The Maester’s Path begins

HBO has launched a creative marketing campaign for Game of Thrones dubbed The Maester’s Path. The first step of this campaign is a box mailed to select critics and bloggers filled with vials, scrolls and a map of the Seven Kingdoms. Click through to read my experience exploring the first link in this chain.

After opening the package that was delivered by a courier in some metallic horseless carriage emblazoned with the word “FedEx” on the side (must be some Qartheen warlock magic), I discover a small box and some correspondence from Oldtown (aka HBO).

The letter reads:

Dear Phil,

In advance of our upcoming series, GAME OF THRONES, we’ve created this unique package to give you an immersive experience of the land of Westeros. Inside the box, you’ll find a flight of original scent experiences that bring the world to life, along with scrolls containing more details of how to begin your sensory journey.

Upon opening the box, one encounters a bevy of vials, scrolls, and other trinkets. There is also a map. Unfolding the parchment, reveals the land of the Seven Kingdoms broken down into regions with the sigils of several of the Great Houses of Westeros.

The sigils for House Stark, Tully, Lannister, Greyjoy, Tyrell and Baratheon are present, drawn over the lands they currently hold. Curiously, the Martells and their land of Dorne are not represented on the map. Clearly this map was drawn shortly after King Robert overthrew the Mad King and the Martell’s Targaryen sympathies made them an enemy of all peace-loving citizens of Westeros. Prince Doran has since come to his senses and sworn fealty to our good King Robert.

Next, one notices the scrolls. Unfurling the largest scroll reveals a document entitled “Being An Accounting of the Great Houses and their Seats.” This document tells of the recent history of Westeros and gives an overview of the Great Houses. Stuff any child should know, but I suppose the maesters of Oldtown must not assume that all who receive this package would be as educated as myself.

Moving on to the vials, one sees they are all labeled with different scents: Crypt, Godswood, Pepper, Grasslands, Campfire, and Khal’s Herd.

This scroll instructs you on what to do with these scents. The document states that one is to mix three scents into an empty vial to get the scent of a region. In my case, three scents (Crypt, Godswood, Pepper) combine to form the aroma of Winterfell, while the other three (Grasslands, Campfire, Khal’s Herd) blend to create the scent of the far-off Dothraki Sea.

In turn, both of the regions represented in the box has their own scroll. These scrolls describe the regions and break down the three scents contained therein.

The scents are strong and not always pleasant (those filthy Dothraki!) but this world is not all sweetwine and roses. A good maester knows that if he wishes to have a long and heavy chain, he must delve into unpleasantries from time to time.

This first step on The Maester’s Path was a good experience. An introductory lesson, though one all young maesters must learn. My hope is that it is only setting the stage for much more to come.

• Published on 02/25/2011 at 10:05 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 6:04 PM CDT