Smoking Sea

The Smoking Sea is the body of water that surrounds the Valyrian Peninsula, the remnant of the once-great Freehold of Valyria. Four centuries before the events of A Dance with Dragons, the Doom of Valyria shattered the peninsula, flooded its heartland, and left the surrounding sea perpetually steaming, choked with ash and floating pumice, and wracked by violent, unnatural storms. The sea is widely regarded as cursed and unnavigable, a barrier that separates the western continent of Westeros from the eastern lands of Slaver's Bay and the Free Cities. Only the most desperate or foolhardy sailors dare to attempt a crossing, and most who do are never seen again.

Geography and Appearance

The Smoking Sea is characterized by its ominous and hostile appearance. The sky above it is perpetually red, a reflection of the volcanic fires that still burn on the peninsula. The water itself is often described as black or dark, and the air is thick with the smell of ash and brimstone. The sea is also known for its treacherous currents and sudden, violent storms that can appear without warning. The coastline of the Valyrian Peninsula is a desolate, blighted shore that sailors believe brings doom to any who lay eyes upon it. The sea's surface is often littered with floating pumice and other volcanic debris, making navigation even more perilous.

The Perils of the Crossing

The Smoking Sea is infamous for the dangers it poses to any ship that attempts to cross it. The unnatural storms are said to be the wrath of the gods, and the waters are believed to be haunted by the tormented souls of the Valyrians who perished in the Doom. Sailors speak of seeing ghost ships and hearing the screams of the damned. The sea's volcanic activity also makes it prone to sudden eruptions of steam and gas, which can capsize or destroy vessels. The heat from the water itself can be intense, and the air is often filled with toxic fumes. These perils are so well-known that most captains refuse to sail anywhere near the coast, preferring to take longer, safer routes.

The Voyage of the Selaesori Qhoran

During the voyage of the cog Selaesori Qhoran, the red priest Moqorro confirms to Tyrion Lannister that the sky is always red above Valyria. When Tyrion asks if their captain means to test the curse, Moqorro replies that the captain would prefer to be fifty leagues farther out to sea, but that he himself has commanded the ship to steer the shortest course, as others seek Daenerys Targaryen as well. This decision underscores the extreme risk that even a powerful sorcerer is willing to take, and the desperation of those who seek the dragon queen. The ship's crew is terrified of the proximity to the cursed coast, and the journey is fraught with danger.

The Iron Fleet's Passage

Victarion Greyjoy's Iron Fleet also sails near the Smoking Sea on its voyage from the Iron Islands to Slaver's Bay. The fleet suffers significant losses from storms that smell of ash and brimstone, which Victarion attributes to the malice of the Storm God. The red priest Moqorro, who has been rescued by Victarion's men, later heals the iron captain's festering hand. The passage through these waters is a testament to the fleet's desperation and the ironborn's willingness to brave any peril to reach their goal. The storms are so fierce that they scatter the fleet, and many ships are lost.

The Doom of Valyria

The Smoking Sea is the direct consequence of the Doom of Valyria, a cataclysmic event that occurred approximately four hundred years before the events of the novel. According to legend, on the day of the Doom, every hill for five hundred miles split asunder, filling the air with ash, smoke, and fire. Great rents opened in the earth, swallowing palaces and temples. Lakes boiled or turned to acid, mountains burst, and fiery fountains spewed molten rock. The proudest city in the world was destroyed in an instant, and the Lands of the Long Summer were scorched and drowned. The sea rushed in to fill the void, creating the Smoking Sea as a permanent, cursed reminder of the Freehold's fall. The Doom was an empire built on blood and fire, and the Valyrians reaped the seed they had sown.

Narrative Significance

The Smoking Sea serves as a powerful symbol of the destructive legacy of the Targaryen dynasty and the dangers of unchecked power. It is a physical manifestation of the Doom, a constant reminder of the price of hubris. For characters like Tyrion Lannister and Victarion Greyjoy, the sea represents a formidable obstacle on their journeys, a test of their courage and desperation. The sea's cursed nature also reinforces the theme of a world in decline, where the wonders of the past have become the horrors of the present. The Smoking Sea is a place where the past is not dead; it is not even past, and its fires still burn, a warning to all who would seek to emulate the dragonlords of old.