Norvos

Norvos is one of the eight Free Cities of the Valyrian Freehold, situated on the river Noyne and surrounded by the hills of Norvos.

Norvos is nominally ruled by its council of magisters, although the religious authorities of the city -- the bearded priests -- exert great amounts of political influence on the Norvoshi people.

History
Most scholars believed that Ancient Norvos was founded by Andals, who warred with the local hairy men, cousins to the men of Ibben, and traded with the Rhoynar people of the lower Rhoyne.

Modern Norvos was founded by a religious community devoted to bearded priests, wanting a place where their religion could be properly practiced instead of living alongside the sundry faiths of other cities in the Freehold.

They have owed allegiance to the Valyrian freehold for centuries.

Government
Lorath's autonomy is ensured by its status as a Free City of the Valyrian Freehold. Like its sister cities, it has magisters, although these magisters are directly appointed by the religious authorities, the bearded priests, that govern Norvos on a day-to-day basis.

Culture
Due to religious restrictions, only priests may have beards. Freemen may have mustachios, that are sometimes dyed vibrant colors in the Tyroshi style. Women and slaves must shave off all their body hair. Free women wear elaborate wigs instead, and often wear dresses with squirrel collars.

Norvoshi delicacies include wintercakes and nahsa, fermented goat's milk laced with honey.

Once a year, a festival is held where bears dance down the Sinner's Steps.

Religion
Religion is stricter in Norvos than most of the Free Cities. Almost all Norvoshi follow the religion of the bearded priests. As the god's name is only revealed to initiates, their religion does not even have an exact name. Their lives are dictated by the city's bells, which dictate when they can rise, sleep, work, rest, take arms, pray, and lay with one another.

The bearded priests are prone to punishing themselves, engaging in self-flagellation and wearing hair shirts.

Economy
Norvos's main exports are its tapestries.

Its chief trading partner is Lorath to the north. Caravans sometimes pass through from Pentos to the west, or Qohor to the east, or on boats downriver to the colonies along the Rhoyne.

Houses
(Open)

Characters
(Open)