“He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise.” — Bran III, AGOT
The House of Elrys starts just before Aegon’s Conquest. While it is well documented that the cousins were never close, the suddenness of their falling out has led to much conjecture and theory in the long years since. Elrys is seen by many as the shadow of Aegon, a metaphorical predecessor to later members of the Westerosi Targaryen family such as Meagor the Cruel and Bryndon Rivers, known as Bloodraven. And it is certainly easy to see why people think this. Elrys was known for his brooding, caustic personality, great wealth of arcane knowledge and feeble health as well as his brutality and force of will. Aegon I was by comparison the picture of a born leader. He had the good health, charisma and diplomacy Elrys lacked. Over the years Elrys has been painted as the evil feeble bodied wizard who after failing to usurp the noble Aegon cursed him and fled to the darkened land of Asshai with his wicked followers. This is not truly accurate to what accounts we have of Elrys and his falling out with his kin.
Before plans for conquest began to brew in Aegon’s mind, Elrys’ hunger for knowledge drew him ever further from Dragonstone, and so he went on a voyage to explore the known world. On his return he claimed to have been to the ruins of their homeland Valyria, a claim which he backed with the two swords he brought back with him — Stormbringer and Mournblade. Both obviously of something akin to Valyrian steel and both seeming to have been imbued with magical properties no person living now could have placed upon them.
Beyond that he had gone and to show the blades, he would not speak about what he saw in Valyria, only that he learned much. It is recorded in correspondences between other members of the family that Aegon pressed Elrys constantly to tell him of what he’d seen in Valyria which only worsened Elrys’ mood. While Elrys had never been a pleasant man his journey through that cursed place seemed to have stripped him of what warmth he’d had. His moods became darker and more volatile, he became more suspicious, especially as Aegon pestered him more. Eventually he became so caustic a person that only his lady wife Cymaena could tolerate him or get him to see an ounce of reason.
Three years before the Conquest it all came to a head and the two cousins came to blows. While the exact contents of the argument between them are now lost we do know that it was terrible to behold and all good faith between the two men was broken. Elrys chose to go into a self-imposed exile then to continue to live on Dragonstone with his cousin Aegon. As he prepared to leave, he spoke to the Targaryens at large, tragically once more we have lost the exact words said to time, but from what those present wrote we have some concept of what his speech entailed. He spoke passionately of the future of House Targaryen, of the storied past of their people and the responsibility they had to the world as keepers of the last dragons. His words moved many and it is estimated that roughly half of the House chose to follow him into exiling themselves from what would eventually become the Seven Kingdoms.
It is now with the clear eyes of hindsight we can see how tragic a loss this was for the Targaryens who stayed on Dragonstone, for with him Elrys took not only many people but also several dragons and a wealth of texts and artifacts, both from his own travels and from the original flight out of Valyria. While the dragons of Elrys’ new House eventually dwindled as well, theirs lasted for much longer and in better health. In fact, we do not know how they finally met their end as the House of Elrys is tight-fisted with their information and are distrustful of maesters due to our association with their sister house. There are some who think that perhaps their dragons are not dead at all, but somehow incapacitated and that is why they are so guarded.
They also have never suffered the same scale internal crises such as succession wars or rebellions as our Targaryens have. It makes one wonder what might have been if Elrys had stayed and joined his cousins in their conquest. What knowledge might we still have? Might we have still had dragons to this day? Could we have avoided such conflicts as the Dance of the Dragons or the Blackfyre Rebellions? Or perhaps things would have taken a darker turn with Elrys’ ill-fate looming over the royal line. It is not known if they lack these conflicts due to superior skill in governance or superior threats of violence. It is impossible to say, yet impossible not to wonder.
For reasons only Elrys himself could explain, he settled his people in Asshai-by-the-Shadow of all places. Unsurprisingly as the lands around Asshai and the Shadow itself are not fit to support most plant and animal life Elrys immediately turned his eyes to his new western neighbor Yi Ti. Asshai at the time was supported entirely by imported food and drinking water. The sudden spike in population put a dire strain on this supply. They would need control of arable land close by to feed the empire Elrys was setting out to create.
Where Aegon led armies of soldiers in his taking of Westeros, Elrys led a force comprised of dragons, shadowmen reavers and sorcerers, adding conquered forces to his numbers as he went. While Yi Ti at this time was strong and had a vastly superior army, even they could not stand against the might of dragons. The conflict was ended after the God-Emperor of the time died of a mysterious wasting illness, his son then sued for peace and negotiations were had. Elrys’ campaign successfully took control of everything in a triangle of land that stretched from the Mountains of the Morn in the east to Jinqi on the coast of the Jade Sea in the west and all the way up to the Bleeding Sea and the Five Forts in the north. Trade agreements were also made. Between his new lands and those agreements Elrys secured enough resources for his new domain. The lands they rule are now called the Empire of Mōriblēnun.
The governing of the empire is an interesting thing, as the preexisting inhabitants of the Shadow are not the kind to take attempts at subjugation kindly, and yet the Empire has stood for 300 years. It seems part of this success is the fact that the Mōriblēnean Targaryens are willing to allow for a long leash on the Shadow Men and the inhabitants of Asshai. While their lands West of the Shadow facing Yi Ti and The Plains of the Jogos Nagai are ruled more conventionally with their borders strongly guarded. It is likely that the people of the Shadow itself are so loosely ruled as there is some sort of base compatibility between the Targaryens and the Shadowmen. This very much seems the case as the red masks of the Shadowmen are a common sight on all the ships that come from the Empire.
The capital of their empire is Asshai, it was formerly their only city but via a concerted effort three more considerably smaller ones have come to rise. In tandem with this construction effort the empire has engaged in a concerted population raising campaign. Producing a staggering amount of Targaryens, pulling from the Valyrian stock of the free cities and finding various incentives for professionals to come and populate the more hospitable areas of their conquered lands along with keeping as subjected those who lived on those lands already.
They now have five cities of various sizes alongside Asshai. Jurnerys in the north near the Five Forts, Īboktion near the northern border of the Shadow and the newest one Zēanaejos on the Manticore Isles which they captured in 154 AC. Jinqi has been renamed Imrryr, also called “The Dreaming City (Ēdrī Oktion)”, it seems to be the place where most of the young and those of child rearing age tend to live, it is also the biggest trade port in all of Mōriblēnun. The final city is Zoldario Laes on the Greater Moraq which they captured in 240AC. They have also claimed the isle of Ulos in the Saffron Straits and there are rumors they have pushed into Uthlos and further east to the Hidden Sea and the cities of the Bloodless Men but only time will tell if these rumors are true.
While Asshai’s reputation as a place where no practice is outlawed it seems that the Targaryens have brought it to some kind of order. To the non-observant eye the Targaryens of the Shadow are little more than administrators in Asshai, handling the most mundane aspects while the citizens run rampant as they always have. This is a view born of ignorance, the shape of their control is subtle but iron. They prohibit nothing, but no spell is cast without their knowledge, no grand scheme planned without its creator meeting a sudden end. They encourage all sin and experimentation, so long as profits them. To raise one’s head above one’s station in Asshai is to ensure one’s complete eradication. The Targaryens are just as adept in sorcery as any shadow binder and are well versed in the quiet arts of poison and assassination. The remains of those who they have chosen to eliminate without obfuscation decorate the outer most wall of the Dragon Palace.
Their influence is felt as far as the Free Cities as the Targaryens of the Shadow are prolific traders and explorers. There is a small cadet branch of the House that now lives behind the Black Walls in Volantis that was started around the era of the Dance of The Dragons in our own history, likely to act as a western outpost to observe and possibly take advantage of the tension in Westeros that came with Rhaenyra Targaryen’s being named heir. The Volantis branch of the family is said to be comprised of those in the family not as magically adept or of a poor temperament to survive in the Shadow, eager to get as far from their homeland as possible even if they are still bound to serve its goals. The handful of Targaryens in Volantis serve to facilitate their trade business in the west and keep the main house abreast of the goings on to this day. There has also over the centuries been interest in Mantarys and Oros as places for expansion. While this has not happened yet, Mōriblunēnean ships are frequently seen stopping in those blighted ruins of old Valyrian cities.
Their standing military is small and made up mostly of slaves, though it is occasionally bolstered with shadowmen reavers and other savages. Without their dragons they have been severely weakened but their prowess with magic and black reputation has stayed the hands of many. Shortly after the last of their dragons vanished Yi Ti attempted to reclaim its former lands and were met with nothing but calamity and horror at every turn. Eventually they gave up, instead turning to heavily guarding their shared border. The accounts of this failed campaign have acted as a deterrent to others.
While the Targaryens of the Shadow have succeeded in thriving where their sister house has dwindled, they have not been unchanged by the darkness of Asshai. It is said that the Empire of Mōriblēnun followed in its forebear’s footsteps, unsurprising for a people whose capital is Asshai. The Targaryens of the Shadow are cruel, decedent and obscene. They have seemed to have picked up where Valyria left off, increasingly returning to the behaviors of their ancestors as time moves on. To be invited to a Mōriblēnunaen feast is to be invited to a feast of horrors. It is said that the bodies of slaves have been modified so that their bodies are instruments and their screams the many notes of vile music. The food is said to be rich and lavish, but the origin of the meats can be enough to send one screaming from the halls. Their idea of amusements are the definition of evil to those of us not from that dark place.
While inevitably some of this is likely the product of overactive and morbid imaginations, it is undeniable that some of it is true as the Mōriblēneans are well known for their creative brutality and sadistic pleasures. However, we have no documentation from any who have visited them, such as Corlys Velaryon that any of these more dramatic claims are true. Perhaps the cannibal banquets and human harps are simply saved for family only.
The blood between the two halves of the Targaryen House — Westerosi and Essosi — has remained bad since Elrys’ fated decision to abandon Aegon’s side. At first there were attempts from the Targaryens of Westeros to heal the rift between the two houses once the two men had passed but those attempts swiftly ended after messengers were sent back in charred pieces. Over time the Westerosi Targaryen have become increasingly uninterested in reconciliation as the reputation of the others became more and more unsavory. Until of course, their own situation became increasingly dire. Then they would turn their eyes to their relatives in the east once more and reconsider trying to restart communications.
The Essosi Targaryens in turn only seem to become interested in Westeros when they see something in it for them, events which are usually few and far between. They rarely agree to aid their cousins in any way and rarely do the Targaryens of Westeros get what they’d wanted out of them. Elrys’ distaste for Aegon’s fixation with Westeros continues to be a factor that keeps them removed from our affairs. When they do engage with Westeros it is entirely for economic gain or seemingly to watch from a better vantage as their sister house fell into disrepair and tragedy. They have, however, welcomed the Blackfyres with open arms, gleefully supporting their attempts for the Westerosi throne. For their own amusement or out of genuine interest to see their sister house fall is hard to say.
Like the Westerosi Targaryens revere Aegon the Conqueror the Mōriblēnunaen Targaryens revere Elrys Doom-Bound. However, unlike Aegon, they do not believe that Elrys is simply a grand figure in history. The Mōriblēnuneans believe that Elrys is reborn sporadically within the Eastern Targaryen bloodlines to this day. This is not a spiritual or religious belief but something far more tangible to them. While I hesitate to take it as absolute fact it is important to note that Elrys was an extremely powerful and knowledgeable sorcerer, who only became more so as he aged and worked harder to maintain his failing body. While I cannot personally fathom how it could be managed, if any sorcerer could discern how, it would likely be him. The signs that lead them to believe he is reborn, such as memories of past lives, knowledge they should not have, and the taming of the dragon Arioch — a feat only Elrys ever truly managed — are certainly compelling.
Because of this they refer to Elrys as the Eternal Champion, for whenever he turns, he goes on to do incredible things. Both for good and for ill. Every person named Elrys has gone down in the Annals with impossible feats of heroism and numerous atrocities written beside their names and nearly all have met tragic ends. When it is discovered that Elrys has been reborn that child is renamed and immediately made the heir to the Ruby Throne and raised as such. Both men and women have borne the name Elrys as their sex is not important to the process, only that they prove to bear his memories and power. Regardless of their sex they are called the Emperor of Mōriblēnun and all their titles are male. They are treated by the law as male and the Mōriblēnuneans demand others treat them the same.
The Elrys are generally differentiated by their epithets instead of calling them say “Elrys the 3rd” as we do the many Aegons who have sat the Iron Throne. The current Elrys is referred to as just “Elrys” plus the titles that come with being “Elrys”. Eventually they’re given an epithet, how they get these varies. Sometimes it is given to them young because of a character trait or a vision. Sometimes it is metaphor based. Sometimes it seems to be because it just sounds good. Sometimes it is based on their actions. Even if they end up with a few there’s always one that is considered their Name. For example, the original Elrys is called Elrys Doom-Bound and is largely referred to as “Doom-Bound” or “Elrys Doom-Bound” in later writings and by modern Mōriblēnunaens.
Additional Information
If this all looks familiar that’s because I’m pulling a George and ASIOAF-fying the lore of The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock as much as I humanly can. The Valyrians are basically already Melniboneans— seriously just look them up and then look at the Valyrians, it’s the same picture. GRRM has even said that Elric is the inspiration for Bloodraven. There’s some Elric Vibes on HOTD!Aemond too. This all is just me saying “Okay, let’s just throw Elric himself in here” and adjusting some of the Elric lore around to mesh better with ASOIAF. Tragically the wiki for Elric stuff is Not Very Good so I’m happy to hunt for resources/reference and explain things as best I can when asked so you can see both the pre-existing Elric influences in ASOIAF and what I’m doing now.
I also pull heavily from the “Empire of the Dawn was a pre-Valyrian dragon rider culture that was wiped out in the first Long Night” theories. Mainly the David Lightbringer/Lucifer means Lightbringer version and generally the Least Insane Version of it he has.