Vale mountain clans

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Bronn, Tyrion and his clansmen - by Sir Heartsalot©

The mountain clans are a primitive culture, divided into clans of varying size and strength, who live in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, in the Vale. They should not be confused with the northern mountain clans.

Culture

The Mountains of the Moon, are home to a population of primitive people, who have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and are independent from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms and its feudal society. They are divided into clans of varying size and strength, showing some cultural differences from Westeros in that some women even participate in raids.

They are a poor people with poor quality of weapons and armor, 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 the weapons and armor they can find as well as all the grain they can from raided villages, and all the women as well regardless of whether they are wedded or not.

The clansmen ride small horses that are suited to the narrow mountain paths.[1]

The Clans

The Mountain clans are divided into constantly feuding clans of varying size and strength. However the clans cooperate in many ventures, including raids, and some clans share close bonds. Conflicts between the clans are often resolved by payment of blood money and clansmen are quick to settle personal grievances through violence.

By the beginning of A Game of Thrones, at least three thousand warriors among the clans, but they have not been considered a significant threat for centuries. They have become more active since the death of Lord of the Eyrie, Jon Arryn.[1]

The Black Ears

The Black Ears
© Fantasy Flight Games

The Black Ears are one of the mountain clans, they derive their name from their habit of cutting ears off of their prisoners and display them as trophies, but leave their prisoners alive as a show of bravery. Led by Chella, daughter of Cheyk. The Black Ears have close ties with the Moon Brothers.[2]

The Black Ears were among the clans that joined Tyrion Lannister. In preparation for Stannis Baratheon's arrival before the gates of King's Landing, Tyrion sent the Black Ears and the Moon Brothers into the Kingswood to harass and harry Stannis's army on its march to King's Landing.[3]After the Battle of the Blackwater, Chella and the Black Ears attempted to return to King's Landing, but were chased off and mocked by the Kingslanders.[4]

The Burned Men

The Burned Men
© Fantasy Flight Games

The Burned Men are one of the mountain clans, they are so named for their coming-of age ceremony, in which they mutilate themselves by burning off a body part of their choosing, usually a finger or nipple. The more important the body part burned, the more prestige the warrior gains. They are feared by the other clans because of this practice. They are led by a red hand, a type of chieftain.

The Burned Men carried off the last daughter of Alys Arryn and Ser Elys Waynwood on her way to marry a Bracken.[5]

Timett son of Timett was chosen to be a red hand after he put out his own eye. The Burned Men are among the clans that join Tyrion Lannister on the promise of weapons and armor.[2] In preparation for Stannis Baratheon's arrival at King's Landing, Tyrion sent the Burned Men into the Kingswood to harass and harry his march.[3] After the Battle of the Blackwater, Timett and his clansmen took all the plunder they had captured and returned home to the Mountains of the Moon.[4]

The Milk Snakes

The Milk Snakes are one of the mountain clans. Lharys claimed it was either members of the Milk Snakes clan or the Moon Brothers clan that were the first to descend upon Catelyn Tully's party in the Mountains of the Moon.[6]

The Moon Brothers

The Moon Brothers are one of the mountain clans, Lharys claimed it was either members of the Milk Snakes clan or the Moon Brothers clan that were the first to descend upon Catelyn Tully's party in the Mountains of the Moon.[6] The Moon Brothers were among the clans that joined Tyrion Lannister on the promise of weapons and armor. The party with Tyrion is led by Ulf son of Umar. The Moon Brothers have close ties with the Black Ears.[2] In preparation for Stannis Baratheon's arrival before the gates of King's Landing, Tyrion sent the Black Ears and the Moon Brothers into the Kingswood to harass and harry Stannis's army on its march to King's Landing.[3]

The Painted Dogs

The Painted Dogs
© Fantasy Flight Games

The Painted Dogs are one of the mountain clans.

The Sons of the Mist

The Sons of the Mist
© Fantasy Flight Games

The Sons of the Mist are one of the mountain clans.

The Stone Crows

The Stone Crows are one of the mountain clans, lead by Shagga, and presumably by Dolf before him. They have weapons, but nothing compared to the Knights of the Vale.

A group of Stone Crows led by Shagga encountered Tyrion Lannister and Bronn in the Mountains after they were sent from the vale. They threaten to kill Tyrion and Bronn, but Tyrion manages to win them over by promising them weapons, armor and glory, in return for their help. Gunthor stayes behind to raise the other clans when the Stone Crows accompany Tyrion.[7] They fight in the Battle of the Green Fork under Tyrion.

The group continues with Tyrion to King's Landing and helped in its defense during the Battle of the Blackwater, where Tyrion sends them into the Kingswood to harass and harry Stannis Baratheon's army as it approaches the city. They were so effective at killing Stannis' scouts and outriders that he remained blind to the Lannister-Tyrell force that came upon him from the Kingswood.[3] After the Battle of the Blackwater, Shagga and his clansmen remained in the Kingswood.[4]

References and Notes