WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2!Daemon and Corlys prepare to wage war in the Stepstones in new villain Crab Feeder, the Stepstones play a major role in the international politics and foundations of Westeros.
The Stepstones are a chain of islands in the narrow sea that are located east of Dorne and west of the Disputed Lands of Essos, with their key placement establishing them as noted dens for pirates. As Lord Corlys explains in House of the Dragon episode 2, the Stepstones are set in extremely important shipping lanes for trade in both Essos and Westeros that are also particular assets for Driftmark, which is why the Sea Snake is so intent on fighting back against the Crab Feeder and the Triarchy. Their economic significance and vulnerability to attacks by the Free Cities are certainly highlighted by Daemon and Corlys in the House of the Dragon episode 2 ending, but the characters omit the much deeper impact the Stepstones have on Westerosi lore.
Considering House of the Dragon episode 1 shockingly revealed Aegon’s dream as the reason why the Targaryens invaded Westeros, and Game of Thrones occasionally dove into the lore of the First Men, it’s surprising that Daemon and Corlys didn’t mention the Stepstones’ role in the legends of how the First Men invaded Westeros. In Game of Thrones’ history, the Stepstones are mythologized as the remnants of the Arm of Dorne, the land bridge that connected Westeros to Essos over ten thousand years before House of the Dragon’s timeline. The First Men used the Arm of Dorne to cross over to the lands that would later become Dorne, where their seizure of Westeros began. During the breaking of the Arm of Dorne, the Children of the Forest and greenseers tried to stop the spread of man into Westeros by using magic to shatter the bridge, leaving behind an archipelago that would become known as the Stepstones.
Why The Stepstones Are So Important To House Of The Dragon's Story
While the Stepstones certainly possess larger importance in the lore of Game of Thrones’ world, they’re additionally a crucial region in the story of House of the Dragon season 1. Following Daemon Targaryen being disinherited by King Viserys and Lord Corlys’ proposal for the king to marry his daughter Laena Velaryon being rejected, the two powerful Westerosi men unite to create their own glory and path in the Stepstones. In this area, the Triarchy of Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh are invading the lands and taking down pirates, but have increased the toll of trade there that threatens to damage both Driftmark and the crown itself.
As the rebellious House Targaryan member Daemon seeks to make his own way in the world and find a crown for himself, he exploits the troubles in the Stepstones as a personal war effort to control the lands. Not only does Daemon have dragons, loyal soldiers, his sword Dark Sister, and the fleets of House Velaryon behind him, but he also has a singular foe in the mysterious Crab Feeder – the Myrish Prince iral of the Triarchy who feeds Westerosi sailors to the crabs. Since Daemon can’t count on wearing Aegon’s crown and sitting on the Iron Throne in the future, the House of the Dragon Rogue Prince will play the conqueror and ruler in the Stepstones.
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