Castellan

ahem. I think Jaime and Sansa are major POVS and equivalent to Dany, Bran and Tyrion. So far all prologues have been from a once-off POV. We may have seen the characters before in other chapters - e.g. Chett - but they haven't had a POV and they then end up dead: Will-Cressen-Chett-Pate-Varamyr I agree that the prologues include some sort of 'set up' as you say. Its hard to pin down exactly how they differ from other chapters and I think there are ordinary chapters that resemble the POV chapters. I think the Varamyr prologue is probably there to get some ideas in around Jon's fate. We aleady knew about skinchanging and could guess that Jon might survive that way but this chapter shows how that might feel to him.It also shows the possible miserable lonely fate of a nody hopping skinchanger whose original body is lost - so that will be in our minds even if we do see him in warg chapter. I have been assuming that his body will be thrown in an ice cell or something and be able to be revived by Melisandre, but this way we can't be sure of that happy result. I think the prologue to TWOW would be in a particular setting and raise issues or provide some information and then in the next chapters the story moves away from that setting. So yes, as seems a popular notion, it could follow up the Riverrun prisoner column, show Sybil Spicer up to something, then shift to one of the big battles for several chapters. But there are lots of other possibilities.

I agree its less obvious than some, but there is al lot of talk about dragons, and glass candles, - which seems important news to me - that people in the Citadel are aware - it shows the fire side of the conflict heating up. And not just militarily with a dragon princess at the head of a military force but that Marwyn may understand the battle for life/death that underlies it. However the introduction of the faceless man to the Citadel is a major element which I agree is a bit of s stretch to see as fire unless we basically equate Essos with fire and westeros with ice. If anything as he is an assassin you would think he belongs on the icier side of things.

Thanks!

So this is responding to a small point in your interesting post, Jaime's military skills, but anyway... I feel strongly that Jaime has improved his military skills, but not enough. On the obvious level, on the way to Riverun, and once there, he is very aware of having good picket lines and scouts because that's how he failed last time. I think if GRRM has pointed this change out in interviews he is just doing what he's done in the book - entwined an obvious reading and a more subtle one in Jaime's POV. Because at this rate, he will take decades to improve, fixing one problem at a time. He is a knight, not a hardened commander. And he is a romantic, not really liking a plain battle for control that has nothing to do with honour etc. He is reluctant to turn the red fork red again. Brynden is such a contrast, having concentration, experience, understanding the importance of detail. Jaime does show his Lannister flare and trickster side when he realises that Edmure is the Lord, not Brynden, and Edmure can be pressured, whereas Brynden is hard as rock. Then he makes what in my opinion will be a colossal mistake - letting Brynden escape - what with taking over a castle being quite confusing and all! His sister told him that she must have Brynden in chains because "that man is dangerous" and she is correct. Why did he not demand the important prisoners be handed over first so he could secure them? I can't help thinking that on one level he is reluctant to meet Brynden again, the great knight he admired who has shown him such contempt in his attempt to parley. Back to Jaime's skills - he also made the mistake of making the snap judgement that because Rafford was well spoken in contrast to Shitmouth, he was one of the more acceptable of Gregor's men and was suitable to escort the two knights who wanted to take the black to the wall. I think he'd be more likely to kill them to save the bother of travel. Which will cause more mistrust of the Lannisters. I have been thinking that Brynden will end up in the BWB camp (because I think they have scouts and small folk who tell them whats going on in the area so they mey be aware of him that way) and in confrontation with Jaime there. Brynden is also (and alternatively) a likely candidate to attack the hostage column, if anyone does. He has said he serves his queen. Notwithstanding your reasonable objections to raiding the column --- I think there'd be a fictional way around them! Or it could indeed be a bloodbath. Brynden would not know about the orders to kill the hostages.

Just seeing dragons in battle or perhaps the issue of whether anyone can actually control them might count as 'arcane'. It gets less arcane as the books go one and people realise all these weird things are actually happening I suppose. I was thinking either something like you describe or someone near Dany and Drogo. But he could have something more cunning up his sleeve, a mysterious prologue somewhere else, followed by a major battle scene from a POV.

These are some features of the prologues: 1. Ice and Fire themes alternate. The next one should be fire themed. 2. The Ice chapters have so far been set in the sparsely settled north of Westeros in difficult, cold conditions. The Fire chapters have been set further south in Westeros and the action has taken place in the midst of a group of characters who are interested in wider events and discussing them. Presumably the next prologue may shift to Essos, although not necessarily. 3. The POVs are once-off POVs and the POV character dies. 4. An arcane power has made itself known in most of the prologues although it’s a bit muddled. As well as seeing wights and Others in two of the ice-themed prologues, we have an ice-themed one which simply shows Varamyr unable to obtain a new host and dying. In the last fire prologue, a faceless man provides the most dramatic action, obtaining the face of an apprentice and a key to every door in the Citadel. So as well as wights and Others, talk of dragons and of glass candles and fire magic, we also see skin changing - something that has survived from the old ways, in the far north - and faceless assassins - something from Essos, possibly a lot newer than skin changing. Based on these features, any ideas on what the prologue for TWOW might contain?

Could be Victarion. An explosive exit. Or a beginning... depending what happens with that horn.

Jaime-Brienne and the BWB Tyrion (and I want to see Inkpots, who is absolutely and without a doubt Gerion Lannister, being a complete coward in battle. Not that I disapprove of that.) Victarion/Barristan etc - just to get this bloody battle out of the way Jon not so much, he'll be in Ghost or a raven or something for while, it seems like it may be slow moving at the start. Likewise Dany, seems like she'll be carted around as a prisoner for a while while battles happen. Aeron - the start of Ragnorak! You can't say Euron sailing around with a hold full of mages etc is not a gripping concept. Theon - hanging on Stannis' wall he seems to have become a new person - but I wonder if we'll actually get any more chapters from him - maybe we'll just see him through others eyes. Oh yes, we have the sacrifice business coming up - I wonder if that will happen. That's it. Well I have gone beyond the OP question. I guess the top two I listed are my priorities.

He'd detailed, but not that detailed! Anyway, it would not affect anything. Its not like they have the internet, planes and international stock markets. I don't know fast birds fly and for how long but .... no

yes it hints but its misdirection dates and other clues point to Tyrion.

I would like to have a job as a trader and travel to different ports starting with Braavos, Pentos, Volantis, then going further afield, to YI TI. ... PS I didn't read the question. I really don't want the books to take me very far afield. Or save that till the ADOS is published. have it in spin offs. But these are some of the places that inspire my imagination.

Because of this thread I notice when I am grinding my teeth while looking over the latest threads. Grinding apparently came over me a couple of years ago and is ruining my teeth fast. One doesn't really notice and you can do it in your sleep.

IMO Tywin would have given him most of his DNA and Aerys only the blood line. We will know when the dragons like him etc etc. Anyway Tywin always ackowledged him and he was born of Tywin's wife within their marriage. PS in case I was unclear, his name is Lannister and he will be Lord of Casterly Rock.

When I went to California the variety of these things was notable. in one day or even in the same airport you could encounter 4 different set ups for waving your hand under something or over something or other other in the wash basin or pressing your foot on something or other to get something like, the water to run in the sink, or soap to come out of somewhere, or to dry your hands, not to mention for flushing the toilet. You feel something of a fool standing there with your hands out looking for somewhere else to wave them. It seems like a lot of wasted effort to invent so many.

I don't want it. When I heard it was in the show I thought "what a HORRIBLE idea" these producers are HORRIBLE Then I thought: Shireen has ashy marks over her face and neck She has nightmares about dragons (which burn people, of course) She is constantly accompanied by a chanting jumping dead creature who was once a merry child himself, who rants in a strange and gloomy manner She is a sad lonely girl and it seems consistent with the books that nobody saves her instead SHE GETS BURNED! Just like Eddard got executed. Selyse is consistently portrayed as cold, white ... like a moth attracted to fire. As far as 'don't women turn horrible when they are bitter and middle aged' themes go, I think she outdoes Cersei and Lysa. Seems consistent with a build up to burning her own daughter, having converted to a cult. Stannis is likewise portrayed in a way that would explain why he would allow this to happen. A certain slight rigidity and the fact that Melisande has demonstrated some occult powers already, conveniently killing his enemies. if its not in the books ,I am now going to think "it was in there but he let the show have it and then took it out"

I agree I think any connection to the Searchers is a pretty superficial thing.

I meant Lysa's fine style of nurturing him has doomed him. Kind of impossible to factor that out. But I suppose he has at least one congenital thing - his fits. Could be others in the mix.

It could be dormant or it could be luck or he could have some kind of Targ immunity!

and cats! https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/can-cats-see-colour

I had noted this pattern of 'identity'- which starts in AFFC and continues in ADWD - and saw the rest simply as chapters that cover the Ironborn and the Dornish, who are introduced in these books. Having these titles made them seem temporary or extra somehow. Also, at least in AFFC, they tend to have only one or two chapters each. And they're giving different angles on the same events - the Kingsmoot in one, and Arianne's foolish Queenmaking foray in the other. So no real need for numbering by POV. However, I then realised that a lot of the Ironborn and Dornish chapters could also be seen as about changing identity e.g. Quentyn's are The Merchants Man where he plays the role of a servant to Gerris Drinkwater, then the WIndblown where his group has joined a mercenary company under false names in order to continue their journey, but are then instructed to go to Meereen; then The Spurned Suitor and finally, poignantly, The Dragon Tamer. I think the titles do actually add to the atmosphere of the books. I suspect he would think of them that way, too. I doubt he thinks or says "I am writing Tyrion XIX" now but thinks of them by shorthand - like "The Princess in the Tower" and "The Queenmaker".

Aaargghh! Actually considering the major post before this was "Dark Days" (ignoring posts discussing releases) perhaps it means in the current climate dreamers will be lonely.

(TWOW, ADOS) belong to him alone (not fans, not publisher) but it means he is lonely and can't help feeling negative vibes. Maybe from me! and you!

Yes, I am fairly hopeful the next one will come out.

Tyrion is my first thought. He seems like the most important character to the author, has the most mentions of any character in the text, I think, and as he is a real journeyer, he can journey on to the end. Brienne - possibly. Possibly as an undead person. Arya - who can say? I can't see why she wouldn't survive. Sansa - likewise I can't see a narrative/character necessity for her to die. Unless her role in the plot becomes limited to one thing like Petyr's machinations trying t make a northern force and then GRRM dumps her. Bran - he's become a greenseer, he doesn't seem like he'd be on the author's hit list Rickon - he'll be a blast from the past when the Kings of Winter were harder and wilder Jon - because I think he deserves to Samwell - he'll be a very wise advisor by the time he gets to the end Aemon Steelsong - what the point of knocking him off? Pure spite? Won't survive Jaime - I think he'll run his race in TWOW. Well, I think he'll live on for a while as an undead like Beric and Catelyn, but not for very long. Tommen & Mycella - too much to be hoped for. Shireen - I think the show gave away what is now obvious from various things like her ashy face and dragon nightmares. Not to mention Patchface jumping around her chanting creepily about the netherworld below the sea. Petyr - villain must die! There'll be no role for him once the war of five kings ceases to be the main struggle. Cersei - doomed doomed doomed Martells - Doran seems to have some wisdom but no practical brains at all. He sends his children on missions that are the opposite of any talents they have. (Except for Tyrion and Jaime, I really don't have much faith in my own list above. GRRM keeps us guessing).

there's a crowd?