If you’re a fan of The Mysterious Seasmoke of ASOIAF, then chances are you’ve heard of Seasmoke. He’s one of the series’ most popular characters, and he has a lot to offer readers.
For starters, he’s a fierce and proud member of the Greyjoys. He’s also a skilled warrior and is known for his bravery in battle.
The Greyjoys
The Greyjoys are a fierce family who have a long history of piracy and conquest. They are also known for their love of sea smoke, a special kind of tobacco that is smoked in long pipes.
House Greyjoy was founded during the War of Conquest. The Iron Islands fell into chaos after the extinction of House Hoare, which led King Aegon I Targaryen to invade the region. He allowed the Ironborn to choose a new Lord Paramount and they chose Lord Vickon Greyjoy of Pyke.
Since that time, they have ruled the Iron Islands. Their seat of power is Castle Pyke on the island of the same name. Their sigil is a golden kraken on a black background.
They are one of the seven main houses in Westeros. However, they are not regarded as a legitimate threat to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Their reputation as scavenger rapists and pirates has made them not very liked by the people of Westeros.
Their lack of understanding for the politics of Westeros has also made them a weak force. Their reliance on brute strength and sailing skill has made them unprepared for the more complex warfare that is required to win.
During the War of the Five Kings, the Greyjoys have a crucial role to play as they strive for sovereignty over the Iron Islands. They have managed to spark a number of rebellions, but these have always been put down.
In the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Balon Greyjoy is the most prominent member of the house. He is the father of Asha and Theon Greyjoy, and he serves as a vassal to Robert Baratheon.
He also acts as a mentor to Robb Stark, who has become a close friend of his since the start of ASOIAF. He accompanies Robb when he meets with Lord Tywin Lannister, and they soon form a close bond.
Theon and his brother Yara are also members of the house. They are cousins to Euron Crow’s Eye, the king of the Iron Islands, and Yara is the preferred heir to his title.
The Legend of Seasmoke of ASOIAF
Seasmoke of ASOIAF is the name of a dragon that first fought for Jacaerys Velaryon during the Dance of the Dragons. He was ridden by Ser Laenor Velaryon before becoming riderless in her death, but was later claimed by her son Addam of Hull.
When House Velaryon’s bloodline is mentioned, most people think of a dragon-riding clan like House Targaryen. But in fact, there was an ancient dragon-riding clan in Old Valyria called House Velaryon that ruled for hundreds of years before the Doom fell on their land.
The most famous of these riders was Addam Velaryon, who grew up in Driftmark and claimed to be the son of Laenor. He became a legitimate member of House Velaryon and was able to bond with Laenor’s former mount, Seasmoke of ASOIAF.
After a short period, he began to show some inclination towards dragonriding. After all, he was a bastard from Driftmark who claimed to be the son of Laenor Velaryon — and, in turn, he had some Targaryen blood in his veins!
He was a very good rider, and he had a lot of grit and determination. He became a fierce warrior, especially in battle, and would rely heavily on his dragon for support.
While he was still a teenager, Addam Velaryon and Seasmoke of ASOIAF joined forces in battle against Sheepstealer, who was trying to ravage his brother Alyn of Hull’s clan. When Sheepstealer spit fire at Alyn, Seasmoke put his fellow dragon to flight and saved him from certain death.
In addition to his grit and strength, Seasmoke also showed great patience. It took a while for Addam to figure out how to get Seasmoke to take flight, but eventually he managed to do so.
Once he was able to fly, the dragon proved to be very loyal and fearsome in battle. In particular, he was a huge asset during the War for the Stepstones and rescued Daenerys Targaryen from a deadly trap.
However, while Seasmoke is a ferocious dragon, he’s no Drogon or Viserion. Instead, he’s more like Syrax, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon who was bonded with her at birth and ridden by her. Although she’s still a big, green dragon, Syrax lacks the experience of Caraxes and her biggest flaw was her lack of grit in battle.
Seasmoke of ASOIAF Traits
The Targaryens earned their Iron Throne through fire and blood, but that’s not the only family in Westeros with dragons. House Velaryon is also a dragonrider family, and they have a dragon called Seasmoke.
Seasmoke is a young, silvery-grey dragon. He is a relatively small compared to other dragons, but his nimbleness makes him a valuable fighter. The dragon also has a unique sigil that resembles a sea horse.
While he was claimed by Laenor Velaryon, Seasmoke of ASOIAF isn’t necessarily bonded with anyone else. As of now, he is the only dragon in the series who has never been ridden by another rider.
This might not seem like a big deal, but it’s a huge detail. It shows that Seasmoke of ASOIAF and Laenor are very close. This is an excellent quality for two Dance partners to have, and it would indicate that Seasmoke might be willing to bond with a new rider once his current one dies.
In the book, Laenor Velaryon is of Valyrian descent but also shares some of his blood with House Targaryen. This is likely why he has such a strong bond with his dragon, which is probably also why he was able to claim it.
He was born in 94 AC and claimed his dragon Seasmoke in 101 AC, at which time he was only about seven years old. He is a pale, silvery-grey dragon that blends into Laenor’s craggy domain and is about the same size as Syrax, Rhaenyra’s dragon.
The books describe him as being a loyal dragon, but he is also suspicious of people who do not follow him. In fact, he has a tendency to kill those who disobey his orders.
However, it is important to remember that dragons only bond with riders who they feel are compatible. This means that if Laenor is still alive, it might reject any attempt to claim Seasmoke.
As mentioned earlier, the show also changes a lot of things from the books. In particular, it has Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate) fighting for the Stepstones alongside his father Corlys. This is an important plot point, because it reveals that Laenor is actually quite skilled at war.
Seasmoke of ASOIAF Relationship with Daenerys Targaryen
One of the first things we learn about Seasmoke of ASOIAF in House of the Dragon is that he is actually one of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon riders. She and her twin sister Baela are the only sisters in Westeros to be shown riding a dragon, which was a big change from the books.
The Targaryens have a history of dragonriders; Daenerys is credited with founding the Targaryen House of Targaryen and having her daughter Rhaenyra ride the dragon Drogon to victory in the Battle of the Bastards. The show also shows Daenerys and Jon Snow (who was actually born Aegon Targaryen) riding their dragons as well.
As the show has progressed, however, we’ve seen a different version of the dragonrider story. Viserys Targaryen, Daemon’s son, is not a dragonrider. He is a warrior, but not a proficient one. And his wife, Rhea Royce, is not a skilled or even experienced dragon rider.
To give him a better chance of succeeding as a Targaryen and riding a dragon, the show changed Daemon’s son Laenor Velaryon from being a flippant courtier in the Red Keep into a fearsome warrior who is actively involved in the war for the Stepstones alongside his father. It’s a huge change from the books, but it works for House of the Dragon and sets Laenor up as the future consort of Rhaenyra.
A dragonrider’s responsibility is to protect the dragon and its rider, but they’re also responsible for their own safety. And that means they need to have a plan of action in the event of an attack or other danger.
That plan usually involves a dragonrider leading the fight and making sure their rider survives. That’s why Rhaenyra and her sister Baela are so good at it. Despite their differences in personality, they are always working together. They’re able to see the bigger picture and make decisions that help their kingdom, even though they might not always agree on what those decisions should be.
In the Season 7 premiere, King Viserys gives Rhaenyra a lesson in how to lead. He tells her that she must understand the power she has, which will come with a huge responsibility. He also explains to her that a Targaryen must remain on the throne, because there’s a dark force coming to destroy the Seven Kingdoms. In the end, he reveals the Valyrian steel blade that will protect her as she leads the fight against this threat.