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.
City[]
Layout[]
Lorath is located on the western side of the largest of three islands surrounded by storm seas. It is located at the mouth of Lorath Bay and, with the exception of Braavos, is the northernmost of the Free Cities. The second-largest island is Lorassyon, but there are a score of smaller isles. To the south of the isles is a thickly forested peninsula.
People[]
While the cult of Boash has long gone extinct, certain of these speaking habits are still used in Lorath today. Adherents came to refer to themselves and others using indefinite pronouns; they did not use names, and referred to themselves as "a man" and "a woman", instead of saying "I", "me", or "mine". Nobles regard it as vulgar to speak of one's self directly.
Economy[]
The Lorathi isles are bleak and stony, but in their waters plenty of cod, whales, and grey leviathans can be found, as well as colonies of walrus and seal. These form the greater part of the city's trade. The city's powerful textile merchants specialize in rich velvet, which they trade for steel. The steel is traded along the Shivering Sea for furs, ivory, and obsidian, which are then traded for the materials to make velvet.
Politics[]
Lorath used to be ruled by three princes: the Harvest Prince, the Fisher Prince, and the Prince of the Streets. These princes, once chosen, served for life, and all are chosen by vote. While the council of princes still exists today, their titles have become ceremonial. The actual rule of Lorath now resides with a council of magisters made up of nobles, priests, and merchants.
History[]
Ancient Lorath was inhabited by a people known as the mazemakers, who created mazes on the islands and on mainland Essos to the south. The mazemakers were followed first by a race of hairy men similar to the Ibbenese, and then by the Andals, with each island having its own king. The largest of the islands even had four kings.
For the next thousand years, the Andals fought amongst each other, until the Andal warrior Qarlon the Great united the Lorathi isles under his rule. Qarlon wanted to become king of all Andals, and he conquered petty kingdoms over twenty years. Norvos eventually closed the rivers against him, causing Qarlon to march against the city. Norvos called to the Valyrian Freehold for help, and Valyria answered. Qarlon and his army were destroyed, followed soon thereafter by the Scouring of Lorath.Records in Westeros speak about the survivors.
It iis said that the ancestors of House Blurson ruled as petty kings for years on one of the isles of the Lorathi arquipélago;On the Cidatel they suggest the Blur Isle as their old centre of power(giving the name to the house which is usually confused with their styled settlement on the North,Blur Mountains).As things came the little kingdom fall being Bannerman and allies to King Qarlon the Great for a long period of time.All until the dragons came,the halls of the Lorathi nobility were left to ashes and their prosperity gone in the plunders.Erreg "The Blurson" flee the island during the attack of the dragonlords with his brothers:Lucion and Qarre;west were land was still save and not a hell of flames.
As the tale goes Qarre remained on a stormy land which the other brothers found too hot for their own taste(Blur Isle was famous for its cold weather being equal to Ib),the survivors of the Fires of the Freehold chooses as well some remaining on the land with the youngest brother.The Elder brothers knowing that their ancestral home was lost to the Valyrians continued their travels reaching the Sunset Sea and the Kingdom of the Reach where they were offered land and wives in exchange of fealty;If the Lorathi noblemen were known for something apart from their mazes was their pride,following the only option possible on the table refusal.On the Cidatel the details differed from Mistdoor's archives,telling that the Blurson brothers attempt an attack on the lands of House Bandallon and they were pushed back by a coalition of first men but the matter remains unclear.
On their way to colder lands,Erreg would lead their fleet of ships to the known Lannisport hearing tales of the riches of the port city.Both archives confirm the purpose of the incursion a sacking of the land being a way of steal provisions and the riches the old house had lost.Not riches but swords they get,the old and dubious Battle of the Three Navies took place,as the reavers of the Iron Fleet also join the conflict.The battle is recorded as the bloodiest naval conflict of all the Westerosi history,The Lorathi lead by Erreg "The Blurson",the Ironborn by an old Dagon Hoarre and the Westermen by an unknown King of the Rock.
Lannisport unfortunately for the Lannisters had been under repairs so the defences were weak being the cause of the attack of the Ironborn,the sources doubt the knowledge Erreg had of the accounts.Then the Blurson large galleys start firing from their Warships followed by the fleet of Hoarre causing an unprepared Red Lion to fall ship by ship slaughtering thousands of lives eaten by the two bloodthirsty captains as breakfast.Dagon Hoarre was a hated man some apailing to his old age and weak mind justify his actions,the old man's sanity was lost when he started attacking his own fleet with his Flag Ship claiming that "A Kraken hunts alone",then Erreg pushed his attack to the distract reavers boats falling on disconcert and betrayal none can tell the end of Dagon.
On Mistdoor Dragon is said to have fallen from his ship slained by Erreg and others said that he fell pushed of by his men.The things is that Lannisport was at last sacked by the Blurson troops,the food and minerals were charged on the Warships as a remember of the carnage.Less is known after the battle the Cidatel speaks about a foreign force pushed back by the Royal Western Troops near Casterly Rock but on Mistdoor archives it is told different focusing on a Weaker Iron Islands.The Plunder of the Iron Islands was meant to be swift but profitable being the last parade on the Blurson brothers spot on the North of Westeros.This humiliation is said to be the source of hate of the Ironborn to the descendants of Erreg but that is lost in memory.
Despite all the warfare and constant struggle,the Haze fleet was said to be a mighty host being the greatest naval armada of the time.On the arrival on the Stony Shore a barren land without the gardens they've seen South,Erreg and Lucion felt like home and decided to make their homeland on the forgotten region,Then the story turns into legend when the Battle of Wytte takes place.The Silver gigantic snake Wytte was worshipped by the people of the land at time being as some some claim a creature of the Old Gods,which throwed blue acid capable of shattering everything of the known world,it is said to have lived a thousand years and being control by a Witch King of House Fisher every generation.Hart Fisher was said to be a ghost himself living more years than anyone could count ruling with a hard fist over the region only paying vassalage to the old Kings of Winter.
The Brothers and their host faced the Witch King on several battles but the most known was the "Battle of the Grey Mountain" given the name because of the dry dog that surrendered the mountain making.As is recorded on Mistdoor archives the constant ambushes within the troops were constant being the two armies accustomed on hostile haze terrain.Erreg charged through the lines slashing tons of men until he reached the Silver Wytte pushing the sword "Maze" towards it neck releasing the souls of thousands the beast has retain for generations then the last Witch King of Fisher fell and the rest is beyond the mith.
As all the legends the story is cynically doubt it by the Maesters of the Cidatel which claims that magic never was a thing on the world and it is clearly exaggerated.But true is that the sons of Lorath would take their new residence on the Stony Shore and the feud with House Fisher would remain for years to come.
As a Colony[]
In 1436 BC, Von made the land their territory which they held even at the time;the long feud with their neighbours of House Fisher was said to born around the time.Valyrian worshippers of the Blind God Boash travelled to Lorath and founded a temple on the main isle, settling in the ancient mazes of the first Lorathi, turning them into their towns, temples, and tombs. In time, the islands became a refuge for freedmen and escaped slaves, as the priests of Boash taught that every man was equal.
The numbers of newcomers swelled whilst the numbers of the followers of Boash dwindled, and as the worship fell away, the remaining priests became more corrupt. Eventually, the colonists rose in rebellion. The acolytes of Boash who remained were killed, though several managed to flee to the great temple maze on Lorassyon, where they remained until the last of them died, the best part of a century later.
After the Doom[]
The relative isolation of Lorath led it to be little involved in the Century of Blood after the Doom of Valyria, save for those Lorathi who sold their swords to Braavos and Norvos. Though the Lorathi possess a large fleet of fishing vessels, they have little military power, and build few warships. Not many Lorathi ever leave the islands. Even fewer Lorathi make their way to Westeros. Instead, Lorath prefers to trade with their near neighbors: Norvos, Braavos, and Ib.
Recent Events[]
In the year 131AC, Lorath joined Braavos and Pentos in an alliance to make an end to the Kingdom of the Three Daughters.