Valyrian steel
Valyrian steel was invented in Valyria and was used to make weapons and various other items of unparalleled quality. Being spell-forged steel, it is the spells and magic that make the steel special.[1][2]
Contents
History
Valyrian steel was manufactured in the Valyrian Freehold with dragonfire before the freehold fell.[3] Valyrian steel blades are lighter, stronger, and sharper than even the best castle-forged steel, and feature distinctive rippled patterns similar to Damascus steel, the mark of steel that has been folded back on itself many thousands of times.[4] Most Valyrian steel blades in Westeros are treasured heirlooms of noble houses, each with its own name and storied history. Valyrian steel keeps its edge forever.[3] Valyrian steel was always costly, but it became considerably more so when there was no more Valyria, the secret of its making lost with the Doom.
Only the greatest weaponsmiths can reforge swords from existing Valyrian steel, making those remaining weapons highly treasured and extremely rare. The blacksmiths of Qohor claim to know how to reforge Valyrian steel.
Dark Sister, an ancestral blade of House Targaryen, was wielded by Prince Daemon Targaryen against Prince Aemond Targaryen during the Dance over Harrenhal. Blackfyre, the other Targaryen blade, was given by King Aegon IV Targaryen to his bastard son, Daemon; this act later inspired the Blackfyre Pretenders.
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Eddard Stark uses Ice to execute Gared, a deserter from the Night's Watch.
A catspaw tries to assassinate Bran Stark with a Valyrian steel dagger, but he is instead slain by Summer. Bran's mother, Catelyn Tully, show the dagger to Petyr Baelish, who claims to have lost the dagger in the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day.
Ser Ilyn Payne uses Ice to execute Ned Stark in King's Landing.
In gratitude for having been saved from a wight, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont gives Longclaw to Jon Snow.
A Storm of Swords
Lord Tywin Lannister has Tobho Mott, a blacksmith trained in Qohor, reforge Ice into two new Valyrian blades. The first, Widow's Wail, is given to King Joffrey Baratheon as a wedding gift by his grandfather, Tywin. Joffrey chooses its name from the shouted suggestion of an unnamed guest. Following Joffrey's death at his wedding feast, ownership of Widow's Wail presumably passes to his younger brother, King Tommen.
Tywin gives the second blade to his son, Ser Jaime Lannister. Jaime then gives it to Brienne of Tarth for use in her quest to locate Sansa Stark, and he asks her to name it Oathkeeper.
A Feast for Crows
When looking in the Night's Watch's archives, Samwell Tarly reads about dragonsteel, which he and Jon Snow think might have been Valyrian steel.[5][6]
List of known Valyrian steel blades
Blades known to still exist:
- Heartsbane, the ancestral two-handed greatsword of House Tarly, currently in the possession of Lord Randyll Tarly.
- Lady Forlorn, the ancestral sword of House Corbray, currently in the possession of Ser Lyn Corbray.
- Longclaw, the ancestral Valyrian steel bastard sword of House Mormont. Currently in the possession of Jon Snow.
- Nightfall, the ancestral blade of House Harlaw and currently wielded by Ser Harras Harlaw.
- Oathkeeper, one of two Valyrian blades reforged by Tobho Mott from Ice. The blade was made for Ser Jaime Lannister, but he has given it to Brienne of Tarth for use in her quest to locate Sansa Stark. The blade was given its name, Oathkeeper, at that time.
- Red Rain, the sword of House Drumm, which was stolen by them in a raid.[7] Given the name and coloring, possibly the ancestral sword of House Reyne
- Widow's Wail, one of two Valyrian blades reforged by Tobho Mott from Ice. Following Joffrey Baratheon's death, ownership of Widow's Wail has presumably passed to his younger brother, Tommen.
- The dagger with dragonbone hilt wielded by Bran Stark's failed assassin, and currently in the possession of Petyr Baelish.
- Valyrian steel arakh owned by Caggo[8].
- Valyrian steel axe reputedly possessed by House Celtigar[9].
Blades with known fates:
- Ice, the ancestral two-handed greatsword of House Stark. Following Eddard Stark's execution in King's Landing, it is reforged into two longswords (Widow's Wail and Oathkeeper).
Blades with unknown fates:
- Blackfyre, the sword of Aegon I Targaryen. Carried by all Targaryen kings until Aegon IV, who gave it to his bastard Daemon Blackfyre, who rose in rebellion against the Targaryens, taking the sword's name for his house. Its whereabouts are currently unknown.
- Brightroar, the ancestral sword of House Lannister, lost when King Tommen II Lannister of the Rock sailed to Valyria and never returned.
- Dark Sister, the sword wielded by Visenya Targaryen. Its last known owner was Bryden "Bloodraven" Rivers.
- Orphan-Maker, the ancestral sword of House Roxton. Its last known owner was Ser Jon Roxton.[10]
- Vigilance, the ancestral sword of House Hightower. Its last known owner was Lord Ormund Hightower.[10]
- Lamentation, the ancestral sword of House Royce, lost in the Storming of the Dragonpit.[11]
Other objects
- A small number of maesters, including Maester Luwin and Archmaester Marwyn, have Valyrian steel links in their collars, representing their study of magic and occultism. Marwyn also has a ring, a rod and a mask of Valyrian steel.[12][13]
- Dragonbinder - a dragon horn banded with red gold and Valyrian steel.
Dragonsteel
When looking in the archives of the Night's Watch for a way to combat the Others Samwell Tarly reads about dragonsteel. He and Jon Snow think Valyrian steel may be meant by this.[5][6]
Quotes
Valyrian steel blades were scarce and costly, yet thousands remained in the world, perhaps two hundred in the Seven Kingdoms alone.[4]
– thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
A man who bears Valyrian steel should use it for more than scratching his arse.[14]
- Godry Farring to Jon Snow
Valyrian steel is a fantasy metal. Which means it has magical characteristics, and magic plays a role in its forging.[15]
Valyrian steel was always costly, but it became considerably more so when there was no more Valyria, and the secret of its making were lost.[16]
References and Sources
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ Producing Valyrian Steel. (March 11, 2001) So Spake Martin
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Game of Thrones, Season 4, "Two Swords".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 7, Jon II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 25, The Windblown.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 3, Jon I.
- ↑ So Spake Martin. The Process of Making Valyrian Steel. (November 06, 2002)
- ↑ So Spake Martin. On Valyrian Steel and Twist Endings. March 16, 2008