Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya (islands)

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Revision as of 19:29, 20 December 2018 by The Dragon Demands (talk | contribs) (Created page with "The '''Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya Isles''' are a small grouping of islets in the Summer Sea that were discovered in {{date|56}}. They are the most westerly lands ever di...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya Isles are a small grouping of islets in the Summer Sea that were discovered in 56 AC. They are the most westerly lands ever discovered in the Known World, even farther west than Lonely Light.[1]

Geography

The isles are located several weeks' travel away from Oldtown, slightly farther south than the latitude of the Summer Isles, and at a longitude farther west than even Lonely Light. The islands are very small, with a combined land area no larger than Dragonstone: the largest of these isles being no more than a third the size of Dragonstone itself. Elissa Farman described them as "a mountain attended by two hills".[1]

The oceans between Westeros and these tiny islands are incredibly dangerous, filled with massive storms and pods of leviathans known to attack ships. The isles went totally undiscovered by men for most of history, because they are located far to the west across open ocean, far away from any shipping lanes.

While it is dangerous to reach them, the isles themselves are pleasant and bountiful. Springs and streams provide plentiful fresh water, wild pigs can be found in the jungles to hunt, and the trees are heavy with edible nuts and fruits unknown in other lands.

Of particular note are huge, sluggish grey lizards as big as deer. While slow enough that they can be avoided, their bites cause severe infections that quickly lead to gangrene.[2]

History

The small islets were totally undiscovered by men, until the Sun Chaser expedition of 56 AC stumbled onto them. The three ships of the expedition were caught in a devastating storm that sunk one of them, but the Sun Chaser itself was blown farther west, where when the storm had passed the crew spotted shore birds and followed them to land. Sun Chaser recovered the badly damaged Lady Meredith and brought it to the isles, where they stayed for a fortnight making repairs and restocking their provisions.[1]

Elissa Farman was unimpressed with the isles, consumed by her dreams of finding entire new continents to the west, and wanted to continue onwards over the Sunset Sea. Eustace Hightower, however, wanted to turn back: considering all they had lost, they had managed to make a great discovery of new lands farther west than any ever charted, with new fruit and spice plants to bring back (including "pink fruits"). Eustace therefore urged that they should quit while they were ahead, but Elissa would hear none of it, so the two ships parted ways - and the Sun Chaser was never seen again.

Meanwhile, Lady Meredith had a difficult return journey, attacked by leviathan and sailing past the Summer Isles to Sothoryos itself, where the crew lingered for over a year trying to repair their badly damaged vessel, until they were rescued by a passing Summer Islander ship which towed them back to Tall Trees Town.

The expedition took samples of plants and animals from the isles but it is unclear if they survived the journey back to Oldtown. They initially took three of the great grey lizards on board Lady Meredith, though one bit the steersman's leg, and on growing gangrenous it had to be removed.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  2. These large lizards appear to be the real-life animals known as Komodo Dragons.