#AtoZchallenge —V is for —Valyria

From the Shadow Lands of Asshai to the Shores of Dragonstone and the frozen lands beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones (#GoT) comes the 10th anniversary of the AtoZ challenge...

Valyria was once the capital of a great empire called the Valyrian Freehold. Located on a peninsula in Essos in the vicinity of Slavers Bay, it was destroyed by a cataclysmic event known as the Doom of Valyria.

At its apex, Valyria was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization. Within its shining walls, twoscore rival houses vied for power and glory in court and council, rising and falling in an endless, subtle, of a savage struggle for dominance.—writings of Yandel 

Aegon Targaryen and his sisters

There were dragons then, and the Targaryens saved themselves by going to Dragonstone with their dragons. The Doom that shattered Valyria changed the geography of the land by separating the peninsula and breaking the city of Valyria and the Lands surrounding it.

It is an ancient and old ruin now, where few people venture. Valyria used to connect to dragon roads and cities and was said to have had topless towers and sphinxes as decorations. It still holds many treasures such as Valyrian steel blades and other items of magical power.

An entire encyclopedia was written about Valyria in the World of Ice and Fire-The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones.

Rulers of Valyria were called dragonlords and practised blood magic and other dark arts. I don't want to delve much into GoT history. It's safe to say that the Targaryens were the only nobles with dragons who escaped the destruction of Valyria.—George R. R. Martin 

Valar Morghulis is a High Valyrian expression meaning All men must die, it is a password for the Faceless Men and Arya joins this order when she sets sail to Braavos, for no other reason, other than her mother and brother were just killed in the Red Wedding and there is no one left to protect her. It is in Braavos where she furthers her fighting career and tries to become No One but that becomes a lesson in futility.

Valar morghulis was how they said 'All men must die' in Valyria of old.  And the Doom came and proved it true.—Oberyn Martell to Tyrion Lannister

Can you guess who the letter V is?

Lord ___, also known as "the Spider", is the master of whisperers on the small council of King Robert I Baratheon, a position he previously held for King Aerys II Targaryen.