Why couldn't dragons have survived the doom of Valyria?

[dragonstone]

OK, so just thinking. The doom of Valyria seems to have been some form of volcanic event having left a smoking sea and causing fires (valyria was located in a volcanic region). If this is the case, why then could dragons not have survived - being fire-loving beasts and being able to fly besides. According to a wiki of ice and fire the valyrians in fact discovered dragons in volcanoes. So. do people reckon that dragons may well still live in old Valyria?

 

[C Of K]

I have a feeling the doom of Valyria had something to do with magic.
Whether it was magic that killed the dragons, or fire that killed the dragons,
or something else entirely, I don't know. Maybe it was magical fire that killed
many of the dragons. Good idea for a thread btw.

 

[Koopa]

Call me stupid but dragons did survive the doom.
There is Balerion, Meraxes and Vhagar, there where dragons up until the Dragonbane, and there are the current three (Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion).

Also in one of Quathe's visions to dany (i think) weren't there dragons or dragonlike creatures sunbathing near Asshai.

 

[dragonstone]

Call me stupid but dragons did survive the doom.
There is Balerion, Meraxes and Vhagar, there where dragons up until the Dragonbane, and there are the current three (Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion).

Yes, but those dragons survived (AFAIK) because they were on the island of dragonstone with the Targs. I meant dragons that were actually in Valyria.

Also in one of Quathe's visions to dany (i think) weren't there dragons or dragonlike creatures sunbathing near Asshai.

I did not know that

 

[dragonstone]

I have a feeling the doom of Valyria had something to do with magic.
Whether it was magic that killed the dragons, or fire that killed the dragons,
or something else entirely, I don't know. Maybe it was magical fire that killed
many of the dragons. Good idea for a thread btw.

You know you're probably right. From my basic knowledge of geology I do know that volcanoes can create new land but obviously can't actually destroy it - which is what happened in Valyria, so there must have been something more. I had thought a meteor or something but then there would've been some form of dustcloud which would've shrouded the world for years - which there wasn't and also it wouldn't explain the fire. Magic fits pretty neatly.

 

[Koopa]

Yes, but those dragons survived (AFAIK) because they were on the island of dragonstone with the Targs. I meant dragons that were actually in Valyria.

Didn't the doom came first, then the targaryens fled to Dragonstone (one of the freehold most outward outposts). A century passed. Aegon then went on to conquer Westeros with his dragons. Now either Aegon managed to hatch Balerion and the other two like dany did, or the dragons fled along the targs to dragonstone.

 

[dragonstone]

Didn't the doom came first, then the targaryens fled to Dragonstone (one of the freehold most outward outposts). A century passed. Aegon then went on to conquer Westeros with his dragons. Now either Aegon managed to hatch Balerion and the other two like dany did, or the dragons fled along the targs to dragonstone.

I dunno:http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Targaryen#note-2

Before the Doom of Valyria, the cataclysmic event that destroyed the ancient civilization, the Targaryens departed for the island citadel of Dragonstone off the Westerosi shore, which was at that time the westernmost Valyrian outpost.

I had been uner the impression that they were sent there to rule dragonstone...

 

[Koopa]

Interesting, so is this wikipedia page canon or ...
Makes you wonder what the Valyrian faith was, and how Aegon got his dragons.

 

[C Of K]

I can't remember where I heard this, but I was under the impression that somehow, the Targaryens foresaw the Doom, and left Valyria.

 

[Koopa]

It makes you start crackpotting and think that maybe the Targaryen lineage was in cahoots with the Faceless Men.

For instance, let's say the Faceless Men are behind the doom. The Targaryens had a connection to them (or even co-conspirators) and where forewarned thus leaving the freehold for Dragonstone. Or even arraging it pre-doom they where given the governing of Dragonstone, furthest outpost away from the doom.

Not likely but plausible... no?

 

[The Imp]

It makes you start crackpotting and think that maybe the Targaryen lineage was in cahoots with the Faceless Men.

For instance, let's say the Faceless Men are behind the doom. The Targaryens had a connection to them (or even co-conspirators) and where forewarned thus leaving the freehold for Dragonstone. Or even arraging it pre-doom they where given the governing of Dragonstone, furthest outpost away from the doom.

Not likely but plausible... no?

I'm very interested in why you think the FM may be behind the Doom.

I love a good crackpot theory

 

[Koopa]

The FM originated in Valyria in the mine right. First bringing death to those who prayed for it. Then bringing death to those the people prayed for to die. Let's say more and more people started praying for the death of Valyria. Either because the joke become even harsher, there where a couple of unfortunate accidents that fueled hatred towards Valyria even more, or because the killings inspired the slaves to dream of even more, and end to the joke or .... (countless other possible reasons).

In any case the Faceless men decide the next gift they will grant is the death of Valyria. So how do they go on about it? Well it's obvious by now they have a few tricks up their sleeves, it is also obvious that the volcanic mines whom are constantly being mined ever further provide for the perfect means. So they arrange it that the vulcanoes erupt together at an appropiate time. I'm not sure if this can be done in real life- i do know children can make fake vulcanos erupt with acid- but it is a fantasy world and Valyria was full of sorcerers.

I must confess, it's somehow taken hold in my mind that the lords of Valyria (and thus also the Targaryens and their dragons) are not the best of friends with the Faceless men.

 

[dragonstone]

I can't remember where I heard this, but I was under the impression that somehow, the Targaryens foresaw the Doom, and left Valyria.

You could be right:

Some Targaryens also have a high tolerance of heat, though they are by no means immune to fire. A trait typical to Targaryens and one that was passed on to the cadet house, House Blackfyre, was the ability to have premonition-like dreams.

Could it be that Aery's fear of blades and maybe even his entire madness came from having one of those dreams? Jaime says that he was so scared of blades he wouldn't even let one near hi to cut his hair and nails - perhaps he dreamt of being cut open???

 

[Koopa]

Well, the dream are true.
For instance in the Hedge Knight one of Egg's brothers dream of ser duncan the tall. He sees him and a dragon. With the dragon ending up dead.
Baelor Breakspear died.

 

[garion77]

Most likely when the Doom happened, the food the Dragons relied on died causing the Dragons to starve. From what I have seen of Dany Dragons, they require alot of food. And GRRM might have killed the Dragons out like the Dinosaurs... They went extinct because of the lack of food. Only the smaller animals survived. I can't seem a land void of food supporting Dragons. It's hard enough for the land to support just 3 smaller Dragons. I think Balarion was so large, he could probably eat a herd of sheep for breakfast by himself...