Casterly Rock

Casterly Rock, nicknamed the Rock, is a castle and the seat of the noble House Lannister. It is the capital of the westerlands, located on the ocean road. It is said to be one of the tallest castles of Westeros and certainly one of the proudest. Whilst the westerlands are known for their wealth, with many gold and silver mines through the region, the most productive mines lay just under Casterly Rock. Such has provided House Lannister with unimaginable wealth.

Layout
Casterly Rock is carved out of a colossal stone hill, overlooking the Sunset Sea and the harbour of Lannisport. At sunset, it is said to resemble the shape of a sleeping lion. It is said to be one of the tallest castles of Westeros, measuring at three times the height of Oldtown's Hightower or the Wall.

The Casterlys of antiquity constructed a ringfort at its peak. As millennia passed, the defenses are expanded. Walls, gates, and watchtowers are added to the castle's layout. It contains tunnels, dungeons, storerooms, barracks, halls, stables, stairways, courtyards, balconies, and gardens. The castle also contains a sept. In the lower levels of the Rock are rooms where caged lions were once kept, as well as the cells for the worst prisoners. Just beneath the Rock lay numerous large sea-carved caverns, as well as hundreds of mineshafts. Though mined for thousands of years, there still remains untouched gold veins.

The Lion's Mouth is the the main entry to Casterly Rock - an enormous natural cavern reaching a heght of two hundred feet. Just below the Rock sounds the rumbles of thunder, as the sea crashes into the shoreline. Casterly Rock's port has docks, wharves, and shipyards. It is accessible by longships and cogs.

The Golden Gallery is where House Lannisters hold their family treasures, including gilded walls and ornaments. House Lannister buries their dead in their Hall of Heroes, where the armor of the old Lannisters are displayed. The Rock also contains a godswood, located within a cavern. Its weirwood is twisted, with overgrown tangled roots.

House Casterly
The first family of Casterly Rock are the noble Casterlys, who ruled it during the Dawn Age and the Age of Heroes. After Corlos, the founder of House Casterly, discovered gold within the Rock he fortified the entrance, carving halls and tunnels deep within the stone.

Legends foretell that the founder of House Lannister, Lann the Clever, used his wit alone to take Casterly Rock for himself. Rumour has it that Lann's ghost still haunts the fortress.

Lannister Kings
House Lannister rules as kings from their seat - Casterly Rock. After the Andals arrive, House Lannister invites Andal youths to stay at the castle, to be taken as wards and potential hostages.

Roland I of House Arryn is said to have been so impressed by Casterly Rock (as well as the Hightower of House Hightower) that he ordered the construction of the Eyrie, feeling the Gates of the Moon to be inadequate.

One hundred Ironborn were held captive at Casterly Rock, after King Gerold Lannister (Gerold the Great) raided the Iron Islands. Before Harmund II of House Hoare became King of the Iron Islands, he was warded at the Rock.