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.

14. House Waterman of Oarmoat

So ... I wanted to write a somewhat more interesting story with this story as a base ... turns out that I am worse than I thought at that and will not publish something like that anytime soon. Then I became kinda uninteristed in writing for a while and now I just had a bit of a spark of creativety and rewrote what I had for the Umber's. In the end I made the decision to split a bit of the land of for a new house that exist in the world but doesn't have any information about location or anything else really. Anyway the Umber's chapter will be comming in the next 24 hours and have around the same lenght as this one that is as of now now my longest one yet.

House Waterman is among the more minor banners under house Stark. Its lands are located between the Long Lake and the northern mountains with the Starks to their south and the Umbers taking the lands that surround the Last River to their north. The houses situation between the Stark loyalist in the form of the Umbers and the mountain clans to their west with their lieges directly to their south has often led to tensions. The house has long since been denied any opportunity to grow in land or power between the major powers surrounding it and as such often sought the support of the Bolton's. Their house is one of the few northern families that have taken to supporting the Bolton's not out of fear or marriage but for the opportunity to grow once again. After all there is only so much lands the Bolton's could take directly under their control and rewarding their supporters is always something a rebel lord should have in mind. This has led to many problems for the house over the years. Where they once ruled the entire forest that forms by the Long Lake and lands to the Last River with complete control over the Long Lake the house has been beaten and beaten again. In fact, in the last Bolton rebellion the Starks have relied solely on the mountain clans to suppress and siege out the Waterman's with tremendous success. Since all of the rebellions in order to gain more land have failed the house has shifted its focus since Aegon's Conquest.

It can be safely stated that no northern and only few southern houses have taken the unification of Westeros into one kingdom as a chance to grow like the Waterman's have. While most houses were still in despair over their lost prestige and autonomy or for other reasons unwilling to realise the opportunity the Waterman's grasped onto it. Most lords have only in hindsight realised that with the unification an increase in trade between the kingdoms would occur. Food and wine from the Reach, Vale and Riverland's, wool from the Stormlands and metals from the Westerlands could now more readily be traded between the lands. Lower tarrivs and less Ironborn raiders meant better chances for profits for merchants and even more so for the North that long since lacked a navy to protect their trade. While most of the North was happy to only supply the goods, we know them for today (Wood and Hides) the Waterman's have taken a look to the south and taken a jump in kindling the forming of a new trade in their lands. They have invited and trained their smallfolk in the art of making tiles for roofs, floors and walls. While at first it seemed to be a lost venture that could cost the house even more of their land to pay of their loans by now their tilemakers are renown in the south and are viewed as some of the best in Westeros and Essos. A tile made in their lands signed by their master's mark has become a sign of quality of the highest degree. In fact, nowhere else will you find stricter rules for the making of tiles than in their lands. While the tilemaking has taken away smallfolk from farming the lacking food has been replaced by food bought from the Vale and the Riverland's.

Considering all of this it is no wonder that the house is one of the better-known houses the North has produced. After all many southern halls and roofs need to fulfil their duty in being of high quality, looking the part of a noble and being readily available for building. While this hasn't helped them in completely regaining their standing it has brought the house back into the northern eyes and started to influence the policies of them once more. They still have a long way to go before they might regain the lands they have once owned from the Starks but with the rising prominence and wealth the house has averted their fall to ruin for now.

Aside from their more recent history they position close to the wall has led to many problems in the recent past as well as throughout history. While the Umbers became the prime shield against wildling raids slipping over the wall the Waterman's have been convinced to help in the defences after many battles with Wildling's have taken place in their lands as well. One only has to look at the war against the last king beyond the wall to realise why they have taken to support the Umbers with soldiers more often than not. When one considers all of this it is no wonder that the house has become a firm supporter of the Wall and the Night's Brothers manning it. Their new found wealth often enough buys sacks of barley and barrels of beer for the watch and supplies the occasional man joining of their own free will to protect the North from the thieving rapist to their north.

Their coat of arms is blazoned with a Brown crossed oars on white, between a pair of blue flaunches.

Family Words: "Born from Water, Reformed in Fire"
The words to no surprise where first taken a few years after conquest when their tile making venture became a success and the house was pretty much saved. The first part had been their house words in the past because of the lands they ruled since ancient times. The region between the Long Lake and the Northern mountains hold many streams and rivers that fill the lake. So many that much of the land itself is in parts incredibly wet and can't be farmed. As they once ruled the entire Long Lake alone with both shores in their direct control it is no wonder that their house chose words linking them to water in the past. The second part was added as mentioned above and hold true for two reasons. For one has the venture been opened after the Targerian's forged the realm with the fire of their dragon's and for another because to burn tiles you need large fires lighting the kilns used in the firing. In a way the words talk about their history but at the same time make sure on knows of their perseverance and their willingness to change to survive.

Hold/Keep:
The castle of Oarmoat is certainly one of the more respectable examples of defensible structures. It is positioned by the end of one of the streams emptying into the Long Lake. Their position allowed them to build a moat around their fortress with a rapid flow that would make it hard for an army to fill it while the defenders still have arrows to harass them with. Furthermore, does the castle make use of this feature by using two walls. The first is barely larger than a man but the battlements allow the soldiers to easily defend their position. The first wall also holds the bare bones first gate that allows access to the outer wall area. The gate is flanked by two small and open towers and only has a draw bridge to its name. It doesn't need more however.

The second and last wall is where the castles true power comes from. As high as any other castle wall it allows the defenders to fire on attackers that managed to take the first wall unimpeded. With four round towers with arrow slids in its corners and the main keep right in front of the first gate the attackers will have a hard time to bring siege equipment close to the walls themselves. The main keep that makes the entrance is a trap to any that do not know that one can't gain access to the rest of it through the entrance. It simply leads through it and allows the defenders a narrow corridor to defend with soldiers, murder holes and a second gate to barricade the inner courtyard.

If one manages to pass through this defence, they will find themself in the inner yard where you will find a small castle garden to the right, a grass field to the left and buildings surrounding the wall. The building to the left is the horse stable and the horses can feed on the grass before the building and the hay in it. The building to the upper left side and the right are the store rooms of the castle. The building to the upper right side is the main hall for the servants with kitchens and tables as well as a second floor for beds. Going around the keep to the left one can find the castles heart tree. Doing the same to the right and one will find a small smithy with room for an arrow maker to follow his craft.

The four towers along the wall hold the armouries, the cells, more sleeping space and additional storage space. The one to the lower right corner from the main gate is a tower that holds storage and armoury. Its closeness to the smith and arrow maker made it an easy choice for both tasks. The one to the lower left serves as the second tower armoury and a sleeping space for men at arms. The one to the top left houses only sleeping space for guards and the smallfolk tending to the kitchen, horse and family itself. The last one houses the cells for prisoners and criminals that will not be executed right in that moment as well as more storage room for food and wood as well as a ravenry for the master.

The main keep is a curious one. The true entrance lies by the heart tree and takes one to the second floor. The second floor holds the main guest hall and sleeping spaces for visitors. The tables around the murder holes tailored to fit around them can be taken away while defending and the sleeping spaces will be refunctioned as armouries and barracks closer to the action. Walking through the room one can take either the stairs up to the right or down to the left. Thought there is another set of stairs to ones right after one arrives to the second floor that leads one down again. Both sets of stairs down lead to storage space as well as arrow slids that allow one to fire on the man in the corridor. The stair leading to the highest-level lead to the private rooms of the lords and his family. With a large common room, a small study with bed for a maester and rooms for the lord and his children. The roof can be reached over two small towers on either corner of the main keep in the inner courtyard. Thought none of them allows for access to any of the inner levels.

It is to note that in recent years the castle has enjoyed a restoration and been completely white washed on both the outside and inside. Not to mention that the inner buildings roofs, floors and walls are adorned by the finest of tiles made in their lordship. As such while by far not the largest the castle is easily defensible until they are starved out and a beauty to look at as well. One might say that the castle comes close to a southern beauty at the moment.

Geography:
Their lands are divided in three parts. For once there is the mountainous west of their lordship with some of the slowly rising slopes and mountains that turn into mountain range that can easily rival the Vales and Westerlands. Then there is the forested area in the south of their lordship. Lastly, we have to count the rest of the wetland that makes up for a large part of the lordships size. In this part you also have to count the riverbanks and the Long Lake that are the reasons for this topography.

The most important features of the lordship are the Long Lake and the Kingsroad that curses right through the territory. Both of them make it easy for their goods to find a port or traders bringing their tiles south and all over the north. In fact, these two major trade magnets have led to them becoming one of the most densely settles lands of the north in recent years. Trade and the subsequent protection from bandits have led to many small villages forming along both of the trade ways. As such it is not uncommon to find a few villages in a day's ride when following either. An uncommon occurrence for the north one might say.

Let us begin with the forest in the south of the lordship. Once upon a time one might have said that once you enter a large forest on the way to the Wall you have entered the Riverwood under the Waterman's control. Today you will have to wander for a few kilometres still even after entering the Riverwood to make that claim. The name for it however is quite apt for it is a woodland that has more streams and rivers flowing through it than any other in Westeros may count. It is however not like the Neck where the water permanently floods the land and turn it into a marshland. The trees do well in keeping the rivers in their natural beds and prevent flooding. However, the forest already gives you a first insight on how many rivers you will find in the rest of the area. Many of them need no bridge to cross thought. While the Kingsroad has build bridges over any river in its way the same can't be said for the rest of the land but most places have clearly market crossing points where the water is calm and not to deep for a cart to pass over undamaged. While the forest holds fewer wolves than the Wolfswood you will find your fair share still wandering these lands. Game is still aplenty in here and the rivers are rich in fish not to mention the large amounts of snails one will chance upon in there. All in all, it is everything you could imagine a northern forest to be with the addition of too many rivers.

The mountainous lands to the west make up another large part of the land we have entered. Even from the Kingsroad one can already see that the land has a massive mountain range to the west. What most do not notice is that these are but the beginnings of the range that still has to offer many higher peaks towards the west. Many of the streams flowing into the lordship have their spring in these mountains where snow melts and rain accumulates. The more major rivers will have their source more inland and as such are not completely under the Waterman's control. These mountains often lay bare of vegetation on its peaks on first glance if you only look superficial. A closer look will show one the amazing habitat that small mammals as well as unusual small plants have made here. Both of them remain small and do not cover much of the rocks and soil but form a beautiful picture in spring once the plants bloom and the animals show themselves more openly than any other time of the year. These mountains remain entirely untouched by man on the tops thought at the often-forested bottom you might find mines tunnelling into them. Sources in the library mention the mountains being prosperous in copper, tin and other precious metals in these parts. My local correspondence however hasn't gotten back to me weather those are currently being exploited.

Finally, we arrived at the core territory under their control. The wetlands including the plains, hills, rivers and the Long Lake that make up the rest of their lands. Through all their folly the house still retains exclusive rights to exploit the Long Lake. This leads to a disproportioned amount of fishing and trading villages on their side of the lake. It is as such more developed as a hole on their lakeside. The lake is fed by a multitude of rivers flowing from the mountains into it. Most of the snow the mountains receive will melt and either finds it way into the Bay of Ice, the Long Lake or into the Last River. Because of the lakes position and the terrain these lands always have water in abundance. It is not an understatement that some of the lowlands can be nearly flooded once the winter snow melts in these parts. It makes for a beautiful sight to see the wild fields filled with puddles in the morning sun in a summer. Depending on it the sight of frozen puddles is supposed to hold the same charm in the eyes of most people. These lands are littered with villages and hold the smallest jet also most northern town the North has to show for itself.

Lesser Lords:
Much like the Glover's their lands also hold some clans as noble vassals. Their presence has however been reduced in recent centuries. While once their presence could be seen all over the lordship with various villages all over under their control their tendency to be reliant on one village as a centre and unwillingness to expand into a secondary village has led to the slow redistribution of their former lands. In front of all the Dance of Dragons was used for this when most of the north was focussing on the south. By now the last of their noble clans are found on the edge of their lands to the northern mountains where there is less clay for tiles and a stronger connection to the northern mountain clans backing their brethren. As such many of their clans show only a fleeting loyalty to the house even today for the suppression of their fellow noble clans and make for a weak shield against the mountain clans should they meet on opposite sides of a conflict. In stark contrast to this they can rely completely on their minor nobility in the forest and wetland area of their land for they have received part of these lands or were newly appointed and such new loyalties still last till today.

The last of the clans sworn to the Waterman's count as their strongest the Burrow's, Fall's, Cove's and Rasp's that all have strong connections to major clans found in the mountains. It is common for these clans to focus more on crops and animal rearing than the rest of the lordship because their overproduction is used as a mean of gaining support from their fellow clans. Through selling it at a low prize they gain their support in Winterfell where the clans are beloved for their unwavering loyalty to the wolves. This political support has been instrumental in keeping their existence secured from another wave of expulsion the clans faced in the rest of the lordship. They live in constant fear of another problem making the Stark's focus on the south and ignore the plight of the lesser nobility of another lordship. Even more so when it has previously shown itself as a method to strengthen the North by increased trade from the lordship after their culling. It is no understatement to say that these lords are more loyal to their fellow clans than the Waterman's and if they thought they could get away with it would secede from the lordship.

One of the major lords under the house are the Blackwood's. They are not related to the house found in the Riverland's in any way but name. They are located at the mouth of the Long Lake where the White Knife begins with the Riverwood in their back. Their position made their house into the first port many merchants visit when entering the Long lake and has made them more important in recent years. Above all else has the port become a place where traders stock up on wood to sell to the villages they buy their tiles from. The firing of their kilns means that a constant large amount of wood is needed that can hardly be produced only through local means without the danger of low supplies of normal firewood for the cold. As such their port is always visited by traders that will redistribute their wood along the shore. This has also led to an extra commandment by the Waterman's for their house. Southern traders are always pleased to find a sept in the far north and the one under the Blackwood's is one of the most visited in the far north because it is one of the rare ones they might find this far north. This has been ordered by the Waterman's to help trade, for the south is pleased when they see something, they are familiar with.

Among the most recently raised houses are the Tier's that are on the way to prominence in the lordship. Formerly a lower noble house located in Bolton lands this branch has already eclipsed their ancestors. They received a village that lay where the Kingsroad crossed the last major tributary of the Long Lake. As such it has access to both the Kingsroad and Long Lake trade while at the same time becoming the gate to the Waterman's land for Umber smallfolk and wildling raiders. This position after years of development has become the most northern town and even received a town charter by the Stark's to ensure lower taxes for more development. The town has by now received a solid wooden wall and the bridge of the Kingsroad has been fortified for easier protection. The Tier's have long since broken of the connection to their brethren in Bolton land and are unlike their liege lords more opposed to working with the Bolton's. However much this holds true however the house is to recently raised to truly speak out against their lords for this. However, their power gives them the right to command respect and words with the Waterman's.

Rivals for the control of the lordship have always been the Elsas's located in the Riverwood. While loyal in any war their power has often rivalled the Waterman's and made them a possible replacement for them. As such when the lordship was reformed steps were taken to lower their power. Aside from their position that gave them less influence in the new tile trade the other lords of the Riverwood were strengthened with favourable contracts for wood. The house has since fallen to a middling influence in the lordship. In recent years the house has started a comeback with renewed connections to the clans. Supporting their food trade and convincing them to open mines to excavate metals that are then refined by them has allowed them new connections and wealth. They have the potential to once again rival the Waterman's with their south-westerns located power block and their closer connection to the Stark's and Mountain Clan's. Aside from the political position of the family their house is also one of the few that have snail farms. While snails are often eaten in the Riverwood, Neck, Riverland's, Rainwood and the Arbour only few of these lands hold snails like others would cows and sheep. It is one of the largest exports the house has to its name.

People:
The people of the lordship have taken up very different live stiles depending on where they live them. This is especially worth mentioning considering that in the North and south you will often find a people living on the same amount of land to be quite homogenous in the way of live. This can't be said here as each region has taken to develop a bit differently. The one thing connecting them all in this lordship however is fishing. An unusual stile at that. A local Sweetwater fish will be caught by the people with their bare hands when the fish takes to biting the hand of a person holding a mouse under water. The fisher will then heft the catch out of water with his hand down its mouth. Traders having witnessed this form of catching fish described seeing it as similarly disgusting as smelling Kings Landing the first time.

The people of the Riverwood have taken up many more professions around woodworking and hunting than their brethren. With the Riverwood in their back cold winters are often a second thought to them compared to the food shortages. Yet even that can be often averted in shorter winters by hunting and to an extend the still operational snail farming. With the snails as a local produce and delicacy their neighbours often mock them and compare them to the people of the Neck while ignoring the other regions where snails are eaten. The people of the wood also often have closer connections with more inland laying lordships as well as those of the mountains. The people are also quite proud that their forest hold significantly less wolves than the Wolfswood. Their claim has always been that their hunters united the people of the forest and had the wolves hunted down before they became impossible to manage.

The people of the mountains are to be considered like those living in the rest of the northern mountains. Often, they are larger of body and them living higher than most people smallfolk made them gain more stamina in the lowlands with thicker air. All of the men will grow a beard and have their hair grow long enough to reach their shoulder. While many compare them to barbarians even more so than the rest of the north the mountainfolk in this lordship at least they are renowned for their impeccable beards and the care they put in them should they have the oils for it. Sometimes one might even meet a bearded priest from Norvos in these villages exchanging grooming techniques with the locals. All of this aside have the people of this region in recent years taken more to farming and herding animals while their past mayor exploits of mining have taking the second seat compared to before.

Lastly there are the wet man that live in the plains, along the rivers and on the long lake. Their group is the largest of them at the moment. More often than not these people have at least a modest stash of coin hidden away and a full ladder. With the rise of tiling most of the villages in the region have at least one kiln for firing in their village. In addition to this their lands while occasionally under the water and not farmable in parts because of this are fertile enough to support the population in summer. In winter the food bought from the south often is sufficient to bring the people safely out of the winter. If it does not the smallfolk tent to take up hunting. At least the old do.

Army:
For all its regained wealth and power the house can still not field many men. Perhaps a thousand two hundred they could lift and field when the need comes. One might ask why they couldn't marshal more soldiers when in all the previous categories they seemed powerful? The reason is quite simple. For all the power they regained they lost support of many of their vassals as well. While the newly appointed lords and the Riverwood lords that benefit from the trade have become loyal the other lords of the Riverwood and the remaining mountain clans that could marshal another 600 to 800 often come with only honorary forces. As such the lordship cannot show its entire strength unless the lesser lords can find a goal to unite under. One such occasion was when the lordship fought against a king beyond the wall to give an example. As such it is a fair assumption to make that the soldiers of this lordship never arrive in full number.

While the lordship cannot field all its numbers its equipment and composition show promise and cannot be ignored by enemy commanders. Capable of fielding nearly half their numbers in horse armoured by Dustin steel they might not command the largest horse in Westeros but for a house their size the numbers are certainly still impressive. While none of them are knights even today the south remembers the strength, the northern cavalry has shown in past wars. A commander that ignores such a force is certainly set up to lose. In addition, while not impressively drilled or trained their levies are well armoured and their supply train of solid structure.

Something often forgotten about the house is its merchant navy. While not equipped for war and still barely holding the numbers to be remembered it still exist and could be reequipped for war should the need become apparent. While the house does rely on private traders they have build up and maintained this fleet when they weren't sure traders would come to them. Today these ships are along with the Manderly fleet are the largest noble owned fleets of the north. While even combined with the Manderly's this would not match what most kingdoms have for a fleet they could secure the White Knife from any incursions and perhaps even the Bite if their commanders are capable.

Economy:
The economy of the lordship has been blooming for a while now and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. There are several reasons for this trend. One of the lesser important reasons is the safety of the trading routes their lordship offers. Trading along the White Knife is safe for any that wish to do so thanks to the Manderly's and their ships resting in White Harbour. Where the west has to deal with Ironborn raiders and the east with pirates owning the Stepping Stones hindering trade the northern trade along the White Knife is as safe as it gets. Even more so if your ships only travel to Bravos and the Vale of Arryn afterwards and take the long way around the sisters to do so. Where taking your wares further south does yield additional profits it also holds more risk of pirates. Yet as all know most still take this risk. Nevertheless, this is a boon to their trading routes. Another reason for their good trade is their main good. Their tiles will still be bought in Essos even if the cities are at war for the simple sake of showing their compatriots their wealth. While the South will buy them in peacetimes that happen more frequent since the conquest. One of the biggest reasons however for the trade flowing to their lands is the fact that the people buy a lot from merchants as well. Trading their wood, metals and wood for the food, cloth and alcohol the merchants bring with them. Any tour for a merchant there will yield a secure profit and as such many smaller merchants like to trade there.

As one could guess from the mention above the main trade routes for the lordship are the shipping to the Vale of Arryn and Bravos as well as the Kingsroad and other such roads for inland trade to the Umbers and Wall as well as the northern mountains to their west.

All in all, the house is to be considered of slightly above moderate wealthy compared to southern lords.