Editing Asshai (section)

==City==
===Layout===
Asshai sprawls for leagues across both sides of the [[Ash (river)|Ash]], and its great walls allegedly could contain [[Volantis]], [[Qarth]], [[King's Landing]], and [[Oldtown]] combined. The population of Asshai, however, is no more than that of a good-sized market town. By night only one building in ten shows a light.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}}

The buildings, streets, and walls of Asshai are made out of [[black stone]] that is greasy to the touch and seems to drink the light, making the city appear to be a dark and gloomy place. Structures include bazaars, halls, hovels, palaces, and temples.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}}

===Trade===
Asshai is a popular trading destination for ships.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}} According to a semi-canon source, it is not as important to traders as [[Yi Ti]] and [[Leng]], which are more easily reached from [[Qarth]].<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: Maps! Maps!! Maps!!!, [https://grrm.livejournal.com/297016.html?thread=16806456#t16806456 Comment Thread] (November 1, 2012).</ref> Asshai exports goods such as [[amber]] and [[dragonglass]].{{Ref|ACOK|40}} [[Gold]] and gems are also common exports, though some say the gold of the [[Shadow Lands]] is as unhealthy as the fruits that grow there.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}} The city is usually traveled to by ship, but it can also be reached overland by caravans.{{Ref|AGOT|36}}

Trading ships from [[Westeros]] and the [[Free Cities]] bound for Asshai go east through the [[Summer Sea]] and the [[Jade Sea]], which are connected by the straits at Qarth, the [[Jade Gates]].{{Ref|SSM|1122}} Caravans from Asshai traverse the [[Bone Mountains]] to reach [[Vaes Dothrak]].{{Ref|AGOT|36}}

Aside from traders, few from Westeros visit Asshai and little is known about it. The famous scribe and traveler [[Lomas Longstrider]] never visited Asshai,{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}} though he apparently heard from merchants in Yi Ti who did trade with Asshai that the vast gold of [[Casterly Rock]] was famous even there.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|6}}

All foodstuff and freshwater is brought in by ship, as animals brought into the city soon die, and the waters of the [[Ash (river)|Ash]] glisten black beneath the noonday sun and glimmer with green phosphorescence by night. The only fish that dwell in its water are blind and deformed, and only fools and [[shadowbinder]]s dare eat their flesh.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}}

===People===
[[File:John Picacio Melisandre of Asshai.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Melisandre]] is from Asshai, by John Picacio ©]]
Asshai and its few people have an ominous reputation in other lands. Asshai'i are described as having a dark and solemn appearance.{{Ref|AGOT|54}} The [[Dothraki]] believe that Asshai'i are "spawn of shadows" and hold them in contempt and fear.{{Ref|ACOK|40}}

There are no children in Asshai. All who dwell there wear masks or veils, and often walk alone or ride in [[palanquin]]s of [[ebony]] and [[iron]], hidden behind dark curtains and carried upon the backs of slaves. Only the [[shadowbinder]]s of Asshai dare to travel up the [[Ash (river)|Ash]], and even they fear to tread before the doors of the [[Stygai]], the corpse city northeast of Asshai.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}}

[[Melisandre]] prays and sings in the [[tongue of Asshai]].{{Ref|ACOK|10}}

===Esoteric Knowledge===
Asshai holds a significant amount of arcane knowledge. Of any current location, it is the most likely to have [[dragonlore]].{{Ref|SSM|1085}} Ancient books of Asshai also record the [[Azor Ahai]] prophecy followed by members of the [[R'hllor]] faith.{{Ref|ACOK|10}}

It is rumored that [[spellsinger]]s, [[aeromancer]]s, and [[warlocks]] practice their arts openly in Asshai.{{Ref|AGOT|23}} Asshai is open to all sorts of practitioners of the "higher mysteries" such as [[Godswife|godswives]], [[alchemy|alchemists]], [[necromancer]]s, [[night-walker]]s, [[pyromancer]]s, [[bloodmage]]s, as well as inquisitors, [[torture]]rs and [[poison]]ers, and even worshippers of the [[Black Goat of Qohor|Black Goat]] and [[Bakkalon]] and the [[Lion of Night]]. No practice is forbidden in the city, however depraved.{{Ref|TWOIAF|8|4|4}}