Storm's End

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Storm's End
Legendary castle, Regional capital
Storm s end by feliche.jpg
Storm's End by Feliche©
Government House Durrandon (formerly)
House Baratheon, Feudal lord
Religion Faith of the Seven
Founded Age of Heroes
The stormlands and the location of Storm's End
The stormlands and the location of Storm's End
Storm's End
The stormlands and the location of Storm's End
Elenei protects Durran as Storm's End is constructed.
Art by Roman Papsuev
Storm's End in the HBO guide of Game of Thrones©

Storm's End is the seat of House Baratheon in the stormlands. The castle is located along the northern coast of Shipbreaker Bay, south of Bronzegate and northeast of Griffin's Roost. The kingsroad runs north from Storm's End to King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms[1]

One of the strongest castles in the Seven Kingdoms, Storm's End was once the ancestral seat of the Storm Kings of House Durrandon extending back many thousands of years. The castle is said to be protected by spells woven into its very walls that prevent magic from affecting it or passing through it. Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, is served by Maester Jurne.[2]

Layout

See also: Images of Storm's End

Storm's End is surrounded by a massive outer curtain wall, one hundred feet high and forty feet thick on its thinnest side and nearly eighty feet thick on its seaward side. It is composed of a double course of stones with an inner core of sand and rubble. The wall is smooth and curving, the stones so well placed and so perfectly together that the wind can find no purchase. On the seaward side, there is a one hundred fifty foot drop below the wall into the sea.[3]

The castle itself consists of one huge drum tower crowned with formidable battlements, so that from a distance enemies can see what appears to be a single huge, spiked fist thrusting towards the sky in defiance. The tower is so large that it comfortably contains the granary, barracks, armory, feast hall, and lord's chambers all at once.[3] It is said that there are spells woven into the stonework.[4] The seaward side of the castle stands upon a high white cliffs overlooking the sea, and there is a barred, watery passage through a cavern that leads beneath the castle.

The godswood of Storm's End has a weirwood heart tree carved with a solemn face.[5]

History

The mighty fortress called Storm's End has stood for centuries, facing the terrible weather of Shipbreaker Bay with little wear to show for it. Legend claims that it was built by Durran, the first Storm King during the Dawn Age, who declared a war against the gods after they killed his family and guests, ruining his wedding to their daughter Elenei. It was said he raised six castles, each larger and more formidable than the last, but all were destroyed by storms. The massive seventh castle, Storm's End, is also called Durran's Defiance[6] because it was able to endure the storms.[7] Some believe this was because the children of the forest took a hand in its construction, using their magics in the raising the castle walls which allow it to resist the storms. Others believe that a young boy who grew up to be Bran the Builder advised Durran on its construction.[3]

Storm's End has proven to be an exceptionally formidable fortress. In its long history it has never fallen to either siege or storm. During their invasion of Westeros, the Andals are said to have abandoned attempts to capture Storm's End after seven failed sieges and assaults. Instead, the Durrandons and Andals eventually came together through marriage.[8] Archmaester Vyron speculates in his Triumphs and Defeats that the claim that the final form of the castle was the seventh shows a clear Andal influence and suggests the possibility that the final form was achieved in Andal times.[9] Gyles III Gardener, King of the Reach, failed to conquer Storm's End after a siege of two years.[10]

During Aegon I Targaryen's War of Conquest, the last Storm King, Argilac the Arrogant, abandoned his impressive defenses to meet Orys Baratheon in open battle and suffered accordingly in the Last Storm. Taking Argilac's daughter, Argella, as his bride, Orys became Aegon's Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and House Baratheon replaced the Durrandons as lords of Storm's End.

Prince Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon, Arrax, were slain by Prince Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar outside Storm's End during the Dance of the Dragons.[6] Princess Rhaelle Targaryen served as a cupbearer to Lord Lyonel Baratheon.[11]

There was a tourney at Storm's End prior to Robert's Rebellion. During the rebellion, Storm's End was besieged for a year by the host of Lord Mace Tyrell, who commanded the landward forces, whilst Lord Paxter Redwyne's fleet of the Arbor kept the castle cut off by sea. However, Stannis Baratheon, commanding the defense, refused to yield and his men were reduced to eating rats. A smuggler named Davos ran the blockade and resupplied the castle, allowing the garrison to outlast the siege.

After Lord Robert Baratheon became king, he gave the castle to his youngest brother, Renly, and moved Stannis to the much poorer Dragonstone, which led to many years of bitterness on Stannis's part. When Renly was away at court in King's Landing fulfilling his duties as Robert's master of laws, the castle was held by its castellan, Ser Cortnay Penrose.

Recent Events

© Fantasy Flight Games

A Clash of Kings

During the War of the Five Kings, the many castles sworn to Storm's End help Renly Baratheon field a sizable force to support his claim on the Iron Throne. His elder brother, Stannis, lays siege to Storm's End instead of attacking King's Landing.

Following Renly's death during the siege, the castellan Ser Cortnay Penrose refuses to yield, believing that Edric Storm, fostered at Storm's End, would be harmed. Melisandre gives birth to a shadow that assassinates Cortnay, but first she has Davos Seaworth smuggle her through the castle walls so that the spells of the castle do not ward out her magic.[12]

Soon after Cortnay's death, his lieutenant, Lord Elwood Meadows, surrenders the castle to Stannis's forces. Stannis names Ser Gilbert Farring as the new castellan, with Elwood as his second-in-command. Before leaving for King's Landing, Melisandre has Stannis burn the godswood as an offering to the Lord of the Light.[13][14]

A Feast for Crows

In 300 AC, the castle is besieged by a strong army under Mace Tyrell, but he only has the castle under siege for a few weeks before he abandons the siege to return to King's Landing after the arrest of his daughter Margaery by the Faith. Mace leaves a token force with Lord Mathis Rowan to continue the siege but the castle continues to support Stannis's claim to the throne. Its defenders include Ser Gilbert, Lord Elwood, and Stannis's uncle, Ser Lomas Estermont.[15]

A Dance with Dragons

The Golden Company plans to take Storm's End as a base of operation. Aegon Targaryen plans to lead the assault.[16]

Quotes

The nightfires had burned low, and as the east began to lighten the immense mass of Storm's End emerged like a dream of stone while wisps of pale mist raced across the field, flying from the sun on wings of wind.[17]

- thoughts of Catelyn Stark


Stannis: I give you fair warning. If you force me to take my castle by storm, you may expect no mercy. I will hang you for traitors, every one of you.
Cortnay: Bring on your storm, my lord, and recall, if you do, the name of this castle.[12]

Stannis Baratheon and Cortnay Penrose


This Storm's End is an old place. There are spells woven into the stones. Dark walls that no shadow can pass – ancient, forgotten, yet still in place.[4]

Melisandre to Davos Seaworth

Chapters that take place at Storm's End

References and Notes

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Strongholds of A Song of Ice and Fire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Strongholds of A Song of Ice and Fire. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.