Dragons are some of the most important creatures in the Game of Thrones universe. These giant winged lizards are capable of breathing out deadly flames, and their very existence enhances the effects of magic around the world.
A story of dragons in the Game of Thrones universe
Dragons are the oldest and most powerful creatures. They once originated from Essos, a large and partially unexplored continent with a predominantly subtropical climate. For several thousand years, fire-breathing lizards participated in wars under the command of the Targaryen family, until in one of the civil wars all living individuals died. All that remains of the dragon family are eggs, but all attempts to get the baby dragons to hatch from them have been in vain. Subsequently, these eggs were transferred as a very expensive and beautiful souvenir. By the time Game of Thrones began, people had come to terms with the idea that dragons were long gone. Their existence is confirmed only by the numerous skulls in the Red Castle.
Dragons have a large serpentine body, powerful clawed paws, large wings, and spines from crown to tip of tail. Their appearance can vary greatly both in size and in the color of the scales. Dragons grow throughout their lives, but even individuals of the same age may not correspond to each other in their dimensions, which we clearly see on the example of Daenerys Targaryen dragons. For unknown reasons, dragons have become smaller with each millennium, as evidenced, again, by the skulls in the Red Castle. The largest representative of its kind is Balerion "Black Horror" - a dragon that many centuries ago belonged to the ancestors of Daenerys Stormborn and lived to be 200 years old.
Dragons feed on meat, which is pre-fried with the help of their fiery breath. Very young, newborns are able to release only smoke from their mouths, so they need to be helped in the matter of nutrition by frying meat in other ways. The type of meat does not really bother dragons; during times of wars, they do not disdain even human flesh. In times of peace, they are taught to eat animal meat. With the help of animal dragon meat, you can train, but it is desirable to do this from birth. Some individuals are able to understand voice commands.
For centuries, dragons have been associated with the history of the House Targaryen family. Terrible events began to unfold during the reign of Rainira Targaryen, the self-proclaimed ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. With her supporters, she entered into a bitter war with her brother, Aegon II. Both troops used trained dragons as their main weapons, which led to the almost complete extinction of the entire species. The war was nicknamed the "Dance of the Dragons" in honor of these sad events. Aegon III Targaryen (Dragonbane) became the ruler, during whose time the last of the living dragon females died. Contemporaries blamed him for the death of an individual.
About 17 years before the start of the story, Jamie Lannister kills Aerys II Targaryen - the mad king and father of Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. The supporters of the murdered are forced to take orphans under their care and take them from the Red Castle to Essos in order to avoid infanticide. From this moment the story begins: the children of the Mad King are on the run, his eldest son is trying with all his might to get an army for the war with the iron throne. He gives his sister as a gift to Khal Drogo (the warlord of the Khalasar), in exchange for a promise of help in the war. For the wedding, the newlyweds were presented with many expensive gifts, including three beautiful dragon eggs.
Over time, Daenerys truly fell in love with Drogo, and it was mutual. Viserys was too impatient in his views on the throne and Drogo killed him by crowning with red-hot metal. Daenerys became pregnant with Drogo, but he was mortally wounded. Khaleesi turned to the witch, who promised to heal the khal in exchange for something important to the girl. Drogo was healed, but could only breathe, losing the ability to move, speak and eat. Denis's baby was born dead and very ugly. Daenerys realized that she had made a terrible mistake, and she had to kill Drogo herself. After her husband's death, she ordered the khalasar to build a large funeral pyre and place dragon eggs in it. In the flames, she burned the body of her husband and the witch who caused her so much misfortune, and then went into the fire herself. When the fire was completely burnt out, everyone saw that Daenerys was alive and well, her clothes were only burnt. Dragons hatched from three eggs, and so their new story begins. Khaleesi was nicknamed the Mother of Dragons.
Drogon
Drogon is a dragon named after the deceased husband of Daenerys Taragaryen - Khal Drogo. It is the largest and most dangerous of the three Denis dragons. Its body is covered predominantly with black scales, but the wing membranes and spines on the back and neck are red. After being revived in a bonfire, Drogon quickly learns to fly and grows up by feeding on fried meat. In the second season, Daenerys teaches him to breathe deadly flames at the command of "Drakaris". After a while, all three dragons are kidnapped from Denis and placed in a dungeon, chaining them with iron chains. However, dragons do not grow without their master, so the thief, Piatu Prey, has to invite Khaleesi to the dungeon and chained her next to the children. The dragons see their mother and are filled with strength, after which, at Denis's command, they burn Pray and the iron chains.
In the third season, the Mother of Dragons is going to acquire the army of the Unsullied in order to begin to conquer the lands, but these powerful wars are beyond her means. She agrees to give Drogo to the seller of the Unsullied, but gives Drakaris the command immediately after the deal is closed. By the fourth season, Drogon and his brothers are already so big that they lack the food provided by Daenerys, and they begin to kill animals in herds. Daenerys puts up with the behavior of her children until they kill a small child. The shepherds and the people are furious, they are afraid to be incinerated by the flames of these beasts. Daenerys imprisons the Drogon brothers in a dungeon, and he himself breaks free and flies away. He lives free, periodically returning to his mother, but does not stay with her. One day (it happens in season 5) Daenerys needs help, and Drogon burns all her enemies to ashes. He himself gets a spear into his body, which Daenerys pulls out. Khaleesi, astride a dragon, flies off the battlefield. It took Drogon a while for the wounds to heal. Denis spends the next few battles sitting on the largest of his dragons.
In the fight with the Lannisters, Drogon is again seriously wounded, but remains alive. His forces killed hundreds of enemy soldiers and almost killed the Kingslayer, who miraculously escaped by jumping into the river. After a bloody battle, Daenerys asks the surviving lords if they are ready to swear allegiance to her. Those who refuse to kneel Drogo burns to the ground. The only one whom Drogo admits to him, besides his mother, is Jon Snow, to whom the dragon even allows himself to be stroked. On the others, however, he roars and releases flames. Apparently, Drogo's sympathy is justified by the fact that Jon Snow's blood comes from the Targaryen family, which he himself does not yet suspect. At the end of the seventh season, Daenerys, riding a black dragon, are sent to the aid of the night watch, and one of the dragons is killed in this battle. Drogon roars desperately, mourning his brother who died before his eyes.
Reigall
Reigal was named after the deceased older brother of Daenerys - Reigar Targaryen. Its scales shimmer with green and bronze colors, and the wings are cast in copper. Its history in almost all events intersects with the history of Drogon. In the second season, he is kidnapped and put in a dungeon, and in season 4, Daenerys is forced to arbitrarily chain him. Sitting in a dungeon, Rhaegal grows into a rage, and when the enemies of the Mother of Dragons are brought to him, he cold-bloodedly burns and devours them. In season 6, Tyrion Lannister releases Rhaegar from the dungeon, weakened by the absence of his mother, and he accompanies Daenerys in all subsequent battles.
Viserion
Viserion got the name in honor of Viseris, crowned with red-hot metal. It is a creamy gold dragon with bright orange wings. Viserion plays a key role in the events of season 7, when he is killed with an ice spear. The dead dragon falls into the icy lake, but the white walkers drag him out with chains. The king of the night touches the corpse of Viserion, who opens his bright blue eyes. From now on, he is a servant of the King of the Night, an ice dragon that spews a bright blue flame. He helps the dead to fight the night watch.
