Whether the Old Ones were mere legends or truly existed in the annals of time remained a mystery to the mortal realm. Unlike other lesser races such as the Children of the Forest and the green men, the mingling of the human race with the Old Ones through crossbreeding was shrouded in obscurity. The inheritance of magical abilities, such as warging and greenseeing, by the First Men through this crossbreeding with the green men and Children of the Forest, marked a pivotal point in history.
Considered as gods, the Old Ones were worshipped by the Children of the Forest and later adopted by the First Men who chose to believe in the ancient ways of the forest dwellers. Another hidden mystery surrounded figures like Nissa Nissa, who bore traces of the bloodline of the Old Ones. This mysterious connection extended to the events of the Long Night and the enigmatic Great Others—entities associated with both fire and ice. The Old Ones were believed to be the driving force behind the destruction of numerous races that once inhabited the realms.
If one were to trace back to the era before the Long Night, during the invasion of Westeros by the First Men when Essos and Westeros were still a unified continent, the Children of the Forest found themselves incapable of resisting the might of the First Men, even when utilizing their sorceries. Furthermore, they lacked the ability to create an entity capable of commanding the undead and wielding ice magic. Their nature was not inclined towards malevolence; they harbored no evil thoughts or intentions. The only plausible answer lay with the Old Ones, the gods revered by the Children of the Forest, entities capable of influencing the minds of any living being.
Their influence might have been the catalyst that led the Children of the Forest to create the first White Walkers. Curiously, they found themselves unable to control these creations. Instead, some other force took command, driving the White Walkers to subjugate all living beings. Much like a natural process, a means by which nature sought to restore balance and peace in the world.
The involvement of the Old Gods in these events remains unspecified, their existence and actions shrouded in mystery. It raises questions about whether they have been forgotten over time, or if they intentionally obscured their presence. Much like the White Walkers, the Shadow Others or the Great Others of Fire, or the transformation of Nissa Nissa into another Ice Other—all of these phenomena may have a connection to the Old Gods. However, as of now, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.
Throughout the passage of time, numerous races and civilizations have risen and fallen, leaving behind scant evidence. What remains are folklores, tales woven with vague truths, the threads of which unravel through the ages. The enigma surrounding the Fire Others and Ice Others challenges the notion that they alone caused the Long Night. The question lingers: what truly initiated this profound and ancient disruption?
The Night Bringer, the harbinger of the long winter that cast its icy grip upon the known world. Despite the multitude of myths surrounding the Long Night, all pointing to the Great Others and a legendary hero whose tales varied from one culture to another, there lingered an aspect that eluded the grasp of understanding. Perhaps this was due to the lack of knowledge about celestial phenomena, a mystery cloaked in the vastness of the night sky.
Among the tales, there existed another lore known as the Water of Hammer, a mystical event that sundered Westeros and Essos, separating them into distinct continents. According to the legends, the Arm of Dorne collapsed, connecting Essos and Westeros through only a few islands formed by the remnants of the shattered land. The lore suggested that the Children of the Forest enacted dark magic to thwart the migration of the First Men into Westeros. However, in truth, the Children were neither capable nor willing to wield such power that would disrupt the natural order. Moreover, their alleged intervention would have been futile since the First Men had already migrated to Westeros before the occurrence of the Water of Hammer.
So, what was the Water of Hammer, capable of such catastrophic destruction? Was it a tsunami or an earthquake? In reality, it was the fall of a meteorite, a celestial body of immense proportions. This meteorite, resembling another blood-red moon, crashed into the world, causing the collapse of the Arm of Dorne. However, the impact was not confined to a single location; fragments of the meteorite rained down across both the known and unknown world, leaving an enduring mark on the landscape and contributing to the mysteries that veiled the ancient past.