Difference between revisions of "Age of Heroes"
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During this time it was also recorded by the [[Night's Watch]] that the children of the forest gave the defenders of the Wall a hundred [[obsidian]] daggers every year.{{Ref|aFfC|5}} | During this time it was also recorded by the [[Night's Watch]] that the children of the forest gave the defenders of the Wall a hundred [[obsidian]] daggers every year.{{Ref|aFfC|5}} | ||
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+ | ==Quotes== | ||
+ | {{Quote|The oldest histories we have were written after the [[Andals]] came to [[Westeros]]. The [[First Men]] only left us runes on rocks, so everything we know about the Age of Heroes and the [[Dawn Age]] and [[the Long Night]] comes from accounts set down by [[septon]]s thousands of years later. There are [[archmaester]]s at the [[Citadel]] who question all of it. Those old histories are full of kings who reigned for a hundred years, and [[knight]]s riding around a thousand years before there '''were''' knights.{{Ref|AFFC|5}}}} - [[Samwell Tarly]], to [[Jon Snow]] | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Timeline of major events]] | * [[Timeline of major events]] | ||
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==References and Notes== | ==References and Notes== |
Revision as of 08:51, 28 January 2014
The Age of Heroes was an era during the history of Westeros which takes its name from the great men and women who lived in the years of peace that followed the forging of the Pact between the First Men and the children of the forest. Many noble houses trace their family histories to the Age of Heroes and many stories, songs, and legends are told about it.[1] It is an era that is shrouded in mystery, with more myth than fact known about it.
Overview
The Age of Heroes began with the signing of the Pact on the Isle of Faces. The Pact ended the war of the First Men and the children of the forest[2] and lasted for nearly four thousand years.
During that time, a hundred kingdoms rose and fell. This was a rugged time where many ancient traditions and legacies forged by the First Men were established, with influence from the children. Many of these customs live on among the lords of the North, who still bear the blood of the First Men in their veins. The laws of hospitality, the obligation of a judge to also be the executioner, and the renowned Wall are all accredited to these ancestors of the northmen; the barrows of the First Men can still be found throughout the North. This was the time when many legendary kings and heroes walked the earth, such as:
- Bran the Builder[3] - who built the Wall and Winterfell. He is also accredited for other famous constructions, including Storm's End.
- Lann the Clever[3] - who supposedly swindled Casterly Rock from the Casterlys using nothing but his wits.
- Garth Greenhand[4] - who founded House Gardener of the Reach, and from him sprung numerous other lines and families.
- Durran[5] - first of the Storm Kings, who raised Storm's End to check the wrath of the gods for wedding their daughter Elenei
- The Grey King [3] of the Iron Islands - legends hold that he wed a mermaid and became king of the western isles and all the sea beyond.
- Symeon Star-Eyes - a legendary knight who was blind.
While much was achieved during this ancient era, it was at a cost - in the midst of the Age of Heroes fell the longest and blackest of winters - the the Long Night which heralded the arrival of the Others.
During this time it was also recorded by the Night's Watch that the children of the forest gave the defenders of the Wall a hundred obsidian daggers every year.[6]
Quotes
The oldest histories we have were written after the Andals came to Westeros. The First Men only left us runes on rocks, so everything we know about the Age of Heroes and the Dawn Age and the Long Night comes from accounts set down by septons thousands of years later. There are archmaesters at the Citadel who question all of it. Those old histories are full of kings who reigned for a hundred years, and knights riding around a thousand years before there were knights.[6]
- Samwell Tarly, to Jon Snow
See Also
References and Notes
- ↑ A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Campaign guide
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.