agameofclothes:
Rings of the Free Cities
1. Braavos, known as Braavos of the Hundred Isles, is the greatest and most powerful of the Free Cities, located in a lagoon on the northwestern end of Essos, where the narrow sea and the Shivering Sea meet. There is a stretch of land to the south called the Braavosian Coastland that is claimed by Braavos. The ruler of Braavos is known as the Sealord and it is from the sea that the city’s power and wealth flows. Because was established by former Valyrian slaves, the founders of Braavos vowed that no man, woman, or child in the city should ever be a slave, thrall, or bondsman. This became the First Law of Braavos, engraved in stone on the arch that spans the Long Canal. The city is comprised of a hundred islands linked together by small stone bridges spanning the many canals throughout the city. There are no trees to be found within the city (except in the courts and gardens of the mighty), making Braavos a city of stone architecture and granite monuments. The streets are lined with houses made of grey stone, built so close that they lean upon one another.
2. Pentos is a large port city, and may be one of the most populous of the Free Cities. It lies on the Bay of Pentos off the narrow sea, with the Flatlands plains and Velvet Hills to the east. The city has many square brick towers, controlled by the spice traders. Most of the roofing is done in tiles. Pentos is a city where wealth equals power, ruled over by a prince with a council of magisters. The prince has a mostly ceremonial function while the rich magisters rule. The prince is chosen from the forty families, and presides chiefly over balls and feasts,[3] is carried from place to place in a rich palanquin with a handsome guard and each new year he must deflower two maidens: the maid of the sea, and the maid of the fields to ensure prosperity on land and sea. However, if there is famine or war is lost, the magisters sacrifice the prince and slit his throat to appease the gods, then choose a new prince.
3. Myr is one of the Free Cities. It is known for its lace and its green nectar. The inhabitants of the city are renowned for being great craftsmen. Its main exports are its finished goods, such as its carpets and lace. The best glass comes from Myr; a clear pane is worth its weight in spice. The best far-eyes are also made in Myr, and are as a result known as Myrish eyes. Myr produces gowns made of Myrish lace. The city also has artisans skilled in creating crossbows and carving. Myr sits on the eastern shore of the Sea of Myrth, along the western coast of Essos.
4. Lys, known as Lys the Lovely, is one of the nine Free Cities of Essos. It is a small city clinging to rocks surrounded by stormy seas. Lys is known for the alchemists who work in the city, who are known to make poisons, the strangler and the tears of Lys among them. The people of Lys curl and perfume their hair. Blue eyes are common among the Lyseni and blonde hair is a common trait among those native to Lys. Many Lysene have valyrian features such as the white white-blond hair and purple eyes, as the blood of the old Freehold still runs strong there. Slaves outnumber the freeborn three to one. One of the greatest temples of R'hllor stands in Lys.
5. Qohor, also known as the City of Sorcerers in folklore, is one of the nine Free Cities located in western Essos. It lies near a great forest, the Forest of Qohor. The city was founded by religious dissidents that abandoned Valyria, rejecting the religious tolerance practiced by the Freehold. It is widely believed that the dark arts, such as divination, blood magic, and necromancy are practiced in Qohor. The Qohorik worship the deity known as the Black Goat, who demands daily blood sacrifice, calves, bullocks, and horses are the animals most often brought before the Black Goat’s altars, but on holy days condemned criminals are sacrificed by the god’s priests; and in times of crisis, the nobility of the city offer their own children to placate the god. The city’s defense is made up entirely of Unsullied. Qohorik artisans are famed. Qohorik tapestries, woven mostly by women and children, are just as fine as those from Myr, though less costly. Exquisiste, yet disturbings, wood carvings can be bought in Qohor’s markets, while Qohorik swords, knives, and armor are superior even to the best castle-forged steel of Westeros. Qohorik blacksmiths have the ability to meld paint in with the metals. Some blacksmiths also preserve the secret of how to reforge Valyrian steel, guarding it jealously.
6. Lorath is one of the Nine Free Cities. It is situated in a group of islands in the Shivering Sea near the northern coast of Essos. Lorath is ruled by a council of three princes. The Harvest Prince is chosen by a vote of all those who owned land on the islands, the Fisher Prince by all those who owned ships, and the Prince of the Streets by the acclamation of the free men of the city. Once chosen, each prince serves for life. The princes continue to sit today, though their titles are purely ceremonial; the true authority now lies in a council of magisters made up of nobles, priests, and merchants. Lorath is accounted as the poorest of the Free Cites, as well as the most isolated. Though possessing a large fleet of fishing vessels, the Lorathi build few warships and have little military power.
7. Tyrosh is a harbor city and one of the Free Cities. It sits on an island to the north of the Stepstones, just off the coast of the Disputed Lands of Essos at the entrance to the harbour sits the Bleeding Tower. The ruler of Tyrosh is called the Archon. He is chosen from among the members of a convlace of the wealthiest and noblest of the city. Tyroshi are renowned for their greed. They constantly fight to gain control of the Stepstones and Disputed Lands.They love bright colors, even coloring their hair brightly. Their inventors are known for creating ornate helmets and ingenious torture devices. Their dialect is a corrupted form of High Valyrian. Slaves and sellswords are common in Tyrosh. It is renowned for its pear brandy, and Tyroshi armorsmiths can make fantastic helmets shaped like birds and animals, chased with precious metals.
8. Volantis, is a city in southwestern Essos, located at the mouth of the Rhoyne on the Summer Sea. It is the oldest and the proudest of the Nine Free Cities. Volantis is the oldest of the Free Cities. It was the first colony of the Valyrian Freehold - her “first daughter”- and still maintains many of its traditions. After the Bleeding Years following the Doom, they considered themselves the heirs to the Freehold and rightful rulers of of the world. The city is divided by the Black Wall. A great oval of fused black stone built two hundred feet high by the Valyrians when Volantis was no more than an outpost of their empire. It protects the oldest part of the city on the eastern shore, often called Old Volantis. It is wide enough for six four-horse chariots to race around its top abreast, as is done each year to celebrate the founding of the city. No outlander, freeman, or foreigner is allowed inside the Black Wall save at the invitation of those who dwell within. Only scions of the Old Blood who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria itself may live within the Black Wall. Volantis is ruled over by three triarchs, each of whom rules for a year. Each year the freeborn landholders of Volantis can elect a new triarch or reelect a current one. There are precious few voters west of the river Rhoyne. The elections are ten days of madness, with much campaigning and bribery.Only those of Old Blood who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria can be a triarch. The triarchs belong to either the elephant or tiger political parties. The elephants are the party of the merchants and moneylenders, while the tigers are old aristocracy and warriors. The elephants advocate trade and the tigers advocate the sword. Volantis is key to the slave market, trading heavily with the cities of Slaver’s Bay to the east. It is said there are five slaves to every free man in the city. Tattooing is very common among the populace. Slave owners tattoo their slaves to prevent theft and to show the slave’s purpose. Tears are tattooed on the cheeks of pleasure slaves; flames on the cheeks of slaves of R'hllor; tiger stripes on the cheeks of the city guard; flies on the slaves who clean up dung;
9. Norvos, called Great Norvos by its people, is one of the nine Free Cities. It lies in the interior of Essos, between Pentos and Qohor. Norvos sits among the Hills of Norvos, it is a land of rolling hills and terraced farms, surrounded by small walled villages that support the larger city. The city is divided into two sections, with the High City on the tallest hill in the region, and the Low City located at the base of the hill by the river. The lower city if full with riverman’s haunts, brothels, and taverns. It is where the lowborn Norvoshi, out of sight of priests, nobles, or soldiers, find entertainment, away from the wind and prayer of the higher city. Bears are known to be made to dance down the Sinner’s Steps. There are three bells throughout the city, each given its own name:Noom having a deep sound, Narrah having a strong sound, Nyel having a higher pitched sound. Norvos is nominally ruled by a High Magister and a council of religious protectors, chosen by the bearded priests. Among the Norvoshi only the bearded priests are allowed beards. The freeborn of the city, both noble or lowborn favor long, unswept mustachios, whilst slaves and women are shaved bare. Norvoshi women shave off all of their hair, though noblewomen don wigs, specially when in company of men from other lands and cities. Norvoshi are known as masters at creating intricate textiles, including fine tapestries that are renowned the world over, and for an annual festival that features bears dancing.