#stygai

[xaurianqueen97]

I want to know how the Ash River smells. Is it sulphurous? Does it smell of animal rot or plant rot or both? If you've had the displeasure of coming across a deceased animal in the woods or somesuch, the smell never leaves you.

I think I'll keep the volcanic smells to Valyria, I like the Ash smelling of dust (that fine grayish silty dirt, you know the type), rot, and maybe something chemical? Like old asphalt, perhaps Stygai and Asshai used very primitive petrochemicals in their construction ? I think that would be VERY interesting. No combustion engines, just construction, alchemy and such. I like that blend of natural yet unnatural.

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

hi do you know what the unseen westeros compilation is? ive heard a bit of a talk about it somewhere and id like to know what it is!

Unseen Westeros is a 150-page artbook created in 2015-8 by 40 artists, many who worked for Game of Thrones. They beautifully illustrated areas of Westeros and Essos, castles and cities and faraway lands throughout the world of ice and fire. For example, this is Stygai, a "corpse city" in the Shadow Lands northeast of Asshai, illustrated by Dziga Kaiser:

And here's the Lonely Light, by Sven Sauer:

You can see the Kickstarter here, though alas it's long since completed. The artists also had an exhibition in Germany, but I don't think it's going anymore. But you can still see many prints of the artworks in the book, though they can't be purchased anymore either. And there's another gallery on Behance. Also, you can search "unseen westeros" on Artstation to turn up artworks uploaded by the artists (though I think there's at least one artist tagging their ROTD art with that, ack). @beyondmistland also has some posts with links to the artworks. And if you want to spend the money, you can still find copies of the artbook on ebay. Enjoy!

[hallowed-harpy]

I LOVED making this - based around the belief that dragons originated in Asshai & that the current state of Stygai was caused by the first failed attempt to blood bind dragons to humans.

We’ve got the infamous oily black stone, green and black tendrils for decay & the cursed river, Ash; bones and ‘dragon’ shed for blood magic, necromancy, and dragon binding.

I STILL have one gold locket available in my shop.

http://seaofcuriosities.etsy.com

[theblackdread]

The city of the night, the haunted Stygai is located north of Asshai deep within the mountains of the Morn.

"And in the caves that pockmark the cliffs, the demons and dragons and worse make their lairs. The farther from the city one goes, the more hideous and twisted these creatures become. Stygai, the corpse city at the Shadow’s heart, where even the shadowbinders fear to tread."

Artist: Enrique Murguía Alfaro via www.artstation.com/e_murguia

[aurora-light-blog]

The Shadowlands

    By Shella Longclaw

It’s astonishing to believe the ancient kingdoms of Asshai and Stygai were known for their lush vegetation. Sea Green Emperor Jar Han demanded hundreds of pounds of grain and fruits from Asshai as tribute. Legends claim that Stygai turned dark during the Long Night.

“From their metal spilled out poison and their roofs created black clouds, which choked men to death, the lords of Stygai have caused their own downfall. Their hubris had been that if they could wear clothes untouched by hands, they could breathe life back into corpses.” A quote from the wife of Har Loi, the first Gray Emperor. Many Yi Tish scribes believe this to be the reason for the darkness.

The Lengii believed magic gave birth to the Shadowlands. Ulthos corsairs had been raiding Asshai and the filth from Stygai had been ruining their crops. Supposedly, they turned to magic for an easy solution, and magic always comes at a cost. The large kingdom was reduced to a mere city. Stories said that the ghost grass sprung from all the sacrificed townspeople.

It still wasn’t enough blood. Reavers came from the Shadowlands to steal babies and children from Yi Ti. Thankfully, the Maroon Emperors were able to stop them and drive them back. Only Jinqi is under attack occasionally from the reavers today. A child survivor stated that reavers kidnapped children in order to extend their own lives. No one wishes this to be true.

As for the other rumors about the Shadowlands concerning monsters, I’m afraid to say those words are true. I have seen one of their monsters with my own eyes. The Shadowlands are not the birthplace of dragons. Sphinxes dwell there. I’ve seen images of the Valyrian sphinx. Apparently, they’re not Valyrian at all. The soldiers of Jinqi have mentioned mammoth sized crabs, though they seemed to assault mainly the lands east of the Shadowlands.

Despite the deadly sinister reavers being from Stygai, I would never wish to visit Asshai. I’ve seen the darkness lurking in those lands and dare not tread there so I’m not consumed by it.

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Shadowbinders at Stygai by Enrique Murguia

[call-me-schmidt]

You know, I fall in and out of interest with the ASOIAF world but what stays with me is that the background lore of the world is about three times more interesting than whatever the actual story is.

I mean, I stuck for Sansa and I keep coming back to different people's expansions on Dorne. But what got me into ASOIAF in the first place was the lore around the Free Cities. Braavos, especially; I think Arya'a Braavosi chapters were my first real encounter with the series. I know that I found Daenerys' chapters the more interesting when I first read into the books.

Like, I don't know so very much about Lorath or Qohor, but they sound like very cool places. There's places like the Shivering Sea, and Ibben, that don't figure much in the plot. And there’s that whole deal with Asshai-by-the-Shadow and Stygai, and what happened to Valyria. I mean, as much as ASOIAF has - or had? That's how it's been known, anyway - the air of Fantasy-but-Gritty-Realism: the world itself feels like a patchwork quilt of different eldritch locations. And that's probably what I like best about it. I could read lore all day.

[vlc-maps]

THE SHADOWLANDS

…IN A WORLD OF ICE AND FIRE…

…AN WHERE A GAME OF THRONES IS PLAYED !