LynnS

Well, when the planetary body shows up, I'll consider it. For now, I'll come to the long night by other means. The Others might be very alien in some respects. A form of life that is very different from the humans in the story.

You could consider that Martin is using magic as a form of technology. The Wall may be a form of magic technology that interferes with the seasons. It's 400 miles long and 700 feet high in places. It's an unnatural barrier that wouldn't normally stand up under it's own weight. .

Yes, forged from a meteorite with magic possibly even the pre-curser to valyrian steel swords of another metal. It's lore seems to be lost. Sounds a lot like bitumen or asphalt, something that Planetos could produce on it's own. Possibly used to make the stone roads of Valyria, the fourth wonder of the world.

I am familiar with astrology and making of natal charts. A conjunction is the strongest aspect in relation to trines, squares and oppositions, leaving out the minor aspects. Transitions and horoscopes are another thing. You are talking about an unknown planet transiting the sun to form a conjunction in a particular sign and a particular house. I don't think there is an equivalent to astrology in aSoIaF. There is certainly a study of the stars (constellations) and 'planetary' wanderers. An interest in celestial events like comets as messengers and heralds. What you describe as an unknown planet with an eccentric orbit like Pluto fits the bill for the great red 'comet'. It's more likely the long night is caused by magic which interferes with the normal seasons. We've been told as much by GRRM.

This is interesting. I hadn't considered that the great red comet could be a planetesimal pushed out of orbit. Or just an object that has the long periodic orbit of a comet. An object that comes close enough Planetos that it burns red (which is uncharacteristic of comets). It makes sense to me that something like this would make it into Dothraki legends and something that is reflected in their language: sun and stars, moon of my life. Two moons in the sky, one that went too close to the sun and burned. That does make me think of Quaithe, with eyes full of stars, who comes to Dany in her dreams, by other means. This seems to be a different kind of magic that we have not yet seen, but very similar to glass candles. Dany describes Quaithe's eyes as wet, so I wonder if this is a scrying method using water, something that would reflect the stars. Searching the text for black water reveals this: The list goes on. There could be something to Quaithe as Shiera Seastar, except that Dany only describes Quaithe's eyes as watery. Shiera had mismatched eyes; one blue and one bright green. I think she would notice, if she was looking at her eyes. We are not given any indication of Quaithe's hair color either, only that she is wearing a mask. Dany would also notice silver/white hair.

I like this idea.

Yes, I was reading this with interest. It triggered something about the Faceless Men and how their 'victims' are marked or chosen and I wonder if they are cursed by someone for the pain they cause or the evil they do to others. In this way they are marked. I'm thinking of the man Arya kills as her first official assassination. The rules are: the person is a stranger to her and can't be someone she loves, hates or knows. Her target is someone who cheats his clients and takes everything from them if their ships instead of paying out the insurance. So they are cursed by their victims and then marked by the many faced god. Then an assassin is chosen to give the gift.

I like this idea. I think the other important sword is the Dawn sword.

True. But I think GRRM said no trip to Asshai but we would learn something. Some Mel POV's would be great.

Yes, I'd like to know about Asshai as well. I'm guessing that we could find out in the next book. Dany has to undergo some kind of test when she returns to Vaes Dothrak. She has to pass beneath the shadow of the mother or mounts and enter the womb of the world. At least that's what Quaithe is telling her she has to do before she moves forward. I'm guessing this could involve another drug induced vision administered by the crones; where Dany 'goes to Asshai' past or present.

I've had a few of those which I have conveniently or blessedly forgotten. At least, I think they were hilarious, if only I could remember.

What's so great about being popular? The stuff that people have gone over and over again is boring now. I don't have theories, I have questions. I'm interested in the holes on the page; the stuff that is deliberately left out; the ambiguous stuff that has any number of meanings and interpretations. There are members who I enjoy talking to about these things. That's why I look in there on occasion because it's interesting to me. Just like the popular threads are interesting to other people. So what's the problem?

It is curious. Bran immediately names him after waking from the coma dream and his encounter with the 3EC. Anyone watching Bran by 'other means' would know.

Yes, how could Jon possibly know. There's nothing from Arya or Sansa either. Good catch.

That's a damned good question. The only thing I can find that suggests anything is that Ghost knows that Bran's direwolf is called summer and therefore Jon knows.

No, I didn't see that. Thanks.

Specifically. I'm asking if Martin ever said anything about it.

I have a vague recollection that Martin said the Dawn Sword was not valyrian steel? Is that correct or do I misremember?

Don't know. Sorry. Threatening to place a Targaryen princess in the meanest brothel in Kings Landing so she can be raped over and over again by peasants... I'm doubtful about foreshadowing but very curious about references to sorcery since we've been told so little about it.

That's the one. Is there anything about it, perhaps in the World Book? My memory isn't the same as it used to be. Sometimes I can't remember what I had for breakfast... or, if I had breakfast. It seems an obscure reference, like the reference to the dragonlords of Valyria as sorcerer princes. There was also a curious reference to women who give up their unborn children in exchange for knowledge. Which brought Mirri Maaz Duur and Danaerys to mind.

Maybe somewhere else, The World Book. It seemed rather obscure. No matter, just curious.

While reading Blood and Fire, I came across a reference to the Valyrian rite of marriage by blood and fire. Does anyone know what that means or what kind of ritual?

Cheers!

Thank you!

Is there a personal messaging function? I don't see it anymore.