The MUSH is based (with the author’s permission) on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. The series consists of A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows. At this point, three more books called A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring are planned as well as a companion book (which we are co-authoring with GRRM) called The World of Ice and Fire.  GRRM has also written two novella in this setting, called "The Hedge Knight" and "The Sworn Sword". If you are unfamiliar with the books, we recommend reading our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.

A Song of Ice and Fire is a gritty, medievalesque fantasy set in the world of Westeros. It is a world of strange seasons—summers that last for years and winters that can last a lifetime—as well as of both chivalrous knights and ruthless politics. Magic was once common, and the Targaryen kings possessed dragons that could wreak havoc to their enemies, but now magic has faded and the dragons have all died. Though the game is not set at the time of the books, but rather some 140 years prior to them, most of this holds true for this time period too. The main difference is that House Targaryen still rules the Seven Kingdoms and that, as a result of this, the political situation is less chaotic, less ruthless and less dangerous than in the books. However, the game of thrones is still very much a high-stakes game.

As the game opens in 158 after Aegon’s Landing, King Daeron I—called the Young Dragon—has just conquered Dorne and made this previously independent realm a part of the Seven Kingdoms. Our aim is to stay as canon as possible, both in terms of theme and in terms of storyline. This means that King Daeron I will die in Dorne and it means that House Targaryen cannot be overthrown by House Lannister. But there is a lot we do not know about this period, so the fates of most individuals is not pre-determined.