The Tears of Lys is an extremely expensive and rare poison created by the alchemists of Lys. It is almost an ultimate weapon without odor, trace, or residue. When dissolved in a liquid and ingested, it violently eats the stomach and bowels, making it appear like a person fell sick with an illness. Without immediate attention, the poison leads to death. Its properties make it a costly poison and its secrets are unknown to anyone besides the experienced alchemists of Lys.
History
The exact origin of the Tears of Lys is unknown, and some people link it to the Weeping Lady of Lys, a Lyseni goddess whose statue is present in the House of Black and White. The earliest record of the poison used in Westeros was in 54 AC when a maester and many women at Dragonstone died from a mysterious illness.
An investigation began because the disease affected only women, except the maester. The symptoms included a bloody stool, followed by a terrible cramp in the gut. The mystery unraveled when Lord Rego Draz, a Petoshi and the Master of Coin for King Jaehaerys I, realized the symptoms of the disease were similar to the Tears of Lys. Upon further probing, Androw Farman, the culprit, got caught. It got discovered he poisoned the women out of jealousy of his wife, Rhaena Targaryen.
Another instance when the poison appeared in Westeros was in 135 AC. King Aegon III Targaryen was having dinner with his wife Daenaera Velaryon and friend and food taster Gaemon Palehair when Gaemon collapsed. Daenaera also experienced severe stomach pain, and Grand Maester Mukun rushed to the scene. He gave the Queen a powerful laxative which saved her life. However, he was unable to help Gaemon, who died of poisoning.
After Mukun discovered it was the Tears of Lys, the cooks got interrogated and tortured until they falsely confessed to poisoning the apple tarts served. Their testimonies got discarded by Thaddeus Rowan, the Hand of the King. However, he got arrested and later tortured. Under pain, he falsely confessed to plotting with the Lysenni Rogares to kill the King and his wife and replace them with Prince Viserys. His testimony got discarded when evidence showed another person was trying to frame the Rogares.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
After the sudden death of the Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn, King Robert Baratheon travels to Winterfell and asks Lord Eddard Stark to become the new Hand of the King. Jon’s wife, Lysa Arryn, sends her sister Catelyn Stark, a letter stating that her husband got killed by Queen Cersei Lannister with the Tears of Lys.
Ned takes over Lord Arryn’s position and attends a small council meeting requested by Robert. At the meeting, the King tells his advisors about wanting to kill Daenerys Targaryen, the young daughter of former King Aerys II Targaryen. Lord Varys suggests using the Tears of Lys.
A Clash of Kings
After Tyrion Lannister becomes Hand of the King, he sees the Tears of Lys in Grand Maester Pycelle’s chamber. Pycelle confesses that Colemon had been purging Lord Arryn before he died, but he sent him away because he thought Cersei Lannister wanted the Hand of the King dead. However, he swears he had nothing to do with Lord Jon Arryn’s death, stating it must have been Hugh.
A Storm of Swords
After Joffrey Baratheon’s death, Tyrion gets arrested and placed on trial. Maester Pycelle testifies against him, stating he stole some Tears of Lys from him. Later Oberyn Martell fights for Tyrion but gets killed in combat. Meanwhile, Sansa Stark, who escaped from King’s Landing, learns from her aunt Lysa that she slipped the poison into her husband’s wine on Petryr Baelish’s behalf.
A Feast for Crows
When Arya Stark arrives at the House of Black and White, she meets the Kindly Man and Waif. Upon becoming a servant at the temple, the Waif teaches her the properties of the Tears of Lys and other poisons.
Relevance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, the Tears of Lys got used on Lord Jon Arryn. When Sansa and Petyr Baelish arrived at the Eyrie, she revealed that her aunt Lysa used poison to kill her husband so she could be together with Petyr.
Tears of Lys: The Silent Killer
The Tears of Lys is one of the most dangerous poisons in the known world of Ice and Fire. It got used to end enemies, and its creation shows how far people will go to end the lives of others.
FAQs
What is Tears of Lys?
Tears of Lys is a poison that is odorless and tasteless. It is one of the most potent weapons for assassinations, as without getting identified on time, it would kill its victim quickly.
Do the Faceless Men use the Tears of Lys?
Yes. The Faceless Men used killing methods that appeared as accidents. To perform their tasks with pinpoint accuracy, they use poisons like Tears of Lys; this ensures maximum stealth and result.
Was the Tears of Lys used on Joffrey?
No. King Joffrey Baratheon got killed by the Strangler. His poison got administered by Lady Olenna Tyrell, who used Sansa Stark to sneak it in. After Joffrey died, Jaime Lannister got a taster for Tommen I Baratheon to prevent the accident from reoccurring.
What is the Tears of Lys made from?
There is little information on the poison, as its properties are a closely guarded secret. Its ingredients make it colorless and odorless yet powerful, and the only way of saving a victim would be to administer s powerful drug that would flush the entire stomach.