What if Aerys never went mad?

[Protagoras]

12 hours ago, Steelshanks Walton said:

Negotiation with traitors is a sign of weakness.  If we operate on the assumption, and I think it is reasonable to do so, that Rickard was plotting to overthrow the Targaryens, it would be a mistake to negotiate with him.  The best course of action?  Lure Rickard to K/L like he did and execute him.  Deny his request to a trial of combat.  Kill him and Brandon.  Gather the forces, march north, and pull down Winterfell.  Level the ground where it stood.  Rickard does not get to sit on the bargaining table since by the act of conspiracy he is already guilty of treason and he should be killed along with the other members of his plan.  He and Brandon do not deserve mercy.  To give them anything would only encourage others to test the king's power. 

While certainly that might be true, I have never been that much of a fan of the southron ambitions theory. It seems a bit too convenient. An easy way to explain a madness that quite frankly has been shown in other instances too (Tywin, Dorne). 

Bur ok, lets assume that. In that case I would argue that luring Rickard to King´s Landing and execute him is an incredibly poor move. You come off as a provoker and loses all moral support. Also, you have Tywin in your corner so any such attemps will be harder to do. 

It is also incredibly hard to invade the North and especially in the way you suggested. The North needs to be supplied to death, not directly assaulted. Instead, establish fleet dominance, kill all troops south of the neck, send leet to raid and pillage food stores and farms, cut off all trade by directly assault White Harbor, burn it and leave before counter-attack as well as contact Braavos and make sure they don´t trade with the North, give Ironborn full leave to pillage and reave and allow them to keep whatever territory they can hold. Then send a letter to all northern lords when they have been starved to death stating that the ones taking the Starks down is the new lord paramount. 

But even this is only plan B. Plan A is to build a solid counter-block before this . Westerlands, Reach, Dorne, Iron Islands in order to put this attack back when it happens. Because it is very important for political reasons that Richard make the first move. So when they do the first move you make sure to concentrate forces, keep superiority in the field and make sure they cant get one united army in the field. Since Riverlands will be less likely to support this and since the Reach will be ordered to spend less time sieging, this sould work better.

[Sigella]

And if A+J=T we're a dwarf shorter.

[SeaWitch]

2 hours ago, Sigella said:

And if A+J=T we're a dwarf shorter.

I see what you did there...

[Tyg Doggett]

On Invalid Date at 2:10 PM, Leo of House Cartel said:

Perhaps Aerys The Wise would be sitting on the Iron Throne in his new city of white marble across the Blackwater, sending ravens to the lush green hills of Dorne, while contemplating how to deal with some "King Between The Walls".

Who knows...

 

On Invalid Date at 2:22 AM, Steelshanks Walton said:

Gather the forces, march north, and pull down Winterfell.  Level the ground where it stood.

You speak as it was easy to do so. And even if Aerys had killed Rickard and Brandon, Tywin would had offered a pardon to Ned and take Benjen or Lyanna as hostages.

 

But as I said before, I don't see this happening. Rickard would not advance without the Stormlands.

[purple-eyes]

ummm, so Aerys will let Rhaegar marry Cersei. they will have three or even more children because Cersei is healthy and strong. No harrenhal tourney either. Therefore Rhaegar never met Lyanna (even they met, nothing will happen because Rhaegar had his three dragon heads). Jaime stays in west and he marries Lysa. Lyanna married Robert but hated him much because his personality will not change for any woman. He slept around and got drunk on a daily basis and had like dozens of bastards. Then Lyanna fought with him valiantly and in the end either murdered him or hve fun with her own lover or moved back to Winterfell and enjoyed her wild life.