Greyjoy Appreciation Thread

[The Imperator]

So what's not to like about the Greyjoys? Their viking pirates with a Cthulhu-like religion. Mr. Martin has given these fuckers a lot of time in his books, primarily in the fourth and fifth book, which is viewed by many as a set-up for what's to come. What happens in that Aeron chapter that GRRM teased a while back? What is Euron's "Smiling Eye"? Can Victarion get anymore badass than he already is? Even with everything we've learned about them so far, we really don't know a lot about these people. They currently have as many POVs as their fellow badasses on the Stark family, so they're definitely a family to pay attention to.

Especially when you have awesome scenes like this:

Ser Talbert cast away his broken shield and slashed down with his longsword. Victarion's own shield had twisted half around when he stumbled. He caught Serry's blade in an iron fist. Lobstered steel crunched, and a stab of pain made him grunt, yet Victarion held on. "I am quick as well, boy," he said as he ripped the sword from the knight's hand and flung it into the sea.

Ser Talbert's eyes went wide. "My sword..."

Victarion caught the lad about the throat with a bloody fist. "Go and get it," he said, forcing him backwards over the side into the bloodstained waters.

And this:

A great cry went up at his words. The captain answered with a nod, grim-faced, then called for the seven girls he had claimed to be brought on deck, the loveliest of all those found aboard the Willing Maiden. He kissed them each upon the cheeks and told them of the honor that awaited them, though they did not understand his words. Then he had them put aboard the fishing ketch that they had captured, cut her loose, and had her set afire.

"With this gift of innocence and beauty, we honor both the gods," he proclaimed, as the warships of the Iron Fleet rowed past the burning ketch. "Let these girls be reborn in light, undefiled by mortal lust, or let them descend to the Drowned God's watery halls, to feast and dance and laugh until the seas dry up."

Near the end, before the smoking ketch was swallowed by the sea, the cries of the seven sweetlings changed to joyous song, it seemed to Victarion Greyjoy. A great wind came up then, a wind that filled their sails and swept them north and east and north again, toward Meereen and its pyramids of many-clored bricks. On wings of song I fly to you, Daenerys, the iron captain thought.

Or when Theon steals Ramsay's girl:

The fury on Holly's face turned to horror. "Oh, fuck me bloody. The rope." She gave a hysterical laugh. "Frenya has the rope." Then she grunted and grabbed her stomach. A quarrel had sprouted from her gut. When she wrapped a hand around it, blood leaked through her fingers. "Kneelers on the inner wall..." she gasped, before a second shaft appeared between her breasts. Holly grabbed for the nearest merlon and fell. The snow that she'd knocked loose buried her with a soft thump.

Shouts rang out from their left. Jeyne Poole was staring down at Holly as the snowy blanket over her turned from white to red. On the inner wall the crossbowman would be reloading, Theon knew. He started right, but there were men coming from taht direction too, racing toward them with swords in hand. Far off to the north he heard a warhorn sound. Stannis, he thought wildly. Stannis is our only hope, if we can reach him. The wind was howling, and he and the girl were trapped.

The crossbow snapped. A bolt passed within a foot of him, shattering the crust of frozen snow that had plugged the closest crenel. Of Abel, Rowan, Squirrel, and the others there was no sign. He and the girl were alone. If they take us alive, they will deliver us to Ramsay.

Theon grabbed Jeyne about the waist and jumped.

Aaaaaannnnd the Kingsmoot:

But others were holding their tongues, or muttering asides to their neighbors. "No craven's peace!" Ralf the Limper roared. Red Ralf Stonehouse swirled the Greyjoy banner and bellowed, "Victarion! VICTARION! VICTARION!" Men began to shove at one another. Someone flung a pinecone at Asha's head. When she ducked, her makeshift crown fell off. For a moment it seemed to the priest as if he stood atop a giant anthill, with a thousand ants in a boil at his feet. Shouts of "Asha!" and "Victarion!" surged back and forth , and it seemed as though some savage storm was about to engulf them all. The Storm God is amongst us, the priest thought, sowing fury and discord.

Sharp as a swordthrust, the sound of a horn split the air.

Bright and baneful was its voice, a shivering hot scream that made a man's bones seem to thrum within him. The cry lingered in the damp sea air: aaaaaRREEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

All eyes turned toward the sound. It was one of Euron's mongrels winding the call, a monstrous man with a shaved head. Rings of gold and jade and jet glistened on his arms, and on his broad chest was tattooed some bird of prey, talons dripping blood.

aaaaRRREEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The horn he blew was shiny black and twisted, and taller than a man as he held it with both hands. It was bound about with bands of red gold and dark steel, incised with ancient Valyrian glyphs that seemed to glow redly as the sound swelled.

aaaaaaaRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It was a terrible sound, a wail of pain and fury that seemed to burn the ears. Aeron Damphair covered his, and prayed for the Drowned God to raise a mighty wave and smash the horn to silence, yet still the shriek went on and on. It is the horn of hell, he wanted to scream, though no man would have heard him. The cheeks of the tattooed man were so puffed out they looked about to burst, and the muscles in his chest twitched in a way that it made it seem as if the bird were about to rip free of his flesh and take wing. And now the glyphs were burning brightly, every line and letter shimmering with white fire. On and on and on the sound went, echoing amongst the howling hills behind them and across the waters of Nagga's Cradle to ring against the mountains of Great Wyk, on and on and on until it filled the whole wet world.

And when it seemed the sound would never end, it did.

The hornblower's breath failed at last. He staggered and almost fell. The priest saw Orkwood of Orkmont catch him by one arm to hold him up, whilst Left-Hand Lucas Codd took the twisted black horn from his hands. A thin wisp of smoke was rising from the horn, and the priest saw blood and blisters upon the lips of the man who'd sounded it. The bird on his chest was bleeding too.

Euron Greyjoy climbed the hill slowly, with every eye upon him. Above the gull screamed and screamed again. No godless man may sit the Seastone Chair, Aeron thought, but he knew that he must let his brother speak. His lips moved silently in prayer.

Asha's champions stepped aside and Victarion's as well. The priest took a step backward and put on hand upon the cold rough stone of Nagga's ribs. The Crow's Eye stopped atop the steps, at the doors of the Grey King's Hall, and turned his smiling eye upon the captains and the kings, but Aeron could feel his other eye as well, the one that he kept hidden.

"IRONMEN," said Euron Greyjoy, "you have heard my horn. Now hear my words. I am Balon's brother, Quellon's eldest living son. Lord Vickon's blood is in my veins, and the blood of the Old Kraken. Yet I have sailed farther than any of them. Only one living kraken has never known defeat. Only one has never bent his knee. Only one has sailed to Asshai by the Shadow, and seen wonders and terrors beyond imagining..."

"If you liked the Shadow so well, go back there," called out pink-cheeked Quarl the Maid, one of Asha's champions.

The Crow's Eye ignored him. "My little brother would finish Balon's war, and claim the north. My sweet niece would give us peace and pinecones." His blue lips twisted in a smile. "Asha prefers victory to defeat. Victarion wants a kingdom, not a few scant yards of earth. From me, you shall have both."

"Crow's Eye, you call me. Well, who has a keener eye than the crow? After every battle the crows come in their hundreds and their thousands to feast upon the fallen. A crow can espy death from afar. And I say that all of Westeros is dying. Those who follow me will feast until the end of their days.

"We are the iron born, and once we were conquerors. Our writ ran everywhere the sound of the waves was heard. My brother would have you be content with the cold and dismal north, my niece with even less... but I shall give you Lannisport. Highgarden. The Arbor. Oldtown. The river lands and the Reach, the kingswood and the rain wood, Dorne and the marches, the Mountains of the Moon and the Vale of Arryn, Tarth and the Stepstones. I say we take it all! I say, we take Westeros." He glanced at the priest. "All for the greater glory of our Drowned God, to be sure."

Make no mistake: the Greyjoys are some pretty badass mofos.

[Wmarshal]

Like some, Vic brought the action, but i think the Harlaws just need to take over, a cool head makes a better ruler.

[Lopsang]

What? Are you crazy? The Ironborn are lying, scheming killers with no compassion and a lust for bloodshed.

Victarion is cool and masculine, but don't let that trick you into liking him. He hates peaceful people who don't want to fight and rapes the dusky woman nightly in his cabin. He's ambitious and wouldn't flinch at a lot of killing if it meant he could get his way or somehow impede the Crow's Eye.

Do you really like Theon? That's got to be sarcasm. Theon is a butchering villain who nearly killed the child of Rodrick Cassel, the innocent daughter of a man he grew up with and who taught him things about life. Both of their frozen bodies are feasting grounds for graveworms now with all the rest of the people of Winterfell like Old Nan, Maester Luwin, and almost Bran and Rickon because of the things he did. He thinks he's great and that everybody else is below him. He treats women like objects and doesn't mind turning against the people who were effectively his family for personal gain. He might have a saving grace if his experiences with the Boltons humble him down enough, and he seems to express some regret at betraying Robb, but it's not the foremost thing on his mind and when he gets delivered to Stannis it seems like he goes back to his old self.

Imagine what would have happened if the Ironborn never invaded the North and if Winterfell never fell. RObb may have been way more successful in his campaigns. Maybe Catelyn wouldn't have freed Jaime. Gosh, imagine all the things that could have happened. Theon sucks.

[The Second To Last Dragon]

how could someone not fuckin love the greyjoys?

with the exception of theon, they all emulate badassery. sure, they don't play well with others. yeah, their views are crazy. and of course, they are total dicks. but they are honorable in their own twisted way.

[The Imperator]

What? Are you crazy? The Ironborn are lying, scheming killers with no compassion and a lust for bloodshed.

Victarion is cool and masculine, but don't let that trick you into liking him. He hates peaceful people who don't want to fight and rapes the dusky woman nightly in his cabin. He's ambitious and wouldn't flinch at a lot of killing if it meant he could get his way or somehow impede the Crow's Eye.

Do you really like Theon? That's got to be sarcasm. Theon is a butchering villain who nearly killed the child of Rodrick Cassel, the innocent daughter of a man he grew up with and who taught him things about life. Both of their frozen bodies are feasting grounds for graveworms now with all the rest of the people of Winterfell like Old Nan, Maester Luwin, and almost Bran and Rickon because of the things he did. He thinks he's great and that everybody else is below him. He treats women like objects and doesn't mind turning against the people who were effectively his family for personal gain. He might have a saving grace if his experiences with the Boltons humble him down enough, and he seems to express some regret at betraying Robb, but it's not the foremost thing on his mind and when he gets delivered to Stannis it seems like he goes back to his old self.

Imagine what would have happened if the Ironborn never invaded the North and if Winterfell never fell. RObb may have been way more successful in his campaigns. Maybe Catelyn wouldn't have freed Jaime. Gosh, imagine all the things that could have happened. Theon sucks.

The Ironborn are some of the best characters in A Song of Ice and Fire. There is almost never a dull moment with these guys. Even one of Aeron's chapters took place during the Kingsmoot, one of the best scenes in the entire series.

Also, thanks for brining up Theon Greyjoy, my favorite character in the entire series.

[Good Guy Garlan]

My second favorite House after the Tyrells.

I love Theon, Asha, Euron, and the Reader. I like Vic, and hate the Damphair and Balon.

And the kingsmoot truly is one of the best scenes of the series.

[The Second To Last Dragon]

Both of their frozen bodies are feasting grounds for graveworms now with all the rest of the people of Winterfell like Old Nan, Maester Luwin, and almost Bran and Rickon because of the things he did.

old nans death is never confirmed.

[Lopsang]

how could someone not fuckin love the greyjoys?

with the exception of theon, they all emulate badassery. sure, they don't play well with others. yeah, their views are crazy. and of course, they are total dicks. but they are honorable in their own twisted way.

Are they? What honour is that? To what or whom to they honour? Killing and death and destruction? I mean, what are their redeeming qualities? For goodness' sake, their motto is "We Do Not Sow". How is that a good thing? They live off the belongings of others. They thrive on pillage, warfare, and thievery. They have no problem with killing people to get their way! They are self-serving and blind to the greater good. I don't see how they are honourable at all. Maybe if by honourable you mean they honour Satan.

[Sullen]

What? Are you crazy? The Ironborn are lying, scheming killers with no compassion and a lust for bloodshed.

The Ironborn don't really have a tendency to lie, they're rather "IN YOUR FACE" about everything, and they certainly do have compassion for their fellow Ironborn.

Victarion is cool and masculine, but don't let that trick you into liking him. He hates peaceful people who don't want to fight and rapes the dusky woman nightly in his cabin. He's ambitious and wouldn't flinch at a lot of killing if it meant he could get his way or somehow impede the Crow's Eye.

Vic is the very antithesis of ambitious, he refuses to claim the Seastone Chair over Euron of all people until his crew convinces him to do so, and was perfectly content with serving Balon and his sons. He is fuelled by his desire to get his revenge on Euron though.

Do you really like Theon? That's got to be sarcasm. Theon is a butchering villain who nearly killed the child of Rodrick Cassel, the innocent daughter of a man he grew up with and who taught him things about life. Both of their frozen bodies are feasting grounds for graveworms now with all the rest of the people of Winterfell like Old Nan, Maester Luwin, and almost Bran and Rickon because of the things he did. He thinks he's great and that everybody else is below him. He treats women like objects and doesn't mind turning against the people who were effectively his family for personal gain. He might have a saving grace if his experiences with the Boltons humble him down enough, and he seems to express some regret at betraying Robb, but it's not the foremost thing on his mind and when he gets delivered to Stannis it seems like he goes back to his old self.

Theon is the best character in ASoIaF, easily. He's extremely well-written, and even acts like using Beth as a hostage have valid reasons behind them (He was used in a similar way by Eddard after all, so why couldn't Beth?). He did not kill Luwin, Old Nan, and was generally pretty benevolent to the people of Winterfell, he wanted their love and approval almost as much as he wanted it from the part of his fellow Ironborn.

[Lopsang]

Good lord. There are quite a lot of you. I definitely agree with you guys that their chapters are never dull and they are "cool", sure. But there really aren't many chapters that ARE dull in the book, and the Greyjoys are simply not people you would like in real life. Perhaps you guys are not judging them by real-life standards, and if that is the case, sure, I can why you would like them. But at least during the sack of Winterfell by Theon, your blood should have been curdling in its veins. You should have been sick to your stomachs about the malice and treachery of Theon. He certainly hasn't redeemed himself yet. Maybe he can do something saintlike and regain some dignity but I will never "like" him.

[Boarsbane]

Dagon Greyjoy sounds like he could cause some trouble, but the Greyjoys just don't measure up to their predecessors, the Hoares. They were about more than petty raiding, they were conquerors. Balon tried but it was just never going to happen with a somewhat united Westeros.

[Boarsbane]

Good lord. There are quite a lot of you. I definitely agree with you guys that their chapters are never dull and they are "cool", sure. But there really aren't many chapters that ARE dull in the book, and the Greyjoys are simply not people you would like in real life. Perhaps you guys are not judging them by real-life standards, and if that is the case, sure, I can why you would like them. But at least during the sack of Winterfell by Theon, your blood should have been curdling in its veins. You should have been sick to your stomachs about the malice and treachery of Theon. He certainly hasn't redeemed himself yet. Maybe he can do something saintlike and regain some dignity but I will never "like" him.

Theon didn't sack Winterfell, Ramsay(a Northman) did

[Good Guy Garlan]

Are they? What honour is that? To what or whom to they honour? Killing and death and destruction? I mean, what are their redeeming qualities? For goodness' sake, their motto is "We Do Not Sow". How is that a good thing? They live off the belongings of others. They thrive on pillage, warfare, and thievery. They have no problem with killing people to get their way! They are self-serving and blind to the greater good. I don't see how they are honourable at all. Maybe if by honourable you mean they honour Satan.

No, they honor Cthulhu, which is insanely awesome.

But to answer some of your points, it's clear that the Greyjoy ideology as we know it is coming to an end. Asha and the Reader realized the futility of the Old Way and were actively seeking allies to fight the Iron Throne. Theon likely falls too in these new category because he never really supported the Old Way.

The Damphair and Vic are most likely going to die carrying every bit of the Old Way ideology in their veins, and Euron is as entertaining a villain as they come. I don't think people are pretending these last three (and Balon) are heroes or "good" characters

[Lopsang]

The Ironborn don't really have a tendency to lie, they're rather "IN YOUR FACE" about everything, and they certainly do have compassion for their fellow Ironborn.

Vic is the very antithesis of ambitious, he refuses to claim the Seastone Chair over Euron of all people until his crew convinces him to do so, and was perfectly content with serving Balon and his sons. He is fuelled by his desire to get his revenge on Euron though.

Theon is the best character in ASoIaF, easily. He's extremely well-written, and even acts like using Beth as a hostage have valid reasons behind them (He was used in a similar way by Eddard after all, so why couldn't Beth?). He did not kill Luwin, Old Nan, and was generally pretty benevolent to the people of Winterfell, he wanted their love and approval almost as much as he wanted it from the part of his fellow Ironborn.

Good Lord! He was "pretty benevolent"? Wow, I seriously wonder what your standards for this are! He was brutal! Would YOU be comfortable if that guy invaded your town like that and ruled over you like Theon ruled over Winterfell? Would you really call him benevolent? He's an absolute villain, through and through. Nobody is wholly evil, but Theon gets real close there. He doesn't personally kill those people, no, but he completely enables their deaths.

And if you are defending his use Beth, I really implore you to search deeply within yourself for any morals you might have left around. Just kidding, I am not trying to attack you, but it was profoundly sad when he revealed Beth on the noose to Rodrick. Especially during a parley! Imagine being Rodrick at that moment. I would cough my heart out. Imagine if you were Beth. Imagine being Bran or Rickon.

[John Doe]

Shouln't the thread be called "Ironborn appreciation thread"? But regardess of that, the IB/GJ are pretty cool.

Asha is overrated, though.

[Ramsay Gimp]

Imagine what would have happened if the Ironborn never invaded the North and if Winterfell never fell. RObb may have been way more successful in his campaigns. Maybe Catelyn wouldn't have freed Jaime. Gosh, imagine all the things that could have happened.

So? That would have been much lamer than what did happen. Not everyone reads the books rooting for Robb

Good lord. There are quite a lot of you. I definitely agree with you guys that their chapters are never dull and they are "cool", sure. But there really aren't many chapters that ARE dull in the book, and the Greyjoys are simply not people you would like in real life. Perhaps you guys are not judging them by real-life standards, and if that is the case, sure, I can why you would like them. But at least during the sack of Winterfell by Theon, your blood should have been curdling in its veins. You should have been sick to your stomachs about the malice and treachery of Theon. He certainly hasn't redeemed himself yet. Maybe he can do something saintlike and regain some dignity but I will never "like" him.

-What does "real life" have to do with anything? I wouldn't like Genghis Khan in real life either, doesn't stop him from being a fascinating person to read about

[Lopsang]

No, they honor Cthulhu, which is insanely awesome.

But to answer some of your points, it's clear that the Greyjoy ideology as we know it is coming to an end. Asha and the Reader realized the futility of the Old Way and were actively seeking allies to fight the Iron Throne. Theon likely falls too in these new category because he never really supported the Old Way.

The Damphair and Vic are most likely going to die carrying every bit of the Old Way ideology in their veins, and Euron is as entertaining a villain as they come. I don't think people are pretending these last three (and Balon) are heroes or "good" characters

People on this thread have directly praised and defended both Vic and Theon.

While you mention it though, the Old Way is also immensely terrible. The whole "iron price" thing and the social stigma that comes with some honest trade and understanding is deplorable. Not only is killing acceptable in this society, but it is pushed and promoted.

[Lopsang]

So? That would have been much lamer than what did happen. Not everyone reads the books rooting for Robb

-What does "real life" have to do with anything? I wouldn't like Genghis Khan in real life either, doesn't stop him from being a fascinating person to read about

Oh, I know. I am not criticizing the literature nor denying the interesting and awesome twists that the Greyjoys make in the book. But, as people, they are deplorable. Robb was a pretty decent guy (not perfect but better than most), and I suppose I could understand if you weren't necessarily rooting for him, but it's hard to imagine rooting AGAINST him and instead rooting for the Greyjoys or Lannisters or something.

[Ramsay Gimp]

Asha is overrated, though.

Agreed. Helps humiliate Theon upon his return for no reason at all (except that she probably sees him as a threat), was fine with letting her daddy invade the North even though it would have probably meant her little brother's death, and then acts like the "peace candidate" at the Kingsmoot and steals her brother's idea of a Northern alliance!

[Sullen]

Good Lord! He was "pretty benevolent"? Wow, I seriously wonder what your standards for this are! He was brutal! Would YOU be comfortable if that guy invaded your town like that and ruled over you like Theon ruled over Winterfell? Would you really call him benevolent? He's an absolute villain, through and through. Nobody is wholly evil, but Theon gets real close there. He doesn't personally kill those people, no, but he completely enables their deaths.

And if you are defending his use Beth, I really implore you to search deeply within yourself for any morals you might have left around. Just kidding, I am not trying to attack you, but it was profoundly sad when he revealed Beth on the noose to Rodrick. Especially during a parley! Imagine being Rodrick at that moment. I would cough my heart out. Imagine if you were Beth. Imagine being Bran or Rickon.

Theon enforces a semblance of justice once he captures Winterfell, he punishes rapists for instance, something that is bound to make him lose a ton of Ironborn cred. He's invader, and as far as invaders come, he was pretty alright with them until his paranoia kicked in.

As for Beth, I assume you think Eddard is an extremely evil man as well, then?