章 15: Where do you want to live in Asoiaf?
(AN: I'm working on the actual chapter.
Where do you want to live in the world of A song of ice and fire?
My first choice is Oldtown. I'm really fascinated with it. The oldest city in Westeros boasting famous Hightower, the tallest structure in Seven Kingdoms and the tallest tower in Known World. It's nice to live in a place with great history. But even from practical point of view Oldtown won't disappoint me.
Oldtown is a clean city, at least it's described as having flowery smell whereas King's Landing, for example, is said to be so dirty that the stench of its waste can be smelled far beyond its walls. Oldtown is protected by high stone walls, though city didn't see great battles or sieges in near past and, generally, seems to be a peaceful place. There're no records of places with bad reputation in Oldtown, again, in contrast to Flea Bottom in King's Landing (it seems that two cities are intentionally pitted one against another, and Oldtown is a bit whitewashed and embellished).
Generally, Oldtown is prosperous city with paved streets, houses and bridges made of stone. It has good infrastructure, by Roseroad it is connected to Highgarden and, then, to King's Landing. Oldtown port is important and bustling, ships from almost all the world call upon it. So, living here, I won't feel lonely and isolated. I would meet interesting people, learn various news, see and buy commodities from foreign lands. Moreover, the city that often hosts foreigners is allegedly tolerant to others and not xenophobic which is quite important. Oldtown is described as a labyrinth of wynds, crisscrossing alleys, narrow crookback streets but it doesn't dismay me, I find such scenery nice and romantic. Despite being a center of trade Oldtown isn't described as a noisy, clamorous place. The city seems to keep good balance between activity and calmness.
Oldtown's climate is very pleasing. It's very warm, even hot here, so I won't be afraid of cold and harsh winter. River of Honeywine flows through the city, being a good source of clean fresh water. Besides, Honeywine and river road that runs through the city, as well as multiple islands situated within the borders of Oldtown, make city more picturesque. Oldtown also boasts lush gardens, it's full of trees and flowers.
And one of the most attractive places in Oldtown is Citadel, a true city within the city. This complex of buildings is a home to the order of maesters and, more important, serves as a repository of knowledge. Citadel's library is just magnificent, besides there's a number of curiousities here, from bones of giants to magical glass candles made of dragonglass in Valyria.
My second choice would be Summer Isles. That archipelago has very warm and pleasant climate, lush and rich nature (though there're many dangerous beasts, e.g. panthers, wolves, crocodiles). Summer Islanders are mostly handsome, smart and nice people. Unlike Peaceful People of Naath, they aren't absolute pacifists and defend their land from enemy attacks or pirate raids. But, in general, they are calm, peaceful and don't fight wars in traditional sense of the word. Instead, they organize something similar to tournament or trial by combat. Two teams of warriors consisting of men and women (along with prohibition of slavery, there is a gender equality on Summer Isles) fight each other with light weapons for a day or so. The winners get what was in dispute, and the defeated princes are exiled from the islands. The most… um, unusual aspect of life on Summer Isles is great sexual freedom. A lovemaking is considered a sacred activity, a service to the god and goddess of love, beauty and fertility. All islanders serve for some time in temples of love that dot the islands, the most skilled of them remain in the temples for a life and are respected as priests and priestesses. Prostitution is also a respectable profession, because human body is created by gods and satisfying all its needs is a right thing. But rape and sexual violence aren't approved of on Summer Isles.
Aegon, Rhaenys and Visenya, a group of three islands discovered by Elissa Farman in the Sunset Sea, are also a decent place to live. They are described as pleasant and bountiful. Multiple streams and springs provide clean fresh water. Edible nuts and fruits grow on the trees, wild pigs may be a good source of meat. The disadvantages of living there include huge lizards as big as deers whose bites can cause severe infections (but they are sluggish, so it's possible to run from them, to build a defence or just not to bother them) and, of course, isolation from the rest of the world as the islands lie far from shipping lanes and other inhabited lands.
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