The Old Way refers to the ancient Ironborn tradition of reaving and plunder. A key concept within the Old Way is paying the "iron price", which means to take possessions from defeated adversaries, rather than purchasing or bartering for them, which is referred to as the "gold price." Ever since the Conquest, several Ironborn rulers have made attempts at returning to the Old Way, and striking at the rest of Westeros. While these attempts have been momentarily successful, they have always ended in defeat.