- "What a lovely pile of timber..."
- ―Ramsay Snow to Ethan Forrester regarding Ironrath.[src]
Ironrath | |
---|---|
Ironrath as seen in promo art | |
Location |
Wolfswood, The North, Westeros |
Presiding House |
House Forrester |
Religion |
Old Gods |
Status |
Under Enemy Occupation |
First Appearance |
Ironrath is the seat of House Forrester and is located in the Wolfswood to the North of Westeros. The ruler of Ironrath is given the title of Lord of Ironrath, the title is traditionally held by a member of House Forrester, and the current Lord is either Rodrik Forrester or Asher Forrester.
History[]
Background[]
Ironrath was constructed approximately 1,500 years ago by Cedric Forrester and his triplet sons. Cedric and his sons raised their fortress, an imposing stronghold surrounded by towering ironwood trees, on the edge of the largest ironwood forest in Westeros, placing the Forresters in a position of great strategic advantage. Ironrath is a testament to the strength and endurance of Ironwood. More than one visitor has called Ironrath the most striking keep in the North; even Ned Stark was said to be envious
Iron From Ice[]
Gared Tuttle arrives at Ironrath after escaping the Red Wedding, he is wounded following a fight between himself and two Whitehills and a Bolton who killed his father and sister, his wound is taken care of by the Maester. The Maester tells him to put some weight on his wound in order to let his blood circulate and promote faster healing, by walking around. Gared gets the chance to look around the Great Hall and inspect the family portrait.
His uncle, Duncan Tuttle, enters the hall accompanied by Ser Royland Degore, the castle's Master-at-arms, they are arguing on the course of action following the murder of Gared's family, since it happened on Forrester land. Duncan says there is no choice but to send him to the wall, as the Whitehills and the Boltons will demand Gared's execution. Royland Degore disapproves, but no matter what, Gared is forced to go to the Wall. Before he leaves, he tells Duncan what Lord Forrester ordered him to tell him. Gared can ask what the North Grove is. Gared gets on his horse and gets ready to leave for the wall, before he does -- Talia runs and offers him a necklace. He smiles it and takes it, and leaves.
Ethan Forrester, the new Lord of the House. Is playing hide and seek with his sister Talia and his younger brother Ryon in Ironrath's Ironwood Grove. Ser Royland approaches the trio, saying that the lord's presence is required in the Great Hall. There, he receives Lord Ludd Whitehill, who has come to Ironrath to demand justice on behalf of House Bolton and his own House, regardless of how Ethan chooses to approach Lord Whitehill, either by attempting to please him or being defiant, Lord Ludd will leave Ironrath, angered and not satisfied, he vows to bring word of what has occurred to Lord Roose Bolton..
Ethan is then present in the Ironrath courtyard, speaking with his new advisors when Ser Royland catches a thief trying to steal from House Forrester. Ethan will then decide what punishment the thief should receive, if at all.
Ramsay Snow visits Ironrath accompanied by Lord Whitehill. During the meeting, he has Lord Whitehill installs a garrison of twenty men within Ironrath's walls. Despite protests from various members of House Forrester, Ramsay insists. He also splits the ironwood forests between the Forresters and Whitehills, and finally stabs Lord Ethan in the neck, killing him.
The Lost Lords[]
A corpse cart arrives from the Twins carrying Forrester dead, including the heavily wounded Rodrik Forrester, who managed to survive the massacre. He is treated by the Maester, after his surgery he is awakened by Talia. She explains that the garrison has been causing chaos, either because of their hunger or drunkenness.
Elaena Glenmore visits Ironrath on the matters of her betrothal to Rodrik. After their discussion, Lord Whitehill barges into the great hall. He reveals that Lady Forrester had asked about letting Ryon Forrester attend his brother and father's funeral. He gives Rodrik the option of letting Ryon attend the funeral if Rodrik kisses his ring, which Rodrik can either agree to or angrily refuse. Before he leaves, he states that he will take the rest of the ironwood forests.
The funeral for Ethan and Gregor Forrester is held at Ironrath. Ryon can attend if Rodrik kissed Ludd's ring, or if he refused Gwyn Whitehill will come instead.
The Sword in the Darkness[]
The garrison bang their shields and burns a cart to announce Gryff Whitehill's arrival to Ironrath. He claims he is in charge, and forces his men to take quarter in the great hall. Duncan also arrives from a visit to the Wall during the encounter. At the small council meeting in the grove, Rodrik can chose to either expel Gryff from Ironrath or save Ryon.
Rodrik walks into the great hall, finding in shambles. The family portrait is on the floor, and Whitehill banners hang from the walls. Later, Talia finds a Whitehill soldier stealing from the kitchens, and she bites him after he lays his hands on her. They later converse in one of the wooden towers of Ironrath.
Sons of Winter[]
Elaena and her brother Arthur Glenmore visit Ironrath in the grove, along with the elite guard of House Glenmore to help Rodrik with Gryff after Lord Whitehill threatened the Glenmores with destruction along with the Forresters if Lord Glenmore didn't accept a marriage between Gryff and Elaena.
Rodrik and the elite guard capture Gryff and his men in the great hall beating Maester Ortengryn. The Glenmore soldiers march the garrison to the cellars. After this is done, Lady Forrester has the ravens killed so the traitor of the house cannot inform the Whitehills of the imprisonment of the garrison. Lord Whitehill invites the Forresters to Highpoint, the seat of House Whitehill. Rodrik, Lady Forrester, Royland or Duncan and optionally the Glenmore guards ride for Highpoint.
After the meeting, those who went return to Ironrath, securing a trade of Gryff for Ryon. If the Glenmore guards are brought, Ironrath is found abandoned. Arthur organizes a search for his sister. If they are not brought, Rodrik finds arrows and drops of blood, indicating a fight, before he hears laughing from the great hall, where Ramsay Snow has arrived and is talking with Talia.
A Nest of Vipers[]
During Ramsay's visit, he, Rodrik, and Talia walk into the ironwood grove to find Arthur Glenmore being flayed. Later, Rodrik wakes up in his chambers, and determinantly, Elaena can be lying in his bed as well. Talia comes in and informs Rodrik that the traitor is in the great hall. As Rodrik walks in, the Whitehill banners are gone and Forrester ones now hang in their place. The family portrait remains, with only Asher, Gregor, and Rodrik visible. The traitor is seen stroking the fire, as Rodrik comes in to confront him. Rodrik and the Forresters then ride to the coast, leaving Ironrath for the time being to meet Asher and his army.
The Ice Dragon[]
Following the Port Town Ambush, Ironrath is besieged by the Whitehill army.
If Asher survived the ambush, he becomes the Lord of Ironrath. Ludd offers to negotiate a surrender if Asher agrees to become his bannerman and marry his daughter Gwyn. Asher accepts these terms, though plans to either ambush or poison Ludd during the negotiation and feast. This plan leads to the death of either Ludd or Gryff, while the other escapes to warn the army of Asher's treachery.
If Rodrik survived the ambush, Ludd demands Rodrik to present himself for execution and immediately begins trying to break down Ironrath's gate with a battering ram. Rodrik takes the pit fighters and sneaks into the Whitehill encampment outside Ironrath that night, killing either Ludd or Gryff and freeing his brother Ryon before quickly returning to his home.
The battle then plays out the same way for either lord. The Forresters rally and battle the Whitehills that have already made it into the castle. The Lord duels Harys, who kills Lady Elissa Forrester if she didn't die earlier of poisoning, and grievously injures the Lord before being defeated. The Whitehills finally break through the gate and surge in, killing smallfolk and soldiers alike. The Forrester lord is saved from death by his Sentinel and put on a horse to escape the battle. He is seen riding out of Ironrath as it burns, with the Whitehills victorious.
Layout[]
Inner Castle[]
Courtyard and Other Buildings[]
The Ironrath courtyard is large enough to allow plenty of space for many buildings, including:
- a small watchtower that allows a great view over the courtyard and it's inabitants.
- A training ground, where the Forresters soldiers are trained by the House's master-at-arms in both ranged and close combat.
- A meat stall, where workers butchers animals and prepare their meat.
- An armory, where the weapons of the Forrester forces are stored and produced.
- Stables, where the horses of the House are tended to.
- A rookery, where the ravens of the House are stored, and where the Maester of the House writes and sends messages to specific individuals.
- Various other buildings.
- An Ironwood grove, where the children of the Forrester family usually play.
Walls[]
Ironrath is protected by a towering stone wall fortified with ironwood battlements that offer protection for Forrester archers. Flanking this imposing structure are two watch towers, strategically positioned on the left and right sides of the wall, offering expansive views of the surrounding area
The castle's main gate is composed of a gatehouse construced with stone and Ironwood, the main gate is a steel portcullis that can be reinforced with a secondary Ironwood gate capable of withstanding assaults during sieges.
Inhabitants[]
- Gregor Forrester (Deceased)
- Lady Elissa Forrester (Deceased)
- Ethan Forrester (Deceased)
- Rodrik Forrester
- Asher Forrester
- Mira Forrester (Formerly)
- Ser Royland Degore
- Duncan Tuttle
- Gared Tuttle (Formerly)
- Malcolm Branfield (Formerly)
- Erik (Determinant)
- Numerous Forrester men-at-arms
- Numerous Smallfolk
Trivia[]
- The ironwood trees in the grove reach heights up to approximately 400 feet.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Season One appearances | |||||
Iron From Ice | The Lost Lords | The Sword in the Darkness | Sons of Winter | A Nest of Vipers | The Ice Dragon |