Rivermen

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
Men from House Frey, by Joshua Cairós © Fantasy Flight Games

Rivermen[1][2] or riverlanders[3] are natives of the riverlands, a central region of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Ethnicity

Riders of the Red Fork, by Lin Bo © Fantasy Flight Games

The riverlands were settled in antiquity by the First Men, who established numerous petty kingdoms in the region over many centuries.[4] The realms of the First Men were then conquered during the coming of the Andals to the riverlands.[4] Since the defeated First Men outnumbered the newcomers, the victorious Andal warlords incorporated the First Men into their new kingdoms instead of extinguishing them.[5] There have been hundreds or possibly thousands of years of intermarriage since then, so hardly anyone is pure First Man or Andal.[6]

Many northmen settled in the riverlands after the Dance of the Dragons, marrying riverwomen at Widow Fairs.[7]

Culture

Religion

Brought to Westeros by the Andals,[5] the Faith of the Seven has become the most common religion in the riverlands.[8] There are several septries in the territory,[4][9][10] and many septs and motherhouses were established during the reign of Humfrey I Teague, King of the Rivers and the Hills.[4] The Faith Militant was once strong among the rivermen, and Stoney Sept was known for its chapter of Warrior's Sons.[8]

Unlike most river lords, House Blackwood of Raventree Hall continue to follow the old gods of the First Men.[11] Northmen who remained after the Dance of the Dragons also continued to worship the old gods.[7]

Customs

Stoney Sept, by Marc Scheff © Fantasy Flight Games

Much of life in the riverlands is centered on its namesake rivers, such as the three forks of the Trident and the Blackwater Rush.[4] Fishermen, farmers, merchants, and mummers use the rivers as part of their livelihood.[12]

Guest right is an important custom in the riverlands.[13][14]

The quarrelsome river lords[15] have a fractious history.[4] House Tully's funeral customs have the deceased member released into the Red Fork on a small boat, which is then set on fire with a fire arrow. The burning boat and its occupant then sink into the river.[16] Bastards of noble origin from the riverlands may be given the surname "Rivers".[17][18][19]

Smallfolk shun High Heart, believing that the hill is haunted by children of the forest.[20]

The Lady of the Leaves leads a community living in the branches of a forest.[20] The green men tend to the weirwoods on the Isle of Faces within the Gods Eye, which is rarely visited by anyone from the mainland.[21]

Quotes

In times of peace, they would have encountered fisherfolk in their skiffs, grain barges being poled downstream, merchants selling needles and bolts of cloth from floating shops, perhaps even a gaily painted mummer's boat with quilted sails of half a hundred colors, making its way upriver from village to village and castle to castle.[12]

—thoughts of Jaime Lannister

References

  1. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 11, Theon I.
  2. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Riverlands.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Arrival of the Andals.
  6. So Spake Martin: Event Horizon Chat, March 18, 1999
  7. 7.0 7.1 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  10. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 31, Brienne VI.
  11. Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn VI.
  14. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  15. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Blacks and the Greens.
  16. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
  17. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  18. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
  21. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Coming of the First Men.