Bloodmagic

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Blood magic, or bloodmagic, is a type of magic rooted in blood. It is considered by some as the darkest sorcery, yet the most powerful as well.[1] Practitioners of blood magic are known as bloodmages, as well as maegi.

Known practitioners

History

The magic practiced by the Valyrians was rooted in blood and fire. Septon Barth, in his Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History, speculated that the bloodmages of the Freehold employed wyvern stock to create dragons.[2]. Also, in the flesh pits of Gogossos, blood mages mated beasts to slave women to bring forth twisted half-human children.[3]

It is rumored that the spells required to forge Valyrian steel involve blood sacrifice.[4]

Recent events

A Game of Thrones

Mirri Maz Duur tells Daenerys Targaryen that she knows spells capable of saving a man from death, but warns her that only death may pay for life and death may be cleaner. Mirri Maz Duur sacrifices Drogo's stallion and,[5] unbeknowst to Daenerys, her son Rhaego to save the live of the dying Khal Drogo. The spell, however, only restores Drogo's body, leaving him in a catatonic state.[6]

Daenerys has a funeral pyre built and a horse killed. Mirri Maz Duur believes she will try to bring resurrect him through bloodmagic and insists that without the spells the blood is nothing. She even offers assistance in exchange for release. Daenerys has the horse, Drogo's body, her dragon eggs and Mirri Maz Duur placed in the pyre. After the pyre is lighted and Duur dies, Daenerys walks into the inferno. After the fire dies, not only Daenerys is found alive, with only her clothes and hair burned, but also her eggs have hatched.[7]

A Storm of Swords

Melisandre pleads to Stannis Baratheon into giving her Edric Storm, bastard son of the late King Robert I Baratheon, as there is power in king's blood and he can be sacrificed to "wake the stone dragon." Stannis refuses, but she is able to leech some of Edric's blood. Stannis casts the leeches into the flames while stating the names of the "three false kings" Balon Greyjoy, Robb Stark, and Joffrey Baratheon.[8] In time, Balon falls from Pyke,[9] Robb is killed at the Red Wedding,[10] and Joffrey is poisoned at his own wedding feast.[11]

When Stannis's army sails for the Wall, Melisandre sacrifices Lord Alester Florent to her god to gain favorable winds for the voyage north.[12]

A Feast for Crows

During her youth, Cersei Lannister, Jeyne Farman and Melara Hetherspoon visited Maggy the Frog. At Cersei's insistance, Maggy tastes the blood of Cersei and Melara - Jeyne had fled in terror. Maggy foretold that Cersei wouldn't marry "the prince" but "the king" and that she would be Queen until another queen, younger and more beautiful, casts her down and takes all that she holds dear. Maggy then revealed that the king would have sixteen children while she would only have three, children who will wear golden crowns and golden shrouds - indicating they would all die before her - and after her tears have drowned her, the valonqar will choke her. Finally, she foretold that Melara would never marry Jaime Lannister or anyone else, for she would die that very night - which she did.[13][14][1]

Yna, a one-eyed prostitute, is reputed for telling the future by tasting a drop of blood.[15]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
  2. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos.
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Basilisk Isles.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, Qohor.
  5. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 64, Daenerys VIII.
  6. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 68, Daenerys IX.
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  9. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  10. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  11. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  13. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  14. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.