Game of Thrones: Rise of Kings

Essos is one of the four known continents in the world, often referred to as the "Eastern Continent" or simply "Eastern."

In the heart of the continent lies the Dothraki Sea, which, contrary to its name, is not a body of water but an expanse of endless flat grasslands.

The Dothraki people inhabit this region. They are warlike nomads known for their bronze skin and tall stature, possessing their own language and distinct horseback culture.

The grass in the Dothraki Sea is tall and thick, rolling like waves in the hot breeze under the scorching sun of the long summer.

Amidst the dense grasslands, sandy paths emerge, and it is along these paths that a Dothraki tribe is traveling.

The Dothraki are natural cavalrymen, with riding skills superior to any knight. They are a people who live on horseback. Only the disabled, elderly, pregnant women, and children ride in carriages. Anyone else riding in a carriage would be mocked.

They disdain wearing armor, considering it cowardly and restrictive.

Dothraki men braid their hair and only cut it when defeated in battle. They tie bells to their braids, with the first bell belonging to them and the rest acquired from the heads of their slain enemies. They avoid touching bodies killed by others, fearing a curse.

Braids and bells symbolize a warrior's bravery.

The Dothraki tribe advancing along the sandy road adheres to these traditions. They all have braids, bare chests, painted leather vests, bronze belts, and horsehair leggings.

The team moves with the sound of "jingle" and "jingle" bells.

Leading the group is Khal Drake and his blood guards. Khal Drake is tall and strong, with typical Dothraki bronze skin, black hair, hazel eyes, and a long beard. His braids, adorned with numerous bells, hang down to his waist.

At this moment, Khal Drake guides his tribe toward the outskirts of Qohor. Every three or four years, the people of Qohor pay him gold to secure his forgiveness and avoid war.

"Khal" is a title given to the tribe's leader, typically the strongest and bravest warrior.

The "Blood Guard" serves as the khal's guard, brother, and partner. They share everything with the khal, except his horse. The blood guards and their khal refer to each other as "blood of my blood."

While receiving gold is favorable, Khal Drake's mood is sour.

When the sun sets, the tribe will halt and set up tents. At this time, a khas's ko will challenge him, and the khal cannot refuse. The Dothraki follow the strongest, and only the mightiest warrior can be khal.

"Khas" is a part of the Dothraki nomadic tribe, and each tribe has multiple khas, each led by a commander called "ko."

The Dothraki tribe's leadership is fluid. The kos have the right to fight for control and directly challenge the khal.

When a khal dies, if his son, the "Khala," is not strong enough, the kos can split their khas to form new tribes or decide a new khal among themselves. The original khala is often killed to prevent future threats.

Khal Drake's tribe consists of over 40,000 people, divided into four khas.

He is aware of the young ko named Mark. Mark's khas trails the tribe. Over twenty sunsets into their journey to Qohor, legends of Mark begin to spread.

Mark is described as strong and brave, defeating enemies wielding arakhs with only linen and branches. Some claim he is blessed by the stars and the horse god, possessing a body as hard as bronze, immune to fire, riding a flaming horse, and hunting the white lion, Helaka, with a bow.

As time passes, the hot breeze aggravates Khal Drake. He has three Khaleesi but only one Karako. His Karako is not yet an adult, and the Dothraki will not follow an underage Karako.

If Khal Drake dies, his Karako's fate is sealed.

"Khaleesi" is the title for the khal's wife. Upon a khal's death, the Khaleesi is traditionally taken to Vaes Dothrak, the Dothraki capital and the only city in the Dothraki Sea. There, she joins the Dosh Khaleen, a group of Dothraki crones who act as advisors, prophets, and omens interpreters for all tribes.

Therefore, Khal Drake does not worry about his Khaleesi but about his Karako.

The Dothraki excel in horsemanship but lack other skills. They are traditional, conservative, and follow strict customs. Khal Drake has not considered turning back to defeat the bandit named Mark.

As the sun sets, the grass waves calm, the sunset ignites the clouds like flaming horses, and appearing stars symbolize the souls of deceased Dothraki warriors.

During this time, the meadow fills with tents, and suddenly the ground trembles.

From behind a nearby grassy hill, the sound of hooves emerges, accompanied by the "jingle, jingle" of bells as Mark's khas approaches.

Mark rides a red horse at the forefront. His exposed chest reveals bronze skin, with black eyes and hair, no beard, and a youthful, clean face. His angular eyebrows resemble distant mountains, his eyes firm and bright. His upright and strong body displays grace and heroism.

However, his braid is not as long as Khal Drake's, merely hanging on his back, yet adorned with many bells.

Outside the tent, Khal Drake, observing Mark, does not underestimate him. He realizes Mark is young, and the legends, while possibly exaggerated, contain truth.

Mark's eyes are also fixed on Khal Drake, with a hint of reluctance and apology.

Over a month after arriving in this world, it was Khal Drake who elevated him from a Dothraki roaring warrior to a bandit, commanding his own khas.

But knowing this is the continent of Essos, and he is a nomadic Dothraki, though unaware of the exact year, he knows the most powerful khal, the horse king Drogo, is invincible and renowned among all tribes. He realizes his time is limited.

The Dothraki are fierce and skilled fighters but also inherently cruel. Those unable to ride horses are deemed worthless. Deformed newborns are discarded to wild dogs. This proud and mighty nation is also brutal and ruthless.

The Dothraki economy relies heavily on looting neighboring lands. The Dothraki Sea, also known as the Ghost Land or the Great Wasteland, is filled with ruins trampled by Dothraki horses. The only city on the grassland is the Dothraki capital.

The vast Dothraki Sea accommodates about 25 tribes. To survive, tribes attack each other, resulting in constant battles.

Khal Drake's tribe is weak. They claim to visit Qohor for gold tribute but are essentially begging.

True tribute should be delivered by the Qohor people themselves, crawling to the khal's tent.

Though Mark appreciates Khal Drake's support, he cannot tolerate his khal's lack of ambition. Such a tribe will eventually be absorbed by other khals, and Mark's bells will adorn another's braid.

Mark also knows that according to the original plot, chaos looms over the world. Even with survival weapons acquired upon arrival, his current development cannot fully ensure his safety.

He needs more troops, to leave the Dothraki Sea, to advance his survival weapons, and he harbors his own ambitions.

In the original world's history, the nomadic Genghis Khan marched west to Eastern Europe, and the Great Khan Mongke ventured to West Asia.

The Dothraki could also conquer the Eastern Continent and then cross the Narrow Sea for further conquests.