Houses of the North

by Saber Shishika

There are many houses in the north yet not much is known about many of them. In this book written by a southern master is a short overview about many of the northern houses, the land under their control and the people living upon it as well as their vassals. It was written so that southern lords can read up about their northern neighboors in a few minute time.

13. House Mormont of Bear Isle

Well ... thanks to the homeoffice bacsue of corona I now have some more time for writing so here is the next chapter.
I always thought it was strange for a Hightower to marry a Mormont and have let my imagination run a bit wild to find a reason. I think I found a well reasoned explanation why it happened ... or at least I hope so. Anyway I might try to write a version with dialogue about this "book" set in the world sometime these weeks. Mayby from a merchants point of view or some noble in the south locking for a fitting marriage.

The Mormont's are a house we already have touched upon in two previous houses chapters. Namely the Tallhart's and Glover's have contributed a small part of the house's history already. With the Glover chapter we already learned that Bear Isle was once upon a time a peninsula connected to the north. This has allowed the ancient first men and animals to come to the island without much knowledge of sailing. The Tallhart's have given us the history of how the Mormont's came to rule the island. With the revolt and subsequent wrestling match the island was granted to the Mormont's by the Stark's. These will be further explored in some later parts of the chapter but needed to be mentioned at the start to recall what should already be known.

The Mormont's count among the Stark's most principle banner men. It would be quite a wonder to find a northern army without at least a token force of Mormont's soldiers swinging their banner and crashing into enemy lines. This house along with the Reed's have in all of history shown itself to be only loyal to the Stark's. Not once have the two of them sided against the house they swore their oaths to. As such even in the south the house is while mostly obscure in its history and situation renowned for its loyalty and honour but also for their pride in their past. After all their house even if only uplifted later by the Stark's is part of an old noble family line that some speculate is about as old as the Stark's themselves. This often is further cemented by the fact that most believe the family to be a rich one. After all, not many houses own a valerian steel sword in Westeros and the fact that every northern army has had some Mormont forces in it has further cemented their wealth as a fact to the outside world. Sadly, this couldn't be further from the truth. The house is among the poorest nobles you can find in the North. It is truly a fact many are surprised about when they first find themselves in the hospitability of the Mormont's and find themselves in a rugged if homely hall for dinner instead of a beautiful hall adorned with rich decorations.

This directly leads us to the fact that unlike all other family's chapter this one has not their keep in its title but rather the whole islands name. This is simply because of how the south views the island and its inhabitants. The island is much like the island the Tarth's rule in the Stormlands. Many people do not really know much about either isle but bring incredible wealth in correlation with them. With the Tarth's it is sapphires but any southern noble knows this not to be true. After all many have come into contact with the house because of its location. The same is not true for the bear isle. Its remote location lead to even nobles believing the island to be filled with bears, gold and emeralds in unimaginable quantities. After all their mountains are high and what else could fill them most nobles will argue and the Ironborn certainly raid them often enough that there must be treasure on the island. This all lead to people bringing about a myth about how the house governs the island all alone and the entirety of it is under their strict rule with every village having at least a hut for the Mormont's should they visit. As mentioned, this all is incredible wrong and will be disproven in this chapter.

At long last let us touch upon the house's history once more. In the chapter about the Tallhart's we already got to know that they were granted the island by the Stark's. This leads us to the question what the house has done before receiving the island. They are said to have arrived to the north along with the Stark's as kind of a retainer family and acted as their stewards, guard captains and sometimes ruled a keep for short amounts of time in the Stark's name. Even then their loyalty was without question but because the Starks had to grow the lands, they themselves would directly hold and had a tendency to have defeated houses swear loyalty to them instead of obliterating them they lacked the lands to grant them for the longest time. When they won the Bear Isle, they had to make a decision. Just recently before they have freed up the lands that are now ruled by the Tallhart's for the Mormont's. But as fate would have it with the new island in their possession, they would rather have their most loyal retainers rule it instead of the new house Tallhart. On a side note the wrestling match between the Stark's and the Ironborn king is often debated to have been a battle of words rather than an actual fight because both kings were said to be rather well read than prodigious in bodily strength. Since then the house had to deal with many Ironborn incursions and with the odd wildling raid that take a ship to Bear Island. As the house still is firmly in control of their island it is clear that the managed to defend it every time it was attacked.

The houses coat of arms shows a black bear on a forest green background adorned with pine trees in the background.

Family Words: "Here we Stand"
The words of the Mormont's are more of a statement than a thread or promise. For no matter what the house faces they will remain steadfast. No matter if it is in the face of raiders be, they wildlings or Ironborn, the harsh climate they live in or in supporting their liege's wars. Their people and the house itself shall always come to take part. It doesn't matter whether they lose or win as well for the house shall still be alive and remain standing tall on their island.

In recent years the house however faces trouble. Their house words more often than not are confused with words commonly associated with the house. In that regard they truly are like the Lannister's. So, let it be written down that "Khaleesi please I love you" are not the house words. Thought the word still speak of devotion and service they are otherwise to be interpreted completely differently. (Sorry I had to add this from the parody on YouTube. It is to good not to mention.)

Hold/Keep:
Mormont Keep is the seat of power for the Mormont's. Not that any other house would name their castle after another family for that matter. Their island shaped vaguely like a croissant you would find in the Reach and surrounded by the frozen waters of the Bay of Ice houses their keep. It is built in the giant bay to the north eastern corner on a stretch of sailable stony shore. Moss covered mountains quickly begin to rise behind the small settlement the Mormont's command. Let me take you on a little trip on what one would see when arriving as a visitor believing to find riches.

You have just started your journeys last leg from the Bears Claw and spend the better part of your days stuffed in the cold bottom of a ship filled with food and alcohol that some merchant plans to sell on the island. Adequate quarters are not something you have had in any form for most of your journey but the promise of a rich marriage have not deterred you from some discomfort. It is finally the time for you to see the island that by the sevens graze you will spend the rest of your life on. What you see once you exit the ship's hull is a rugged stony shore with waves crashing down on them with quite the force. Yet the ship seems to be quite stable and in no danger. Before you lie a small harbour filled with a hand full of poorly build fishing vessels along with a stouter ship that probably belongs to a merchant like the one you are sailing on. The walkways are built of wood and appear to be not the best repaired in the kingdoms. Along the shore are small huts build with thick logs of wood on a walkway entirely build of dirt and the occasional planks that someone might just have forgotten to pick up before winter and decided that bringing them back afterwards was not worth it. The place seems to be quite poor and what you see next is certainly no better. Before you stand an earthen palisade. An honest to the father's earthen palisade with a dirt ditch dug before it. Built with sharpened wooden logs and probably the least impressive of its kind. The front gate is adorned with a carving. A woman suckling a bear on her breast holding it in one arm and an axe in the other. At least the carving is something you would call artistic. Behind it stand it the keep you believed to be at least an equal to Casterly Rock and their like. A wooden keep built of thick logs with smoke coming out of a multitude of chimneys. Barely reaching what you'd be considering a second level in height it is nothing like you imagined it to be.

Once you were greeted by the head of house that was notified of your presence by a guard and taken inside you were not welcomed with a jester telling you that your princess is in another castle. The halls are small and cannot even fit two people walking next to each other. Every room you managed to perceive a glance of is small and holds nought but a bed and trunk. When questioning why the head of house will tell you that those rooms are only used in summer while in winter the family will stay together in the hall so that they need less wood for heating. In a way it makes sense to you but shouldn't a rich house not have to worry about that? Or could it be that their riches are just a lie told to young hopeful idiots like you? It is time that you face the truth while eating your meal with the Mormont's that their wealth is a lie and while the food is hearty it is not the equal to what you could have at home.

The worst part. Once you journey back home and tell your family the truth of your journey and how poor the Mormont's are your father just laughs at you. You are scolded that only because you didn't manage to marry into their family you shouldn't spread lies to make other nobles think better about you. Such deeds are below your family's station.

In exactly that manner the rumour of riches hidden on Bear Isle have managed to persist among the highborn in the south. By the time the next generation of nobles make their travel to Bear Isle none that remembers the truth in the family is around anymore to stop them and the older generation once more will not realise the truth.

Geography:
As I have mentioned before the island roughly has the shape of a croissant found in the Reach. To be more precise the island has the curve of one with a large bay that travels far in what could be inland. Unlike a croissant the island also does not get thinner to its end. In fact, the island even though curved has a steady thickness to it. One would not have to walk much longer to reach from one side of the island to the bay from any point on the isle. It is however notable that the south-eastern corner of the island has a short piece of land that reaches out to the mainland. It is thought that this was once connected to the Bears Claw that the Glover's hold. The island is located in the middle of the Bay of Ice. I leave it up to you to imagine how warm the temperature around here might be. For the sake of listing the island in its entirety I divide it in the bay area, the outer coast, the woods and lastly the mountains.

For the sake of simplicity, I will start with the inner bay. Most might ask why I decided to divide the coast in two parts. While the entirety of the coast has many of the same features there is a big difference between the two. For one does the inner bay hold most of the islands civilisation and for another has the bay a different lay out in terms of coast and the lands close to shore. The simplest difference between the two is that the waters of the bay are calmer. While still a horror for any sailor untrained in his craft the fast rapids surrounding the isle calm down significantly around there. Not only is the water calmer but there are more beachheads one might land on. While large parts of the coast are still home to the sharp stony rocks that will sink ships in no time the beachheads and calmer waters made it possible for them to at least make shipping docks to safely land. In addition, the much more developed presence of humans in these parts has shaped the nature around them. In contrast to most of the island the forest around the villages are young and will often be cut down and replanted as the wood is needed. While there are few fields around the villages there are many more meadows along the shore compared to the rest of it. It is thought that in these parts the forest was cut down too much and the villages had to move to another beachhead to have enough firewood for winter. All in all, one might consider this part of the island the settled and developed lands. As much as it is still a wild land for any southerner visiting.

As we just talked about the inner bay let us now start with the outer shore. The water around the island does have a quite erratic flow. In addition, the outer shore has many shallow reefs that are dotted with the sharp rock protrusions the main shore shows as well. This leads to the outer coast being a deadly trap to most larger ships. Anything larger than a simple small cog of about 8 metres will find itself sinking in a short time if you don't know the shore. In a way this could be called the northern version of ship breaker bay were it not so desolate and rarely visited by ships. It is also worth mentioning that the natural water flow from the south to the north cools down even more rapidly than before around the island. This probably causes the rapid waterflow but us maesters are still not sure if this is truly the case or just a misplaced brain child. The coast around these parts also has less beachheads where one might make safe landing even without a dock. The upside to this is that even if you do land it is likely that you already are only a few metres away from the forest and gathering wood for fires and repairs is a simple matter. You should however be warned about the bears that one meets on this side of the shore like one would see wolves in the Wolfswood. They do take kindly to visitors would be like saying Maegor the Cruel was a benevolent king.

Now let us talk about the meat of the island. Most of it is after all covered in a dense forest of old bocks with small streams flowing throughout it. These streams feed the islands large population of bears with their preferred diet of large and fat fish. Why the people have not developed around such more inland rivers is an easily answered question. There live more bears than humans on Bear Isle and they don't take kindly to humans taking away their hunting grounds. As such this forest filled with small streams and bears remained largely untouched. Many herbs can be found here that are no longer present in the souths forest and while most of the healers' concoctions have long since found substitutes for their absence the original plants found on the island make such potions more effective. Lastly to complete the image of the forest imagine an earthen floor filled with moss. An unending see of moss that paves the entirety of the wood. And let's not forget the beehives that hang from every second tree and tempt the bears with their sweet nectar.

Lastly there are the high rising mountains that build the spine of the island. These mountains either covered in trees or moss and their peaks ever capped in white snow. Most of the rumours of the island stem from just these supposedly naturally rich mountains. Much like the island Tarth is known as the sapphire island in the south for its position the Bear Isle is known as the sapphire island. Unlike the Tarth's island theirs is called such for the moss green mountains and the never-ending green forests. While it is true that the mountains are green this does not mean that there are sapphires hidden in them and the fact is that these mountains haven't seen in a mineshaft in millennia. Even the archives of us maesters have not documented what was mined in the past thought it shouldn't have been gold or silver or they would still be mined today.

Lesser Lords:
While I mentioned before that many think that the Mormont's rule the island as the sole noble house with an iron fist this is not true but it has a slither of truth instead. While it is not true that there are no other lords on Bear Isle the number of them is much smaller than the rest of Westeros and even for the North their numbers are extraordinarily small. This is mostly because the yields are to minor to sustain an average lord. Most of these minor lords would usually try to find a lord with better lands to swear allegiance too. As such a form of upper peasantry has formed to step up to the role. We have named them Sygerrik. It means deceiver in the old tongue and fits their role for they are smallfolk that deceives the rest of the world in trying to take the role of the nobility. Still there are not many houses one could mention when talking about the island and even those that I found often have no banner to swing over their soldier's heads in a heated battle. Even in the archives most were only mentioned in passing so you may opt to jump to the next chapter for none noteworthy family will follow.

Let us start by addressing the bear in the room. The Sygerrik make up for what would be seven tens of all the Bear Isles nobility. Their livelihood and existence are much the same all around. Live is harsh in the north and the normal Sygerrik will neither know his letters or his numbers exceptionally well. The rare one among them may know more than the few words you would find in a letter asking for the men to be raised for war or demanding their presence in Mormont Keep but not much else. The position can by the way also be taken by a member of the womenfolk. The position these men and women fill holds neither reward nor prestige. They will work in the fields or in ships much the same as the people that should be under them. What distinguishes them from their compatriots is their wealth. Well as much as they could be called wealthy. They will have more grain and beer in their ladders than their neighbours and take the duty for they would be the only that could take the additional strain without falling to winter. As the richest member of the community takes the duty it is not hereditary and might even change before the particular Sygerrik dies. Should one choose to marry into such a family coming from the south one might rather remain in a southern dungeon. At least those will keep you warm and better fed than the smallfolk of Bear Isle.

House Salm is the only house that has managed to make a settlement further inland work. They do originate from the isle and came back after leaving for a few years as successful merchants that were granted land. Their village is located at the spring of a small river that empties itself into a small lake. The entirety of their village is enclosed by earthen palisade. This includes the spring itself, the few fields and even a wooden grid through which the river leaves the village. The village grows even less crops than their fellow Bear Islanders but makes up with their river. It has long shown itself that the people here manage to live on mostly salmon caught in the river. If you add the hunters that actually return with game such as deer, bear and boar and the wild honey they can find in the forest their livelihood has been secured. Salm's have had an extensive role in making the village work. Not only have they come to the isle with the coin to finance the building of the village but with the grain to make the village not go hungry before they could form fishing parties of sufficient size to scare of bears.

Living the as the most isolate people of Westeros are the members of house Shell's village. It is not known to me whether the house even still exist, but the text assure that they have been around at least at the time of Aegon's Conquest. Supposedly they are the only village one may find on the outer side of the isle. Not only is travel to them hindered by the seas themselves but the fact that even an inland route to their village does not exist would make them to most people independent. At least one would think so if there weren't the raids of Wildlings coming to the isle to hunt for game and sometimes the humans of this village as well. Adding that you have a remote banner that fiercely hates the Wildlings and sends regular ravens to both Mormont's and the Nights Watch. Then again, I am not too sure they are still around as the Mormont's have not been appointed a new Maester for a year now that I might send a raven to.

Lastly, I would mention house Jut. Their claim to prominence on the island is their salt mine. While the island is dependent on grain trade it is thanks to this house that they at least are not dependent on salt as well. The mine and village of the house has since its founding taken the position of salt guardian for the isle. Their village is usually one of the wealthiest and fights of most of the Ironborn raids the island receives simply because their presence helps the islands continued existence. Ironborn like to believe that were it not for this house they would have long since regained the island because the northern settlements would have failed. Because of the importance this house holds for the Mormont's there have been many marriages between them. Funnily enough their keeps are two of the closest you will find on the island.

People:
Truthfully, I have not managed to gather any references to the population of the island. It is not known to me whether the island has more or less people than say the lordship of the Flint's of Flint's Finger. I however would entertain the notion that the population shouldn't be all that different between the two. While the land is certainly more habitable on Bear Isle their development of it is certainly lacking. If one takes the harsher winters into account that the more northern island receives the notion of this comparison shouldn't be of by too much. In the end it also should make no difference for anyone reading this book because in any case you are unlikely to meet someone of the island if you aren't fighting a war against the North.

The avid reader might have seen that I already used the houses to mention the rough living situation of both of the outliers on Bear Isle. I would not waste the time to repeat myself and will just keep to the only really settled land that lay on the inner bay.

The people have concentrated on the inner bay for many reasons. Most of them have to do with the advantages of the position. Not only is the sea calmer but the mountains that stretch across the island offer protection against some of the stronger cold winds coming from the far north. Still the people haven't spread to far from the shore and almost any village has positioned itself on some beachhead. The ground is not ideal for farming and any animals that one could leave to graze attract bears once they reach a critical amount. Much of the smallfolk has thus chosen to rely on fishing in the bay. While the fish are bountiful their ships leave much to be desired. Most of them will look like a makeshift raft that might crumble anytime. This all lead to a small strip of civilisation along the bay that has had problems expanding inward for millennia. Most of the wealth that comes to their islands is through the traders that chose to buy some more wood and pelts from their island before sailing south after their ships made it to the tip of the Bears Claw. Often most of the coin they would make is spend on any food the merchants might have on their ships. The smallfolk lead one of the hardest lives in the North and can sometimes be pitied for their situation. Such pity is however not something that you should state to their face. They are a proud people and might attack you for insinuating their poor situation. The people because of the cold are rather hotblooded in these parts of the realm.

Army:
It is a shame what holes the archives of Oldtown have on the Mormont's. Much like the population I lack comprehensive numbers for the Mormont men-at-arms as well. Once again one can only guess at their numbers. Thought I would imagine that theirs are once again about the same as the Flint's of Flint's Finger. Perhaps a bit larger because even though the womenfolk of the Flint's started to take up arms such actions are much more common on Bear Isle. It is easily imaginable that they can take more of their men to war because the women take up the traditionally more male duties in their absence. In addition, the hotblooded temper of the island people is well known and their loyalty unquestionable. Perhaps a thousand would be willing to march. Limited by the ships to ferry them to the mainland however I would not imagine more than 200 to 300 would arrive at the rallying point in time for the army to march south.

Their men are fierce fighters and such is not a mere rumour like most thinks about the house seem to be. Their troupes while underequipped and often reliant on the better equipped allies have often been the last to rout from the field or been part of the line that managed to flip the battle to the Stark's favour. It is common for their men to march simply under the flag of the Mormont bear and have miss matched sets of armour. However, should a campaign last long enough the Mormont soldiers tend to acquire better and matching armour from their enemies. Once they have hit that point, they will make some of the Norths best foot. A wise commander will strife to take them out before that deciding step has been reached to hinder them from reaching their full potential.

Economy:
All over the text have I have mentioned that their economy is a weak one. The people live in a hostile environment and this has shown itself in their way of live. Often if it is among villages the smallfolk will rather barter than change coin. After all the coin will be needed when once more traders have come with grain, barley, beans and beer. This makes their economy and trade a zero-point economy where wealth neither rises nor falls. But once you add the Ironborn you will notice that any attempt at stockpiling goods and wealth will simply fall into their hands. The islands economy might prosper if the island had sufficient protection from raiders and some merchant vessels of their own. They have after all the normal produce that come from the North in the form of wood and hides that makes families like the Glover's sufficient coin.