Across the many lands of the known world, black stone has been used in the construction
of various structures, some remarkable for their intricate features and craftsmanship,
others of a more simple design representing a fascinating mystery as to their origins.
For thousands of years, the dragonlords of the Valyrian Freehold ruled a large ever expanding
territory in Essos, using their magics to create a substance they named dragonstone.
Fused black stone harder than steel or diamond, used in a number of construction projects
including the Dragon Roads, the walls of Volantis, the inner walls of Tyrosh, and even an abandoned
fortress on the island of Naath.
The Valyrians were known to twist and shape dragonstone into beautiful and ornately designed
structures.
In sharp contrast to the foundation of the Hightower in southern westeros, another ancient
construction of fused black stone, but smooth and plain all around with no markings of any
kind.
Although many continue to believe the foundation is of Valyrian origin, the simplicity of its
design suggests otherwise, there is also no known evidence suggesting the dragonlords
ever travelled this far West.
In addition, others have pointed out the complexity of the structure on the inside suggests a
connection to the Mazemakers of Lorath, an ancient people who built similar constructions.
Although they were not known to use black stone.
Similarly, in the far eastern lands of Yi Ti are five enormous forts built into the
mountains, each housing 10 thousand men and constructed from single fused blackstone.
And while it is reminiscent of dragonstone, it is believed that the Five Forts existed
long before the rise of the Valyrian Freehold and once again there is no evidence to suggest
the dragonlords ever travelled so far east.
The people of Yi Ti claim the fortresses were built by the Pearl Emperor long ago to protect
the Empire from the demon armies of the Lion of Night.
Another connection to the Empire of Yi Ti, comes from the story of the Bloodstone Emperor,
a man who practiced torture, necromancy and cannibalism, betraying the gods of his people
to worship a black stone that fell from the sky, founding the Church of Starry Wisdom.
Other black stone structures such as the ruins of a mighty wall at Moat Cailin, as well as
the walls of Blackhaven and Kayakayanaya were formed from black basalt, a dry black stone
that appears to shine when wet.
However there is another type of black stone, described as oily or greasy, used in the construction
of a number of structures across the known world, whose origins have created a mystery,
with many believing that despite their distance from one another, they may be connected in
some way.
In the west, there is the kraken shaped seastone chair of the Iron Islands said to have already
been present when the First Men arrived in the area.
Maester Kirth, author of Songs of the Drowned Men, suggested the Seastone chair was built
by a mysterious ancient race which sailed across the Sunset Sea , while Maester Theron
author of Strange Stone, suggested a connection between the ancient foundation of the Hightower
and the Seastone chair, claiming they may have been built by the Deep Ones, a queer
misshapen people descended from sea creatures mating with human women.
These beings may have inspired the idea of Merlings, and may be connected to various
other legends such as the mysterious sea creatures which destroyed the Lorathi Mazemakers, and
the fish headed gods worshipped by the inhabitants of the Thousand Islands.
In the South, there is a 40 foot tall black stone toad statue, believed to have a connection
to the ancestors of the islands native inhabitants, who many claim have webbed appendages and
are reminiscent fish.
In Sothoryos, the ruins of Yeen are said to be made out of blocks of oily black Stone,
so large it would take a dozen elephants to move them.
Many believe Yeen to be cursed, as every attempt to settle the area has ended in disaster.
Yet more disturbing still, is that the city has remained in ruins for thousands of years
yet was never reclaimed by the jungle, with Nymeria of the Rhoynar once remarking it was
"a city so evil that even the jungle will not enter."
Far to the east, along the coast of the Jade Sea, the ancient city of Asshai was also created
with mysterious black stone described as greasy, some claiming the buildings absorb light,
making the area dark and foreboding.
Although many of these structures appear to be made from the same oily black stone material,
the origins of this substance are unknown as is any connection between the constructions
and the people who built them.
Other possible locations of black stone, include Ax Isle near Sothoryos, where a Qartheen pirate
built a black stone fortress from materials on the island.