dragons Archives - History of Westeros

The Dance of the Dragons: Part 3 – w/Radio Westeros

The Dance of the Dragons continues in the third installment of our collaboration with Radio Westeros. We begin with the fallout from Rook’s Rest, then we cover topics like the mystery of Sunfyre. Plus, we discuss Tessarion’s dominance in the South, the Battle of the Gullet, the taking of King’s Landing and quite a few other subplots in the vast and complex Dance of the Dragons. Trading places, Pyrrhic victories and extremely poor leadership dominate part 3 of our series. Watch and listen to part 1 here. Find part 2 here.

Still possessed of more dragons than her half- brother, Her Grace now resolved to use them, no matter the cost. She would rain down fire and death upon Aegon and all those who supported him, she told the black council, and either tear him from the Iron Throne or die in the attempt.

Sheer walls of rock, eaten away by centuries of wind and spray, hemmed them in to either side. In some places they had assumed fantastic shapes. Nimble Dick pointed out a few as they climbed. “There’s an ogre’s head, see?” he said, and Brienne smiled when she saw it. “And that there’s a stone dragon. T’other wing fell off when my father was a boy.”

Dance of the Dragons Images

Dance of the Dragons - The Greens (naomimakesart) — The Greens (naomimakesart)

Dance of the Dragons - The Blacks (naomimakesart) — The Greens (naomimakesart)

As her lord husband Prince Daemon escorted her from the hall, cuts were seen upon Her Grace’s legs and the palm of her left hand. Drops of blood fell to the floor as she went past, and wise men looked at one another, though none dared speak the truth aloud: the Iron Throne had spurned her, and her days upon it would be few.

The Dance of the Dragons: Part 2 – w/Radio Westeros

Our joint coverage of the Dance of the Dragons with our friends at Radio Westeros continues. You can find part 1 in this series here; there, we covered the events that led up to the Dance of the Dragons. Part 3 can be found here. In this episode, we cover the taking of Harrenhal by Prince Daemon, the Battle of the Burning Mill, the Pact of Ice and Fire, the tragedy at Storm’s End, Blood & Cheese, the Battle of Rook’s Rest, the Rise of Criston Cole and so much more! And by more, we mean more tragedy! So let’s dig in.

Even as he spoke, the Dance began. On Driftmark, the Sea Snake’s ships set sail from Hull and Spicetown to close the Gullet, choking off trade to and from King’s Landing. Soon after, Jacaerys Velaryon was flying north upon his dragon, Vermax, his brother Lucerys south on Arrax, whilst Prince Daemon rode Caraxes to the Trident.

The Dance of the Dragons entered a new stage after the death of Lucerys Velaryon in the stormlands and the murder of Prince Jaehaerys before his mother’s eyes in the Red Keep. For both the blacks and the greens, blood called to blood for vengeance. And all across the realm, lords called their banners, and armies gathered and began to march.

Dance of the Dragons Images

Dance of the Dragons - Greens and Blacks (Histories and Lore)

Dance of the Dragons - Dragon Names (Histories and Lore)

To characterize the dark, turbulent, bloody doings of this period as a “dance” strikes us as grotesquely inappropriate. No doubt the phrase originated with some singer. “The Dying of the Dragons” would be altogether more fitting, but tradition, time, and Grand Maester Munkun have burned the more poetic usage into the pages of history, so we must dance along with the rest.

The Dance of the Dragons Part 1 – w/Radio Westeros

Our joint coverage of the Dance of the Dragons with our friends at Radio Westeros begins with the key events that led to war. We will be talking about the Queen Who Never Was, the Great Council of 101, the Year of the Red Spring, the formation of the Blacks & Greens, and much more!

Once you’re done, you can watch and listen to the second part in our Dance of the Dragons series here; you can watch the third episode here. In those episodes, we move on to the taking of Harrenhal by Prince Daemon Targaryen, Blood & Cheese, Rook’s Rest, and the taking of King’s Landing, among other events. But first, we have the beginning of the rift:

The Dance of the Dragons is the flowery name bestowed upon the savage internecine struggle for the Iron Throne of Westeros fought between two rival branches of House Targaryen during the years 129 to 131 AC. To characterize the dark, turbulent, bloody doings of this period as a “dance” strikes us as grotesquely inappropriate. No doubt the phrase originated with some singer. “The Dying of the Dragons” would be altogether more fitting, but tradition and time have burned the more poetic usage into the pages of history, so we must dance along with the rest.

The Dance of the Dragons Begins

For this was to be a year when many of the long-simmering tensions and jealousies that had plagued the Seven Kingdoms finally came to a boil; a year when many and more would have reason to wail and grieve and rend their garments.

Images

Dance of the Dragons - Rhaenyra by NaomiMakesArt — Rhaenyra by NaomiMakesArt

Dance of the Dragons - Rhaenys Targaryen - The Queen Who Never Was by Drafturgy — Rhaenyra by NaomiMakesArt

Protected: Gogossos: City of Blood Magic

Targaryen Politics in Post-Dragon Westeros (Con Panel Audio)

In this audio only episode, Aziz, Jim McGeehin (Something Like a Lawyer), Samantha Wallace & Steve Love discuss the paradigm shift in Westeros that occurred as the dragons died out. House Targaryen lost their great source of power, which necessitated many changes. Recorded live at Con of Thrones 2018. You can find our other panels here.

Why We Love: The Animals of ASOIAF

Let’s talk about animals in ASOIAF! A live roundtable discussion centered around selected favorite animal-related quotes, plus an Ice & Fire Con ’18 chat! Ash is joined by Lady Gwyn (Radio Westeros), Haley (The Manimals & DrinkingGOT), Chloe (Girls Gone Canon, Drunk ASOIAF History) & Tara Lynne (The Geekiary, Ice & Fire Con). Listen to our other ‘Why We Love’ here.

The king was in no mood for more argument. “Enough, Ned, I will hear no more. A direwolf is a savage beast. Sooner or later it would have turned on your girl the same way the other did on my son. Get her a dog, she’ll be happier for it.” – AGOT, Eddard III

Animals in ASOIAF – Cats!

Her son was attended by his kittens. As she watched the cats frolic about his feet, Cersei felt a little better. No harm will ever come to Tommen whilst I still live. She would kill half the lords in Westeros and all the common people, if that was what it took to keep him safe. – AFFC, Cersei VIII

A Good Boy

He always slept better with the great white wolf beside him; there was comfort in the smell of him, and welcome warmth in that shaggy pale fur. – ACOK, Jon VII

https://youtu.be/GjTvk-D5AyA

Why We Love: The Animals of ASOIAF (https://youtu.be/GjTvk-D5AyA)

The Crypts of Winterfell

Explore the dark and ancient past of House Stark and Winterfell. We discuss the crypts, statues, history, dreams, and Bael the Bard. Plus skinchangers, direwolves, dragons, the fires of the earth and so much more. So let’s descend into the crypts of Winterfell. Spooky~~~

Find the History of Westeros Facebook Group here. You can also join our Discord here.

The castle itself is peculiar in that the Starks did not level the ground when laying down the foundations and walls of the castle. Very likely, this reveals that the castle was built in pieces over the years rather than being planned as a single structure. Some scholars suspect that it was once a complex of linked ringforts, though the centuries have eradicated almost all evidence of this. – TWOIAF

By ancient custom an iron longsword had been laid across the lap of each who had been Lord of Winterfell, to keep the vengeful spirits in their crypts. The oldest had long ago rusted away to nothing, leaving only a few red stains where the metal had rested on stone. Ned wondered if that meant those ghosts were free to roam the castle now. He hoped not. The first Lords of Winterfell had been men hard as the land they ruled. – AGOT, Eddard I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7amecNz4Kek

The Crypts of Winterfell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7amecNz4Kek)

Asshai-by-the-Shadow

We look at this most ancient of cities, Asshai, the legend of Azor Ahai, and the origin of dragons. Are they all connected? Guest Lucifer Means Lightbringer joins us. Asshai is one of the most mysterious locations in the series, if not the most mysterious. There is a lot to talk about here. Let’s get into it!

Credits

Michael Klarfeld (Klaradox) created our new introduction. dutchmogul created the cyvasse pieces. Joey Townsend did our intro music, as you all know by now, and Ash did the video editing.

And so we come, nearly, to the end of the world. Or, at least, the end of our knowledge. Easternmost and southernmost of the great cities of the known world, the ancient port of Asshai stands at the end of a long wedge of land, on the point where the Jade Sea meets the Saffron Straits. Its origins are lost in the mists of time. Even the Asshai’i do not claim to know who built their city. They will say only that a city has stood here since the world began and will stand here until it ends. Few places in the known world are as remote as Asshai, and fewer are as forbidding.

The dark city by the Shadow is a city steeped in sorcery. Warlocks, wizards, alchemists, moonsingers, red priests, black alchemists, necromancers, aeromancers, pyromancers, bloodmages, torturers, inquisitors, poisoners, godswives, night-walkers, shapechangers, worshippers of the Black Goat and the Pale Child and the Lion of Night, all find welcome in Asshai-by-the-Shadow, where nothing is forbidden. Here they are free to practice their spells without restraint or censure, conduct their obscene rites, and fornicate with demons if that is their desire.

The City

Travelers tell us that the city is built entirely of black stone: halls, hovels, temples, palaces, streets, walls, bazaars, all. Some say as well that the stone of Asshai has a greasy, unpleasant feel to it, that it seems to drink the light, dimming tapers and torches and hearth fires alike. The nights are very black in Asshai, all agree. Even the brightest days of summer are somehow grey and gloomy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McX_v93MaLE

Asshai-by-The-Shadow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McX_v93MaLE)

Q: [Will we see Asshai?]
A: Only in flashback and memory, if at all.
– GRRM, SSM, 2008

The Heresies of Septon Barth (spoilers)

A detailed look at the life, times and works of the man who knows the most about the “higher mysteries”. Want to learn more about dragons, ravens, or why the seasons are so crazy? You do not want to miss this episode on Septon Barth. He’s the leading expert in all of A Song of Ice and Fire on those topics and more! We made this episode before Fire and Blood.

Ser Ryam Redwyne was the greatest knight of his day, and one of the worst Hands ever to serve a king. Septon Murmison’s prayers worked miracles, but as Hand he soon had the whole realm praying for his death. Lord Butterwell was renowned for wit, Myles Smallwood for courage, Ser Otto Hightower for learning, yet they failed as Hands, every one. As for birth, the dragonkings oft chose Hands from amongst their own blood, with results as various as Baelor Breakspear and Maegor the Cruel. Against this, you have Septon Barth, the blacksmith’s son the Old King plucked from the Red Keep’s library, who gave the realm forty years of peace and plenty.

He was the son of a common blacksmith and had been given to the Faith while young. But his brilliance made itself known, and in time he came to serve in the library at the Red Keep, tending the king’s books and records. There King Jaehaerys became acquainted with him…

With Barth’s aid and advice, King Jaehaerys did more to reform the realm than any other king who lived before or after.

Yet if Alysanne was Jaehaerys’s great love, his greatest friend was Septon Barth. No man of humble birth ever rose so high as the plainspoken but brilliant septon.

Dragons

Septon Barth’s claim that the Valyrians came to Westeros because their priests prophesied that the Doom of Man would come out of the land beyond the narrow sea can safely be dismissed as nonsense, as can many of Barth’s queerer beliefs and suppositions.

Dragons are neither male nor female. Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years. Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke. The dragons prove it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-86Pn9XLuc

The Heresies of Septon Barth (spoilers) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-86Pn9XLuc)

History: The Doom of Valyria (mild spoilers)

The Doom annihilated the powerful and sorcerous Freehold of Valyria in mere moments. History of Westeros takes a look at what it was, why it happened, and possibly who caused it. We recorded this episode in 2014! In other words, this episode is very old. This was well before the release of Fire & Blood. This was even before the release of The World of Ice and Fire. Additionally, you can check out our episode on the Faceless Men here, which was made after the release of Fire & Blood. So enjoy this very old episode!

It was written that every hill for five hundred miles split asunder to fill the air with ash and smoke, and fire so hot and hungry that even the dragons in the sky were engulfed and consumed. Great rents opened in the earth, swallowing palaces, temples, and entire towns. Lakes boiled or turned to acid, mountains burst, fiery fountains spewed molten rock a thousand feet into the air, and red clouds rained down dragonglass and the black blood of demons. To the north, the ground splintered and collapsed and fell in on itself, and an angry sea came boiling in. The proudest city in all the world was gone in an instant, the fabled empire vanished in a day.

“Septon Barth speculated on the matter, referring to a Valyrian text that has since been lost, suggesting that the Freehold’s sorcerers foretold that the gold of Casterly Rock would destroy them.”

“At its apex Valyria was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization.”

The Doom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyXGGTMeYQ

The Doom of Valyria (mild spoilers) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyXGGTMeYQ)

One thing that can be said for certain is that it was a cataclysm such as the world had never seen. The ancient, mighty Freehold—home to dragons and to sorcerers of unrivaled skill—was shattered and destroyed within hours.

Fourteen or fourteen thousand. What man dares count them? It is not wise for mortals to look too deeply at those fires, my friend. Those are the fires of god’s own wrath, and no human flame can match them. We are small creatures, men.

Some, wedding the fanciful notion of Valyrian magic to the reality of the ambitious great houses of Valyria, have argued that it was the constant whirl of conflict and deception amongst the great houses that might have led to the assassinations of too many of the reputed mages who renewed and maintained the rituals that banked the fires of the Fourteen Flames.