1998). ''A Clash of Kings - Bran III''. Voyager Books.</ref>'' | |||
The Neck is the colloquial term used to describe the lands that stretch from the headwaters of the Green Fork in [[The Riverlands| | The Neck is the colloquial term used to describe the lands that stretch from the headwaters of the Green Fork in the [[The Riverlands|Riverlands]], to the boundaries of the [[The North#The Barrowlands|Barrowlands]] in the [[The North|North]]. Whilst other regions boast a great variety in topography and cultures - the opposite can often be said of this strange and unknowable region. | ||
[[File:Southern Neck Fens.jpg|thumb|The headwaters of the Green Fork do not end in a single spring, but in a great confusion of fens and stagnant waters. Not even Charlton men will bring their barges far into these parts...]] | |||
== Terrain and Climate == | |||
The Neck is defined by a series of unending bogs, fens and marshes that stretch on for hundreds of leagues | The Neck is defined by a series of unending bogs, fens and marshes that stretch on for hundreds of leagues. The marshes are also prone to gathering mists - which has further added to the reputation of the Neck as being entirely impassable to any other than the peoples who call it home. Among these waterlogged landscapes, there are in fact woods, moors and hills, but even these cannot be navigated safely without a great deal of experience. This is made ever more truthful by the presence of the dangerous animals that dwell in these marshes. Particularly infamous are the Lizard-Lions of the Neck, which have been known to lie perfectly still for hours, disguised as logs - before devouring men with vicious abandon. | ||
The climate of the Neck is rather unique in the fact that it is warmer than the lands south of it. Spring, summer and fall are all very warm, humid and notoriously rainy seasons in the Neck. It is almost a guarantee that some part of the swamps will be raining at any given moment during those seasons. In winter, despite freezing temperatures being found to the north and south, there has been no documented winters where the swamps have frozen over. It stays warm, relative to its neighboring regions, and is the only time when the Neck experiences any kind of dry season. This has a harsh impact on the Crannogmen’s ability to find food, as the lack of fresh new water in the swamps makes it undrinkable. Most larger animals will migrate south to where the Green Fork forms, as the water is less stagnate and cleaner. During these times, the Crannogmen rely on a diet of mostly plants and frogs. | |||
[[File:Sketch suchomimus (1).jpg|thumb|While they are largely water-dwelling creatures, Lizard-Lions have developed legs that allow them to pursue their prey with dogged determination...]] | |||
== Culture and Religion == | |||
The term Crannogman is predominantly used to describe the native culture of the Neck. They are immediately recognizable by their small stature and thick accents, and even to the men of the North, are considered strange. | |||
The denizens of the Neck are devoutly religious worshipers of the weirwood gods. Before they take most actions, they consider the effects it might have on the natural world around them. The Crannogmen also celebrate various festivals to give honor to these gods, such as the festival of the floods, which takes place during the first rainfall after the dry winter season, and involves allowing leeches to feed off of ones body, then loosing them into the rivers to feed the fish and ensure they become plenty for the upcoming summer. | |||
To the outsider, they likely appear to be an entirely homogenous people - however as with all cultures, this is certainly not universally true. There are a variety of Clans within the Neck, each taking their name from the flora and fauna of their wild homeland and each with their own practices and customs. Some, such as the Clan Marsh, are known to hold great festivals each Spring, involving prayer and celebration in honour of the gods. | |||
=== Notable Crannogmen Clans === | === Notable Crannogmen Clans === | ||
<div style="column-count:3"> | <div style="column-count:3"> | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Blackmyre|Blackmyre]] of Leach's Fort | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Boggs (Churwell)|Boggs]] of Churwell | ||
* [[Clan Cray]] | * [[Clan Cray|Cray]] of the Cray | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Fenn|Fenn]] of Crannbrook | ||
* [[ | * [[Clan Greengood|Greengood]] of the Seastrands | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Marsh|Marsh]] of [[Moat Cailin]] | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Murk|Murk]] of Murkwood | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Peat|Peat]] of Basaltback | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Quagg|Quagg]] of Cypressbottom | ||
* [[Clan | * [[Clan Reed|Reed]] of Greywater Watch | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Landmarks of the Neck == | |||
=== [[Moat Cailin]] === | |||
A gargantuan fortress, even in its ruins, Moat Cailin is the centre of Crannogmen power and the Neck where all denizens of the bog pay homage to the [[Clan Marsh|Marsh Kings]] that rule there. Erected long before the Crannogmen emerged as a people, Moat Cailin was among the mightiest of the great holdfasts the original [[First Men]] erected, trailing dust and blood and sorrow all the way from [[Dorne]] in the [[Dawn Age]]. And in later centuries, it was the centre of where the [[Children of the Forest|singers]] turned the Neck into the swamps and fens it is today. | |||
=== Greywater Watch === | |||
The greatest fortress erected by the Crannogmen, and said to move amongst the swamps like a floating island. Greywater Watch is home to the [[Clan Reed|Reeds]], and dominates the south of the Neck as the first point of contact between any southron armies that seek to conquer the bogs. | |||
== History == | |||
=== The Dawn Age === | |||
In ages past, the Neck, which would eventually be known for its thick swamps and nearly unlivable terrain, was a lush forest inhabited by the children of the forest. Little is known of this time, but all stories that centered on this era mention that when the First Men crossed through the Neck, into the north, Moat Cailin was already standing. | |||
After the pact, some First Men were invited to stay in the forests of the Neck and live alongside the children. Together, they grew close bonds and even interbred. | |||
=== The Age of Heroes === | |||
===The Coming of the Andals=== | |||
== References == | |||
[[Category:Regions]] | [[Category:Regions|The Neck]] | ||