Warlocks

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A blue-lipped warlock of Qarth from Game of Thrones Blu-ray features
A warlock of Qarth - by John Moriarty. © Fantasy Flight Games©

Warlocks are the magic practitioners of Essos. Their center of power is the House of the Undying, home to the Undying Ones of Qarth.[1] Warlocks are also said to be active in Asshai.[2][3]

Appearance

See also: Images of Warlocks

The warlocks of Qarth are known to dress in long, beaded robes. They have white, pale skins and pale blue lips, from drinking shade-of-the-evening many times, in pursuit of ever-greater knowledge. The Undying Ones' flesh is ripe violet blue, their nails are so blue they are nearly black, and even the whites of their eyes are blue.[4]

History

Though legend speaks of the mighty power of the warlocks, they have done little in the past century. Similarly to the Alchemists' Guild of the Seven Kingdoms, the warlocks' power and prestige have waned over the years. Their mighty House of the Undying is long since a grey stone ruin, neither repaired nor expanded upon, often referred to as the Palace of Dust.[1][4] Even so, the warlocks are feared and respected throughout Essos[1] and few return from their ruin.[4]

In an effort to cure Samwell Tarly of his timidity, his father Lord Randyll Tarly once brought to his castle at Horn Hill two warlocks from Qarth, with white skin and blue lips. The warlocks slaughtered a bull aurochs, and made Sam bathe in the hot blood, but it did not make him brave as promised. Randyll had the warlocks scourged.[5]

Archmaester Marwyn studied with warlocks.[6]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

At the beginning of Daenerys Targaryen's stay in Qarth, Xaro Xhoan Daxos warns her to avoid the warlocks in the city.[1]

In Winterfell, Bran Stark and Maester Luwin discuss magic. Luwin tells Bran that magic does not work, and Bran reminds him there are mages and warlocks in the east. Luwin corrects Bran, telling him that these are men who simply refer to themselves mages and warlocks.[7]

Eventually, after having been refused by the Pureborn, Daenerys Targaryen decides that she has no other options available to her other than to seek Pyat Pree and the warlocks.[8] Xaro warns her not to go, but she goes anyway. After Daenerys's visit to the House of the Undying and the subsequent death of the Undying Ones,[4] Xaro tells her that Pyat Pree is gathering the surviving warlocks together to work ill on her. As Daenerys is searching for a ship at the Port of Qarth, a Sorrowful Man attacks her with a manticore.[9]

A Storm of Swords

On the Balerion, Daenerys thinks of various threats she faces. She recalls that back in Qarth, Pyat Pree had sent a Sorrowful Man after her to avenge the Undying she'd burned in their House of Dust. She remembers it is said warlocks never forget a wrong.[10]

A Feast for Crows

Pate recalls that Archmaester Marwyn had spent eight years in the east, and during that time, among other things, had studied with warlocks.[6]

Quellon Humble confides to Victarion Greyjoy that his brother Euron Greyjoy has three wizards aboard the Silence, queer terrible men but Euron has made them his slaves. Victarion tells the dusky woman that Euron's wizards had seen that the Shield Islands would fall to him.[11]

Euron tells Victarion that he had captured four warlocks in a galleas out of Qarth. On board was a cask of shade-of-the-evening, along with some cloves and nutmeg and forty bolts of green silk. The four warlocks told him a curious tale, which Euron does not elaborate upon. One had threatened Euron, so he killed the warlock and fed him to the other three.[11] The surviving warlocks are reportedly coaching Euron in black magic.[11]

A Dance with Dragons

In Meereen, Daenerys learns from Xaro Xhoan Daxos that she had not been gone a fortnight from Qarth when Pyat Pree set out from the city with three of his fellow warlocks to seek her in Pentos, in order to seek revenge on her for the burning of the House of the Undying.[12]

Aboard the Iron Victory, Victarion Greyjoy thinks that Moqorro knows the strange shores around Slaver's Bay in ways that the ironborn do not, and the secrets of dragonkin as well. He thinks to himself that the Crow's Eye keeps wizards, so why shouldn't he? Victarion thinks his black sorcerer is more puissant than all Euron's three, even if you put them in a pot and boiled them all down to one.[13]

The Winds of Winter

When Aeron Greyjoy is held captive by his brother Euron in the hold of the Silence, he notices among the captives that two are warlocks of the East, with flesh as white as mushrooms and lips the purplish-blue of a bad bruise, both so gaunt and starved that only skin and bones remain. One had lost his legs and is hung by the mutes from a rafter. He keeps crying "Pree" he swings back and forth. [14]

Known Warlocks

Quotes

Xaro: There is a saying in Qarth. A warlock's house is built of bones and lies.

Daenerys: Then why do men lower their voices when they speak of the warlocks of Qarth? All across the east, their power and wisdom are revered.

Xaro: Once they were mighty, but now they are as ludicrous as those feeble old soldiers who boast of their prowess long after strength and skill have left them. They read their crumbling scrolls, drink their shade-of-the-evening until their lips turn blue, and hint of dread powers, but they are hollow husks compared to those who went before.[1]

Xaro Xhoan Daxos to Daenerys Targaryen


Pyat Pree has blue lips, and it is truly said that blue lips speak only lies. Heed the wisdom of one who loves you. Warlocks are bitter creatures who eat dust and drink of shadows. They will give you naught. They have naught to give.[8]

Xaro Xhoan Daxos to Daenerys Targaryen


Beware men with cold hearts and blue lips.[12]

Xaro Xhoan Daxos to Daenerys Targaryen


If a warlock's spell could kill me, I would be dead by now. I left their palace in ashes.[12]

Daenerys Targaryen to Barristan Selmy

References and Notes