Editing World of A Song of Ice and Fire (section)

=== Eastern Essos ===
====Red Waste {{anchor|The Red Waste}}====
The Red Waste is a great desert-like area in the eastern part of Essos. Not much is known about it, since it was only briefly seen in ''A Clash of Kings'' when [[Daenerys Targaryen]] and her ''khalasar'' crossed it. The only known settlement in the region, Vaes Tolorro, is in ruins.

====Qarth====
First mentioned in ''A Game of Thrones'',{{sfn|''A Game of Thrones''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 234–235}} the city of Qarth has not yet appeared on any maps in the books. However, the HBO ''Viewer's Guide'' world map and the opening titles of the TV series' second season show Qarth located at a strait between the Summer Sea and the Jade Sea in the south-east of Essos.<ref group=S name=hbo_viewersguide_map/> Upon Daenerys' first visit to Qarth in ''A Clash of Kings'', the warlock Pyat Pree describes his city as the center of the world and as a gateway of commerce and culture between the east and west, and the north and south. The reader learns through Daenerys's eyes that the city is surrounded by three graded walls of thirty to fifty feet in height, respectively engraved with portraits of animals, war, and lovemaking. The city's buildings are of many colors, including rose, violet, and [[umber]]. Slender towers rise throughout the city, fountains adorn every square, and thousands of colored birds, blooming trees and flowers fill the city.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys II, pp. 422–426}} The TV adaptation filmed Qarth on the island of [[Lokrum]] near [[Dubrovnik]] and constructed a set at the Dubac quarry in Croatia to double for the gates of Qarth.<ref group=S name=go_hbofilmed/>

The Qartheen are described as "tall pale folk in linen and [[samite]] and tiger fur", with the women wearing gowns that leave one breast bare, while the men sport beaded silk skirts.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys II, pp. 422–426}} Daenerys perceives them as "nothing if not polite".{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 575–577}} Slaves serve their needs.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys II, pp. 422–426}} The Pureborn, descendants of the city's ancient kings and queens, govern Qarth and also command the city's defenses.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 575–577}} Three principal merchant groups battle amongst themselves and against the Pureborn for dominance of the city: the Thirteen, the Ancient Guild of Spicers, and the Tourmaline Brotherhood.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 575–577}} Qarth's warlocks, whose lips are turned blue from a potion called "the shade of the evening", are said to brood over these factions; they are still feared although their power and prestige have waned over the years.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys II, pp. 422–426}}{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 575–577}} Qarth is also home to the Sorrowful Men, a guild of assassins named so for whispering "I am so sorry," before killing their victims.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys III, pp. 575–577}} Daenerys leaves Qarth again at the end of ''A Clash of Kings''.{{sfn|''A Clash of Kings''|loc=Daenerys V, p. 884}}