The Demon Road (Game of Thrones Lore)

A small section of the world map called the Demon Road
explained from A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of thrones
Thumbnail art by - Marc Simonetti
Contact ► [e-mail]
Twitter ► whycreator
Mantarys, a city that was just outside the radius of the doom
of valyria has been causing some travellers trouble on this
particular section of the dragon road, that runs from Volantis
to Meereen, where Daenerys Targaryen happens to be staying

[@toyotatacoma1616]

“What most characters in this primitive world call roads are just shitty dirt paths” As someone who lives on a dirt road, this line hit different.

[@kylevalentine5431]

Lmfao, same bro, same

[@juliohenrique8546]

Same. Here in Brazil we have the Estrada Real (Royal Road). It was the only road connecting Minas Gerais (a rich state full of gold, iron and precious stones) to the coast. Since the Portuguse Crown wanted to keep outsiders away from Minas the road was keep basically as dirty road during the entire colonial era. I live in one of the cities that used to be part of the Estrada Real and some parts are still dirty roads to this day!! Lmao

[@oppionatedindividual8256]

@@juliohenrique8546 that’s not out of tradition, your country is just impoverished and corrupt. Maybe it wouldn’t have been if you didn’t depose your reformist and great Emperor, but all great things come to an end. One day when you have your monarchy back you may prosper as the monarch acts as a check on the power and corruption of elected officials for just a small fee. Great system. ( I’m obviously British ) . Terrible shame about Portugal too. One day you may be free under monarchy, until then, slaves to corrupted men.

[@ProVoNSM]

😭😅

[@ProVoNSM]

Not even sure if I’m allowed to laugh but I’m dying

[@gbendicion7052]

We all know this parallels to the Roman Empire's roads in the real world. Even today many scientists and engineers are astounded by the longevity and sustainability of these hundreds of Roman roads across Europe.

[@ozzibear]

Weren't they made out of limestone?

[@shashwatpradhan1451]

Brittany os it was a combination of limestone and other things to create a really strong concrete

The Valyrians are a parallel to the Romans in general. They were the so called most advanced civilisation of their time, when in actuality they gained knowledge and selected customs from other cultures and built on that. Perhaps the Valyrians did the same.

[@stomper1234]

Yup

[@marcyc1695]

I didn't know this so than you

[@dfailsthemost]

This and Ashai are the two instances in the lore that bring radiation to mind.

[@TheMeyer]

I really wish there was an anthology of short self contained stories that took place all over the ASoiF world, specially in the less covered areas

[@gillriet773]

I feel like we will get a frank/brian herbert type deal with someone extending the universe once george is finished

[@ProVoNSM]

I believe eventually there will be... George wants to focus on the main so in turn the writers helping him have to do the same... but with the dedication to HIS version of events I believe he’s gonna set up something where the team he’s built and has sat around him making the last 3 books plus the lores and side books will have the freedom when ... (not putting it in the air) to use his notes and write supplement stories and mini novellas; if that made sense at sll

[@loco187420]

​@@ProVoNSMIt did, and thank you!

[@samtagg8754]

We don't know what's living in the ruins of valaryia it's heavily hinted that there is more than one type of monstrosity there.

[@midnight_rose2337]

“A girl with two heads.” “Nothing demonic.”

[@ozzibear]

Simese twins are not demonic lmao just rare deformity but dwarfism also happens.

[@midnight_rose2337]

@@ozzibear When he said that, I envisioned one body with two heads. I’m well aware that Siamese/conjoined twins are not demonic.

[@James-sk4db]

Well so you assume, but have you met enough Siamese twins to validate that assumption.

[@jinpachibobochan3532]

@@ozzibear Maybe they are just hiding their true nature :?

[@chandlerdoeswhatifs9399]

Its probably called the demon road because of the deformed people who live there as well as perhaps occasional sightings of monsters that wandered too far from the wastes of valyria where they live

[@samjgollings8664]

“A slave girl with two heads. Still nothing demonic though” I’m not so sure about that one

[@shindari]

With all the other weird shit in the World of Ice and Fire, why is a set of conjoined twins so hard to believe?

[@samjgollings8664]

@@shindari having two heads isn’t what being conjoined twins is

[@shindari]

@@samjgollings8664 It's a type of conjoinment. Not all conjoined twins are like this, obviously. But it's one of many different varieties of the same malformation. Basically two individuals sharing 90% of the same body mass. Only the skulls, with two different brains, are separate. Nobody in the World of Ice and Fire would know this, of course. Because people thought conjoined twins were nothing more than monsters/demons until science explained they were just unfortunately misshapen people. Science has not really happened in the World of Ice and Fire yet. The Citadel is as close as you come to this scientific "englightenment." Given what happened at the Doom of Valyria, right next to the Demon Road, the idea that mutated/abnormal humans would dwell in this area is really not all that hard to believe.

[@samjgollings8664]

@@shindari why the hell are we having this conversation

[@shindari]

@@samjgollings8664 I don't know. My original comment was just supposed to be a "flyby comment on the internet." I wasn't even looking for a conversation.

[@natanieltiglao7355]

Can’t wait to see Rickon riding a unicorn with the Skaagosi ally Lords!

[@concept5631]

Hell yeah

[@whycreate]

All Hallows' eve

[@camfarenheit71]

Spooky season is the best 🎃

[@fbauzo024fb]

Maybe a central spot to greyscale people.. Been awhile going to run thru some content. Was looking for a new audiobook. Should finish up Dunk n Egg.

[@pedroc6802]

i've toyed quite a longtime about the Doom being (while having magic attached to it) atomic in nature. It would explain why the sea is still fuming, why the water is poison, why abominations (like those shown in Fire and Blood) exist still in Valyria, why the fires were so intense that even dragon burned in the air, why no man comes back, from the atomic poisoing... and why Mantarys has so many mutations. Valyria is Chernobyl.

[@camfarenheit71]

Great video as usual. Always look forward to your asoiaf videos!

[@klauskrampus4344]

Can't wait to see all the great videos that will follow from the release of Winds of Winther!!

[@mattfawcett2013]

Tt the yyyyTT

[@rainluna9765]

The Golden Company wouldn't travel along the Demon Road either. It was discussed in the tent of the captain general Harry Strickland in the chapter "The Lost Lord" from A Dance with Dragons.

[@joshuaedelman3861]

Well we know that the dragon lords of Valyria did a lot of human breeding with animals and other beasts. Maybe when they started to use magic to make these monstrosities the magic back fired and caused a nuclear like apocalypse where the “demons” are actually mutated animals and humans. That could explain the fire worms that were inside the one Targayan girl when she came back from there with Balerion. Just a theory but a cool one I think

[@ProVoNSM]

We basically got the same theory about the breeding and who this people are. I believe the fireworms were just the babies of the worms referenced by the faceless men in the valaryian mines. I feel like that’s why they kept going missing. And the fact they buy them in kold when they’re using to bring in a volcano killed them instantly. So know imagine this theory is right; it’s described as looking like hundreds. Imagine 20 people a year get snatched over 300 years... now you have an unchecked number of these things burrowing through the mines meanwhile you’re mining and building.... the doom was the perfect storm

[@AshePBlack]

It was blood magic not literal breeding first off because there are no living humanoid dragons born as evidenced by Targaryen still births so I'm hazarding it's not breeding it's blood magic unless they breed animals then use blood magic on people also we know targs weren't made from fire worm wyvern and human because lizard babies had dragon parts. But in a book it said a dragon egg did once hatch a white worm so that had a back mutation

[@callumj_05]

Hey man I found your videos a couple weeks and the detail to the videos is astounding ive been binge watching ur videos and honestly can get enough so thank you and keep up the great work

[@christianwestling2019]

Its odd how neither Volantis or Mereen has cleansed this region since it connects them both. It should've been in their interest to have it open and safe.

[@danieldeclue1466]

I believe there have been a couple who tried to clear the way if I'm not mistaken. It's just too dangerous. Too many ways to die so quickly even for a dragon

[@Einwetok]

It would be like getting rid of locusts, or mosquitos. There will always be more to replenish the ranks. Mosquitos live in tundra too, check out Alaskan mosquito clouds in summer. And locusts are just grasshoppers after they level up on meth.

[@100Madison]

I always thought of the people and the environment having similar effects like radiation in our world, though magic I'd imagine dials it up. There is said to be demon hunters in the SOIAF world, it would be interesting if any demon hunters came that far east due to the rumors of them being 'demons'...though I think that is just more of my headcanon than anything lol

[@pitakon]

Yeah I've always thought valyria is just an irradiated mess that's why no one survives there

[@trerobinson3975]

I haven't seen anyone mention that the Golden Company also briefly mentioned and considered taking the demon road when Griff and Young Griff met up with the Company

[@stevenspatoulas9916]

Ive been binging your videos mad respect for the amount of work and research you put into them

[@MichaelMedici61W2]

Thanks D. Great stuff as always. Love that you & only a few others still give us great ASOIAF videos. Much appreciated. Especially during this “Long Night” while we wait for TWOW from GRRM to save our story.

[@yeespaghettisauce1163]

Hey Whycreate, just a thought but could you do some lore on Lord of the Rings, or Dark Souls? Also I love your channel, keep up the great content!

[@whycreate]

Haven't read the LotR books 😰

[@yeespaghettisauce1163]

@@whycreate oh ok, hope you have a happy Halloween!

[@mtop6867]

:o

[@PumpkinBreath]

I sit around waiting for Game of Thrones uploads, so i can appreciate your hard work 👌

[@TheTam0613]

I wished sooooo badly that the Demon Road would be expanded upon!! Thank you so much 🤓

[@ravensoath]

I was thinking about this just the other day. Thank you for the vid!

[@nicholaspersons3326]

love your content bro, thanks for making these

[@blanth.]

Great content as always, thanks!

[@CosmicFreedoms]

It sounds like its just an inhospitable stretch of road with no option for resupply. Smaller caravans dont go because of Mantarys as you pointed out, but the bigger armies probably aren't scared they just can't subsist on that path.

[@dekuuchiha9990]

Thank you for the hardwork!

[@JacobSmith-rh2sr]

New subscriber to your channel, I binged watched all of your videos keep it up

[@HIGHGROUND91]

You're the best man.. Keep them coming

[@madelcyfuentes6709]

Loved the video!! Happy Halloween to you too!

[@Edud62Alugetha]

Very excited to watch this. Whycreate walked so Alt shift X could run.

[@DontTouchMyAsymptote]

I really enjoyed this video!

[@rohaankhan7523]

This is the first time im this fast love your videos

[@trystenlyth1139]

Happy Halloween to you to whycreate. Happy Halloween :)

[@barzinnasrati7945]

We appreciate you bro !

[@jendersonmohammed443]

Very interesting and informative!

[@alanschaub147]

These videos are *so* good! 😳

[@conorwiley2277]

Damn I love this guys videos

[@sharyhaha]

i want a series about old valeriya in its prime

[@mtop6867]

Nice one!

[@Polatino00]

Love ur videos about Dany and Valyria

[@SuperBizzle10]

doom of valyria sounds like a nuclear holocust

[@paulamaritei7931]

Ngl, Valeria was kinda 🔥 Get it?

[@camfarenheit71]

😂😂

[@Lancelot0311]

😂😂

[@michealobrien3478]

Love yr vids more game of thrones plz

[@boldbearings]

0:07 "chunky books..."😁 Subbed✔️

[@sd5371]

Weird that the gulfs on either side of the ruined peninsula look like a dragon(left) and a harpy(right)

[@rohaankhan7523]

Hey whycreat can you make more videos on dragons and dragon theories

[@Guyy_1]

I can't get over the thumbnail bro, the demons on the left are all flabbergasted and shit and then there's the serious one like "guys we need to get this done" and they're all like "boss you ever seen this 👀" like it's so good I can't exist anymore

[@christopherplasky2403]

*you hear heavy metal in the distance*

[@aditghifari5039]

"But we do have unicorns" Rhinos: you mean us?

[@dirtymonkey55]

Happy Samhain from Ireland.

[@Lodurrson]

Bless ye crops

[@HateTaxesWASt]

Does the aftermath of The Doom remind anyone else of how Asshai is described?

[@commanderdanielcousland9981]

I'm like a 100% sure that there was some nuclear reactors under both Valeria and asshai. I'm also 89% sure that the song of ice and fire is set in the thousand world universe

[@shindari]

Somebody could honestly write a book, simply about the Demon Road, and that's it. Oh, the pages one could fill with one's imagination! George RR Martin could certainly do it. But he's taking such an ungodly long time finishing his main book series that I'm not going to hold my breath and wait for him to work on something else.

[@mansamusa8410]

Can you please do a video on the woman warrior's of asoiaf .

[@defrary5569]

I love your voice.... Greetings from germany!

[@linzianna]

Maybe the fumes gave travellers hallucinations of demons

[@marthvader14]

I want books about ancient Valyria

[@afrainaammerlaan3121]

Where can I buy the official world map?

[@hayleymariewhoawhoa1804]

we only know 1 person who went to valyria, is euron.

[@gorrilazbro1330]

One person that went and survived. There was a Lannister king and a dragon rider that we know went but both died

[@hayleymariewhoawhoa1804]

gorrilaz bro yes, a targaryen princess went, but she went unwillingly. and i know a lannister went also. it’s just euron is the only person alive who went, i mean he’s the only main character who’s went so far and has been able to tell about it.

[@ct9564]

I'm inclined with others to believe he lied about going there.

[@Freakincident]

It’s likely that his claims are more than a little exaggerated.. though it’s hard to think of where he could have gotten all those artifacts otherwise

[@joaovitorreisdasilva9573]

Maybe all the inbreeding had a effect in the mutation, also the doom of Valyria might have been aliens obliterating the peninsula with nukes.

[@eumemo4814]

Why would aliens would waste nukes in a Middle Ages/ Early renaissance civilization?

[@joaovitorreisdasilva9573]

@@eumemo4814 It's a joke George often says, he give a lot of hints that aliens actually did interfered with human civilizations in his world. The Ironborn are a Cthulhuesc/Dagonesc cult for example, the Church or Starry Wisdom is a thing, there are hints of civilizations akin of the Elder Things in the Island of Leng, Leng it self is a nod to lovecraft works, idols made of oily black stone, something straight out of lovecraft, can be found in every single coast for example, there are people in a remote village that are like the Innsmouth folk... and well, the list could go on and on. So there is magic, yes, but advanced aliens are pretty much confirmed as well, at least in the case of Leng, they are akin to the Elder Things, but to why they would nuke Valyria? Well, they could have seem it as a threat, they were powerful with magic and pretty advanced for their time, a glass candle for example is a fucking magical lamp ffs, but tbh I like the "well their motivations and reasons are pretty much unknown" reasoning, since you know... Advanced aliens civilizations with eldritch characteristics.

[@mad9325]

@@joaovitorreisdasilva9573 well, since GRRM also contribute on elden ring, the presence of alien in GoT universe also come to realisation.

[@joaovitorreisdasilva9573]

@@mad9325 wait what? How does that impact a song of ice and fire?

[@harisahmed8009]

What about Elyria and Tolos?

[@chandlerdoeswhatifs9399]

The people of mantarys are called 'Mantari'

[@garcalej]

The hills have eyes....

[@shakespereanroadman5614]

Happy halloween people!!!

[@emisanchez7181]

Happy thanksgiving 🦃🍁 lmao

[@palamaro1603]

The only problem here is, volcanos actually make the earth more fertile from the ash.

[@Freakincident]

Well known fact! Sounds like something must be off about these volcanos..

[@dennisyoungblood349]

Another reason they made the roads, not all Valyrians were Dragon Lords

[@AshePBlack]

Yup because dragons were created not wild and I think one example of a not magic user is alicent. Because in book she looks velaryian but she doesn't use magic or gave a dragon, house high tower does use magic though in some era and I'd wager too if alicent looks velaryian but still has brown hair and not purple eyes it means dominant genes work like normal and purple eyes are only of a certain bloodline

[@SHARKVADERS]

WC!!!

[@WILSHIRE25]

I mean there's Dead Ice monsters...Maybe they have Lava monsters that lived in the Volcano's. Maybe they destroyed Valeria. Lol idk.

[@StuartLynx]

Why is that demon wearing dungarees?

[@joshmccarty8800]

It’s kind of funny dragon riders who don’t travel on foot built near perfect roads.

[@Freakincident]

They weren’t ALL dragon riders XD plus they still gotta get trade routes through

[@stomper1234]

They need to make an expense world game of thrones video game

[@jrsdt2ndaccount30]

Or an animated series? Is it cheaper that way?

[@jerrykoufeldt2894]

radiation/fallout from whatever caused the valyrain doom

[@iiamkee21]

Maybe they eat people which is why travelers aren’t seen again 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@edouardlorge4059]

And If the doom is a nuke ?

[@takotako808]

I'm feeling like abomination road would make more sense 😅, but demon sounds better

[@SL-hp3mq]

Don't worry about the Demons they're in the shadowlands

[@jacobevans489]

"Actually demons are rumored thing in this world, but very unlikely to exist." ...why you sure about that bud? I seem to remember a woman giving birth to a living shadow monster that fuckin stabbed a king through his armor.

[@RareCandyRehab]

A Song of Ice and Fire lore**

[@kovu1530]

👍🏾

[@qwopiretyu]

i thought george made the others as a climate change analogy and the dragons as a nuclear analogy, meaning the warped men of mantarys are chernobyl victims?

[@James-sk4db]

You have to remember that this was written way before climate change was as big a deal as at the moment. I believe that Martin wanted a non-human enemy / force, but I agree it’s more like a force of nature than anything else. Magic causing mutation isn’t a new or novel idea in fantasy so I’d say it is unlikely. Witches being twisted into strange creatures by their magics is in old folklore premiddle ages. But hey ho that’s just a theory.

[@qwopiretyu]

@@James-sk4db climate change was a theory in 1896, smart people have known for a very long time the earth is in very big trouble due to the industrial revolution. I KNOW George made the others as a climate change analogy, that part is known Khaleesi

[@jaymorgan7728]

All roads lead to Rome. I mean Valyria.

[@naterreich8332]

I was the 69th comment

[@360bandman]

No one cares

[@Marlo-Stanfield]

1st

[@theM4R4T]

A Song of Ice and Fire Lore. Not Game of Thrones Lore.

[@mrtheluckybucket]

The title is to grab the mainstream, chill out

[@tonygreen4402]

You really need to speak more clearly

[@ddddd8965]

He does you pussy

[@fuckoffgoogle1657]

>demons don’t exist in ASOIAF 🤨 sooo ur saying mirri mazdur was just dancing around the tent with wacky waving inflatable tube men, or what?