#ulthos

Ulthos

We know little about the continent of Sothoryos and even less about Ulthos.

This vid uses information from the ASOIAF books to provide some details.

There’s still a modest chance for one or both of these mysterious lands to play some role in the TV series.

The red priestess Melisandre is from Asshai which is not terribly far from Ulthos. In S07E03 at Dragonstone she told Varys that she was heading to Volantis and would then return to Westeros to die there. Volantis is not exactly close to Sothoryos or Ulthos but it is a busy and cosmopolitan port situated where the Rhoyne River flows into the Summer Sea. Such a trading center would be better suited than the other Free Cities to have the occasional contact with these distant territories.

Game of Thrones maps No.8 : Valyria

The four houses of norther Ulthos

Kin Ophira

Elegant, rich, and honorable, Kin Ophira are “keepers of the mountains.” Their ancestors mined the mountain range for precious metals, often trading with Kin Sisera for their strong, pliable wood. The earliest lord carved stairs into the highest peak of the range, nicknamed the Arm of God, for easy travel and commerce.

Though conventional in the way of dress and customs, Kin Ophira are accepting of “nontraditional” sexualities. As such, it isn’t uncommon for some households to be led by two men or two women--as long as a male heir can be produced elsewhere in the family.

Kin Ophira worship the Moon Woman, a goddess said to have fallen in love with the face in the moon only to fall to her death from the Arm of God.

The Known World - Ulthos

Ulthos is a landmass in the far east, which may or my not be another continent. It lies to the south of Asshai and the Shadow Lands in Essos and to the east of Sothoryos. It is separated from the Shadow Lands by the Saffron Straits.

Headcanons

Four noble families inhabit the north.

Kin Gilead - Ruled by “The Golden King,” who keeps his only daughter under a mask so no man will wed her.

Kin Eusepa - Disease has wiped out most of the noble family, with the exception of a sickly boy prince who fancies himself a god.

Kin Ophira - Proud and loyal mountain family. Traditional.

Kin Sisera - Oldest noble family who live in the forest. Reclusive, resourceful, and mysterious. Considered “uncivilized” compared to the rest of the houses.

The four houses of northern Ulthos

Kin Gilead

Kin Gilead is revered as the richest house in Ulthos. The origins of its wealth are largely unknown and mysterious. In generations past, the house was generous and kind to its people, but after Lady Rowena’s affair with her daughter Adiela’s tutor, Lord Elias went mad and spread misery throughout his land. After the execution of Lady Rowena’s lover, Elias sewed gold into her dress and drowned her in the nearby river.

As Adiela grew, her father became obsessed with keeping her close. She’s forced to wear masks so no man would know her beauty and take her away. Now isolated, cold, and imposing, Kin Gilead is susceptible to attack, and without an heir to continue the bloodline, the house is near extinction.

The four houses of northern Ulthos

Kin Sisera

Considered the oldest and most reclusive of the houses, Kin Sisera are people of the woodlands. They are said to possess an almost fae-like affinity for nature, and for every tree they cut down for their homes and businesses, another is said to take its place almost instantly.

The Sisera men are hunters first and foremost. They protect their people with a ferocious, animalistic loyalty. They’re keepers of a near-extinct whistled language, used during hunting and battle to stealthily give commands to one another.

Contrary to the other houses of Ulthos, the women hold most of the political power and pass their methods of diplomacy to their daughters. Because the other houses of Ulthos don’t recognize women as rulers, a man is often sent as a representative.

Kin Sisera are deeply religious and worship the Horned Gods of the forest.