Valyrians


 * This article is about the Valyrian people and culture. For other related topics see Valyria (disambiguation).

"Wielding these weapons, astride their dragons, the Valyrians conquered the surrounding lands and slowly expanded west."

- Viserys Targaryen

The Valyrians are a people and culture native to the Valyrian peninsula, in the continent of Essos. For thousands of years, their empire was the dominant civilization in Essos, until a cataclysmic event known as 'the Doom' shattered their capital city and all but obliterated them.

History
Originally a community of shepherds, the Valyrians rose to prominence after discovering dragons in the volcanic area known as the Fourteen Fires. After taming the mighty beasts, they established the city of Valyria and became skilled in both magic and metallurgy - creating a unique type of steel.

With their dragons and weapons, the Valyrians conquered their surrounding lands and began their westward expansion. However, they came into conflict with the Rhoynar as well as the Ghiscari peoples. The Ghiscari Empire fought five wars against the Valyrian Freehold and was eventually defeated, their capital destroyed, and its people enslaved.

For nearly five thousand years, Valyrian hegemony was uncontested, until 'the Doom' destroyed much of the Valyrian peninsula. Not only dragons, but also the Valyrians' spells, knowledge and recorded history, were lost.

The cause of the Doom remains unknown, with some believing the Valyrians themselves caused it with their reckless use of magic. In any event, the power of the Valyrians was broken, the ruling dragonlords dead, and soon their colonies throughout Essos declared their independence and a period of constant warfare began: the Century of Blood.

However, some traces of the Valyrian people survived the Doom. Their blood survived among the population of the "Free Cities", former colonies of Valyria, while a few families of Valyrian descend - Houses Targaryen, Velaryon and Qoherys - avoided destruction, having established in the islands of the Narrow Sea decades before the cataclysm. Though the Velaryons and Qoherys were lesser families, the Targaryens had the last of the dragons in their possesion.

Features and practices
Valyrians are known for being fair-skinned and having silver-gold hair along with violet or deep blue eyes. To keep their traits 'pure', Valyrian nobles often practiced incest, wedding brother to sister, cousin to cousin, uncle to niece and aunt to nephew.