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How long will it take Samwell to forge his chain?


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47 replies to this topic

#1 Tumnas the Torpid

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 01:42 PM

Or will events force him to abandon that task?  Can we expect Sam to be tied up as an Oldtown/Citadel pov for the forseeable future?  If/When he leaves, will he ever make it back to the Wall?  And what does Jon's fate mean for Sam?

In short, what is going on with Sam?

#2 Ice Turtle

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 01:50 PM

He won't forge it. Maybe he will go with Sarella to Dorne or with "Pate" to Braavos or even unwillingly with Leo to meet Tyrells if Randyl changed his alliance. The most interesting thing would be if NW caused to exist. Than he would need to rethink what to do about his father.

#3 Bright Blue Eyes

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 01:52 PM

I don't know if he will finish it, but the first four or five links should come within his first month in the Citadel. Ravenry, warfare, economics, all links for subjects he is already very educated.in.

#4 James Arryn

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 01:54 PM

View PostBright Blue Eyes, on 24 April 2012 - 01:52 PM, said:

I don't know if he will finish it, but the first four or five links should come within his first month in the Citadel. Ravenry, warfare, economics, all links for subjects he is already very educated.in.

Cool.

Do you know/is there a list about what all the links are for?

For some unknown reason I would be interested.

#5 WinterWarrior

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 01:57 PM

I think he will forge it relatively quickly but I think he will definitely do it. Probably won't see much of Sam in Book 6 (I love this character and will miss him) and then he comes back as a force with his chain in Book 7 and 8 (I am assuming GRRM cannot finish this story in 7 books). Or....he can be active in the story while forging it. But I think he will definitely finish what he went to the Citadel to achieve.

I would not be surprised if the Citadel featured prominently in the next book and Sam's story continues while he is there. With him and Jaqen both there, as well as Sphinx...and Gilly close by....the stage is set for some drama. And I think Gilly will give birth to Sam's bastard son or daughter for real.

#6 Tumnas the Torpid

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:03 PM

With Lord Randyll suddenly a force in King's Landing, I've had a weird inkling that Samwell may end up going to the capital to convince his father (and thus, King Tommen) of the truth of the Others.  It could achieve a major plot development (the Others are finally 'outed') and a major character development (Sam confronts/proves himself to his father) at the same time.

#7 Lyanna Stark

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:08 PM

View PostJames Arryn, on 24 April 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

Cool.

Do you know/is there a list about what all the links are for?

For some unknown reason I would be interested.

I think yes for some, it's listed in the Pate chapter I think? Black Iron is for Ravenry, Valyrian steel is for the mysteries, and the rest I has to look up in the wiki. Some are not confirmed.

View PostTumnas the Torpid, on 24 April 2012 - 02:03 PM, said:

With Lord Randyll suddenly a force in King's Landing, I've had a weird inkling that Samwell may end up going to the capital to convince his father (and thus, King Tommen) of the truth of the Others.  It could achieve a major plot development (the Others are finally 'outed') and a major character development (Sam confronts/proves himself to his father) at the same time.

I just seriously wonder if Randyll Tarly would *ever* listen to Sam. It seems it's almost impossible for Tarly Sr to think any less of his son.

Edited by Lyanna Stark, 24 April 2012 - 02:09 PM.


#8 James Arryn

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:11 PM

View PostLyanna Stark, on 24 April 2012 - 02:08 PM, said:

I think yes for some, it's listed in the Pate chapter I think? Black Iron is for Ravenry, Valyrian steel is for the mysteries, and the rest I has to look up in the wiki. Some are not confirmed.


Thanks!

It had literally just occurred to me that I might be able to look it up myself. Lol. My mind's on low gear today.

#9 ClashOfTheAsh

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:35 PM

i think sam will gain his links very fast!!
  • Black iron (Ravenry)
  • Bronze (Astronomy)
  • Copper (History)
  • Yellow Gold (Economics)
  • Iron (Warcraft)
  • Silver (Medicine and healing)
He should have the above quickly as he would have learned them as a child and he was a good student if nothing else. He is also an avid reader as seen by his work in the walls libary (?).

learned ravenry from Measter Amon.
Warcraft from books and ser Allister/jon.
healing from Amon
History/ecomonics/astromny as a lord son from his maester at horn hill i would assume.
  • Valyrian steel (Magic and the occult)
  • may get this qucikly(longer than the other links though) aswell as he knows of the other/dragons from reading up on them at the wall/in childhood.


#10 James Arryn

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:36 PM

I agree that Sam comes in with a head start in some ways, but people shouldn't go too far. I'd imagine a lot of people who become acolytes do so because they were already bookish/learning oriented.

#11 Lyanna Stark

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:42 PM

View PostJames Arryn, on 24 April 2012 - 02:36 PM, said:

I agree that Sam comes in with a head start in some ways, but people shouldn't go too far. I'd imagine a lot of people who become acolytes do so because they were already bookish/learning oriented.

True. And with everything going down the pan in the South what with Aegon and the Tyrells and possibly the Dornish as well, Sam may very well be our POV in the Reach for other reasons than forging his chain.

*cough* Randyll Tarly will declare for Aegon *cough*

#12 Apple Martini

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:58 PM

While I don't think that it's something you can "speed" your way through (i.e. take shortcuts), I get the impression that how long it takes to forge your chain is entirely dependent on how much effort you're willing to put in, and possibly how much stuff you come in already knowing. Sam could probably pass a few "exams" now, as other people have suggested, like ravenry, healing and possibly warcraft.

ETA: Here's a question. Is there a specific number of links you have to earn? All I can find is that you have to earn enough to form a "chain," but how many could that be? I also see that you can earn multiple links of the same metal.

Edited by Apple Martini, 24 April 2012 - 03:01 PM.


#13 Tumnas the Torpid

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 03:03 PM

Another tantalizing possibility: at one point in AGoT, Sam humorously confesses to a childhood desire to be a wizard.  Now he has fallen in with Marwyn's crowd at the Citadel: perhaps one of very few places in Westeros where such a thing could be achieved.  Was Samwell unintentionally prophetic when he made the above statement?

#14 ManyFacedOne

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 03:14 PM

Well considering we don't know how many links it takes to be a maester, anything is possible. Maybe he'll be a half-maester like Haldon? I definitely expect him to be delving into magic and earning a Valyrian steel link.

View PostTumnas the Torpid, on 24 April 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

Another tantalizing possibility: at one point in AGoT, Sam humorously confesses to a childhood desire to be a wizard.  Now he has fallen in with Marwyn's crowd at the Citadel: perhaps one of very few places in Westeros where such a thing could be achieved.  Was Samwell unintentionally prophetic when he made the above statement?

I think so. Or rather a case of GRRM foreshadowing.

Edited by ManyFacedOne, 24 April 2012 - 03:16 PM.


#15 ClashOfTheAsh

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 03:24 PM

View PostApple Martini, on 24 April 2012 - 02:58 PM, said:


ETA: Here's a question. Is there a specific number of links you have to earn? All I can find is that you have to earn enough to form a "chain," but how many could that be? I also see that you can earn multiple links of the same metal.

i think it depends on the size of your neck!?!? :blushing:

maybe its just enought to be of use to a casle. ie if your just an average maester you will be assigned a small castle that wont need a massive chain or knowledge base.

if your gifted you stay to study as much as possible!!

so Sam will pass as a maester once he has a chain to fit his neck and has learded enough to be of use to Castle Black as a proper Maester!!

just speculation on my part.

#16 Patchface12

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 03:54 PM

If Sam is held up from getting his chain by Euron and his reavers taking Oldtown, I'd say quite a while

#17 SynthFG

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 04:05 PM

I don't see the Iron Men taking oldtown without the Iron Fleet which contains the best of them
I can see them tricking there way inside and a battle in the streets, but would expect the Redwyne fleet to show up at the critical moment,

Sam should also get his Valeryan steel link relatively quickly as he has more practical experience with Wrights and The BrOthers than anyone south of Molestown

#18 Crown

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 04:21 PM

I like to think of Randyl Tarly as Firelord Ozai (Avatar: The Last Airbender).

#19 hombay

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 04:37 PM

He won't forge a chain. If there's one thing I've learnt about this series, it's that if someone plans something or otherwise says what he will do, it won't work out.

#20 James Arryn

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Posted 24 April 2012 - 04:44 PM

View Posthombay, on 24 April 2012 - 04:37 PM, said:

He won't forge a chain. If there's one thing I've learnt about this series, it's that if someone plans something or otherwise says what he will do, it won't work out.

Not entirely true.

Eventually, Joff achieved his goal of having Tyrion sent to the cells to await execution.

Edit: and to quote myself, if people are right about the dragons, Robert Arryn eventually see the bad man fly.

Edited by James Arryn, 24 April 2012 - 04:45 PM.