Founded upon the Stepstones as a Valyrian military outpost designed to control trade along the narrow
sea, the settlement soon blossomed into the city of Tyrosh when merchants discovered the region
was home to several snail species which could produce valuable dyes of many colors for trade.
After the doom of Valyria, some few dragons and noble Valyrian lords survived in Tyrosh,
but the population rose up to kill them all and declare independence.
During the century of blood, the powerful city Volantis captured Lys and Myr before attempting
to conquer Tyrosh as well. Fortunately for the Tyroshi, this was considered a step too
far by many, and great alliances formed to aggressively oppose Volantene expansion,
with Pentos, Braavos the Stormlands of Westeros, the Targaryens of Dragonstone, the rebels of Myr
and the rebels of Lys all contributing to their enemy’s defeat in the south, while Norvos and
Qohor stopped their fleet in the north. Some centuries later, Tyrosh became home
to the Westerosi exiles of House Blackfyre and their supporters,
only to be eventually conquered by Maelys the Monstrous during the 5th Blackfyre Rebellion
also known as the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Yet when the armies of Westeros descended upon
the Stepstones in 260 AC, the band of Nine was defeated and Tyrosh regained it’s independence.
Ruled by an Archon chosen from the most influential noble families, Tyrosh produced
impressive armor and was heavily involved in the trade of slaves, dyes and pear brandy.
A well known figure from Tyrosh was Daario Naharis,
captain of the Stormcrow’s mercenary company and ally to Daenerys Targaryen.
Known as the quarrelsome daughters of Valyria, the sister cities of Myr, Lys and Tyrosh shared
much in the way of culture, customs, language, religion, and a desire for trade. Yet after the
fall of old Valyria, the sister cities entered into an endless series of wars and raids,
desperately fighting for possession of the fertile Disputed Lands, which then became a bloody warzone
brimming with soldiers and mercenaries. Despite this history of violence and animosity, Myr,
Tyrosh and Lys set aside their differences to form the Kingdom of the three Daughters
in 96 AC. Yet after several disastrous wars, the Triarchy dissolved in 130 AC and the cities once
again turned on each other, fighting over the Disputed Lands for many years to come.
The Youngest of the free cities, Braavos was known as the bastard daughter because it was
never a part of the Freehold, instead founded by escaped slaves who killed their masters
and stole their ships to Flee Valyria. Finding an isolated lagoon in the northern mountains,
these escaped slaves settled the region and immediately outlawed slavery,
naming it the First Law of Braavos. Keeping their existence hidden for over a century,
the Sealord Uthero Zalyne eventually sent ships far and wide to proclaim the existence of their
city. To avoid the wrath of Old Valyria, financial settlements were offered to the descendants of
those who killed, paying for the theft of their ships while refusing to compensate the loss of
slaves. Uninterested in conflict so far north, the Valyrian accepted the coin and offered no trouble.
Fighting many wars over the years, some speak of a war in which Braavos
defeated the Kingdom of Sarnor, sinking the last enemy fleet at bitterweed bay.
After the Doom of Valyria, Braavos exerted increasing control over trade in the narrow sea,
involving themselves in the wars and politics of neighboring lands including Westeros,
the Stepstones and other Free cities like Lys, sending a hundred warships to help liberate their
island and halt Volantene expansion into the west. Fighting six wars with nearby Pentos, Braavos at
last emerged victorious, imposing a peace treaty that ended slavery in the enemy city
and restricted their military capabilities. Becoming the richest and most powerful of the
free cities, Braavos prospered thanks in part to the highly successful Iron
Bank which loaned money to foreign powers, as well as their robust sea and trade culture,
with their ships sailing as far east as Asshai. A canal city, they built the Titan of Braavos
at the entrance to the Harbor and were ruled by a Sealord who held the position for life,
protected by a champion called the First Sword of Braavos. The Sealord was chosen
by the a number of magisters and Keyholders who comprised the city’s powerful aristocracy.
Known as a place of religious diversity with temples and shrines of many faiths,
perhaps the most infamous was the House of Black and White, where a group of
Assassins called the Faceless men worshipped Death, who they named the many faced god.
In addition to producing expert ships and dark purple dyes, Braavosi were proficient fishermen,
trading in many varieties of fish, as well as oysters, eels, clams, rays, crabs and crawfish.
A diverse people, largely tolerant of others, they treated courtesans like princesses and developed a
swordsmen culture that saw Bravos wandering the streets in flamboyant colors and searching for
a fight. They also invented a water dance fight and fencing style that
emphasized speed, balance, grace and accuracy. Well known figures of Braavosi heritage included
Syrio Forel, a former First Sword and mentor to Arya Stark. And Tycho Nestoris, a representative
of the Iron Bank who made a deal with Jon Snow of the Night’s Watch and King Stannis Baratheon.
In addition to the widely recognized nine free cities, other potential settlement
nearly joined their ranks, like in the southern continent of Sothoryos, where the city Gogossos
was founded by the ancient Ghiscari empire, before becoming a penal colony for the Valyrian Freehold,
and a pirate den after the doom. Growing rich off the slave trade during the century of blood,
Gogossos was considered by some as the tenth free city until they were devastated by the Red Death
plague, seeing 9 of every 10 die in agony. Yet another near claimant was located in the
Dothraki sea, where Essaria was founded as a Valyrian colony but eventually granted the
right to govern themselves, prospering greatly from trade with the kingdom of
Sarnor. But everything changed when the Doom of Valyria ushered in the century of blood,
as both the Kingdom of Sarnor and Essaria were destroyed by the Dothraki horselords
rampaging through essos. After their fall, the Dothraki renamed Essaria to Vaes Khadokh,
meaning the city of corpses, but many other referred to these ruins as the lost Free City.