The Iron Island

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The Iron Island is one of the major factions found within Westeros and is lead by House Greyjoy. The king of the Iron Islands is Balon Greyjoy.

There sigil is a black flag with a golden kraken on a black background.

There map color is black.

History

As the smallest region of Westeros, the Iron Islands it is also one of the least inhabited areas. The Iron Islands were a formidable power prior to Aegon’s Conquering of the Seven Kingdoms. Since the Conquest, the Iron Islands, under House Greyjoy, have pursued several ruinous wars which have led to the Iron Islands being both depopulated and looted into poverty.

The Iron Islands may not contain fertile land for growing crops, nor wood for lumber, but their islands do contain rich deposits of iron, lead, and tin. While rich in mineral resources the Ironborn see the back breaking and often dangerous work in the mines as below their proud heritage and only fit for thralls. For many this leaves the only choice for wealth and power open to them as raiding and piracy in distant seas.

While the situation may seem dire for the Ironborn, the clamor for war occurring on the mainland offers another chance for greatness. While the armies of their mainland rivals face off, their lands are ripe for reaving. With the ability to pay the “iron price,” for both plunder and new thralls for the mines, the Ironborn may be able to strengthen their decaying position. Perhaps, the Ironborn could gather enough strength to pay the “iron price,” for the Iron Throne.

Religion

Considered another one of the old gods by the Faith of the Seven, the Drowned God or He Who Dwells Beneath the Waves, is the god that almost every ironborn reveres as holding power over them and creating them in his own image. The Drowned God is not a peaceful god, nor his people made in his likeness a peaceful flock, they are reavers unafraid to carve of kingdoms, and make their names known in a saga of blood and valor.

Unlike the old gods, the Drowned God, there is an organized religion behind this deity. Priest of the Drowned God wearing green, grey, and blue robes appearing haggard, disheveled, unshaven, and draped in seaweed wonder the Iron Isles leading the faithful in prayer, sacrifice, and ceremony.

To officially become a member of the faith, one must be drowned and revived with the kiss of life, though infants receive a milder treat by being dipped into a tub of seawater by a Drowned Priest. Priest also perform blessing the most common is "Let [person] your servant be born again from the sea, as you were. Bless him with salt, bless him with stone, bless him with steel." The kneeling person then responds, "What is dead may never die." The priest replies, "What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger". Sacrifice and ritual execution are common to honor the Drowned God. This is done by slashing a thrall’s throat and giving their body to the sea or drowning someone in salt water. Only the person in command can honor the gods in this manner.

The Drowned God has held sway over large swaths of Westeros with the great rivers of the land bringing the faith to the nonbelievers like arteries and veins bringing forth willing conversion or death to those who would prefer to be a sacrifice instead of a convert. A true leader and follower of the Drowned God can bring the masses to heel under the Seastone Chair or offer the Drowned God a bounty of sacrifice.

Rulers

Balon Greyjoy

Vassals

Tactics

Strengths

-Excellent infantry. -Infantry is good at forming shield walls. -Number of infantry have range abilities such as throwing axes.

Weaknesses

-Lack cavalry. -Poor archers.

Cultural Perks

Choosing the Ironborn culture at character creation will remove the morale penalty from sailing across the ocean.

Summary

Faction which has excellent and battle hardened infantry. Lack cavalry and archers are relatively weak.

Troops

Territories