The Old Way is a term used by the ironborn to refer to their traditional lifestyle of reaving and plundering. According to the Old Way, the ironborn raised their Kings from their own numbers. It is also consecrated in the ironborn religion, as they believe the Drowned God made them to reap and rape, to carve out kingdoms to make their names known in blood and song. The Old Way centers around the concept of "paying the iron price": to seize any wealth or possession by force. To pay the "gold price", buying or trading for items, is shameful for any man.