Qohor

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Qohor
Free City
HBO dothraki khalasar to Qohor.png
Qohor's army outside of the walls of the city
Location Essos, Free Cities, the Forest of Qohor
Religion Black Goat of Qohor
Free Cities.png

Qohor, also known as the City of Sorcerers,[1] is the easternmost of the nine Free Cities located in western Essos.[2]

City

See also: Images of Qohor

Location

Standing on the banks of the river Qhoyne, a tributary of the Rhoyne, on the western edge of the Forest of Qohor, the city is seen as a gateway to the east. Trading caravans bound for Vaes Dothrak and the lands beyond the Bone Mountains provision themselves in Qohor before heading towards the Dothraki sea. Similarly, caravans returning from the Dothraki sea arrive first at Qohor.[1] Qohor is surrounded by strong walls.[1]

Northwest of Qohor is Norvos and to the south Volantis.[3][4] The Qohorik rule the Qhoyne north of the ruins of Ar Noy[5] and the eastern bank of the Darkwash, although that river's western bank is within the domains of Norvos.[6]

People

Maesters consider Qohor the most exotic of the Free Cities. The dark arts, such as divination, blood magic, and necromancy, are believed to be practiced in the City of Sorcerers.[1]

The Qohorik believe in a dark god, the Black Goat of Qohor, who demands a daily blood sacrifice, such as calves, bullocks and horses on regular days or condemned criminals on holy days. In times of crisis, the nobles of the city are willing to sacrifice their own children in the hopes that their god will defend the city.[1] Followers of R'hllor can also be found in Qohor.[7]

Qohor is also famous for its hunters, foresters, and artisans.[1] The Qohorik have a small city watch. Ever since the Battle of Qohor, the city's defense have instead been entrusted to Unsullied from Astapor, each carrying a spear with a braid of human hair.[1][8] Occasionally, Qohor also hires free companies, and is one of several Free Cities to offer gifts to Dothraki khals so that khalasars will pass on.[1]

Economy

A coin of Qohor, as depicted by Nutchapol Thitinunthakorn in The World of Ice and Fire

Due to its location, Qohor functions like the gateway to the Dothraki Sea, being the last place the caravans travelling to the Dothraki city Vaes Dothrak and the lands beyond visit, and being the first place the caravans visit upon returning. When these caravans return, they sell and trade the items they've acquired, and it is this trade that helped make Qohor one of the most richest of the Free Cities - though it is said that Qohor was ten times richer before Sarnor was destroyed.[1]

It is the woods surrounding Qohor which are the principal source of wealth of the city. Wood from this forest is shiped down the Qhoyne to Dagger Lake, Selhorys, Valysar, Volon Therys, and Volantis.[1] In addition to this trade, many other valuables can be found in the Forest of Qohor.[1][9] Qohorik tapestries, are comparable in to those made by the Myrish, though cheaper. Exquisite wooden carvings are sold on the city's markets as well.[1]

Qohorik forges are considered to have no equa. The armor they create is seen as superior to the armor made in Westeros. They are capable of infusing a deel colour into the metal, begetting beautiful results. Additionally, the Qohorik are the only ones in the world who still possess the knowledge on how to rework Valyrian steel, a secret they guard strictly. According to Westerosi Maester Pol, he was whipped on three occasions when looking into the matter of reworking Valyrian steel too much, up to the point where he had a hand removed. He eventually was exiled. According to the maester, blood sacrifices are used for this purpose.[1]

History

Qohor was founded by religious dissidents that abandoned Valyria, rejecting the religious tolerance practiced by the Freehold.[6]

Century of Blood

Shortly after the Doom of Valyria, the dragonlord Aurion raised a host of Qohorik colonists and proclaimed himself the Emperor of Valyria; flying out on the back of his dragon, with thirty thousand men to claim what remained of Valyria and reestablish the Freehold. None were seen again.[10] At the start of the Century of Blood that folowed the Doom, a Dothraki khalasar of fifty thousand, led by Khal Temmo, rode out from the east. Qohor prepared for the arrival of the Dothraki, strengthening their walls, hiring the Bright Banners and the Second Sons. They also sent a man to Astapor, to purchase Unsullied. The three thousand Unsullied he bought arrived after the Qohorik and sellswords had been defeated. The Dothraki returned the following day to smash the city gates, and had to face the three thousand of Qohor. The Unsullied withstood eighteen charges of the Dothraki. In the end, out of the roughly twenty thousand Dothraki warriors, more than twelve thousand had died, defeated by the Unsullied in the bloody Battle of Qohor. With Khal Temmo dead, the new Khal led the Dothraki through the gates defeated, and all the Dohtraki cut off their braids. Since that day, Qohor's defenses are mostly left to the Unsullied.[1][8]

Towards the end of the Century of Blood, Qohor formed an alliance with Norvos and broke Volantene power on the Rhoyne in a battle involving fire galleys on Dagger Lake.[1][10][5]

Recent History

Shortly after being created in 211 AC,[11] the Golden Company sacked Qohor, after the city refused to honor the contract it had made with the company. This event established the reputation of the sellword company quickly.[12]

Qohor is visited every three or four years by Dothraki Khal Zekko. The Qohorik give him gifts, and he moves his khalasar on.[13]

Ben Plumm claims to be part Qohorik, through his grandmother.[14] The slave Belwas was sold from Meereen to Qohor, before being sold to Pentos.[15] During their exile, Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen spent some time in Qohor when they were wandering from place to place.[16] Tobho Mott in King's Landing learned to smith in Qohor, and is one of the few to know how to rework Valyrian steel.[17]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Daenerys Targaryen passes Qohor during the journey of Khal Drogo's khalasar from Pentos to Vaes Dothrak.[9][18]

A Clash of Kings

The Brave Companions, a sellsword company also known as the Bloody Mummers, is led by the Qohorik Vargo Hoat. They take part in the War of the Five Kings on the side of House Lannister.[19][20] Vargo changes sides during the conflict, supporting Robb Stark instead, and aids Lord Roose Bolton against the Lannisters in the fall of Harrenhal.[21]

A Storm of Swords

Fearing retribution if Roose defects to the side of House Lannister, Vargo maims Ser Jaime Lannister by cutting off his sword hand,[22] hoping to break the possibility of an alliance between Roose and Lord Tywin Lannister.[23]

In the aftermath of the Red Wedding, Ser Gregor Clegane captures Harrenhal from the few remaining Brave Companions.[24][25] and Vargo's hands are cut off.[26] Vargo is killed by Gregor before the latter leaves for King's Landing.[27]

A Feast for Crows

Garin tells Arianne Martell that according to sailors in Planky Town, followers of R'hllor rioted in Qohor and tried to burn down the Black Goat.[7]

References and Notes