Braavosi

Braavosi are the inhabitants of Braavos, one of the Free Cities of Essos. The city-state sits on a broad lagoon at the edge of the Narrow Sea and is linked to the sea by a network of canals. The Braavosi are a diverse, mercantile people known for their seamanship, craftsmanship, and financial influence, with the Iron Bank of Braavos serving as a prominent example of their economic power.

Culturally, Braavosi society emphasizes discipline, skill, and discretion. Residents are often multilingual and tradesmen, sailors, or artisans who conduct business across Essos and beyond. The city’s reputation for secrecy and pragmatism reflects in both its commerce and its clandestine traditions that travel outside Braavos as well.

Two of Braavos’s most notable institutions are the Iron Bank and the House of Black and White. The Iron Bank is a powerful financial house whose lending and credit influence extend to rulers and noble houses across continents. The House of Black and White, temple to the Many-Faced God, houses the Faceless Men, a guild of assassins who train in Braavos and operate across the world, adopting various faces in service of their faith.

Language and identity in Braavos are shaped by its cosmopolitan population and trading connections. Braavosi is the language most commonly spoken there, and many residents also use other tongues common to the Free Cities. The city’s reputation for financial acumen, disciplined swordplay such as water dancing, and its secretive traditions mark the Braavosi as a distinct and influential culture within Essos.