Demon Road

The Demon Road is the eastern branch of the ancient Valyrian road network, a broad highway of fused stone that runs from Volantis through the demon-haunted ruins of Mantarys and across the desolate interior to Meereen on Slaver's Bay. Unlike the well-traveled sea route around Valyria, the Demon Road cuts overland through some of the most perilous territory in the known world: deserts, mountains, swamps, and the crumbling remnants of cities destroyed in the Doom of Valyria. Its name reflects the dangers that have made it infamous among merchants, sellswords, and travelers.

Geography and Origin

The Demon Road was built by the Valyrian Freehold at the height of its power, a ribbon of fused stone as straight as a spear, wide enough for three wagons to pass abreast. Unlike the muddy tracks that pass for roads in the Seven Kingdoms, the Valyrian roads still endure, unchanging, four centuries after Valyria itself met its Doom. The Demon Road is the easternmost of these great highways, linking Volantis to the cities of Slaver's Bay. It passes through the ruins of Mantarys, a city that survived the Doom but acquired a sinister reputation; its inhabitants are said to be twisted and monstrous, and travelers who pass through often vanish or emerge changed.

Perils of the Road

The Demon Road is notorious for the variety of threats that beset those who travel it. Corsairs and pirates lurk in the hills and ruins, preying on unwary caravans. Dothraki khalasars roam the grasslands to the north, and their outriders have been known to sweep down on travelers. Slave-catchers operate along the route, capturing the unwary and selling them into bondage. The road itself passes through regions where the Doom of Valyria left its mark: the air is said to be thick with demons and ghosts, and the ruins of ancient cities are haunted by stone men and worse. The journey is long and slow, and provisions are scarce; travelers must carry their own food and water, and the heat and dust are relentless.

The Demon Road in the Narrative

In A Dance with Dragons, the Demon Road is considered as a possible route by Quentyn Martell and his companions when they find themselves unable to secure passage by sea from Volantis to Meereen. Gerris Drinkwater suggests riding the Demon Road, but Quentyn rejects the idea, pointing out that it is dangerous and too slow. "The demon road is dangerous, and too slow," he says. "Tywin Lannister will send his own men after the queen once word of her reaches King's Landing." The Dornishmen ultimately decide to find a ship instead, though they struggle to find a captain willing to sail into the war zone of Slaver's Bay.

Later, the Golden Company considers the Demon Road as a possible route to reach Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Homeless Harry Strickland dismisses the idea, declaring that "the demon road is death. We will lose half the company to desertion if we attempt that march, and bury half of those who remain beside the road." The company's captains ultimately decide to sail west instead of east, abandoning the plan to join Daenerys and instead landing in Westeros to support Aegon Targaryen's claim.

Significance

The Demon Road serves as a symbol of the immense distances and dangers that separate the various factions in the story. It represents the overland route that no one is willing to take, a testament to the perils of the world beyond the safe harbors of civilization. Its name evokes the fear and superstition that surround the remnants of Valyria, and its presence in the narrative underscores the difficulty of communication and travel in a world fractured by war and chaos.