summer Isles

Geography

The islands, which number more than fifty, separate the Sunset Sea to the west from the Summer Sea to the east. The three largest islands by far are (from north to south) Walano, Omboru, and Jhala, all of which are larger than the Stepstones. The Smiling Sea divides Walano and Omboru, and the Indigo Straits divide Omboru from Jhala. Walano contains the settlements of Lotus Port, Last Lament, and Tall Trees Town. The cultural or religious heart of the islands seems to be Tall Trees Town, where priestesses carve histories and laws into the Talking Trees. Jhala contains the settled valleys of Red Flower Vale and Sweet Lotus Vale, the latter of which contains the port city of Ebonhead. North of Walano are Stone Head and the Isle of Women, while Koj and the Isle of Birds are to the south. Between the Isle of Birds and Omboru is the Smiling Sea, and the Indigo Straits are between Omboru and Jhala. West of those two large islands are the Singing Stones, the Three Exiles, the Isle of Love, and Moluu. South of Jhala are Parrot Bay, Xon, Doquu, and the Bones. Near the eastern coast of Khala is Lizard Head. The rain forests, sandy beaches, and towering mountains of the isles are inhabited by spotted panthers, packs of lean red wolves, tribes of monkeys, and crocodiles. Apes include the "old red men" on Omboru, silver pelts on Jhala, and night stalkers on Walano. The isles are also known for their beautiful birds and flowers.

People

The Summer Islanders are strong and tall, a handsome people eager to learn. Their skin color includes nut brown, teak, ebony, and polished jet. Their hair and eyes are black. They speak the Summer Tongue and often wear capes of brightly-colored feathers when ashore. The Common Tongue can have an amber, liquid accent when spoken by an islander. Their consists primarily of fruits and fish. Nine out of every ten islanders lives on Jhala, Omboru, or Walano, with the latter being the most populous. The Summer Islanders worship a score of deities, with the god and goddess of love, beauty, and fertility being the most favored. The act of lovemaking is considered an important and even holy skill, with all islanders expected to serve for a time in temples of love. The most skilled and dedicated, those who would be can become respected priests and priestesses. Prostitution is a respectable profession, practiced even by the high-born. Summer Islanders respect the elderly, and their mourning customs include celebrating the life of the deceased by drinking rum and making love, answering death with life. Each of the islands is ruled by a prince or princess, with the three larger islands each having multiple rivals. Some Summer Islanders have become mercenary bowmen or sellsails, guardsmen in the Free Cities, or pirates. Abducted islanders have been forced to fight in the fighting pits of Slaver's Bay. Some descendants of the Rhoynar live on the Isle of Women.

military

The Summer Islanders traditionally utilized long thrusting spears, short stabbing spears, slings, wooden shields, and little armor. The isles produce some of the best archers in the known world, and their special bows have a longer range than most others, giving their merchant boats added defense against pirates. Aside from dragonbone, the best bows come from the goldenheart tree which are only found on the Summer Isles. The archers fire yard-long shafts. The Summer Isles are known for their swan ships, which were first designed by Xanda Qo. Koj has been the main center of shipbuilding in the islands since the time of Malthar Xaq thousands of years ago, with three-quarters of all swan ships being built there. Each swan ship has a complement of red archers wielding goldenheart bows. According to maesters, the Summer Islands are by and large a peaceful place. Warfare is highly ritualized, taking place on days and times chosen by their priests. Battles more closely resemble tourney melees in Westeros. Two opposing teams of warriors, both male and female, meet at a battlefield chosen and consecrated in advance by their priests. It is forbidden to use goldenheart bows, only spears and slings. Such "wars" rarely last longer than a single day. The losers who survive are not executed or mutilated but must leave the islands in exile, while the winners gain what was in dispute, such as the loser's lands. In this way, only the warriors themselves are harmed. The Summer Islanders have not attempted to conquer other nations.

economy

Gemstones of the isles include emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, as well as pearls from the coasts. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper are among the islands' spices, and rare spices are used in the creation of the strangler. Valuable hardwoods include bloodwood, ebony, mahogany, purpleheart, blue mahoe, burl, tigerwood, and pink ivory, among others. Export of goldenheart, which grows on Jhala and Omboru and is famed for making high quality bows, is forbidden, although the lance of Ser Jaime Lannister is made of the golden wood. The islands also produce exotic fruits and sweet amber wine and palm wine. The islands are home to a myriad of beautiful tropical birds, including parrots, and their feathers are popular with foreigners. Native animals are purchased by wealthy foreign collectors for their menageries; apes, monkeys, spotted panther cubs, and parrots were popular with the dragonlords of the Valyrian Freehold. The Summer Islanders trade their resources for iron, tin, and other metals which are rare in their homeland. Their large merchant fleet travels to major ports such as Oldtown, King's Landing, Braavos, and Qarth. Ships from the Port of Ibben have traveled as far south as the Summer Isles. The chamber of the small council in the Red Keep has a carved screen from the islands.

summer islanders quote about Westeros

"All you Westerosi make a shame of loving. There is no shame in loving. If your septons say there is, your seven gods must be demons. In the isles, we know better. Our gods gave us legs to run with, noses to smell with, hands to touch and feel. What mad cruel god would give a man eyes and tell him he must forever keep them shut and never look at all the beauty in the world? Only a monster god, a demon of the darkness."