Oldtown

The Starry Sept

House Costayne

House Cuy

House Mullendore

Oldtown is the largest and oldest city in Westeros, built by the First Men before the Andal invasion. Oldtown was constructed around the Hightower, the seat of House Hightower in the center of the city. Oldtown is home to the Citadel and houses the Starry Sept, the seat of the High Septon of the Faith of the Seven.

## City

### Location

Oldtown is located at the mouth of the Honeywine in the southwestern side of the Reach. North of the city are the castles Honeyholt and Brightwater Keep. To the east lies Uplands, and to the west Blackcrown and Three Towers. To enter the port of Oldtown from the Sunset Sea, one first needs to enter the Whispering Sound. The Roseroad travels from Oldtown to Highgarden, from where it continued on to King's Landing.

### Layout

Oldtown is a labyrinth of wynds, crisscrossing alleys, narrow crookback streets, and markets. These include the Thieves Market and Ragpicker's Wynd. Oldtown is built in stone, with all its streets cobbled, which can make them wet and slippery on a damp day. Most bridges are made of stone as well, although some wooden bridges can be found as well. The city itself is surrounded by massive, thick, high stone walls. Beautiful Oldtown is described as smelling as flowery as a perfumed dowager. During summer, it steams and swelters during daytime but comes alive at night. Foliage include melons, moonbloom, nightshade, peaches, and pomegranates.

Many small isles are located in Oldtown; The Quill and Tankard, an inn, stands on its own island in the Honeywine. The river road winds along beside the Honeywine through the heart of the city. West of the river, the Guildhalls line the river bank. Rat pits and black brothels are located in the undercity.

The Citadel is located upriver on both sides of the Honeywine. Boys and men gather there from all over Westeros to learn, study, and forge a maester's chain. The Citadel is considered to be the greatest seat of knowledge in the known world.

Downriver is the Starry Sept of the Faith of the Seven, which was raised on the command of Lord Triston Hightower. It became the seat of the High Septons for a thousand years, which made Oldtown the unquestioned center of the Faith for all of Westeros. Only following the construction of the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing during the second half of the second century after Aegon's Conquest, did the Starry Sept lose its status. Besides the Sept of Oldtown, at least seven more septs honoring the Seven, built on the command of Lord Damon Hightower, can be found nearby. These include the Sailor's Sept down by the harbor, the Lord's Sept, and the Seven Shrines in their gardens across the Honeywine. Oldtown is also home to a motherhouse. Down by the wharves can be found temples that cater to foreigners, such as Summer Islanders and red priests of the Lord of Light.

The mighty Hightower is a massive stepped lighthouse located on Battle Isle, where the Honeywine widens

into Whispering Sound. The Hightower has a great beacon on top, which shows ships the way to port. The Hightower is located on Battle Isle in the center of Oldtown. The Hightower is the tallest tower in the world, some say higher than even the seven-hundred-foot Wall.

### People and Economy

Oldtown is the richest city of Westeros and highest in population, with second place being King's Landing. Trade features heavily, as the city is home to the realm's second most important port. Trading ships from all the world, including the rest of Westeros, the nine Free Cities, the Summer Isles, and more, are known to call upon Oldtown's port.

Oldtown is ruled from the Hightower by House Hightower, who were originally Kings of the Hightower but later swore fealty to House Gardener, the Kings of the Reach. They became vassals of the Tyrells after the Conquest. The city is protected by the City Watch of Oldtown.

## History

The origins of Oldtown are lost to time. The oldest runic records of the First Men, as well as records from maesters that claim to have lived among the children of the forest, confirm men have lived at the mouth of the Honeywine since the Dawn Age. Maester Jellicoe suggested the settlement at Whispering Sound began as a trading post where ships from Valyria, Old Ghis, and the Summer Isles could resupply and trade with so-called "elder races".

In the Age of Heroes, what is now the Ravenry of the Citadel was supposedly the stronghold of a pirate lord who robbed ships as they came down the Honeywine. House Hightower lived within an ancient fortress of oily black stone on Battle Isle and subsequently built the Hightower above it.

Rival kings, pirates, and reavers coveted Oldtown's wealth as the city grew more powerful, but it was protected by only wooden palisades and ditches. In one century, the city was sacked by Samwell the Starfire, Qhored the Cruel, and Gyles the Woe. Three quarters of the city's inhabitants were reportedly sold into slavery by Gyles, but he failed to conquer the Hightower. Otho II, King of the High Tower, built massive stone walls to protect Oldtown.

Oldtown joined the Kingdom of the Reach when King Lymond Hightower and King Garland II Gardener agreed to marry each other's daughters.

Oldtown survived the Andal invasion by welcoming the Andals instead of resisting them. Lord Dorian Hightower married an Andal princess, while his grandson Damon converted to the Faith of the Seven.

At the time of Aegon's Conquest, Oldtown was the greatest city in Westeros. King Aegon I Targaryen's reign is dated from his entrance into the city and his acknowledgment as king by the High Septon, who had advised Lord Manfred Hightower to yield without conflict.

Oldtown contained a chapter of the Warrior's Sons during the Faith Militant uprising. Ser Joffrey Doggett gathered an army of two thousand during his journey to seek the blessing of the High Septon. Lord Martyn Hightower called his banners to resist King Maegor I Targaryen, but Oldtown submitted to the king and his mother, Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen, after the High Septon suddenly died. Maegor held court in Oldtown for half a year, dismantling the Warrior's Sons chapter and reconciling with his first wife, Queen Ceryse Hightower.