Marwyn's hidden agenda

[Knight of the Teabags]

You can deny Doran's involvement all you want, but doing so undermines the literature to a degree. How else do you explain the actions of the BCs? Do you admit that most of what they've done has been directed and harmed house Lannister?

At the beginning of AFFC Doran has already sent Quentyn to treat with Dany. Marwyn decides to go to Dany right at the end of AFFC based largely on the information that Sam gives him from Aermon. Marwyn also doesn't pop up once to aid Quentyn & Co in their adventures in ADwD. In short on what evidence we are given absolutely nothing to do with Doran.

The sole 'evidence' that Doran is in league with Marwyn is the presence of Alleras/Sarella in his company. We can likewise conclude that Mace Tyrell and Randyll Tarly are also conspiring with Marwyn based on the presence of respectively 'Lazy' Leo Tyrell and Samwell Tarly in Marwyn's company.

[bemused]

The actions of the BCs have been explained many times by many posters... They're vicious, immoral, sadistic killers sought out and hired by Tywin to go along with his two other companies of vicious, immoral, sadistic killers ... because he likes to use that kind of tool , those kind of tactics.

There's no evidence Doran does.

Most of what the BCs have done ... has mostly harmed the people , although it's also harmed the houses Tywin intended to harm. That it all went on beyond his control , or that he died and no-one else could control them, are Tywin's unintended consequences .. not Doran's intended ones.

Not all dots are meant to be connected , but I think this theory goes even farther than that. The theorist has to add dots of his own invention to make the picture he wants.

[Ser Elvin of Clymer]

As for Marwyn working with the Martell's:

- In Areo's POV Doran mentions Sarella, when he is discussing imprisoning the sand snakes, he states she is out of reach and playing "her" games in Oldtown.

This doesn't necessarily imply knowledge of what her games are, and could be viewed as a description of her personality or her attempts at becoming a maester and being female rather than on a mission. It does not seem that any sand snakes were actually in Doran's confidence and his long game needed (and was treated) with secrecy.

Maybe Sarella's connections with Marwyn related to Oberyn's plans, not Doran's, and perhaps Oberyn knew Marwyn himself when he dabbled as a maester.

- Marwyn's interest in magic is very clear: from the books he writes, the traveling he does and his connection with Mirri and Frankynbyrn. These are expressed carefully throughout the novels, but they offer perspectives from multiple sources and also a timeline of consistently searching to understand magic. I think he is what he seems and Sam/Aemon initiating his journey, in a sense, confirms a certain positive roll he will play and is working independently.

I do believe his Mirri connection will bite him in the ass at some point. But I think Marwyn's connections with the negative characters is meant to create subtlety, his interests actually leading him to open mindedness towards these darker explorations of magic. Also, Mirri was not necessarily evil, but was transformed by the raping/sacking. Her knowledge of blood magic seemed more voodoo healer-ish, not witch or warlock, a member of her town, spiritual etc.