Difference between revisions of "Northern mountains"

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==Geography==
 
==Geography==
[[Jon Snow]] describes the mountains as located west of the [[kingsroad]] and south of the [[Gift]].{{ref|ADWD|17}} ''[[The Lands of Ice and Fire]]'' depicts the spine of the mountains as extending north from [[Winterfell]] in the south through the Gift as far as the [[Shadow Tower]] and the [[Gorge]]. [[Beyond the Wall]] the mountains transition into the [[Frostfangs]]. A large forest separates the northernmost mountains from [[Castle Black]] to the east along the [[Wall]]. In the west, the foothills of the mountains reach the [[Bay of Ice]]. Farther south, the flint foothills of the eastern mountains roll past the kingsroad to the forest of the [[Last Hearth]]. The [[wolfswood]] extends west and east of the southern mountains. The sources of the [[Last River]] and [[Long Lake]] are found in the mountains.{{ref|TLOAIF}}
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[[Jon Snow]] describes the mountains as located west of the [[kingsroad]] and south of the [[Gift]].{{ref|ADWD|17}} ''[[The Lands of Ice and Fire]]'' depicts the spine of the mountains as extending north from [[Winterfell]] in the south through the Gift as far as the [[Shadow Tower]] and the [[Gorge]]. [[Beyond the Wall]] the mountains transition into the [[Frostfangs]]. A large forest separates the northernmost mountains from [[Castle Black]] to the east along the [[Wall]]. In the west, the foothills of the mountains reach the [[Bay of Ice]]. Farther south, the flint foothills of the eastern mountains roll past the kingsroad to the forest of the [[Last Hearth]]. The [[wolfswood]] extends west and east of the southern mountains. The sources of the [[Last River]] and [[Long Lake]] are found in the mountains.{{ref|TLOIAF}}
  
 
The mountains have deep, blue lakes and numerous piney woods. The foothills have russet and gold autumn leaves, but the mountains themselves have grey-green sentinels, spruce, fir, and soldier pines. The hills contain fish in streams and small game, but wildlife is scarcer in the mountains. Other animals include owls, eagles, and pale goats,{{ref|ASOS|24}} as well as the herds{{ref|ADWD|17}} and shaggy garrons{{ref|ADWD|42}} of the clans. There are no roads,{{ref|ASOS|24}} with the only paths little more than goat tracks.{{ref|ADWD|17}}
 
The mountains have deep, blue lakes and numerous piney woods. The foothills have russet and gold autumn leaves, but the mountains themselves have grey-green sentinels, spruce, fir, and soldier pines. The hills contain fish in streams and small game, but wildlife is scarcer in the mountains. Other animals include owls, eagles, and pale goats,{{ref|ASOS|24}} as well as the herds{{ref|ADWD|17}} and shaggy garrons{{ref|ADWD|42}} of the clans. There are no roads,{{ref|ASOS|24}} with the only paths little more than goat tracks.{{ref|ADWD|17}}

Revision as of 17:06, 30 July 2014

The North and the location of the northern mountains
The North and the location of the northern mountains
Northern mountains
The North and the location of the northern mountains

The northern mountains are a range of mountains inhabited by clans in the northwestern part of the North. George R. R. Martin has not yet published a proper name for them.

Geography

Jon Snow describes the mountains as located west of the kingsroad and south of the Gift.[1] The Lands of Ice and Fire depicts the spine of the mountains as extending north from Winterfell in the south through the Gift as far as the Shadow Tower and the Gorge. Beyond the Wall the mountains transition into the Frostfangs. A large forest separates the northernmost mountains from Castle Black to the east along the Wall. In the west, the foothills of the mountains reach the Bay of Ice. Farther south, the flint foothills of the eastern mountains roll past the kingsroad to the forest of the Last Hearth. The wolfswood extends west and east of the southern mountains. The sources of the Last River and Long Lake are found in the mountains.[2]

The mountains have deep, blue lakes and numerous piney woods. The foothills have russet and gold autumn leaves, but the mountains themselves have grey-green sentinels, spruce, fir, and soldier pines. The hills contain fish in streams and small game, but wildlife is scarcer in the mountains. Other animals include owls, eagles, and pale goats,[3] as well as the herds[1] and shaggy garrons[4] of the clans. There are no roads,[3] with the only paths little more than goat tracks.[1]

People

The northern mountains are inhabited by clans who live in the high valleys and mountain meadows. There are roughly forty mountain clans, large and small, the most prominent of which are the First Flints, the Wulls, the Norreys, the Burleys, the Harclays, the Liddles, and the Knotts. They are proud followers of the old gods.[1] The mountains are sometimes raided by wildlings from beyond the Wall.[5]

In summer, the Umbers graze their sheep in the high meadows.[3]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

The party of Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister travels on the kingsroad from Winterfell to Castle Black. West of the road they see grey and rugged flint hills guarded with tall watchtowers. Five days north of Winterfell, they see jagged, snow-covered mountains, blue and grey in color, forming a wall to the west.[6]

A Storm of Swords

Rather than take the kingsroad to the Wall, Bran Stark and his companions travel through the northern mountains, which have no roads among their twisted valleys. They pass a granite upthrust as large as Winterfell. Bran explains the clansmen know of their presence, but will not bother them unless they try to take their goats or horses. The only person they meet is a Liddle taking shelter from freezing rain in a shallow cave.[3]

A Dance with Dragons

Following the advice of Jon Snow, who also provided sure-footed garrons,[1] Stannis Baratheon travels to the mountains, gains the northern mountain clans for his cause, and frees Deepwood Motte in the wolfswood.[7]

Quotes

Meera: Up and down, then down and up. Then up and down again. I hate these stupid mountains of yours, Prince Bran.

Bran: Yesterday you said you loved them.

Meera: Oh, I do. My lord father told me about mountains, but I never saw one till now. I love them more than I can say.[3]

- Meera Reed and Bran Stark


The moon was almost full, the night so clear she could see the mountains, their peaks crowned with snow. Cold and bleak and inhospitable, but beautiful in the moonlight. Their summits glimmered pale and jagged as a row of sharpened teeth. The foothills and the smaller peaks were lost in shadow.[7]

- thoughts of Asha Greyjoy


It has always been a harsh life up there. When the snows fall and food grows scarce, their young must travel to the winter town or take service at one castle or the other. The old men gather up what strength that remains in them and announce that they are going hunting. Some are found come spring. Most are never seen again.[8]

- Jon Snow to Alys Karstark

References and Notes