The summary of ‘Great Empire of the Dawn: Dragonlords of Ancient Asshai’

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator delves into a curious tale found in the back pages of “The World of Ice and Fire,” discussing an ancient kingdom from the Far East known as the Great Empire of the Dawn. This empire was a society of immense wealth, knowledge, power, and hubris that met a sudden end due to a world-shaping cataclysm. The video outlines that this story is linked to the origins of dragons and Dragonlord magic, theorizing that ancient pre-Valyrian Dragonlords traveled to Westeros, impacting various mysterious aspects of “A Song of Ice and Fire.” These include the anachronistic qualities of House Dayne, the legend of Azor Ahai, the myth of the last hero’s dragon steel sword, and the Targaryens’ importance at the Wall. The theory also proposes non-Westerosi origins for some prominent Westerosi families and structures like Storm’s End and the Wall. The video traces the narrative of the Great Empire’s ruling lineage and their legendary reigns, setting the stage for further exploration of these connections.

00:05:00

In this segment of the video, the narrative describes the decline of a once-great empire plagued by corruption and moral decay. Key events include the succession crisis where the amethyst empress is overthrown and killed by her brother, who then becomes the bloodstone emperor and begins a tyrannical rule characterized by dark arts, necromancy, and meteor worship. This reign of terror ushers in an age of darkness known as the Long Night. During this dark period, a great warrior arises, known by various names across different cultures, who leads humanity to victory with his flaming sword, Lightbringer, restoring light and hope. The Long Night is depicted as a universally recognized catastrophe affecting civilizations globally, serving as a historical demarcation. The aftermath sees the rise of new civilizations like Yi Ti, which holds itself as a descendant of the great empire but acknowledges a significant break with its past. The segment also touches on ancient structures such as the Five Forts, which are older than the golden empire of Yi Ti and are situated strategically along its frontiers.

00:10:00

In this part of the video, the speaker delves into the mysterious origins of the five massive forts guarding the Golden Empire. These forts, which predate the known timeline of the UT Empire, are made of fused black stone, a material believed to require dragon fire and sorcery to create. The speaker discusses the theory that these forts might have been built by a pre-Valyrian dragonlord civilization in the Far East, specifically connected to the Great Empire of the Dawn. Citing various sources, including legends and scholarly works, the video suggests that dragons may have originated from the shadow lands of Asshai, where an ancient civilization first tamed them. This theory is supported by references to dragons in early books of the series and historical texts, indicating that the Great Empire of the Dawn could have had dragonlords among its people, thereby linking it to the construction of these enigmatic forts.

00:15:00

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00:20:00

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00:25:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the historical and mythical city of Ashai and its current state of desolation. They note that large urban populations rely on surrounding farmlands for sustenance and build their wealth and infrastructure from thriving populations. Originally, Ashai might have been constructed for different purposes, such as a place for dark mages, but now it is characterized by its massive, unnecessary walls. The city’s blighted condition, where neither children nor animals survive long, suggests a magical curse similar to the Doom of Valyria. Despite its forbidding environment, Ashai remains a significant port due to its wealth in gold and gems, though food must be imported. The narration indicates that Ashai was likely a prosperous metropolis before the long night, situated in a once-fertile land with valuable trade routes, possibly serving as the capital of the Great Empire of the Dawn.

00:30:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses the mysterious and eerie black stones found in various locations within the world of “A Song of Ice and Fire.” They differentiate between fused stone, made by dragonlords using dragon fire and sorcery, and greasy black stone, which is considered cursed and linked to dark magic and evil. The narrator provides examples of places where this cursed stone is found, including the ancient city of Yean, Toad Isle, the Sea Stone Chair, and possibly Moat Cailin. The segment also explores the cursed nature of the city of Asshai, suggesting it was originally built from regular or fused stone but was later blighted by dark magic, potentially during the Long Night, possibly linked to the Bloodstone Emperor and a meteorite worshipped by him. The theory posits that the Long Night’s darkness was caused by a meteor strike, and the Bloodstone Emperor’s association with a black meteorite further supports this idea.

00:35:00

In this part of the video, the speaker delves into the enigmatic city of Asshai, once the capital of the Dragonlord Empire, reflecting on its significance as the origin of dragon riding and the Long Night. The narrative emphasizes the mystical journey and the concept of opposites guiding one’s path. A dialogue ensues about the allure and potential of Asshai, hinting at hidden truths that contrast starkly with known locations like Qarth. The speaker transitions to discussing a mysterious connection between Asshai and Westeros, suggesting that the legendary figure Azor Ahai may have ties to Westeros’ mythology of the last hero. This sets the stage for part two, where these connections will be explored further. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to engage through comments, likes, and subscriptions.