The Rise of the Bastards?

[GCabot]

It seems as if bastards are becoming increasingly prominent and important as the story continues. All over Westeros, the destiny of bastards are now the fulcrums around which the fate of the Seven Kingdoms will be decided. Is this merely happenstance, or is there possibly some sort of over-arching significance to their new found influence?

Consider the following key characters that are bastards:

1. Tommen Baratheon (bastard son of Jaime &Cersei Lannister) - King of the Seven Kingdoms, married to Margaery Tyrell, with Cersei and the Tyrells in constant battle to influence him.

2. Myrcella Baratheon (bastard daughter of Jaime & Cersei Lannister) - Princess, betrothed to Trystane Martell, has already been the focus of one plot to make her queen through Dornish law.

3. Jon Snow (bastard son of Ned Stark (?)) - Lord Commander of the Night's Watch as the Other descend on the Wall, possibly legitimized by Rob Stark and thus heir to the kingship of the North, possible Targaryen with attendant claims on the Iron Throne.

4. Alayne Stone ("bastard daughter of Littlefinger," aka Sansa Stark) - the center of Littlefinger's machinations, to be married to Harrold Hardyng, heir to the Vale, and possibly used to reclaim Winterfell and the North.

5. Aegon Targaryen (possible member of the bastard House of Blackfyre) - has invaded the Stormlands with the Golden Company, is marching on Storm's End, and openly claims the Iron Throne.

6. Ramsay Bolton (legitimized bastard son of Roose Bolton, Warden of the North) - married to "Arya Stark" (aka Jeyne Poole), heir to the Dreadfort and the North, and purported slayer of King Stannis Baratheon.

7. The Sand Snakes (bastard daughters of Oberyn Martell):

-Obara Sand - sent to hunt and kill the mysterious Darkstar, a figure of much speculation.

-Nymeria Sand - sent to occupy Dorne's seat on the Small Council in preparation for Dorne's eventual defiance against the Iron Throne after the plot to kill Trystane Martell was discovered.

-Tyrene Sand - sent to King's Landing disguised as a Septa to attempt to befriend the High Sparrow, Head Septon of a newly resurgent and assertive Faith and restored Faith Militant.

-Sarella Sand - believed to be posing as Alleras, and thus has infiltrated the Citadel, home of the maesters, for purposes yet unknown. Has come into the confidence of Marwyn, the enigmatic archmaester who has absconded towards Mereen to meet Daenerys Targaryen, and is also now an acquaintance of Samwell Tarley, a fellow novice.

8. Brynden Rivers (aka Bloodraven, legitimized Great Bastard son of Aegon IV) - believed to be the cryptic Three-Eyed Crow, residing with the Children of the Forest and currently teaching Brandon Stark about greenseeing and skinchanging.

Other bastards of possible importance:

9. Edric Storm (bastard son of King Robert Baratheon) - acknowledged by King Robert and potential claimant to the Iron Throne, strongly advocated as a sacrifice of royal blood to R'hllor in order to wake the prophesied stone dragon to assist Stannis, spirited away into protective hiding in Lys by Ser Davos Seaworth.

10. Ser Gendry (bastard son of King Robert Baratheon) - sought after by Cersei Lannister as a potential claimant to the Iron Throne, currently working with the Brotherhood Without Banners as a blacksmith at the Inn of the Crossroads, saved Brienne of Tarth's life by killing Biter.

11. Braavos ("The Bastard Son of Valyria") - the most powerful of the Free Cities, home to both the Iron Bank, which is now actively meddling in Westerosi affairs by throwing its support behind Stannis, and the Faceless Men, whom with Arya Stark is currently training.

[King of the Bastards]

if aegon is real, he is no bastard

if he is not, that still doesn't mean he is a bastard

[Persepolis]

Gendry was knighted? When did that happen?

[Huscarl]

Gendry was knighted? When did that happen?

By Dondarrion in A Storm of Swords. Gendry wanted to join the Brotherhood and pledged to defend the weak and helpless.

[Persepolis]

By Dondarrion in A Storm of Swords. Gendry wanted to join the Brotherhood and pledged to defend the weak and helpless.

Of course. That totally slipped my mind, because they didn't make a big deal out of it.

[AzorAhai42]

Definitely no denying that there are quite a few bastards, but to be fair, there are way more legitimate sons and daughters in the story. (and also, at least half of those people don't know they are a bastard, are not a bastard really, or as you've stated, have been legitimatized)

[The Night's Prince]

Definitely no denying that there are quite a few bastards, but to be fair, there are way more legitimate sons and daughters in the story. (and also, at least half of those people don't know they are a bastard, are not a bastard really, or as you've stated, have been legitimatized)

Where are these legitimate children you speak of? By my count, they're dropping like flies.

[Steinnis]

There certainly are alot of bastards poised to be at some major events of the series in the future, but I dont know if it holds much significance. Never really looked at it like this. I dont think Aegon qualifies as a bastard fake or not. But I wonder if any of the bastards will be legitimised before Series' end.

[Slender Aimry Hill]

This thread needs more unambiguous and cool bastards:

Walder Rivers

Rolland Storm

Aurane Waters

Daemon Sand

Wex Pyke

Larence Snow

Joy Hill

...Harry the Heir's unknown progeny

etc

EDIT: sorry Flowerses I can't think of any of you

[JanAgro]

The only flowers bastard i can think of is Waly flowers who used to be maester at WF

[Lord Ravenstark]

I thought that bastards comes at the end of succession line, when legitimized (they will inherit if there is not other heir)

[SOSRadio]

The only flowers bastard i can think of is Waly flowers who used to be maester at WF

I think there's also a Falia Flowers who is Humfrey Hewett's bastard.

[Mad Monkey]

Where are these legitimate children you speak of? By my count, they're dropping like flies.

Well, there's Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, Margaery, Daenerys, Arianne, Trystane...

[AzorAhai42]

Edit, what ^^^ he said.

[The Prince of Ice]

This makes some sense especially in a historical sense. The Blackfyre Rebellion can be considered a rise of the bastards but it imploded and weakened the realm. I think the new bastards rising now will do the opposite, help unite the realm against a common foe instead of tearing it apart over petty power squables.

[Steinnis]

To the guys above who are Flowers-less. There's a Franklyn Flowers in the Golden Company, apparently he's a bastard of one of the Fossoway's from the Reach.

[Fire Eater]

There is Ser Rolland Storm, one of the King's men who helps to smuggle Edric Storm to safety, and commands the garrison of Dragonstone after Stannis leaves, and he is the pretender Lord of Nightsong.

There is also Ser Tristan Rivers, a former outlaw and current captain in the GC.

Joffrey awarded him the lands, castle and rights of House Darry, whose last child lord had perished during the fighting in the riverlands, "leaving no trueborn heirs of lawful Darry blood, but only a bastard cousin."

Given his surname means he is from the riverlands, he could be the bastard cousin of the Darrys. He could ask to be legitimized into a Darry, and be given all the Darry lands pre-Robert's Rebellion.

[Slender Aimry Hill]

ROLLAND, puh-lease. The best character in the whole epic.

And yes, I am absolutely a supporter of the Tristan Darry theory.

[Fire Eater]

ROLLAND, puh-lease. The best character in the whole epic.

And yes, I am absolutely a supporter of the Tristan Darry theory.

No need to give me the 'tude.

Gatehouse Ami may be getting a new husband.

[Trinton07]

Aurane waters is a bastard and he's a pretty big deal.