Valyria reminds me of Michael Moorcock's Melnibone, Both societies were conquerors who rode dragons, both hail from an island nation, both are regarded with a certain degree of superstitious dread by the other kingdoms of humanity. Similarly, when I read about the Brazen Beasts, I was immediately reminded of the Empire of Granbretan from Moorcock's Hawkmoon novels. Both groups wear beast masks.