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Aurane Waters..


Corvo Attano

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  • 1 year later...


How was he a great character? He didn't do anything revelant


How can you say he didn't do anything relevant? Cersei has been trying (and sometimes succeeding) in manipulating people this whole series. Obviously I'm biased, but I thought it was awesome that he was able to turn the tables on her and make off with her fleet, while making them even more indebted to the Iron Bank. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and made the Iron Bank decide to turn to Stannis in offering their money to him. Maybe it's just me, but anyone that's able to give Cersei the shaft is a great character in my book.
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I don't think he would have been introduce if he doesn't have any real purpose, hopefully we'll see more of him in TWoW.

 

Well, he already had a purpose: making Cersei look like a fool. She has no money, she spends a ton to build a new fleet, and she decides to give them to him just because she doesn't want to trust the Tyrells. That was his purpose. Could he make any alliances? Maybe. But I think he already served his main purpose.

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My best guess is that Aurane will rejoin Stannis. This is from Sansa's escape from Kings Landing

The eastern sky was vague with the first hint of dawn when Sansa finally saw a ghostly shape in the darkness ahead; a trading galley, her sails furled, moving slowly on a single bank of oars. As they drew closer, she saw the ship's figurehead, a merman with a golden crown blowing on a great seashell horn. She heard a voice cry out, and the galley swung slowly about.

Sansa V, Storm

I believe there is a reason the George described the ship's figurehead so clearly, a merman with a golden crown blowing on a great seashell horn. Seashells are very closely associated with House Westerling. But I don't see any connection there. Davos at one point describes a sound like the faint whisper of the sea in seashell. Now, I tend to think that the George at least tries to write very carefully, with many phrases and passages relating to others. But in this instance, I think the George merely chose a poetic phrase to describe what Davos was hearing. But seashells were used back in Game to describe Stannis's activity on Draganstone...

A boy with an army, Varys said. Yet only a boy, as you say. The King's brothers are the ones giving Cersei sleepless nights . . . Lord Stannis in particular. His claim is the true one, he is known for his prowess as a battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man. No one knows what Stannis has been doing on Dragonstone, but I will wager you that he's gathered more swords than seashells. So here is Cersei's nightmare: while her father and brother spend their power battling Starks and Tullys, Lord Stannis will land, proclaim himself king, and lop off her sons curly blond head . . . and her own in the bargain, though I truly believe she cares more about the boy.

Eddard XV, Game

So, outside of House Westerling we have seashells associated with Davos and Stannis, but really, what do we have? Not much if anything. But in Dance, we hit a lode, first when Asha is taken by Stannis outside Deepwood Motte. . .

A trumpet blew.

That' s wrong, she thought. There are no trumpets in the Drowned God' s watery halls. Below the waves the merlings hail their lord by blowing into seashells.

She dreamt of red hearts burning, and a black stag in a golden wood with flame streaming from his antlers.

And then we hear from Patchface shortly before Jon is attacked by Bowen Marsh. . .

Patchface jumped up. I will lead it! His bells rang merrily. We will march into the sea and out again. Under the waves we will ride seahorses, and mermaids will blow seashells to announce our coming, oh, oh, oh.

Jon XIII, Dance

These two uses paint pictures nearly identical to the figurehead observed by Sansa, merlings or mermaids blowing seashells. Sansa's merman was the figurehead of a ship, a sort of herald, and Asha's merlings and Patchface's mermaids were clearly heralds. If you think this is all coincidental, you can stop reading now.

The principal practice of the Drowned God religion referenced by Asha is to drown people in the sea and then resurrect them so they can rise harder and stronger. Patchface himself apparently drowned but washed ashore and was resurrected (albeit softer and dumber). But in both cases we have people drowning under the waves, in the Drowned God's watery halls. And Sansa's ship, well that's a Braavosi trading galley. Petyr, whose family originally hailed from Braavos, hired it to go to Gulltown, when the Lord of Harrenhal was dispatched to woo Lady Lysa in the Vale. It's also the ship Petyr uses to smuggle Sansa out of King's Landing, and later, it returns to Gulltown from Braavos, and Petyr's man Oswell learns some interesting news.

Most crowns, like the one that adorns the Merling King's figurehead, are golden, including Stannis's. Stannis has just obtained the backing of the Iron Bank of Braavos, and we have reason to suspect he intends to effect a ruse in the battle against Houses Bolton and Frey. Moreover, we know that House Manderly, which has completed construction of a small armada, has pledged to aid Stannis if Stannis's man Davos recovers Rickon, and we know that Manderly is associated with mermen. And finally, we know that Aurane Waters, the Bastard of Driftmark, who fought for Stannis and tricked Cersei into building ships he later appropriated to set himself up in the Stepstones as the Lord of the Waters, is associated with seahorses.

Now, here's what I suspect will happen. Word of Stannis's defeat and death will spread (marching into the sea), but Manderly will triumph over Bolton. Stannis will then join Aurane's power (riding seahorses) to Manderlys power (mermen blowing seashells) to threaten Aegon and/or Daenerys. And they'll be joined by the river lords still allied with North...

"Under the sea, men marry fishes." Patchface did a little dance step, jingling his bells. "They do, they do, they do."

Jon XIII, Dance

But not the Brackens...

Memories of ancient wrongs and bygone betrayals were not oft put aside by the lords of the Trident, whose enmities ran as deep as the rivers that watered their lands. Time and again, one or more of these riverlords would join with some invader against their own king; indeed, in some cases it was there very lords who brought the outsiders into the riverlands, offering them lands or gold or daughters for their help against familiar foes.

The Riverlands, TWOIAF

Stannis's host of Nothmen and Rivermen will array for battle at the Trident. Their numbers will be swollen by Northern childless and homeless men, unwed men, old men, and younger sons coming for war, for adventure and plunder, and for a glorious death to spare their kin beyond the Neck one more mouth to feed (just like Creegan Stark's host in the Dance of the Dragons). Daenerys will meet them...

That night she dreamt she was Rhaegar, riding to the Trident. But she was mounted on a dragon, not a horse. When she saw the Usurper's rebel host across the river they were armored all in ice, but she bathed them in dragonfire and they melted away like dew and turned the Trident into a torrent. 

However, I think rather than burn this host she will take it for her own to fight Aegon. Recall how Stannis took Renly's power for his own...

"I beg you in the name of the Mother," Catelyn began when a sudden gust of wind flung open the door of the tent. She thought she glimpsed movement, but when she turned her head, it was only the king's shadow shifting against the silken walls. She heard Renly begin a jest, his shadow moving, lifting its sword, black on green, candles guttering, shivering, something was queer, wrong, and then she saw Renly's sword still in its scabbard, sheathed still, but the shadowsword . . .

"Cold," said Renly in a small puzzled voice, a heartbeat before the steel of his gorget parted like cheesecloth beneath the shadow of a blade that was not there. He had time to make a small thick gasp before the blood came gushing out of his throat.

Catelyn IV, Clash

We know that the North fought on the black side in the Dance of Dragons. And I seem to recall an SSM where the George said the North tended to be loyalist after Torrhen knelt (or perhaps it was a post by Ran). We know that Daenerys is going to slay the lie that is Stannis or his claim. Perhaps Drogon will remove Stannis and Daenerys will claim Stannis's forces the way Stannis claimed Renly's.

It were the black one, the man said, in a Ghiscari growl, the winged shadow.

Daenerys I, Dance 2

And Stannis's face will melt...

"I know the cost! Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning . . . burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?" 

Davos V, Storm 54
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  • 6 months later...
On 4/8/2013 at 3:18 PM, kemperz said:

Patchface prophecized that Stannis' army would 'ride seahorses' (a seahorse being the banner of Aurane's father), this could suggest an alliance of some sort between Aurane (who fought for Stannis at Blackwater- I think) and Stannis, other than this, it just seems like this fleet doesn't have much purpose at the moment.

Possibly.  Keep in mind that Jon Snow noted seahorses amongst the banners during Stannis' attack on the wildling camp: Velaryons are already aiding Stannis.  Riding seahorses and mermaids blowing seashells to herald their coming (to paraphrase) could foreshadow that Stannis' men (lead by the Velaryons, who are historically a notable naval power) using the Manderly navy that he's been amassing.  As for the "mermaids" (as opposed to mermen), perhaps there is some sort of marriage alliance involving one of Wyman Manderly's granddaughters?

I'm not certain whether Aurane is loyal to Stannis or not; he was hired as a sellsail to support Stannis (by his brother Monford, I think?) and hold no lands, so I don't see the incentive of continuing to support Stannis, but Aurane might continue to support whomever his family supports. 

In the AFfC council meetings, news that Aurane reports is always correct... except this:

"Whilst we await Lord Walder's death, there is another matter," said Aurane Waters. "The Golden Company has broken its contract with Myr. Around the docks I've heard men say that Lord Stannis has hired them and is bringing them across the sea."

Aurane has assumed that the Golden Company was hired to join Stannis.  So, an educated guess is that Aurane sailed to the Stepstones due to his misassumption. 

In the Stepstones, Aurane has gained a lot of information: He has likely interacted with the GC members that didn't land in Westeros in ADwD, with the missing Ironborn*** of Victarion's fleet, and with Elephant, the Lyseni pirate ship which is bringing the Hardhome refugees to Lys.  That is, Aurane knows of Aegon's landing, of Victarion's attempt to "tame" a dragon, and of Jon Snow and Stannis' negotiations with the wildings.

***

Spoiler

(Reavers are mentioned in WoW Arianne I, which are likely from Victarion's missing fleet.) 

What Aurane decides to do with this information is anyone's guess.  I personally believe he'll see opportunity in supporting Aegon, and will support him or even go east to attempt to tame a dragon before he'll support Stannis again.

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I think he will eventually join with Euron. He is somewhat close to the Greyjoys. Could rally with him after the battle at Oldtown. Euron offers him the Verlaryon ancestral castle and naming legitimazing him when he is king. They are both pirates, so they should understand each other well.

 

He could also be expecting a juicy offer from the Crown, Stannis, whoever. Kinda remindsa me about Dalton Greyjoy.

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I find it more likely that he will join Aegon. His fleet is based amongst the Stepstones, so it would be easy enough for the Martells to send an nevoy to him. With an offer. Stannis is in the far North and unlikely to look as a good prospect anytime soon, and Euron is to intimidating for Aurane to consider. Aegon, being young successful and a rising star looks far more enticing.

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AW somewhat looks like Rhaegar, and he's of an age with Viserys. He was born and lived in the path of Viserys to DS. And Viserys had lilac eyes instead of purple-violet as his siblings had. Besides, Rhaegar's son passes as a bastard.

I'd say Grrm has put clues so that readers can suspect that there was another child swap and AW is truly Viserys. If it's just a red herring or something more serious, I couldn't tell.

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Nah, he's already passed the Valyrian age test: being confused for being two years younger than he really is.

Quote

 

"Has someone been informing on me?" When he did not answer, Cersei tossed her hair back, and said, "Waters is well suited to the office. He has spent half his life on ships."

"Half his life? He cannot be more than twenty."

"Two-and-twenty, and what of it? Father was not even one-and-twenty when Aerys Targaryen named him Hand. It is past time Tommen had some young men about him in place of all these wrinkled greybeards. Aurane is strong and vigorous."

 

See also:

Quote

 

Tyrion sighed. "You are remarkably polite for a bastard, Snow. What you see is a dwarf. You are what, twelve?"

"Fourteen," the boy said.

 

 

Quote

He (Aegon/Young Griff who is 18) was a lithe and well-made youth, with a lanky build and a shock of dark blue hair. The dwarf put his age at fifteen, sixteen, or near enough to make no matter.

 

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17 hours ago, The Holy Goat said:

I find it more likely that he will join Aegon. His fleet is based amongst the Stepstones, so it would be easy enough for the Martells to send an nevoy to him. With an offer. Stannis is in the far North and unlikely to look as a good prospect anytime soon, and Euron is to intimidating for Aurane to consider. Aegon, being young successful and a rising star looks far more enticing.

Joining Aegon or Dany whenever she gets to Westeros seems likely. Or stay on as a pirate king, for it is a glorious thing to be a pirate king.

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I´m not buying this pirate lord thing for a second. He´s already shown he has political ambitions beyond that.

The stepstones are on the way from Dany to westeros and she does need these boats more than anyone else. If my guess is right and Dany starts burning cities on her way, this situation would be the war of the ninepenny kings reloaded by the time she gets to Lys or Tyrosh. 

This time with Ser Barristan on the other side. :D

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On 4/8/2013 at 4:18 PM, kemperz said:

Patchface prophecized that Stannis' army would 'ride seahorses' (a seahorse being the banner of Aurane's father), this could suggest an alliance of some sort between Aurane (who fought for Stannis at Blackwater- I think) and Stannis, other than this, it just seems like this fleet doesn't have much purpose at the moment.

He did fight for Stannis at Blackwater. Cersei forgave him for that then gave him money to build the fleet. This was right around the time she imagined he looked soooo much like Rhaegar, so clearly she was thinking with her other bits when she agreed to this arrangement.

Nice catch with the sea horse connection.

Oh wait, one more thing... I remember Jaime not happy with this and he told/warned Cersei that Aurane would steal from her.

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2 hours ago, Ser Tristan Flowers said:

I´m not buying this pirate lord thing for a second. He´s already shown he has political ambitions beyond that.

The stepstones are on the way from Dany to westeros and she does need these boats more than anyone else. If my guess is right and Dany starts burning cities on her way, this situation would be the war of the ninepenny kings reloaded by the time she gets to Lys or Tyrosh. 

This time with Ser Barristan on the other side. :D

Lord Too Fat posted a nice theory in Moments of Foreshadowing 9, suggesting that the Three Daughters wouled make common cause against Aurane and ally with Aegon. 

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11 hours ago, Ser Tristan Flowers said:

I´m not buying this pirate lord thing for a second. He´s already shown he has political ambitions beyond that.

The stepstones are on the way from Dany to westeros and she does need these boats more than anyone else. If my guess is right and Dany starts burning cities on her way, this situation would be the war of the ninepenny kings reloaded by the time she gets to Lys or Tyrosh. 

This time with Ser Barristan on the other side. :D

 

9 hours ago, Daemon Blackfyre IV said:

Aurane Waters is going what his family has done for generations which is make himself a suitor for the Targaryens, he will go to Daenerys and offer his ships and a pure blood line. 

I proposed a theory (forget which thread... I'll try to find it and reference it) that Aurane will be a parallel of sorts to the Hammer of the Water.  That is, this new Lord of the Waters with play a role in keeping Daenerys out of Westeros, just as the Hammer of the Waters was an attempt to keep First Men out of Westeros.  I believe Aurane will ride a dragon for a time, and will potentially parallel another "Hammer" in the series.  Hugh the Hammer, a bastard from Dragonstone.

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On 29/07/2015 at 7:02 AM, The Jon said:


How can you say he didn't do anything relevant? Cersei has been trying (and sometimes succeeding) in manipulating people this whole series. Obviously I'm biased, but I thought it was awesome that he was able to turn the tables on her and make off with her fleet, while making them even more indebted to the Iron Bank. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and made the Iron Bank decide to turn to Stannis in offering their money to him. Maybe it's just me, but anyone that's able to give Cersei the shaft is a great character in my book.

So Lancel, Osmund Kettleblack and possibly Moon by are all great characters?

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Calling yourself the King of the Stepstones, controlling the waters between The Narrow Sea and all of South Essos, playing Lys and Tryosh off of each other for sweet sweet coin, engaging in lucrative piracy or a more lucrative protection racket in raiding or escorting ships.  

 

Seems like a pretty sweet gig for a bastard.

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