Difference between revisions of "Vale mountain clans"

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During the [[Andal invasion]] of [[Westeros]], [[Andals]] from [[Essos]] conquered the [[Vale of Arryn]] from the [[First Men]]. Some First Men submitted to and intermarried with Andals in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Seven Stars]], but others refused to kneel. The First Men who fled from the fertile [[Vale of Arryn (valley)|Vale proper]] into the [[Mountains of the Moon]] are the ancestors of the modern clansmen.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale}}
 
During the [[Andal invasion]] of [[Westeros]], [[Andals]] from [[Essos]] conquered the [[Vale of Arryn]] from the [[First Men]]. Some First Men submitted to and intermarried with Andals in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Seven Stars]], but others refused to kneel. The First Men who fled from the fertile [[Vale of Arryn (valley)|Vale proper]] into the [[Mountains of the Moon]] are the ancestors of the modern clansmen.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale}}
  
There is fierce enmity between the mountain clans and the [[knights of the Vale]],{{Ref|AGOT|42}} and the clans do not trust the lowland [[lord]]s.{{Ref|AGOT|56}} Clansmen have been known to burn, plunder, and carry off women from the [[riverlands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands}}
+
There is fierce enmity between the mountain clans and the [[knights of the Vale]],{{Ref|AGOT|42}} and the clans do not trust the [[Lowlander|lowland lords]].{{Ref|AGOT|56}} Clansmen have been known to burn, plunder, and carry off women from the [[riverlands]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Riverlands}}
  
 
Since the [[Wars of Conquest]], the mountain clans have remained a persistent problem for [[House Arryn]], the [[Lord of the Eyrie|Lords of the Eyrie]]. In {{Date|54}}, Lord [[Darnold Arryn]] and his brother, Ser [[Rymond Arryn|Rymond]], were slain when they pursued raiders from the mountain clans into the Mountains of the Moon.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} Lord [[Lord Arryn (father of Jeyne)|Arryn]] and his sons were killed by the [[Stone Crows]] in {{Date|97}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}
 
Since the [[Wars of Conquest]], the mountain clans have remained a persistent problem for [[House Arryn]], the [[Lord of the Eyrie|Lords of the Eyrie]]. In {{Date|54}}, Lord [[Darnold Arryn]] and his brother, Ser [[Rymond Arryn|Rymond]], were slain when they pursued raiders from the mountain clans into the Mountains of the Moon.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} Lord [[Lord Arryn (father of Jeyne)|Arryn]] and his sons were killed by the [[Stone Crows]] in {{Date|97}}.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son}}
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{{Quote|The mountain clans were lawless brigands, descending from the heights to rob and kill and melting away like snow whenever the [[knight]]s rode out from the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]] in search of them.{{Ref|AGOT|28}}|thoughts of [[Catelyn Stark]]}}
 
{{Quote|The mountain clans were lawless brigands, descending from the heights to rob and kill and melting away like snow whenever the [[knight]]s rode out from the [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]] in search of them.{{Ref|AGOT|28}}|thoughts of [[Catelyn Stark]]}}
  
{{Quote|Why should we trust [[Tyrion Lannister|your]] word?… Lowland lords have lied to the clans before.{{Ref|AGOT|56}}|[[Chella]], daughter of Cheyk}}
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{{Quote|Why should we trust [[Tyrion Lannister|your]] word?… Lowland lords have lied to the clans before.{{Ref|AGOT|56}}|[[Chella|Chella daughter of Cheyk]]}}
  
 
{{Quote|He had more faith in their iron loyalties and sense of honor than in the greed of [[sellsword]]s.{{Ref|ACOK|29}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
 
{{Quote|He had more faith in their iron loyalties and sense of honor than in the greed of [[sellsword]]s.{{Ref|ACOK|29}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}

Revision as of 15:04, 18 August 2020

Tribes of the Vale - by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games.

The mountain clans or hill tribes[1] are a culture, divided into clans of varying size and strength, who live in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, in the Vale of Arryn. Descendents of the First Men,[2] they are considered primitive by the Andals of the Vale.[3]

The Vale's clans are sometimes called wildlings,[3][4] like the free folk who live beyond the Wall. They should not be confused with the northern mountain clans, who are more respected and whose sometimes regarded as petty lords.[5]

Culture

Rise of the mountain clans of the Vale - by Skysoul Visual Art Studios. © Fantasy Flight Games.

The Mountains of the Moon are home to a population of people who have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and are independent from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms and its feudal society. The clansmen are an egalitarian society,[6] believing that every person's voice, regardless of gender, should be heard during councils.[7] Clansmen are fiercely loyal to each other,[6] while some clans share close bonds.[3] However, the clansmen are a quarrelsome and proud people, and grudges and slights are often resolved by violence.[6] Conflicts between the clans are often resolved by payment of blood money and clansmen are quick to settle personal grievances through violence.[3]

Clansmen identify themselves with a first name and the name of their father;[6] examples include Conn son of Coratt and Chella daughter of Cheyk.[7]

The clansmen live short and savage lives as bandits and outlaws.[8] They are a poor people with poor quality of weapons and armor,[7] wielding stone axes and wooden clubs.[9] They subsist by raiding local villages, small groups of travelers, and will attack even the Lord of the Eyrie if he is not properly protected. They take all weapons, grain, and armor they can find, as well as all women, whether they are wedded or not. Some women participate in raids. However, it has been hundreds of years since the clansmen have threatened the Vale with anything more serious than raids.[7]

The clansmen ride small horses that are suited to the narrow mountain paths.[10]

Clans

Archmaester Arnel listed the most notorious mountain clans in his work Mountain and Vale. These include:[8]

There are also smaller clans, but they are often assimilated into larger clans or destroyed by knights of the Vale.[8]

History

During the Andal invasion of Westeros, Andals from Essos conquered the Vale of Arryn from the First Men. Some First Men submitted to and intermarried with Andals in the aftermath of the Battle of Seven Stars, but others refused to kneel. The First Men who fled from the fertile Vale proper into the Mountains of the Moon are the ancestors of the modern clansmen.[8]

There is fierce enmity between the mountain clans and the knights of the Vale,[11] and the clans do not trust the lowland lords.[7] Clansmen have been known to burn, plunder, and carry off women from the riverlands.[1]

Since the Wars of Conquest, the mountain clans have remained a persistent problem for House Arryn, the Lords of the Eyrie. In 54 AC, Lord Darnold Arryn and his brother, Ser Rymond, were slain when they pursued raiders from the mountain clans into the Mountains of the Moon.[12] Lord Arryn and his sons were killed by the Stone Crows in 97 AC.[13]

In 132 AC, starved by winter, raiders from the Mountains of the Moon descended upon the Vale in large numbers to raid and plunder. Lady Jeyne Arryn, a regent of King Aegon III Targaryen, was forced to leave her office to see to the Vale's defenses.[14] Her cousin, Ser Joffrey Arryn, frequently defended the Vale against the clansmen as the Knight of the Gate. When Lady Arryn passed away, Ser Robert Rowan led a royal host to enforce Ser Joffrey as her chosen heir, though his army was attacked nightly by clansmen. His baggage train was frequently attacked by the mountain clans, and eventually Ser Robert and many of his men were killed by falling boulders when the clansmen toppled half a mountainside upon his host.[9]

There are now at least three thousand warriors among the clans, though they have not been considered a significant threat for centuries.[10]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Bronn, Tyrion Lannister, and Tyrion's clansmen - by Sir Heartsalot©

The clans have become more active since the death of Lord of the Eyrie, Jon Arryn.[10]

While returning from King's Landing, Catelyn Stark considers visiting her sister Lysa at the Eyrie, but decides the passes through the Mountains of the Moon are too dangerous.[15] After seizing Tyrion Lannister in the inn at the crossroads, Catelyn decides to bring him east to the Eyrie rather than north to Winterfell. Their party is attacked by clansmen along the high road[16] before they reach the Bloody Gate.[10]

After Tyrion wins his trial by combat at the Eyrie through his proxy, Bronn, Lysa has them leave the Vale through the dangerous high road. Tyrion and Bronn encounter clansmen during their journey, however. In return for promising them the Vale, Tyrion enlists them to fight for House Lannister.[11] The clansmen fight alongside Tyrion in the Lannister vanguard during the battle on the Green Fork.[3]

A Clash of Kings

Serving as the acting Hand of the King, Tyrion brings the clansmen to King's Landing, where they reside in barracks below the Tower of the Hand.[17] Without the benefit of Lannister men, Tyrion uses the clansmen as his guards and soldiers. Before the Battle of the Blackwater, he sends them into the kingswood to disrupt the army of Stannis Baratheon.[18]

A Storm of Swords

After the Blackwater, red cloaks and Kingslanders prevents the clansmen from returning to the capital. Others are paid off by Tywin Lannister. Some return to the mountains, while others remain in the kingswood.[19]

Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane learn that the mountain clans in the Vale are bolder as of late and are carrying steel.[20]

Quotes

They were skeletons in skins, armed with stone axes and wooden clubs, but so hungry and desperate that they could not be deterred, no matter how many we killed.[9]

The mountain clans were lawless brigands, descending from the heights to rob and kill and melting away like snow whenever the knights rode out from the Vale in search of them.[15]

—thoughts of Catelyn Stark

Why should we trust your word?… Lowland lords have lied to the clans before.[7]

He had more faith in their iron loyalties and sense of honor than in the greed of sellswords.[4]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  2. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Mountains of the Moon.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 62, Tyrion VIII.
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 29, Tyrion VII.
  5. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 17, Jon IV.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide: The Vale of Arryn
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 42, Tyrion VI.
  12. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  13. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
  14. Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn V.
  16. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 31, Tyrion IV.
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  18. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  19. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 4, Tyrion I.
  20. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 65, Arya XII.