HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Created Its Own Dragon Lore

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As a longtime fan of George R.R. Martin’s intricate world of Westeros, I’ve always been captivated by the enigmatic bond between humans and dragons. The idea that a person could form an unbreakable connection with these ancient beasts has fueled my imagination for years. So, when I watched Addam Hull claim Seasmoke on House of the Dragon, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of intrigue and skepticism.

George R.R. Martin’s dragons in “A Song of Ice and Fire” are both intriguing and enchanting beings, shrouded in mystery. The origin of these magical creatures, endowed with high intelligence, remains a fascinating enigma. Each dragon possesses a distinct personality while sharing an unbreakable bond with its rider. There are rumors that these dragons from “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” have the ability to alter their gender at will, making it challenging to distinguish a female dragon from a male one until eggs are laid. The reasons why certain individuals can tame them while others cannot remain unexplained. In the latest episode six of “House of the Dragon’s” second season, we delved deeper into established dragon lore with Ser Steffon Darklyn’s tragic quest to become a dragonlord. However, the series introduced new elements as well, such as the Vale’s wild dragon and Seasmoke’s pursuit for Addam of Hull.

The Dragon Seasmoke Rejects Ser Steffon Darklyn in House of the Dragon

In the intricately woven tales of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy realm, there is a nearly undisputed condition for those who tame dragons: they need to carry the legacy of Old Valyria in their veins. The ancient rulers of the vanished Valyrian Freehold were the sole dragonmasters worldwide. Consequently, someone in Westeros can meet the requirement if they trace back their lineage to either House Targaryen or House Velaryon – despite the Velaryons not having been dragonriders themselves.

In simpler terms, there’s only one exception to this rule when it comes to a character’s unsure origin, which we’ll discuss further in the following part.

In “House of the Dragon,” Prince Jaeceryss harbored doubts that the ancient rule requiring Valyrian blood for dragon riders was merely a historical fabrication intended to enhance the Valyrians’ image. Meanwhile, his mother remained committed to unearthing long-lost relatives through old records. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, held the belief that even those with only a trace of Valyrian ancestry stood a better chance at riding dragons than those without any at all. This was due in part to the fact that not every family member was guaranteed the ability to bond with a dragon; Daemon’s daughter Rhaena serves as an example. Aemond, too, could not successfully tame a dragon until he claimed the mighty Vhagar.

In the sixth episode of “House of the Dragon,” Rhaenyra requested that Ser Steffon, her Queensguard’s lord commander, consider attempting to tame a dragon since his grandmother and grandmother before him were Targaryens. She warned him of the grave danger involved in seeking a dragon, but he was touched by her consideration. Like many residents of Westeros, dragons are revered as divine beings by him.

Seasmoke paid no heed to Ser Steffon’s Valyrian ancestry, loyalty to Rhaenyra, or noble character. The dragon remained unyielding and scorched Ser Steffon with dragonfire for his attempt at command.

Any viewer well-versed in the dragon folklore of “House of the Dragon” would have anticipated that outcome. However, the other two significant dragon incidents in that episode took many by surprise.

Rhaena Learns the Vale Has a Wild Dragon

In the last stretch of my adventure in the Vale, I didn’t anticipate encountering a wild dragon, as dragons typically reside near the strongholds of House Velaryon – either in King’s Landing or Dragonstone. Prior to their arrival in Westeros, they had only inhabited the Valyrian Freehold and rarely ventured out for extended periods unless accompanied by their dragonriders.

Paraphrasing: The presence of a dragon torching sheep in a location distant from dragons’ traditional habitats in “House of the Dragon” contradicts the established rules and dragon folklore outlined in “Fire & Blood” and “A Song of Ice and Fire.” George R.R. Martin publicly acknowledged this deviation from canon weeks prior to episode six’s release, as documented in his “Not a Blog” post (emphasis added).

My dragons are sky-dwelling beings that can fly over mountains and plains, covering vast distances. Yet, they don’t roam aimlessly; instead, they remain tethered to their riders. They aren’t nomadic wanderers. During the peak of Valyrian power, there existed forty dragon-riding families with hundreds of dragons collectively. Except for the Targaryens, these families kept their dragons near the Freehold and the Lands of Perpetual Summer. Occasionally, a dragon rider might explore distant lands like Volantis or other Valyrian colonies, but they never permanently settled there. Consider this: If dragons were nomadic, they would have spread across half of Essos, and the Doom would have only affected a small portion of them. Likewise, the dragons of Westeros rarely stray far from Dragonstone. After three centuries, we would have seen dragons inhabiting various regions and every noble house possessing some.

As a fan, I’m often pondering why “House of the Dragon” might deviate from George R.R. Martin’s established dragon rules. To understand this, let’s delve into some intriguing details from “Fire & Blood.” However, be warned that following this discussion may reveal spoilers for upcoming events in “House of the Dragon.” It’s your choice whether to continue reading. If you prefer not to be spoiled, feel free to skim past the text between these two images until you reach the next sub-headline, where we will explore another fascinating aspect of the show’s dragon lore.

In the TV adaptation of “Fire & Blood,” the dragon that kills sheep at Dragonstone is being transferred to the Vale, which seems to eliminate a cherished character named Nettles from the story. Nettles, whose lineage is questionable as previously mentioned, appears to have her role taken over by Rhaena in “House of the Dragon.”

As a fan, I can’t help but note that Nettles’ questionable lineage is brought up earlier in “Fire & Blood.” Surprisingly enough, she later asserts her connection to a dragon in this very part discussing Rhaena and the Vale. So, you might be wondering which majestic beast she forms an alliance with.

It’s plausible that Rhaena may now take ownership of the wild dragon in the series, but it’s not certain yet. The show is taking major deviations from the original source material, so nothing is set in stone. However, given that the series has already altered a key dragonrider’s narrative in this very episode, we believe it’s probable.

Seasmoke Claims a Dragonrider on House of the Dragon (Possibly While His First Still Lives)

Addam from Hull is the illegitimate son of Lord Corlys Velaryon, making him of Valyrian descent. This explanation aligns with dragon folklore and isn’t entirely surprising that a “dragonseed” like Addam could acquire a dragon. However, what sets this situation apart is: a) the unique way they formed a connection and b) the fact that such a bond occurred at all.

In the world of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” humans form bonds with dragons through two primary methods. The initial way involves babies from House Targaryen being given dragon eggs as part of their nursery items. If these eggs hatch into healthy dragons, a unique connection is established between the dragon and its rider. The second method unfolds when a person encounters a living dragon; the dragon may choose to accept or reject this individual, leaving us mystified by the unexplained magical elements that underpin their bond.

Rhaena, the child of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon, has repeatedly attempted to mount a dragon in “House of the Dragon,” but all she has to show for her efforts are burn scars. Steffon Darklyn made one attempt and lost his life as a consequence. Intriguingly, Addam of Hull didn’t need to make any effort at all to become a dragonlord. In an extraordinary turn of events, Seasmoke, the solitary dragon, pursued Addam before they both soared into the sky on “House of the Dragon.”

In an unexpected twist for “House of the Dragon,” Seasmoke’s dragon lore deviates from the known facts in “Fire & Blood.” The intriguing aspect is that Seasmoke’s rider, Laenor Velaryon, isn’t deceased as portrayed in the books. Instead, the show alters his tale by having him collaborate with Rhaenyra to stage his death, enabling him to enjoy Essos’ freedom. However, dragons recognize only one rider at a time. They refuse to acknowledge another while their current rider is still alive.

If Laenor’s death in Essos wasn’t revealed to those on Dragonstone, then we can only assume that we’ve been introduced to the unique dragon lore within “House of the Dragon.” (Even though Seasmoke was drawn to the unidentified rider’s half-brother.)

Your reaction to that is as unique and intimate as the connection between a dragon and its rider. However, the underlying meaning is up for interpretation. Regardless of whether you’re acquainted with “Fire & Blood” and George R.R. Martin’s dragon lore, we’re all in the dark about what further developments may arise during the Dance of the Dragons.

I’ve had the pleasure of coming across Mikey Walsh’s work at TopMob, and let me tell you, his writing skills are nothing short of impressive. Not only is he a valued staff writer there, but Mikey also maintains a strong online presence on Twitter and Bluesky under the handle @burgermike.

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2024-07-22 05:03