The Iron Islands

Great Wyk

Orkmont

Saltclife

Lonely Light

Nagga's Hill

House Botley of Lordsport

House Codd House Drumm of Old Wyk

House Farwynd of the Lonely Light

House Farwynd of Sealskin Point

House Goodbrother of Corpse Lake

House Goodbrother of Crow Spike Keep

House Goodbrother of Downdelving

House Goodbrother of the Hammerhorn

House Goodbrother of Shatterstone

House Harlaw of Grey Garden

House Harlaw of Harlaw Halls

House Humble

House Ironmaker

House Kenning of Harlaw

House Merlyn of Pebbleton

House Netley

House Myre of Harlaw

House Orkwood of Orkmont

House Saltcliffe

House Sharp

House Shepherd

House Sparr of Great Wyk

House Stonehouse of Old Wyk

House Stonetree of Harlaw

House Sunderly of Saltcliffe

House Tawney of Orkmont

House Volmark of Volmark

House Weaver

House Wynch of Iron Holt

### Named For

Some say the archipelago is named after the abundant iron ore on the islands, the ironmen claim it is instead named after their own unyielding nature.

The Iron Islands is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms. Until Aegon's Conquest it was ruled by the Kings of the Iron Islands and briefly, they regained independence and were ruled between House Greyjoy, Drumm and Blacktyde after a series of wars such as the War for the Seadragon Throne, Urragon's Folly and ended with The Ironborn Civil War in which the Ironborn returned to the fold of the Iron Throne.

The Iron Islands are home to a fierce seafaring people who call themselves the ironborn. While some say the archipelago is named after the abundant iron ore on the islands, the ironmen claim it is instead named after their own unyielding nature.It is often said that every captain is a king aboard his own ship, so the islands are also called "the land of ten thousand kings".

The isles are ruled by House Greyjoy from their castle of Pyke. Notable houses have included Blacktyde, Botley, Drumm, Goodbrother, Greyiron, Harlaw, Hoare, Merlyn, Stonehouse, Sunderly, Tawney, and Wynch. Bastards of noble origin from the Iron Islands receive the surname Pyke.

The Ironborn worship the Drowned God.

## History

The three major and devastating wars of the Iron Islands resulted in their restored vassalage to the Targaryen's of the Iron Throne. Their fleets were destroyed, their men depleted and their shipbuilding restricted.

### The Isles at the turn of the century

Ever since the end of the war with the Iron Throne and the ascension of House Greyjoy, the Isles have been relatively stable. At the turn of the century, a brutal civil war wracked the Iron Islands for three years, resulting in the death of Sigrun Blacktyde and her faction. The conflict decimated what remained of the Ironborn fleet and ended at Lordsport when Rodrik took the life of Joron Saltcliffe and avenged his fallen father.

Following their integration into the crown, Lord Reaper Rodrik Greyjoy ruled with an iron fist to ensure any and all rebellion would be stifled.

His reign saw the death of Sigrun Blacktyde and the establishment of the High Justicar on Pyke being a watchful eye. Rodrik Greyjoy lived a stressful life after his ascension, overseeing the rebuilding of the Iron Fleet, slowly but surely. True to his word to the crown, he did not raid nor pillage the shores of Westeros. Despite his nature, he kept any Lord daring to do so in check.

Rodrik did not rule through fear and strength only. After the devastating wars between the crown and within, he sought reconciliation with those that sided with House Blacktyde. Lords that swore fealty and did homage to him and the crown retained their lands, titles and incomes with only the cost of hostages. Even House Blacktyde went unpunished. Mostly. Rodrik would take more hostages from their house, but left them their Valyrian steel. His own son Vickon, born at the turn of the century, was betrothed to Yssa Sunderly, ending the feud.

### Old Ways and New

Most of Rodrik’s reign was surprisingly peaceful. Outside of putting down rabble rousers clamoring for freedom, his life was mostly then uneventful. Rodrik insisted on teaching the Old Way through tradition and faith, though less and less in practice. This did not mean the end of reaving, Essos was a frequent target of expeditions he and his son took part in with their lords to placate them.

Some lords themselves adopted the new way, trading and bartering. Few adopted the Seven but the Faith of the Drowned God reigned supreme.

### Cobblist Uprising

The Peasant rebellions in the Riverlands and the Westerlands provided an ample opportunity for the Ironborn. When Marq led his rabble against their lords, Rodrik and his son saw opportunity.

Ostensibly, the Ironborn were aiding the Lannister’s and Tully’s in restoring order. In reality, with the blank check of their corrupt High Justicar Ser Brynden Blount, the Ironborn raided up and down the Westerlands and the Riverlands. Burning, looting and raping the villages of “accused” Cobblists and taking its people as thralls.

Leading many of these raids over the three years was young Vickon Greyjoy who made his name as a captain and reaver in his own right.

Lord Rodrik enriched his coffers with the booty of the Riverlands and West before returning to Pyke when Marq was executed.

However this was not enough to quell the desire of many Ironborn. With tacit, albeit unofficial, support from Rodrik, Vickon led another two years of raiding in the Stepstones around 116-119 AC on and off. It was here men first began calling Vickon the ‘Kingfish.’

Having brought so much loot to his men, even common born men made off with some wealth. Acclaimed as “King of all the fishes”, Vickon would shorten it to the ‘Kingfish’ later in life.

While raiding the Stepstones was quite profitable for the Ironborn, a terrible fate came upon those remaining on the Isles.. Returning home from their reaving, the Ironborn found their homeland tormented by a vile disease The dragonblight which tormented the North had arrived on the Iron Islands, spreading rapidly and killing many in its cruel wake. All major islands but Lonely Light were infected by the disease and it left in its wake the rising Cult of the ‘Gift.’ Many turned to faith in these times. The disease largely passed by 122 AC.

### Gods and Cults

In the year 118 AC, as the tensions of the faith in Westeros continue to rise, it rears its ugly head in the Isles. The radical missionaries of the West arrive on the Isles, preaching for a few weeks before Rodrik Greyjoy determines that they have no place on the Iron Islands.

At the urging of his son and his advisors, Rodrik Greyjoy permitted the harming of the priests. They were, of course, slaughtered mercilessly, with rumors that Vickon himself was part of the killings, but such things were never proven.

After the killings, the Ironborn delivered and displayed their work at Lannisport, a stark warning to any seeking to convert the Ironborn.

One of the major results of these killings was the emergence of the swiftly growing “Cult of the ‘Gift’.”

One of the major beliefs in the Faith of the Drowned God is that God grants every man “a gift”, something in which he excels in. This growing cult of worshippers extol the importance of the gift and place it above all other parts of their faith. Vickon Greyjoy is currently a patron of the Cult, having been one of the first few Ironborn to well and truly obsess over the concept of the ‘gift.’

The Ironborn as a whole are divided on faith. While both parties worship the same God with the same beliefs, the exhalation of the ‘gift’ has led to some serious implications, namely that of potentially proselytizing outside of the Isles, and the changes that might bring.

### Kingfish Ascendant

In 119 AC, only a year later, Rodrik Greyjoy would breathe his last. Many men had opinions on Rodrik, a madman to some, an able administrator to others, a warrior in his own right, a defender of the faith or a brutal heathen. Whatever he may have been, he died of a stroke at the age of three and nine, bringing an end to his short but eventually life.

His young son, who had been raiding the Essos ever since the end of 115,, quickly returned home to assume his position as Lord of the Iron Islands and Lord Reaper of Pyke. The enigmatic and mysterious Vickon Greyjoy took his throne at nine and ten, marrying his once on and off lover and his betrothed, his beloved wife and only true advisor, Yssa Sunderly.

### High Justicar of the Isles

Ever since bending the knee and the devastating civil war, a High Justicar has kept an eye on the Ironborn. Based on Pyke, this position is idealized by many, but in reality is a cruel and churning post with many risks.

The first few High Justicars held Lord Greyjoy on a tight leash, however not all Justicars were made equal. The first High Justicar was eventually murdered by a fisherman who thought he was someone else in the night.

This began a long line of High Justicars taking the position known as the worst in Westeros. Most men either quit, are killed or become corrupt. Depending on the man, the Justicar is either a strong arbiter of the King’s laws or a puppet appointed by Greyjoy. With a high turnover rate, there have been many, though few stand out in history.

The first and greatest was Ser Terrence Coldwater, steadfast and resolute. None have ever matched his strength and incorrigible nature.

Many years later, in 114 AC, Ser Brynden Blount was the very opposite of Coldwater. Corrupt, greedy and cruel. Ser Brynden lived a lavish life in Pyke under the pay of the Greyjoy’s. It was his approval and control of information that practically gave Rodrik a blank check to reave the West and Riverlands. Whenever the Ironborn needed Cobblists to “appear” in a village, Ser Brynden made it so.

In 118 AC, Ser Brynden protested the killings of the Septons, he was beaten to death with clubs by a band of brigands soon after. Writing a letter to the king, Ser Brydnen’s corruption was shown as embezzlement, proving his corruption. The same brigands were executed in one stroke, removing two birds with one stone. Rodrik’s son was behind this plot.

The current High Justicar is \_\_\_\_

## Recent History

### The Great Reaving of 126 AC

Leading his lords and any who wished to come, Lord Vickon sailed back to Essos for a great reaving. The Ironborn and their allies raided up and down the Narrow Sea for a year until a joint Pentoshi-Tyroshi fleet smashed a part of their fleet, forcing them to return in 127 AC. The raids reached as far as the Summer Isles and some even reached Lorath.

### Hunting for Red Rain

Ever since the end of the war in 99 AC, House Drumm was in disaster. Their king was killed, they were reduced back to lords, their power obliterated and their fleets struck. Worst of all, their treasured Valyrian steel sword Red Rain, was lost. Rumored to be off the coast of Dorne, House Drumm has tirelessly sought to recover their ancestral blade. Vickon Greyjoy has supported their endeavor and has even launched an expedition once to recover the weapon for the Drumm’s. A current reward is out for any man able to recover the sword and return it to the Bonehand. Who will answer the call to adventure?!

### Harlaw's Harlot

A crisis is brewing between House Harlaw and House Farwynd of Sealskin Point. Lord Farwynd’s son and heir, Erik, has been killed by Harras Harlaw and his brothers, for lying with their sister, Asha Harlaw. House Harlaw claims she was raped while House Farwynd denies it, and demands justice for Erik’s death. Violence has broken out here and there between Harlaw men and Farwynd men, but has ceased after the Kingfish arrived with Drowned Havoc and informed them of the death of the King. Suffice to say, tensions between Lords Harlaw and Farwynd will be high in King’s Landing and on their return home, who knows what will occur.