Description

The Cannibal was a wild dragon that lived on Dragonstone during the Dance of the Dragons. The smallfolk of Dragonstone called him the Cannibal because he would practice cannibalism, feasting on dead dragons, newborn dragons, and dragon eggs. He was one of three completely wild dragons dwelling on Dragonstone, along with Sheepstealer and Grey Ghost.

The Cannibal was black as coal, with menacing green eyes. He was the largest and oldest of the wild dragons.

The Cannibal's exact age has not yet been stated. The wild dragon Sheepstealer is said to have hatched when the Old King was young - that is, early in the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. The Cannibal is stated to have been the eldest and largest of the three wild dragons, and was therefore even older than Sheepstealer.

Certain members of the smallfolk residing on Dragonstone have claimed that the Cannibal, a ferocious dragon, had inhabited the island before the Targaryens' arrival in 114 BC. If this were true, it could clarify why the Cannibal was so hostile towards the other Targaryen dragons, possibly indicating that it belonged to a distinct lineage of dragons. Nonetheless, some maesters have expressed skepticism about these assertions. Furthermore, to be valid, the Cannibal would have to have been born at the very latest around the same time as Balerion, who arrived on Dragonstone in 114 BC. Balerion lived to be at least 208 years old before passing away of old age in 94 AC, implying that by 129 AC, the Cannibal would need to be at least 35 years older than that. Since Balerion is the sole instance of a dragon dying of old age, it is challenging to determine if this was a typical maximum lifespan for dragons.

The Cannibal was notorious for assaulting smaller dragons and made its lair on the eastern side of Dragonmont's rear. Before the Dance of the Dragons, numerous would-be dragontamers attempted to ride the Cannibal, and their remains littered its lair. When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon summoned dragonriders in 129 AC, none of the dragonseeds ventured to tame the wild dragons, including the Cannibal, due to its fearsome reputation - those who did failed to return. However, when Silver Denys tried to subdue Sheepstealer, the dragon removed his arm. As Silver Denys' children attempted to stanch his injury, the Cannibal attacked and drove Sheepstealer away before consuming Silver Denys and his offspring.

The Cannibal was one of the four dragons that survived the Dance of the Dragons, but vanished after the war. In 132 AC, it was said that during the burial at sea of Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Cannibal took wing and flew to salute the deceased. However, Archmaester Gyldayn notes this may be a later embellishment of the story, since the Cannibal would be more likely to eat the corpse than salute it.