Many centuries before the Targaryen Conquest of Westeros, the dragonlords of the Valyrian
Freehold expanded from the Valyrian Peninsula to rule over all of Western Essos, defeating ancient,
well established civilizations to populate their own settlements. Eight of which were
founded and governed independently of the homeland, retaining a status as Free Cities,
able to chose their own leaders and administer their own affairs, while remaining under the
purview and protection of Valyria. Though other cities of Western Essos
earned great wealth and fame, such as Mantarys, Volon Therys, Oros, Tyria, Draconys, Elyria,
Mhysa Faer, Rhyos and Aquos Dhaen, they were all directly governed by agents of the Freehold,
and did not retain the influence and longterm viability of the nine Free Cities.
When the doom of Valyria destroyed the Freehold and broke apart the peninsula
In 102BC, many eastern and western settlements, dependent on the homeland were utterly destroyed
throughout the century of blood that followed. Some of the few settlements to survive these
Bleeding Years, were the 9 Free Cities of Essos, which nonetheless suffered many hardships and wars
but also adapted to the changing times, relying more heavily upon trade routes to their nearest
neighbors like the Summer Isles and Westeros, with some of these city-states developing political
and military ties to the Seven Kingdoms. The Oldest of the Free cities, Volantis,
First Daughter of Valyria, was founded as a western military outpost some time after the
conquest of Old Ghis in the east. Taking advantage of the protection offered from such a settlement,
wealthy merchants used it as a trading post between the Valyrian Peninsula and Rhoynar
city-states, growing increasingly wealthy in the years that followed. Emerging victorious in the
Rhoynish Wars, the Freehold eventually wiped out their northern neighbor, leaving Volantis
as the most influential and powerful city of the region. Following the Doom of Valyria,
Volantis considered itself the natural successor to the Freehold, sending a fleet to reconquer the
shattered remnants of the Valyrian peninsula, which then vanished in the smoking sea. Failing
to assert their authority, Volantis next marched their armies and sailed another
fleet to successfully conquer the free cities Myr and Lys before moving on to Tyrosh where
their dreams of expansion were crushed by the combined efforts of Tyrosh, the rebels of Lys,
the rebels of Myr, the Stormlands of Westeros, the Targaryens of Dragonstone, Pentos, Braavos,
as well as Qohor and Norvos which allied to defeat them in the north. The Dothraki horselords of
central essos then took advantage of the chaos by raiding Volantene towns and villages in the east.
Proud of their heritage, only those of Valyrian descent were permitted to live within
200 foot walls of fused blackstone, while others could only enter by invitation. Divisions such as
these aided in creating a deep political divide between the prestigious, old money aristocracy
and the new money merchant class, further displayed in their political parties, with
the noble and military aligned Tigers opposed to the merchant allied Elephants. Ruled by 3 elected
triarchs which each served 1 year terms, all freeborn landowners were eligible to vote in
elections there were usually peaceful process but involved aggressive campaigning and bribery.
Inventing the famed board game Cyvasse, the port of Volantis served as a lucrative gateway to
Slaver’s Bay and the Jade Sea in the east, trading heavily in slaves as well as silk,
spices, sweet beets and sweet red wine. A notable figure from Volantis was
the fool Patchface serving under King Stannis Baratheon, a mentally impaired
man who might possess the gift of prophecy. Originally established by a long forgotten people,
the lands of Norvos were conquered by the Hairy Men who were then driven out by the
Rhoynar under Prince Garris of Ny Sar. Yet in time the Rhoynar abandoned the region,
preferring the warmer climates of the south. Seeking to escape the religious tolerance of
Valyrian Peninsula, a sect of extremists following Bearded Priests, migrated to
this abandoned settlement and founded the City of Norvos. Pledging allegiance to the
Freehold while retaining their own leadership structure, they established a strict theocracy
administered by a council of magisters, whose members were chosen by the Bearded Priests.
Worshipping a mysterious god whose name was only revealed to initiates of the priesthood, the city
came under threat from the Andals of the Lorathi isles, when King Qarlon the Great attempted the
expand his empire southward. Resisting conquest, the Norvosi contacted the motherland which sent a
hundred dragons from Valyria to destroy the Andal King, his army and his homeland in a
massacre remembered as the Scouring of Lorath. During the Century of Blood, Norvos briefly
allied with neighboring Qohor to win the battle on Dagger Lake where they halted
Volantene expansion into the North of Essos. Developing a unique society and culture, the
Norvosi largely based their schedule around the ringing of 3 bells which told them when to rise,
sleep, work, pray, rest, take up arms, and have intimacy. As none but the priests could
have beards, many men grew long mustaches while women shaved their heads bald and
wore wigs. Known to eat wintercakes and drink Nahsa, fermented goat’s milk laced with honey,
the Norvosi produced beautiful tapestries and engaged in trade with nearby cities like Lorath.
Among the most well known figures from Norvos was Are Hotah, captain of the guard for prince
Doran Martell of Dorne, as well as this ruler’s wife Lady Mellario, mother to his 3 children,
who was so appalled by the Westerosi custom of fostering children with another noble family,
she grew estranged from her husband and eventually returned to her homeland.
The northern free city of Lorath upon the Lorathi isles was the smallest, poorest and least
populated of the nine free city-states, yet was once a home to a mysterious ancient people which
built tall mazes out of carved stone. Expanding across the isles and onto mainland Essos to the
south, the Mazemaker civilization eventually ended, allowing for the Hairy Men to settle the
islands until they too vanished, possibly drive out by the Andal people, expanding from the Axe
across the north of Essos to the western coast. For many years, the Lorathi isles were ruled
by various competing Andal kings, until eventually conquered by Qarlon the Great,
who sought to expand his empire onto mainland Essos, winning a number of victories before
encountering significant resistance from the free city of Norvos. Reaching out for aid,
to the motherland of Old Valyria, the Dragonlords sent a mighty host to destroy King Qarlon and his
army as they laid seige to the city. The Valyrians then pressed forward and destroyed all the King’s
holdings upon the Lorathi isles in a brutal slaughter known as the Scouring of Lorath.
Leaving no survivors, the islands remained abandoned for over a century until 1436 BC, when
settled by a sect of highly religious Valyrians, who established a temple to the Bling God Boash on
the largest of the three main islands, which in time grew to become the Free City Lorath.
Building much of the settlement within the ancient stone mazes of the island, the eunuch priests of
Boash ruled sternly while adhering to strict religious beliefs like refusing to eat flesh
or drink wine. Practising self-abnegation, they did not allow slavery and were so extreme in
their belief of equality they denied their individuality in the language they used,
describing themselves as “a man” or “a woman” instead I or You. Though their religion did
not persuade many to convert, their message of equality greatly resonated with outsiders,
attracting escaped slaves and beleaguered freedmen so that in time the followers of
Boash were a minority. By about 700BC, the ruling faction of religious Priests grew so corrupt the
people rebelled, establishing a new society and leadership structure headed by a Harvest Prince,
Fisher Prince, and Prince of the Streets, though these were largely ceremonial position, as true
authority resting with a council of magisters. Exporting salt cod, walrus tusks, sealskins
and whale oil, Lorath had few soldiers or warships and so largely remained isolationist
in their ambitions, rarely interfering in the affairs of others while trading
mostly with their nearest neighbours. A known figure from Lorath was the
faceless assassin Jaqen Hgar who killed 3 men for Arya Stark and
invited her to Braavos where she might find the Temple of Black and White.