The continent of Essos—one of the four known continents in the world—is often referred to as the "Eastern Continent" or simply the "East."
In the central lands lies the vast Dothraki Sea, a rolling plain that stretches as far as the eye can see. Despite its name, it is not a sea of water, but a boundless ocean of grass.
Here dwell the Dothraki, a tall, warlike nomadic people with bronze skin, a fierce spirit, their own language, and a culture centered on horseback.
The grass of the Dothraki Sea grows tall and thick. In the long summer, the scorching sun stirs the grass with hot winds, making it ripple like a raging ocean. Amidst the dense grass are narrow dirt paths, along which a Dothraki tribe now rides.
The Dothraki are natural cavalrymen, surpassing even the best knights. Only the crippled, the elderly, pregnant women, and children ride carts; anyone else would be ridiculed.
Armor is seen as a coward's garb—it restricts the freedom of movement that a warrior needs.
Dothraki men braid their hair, cutting it only if defeated in battle. Bells are tied to these braids; the first bell is their own, while the rest are trophies from slain enemies. Dothraki never touch corpses killed by others, believing it would bring a curse.
Braids and bells symbolize a warrior's valor.
This tribe, riding along the dirt path, follows these traditions: all wear braids, bare-chested, painted leather vests, bronze belts, and tied horsehair leggings. Bells jingled as the tribe moved.
At the front rides Zheko Khal with his Bloodriders. Zheko is tall and broad, bronze-skinned, black-haired, with hazel eyes and a long beard. His braids reach his waist and carry the most bells.
He leads the tribe to the outskirts of Kal City, where every three or four years, the people bring gold to earn his forgiveness and spare themselves from war.
"Khal" is a title for the tribal leader, typically the strongest and bravest warrior.
Bloodriders are the Khal's protectors, brothers, and partners. They share everything, sometimes even the Khal's wives, but never the Khal's horses. Bloodriders and their Khal address each other as "Blood of my Blood."
Receiving tribute should be a joyful matter, but Zheko's mood is uneasy.
As the sun sets, the tribe stops to pitch tents. Then, a Kass will challenge the Khal. A Khal cannot refuse; Dothraki follow strength, and only the strongest warrior is a true Khal.
A Kass is a division of the tribe, each led by a Ko, who can challenge the Khal for leadership. If the Khal dies and his son, the Khalago, is not strong enough, the Kos may split their Kass to form a new tribe or compete to decide a new Khal, killing the old Khalago to prevent future threats.
Zheko Khal's tribe numbers over 40,000, divided into four Kass.
He knows of a young Ko named Möngke, whose Kass trails the main tribe. Already, after twenty sunsets en route to Kal, tales of Möngke's strength spread throughout the tribe.
Möngke is strong and brave, able to defeat enemies with nothing but linen and branches, said to be blessed by the stars and Horse God, impervious to fire, able to ride flaming steeds and hunt the white lion Heraka.
Time passes, the scorching wind making Zheko impatient. He has three wives (Khaliesh) but only one Khalago, who is not yet of age. Dothraki will not follow a young Khalago, and his son's fate is already determined if Zheko dies.
A Khaliesh is a Khal's wife. If the Khal dies, tradition takes her to Vaes Dothrak, the Dothraki capital and only city in the Dothraki Sea. She joins the Doshi-Khalin, an advisory council of elder women, gaining great honor as a prophetess.
Zheko worries only for his Khalago, not his Khaliesh.
Dothraki know all about horses, but otherwise are bound by tradition and rules. Zheko never considered turning back to kill Möngke.
As the sun sets and the grasswaves calm, tents dot the plains. Suddenly, the ground shakes.
From a nearby hill, the sound of hooves grows closer, jingling bells announcing the arrival of Möngke's Kass.
Möngke rides a red steed at the front, bronze-skinned, black-eyed, young and clean-shaven, with defined features and a heroic, athletic build. His braids are shorter than Zheko's, but still adorned with many bells.
Outside the camp, Zheko watches, never underestimating the young Ko. Legends may exaggerate, but often conceal truth.
Möngke's gaze meets Zheko's, tinged with pity and respect. A month in this world had seen him rise from a Dothraki warrior to a Ko, commanding his own Kass.
Yet Möngke knows this is Essos, and only the strongest Khal, Horse King Zorgo, dominates all. Time is short.
The Dothraki are fierce and ruthless. Those who cannot ride have no value. Infants with deformities are left to wild dogs. The nomadic people thrive through raiding; their economy is fueled by conquest. The Dothraki Sea is a wasteland, dotted with ruins, except for the capital.
Vast as it is, the Dothraki Sea can house about twenty-five tribes, all in constant struggle.
Zheko's tribe is weak. Their journey to Kal is more about collecting handouts than tribute. True tribute is given personally to the Khal, prostrating before him.
Möngke appreciates Zheko's favor, yet cannot tolerate a stagnant leader. Such a tribe will soon be absorbed by stronger Khal. Then, the bells on Möngke's braid may end up on another's head.
He knows that even in the original history, nomads like Genghis Khan conquered far lands. The Dothraki too could cross Essos and sail the Narrow Sea.