Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Why is Asshai "by the Shadow," and what is "the Shadow?" What happened to the Shadowlands, who built Asshai, and what lies in Stygai, the "Corpse City at the Shadow's heart?" All this plus the dark fantasy literature George R. R. Martin was inspired by when he created the Shadowlands and Asshai: H.P. Lovecraft, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard's Conan stories, and more.

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This video was made with NO AI of any kind!
title image uses "Asshai" by Jovan Delic
All music made by David LB

Check out @GreyWasteTim 's Asshai & Stygai video!
youtu.be/xhIzIq2WlKE?si=0NeFZaLa-x_pxWXT

@restishistorypod playlist on the Congo & Heart of Darkness:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuEtSnx8BCLimvC7-evD3Ygq

Great Empire of the Dawn playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEHvft-cyPmAMAMVS1CITMYC4FGyTlhjb&si=ox7QKwfRgcHFfIXG

00:00 Intro
01:48 City of Asshai
06:36 Black River Ash
08:46 Heart of Shadow
12:20 Stygai
12:38 Bloodstone Emperor
17:02 Origin of Asshai
29:12 It's a Trapezohedron
35:35 Stygian Serpent Men
42:58 Minas Morghulis
48:43 Oily Black Stone