Difference between revisions of "Long Night"

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[[File:The long night.jpg|thumb|350px|Long Night that lasted a generation]]
 
[[File:The long night.jpg|thumb|350px|Long Night that lasted a generation]]
 
[[File:Long night wight.jpg|thumb|350px|Raising the dead to fight the living]]
 
[[File:Long night wight.jpg|thumb|350px|Raising the dead to fight the living]]
[[File:Zombies.jpeg|thumb|350px|The [[Others]] eat human flesh|thumb|right]]
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[[File:Zombies.jpeg|thumb|350px|[[Wight]]s eating human flesh]]
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{{For|the canceled TV series|Bloodmoon}}
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The '''Long Night''' is how the [[Westeros]]i refer to a period when a terrible darkness fell across the [[Known World]]. It occurred during the [[Age of Heroes]] approximately eight thousand years before [[Aegon's Conquest]], in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste through famine and terror.{{ref|aGoT|24}}
  
'''The Long Night''' is the name given to a period in history where a terrible darkness fell across [[Westeros]] and the east. It occurred approximately eight thousand years before the [[War of Conquest]], in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste to much of the world through famine and terror.{{ref|aGoT|24}}
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==Westeros==
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According to [[Westeros]]i legends, in the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called the [[Others]], emerged from the uttermost north of Westeros, the polar regions of the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. They wielded razor-thin swords of ice and raised [[wight]]s to fight the living. The [[children of the forest]] and their allies, the [[First Men]], fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance.{{Ref|aGoT|24}}  
  
==War for the Dawn==
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The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of [[dragonglass]] could kill them.{{ref|ASOS|33}} Legends from the [[north]] claim that the [[last hero]] made contact with the children.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}} The first members of the [[Night's Watch]] drove the Others back in the [[Battle for the Dawn]].{{ref|ACOK|21}}
According to legends in the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called the [[The Others|Others]] emerged from the uttermost north, the polar regions of the [[Lands of Always Winter]]. Wielding razor-thin swords of ice and raising the dead to fight the living. The [[Children of the Forest]] and their allies, the [[First Men]], fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance.{{Ref|aGoT|24}} The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of [[dragonglass]] could kill them. A great hero, who in the eastern tradition is known as [[Azor Ahai]], led the war against the Others wielding his sword of fire, [[Lightbringer]], driving the Others back. In the [[Westeros]]i tradition he may be known as the [[last hero]].
 
  
Steps were taken to ensure that the people would never be caught offguard by an invasion from the North again. The [[Wall]] was raised supposedly by Brandon Stark, known as [[Bran the Builder]], an imposing structure of solid ice and [[magic]], stretching one hundred leagues from the [[Gorge]] in the east to the [[Shivering Sea]] in the west, cutting off the [[Lands of Always Winter]] from the remainder of [[Westeros]]. The [[Night's Watch]] was established at this time to stand watch on the [[Wall]] and protect the people from the threat that lay to the north.
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Steps were taken to ensure that the people would never be caught off guard by an invasion from the north again. [[Brandon Stark (Builder)|Bran the Builder]] supposedly raised the [[Wall]], an imposing structure of solid ice and [[magic]], stretching one hundred leagues from the [[Gorge]] in the west to the [[Shivering Sea]] in the east, cutting off the Lands of Always Winter from the remainder of Westeros. The Night's Watch guarded the Wall and protected the people from threats [[beyond the Wall]].
  
A later prophecy claimed that the [[Others]] would return and [[Azor Ahai]] would be reborn to lead the fight. There is also a similar prophecy about the [[prince that was promised]]. <ref>[[A Game of Thrones (game)|A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book]], Guardians of Order</ref>
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==Essos==
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===Rhoynar===
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The [[Rhoynar]] tell of a darkness that made the [[Rhoyne]] of [[Essos]] dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the [[Selhoru]], until a hero convinced the many children of [[Mother Rhoyne]], such as the [[Crab King]] and the [[Old Man of the River]], to put aside their bickering and join in a secret song that brought back the day.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}} [[Lomas Longstrider]], in his Wonders Made by Man, recounts meeting descendants of the Rhoynar in the ruins of the festival city of [[Chroyane]] who recount this tale to him.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}}
  
==References and Notes==
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===Further East===
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Other legends from the [[Further East]], including Yi Ti, state the [[Blood Betrayal]] began the Long Night. The [[Lion of Night]] was unleashed upon the world after the [[Maiden-Made-of-Light]] turned her back on it.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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According to a legend from Yi Ti, during the Long Night the sun hid its face for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, and disaster was only averted by the deeds of a woman with a [[monkey]]'s tail.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}}
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A great hero, known in different cultures as [[Azor Ahai]], Hyrkoon the Hero, Yin Tar, Neferion, and Eldric Shadowchaser, wielded the flaming sword [[Lightbringer]] and led humanity to victory. Some say the [[Five Forts]] were built by the [[Pearl Emperor]] to guard against the Lion of Night and his demons.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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The legend of Azor Ahai spread from [[Asshai]] and is especially prevalent among the followers of [[R'hllor]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}} A later prophecy claims that the Others will return and Azor Ahai will be reborn to lead the fight.<ref>[[A Game of Thrones (game)|A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book]], Guardians of Order</ref> There is also a similar prophecy about [[the prince that was promised]].<ref>[[A Game of Thrones (game)|A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book]], Guardians of Order</ref>
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==Recent Events==
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===''A Storm of Swords''===
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[[Melisandre]], a [[red priest]]ess from [[Asshai]], believes there will be another long night.{{ref|ASOS|63}}
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==Quotes==
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{{Quote|The oldest histories we have were written after the [[Andals]] came to [[Westeros]]. The [[First Men]] only left us [[runes]] on rocks, so everything we know about the [[Age of Heroes]] and the [[Dawn Age]] and the Long Night comes from accounts set down by [[septon]]s thousands of years later. There are [[archmaester]]s at the [[Citadel]] who question all of it.{{Ref|AFFC|5}}|[[Samwell Tarly]], to [[Jon Snow]]}}
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==References==
 
{{references|2}}
 
{{references|2}}
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{{Wars in Westeros}}
  
 
[[Category:Events]]
 
[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Westeros|Long Night]]
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[[Category:Others]]
[[fr:Histoire des Sept Couronnes#La Longue Nuit (vers -8000)]][[zh:长夜]]
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[[Category:Wars]]
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[[Category:Westeros]]
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[[es:Larga Noche]]
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[[fa:شب طولانی]]
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[[fr:Histoire des Sept Couronnes#La Longue Nuit (vers -8000)]]
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[[ru:Долгая Ночь]]
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[[zh:长夜]]
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[[pt:Longa Noite]]

Revision as of 14:37, 10 April 2023

Long Night that lasted a generation
Raising the dead to fight the living
Wights eating human flesh

The Long Night is how the Westerosi refer to a period when a terrible darkness fell across the Known World. It occurred during the Age of Heroes approximately eight thousand years before Aegon's Conquest, in the midst of a great winter that lasted for years. The Long Night lasted a generation and laid waste through famine and terror.[1]

Westeros

According to Westerosi legends, in the midst of this darkness a race of apparent demons, called the Others, emerged from the uttermost north of Westeros, the polar regions of the Lands of Always Winter. They wielded razor-thin swords of ice and raised wights to fight the living. The children of the forest and their allies, the First Men, fought valiantly against them, but were driven southwards by their advance.[1]

The Others were eventually checked when it was discovered that weapons made of dragonglass could kill them.[2] Legends from the north claim that the last hero made contact with the children.[3] The first members of the Night's Watch drove the Others back in the Battle for the Dawn.[4]

Steps were taken to ensure that the people would never be caught off guard by an invasion from the north again. Bran the Builder supposedly raised the Wall, an imposing structure of solid ice and magic, stretching one hundred leagues from the Gorge in the west to the Shivering Sea in the east, cutting off the Lands of Always Winter from the remainder of Westeros. The Night's Watch guarded the Wall and protected the people from threats beyond the Wall.

Essos

Rhoynar

The Rhoynar tell of a darkness that made the Rhoyne of Essos dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the Selhoru, until a hero convinced the many children of Mother Rhoyne, such as the Crab King and the Old Man of the River, to put aside their bickering and join in a secret song that brought back the day.[3] Lomas Longstrider, in his Wonders Made by Man, recounts meeting descendants of the Rhoynar in the ruins of the festival city of Chroyane who recount this tale to him.[3]

Further East

Other legends from the Further East, including Yi Ti, state the Blood Betrayal began the Long Night. The Lion of Night was unleashed upon the world after the Maiden-Made-of-Light turned her back on it.[5]

According to a legend from Yi Ti, during the Long Night the sun hid its face for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, and disaster was only averted by the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail.[3]

A great hero, known in different cultures as Azor Ahai, Hyrkoon the Hero, Yin Tar, Neferion, and Eldric Shadowchaser, wielded the flaming sword Lightbringer and led humanity to victory. Some say the Five Forts were built by the Pearl Emperor to guard against the Lion of Night and his demons.[5]

The legend of Azor Ahai spread from Asshai and is especially prevalent among the followers of R'hllor.[3] A later prophecy claims that the Others will return and Azor Ahai will be reborn to lead the fight.[6] There is also a similar prophecy about the prince that was promised.[7]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Melisandre, a red priestess from Asshai, believes there will be another long night.[8]

Quotes

The oldest histories we have were written after the Andals came to Westeros. The First Men only left us runes on rocks, so everything we know about the Age of Heroes and the Dawn Age and the Long Night comes from accounts set down by septons thousands of years later. There are archmaesters at the Citadel who question all of it.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
  2. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 33, Samwell II.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Long Night.
  4. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 21, Bran III.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.
  6. A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book, Guardians of Order
  7. A Game of Thrones RPG and Resource Book, Guardians of Order
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.
  9. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.