Westeros, the land of the Seven Kingdoms, has long and complex history, once a home
to giants and the children of the forest, migration from the east brought the First
Men, followed by the Andals many years later, and the Rhoynar after that.
Yet Westeros, referred to by some as the Sunset Kingdoms, is but one continent in the vastness
of the known world.
To the west is the vast ocean of the Sunset Sea, although some have attempted to cross
its waters, the few that returned have not reported of any findings.
And so the Islands of the Lonely Light, which are part of the Iron Islands of Westeros,
remains the furthest Western lands in the known world.
Far to the south, surrounded by the waters of the Summer Sea, are the Summer Isles, populated
by an ebony skinned people, known to be largely peaceful and amiable trade partners.
Though unification of the Islands has been attempted to varying degrees of success, they
are traditionally governed as independent realms.
War in the Summer Isles is highly ritualized, occurring at a time and place chosen by priests,
involving teams of warriors who fight using spears, slings and wooden shields.
In this way, disputes are resolved, but no crops and homes are destroyed and no innocents
are harmed.
Defeated rulers are also spared execution and sent into exile.
East of the summer Isles, is the Island of Naath, known to many as the Isle of Butterflies.
The Naathi people are described as beautiful, dusky skinned and peaceful, refusing to commit
violence even in self defense.
They eat fruit not flesh and make music , not war.
None have been able to conquer the island because of a disease known as Butterfly Fever,
that kills foreigners who remain in the area too long.
The Naathi claim no strangers have lasted longer than a year on the island.
Yet because Naathi slaves are so highly valued due due to their beauty, intelligence and
docile nature, they remain under constant threat of raid, forcing them to move inland
and abandon their shores.
East of Naath are the Basilisk Isles, named for the fiersome creatures that once populated
the area.
The Islands have since become known as a home to pirates, outlaws and sell swords.
The worst of humanity from all gathered seeking others of their kind.
Although attempts have been made to colonise or pacify the area, it has resisted those
efforts and simply become a refuge for cut-throats.
The southern continent of Sothoryos is a largely mysterious and thinly populated land.
Several old empires including the Ghiscari and Valyrians, attempted to colonize the densely
jungled territory, establishing cities and trade ports, the largest of which was Zamettar.
But each of these attempts failed and even Zamettar became a ruin, because of the many
dangers from wildlife, disease and the native inhabitants of the land, known as the Sothoryi
or Brindled Men, large fearsome creatures, with thick skins brindled in patterns of brown
and white.
Though some few trading towns remain along the northern shore, Sothroyos is now visited
only by adventurers hoping to make their fortune in an unspoiled land.
Although Westerosi trade with the Summer Isles, and some even venture to other southern lands,
it is across the narrow sea in the continent of Essos with whom they most often interact.
For thousands of years the Dragonlords of the Valyria Freehold, ruled over much of the
lands west of the Bone Mountains.
Their reign ended in 114BC when a terrible cataclysm known as the Doom of Valyria shattered
the Penninsula, possibly caused by the eruption of the ring of volcanoes known as the 14 fires.
However their great influence was felt throughout Essos and beyond, with the history of the
West greatly impacted their rule.
The people of the Valyrian peninsula, known to have silver gold hair and purple eyes,
are believed to have once been sheep herders, until they found dragons living within the
lands between the fourteen fires.
Using magic they bonded with the creatures and trained them to act as devastating weapons
of war.
Expanding beyond Valyrian peninsula they went east, engaging in a series of five wars with
the Old Empire of Ghis, conquering their lands and burning their capital city of Ghis to
the ground.
They then sowed their fields with salt, sulfur, and skulls.
The other cities of Slaver’s Bay like Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen all fell to Valyrian rule,
but became independent after the fall of the Freehold, and maintained much of Ghiscari
culture, with economies based primarily on the slave trade.
The city of New Ghis, formed on a nearby Island, also valued their Ghiscari culture, training
Iron Legions inspired by the Lockstep Legions of the Old Empire.
After the conquering hteir eastern rival, they expanded west, defeating the Rhoynar
City States and the Andal Kings of Essos as well as any others who stood against them,
establishing the Free Cities, 8 of which were settled as daughters the Valyrian Freehold,
considered close allies who defer to their mother state in matters of great importance,
but are ruled as independently.
The ninth city sometimes called the Bastard daughter was established in secret by slaves,
fleeing their Valyrian Masters.
the bleak and stony city-state of Lorath is the most isolated and poorest of the free
cities.
The area fell under Valyrian rule when settled by followers of the Blind god Boash, who did
not eat flesh, nor drink wine.
As part of their religion they believed it moral to deny of the self, and so referred
to themselves as "a man" or "a woman", instead of saying "I", or “me”, a practice which
remained a part of their culture even after the belief in Boash lessened, with Lorath
now ruled by a council of magisters under the Harvest Prince, The Fisher Prince and
the prince of the street.
Because the Valyrian Freehold was known to be tolerant of all religions, many groups
religious dissidents left the Freehold, one of which established a theocracy in Norvos,
ruled by secretive bearded priests forbidden from cutting or shaving their hair and who
practice ritual flagellation.
The lives of the people in Norvos are governed by the ringing of three bells, named by Lomas
Longstrider as one of his nine wonders made by man.
These great bells have 3 unique tones and tell the people of the city when to rise,
sleep, work, rest, pray, take up arms and even when to have intimate relations.
Known as the City of Sorcerers, Qohor began as a lumber camp along the Forest of Qohor,
before it was colonized by worshippers of the Black Goat fleeing the religious diversity
of the Valyrian Freehold.
The Black Goat is believed to be a dark god who demands a daily blood sacrifice, with
the cities nobility even willing to sacrifice their children during times of great crisis.
Ever since the Battle of Qohor, where 3000 unsullied warriors defended against a Dothraki
army of 25000, the defense of the city has been handled exclusively by Unsullied Slave
soldiers.
The trade city of pentos was established in lands once ruled by the Andals, before interbreeding
with Valyrians who came to control the territory and settle the city.
The once powerful High Prince, has lost mus of his authority over the years, with a council
of Magisters now running the city.
The Prince however is still held in high regard for ceremonial purposes, and is still ultimately
responsible for the prosperity of the city.
If there is ever a famine or a war is lost, the people sacrifice the prince, slitting
his throat to appease the gods and chose someone new.
Given their location along the narrow sea and close proximity to King’s Landing, Pentos
is a valueable trade partner to Westeros.
Moving south, there are the sister cities of Myr Lys and Tyrosh.
During the Age of Valyria they remained at peace, with the lands between them proving
to be rich and prosperous.
But after the Doom and fall of Valyria, they were unleashed upon each other with many wars
fought for the Disputed Lands, each the three cities eager to claim it for themselves.
Yet because they share culture, customs, language, religion, and all practice slavery, there
have been times of peace and alliance between them, such as reign of the Triarchy, when
the three cities unified and established the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, from 96 to
130 AC.
The oldest of the free cities, Volantis is located far to the south and has become one
of the richest and most powerful of the nine.
After the doom of Valyria, Volantis attempted to reunite the ancient empire under their
banner, conquering many of Valyria’s former territories.
But their empire was defeated by an alliance of powers that pushed them back to the city.
Volantis is ruled by 3 triarchs, elected by the citizenry each year, who chose candidates
from 2 major political parties known as the elephants who representing merchants and traders,
and the tigers, representing the old aristocracy.
Founded by runaway slaves, and located in a northern lagoon, the canal city of Braavos,
has become the richest and most powerful of the free cities.
In order to keep their existence hidden from Valyria, the location of Braavos was kept
secret for over a century, until Sealord Uthero Zalyne sent ships to reveal their existence
to the world.
Braavos is home to the Iron Bank, which loans money to foreign nation including the Seven
Kingdoms, and the House of Black and White, a religious sect which trains expert assassins
known as the Faceless Men.
Although Braavos welcomes most trade, slavery is forbidden.
In addition to the nine free cities, there was Essaria, called “the lost free city”,
a settlement north of the Valyrian peninsula that grew prosperous through trade, but was
destroyed during the Century of Blood which followed the Doom.
There was also the city of Gogossos in the Basilisk Isles, which for a time grew prosperous
from the slave trade, known to some as the tenth free city during the century of blood,
until they were wiped out by a terrible disease.
After the destruction of the Valyrian Penninsula, chaos and war spread throughout its former
lands, allowing for the rise of the Dothraki Horse Lords who swept through Essos leaving
a trail of destruction behind them.
The Dothraki are a nomadic and warlike people, who worship a horse god and consider the creatures
sacred.
They follow warlords known as Khals, and have only once city, named Vaes Dothrak, found
near the Mother of Mountains and womb of the world.
It is a holy city and the only place where the cannot wear a blade or shed a free man's
blood.
In the north the Tall Men of the Kingdom of Sarnor ruled a series of cities along the
river Sarne and its tributaries and along the shores of the Silver Sea.
As time went on the cities became increasingly independent, even warring against each other
for supremacy.
They even took part in the Ghiscari Wars with some their people aiding Valyria while others
fought for the Old Empire.
This division made it easier for the Dothraki warriors who attacked their cities during
the century of blood, until they finally united under the last High King Mazor Alexi.
But it was too late, as the Dothraki were victorious at the Field of crows, moving on
to sack and burn the remaining Sarnori cities.
It was only through the support of nearby powers like the Lorath, that the small port
city of Saath survived.
Further East the Dothraki also conquered the Ibbenese settlements and cities within the
area known as the Kingdom of Ifequevron.
3The northern island of Ib is home to a squat, heavy set people, said to be ferocious warriors
who live primarily off the sea trade, but are also great craftsmen and artisans.
Preferring to keep their own company they restrict the rights of foreigners travelling
in their lands.
From the Port of Ibben, their largest city, the Ibbenese were ruled by a succession of
mighty god-kings who led them to expand beyond their islands, establishing colonies and settlements
in Essos by conquering the forested lands of the Wood Walkers.
The Kingdom of Ifequevron as it was known by the Dothraki, was home to a race of diminuative
forest dwellers said to be shy, and gentle folk who could wield powerful magic.
And while this led the Dothraki to stay away, the Ibbenese happily settled the area.
Yet while the Dothraki respected the Wood Walkers, they held no such reverence for the
Ibbenese, and so swarmed into their territories, burning their cities.
The Ibbenese defended their lands viciously, winning several victories and destroying the
great army of Khal Onqo, but eventually the relentless Dothraki were victorious, and the
Ibbenese largely abandoned the area.
Further south, other Khals led their warriors to the Qaathi city states of the red waste
conquering all but Qarth, which was protected by its massive triple walls.
Qarth is officially ruled by the Pureborn, descendants of ancient kings and queens.
However in truth the Pureborn are in a constant struggle for power with three merchant guilds,
known as the Thirteen, the Ancient Guild of Spicers, and the Tourmaline Brotherhood.
These factions then also must contend with the mighty Warlocks of the House of the Undying,
who also hold great influence.
Qarth’s location along the Jade Gate means they are a center of trade between East and
West, making them extremely rich and prosperous.
Acting as a natural barrier to divide the continent, the Bone Mountains of Central Essos
stretch from the Shivering sea in the north to the jade sea of the south with only 3 major
roads passing throughpentos, known as the Steel, Stone and Sand roads.
Along the eastern side of the mountains, the cities of Bayasabhad, shamyriana and kayakayanaya
which are ruled by great fathers and defended by warrior women who fight bare breasted and
with rubies in their cheeks.
They are the last remnant of the ancient patrimony of Hyrkoon, with much of their former lands
becoming the Great Sand Sea.
Moving beyond the Bone Mountains, towards far eastern Essos, there is the Golden Empire
of Yi Ti, a territory once described as the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes,
ruled by one god-emperor.
This large and ancient territory is a successor state to the Great Empire of the Dawn which
fell during Long Night roughly 8000 before the targaryen conquest of westeros.
After which the Golden Empire emerged, and thrived as a superpower, ruled by a series
of Dynastic God Emperors, often engaging in civil war to attain power.
On at least four occasions, the Empire was so devastated by internal power struggles,
the realm fractured into hundreds of petty kingdoms, sometimes for decades, until a new
Emperor could once again unite them.
In the modern day, Yi Ti is ruled by the Azure Emperor out of Yin, however his reign is contested
by General Lo Bu, declared the Orange Emperor in the city of Trader Town near the Shrinking
sea, as well as by the Yellow Emperor out of far off Carcosa.
The island of Leng, found just south of the Golden Empire, is said to be home to ten thousand
tigers and ten million monkeys.
With vast underground cities built by ancient empires, believed to be inhabited by dark
gods called the Old Ones.
Though they were once an independent power, they were conquered and occupied by Yi Ti
for many years before again gaining their independence roughly a hundred years before
Aegon’s Conquest.
By that point the decedents of Yi Ti migrants now populated the northern 2/3rd of the island,
while the tall and thin natives, known as the Lengii populated the South.
In order to keep the peace and a sense of balance in the political system, the God Empress
chooses one husband of Lengii descent and the other of Yi Ti, to command their land
army and naval fleet.
East of the Great Sand Sea, are the Plains of the Jogos Nhai ruled by a nomadic warrior
race, famed for their ferocity in battle.
They are also known for the cultural practices of breeding and riding Zorse beasts and moulding
their heads into a cone shape from an early age.
They have fought vicious wars against the ancient Patrimony of Hyrkoon, and Yi Ti, whom
they continue to raid into the modern day.
Believed to be kin to the Jogos Nhai, the people of N’ghai once ruled a larger territory
but have since been reduced to a single city, known as the secret city of Nefer.
Believed to be a home to necromancers and torturers, rumors say they have great wealth
hidden underneath the city.
To the north, are the Thousand Islands, said to be home to a mysterious and xenophobic
green skinned race, known to be hairless and small of stature, whose females have sharpened
teeth and whose males are ritually circumcised.
They are also believed to sacrifice passing sailors they capture to their dark fish headed
gods.
Beyond that, are the furthest reaches of the known lands of Essos, beginning in the north
with Mussovy, a cold and dark land of terrifying shapechangers and demon hunters.
Then moving south, there is the cold desert of the Grey Waste, the cannibal sands whose
inhabitants consume the flesh of men and the dark city of K'Dath where unspeakable rituals
are performed to satisfy the hunger of their mad gods.
There is the bleeding Sea with red water caused by a blooming plant, the land of Shrykes which
is populated by shrieking monsters, the drydeep where scavengers find exotic bones and nearby
Bonetown where those items can be traded.
There are the cities of the bloodless men, the City of winged men along the hidden sea
and Carcosa, home to the Yellow Emperor, a claimant to the throne of Yi Ti.
Further south there are the mountainous shadow lands, the Corpse city of Stygai and the mysterious
city of Asshai, whose inhabitants believe has stood since the beginning of the world,
and will continue to stand until its end.
The dark city is steeped in sorcery, known to harbor warlocks, wizards and red priests
as all dark powers are free to be explored.
Many brave adventurers in the west have attempted the voyage to asshai, as a simple shipment
of food and supplies might garner an extraordinary price.
Food in Asshai is quite scarce yet gems and gold abound.
To the West, within the waters of the Jade Sea, are the Manticore Isles, and the crescent
shaped island of Marahai, the Isle of Whips, sometimes used as a way station for slavers,
the Isle of Elephants, ruled by the Shan from a palace made of Ivory.
Then there is the Cinnamon straits, Great Moraq, Lesser Moraq and Vahar, which has grown
wealthy from the spice trade.
At the far edge of the known world, is the continent of Ulthos, separated from Asshai
by the Saphron straits.
Maps of the known world suggest the area may be heavily jungled with a river on its western
coast and a ruined city on the nearby island of Ulos.
Given its distance to Westeros, and proximity to other lands of near mythical status, there
is little reliable information about the territory, with Maesters uncertain about whether it is
even an independent continent or just a large island.
With some even suggesting it may be connected to Sothoryos or Essos.