44 replies to this topic

[Lady Hodor]

Of course here I am referring to dear Ser Bronn and his simple wife Lollys Stokeworth.
In A Feast For Crows, their story developed into something really quite interesting.

Bronn challenged the crazy Queen Cersei by naming Lollys' bastard son Tyrion.
He gathers his own set of "knights" for the household and takes the position of command.
He killed Falyse's husband in single combat without a care, and may have killed Lady Tanda too.
After Falyse was taken by Qyburn, Lollys is heir, making her husband Bronn Lord of Stokeworth.
Not bad for a common sellsword.

So where is his story going do you think? Why make Bronn into someone so badass and now powerful?
What potential does he have in this intricate game of thrones?

[greywindsrage]

I've been trying to figure out the same thing.

[Alric Stark]

I think Bronn's story is done. He was there to show even a common sellsword, if he plays his cards right can elevate to a position of power. I can't see why he would put himself at risk. He had title, lands, power he is smart enough to know he has risen as high as he could possibly ave hoped for. Likely he sits back and enjoys the spoils of his victories.

Maybe he sires his own son with Lollys then something happens to Lollys and Tyrion makig him "Lord Protector until his heir comes of age, but even that might be too ambitions, and dark even for Bronn.

[jarl the climber]

It's not clear that Bronn is responsible for naming Lollys son. Initially Lady Tanda asked Cersei if she could name the child Tywin and when Cersei angrily refused, it was Balman who agreed that it was foolish suggestion and that they would find a better name for the child. It might have been Balman who arranged Lady Tandas accident. Falsye is the heir but she has no children. Lollys marriage means that her children from Bronn will inherit from Falseye. Balman may have had other plans. He was fond of virgins perhaps he had a bastard he wanted to pass it onto. They were also trying to press their claim to Rosby with Cersei. Cersei noted that they had expensive tastes.

[Pellaeon]

Stokeworth is near by KL and mybe Bronn get a part whenTyrion comes back to westeros

[Thallus]

Alric Stark, on 15 May 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

I think Bronn's story is done. He was there to show even a common sellsword, if he plays his cards right can elevate to a position of power. I can't see why he would put himself at risk. He had title, lands, power he is smart enough to know he has risen as high as he could possibly ave hoped for. Likely he sits back and enjoys the spoils of his victories.

I'd say that the story of Bronn is more of a deconstruction of the fief-lord/knight that GRRM spends much of the book destroying.. The difference between titled knights/lords and a common mercenary is the blessing of other knights/lords.

Power is 1/3rd having might and 2/3rds knowing/pleasing the right people. Basically Bronn's story is the same as the Clegane brothers'. He's not as vicious, but its the same story.

Edited by Thallus, 15 May 2012 - 02:11 PM.

[Lady Hodor]

@ Jarl

What does Balman have against the Stokeworths? Bronn's motive is power and wanting to keep it, but what of him?

[Brienne the Beauty]

Alric Stark, on 15 May 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

Maybe he sires his own son with Lollys then something happens to Lollys and Tyrion makig him "Lord Protector until his heir comes of age, but even that might be too ambitions, and dark even for Bronn.

I do suspect that Lollys's lifespan is measured by how long it is until she gives a couple of healthy sons to Bronn. The main difference between Bronn and Gregor is not that he's a better person, he just doesn't gain any particular pleasure from hurting people. But if his goals are furthered by hurting people, he won't hesitate. When he has secured Stokeworth, Lollys will be an irritant to him, and an impediment to making an even better marriage.

Bastard Tyrion is probably safe though, because Bronn wouldn't gain anything from his death, and Bronn will probably have had him brought up to be a good lackey.

[Alric Stark]

While I don't put it past Bronn to kill Lollys, I think he might just let her live and be content as well. I see him as less Gregor and more Sandor, or at least a midpoint.  As much as he has talked about not having honor he does seem to follow a personal code, and will be ruthless if neccessary, but not just for fun. I could see him being satistfied with life and not need to become or see himself as a player in the game. He finally kight have "enough" to be content.

I fully admit this could also be me humanizing Bronn and casting him in a more "honorable" light because I like the character.

[Stark@heart]

I think Bronn is smart enough to sit tight and wait to see how work out.

He knows Cersei has no love for him because of Tyrion and that she tried to have him killed.  So Stupid on her part.  Tywin bought him off with the knighthood that Tyrion promised and he parlayed that into the Stokeworth marriage. ( Well done Bronn.  It's good to see a common man make good in the GOT, they usually only die.)  Cersie should have left him alone but then she turns around and gets rid of Falsye, which leaves his claim unchallenged.

I think he'll hole up with men loyal to him and get ready for Winter.   Tyrion knows where he is and I think he'll  stop for a visit one day.

[jarl the climber]

Lady Hodor, on 15 May 2012 - 02:38 PM, said:

@ Jarl

What does Balman have against the Stokeworths? Bronn's motive is power and wanting to keep it, but what of him?

Balman is described to us as a great touney knight who's skills are quickly declining. We know that Rosbys ward refused to let them hospitality, we don't why. They did tell Cersei that they had a claim to Rosby and should be his heir. Cersei comments on their expensive drinking habits, she could have hiered a Faceless Man for half of what she spent on Hippocras.

My theory on Balman is that he used to make a decent living as a tourney knight and is now banking on Falsyes inheritance. Bronns marriage to Lollys has thrown that into question. Falsye seems to be barren, Lollys and her children would inherit from Falsye. At first I agreed with Bronn being the antagonist but it doesn't make sense if you really think about it. He was probaly protecting Lady Tanda more or less from Balman and Falsye, and why would he antagonize Cersei? She arranged his marriage to Lollys to begin with.

Maybe we will never know but IMO it was the fact that Bronns marriage upset Balmans plans that led to the events at Stokeworth.

[tyrion84]

Well I think (hope) Bronn and Tyrion will be reunited, and with winter coming house Stokeworth will be feeding KL, so Bronn's story is by no means at an end.And Bronns a pragmatic so he'll swap alliances as it suits him;)

[Fire Eater]

Lady Hodor, on 15 May 2012 - 01:43 PM, said:

Of course here I am referring to dear Ser Bronn and his simple wife Lollys Stokeworth.
In A Feast For Crows, their story developed into something really quite interesting.

Bronn challenged the crazy Queen Cersei by naming Lollys' bastard son Tyrion.
He gathers his own set of "knights" for the household and takes the position of command.
He killed Falyse's husband in single combat without a care, and may have killed Lady Tanda too.
After Falyse was taken by Qyburn, Lollys is heir, making her husband Bronn Lord of Stokeworth.
Not bad for a common sellsword.

So where is his story going do you think? Why make Bronn into someone so badass and now powerful?
What potential does he have in this intricate game of thrones?

GRRM said Bronn still has a role to play in the series.

[Jamie Lannister]

Alric Stark, on 15 May 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

I think Bronn's story is done.

GRRM mentioned that we'll be seeing Bronn again. I think he still has a role to play... one that might not end well, since his style of underhanded victory might not cut it against Cersei's newest vessel of vengeance: UnGregor.

[NomadicDirewolf]

whatever he's doing, its nothing to do with tyrion, he wouldnt gain anything from helping him now, he may well be somehow placing himself in a position to betray cersei just when it mattera to her

[Mumatil]

NomadicDirewolf, on 15 May 2012 - 04:52 PM, said:

whatever he's doing, its nothing to do with tyrion, he wouldnt gain anything from helping him now, he may well be somehow placing himself in a position to betray cersei just when it mattera to her

  Tyrion might need a foothold in westeros, and Bron becoming a Lord might be very helpful since its close to KL.  Tyrion might win over Bron to Daenarys cause.

Remember that little speech by Brown Benn Plumm about bold and old sellswords, as we can see from experience, Bronn has the potential to become an old sellsword, due to him not taking risks with Gregor.

Whose to say hes going to risk dragons?  And Cersei loves him not so Bronn is in need of "friends."

Maybe not yet but soon.

Edited by Mumatil, 15 May 2012 - 07:25 PM.

[jlk7e]

Right now, Bronn has nothing to gain from helping Tyrion.  That will not necessarily hold true if Tyrion returns to Westeros as a close advisor to a mad Targaryen queen with three dragons.  Bronn might recalibrate again, at that point.  He was actually rather gentle in his final break with Tyrion in A Storm of Swords - there was kind of a "no hard feeling" vibe, and Bronn didn't actively betray Tyrion in any way, so I could certainly see Tyrion being willing to deal with him.

[Queen Cersei I]

Jamie Lannister, on 15 May 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

GRRM mentioned that we'll be seeing Bronn again. I think he still has a role to play... one that might not end well, since his style of underhanded victory might not cut it against Cersei's newest vessel of vengeance: UnGregor.

Though I am probably alone in this (because I think Bronn is a highly popular "badass" character), I really couldn't care less what happens to Bronn. I just don't want to see poor Lolys Stokeworth suffer anymore.

Thus far she's been:

1. Mocked by the entire court, including Our Hero, Tyrion Lannister.

2. Gang raped in the most horrific fashion by literally hundreds of men.

3. Gotten pregnant from said gang raped.

4. Still mocked by Tyrion and others after her gang rape, with some even making jokes of the gang rape in and of itself.

Even GRRM cracks jokes about her and her gang rape in the appendixes, referring to her son (conceieved during the violent gang rape) as "he of the hundred fathers."

Honestly, I think Lolys has perhaps suffered more than any other living character thus far, save for perhaps Theon and Jeyne Poole. I really don't want to have to see her abused yet again, then murdered.

I feel considerably less concerned about Bronn, perhaps because I've never really warmed up to this  character the way so many others have.

[Dr. Pepper]

Lady Hodor, on 15 May 2012 - 01:43 PM, said:

Of course here I am referring to dear Ser Bronn and his simple wife Lollys Stokeworth.
In A Feast For Crows, their story developed into something really quite interesting.

Bronn challenged the crazy Queen Cersei by naming Lollys' bastard son Tyrion.
He gathers his own set of "knights" for the household and takes the position of command.
He killed Falyse's husband in single combat without a care, and may have killed Lady Tanda too.
After Falyse was taken by Qyburn, Lollys is heir, making her husband Bronn Lord of Stokeworth.
Not bad for a common sellsword.

So where is his story going do you think? Why make Bronn into someone so badass and now powerful?
What potential does he have in this intricate game of thrones?

I don't think Bronn challenged Cersei by naming Lollys' bastard 'Tyrion'.  I think Bronn was genuinely fond of Tyrion and besides, it was Cersei that helped secure Bronn's marriage to Lollys.  He also didn't kill Balman without a care.  Balman challenged him to a duel after Cersei subtly ordered him to kill Bronn.  Bronn had a right to protect himself and it wasn't his fault that Balman was stupid.  As far as Lady Tanda, she suffered a broken hip and Cersei claims that people her age often die of broken hips.  I think, considering how greedy Balman and Falyse appear when they visit Cersei, that it's more likely that Balman played a part in Lady Tanda's fall.  And we don't really know who these four "knights" are that Bronn has in his service.  Likely they were part of the sellswords Bronn trained while in King's Landing, they became Bronn's friends or Bronn took them with him to keep them from being noticed by Cersei.  Four upjumped sellswords are hardly a force to be concerned about, especially for so gallant a knight as Balman claims he is.  There's not even any evidence that Bronn is treating Lollys poorly.  I think Cersei, Balman and Falyse handed Bronn the claim to Lollys (who it would have gone to anyway seeing as Lollys was already heir) through their own stupidity.  Bronn really wasn't doing anything all that crazy at the castle until Cersei started growing paranoid that Bronn might be hiding or aiding Tyrion in some way.

I think Bronn's biggest potential for the future comes from him knowing a lot of secrets.  He knows quite a bit about Cersei through his service to Tyrion, and he's in a position to be believed since it was Cersei who paid him off with a good marriage.  Then it was Cersei who rewarded his service by trying to have him killed.  He's probably pretty pissed.  Perhaps his land and castle might become a holding or stopping place for the traveling sparrows and warriors of the faith and he'll be inclined to work closely with the High Septon in the Queen's upcoming trial.  Bronn might even know about Qyburn and Ser Robert Strong since he had access to many parts of King's Landing while he was there.

[Lord Ben]

Queen Cersei I, on 15 May 2012 - 08:18 PM, said:

Though I am probably alone in this (because I think Bronn is a highly popular "badass" character), I really couldn't care less what happens to Bronn. I just don't want to see poor Lolys Stokeworth suffer anymore.

Yes, totally.   No point in Bronn doing anything to her though, his position is more secure with her alive anyway.