Dragonglass

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Depiction of a Dragonglass Dagger

Dragonglass is volcanic glass, or obsidian. Children of the forest make weapons out of dragonglass, including daggers and arrowheads.[1] Dragonglass weapons are one of the few weaknesses of the Others. An Other that is pierced by an obsidian blade dies almost instantaneously. During the Age of Heroes it was also recorded by the Night's Watch that the children of the forest gave the black brothers a hundred obsidian daggers every year.[2] The Valyrians also made use of obsidian to make their glass candles.[3] Obsidian blades are sharper than steel but far more brittle.[4]

There are large deposits of dragonglass on Dragonstone and it is an important export from Asshai.

According to GRRM, in the A Song of Ice and Fire series he has given obsidian,

“Magical characteristics that of course real obsidian doesn't necessarily have. After all, we live in a world that has no magic. My world does have magic, so it's a little bit different. [5]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

At the Fist of the First Men Jon Snow discovers a catch of knives, leaf-shaped spearheads, numerous arrowheads made of obsidian. Dragonglass, he thinks to himself. Beneath the dragonglass is an old warhorn, when Jon shook the dirt from inside it and a stream of arrowheads fell out.

Jon Snow gives Samwell Tarly a spearhead and a dozen arrowheads as well, and passes the rest out among his other friends for luck. [4]

In Qarth Xaro Xhoan Daxos tells Daenerys Targaryen that glass candles that had not burned in a hundred years were now burning in the house of Urrathon Night-Walker. [6]

A Storm of Swords

Samwell Tarly and the few survivors from the Fist are running for their lives south in the middle of night with a heavy snow falling. Upon an undead horse, a lone Other appears from the swirling snow. In a blind panic Sam slays the Other by stabbing it with the dragonglass dagger given to him by Jon Snow. [7] The dagger causes the Other to shrink and puddle, dissolving away in twenty heartbeats. Only the dagger remains,

wreathed in steam as if it were alive and sweating.

Grenn goes to scoop up the dragonglass dagger but has to fling it down again as it is so cold.

At the Wall King Stannis Baratheon sends word to his castellan Ser Rolland Storm on Dragonstone to begin mining obsidian. He fears he will not hold his seat much longer but hopes that the Lord of Light shall grant them enough frozen fire to arm themselves against the Others before the Dragonstone falls. [8]

A Feast For Crows

There is a black glass candle burning in Marwyn's study on the Isle of Ravens when Samwell Tarly arrives there. [3] [9]

A Dance With Dragons

In Meereen Quaithe tells Daenerys that the glass candles are burning. . . [10]

Quotes

“Finally only the dragonglass dagger remained, wreathed in steam as if it were alive and sweating. Grenn bent to scoop it up and flung it down again at once. “Mother, that’s cold.” [11]


They are vulnerable to obsidian.” [10]

- Samwell Tarly, to Lord Commander Jon Snow


“Dragonglass. Frozen fire, in the tongue of old Valyria. Small wonder it is anathema to these cold children of the Other.” [12]

Melisandre

References and Notes