What’s west of Westeros?

Summary

The script narrates the legend of Elissa Farman, a rebellious adventurer from 'Game of Thrones' lore, who sought to explore the uncharted lands west of Westeros. With dreams of discovering new worlds, she embarked on a perilous journey, stealing dragon eggs to fund her voyage on the Sun Chaser. The story speculates her possible survival and influence on Daenerys Targaryen's destiny, weaving a tale of courage, love, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ Arya Stark expresses a desire to go beyond the known world of Westeros to the west, where maps end and the Sunset Sea begins.
• 🚢 One of Arya's ancestors, Brandon the Shipwright, attempted to sail across the Sunset Sea but was never seen again, leaving his empty tomb in Winterfell.
• 🌅 Some Ironborn on the island of Lonely Light believe in a western paradise but have only found a boundless grey sea.
• 🐉 Daenerys' ancestor, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, had plans to fly her dragon across the Sunset Sea, but died before attempting the journey.
• 🛥️ Elissa Farman, a rebellious and adventurous spirit, built the ship Sun Chaser with funds from selling stolen dragon eggs to the Sealord of Braavos.
• 🔍 Elissa's voyage west was driven by her belief in undiscovered lands beyond the Sunset Sea, with unique flora, fauna, and civilizations.
• 🌊 Elissa's journey faced storms and challenges, with one ship sinking and another, led by Eustace Hightower, returning to Oldtown.
• 🏝️ The surviving crew discovered three small islands in the far west, which Elissa named after significant figures in her life.
• 🌌 Elissa's ultimate fate remains a mystery; she vanished while continuing her search for lands beyond the Sunset Sea.
• 🎭 A theory suggests that Elissa may have reached Asshai in the far east, possibly as the shadowbinder Quaithe, who has a connection to Daenerys.
• 📚 The script also promotes Brilliant, an interactive learning platform for mathematics and science, as a tool for gaining knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Q & A

What does Arya Stark express her desire to do in Season 6 of Game of Thrones?

Arya Stark expresses her desire to go 'west of Westeros' to see 'The edge of the world', a place where all maps stop.

What is the significance of the Sunset Sea in the lore of Game of Thrones?

The Sunset Sea is a mysterious body of water west of Westeros, where no one knows what lies beyond, and it is associated with legends and failed attempts at exploration.

Who was Brandon the Shipwright and what happened to him?

Brandon the Shipwright was an ancestor of Arya Stark who sailed across the Sunset Sea in search of what lay beyond, but he was never seen again and his tomb in Winterfell is empty.

What do the ironborn on the island of Lonely Light believe about the west?

The ironborn on the island of Lonely Light believe there is a 'paradise' in the west, a land without winter or want, although all they have found is a boundless grey sea.

What was Queen Rhaenys Targaryen's plan involving her dragon?

Queen Rhaenys Targaryen planned to fly across the Sunset Sea on her dragon, but she and her dragon died before she could attempt the journey.

Who was Elissa Farman and what was her dream?

Elissa Farman was a rebellious, wild-spirited girl, the daughter of the lord of Fair Isle, who loved sailing and dreamed of sailing west to find strange lands beyond the Sunset Sea.

What is the connection between Elissa Farman and Rhaena Targaryen?

Rhaena Targaryen was married to Elissa's brother Androw, and it is hinted that Rhaena and Elissa were in love, with Rhaena being closer to Elissa than to her husband.

Why did Elissa steal three dragon eggs from Rhaena Targaryen?

Elissa stole the dragon eggs to fund the construction of her dream ship, the Sun Chaser, designed for deep waters and long voyages, to fulfill her dream of sailing west.

What is the significance of the ship Elissa built, the Sun Chaser?

The Sun Chaser was built by Elissa Farman using funds from selling stolen dragon eggs. It was designed for long voyages and deep waters, and she used it in an attempt to sail west beyond the Sunset Sea.

What happened to Elissa Farman after she sailed west with the Sun Chaser?

Elissa Farman's fate is ambiguous. She sailed west and was never seen again, but decades later, a mariner in Asshai glimpsed a ship that could only have been the Sun Chaser, suggesting she may have made it across the world.

What is the theory about Quaithe being Elissa Farman?

Some fans speculate that Quaithe, a shadowbinder from Asshai, is actually Elissa Farman who learned magic, lengthened her life, and continued her adventures, possibly helping Daenerys because she reminds her of Rhaena.

How does the story of Elissa Farman relate to Daenerys Targaryen's dragon eggs?

The dragon eggs that Daenerys Targaryen received from Illyrio Mopatis are hinted to be the same eggs that Elissa Farman stole hundreds of years ago, suggesting a connection between Elissa's adventures and Daenerys' story.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 The Quest for the Sunset Sea

This paragraph delves into the mysterious Sunset Sea, a realm beyond Westeros where maps cease to be of use. Arya's desire to explore this uncharted territory is juxtaposed with historical attempts that ended in tragedy, such as Brandon the Shipwright's disappearance. The narrative also touches on the beliefs of the ironborn and Daenerys' ancestor, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, whose plans to cross the sea were thwarted by her untimely death. The story of Elissa Farman, a rebellious spirit with a passion for sailing, is central to this paragraph. Elissa's journey, including her relationship with Rhaena Targaryen, her theft of dragon eggs, and her ultimate departure to the west aboard the Sun Chaser, is detailed. The paragraph concludes with the implication that Daenerys' dragon eggs may be linked to Elissa's theft, suggesting a historical connection between their stories.

05:05

🛶 Elissa Farman's Legendary Voyage

The second paragraph continues the tale of Elissa Farman, focusing on her ambitious voyage to discover new lands beyond the Sunset Sea. It paints a picture of Elissa's vision of unexplored territories filled with wonders and the challenges she faced in assembling a crew willing to embark on this perilous journey. The narrative describes the hardships they encountered, including storms and the loss of one of their ships. Elissa's naming of three islands after significant figures and her discovery of unique flora and fauna are highlighted. The paragraph also speculates on Elissa's ultimate fate, suggesting that she may have circumnavigated the world and reached Asshai, with a tantalizing theory that she could be the shadowbinder Quaithe, who appears later in the series. This section ends with a reflection on Elissa's legacy and the inspiration she could provide to characters like Arya, who also seek to forge their own paths.

10:06

📚 Learning the Art of Navigation with Brilliant

The final paragraph shifts focus to the practical aspects of long-distance sea travel and navigation, drawing a parallel with the ancient Greeks' and historical figures' understanding of the world's round shape. It introduces Brilliant, an interactive learning platform that covers mathematics and science, as a tool that could have theoretically aided Elissa in her navigational endeavors. The paragraph promotes Brilliant as an engaging and effective way to learn and master various concepts, including those necessary for circumnavigating the globe. It concludes with a call to action for viewers to sign up for Brilliant, offering a discount for the first 200 subscribers and expressing gratitude to the video's patrons.

Keywords

💡Westeros

Westeros is a fictional continent and the primary setting of the 'Game of Thrones' series. It is a land of diverse regions, each with its own culture and history. In the video script, Westeros is mentioned as the starting point for Arya's desire to explore 'west of Westeros', indicating a place beyond the known world in the series' lore.

💡Sunset Sea

The Sunset Sea is a body of water west of Westeros, mentioned in the script as a place where maps stop and the unknown begins. It is associated with mystery and the allure of undiscovered lands, as well as the tragic story of Brandon the Shipwright who was never seen again after sailing across it.

💡Elissa Farman

Elissa Farman is a historical figure from the 'Game of Thrones' universe, known for her adventurous spirit and quest to sail west beyond the Sunset Sea. Her story is central to the video's theme of exploration and the pursuit of the unknown, with her journey serving as a parallel to Arya's own aspirations.

💡Dragonstone

Dragonstone is an island in the script, significant as the place where Rhaena Targaryen settles and where Elissa's relationship with Rhaena deteriorates. It is a Targaryen stronghold and represents the conflict between Elissa's dreams and the constraints imposed by the Targaryen family.

💡Sun Chaser

The Sun Chaser is the ship built by Elissa Farman for her voyage west. It symbolizes her ambition and determination to explore beyond the known world. The ship's name reflects her goal of chasing the sun into the unknown, and it is the vessel that may have taken her across the world to Asshai.

💡Dragon Eggs

Dragon eggs in the script are a powerful symbol and a source of conflict. Elissa steals three dragon eggs from Rhaena, which leads to the Targaryens' distress and the eventual hatching of dragons for Daenerys Targaryen. The eggs represent the potential for new life and power, as well as the connection between Elissa's and Daenerys' stories.

💡Asshai

Asshai is a mysterious city in the far east of the 'Game of Thrones' world, known for its shadowbinders and magic. In the script, it is suggested that Elissa may have reached Asshai after her voyage, and it is also the place where Daenerys meets Quaithe, who may be Elissa in disguise.

💡Quaithe

Quaithe is a shadowbinder from Asshai who appears in the script as a potential identity for Elissa Farman. Her cryptic advice to Daenerys echoes the journey Elissa took, and the theory suggests a connection between the two characters that adds depth to the exploration theme of the video.

💡Exploration

Exploration is the central theme of the video, as it discusses the journeys of characters like Elissa Farman and Arya Stark who seek to discover the unknown. The script uses the concept of exploration to illustrate the human desire to push boundaries and uncover new worlds.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion is a key concept in the script, as it describes the actions of characters like Elissa and Arya who defy expectations and societal norms. Their rebellious nature drives the narrative of seeking new experiences and challenging the status quo.

💡Brilliant

Brilliant is a learning platform mentioned in the script that offers interactive challenges in math and science. It is used as an example of how one can learn and apply knowledge, such as navigational skills, which could have been useful for Elissa in her voyage.

Highlights

Arya's desire to explore 'west of Westeros', a mysterious region beyond the known world.

The Sunset Sea is an enigmatic expanse, with legends of a paradise but only 'boundless grey' sea found by explorers.

Ancestors of Arya and Daenerys, including Brandon the Shipwright and Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, attempted to explore the unknown west but met tragic ends.

Elissa Farman, a rebellious noblewoman, defied her family to pursue her passion for sailing and exploration.

Elissa's relationship with Rhaena Targaryen hints at a romantic connection between the two women.

Elissa's daring theft of three dragon eggs from Rhaena, leading to her exile and the creation of her ship, the Sun Chaser.

The theory that Daenerys' dragon eggs are the same ones stolen by Elissa, connecting their stories across centuries.

Elissa's ambitious voyage to discover new lands beyond the Sunset Sea, against the backdrop of common beliefs of the world's end in the west.

The discovery of three small islands by Elissa, named after Targaryen figures, marking a significant geographical expansion.

Elissa's disappearance into the west, leaving behind a legacy of exploration and the possibility of her survival.

The sighting of a ship resembling the Sun Chaser in Asshai, suggesting Elissa may have circumnavigated the world.

Speculations of Elissa as Quaithe, a shadowbinder from Asshai, potentially immortal and guiding Daenerys.

The thematic comparison between Arya and Elissa, both seeking to forge their own paths against societal expectations.

The importance of mathematical knowledge in ancient navigation, drawing a parallel to Elissa's potential use of such skills.

The promotion of Brilliant, an interactive learning platform for mathematics and science, as a modern tool for exploration and learning.

A call to action for viewers to sign up for Brilliant with a special discount, connecting the historical narrative to contemporary educational resources.

Transcripts

In Season 6 of Game of Thrones, Arya says she wants to go “west of Westeros”, to

see “The edge of the world”.

West of Westeros is “where all the maps stop” . No one knows what’s beyond the

Sunset Sea.

But some have tried to find out.

One of Arya’s ancestors, Brandon the Shipwright, sailed west ’cross the Sunset Sea – and

he “was never seen again”, his tomb in Winterfell is empty . Some crazy ironborn

on the island of Lonely Light believe there’s a “paradise” in the west, “a land without

winter or want” – but all they’ve ever found is “boundless grey” sea . One of

Daenerys’ ancestors, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, planned to fly her dragon ’cross the Sea

– but she and her dragon died before she could try.

So the Sunset Sea is a mystery, but there’s one person who went further west than anyone

else.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, Elissa Farman was the daughter of the lord of Fair Isle

– an island off the westerlands, “by the Sunset Sea” . Elissa was kind of like Arya

– a rebellious wild-spirited girl.

She was an archer, and a singer, loved horses and dogs, “but her great love was sailing”.

She spent most of her childhood on ships.

As a teenager, she sailed her own boat, voyaging north to Bear Island, and south to the Arbor.

But her dream was to sail west, and find strange lands beyond the Sunset Sea .

Elissa’s brother Androw married Rhaena Targaryen – a widowed queen of two different kings.

It was weird that a queen would marry into a “minor” family like the Farmans , and

Androw was a pretty unimpressive husband.

Rhaena didn’t seem that into him – she was closer with Elissa.

It’s hinted that Rhaena was gay , and that she and Elissa were in love . So for a year,

Rhaena and Elissa and friends lived on Fair Isle.

They were “the center of court life” , and went on joyrides on Rhaena’s dragon Dreamfyre

. But the Lord of Fair Isle got sick of Rhaena dominating his island, and of her dragon eating

his sheep – so he asked her to leave.

He wanted Elissa to stay and get married . But like Arya, Elissa didn’t want to marry some

lord.

So she left home with Rhaena.

For a month, they mooched off the Lannisters at Casterly Rock, and enjoyed “the hospitality

of the wealthiest house” in Westeros . But it turned out, shockingly, that the Lannisters

were scheming , so Rhaena and co.

left the Rock, and toured the westerlands and riverlands for while . As the young daughter

of a minor noble family, Elissa got to travel across Westeros with her love, the dragon

queen.

But eventually, Rhaena settled on Dragonstone, the Targaryen island . And Elissa wasn’t

happy there – she wanted to build a ship, and return to “her wide western seas”

. Rhaena refused, and their relationship broke down . So Elissa left Dragonstone, and her

the way out, she stole three of Rhaena’s dragon eggs.

Elissa went to Pentos, then Braavos, and sold the eggs to the Sealord of Braavos.

She used the money to build the ship of her dreams – the Sun Chaser , designed for deep

waters and long voyages . Elissa planned to sail west.

The Targaryens, meanwhile, lost their shit.

The theft of their eggs meant that someone outside their family could get dragons, which

is like someone outside your country getting nukes . They hope that without the heat of

Dragonstone, the eggs will “turn to stone” – that way “some spicemonger in Pentos”

will only have “three very costly stones” . Hundreds of years later, in Book 1 of Game

of Thrones, Illyrio Mopatis, a “cheesemonger” in Pentos , gives Daenerys three dragon eggs,

which he says have “turned … to stone” . Three stone eggs from a “monger” in

Pentos.

The language is the same, hinting that Dany’s eggs are the same eggs that Elissa stole hundreds

of years ago.

Daenerys’ whole story might not’ve happened without Elissa Farman.

But author George Martin does say this is meant to be ambiguous, not certain .

But Elissa built her ship, the Sun Chaser.

And from Braavos, she sailed down the narrow sea, dodging pirates, went around Dorne, and

came to Oldtown , the city of the Citadel and the Hightower.

Elissa knew the Targaryens were hunting her, looking for their eggs – but she needed

a crew, people who believed in her mission to find new lands in the west.

Which was difficult, because many people believed that the world just ends in the west, with

“walls of fire and boiling seas”, or “black fogs that [go] on forever”.

But the maesters, and author George Martin, say that the world of Game of Thrones “is

round” like ours . So the west must eventually connect to the far east, to the lands of Yi

Ti and Asshai . A western trade route to these places would be worth a fortune in “silks

and spices”.

But Elissa’s dream was bigger than money.

She believed that the world was “far larger and far stranger than the maesters imagine”

. She envisioned new undiscovered lands in-between Westeros and Essos – with “sundering rivers”

and “plains”, “green islands”, “strange beasts”, and “golden cities” beneath

“strange stars” . Westeros is kinda like Britain , Essos is like Europe and Asia, and

Sothoryos like Africa – so maybe there’s a continent like America.

Elissa hoped to find it.

As she looked for a crew, Eustace and Norman Hightower came to question her – but Elissa

convinced them to join her mission, adding their ships to hers.

She gathered a crew , and just as the Targaryens were closing in, Elissa left Oldtown with

three ships and sailed west . Three years later, one ship returned.

Eustace and his ship came ragged and exhausted back to Oldtown, and Eustace told the story

of Elissa’s voyage.

He said that at first, it was “smooth sailing” . But a month in, they were hit by storms.

Norman’s ship was struck by lightning, and sank – some sailors said they saw a kraken

. But Elissa and Eustace’s ships survived, and they found land – “three small islands”,

“farther to the west” than any known land.

Elissa named the islands Aegon, Visenya and Rhaenys – so Rhaenys Targaryen, who died

before she got to fly west, had an island named for her in the far Sunset Sea.

Elissa explored her new islands, and found new spices, pink fruits , and huge grey lizards

with venomous bites . Elissa wanted to sail further west, to discover more new land.

But Eustace and his crew were scared, and turned back home.

Eustace spent a year stuck on Sothoryos and his crew almost all died, but some Summer

Islanders helped them back to Oldtown.

Go watch our video about Sothoryos and the east.

As for Elissa – she “vanished” to the west, “still searching for … lands beyond

the Sunset Sea”.

She “was never seen again”.

“Except…”

Decades later, a famous mariner called Corlys Velaryon visited Asshai in the far far east.

And there, “he glimpsed an old and … weathered ship that” he said “could only have been

Sun Chaser” , Elissa’s ship.

So maybe Elissa made it all the way across the world.

She coulda seen new lands, and crossed the Americas, before arriving at Asshai from the

east.

And one theory goes further.

In Book 2, Daenerys meets Quaithe, a shadowbinder from Asshai.

And Quaithe says “To go north, you must journey south.

To reach the west, you must go east” – just like Elissa goes west to reach the east.

So some fans speculate that Quaithe is Elissa.

That she learned magic in Asshai, and lengthened her life – just like Melisandre of Asshai

lengthens her life . Maybe Quaithe-lissa helps Daenerys because she reminds her of Rhaena,

the dragon queen Elissa once loved.

The reason why Quaithe comes to Dany in the first place is to see her dragons – the

dragons that hatched from the eggs that Elissa stole . So this is just speculation, but it’s

possible that Elissa Farman still lives as a two-hundred and fifty year old magician

with a cool mask and a love for geography.

It’s also possible that Elissa just died at sea, or on some unknown land.

What we do know is that Elissa rebelled against her family, and loved a dragon queen.

She travelled across Westeros and beyond, following a dream to see sights yet unseen.

And maybe rebellious Arya could do the same.

Like Elissa, she could reject the life that others chose for her.

She could escape the violence and horror that she’s suffered.

Like Elissa, Arya could sail west, chasing the sun.

Of course, circumnavigating the globe takes more than an adventurous spirit.

Naval navigation without modern technology involves a lot of math – geometry, trigonometry,

astronomy.

But people have done it for thousands of years.

The ancient Greeks accurately calculated the size of the earth . Columbus and Magellan

knew the earth was round.

Maybe Elissa Farman did too.

Maybe Elissa Farman used Brilliant.

Brilliant is a learning site with interactive challenges teaching maths and science.

It’s better than a lecture or video, cause it has you actually solving problems yourself

at your own pace, with guides and solutions to help you through.

It starts with basic stuff, then more advanced, then… whatever this is

With Brilliant, you can find out.

It's surprisingly easy and fun to learn all the concepts you missed at school - and to

become a little smarter each day.

Sign up for free at brilliant.org/AltShiftX – the first 200 people get 20% off an annual

premium subscription.

Thanks for watching – please like and subscribe.

Thanks to Patrons Tom Salt, Will Devin, Rebecca Radillo, Katie Balfour, Jennifer, Sarah Hefferin,

Rainn Fernandez, Nico Grießhaber, and Lurking Tyler.

Cheers.