Stannis wrote the Pink Letter, and/or some Northern lords (TWOW spoiler)

[Illyrio Mo'Parties]

(I'm sure someone else has mentioned this, but the search function ain't working.)

Assuming that the Grand Northern Conspiracy is roughly correct, this theory is that the purpose of the Pink Letter is to bring Jon Snow to Winterfell, possibly with some armed forces in tow which can be joined to the forces at Winterfell.

This means that either:

• Northern lords at Winterfell have written the letter secretly, under Roose Bolton's nose
  
• Northern lords have taken control of Winterfell and seek to crown Jon King in the North
  
• Stannis has taken Winterfell and sent the letter in conjunction with Northern lords
  
• Stannis has taken Winterfell and needs Jon's support against Northern lords
  

TWOW spoiler in support of one of those points:

In Theon's sample chapter, Stannis tells Justin Massey he may hear rumours of Stannis's death. Others have speculated, convincingly in my view, that Stannis aims to infiltrate Winterfell through subterfuge: by faking his death and sending his soldiers in dressed as Freys (Frey forces having been routed at the crofter's village).

This, if true, would put the lie to the assumption oft made that Stannis is too straight to be crafty. I disagree - just because he's strictly honest in person doesn't mean he's not capable of lies as a political or military tactic. Even from the beginning, he's faking a belief in the Red God to strike fear into his enemy's hearts. Why not send Jon Snow a false letter, in order to get a Stark into Winterfell?

[BitsOfBrains]

The best theory I have seen is that Ramsey wrote the Pink Letter before Stannis sprung his trap. It goes something like this.

Ramsey receives a ravengram from his spy maester saying Stannis is dead.

However in fact Stannis and the Manderlys trounce the Freys. A group of men come back with fLight Bringer and a balding head with the face smashed. Ramsey immediately writes a letter to Jon telling him what he thinks has happened, that Stannis is dead and on a spike.

That night when everyone is POD from celebrations the "Freys" (guys wearing dead Frey clothes) and the Manderly men open the gates to the Mannis. Butchery ensues, Mance is let out and Stannis is like, "how the hell are you not burned to death?"

A raven is dispatched to the Wall but of course by then Jon has been shivved.

[Ser Greg of House House]

The best theory I have seen is that Ramsey wrote the Pink Letter before Stannis sprung his trap. It goes something like this.

Ramsey receives a ravengram from his spy maester saying Stannis is dead.

However in fact Stannis and the Manderlys trounce the Freys. A group of men come back with fLight Bringer and a balding head with the face smashed. Ramsey immediately writes a letter to Jon telling him what he thinks has happened, that Stannis is dead and on a spike.

That night when everyone is POD from celebrations the "Freys" (guys wearing dead Frey clothes) and the Manderly men open the gates to the Mannis. Butchery ensues, Mance is let out and Stannis is like, "how the hell are you not burned to death?"

A raven is dispatched to the Wall but of course by then Jon has been shivved.

Not that something along those lines couldn't happen. But wouldn't Ramsay find it weird that no known Frey returned? Also, there are lot of people there, but not that much. People would realize they are fake Freys, if anything by their accents, but actually because they knew the man who went into battle.

[Ser Wun Wun]

I assumed Stannis specifically warned Massey not to take rumors of his death seriously because he was planning something for the upcoming battle...but what you say makes a lot of sense. If he wrote the Pink Letter, then he already knows for sure that there will be rumors around the North that he died, which accounts perfectly for why he warned Massey about it. Can't believe that chapter has been out for years and I never considered this angle to it before. :dunce:

I had been going with Mance as the likely author, but you've convinced me it's probably Stannis.

Also, the show now seems to be pointing towards Shireen dying as a part of Jon's resurrection. Assuming that happens in the books as well, Stannis writing the letter that set those events in motion in the books takes the whole thing up to an 11 on the tragedy scale. Rough. :frown5:

[Ser Joe the Unknighted]

No he didn't, Ramsay did and for the most part he is telling the truth (as far as he knows). He really has caught Mance, he really has skinned and tortured the spear wives, he really think Jon has FArya and Theon, he is correct in thinking Jon has Val and Mel and Shireen and Queen Selyse and Dalla's Son (as far as everyone but Jon and Sam and Gilly know). And Ramsay has a nice letter from the Karstark Maester in the Maesters own hand telling him that the Freys, Manderlys, and Karstark Turncloaks have defeated Stannis and have mounted his head on a pike and have his sword.

Meanwhile an army of Karstarks, Manderlys, and Stannis' men in Frey uniforms is approaching Winterfell with heads on Pikes (it has been pointed out that a head on a Pike is hard to identify from a distance) and they have Stannis' magic sword which shines brightly for everyone to see in the dark and snow. The snow will mask their identities until the gates have been opened. If they can get enough men through to take the gate before they are found out they can take the castle as many of the defenders of the castle hate the Bolton's more than Stannis. Especially if it seems like Stannis has FArya.

There is some info in the letter that Mance can't know and some that Stannis couldn't know. As far as the bastard thing. Ramsay has no issues calling other people Bastard, he just doesn't like anyone calling him Bastard or Snow. Since he hates it he figures Jon would hate it too. He is trying to provoke Jon into doing something stupid.

[Illyrio Mo'Parties]

I assumed Stannis specifically warned Massey not to take rumors of his death seriously because he was planning something for the upcoming battle...but what you say makes a lot of sense. If he wrote the Pink Letter, then he already knows for sure that there will be rumors around the North that he died, which accounts perfectly for why he warned Massey about it. Can't believe that chapter has been out for years and I never considered this angle to it before. :dunce:

I had been going with Mance as the likely author, but you've convinced me it's probably Stannis.

Also, the show now seems to be pointing towards Shireen dying as a part of Jon's resurrection. Assuming that happens in the books as well, Stannis writing the letter that set those events in motion in the books takes the whole thing up to an 11 on the tragedy scale. Rough. :frown5:

Yikes... that would be rough.

Don't feel bad that you didn't guess it. There's almost nothing in the books that I spotted on my own without help from the internet hivemind, this included. I wish I could remember where I read it.

It is ironic that I've convinced you it was Stannis though, because...

The best theory I have seen is that Ramsey wrote the Pink Letter before Stannis sprung his trap. It goes something like this.

[snip]

...now I'm convinced it was Ramsay. Lerl. (Or at least as convinced as I am of anything until the book comes out.)

[Illyrio Mo'Parties]

Not that something along those lines couldn't happen. But wouldn't Ramsay find it weird that no known Frey returned? Also, there are lot of people there, but not that much. People would realize they are fake Freys, if anything by their accents, but actually because they knew the man who went into battle.

Good point. I think Ser Joe the Unknighted dealt with it pretty well upthread, but I'd add that it's also possible that the Manderly forces might return ahead of the Freys, saying the Freys have been left behind to deal with the prisoners, or that they've have fallen behind, being unused to the bad weather: a semi-plausible way to get hostile forces inside Winterfell without having Frey soldiers sitting around the dinner table with northern accents and ill-fitting, bloody clothes.

[three-eyed monkey]

I believe Stannis wrote the pink letter. I wrote an op a couple of years ago citing "evidence" from ASoS, ADwD and the Theon chapter from TWoW, but I can't even get into my content at the moment to copy and paste all the quotes or a link. Until such time as I can, I'll just give a quick summary without citation as I have paper books and it would take too long to type it all out again.

Stannis has the means, i.e. Ravens trained for Castle Black and pink wax from Maester Tybald of the Dreadfort.

Stannis has motive, he repeatedly asks Jon to become Lord of Winterfell so that the North would rally to the son of Eddard Stark for the wars to come.

The letter contains an exact phrase Theon says to Stannis, i.e. I want my bride. I want my Reek. And as you said, Stannis warns Massey about hearing rumours he is dead.

I also believe that "seven days of battle" is a hint that the author is southron.

The main objections were that deception is not in Stannis nature and Stannis thinks Mance has been burned, both of which I refute. Stannis is all about deception, he does not believe in the Red God, or any God for that matter, and he knows Lightbringer is a fake, but he uses them anyway to further his cause. And he knows about the Mance-Rattleshirt switch, (this point even spawned a separate thread).

I should also point out that the letter is part of Stannis' long game. There is no way Jon would get to Winterfell in time for the coming battle against the Boltons and Freys. I think Stannis has plans to smash the Freys, and speculate that he will send a Raven to Winterfell claiming a Frey victory, and get the gates of Winterfell opened by pretending to be returning Freys. If he is victorious against the Boltons he will then need Jon to rally the North to his cause for the march South, unless Davos comes good and produces Rickon. As I say, I think that's his plan but it might not pan out as such, and knowing GRRM, it probably won't.

I'll get back with all the quotes once the search is back up.

[Slender Aimry Hill]

I just wonder about Stannis's astonishing powers of imagination and ventriloquism regarding Ramsay if so!

Could Theon have more or less dictated the letter?

[Ser Greg of House House]

I believe Stannis wrote the pink letter. I wrote an op a couple of years ago citing "evidence" from ASoS, ADwD and the Theon chapter from TWoW, but I can't even get into my content at the moment to copy and paste all the quotes or a link. Until such time as I can, I'll just give a quick summary without citation as I have paper books and it would take too long to type it all out again.

I believe this is it: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/89829-stannis-wrote-the-pink-letter-updated/

Google is a good alternative to the regular search. asoiaf + "nickname" + key words usually gets it done :)

[Illyrio Mo'Parties]

Slender Aimry Hill:

Oh, I assume Stannis made use of Theon, Maester Tybald, and anybody else with relevant knowledge when drafting the letter.

three-eyed monkey:

Thanks! I look forward to seeing your thread (which should be in a month or so: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/113674-board-issues-4/page-23).I'm especially interested in the idea that Stannis knows Lightbringer is fake, and that Mance is still alive. ---- EDIT: apparently I won't have to wait a month, thanks Ser Greg of House House!

I should mention, I don't think Stannis wants Jon to help out at the Battle of Winterfell - it'll all be over by the time Stannis sends his letter. I do think he hopes that Jon might bring some forces south, particularly the wildlings, but these are just to add to Stannis's army, to be disposed of as Stannis sees fit. He needs all the men he can get.

[hallam]

Probably two different causes. Seems likely Stannis wrote the letter. But telling people not to be surprised at his apparent death sounds like something Mel has seen in her fires.

Mel's prophecies have always seemed more likely to be true of Jon. So much for prophecy. Hope Jon makes an Azor Ahai sword baby with her as soon as possible.

[-Stephanie-]

A lot of what's mentioned in the letter really doesn't sound like anything Ramsay would say, in my opinion, and I've always felt like somebody other than him was responsible. I think maybe "seven days of battle" is pretty telling even beyond seven being a sacred number for southron lords - taking an entire week to overcome your foe seemingly implies a very evenly-matched and hard fought encounter, and if Ramsay was really the author I feel like he would just say "yeah I kicked your king's ass" without time restraints in an attempt to boost his own ego. On the other hand, Stannis' ego might compell him to pretend that he was defeated, but that said defeat totally took a week, he swears.

I think it's also pretty interesting that Stannis is never mentioned by name - he's always "the false king". Not sure what significance that could hold, though.

[aryagonnakill#2]

Ser Greg, There are a lot of Frey men, but only a few Freys, and they are led by someone known as Ser Stupid. Would you really find it that hard to believe that someone you called Ser Stupid had died in a battle? Lords wouldn't recognize Frey men, just the Freys themselves, so only like 3 or 4 people need to be dead for the plan to work.

[Ser Greg of House House]

Ser Greg, There are a lot of Frey men, but only a few Freys, and they are led by someone known as Ser Stupid. Would you really find it that hard to believe that someone you called Ser Stupid had died in a battle? Lords wouldn't recognize Frey men, just the Freys themselves, so only like 3 or 4 people need to be dead for the plan to work.

Yes, I was using "freys" for all Frey men. Though you're right Lords wouldn't recognize every single lowly soldier, I doubt they would only recongize 3 or 4 people. They would probably recognize dozens. Also, other people could realize suddenly all Frey men were different and alert their masters. These people are living there together, they surely know each other, fuck each other, eat with each other etc.

I can see them opening the gates. But I can't see northerners living there disguised as Frey men for more than 10 minutes before someone realizes there's something wrong.

[three-eyed monkey]

I believe this is it: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/89829-stannis-wrote-the-pink-letter-updated/

Google is a good alternative to the regular search. asoiaf + "nickname" + key words usually gets it done :)

Thanks Ser Greg. Forgot about Google. Cheers.

[aryagonnakill#2]

Ser Greg, perhaps that's a more reasonable scenario, but all they really need is to be inside the gates anyway.

[ThePosterThatWasPromised]

Your false king is dead, bastard. He and all his host were smashed in seven days of battle. I have his magic sword. Tell his red whore.

Your false king's friends are dead. Their heads upon the walls of Winterfell. Come see them, bastard. Your false king lied, and so did you. You told the world you burned the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Instead you sent him to Winterfell to steal my bride from me.

I will have my bride back. If you want Mance Rayder back, come and get him. I have him in a cage for all the north to see, proof of your lies. The cage is cold, but I have made him a warm cloak from the skins of the six whores who came with him to Winterfell.

I want my bride back. I want the false king's queen. I want his daughter and his red witch. I want this wildling princess. I want his little prince, the wildling babe. And I want my Reek. Send them to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your black crows. Keep them from me, and I will cut out your bastard's heart and eat it.

Ramsay Bolton, Trueborn Lord of Winterfell.

I guess Ramsay is a sadistic piece of shit, but why does he want Selyse? Melisandre? Aemon Steelsong? fArya maybe. How does he even know Val exists? Even by torturing Mance, there isn't a bit of info I could think of that would involve her. The only useful person he could want is Shireen, who is obviously the rightful queen. She'd be the most important for any of the potential authors.

How does Ramsay know what the Wildlings call the Watch? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a single non-free-folk ever used that term.

Ramsay's putting heads up on the wall of Winterfell? Seems to me like it's not his style.

Why's it pink? He's writing from Winterfell. It should be white. Seems to me like someone is trying to frame Ramsay.

I can't really pinpoint who exactly I think it is, but I'd put good money it's not Ramsay. Stannis seems like a good bet, but the sloppy use of pink paper seems like it might also be Mance.

[Ser Greg of House House]

I guess Ramsay is a sadistic piece of shit, but why does he want Selyse? Melisandre? Aemon Steelsong? fArya maybe. How does he even know Val exists? Even by torturing Mance, there isn't a bit of info I could think of that would involve her. The only useful person he could want is Shireen, who is obviously the rightful queen. She'd be the most important for any of the potential authors.

Hostages. Stannis is a King. He's reading the wildlings in terms of nobility. So he wants hostages from both major forces.

[Drazule]

Why would Stannis need to lie? If he really wanted Jon Snow around, couldn't he be like

"Hey Jon, we won Winterfel. Can you safely escort my wife, daughter, and Melisandre to the keep. I know you know the way and to be honest, there are a lot of rapists at the wall so I would insist that you personally escort them here. Its a warzone so bring men, and watch out for Bolton Supporters!!!"