Located far to the east of the Known World, along the southern coast of the Shadow Lands
peninsula, the ancient city of Asshai was considered a mysterious and dangerous realm
where few Westerosi ever ventured, and even fewer returned.
A massive settlement, so large Volantis, Qarth, King’s Landing and Oldtown could all fit
within it’s walls, the city’s population was exceedingly modest, with only 1 in ten
buildings occupied.
It’s structure constructed from an oily black stone said to drink the light, Asshai
was considered grim and gloomy on the best of days, while its people were dark and sullen,
referred to by the Dothraki as the Spawn of Shadows.
With no children or animals living in the city, all religions, practices and traditions
were permitted, resulting in a diverse population consisting of those unwelcome in other lands,
like spellsingers, aeromancers, alchemists, warlocks, godswives, night-walkers, pyromancers,
moonsingers, bloodmages, inquisitors, torturers and poisoners, many of whom worshipped dark
gods like R’hllor, the black goat, the pale child Bakkalon, and the Lion of Night.
Although the exact origins of Asshai were unknown, with its own people believing the
city always existed, and would continue to exist until the world’s end, the city was
undoubtedly ancient, containing vast stores of historical knowledge, specializing in magic
and dragonlore, which is why King Aegon V sent investigators to seek out information
from this far away land, when attempting to hatch dragon eggs many years after the last
of the Targaryen dragons died out.
Asshai was also home to various prophecies, such as those concerning Azor Ahai, a great
hero during the Long Night believed to occur 8000 years before conquest, who sacrificed
his wife Nissa Nissa to forge the flaming sword Lightbringer used to defeat the armies
of darkness.
This hero, whose legend spread throughout Essos, was prophesied to one day return and
fight once more for humanity against a new threat.
Possessing their own shrill and ululating language often used in magic rituals and incantations,
the streets of Asshai were usually empty even during the day, with those few who ventured
out, walking alone while wearing face coverings, or else travelled in a Palanquin with dark
curtains, carried on the backs of slaves.
Though the Ash river flowed through the city, it’s waters were considered dangerous, appearing
black during the day while shinning with pale green light at night.
Unwilling to drink the water, believed to kill animals and cause illness in humans or
eat the river fish, said to be so blind and deformed, only Shadowbinder’s dared consume
them, Asshai relied heavily on imports to survive, becoming a lucrative stop along the
jade sea trade route, bringing in food, clean water and other basic amenities in exchange
for vast sums of amber, dragonglass, scarlet silk, gemstones and gold.
Despite the dangers in voyaging to this city, Asshai became a regular trade partner to the
Kingdom of Sarnor and Empire of Yi Ti, with Emperor Jar Han even making them a tributary
state during his reign.
Many years later, prolific merchants like Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos continued to send
trading ships into the far east with his vessels taking roughly 2 years, under the best conditions,
to complete the journey.
Though few men from Westeros ever ventured so far, the great sea captain Corlys Velaryon
claimed to have visited the city where he saw a battered old ship of a familiar design,
he believed was the famous Sun Chaser, once owned by Elissa Farman, who decades earlier
travelled west across the sunset sea, and thus may have ended her journey in Asshai.
Elissa Farman stole 3 Targaryen dragon eggs and sold them to the Sealord of Braavos to
pay for the construction of her vessel, and while Illyrio Mopatis later claimed to have
gifted Daenerys Targaryen 3 dragon eggs from Asshai, it is more likely they were those
stolen by Elissa Farman.
Captain Euron Greyjoy also may have visited Asshai, as well the knowledgeable Maester
Marwyn, who spent several years in the eastern city before returning home.
A godswife and maegi who once studied under Maester Marwyn, Mirri Maz Durr spent time
training under Shadowbinders in Asshai, gaining knowledge she later used to seek vengeance
against Khal Drogo, a Dothraki chieftain and husband of Daenerys Targaryen, who destroyed
her village, leaving the great warrior in a vegetative state while also killing his
unborn son.
After burning Mirri Maz Duur alive as punishment, Daenerys Targaryen encountered Quaithe, a
mysterious shadowbinder who wore a red mask and spoke words of prophecy, explaining that
the Mother of Dragons would learn truth in Asshai, and that in order to touch the light,
she must pass beneath the Shadow, possibly referring to the Shadow Lands peninsula.
Then there was Melisandre, the former slave turned red priestess who studied in Asshai
where her magic was strong, and after learning the prophecy of Azor Ahai, travelled west,
believing that King Stannis Baratheon was the hero reborn.
In addition to the sinister reputation surrounding the city itself, the mountainous region as
a whole was said to be covered in a permanent shadow, where only ghost grass grew.
The possible homeland of dragons where demons preyed upon those who ventured in their lands,
even Shadowbinders feared travelling into or beyond the northern Corpse city of Stygai,
said to be populated by demons and monsters.
Yet even so there were some, known as the Shadow Men, living in these treacherous mountains.
A mysterious people who wear red wooden masks and covered themselves in tattoos, once considered
a significant threat to nearby powers, with the Maroon Emperors of Yi Ti moving their
court to the city of Jinqi so they could better defend against Shadow Men reavers.