Valyans

Valyans are a fictional people featured in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its prequel, Fire & Blood. They originated from the Freehold of Valyria, a civilization that flourished thousands of years before the events of the series. The Valyrians were renowned for their mastery of magic, particularly dragon-taming and dragon-riding. They wielded immense power derived from this ability, establishing a vast empire across Essos.

Physically, Valyrians are often depicted as having distinct features such as silver or golden hair and purple eyes. These traits are considered markers of their lineage and were highly prized. Their society was highly structured, with powerful families, known as dragonlords, ruling over the Freehold. They developed a sophisticated culture, language, and architecture.

The Valyrian Freehold met a catastrophic end known as the Doom of Valyria, a magical cataclysm that destroyed their capital city and wiped out most of their civilization. The exact cause of the Doom remains a mystery, though it is speculated to be related to their extensive use of magic. Only a few Valyrian families, who were away from the Freehold at the time of the Doom, survived and established new power bases. The Targaryen family, one of these surviving houses, eventually migrated to Westeros and conquered it with their dragons, establishing the Targaryen dynasty. Remnants of Valyrian culture and language can still be found in various parts of Essos.