Obsidian update #1 (Patreon)

Real-world obsidian is super interesting – it's been used for thousands of years to make tools and weapons, as well as objects of artistic and religious significance – the Maya peoples practised bloodletting with obsidian blades, and the Moai statues on Easter Island had obsidian in their eyes. As the image above explains, obsidian is used today as a surgical blade apparently superior to steel.

The real-world history of obsidian is a cool complement to the ASOIAF history of obsidian – the children of the forest used obsidian tools and weapons for hunting, and apparently "used to give the Night’s Watch a hundred obsidian daggers every year" (Samwell I, AFFC). TWOIAF mentions "a giant’s burial with obsidian arrowheads found amidst the extant ribs", which might suggest that the children of the forest used obsidian in conflicts against the giants.

So I'm now sorting out the basics of what obsidian is, and I'll soon be moving on to its magical properties in ASOIAF, use against white walkers, glass candles, etc.