House Greyjoy

Son of the Sea Wind

> *"Whenever autumn waned and winter threatened, the longships would come raiding after food. And so the Iron Islands ate, even in the depths of winter, whilst oft as not the men who had planted, tended, and harvested the crops starved. 'We do not sow,' became the boast of the Greyjoys, whose rulers began to style themselves Lords Reaper of Pyke."*
>
> — Archmaester Yandel

House Greyjoy of Pyke is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, made Lord of the Iron Islands after Aegon's Conquest. They rule over the Iron Islands in Ironman's Bay, from the castle of Pyke, on the isle of Pyke. Their history is storied, with members of the family looming large in the history of the Iron Islands ever since the Age of Heroes. Their sigil is a gold kraken on a black field, and their words are *We Do Not Sow.*

## Traits

Members of House Greyjoy tend to be black of hair, with dark black eyes, though the house has intermarried with many of the other houses of the Iron Islands over the years.

## History

### Ancient History

The Greyjoys claim descent from a son of the Grey King in the age of Heroes, like each of the major houses in the Iron Islands.

In the days of the Kingsmoot, it is said that no house other than Goodbrother and Greyiron had more kings chosen than Greyjoy, with many illustrious kings chosen from their ranks. Loren Greyjoy, the Old Kraken, took Bear Island, Cape Kraken, and much of the western shore of the North from the starks. Balon Greyjoy the Fifth take sail against the fleets of the North, smashing them. And Theon Greyjoy the Third, during the decline of the Iron Islands, was slain by Lord Lymond Hightower of Oldtown, the ironborn fleet destroyed at Hightower.

When the Greyirons declared the kingship hereditary, the Greyjoys watched and waited. The Andals would give them the power they needed, and they would intermarry with them, siding with the Hoares against the Greyirons, placing yet another king from Orkmont on the throne.

### Aegon's Conquest

But the Hoare's dominion would not last forever. When Aegon burned Harrenhal, the ironborn fled from the Riverlands, rushing back to the Iron Islands where they would find a disunited people. The houses were in turmoil, fighting amongst themselves until Aegon Targaryen arrived, quelling the talk of rebellion and inducting the Iron Islands into his fledgeling kingdom. The Ironborn, no stranger to strength, obeyed.

But he allowed them to choose which house would rule over them, and the choice was Lord Vickon Greyjoy, a distinguished captain. He was the first Lord of the Iron Islands, a loyal man who angered those who still dreamed of returning to the Old Way when he forbade reaving in Westeros, as well as allowing the return of the septons to the islands. He would die in 33 AC, and the Seastone Chair would pass to Goren Greyjoy.

Goren Greyjoy prevailed over the Iron Islands when Aegon the Conquerer died in 37 AC, and faced a struggle of his own. A man claiming to be Lodos the Twice Drowned arrived in the Iron Islands, raising folk in Old Wyk and Great Wyk against the Greyjoy's and Goren acted quickly. He arrived en masse to these islands, putting thousands to the sword and sending the head of Lodos to King Aenys. In return, the king offered him a boon, and to correct the mistake of his father, Lord Goren evicted all members of the faith on the Iron Islands. The Drowned God once again reigned supreme on the isles.

It was in 128 AC that Dalton Greyjoy was named Lord of the Iron Islands after his father's death, at the age of 15. He was a distinguished reaver, having sailed to the Basilisk Isles, Old Ghis, and the Stepstones. It was in the Stepstones he claimed the valyrian steel sword *Nightfall*, off the corpse of a corsair. Once he was became Lord of Pyke, he set the people of the Iron Islands to preparing for war; making swords and longships, beginning to train fighters. His instincts were right, and only a year later did the storm arrive.

### The Dance of Dragons

When the Dance of Dragons erupted, Dalton Greyjoy wisely waited to see what each side would offer before committing his forces. Aegon II Targaryen promised him the position of Master of Ships if he would bring his fleet around to fight Corlys Velaryon, but Dalton paid him no heed. Rhaenyra Targaryen asked him to attack the West, and in 129 AC, the fleets and men of the Iron Islands attacked the West, returning to their ancient ways.

The West was poorly defended, with Lord Jason Lannister and his men in the Riverlands. Casterly Rock barred its gates, but the rest of the West was ripe for the taking. Dalton Greyjoy smashed the fleets of the West, sacked Lannisport, and took hundreds of captives. He moved against Kayce next, taking the castle before claiming Faircastle and Fair Isle for the ironborn. There he took four of Lord Farman's daughters as his salt wives, though he had not yet taken a rock wife.