BalerionTheCat

4 hours ago, Weirnet said:

I think at this point he should just outright say it. He's never gonna finish WoW. He's already neck deep in the development of new TV shows and other spinoffs that nobody really cares for.

Yeah. I only speak for myself. But I'm only waiting from GRRM the conclusion of his ASoIaF. I'm OK if it's only a highlight of what he intended to write. In part so that no one can repeat D&D bungling and changing the story to their own preference. I'll watch no TV spinoff, whatever the channel. GRRM himself could be found dead tomorrow, with 100 unpublished D&E novellas under his bed, I would not read them either. ASoIaF and only ASoIaF from GRRM is what matters for me.

12 hours ago, Castellan said:

(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!

This is the other interpretation. If he had really made progress, the mood would not be comtemplative. Maybe he believes ASoIaF was a dream. Only a dream. And will never be a reality.

I don't see how it could be anything else than news about WoW. Unless he is playing with our nerves, the evil man.

Not that the book is finished. He said there would be a non ambiguous statement then. But I would believe it means he wrote (or got the idea) of something great about Jon and Lyanna.

Thinking about it. If it's 2 years (?) that he didn't make progress, it means he his stuck with some PoV, accounting for about 500 pages of WoW. I would believe the PoVs are Jon, Bran and related. All what happen in the very North. All else is finished and not dependent. For example, Bowen sent ravens telling Jon betrayed the NW and was executed. Nothing else came afterward from the Wall. Everyone south, even WF, assume Bowen is in charge and act all WoW accordingly. Until maybe the Others come down, at the very end.

So GRRM could write this part independently. Maybe he was stuck at the beginning, with not a page worth. Or he had drafts, but nothing good for release. Now, he just found the way to lay things and start writing for good. Or he now only needs minor adaptations of his best drafts.

Maybe WoW is still far away. But my hope is that a significant hurdle has been overcome. GRRM has never communicated about Jon chapters. Maybe it's the case here... Or it's just me dreaming.

15 hours ago, Here's Looking At You, Kid said:

Skahaz is loyal because his family was the enemy of the Loraqs

Indeed. That is not great for loyalty. It means Dany is an opportunity. Not that she is his enemy. But he is using her for his own political game. Planing on after she leaves for Westeros.

15 hours ago, Here's Looking At You, Kid said:

I don't know what the feud was about but Skahaz was ready enough to accept letting the slaves go free.

He had no choice, if he wanted to enter Dany's team. The feud was probably a business affair. Unlikely an humanitarianism ideal about freeing slaves.

2 hours ago, Takiedevushkikakzvezdy said:

When Ned arrived at the Tower of Joy, he couldn't have known that Lyanna was going to die.

Nothing is sure. These prophecies are full of death and sacrifices. He could have known believed they both would die. She could have known it too. Only thing sure was Jon was to live.

1 hour ago, Lord of Raventree Hall said:

I mean the leader's of Dany's Free companies...seem somewhat competent and loyal to Daenerys. For example, isn't Symon Stripeback ...Ghiscari? Or am I wrong?

Stripeback seems (by his whipping) completely opposed to the slavery system. One of your abolitionists. I'm sure Dany has some other true support. The Stalwart Shields, the Mother's Men also seem reliable. But how many are they? Beside, their leaders could be assassinated or killed and replaced by less valorous men. I feel there are less of Stripebacks than of Cleons. Not enough to matter. And what will they do when she abandons them there? Alone to protect Meeren.

2 hours ago, Lord of Raventree Hall said:

Well that isn't true. The Freedmen (and women) are 100% loyal to Daenerys. Many of them are Ghiscari, whether ethnically or culturally (or both). Ghiscari are not only former slave masters, but also the former slaves.

Some slaves, yes. Rather the weakest. Not the pit fighters for example. How many were cheering in the pit? Appalling! None of them understand what Dany wants. And  Astapor and its council is a sorry example of how much the slaves are united and share her vision of freedom. Some factions of them are probably jostling for power with the old masters and party in the mess.

He did things that had huge consequences. He did them because of prophecies and texts we don't know of. Possibly, he also talked with the Ghost of High Heart

He liked to sleep in the ruined hall, beneath the moon and stars, and whenever he came back he would bring a song. When you heard him play his high harp with the silver strings and sing of twilights and tears and the death of kings, you could not but feel that he was singing of himself and those he loved.

This is Barristan talking. And you may believe him a fool for what he thought. But I would rather believe Rhaegar knew the Others were coming. And he did what he did according to that. Did his part of the prophecies. Whether he was right or wrong, we need the end of the story to decide. But so far, with what we know, I believe he is largely underrated and misunderstood by most.

I'm not sure, but I would believe the poisoning was not meant to be fatal. Only to incapacitate Dany for a time. To instate a coup, but without removing her. Maybe Skahaz to get rid of Hizdahr. Or the Green Grace to get rid of Skahaz.

None of the Ghiscari are loyal to Dany. They all know she will leave Meereen. They are playing their own game of throne, to seize power once she will be gone. They are playing her, one against the others. Counting on her reaction to events. She is the Dragon of the Cyvasse game.

On 10/4/2023 at 10:34 PM, kissdbyfire said:

Yeah, I see this greenseeing and being married to the trees very differently.

I don't think we have the argument to exclude an hypothesis, if one wants to stick to it. Possibly Bran will have as much power without being joined with the trees. But given that BR and Leaf seemed in a hurry to grow Weirwood seeds inside him, I would rather believe the joining is necessary. Also, given that GRRM introduced this concept of very long life: the God-on-Earth, his sons and heirs, other mythical heroes, the bunch of CotF greenseers still living in the cave, this same potentiality given to Bran (and by a different method for Jon). Given also the fact that in most (or all) GRRM documented histories, chaos and wars always returned after 1 or 2 generations of peace. I feel the need of a (near) immortal "stewardship" to sustain same a duration peace. And thus for Bran to follow the path of the cave's other greenseers as the only choice. And for Jon to remain "undying", whatever "alive" he may still look.

17 hours ago, Lord of Raventree Hall said:

See, by marrying Sansa, he is no longer Stark’s lapdog, but rather being treated as a great lord himself.

I would not call him lapdog. He is all, but willing to cooperate with the Starks. Which he would have to, if he became a close relative. Then he would truly be a lapdog! IMO, he still wanted to be king. And to pay his crown the Iron price. And still keeping the Old Way. Which he couldn't with the Starks in bed. He wanted the Starks dead. Nothing less.

Balon believed Theon had become a Stark. Ned had stolen his last son and Balon wanted his revenge over the Starks. Not to be brother-in-law with Ned. Marrying Theon to Sansa would not improve the situation. Robb would get nothing that way.

IMO Theon never betrayed the Starks. He needed to show the ironborn he was not a Stark, but a Reaver. He planned to give Winterfell back to Bran when he would have control of the ironborn. But he didn't dare to explain his plan Bran or Luwin. And things went awfully wrong.

22 hours ago, kissdbyfire said:

What makes you think that? 

The chosen ones are not robust, and their quick years upon the earth are few, for every song must have its balance. But once inside the wood they linger long indeed. A thousand eyes, a hundred skins, wisdom deep as the roots of ancient trees. Greenseers.

OK Bloodraven lived long, before becoming a Greenseer. But I don't think he developed his powers so young, so strongly. Bran is already a greenseer, I would say his body is even too young and frail to handle so much power, the charge too much for flesh. More so, he is severely disabled, broken.

22 hours ago, kissdbyfire said:

I think maybe you have even less faith in humanity than I do, not an easy thing. 

In GRRM world, yes I have 0 faith in humanity. Of course, there are people with good intent. Jon, Dany, Sam, Davos... even Ned. But they are unable to deal with those around them. And even if they achieve peace and prosperity, at a great cost, 1 or 2 generations later, a weak, stupid or mean king will ruin everything. An ambitious lord or brother will seek the opportunity to seize power. He will find scums and discontents, Gregors, Rossarts, Trants, Kettleblack, Freys and men even lower, to partake in the power. The problem is not the few evil men who top the system. It is the multitude of petty men, ready to murder their neighbours for a crumb of power.

According to legends, the God-on-Earth kept the Great Empire of the Dawn in check. How? We don't know. But after him, the empire failed and went into chaos. I feel only supernatural powers, god-like powers, not driven by human ambitions and wantings, are necessary to keep humanity in check. The Others are the stick to keep bad men in check. Like unruly, immature children.

I'm wondering if our own world is better anchored in goodness. If power is better barred to the wrong men...

1 hour ago, kissdbyfire said:

UnJon and Tree Bran are not in my list of predictions but I agree w/ the general idea. 

Bran will have a very short life otherwise. There will be a price to pay. And it will need time to change men. To forever forget the old time. Hundreds, maybe thousands of years before Bran and Jon can let go. Or when they leave, hell will return. So they must stay as long as possible.

1 hour ago, Lord Varys said:

The Others can break the Wall, but they won't break society. They will stabilize it since people will want a savior to, well, save them. And he or she or they will be (a) living god(s) among the mortals.

I'm counting on that. If the saviors belong to the old system, Barrisan, Stannis, Randyll Tarly, Victarion and such, even Dany, the shit will continue unabated.

If the saviors are Bran, Jon, the Free Folk, ... they could rebuild or change the system. But whoever wants to change the system must be a true living god. Or better, (an) undying one(s), weirwood Bran, undead Jon. Otherwise, the old sins will return and the summer (or spring) will be short.

2 hours ago, kissdbyfire said:

Only I never said all knights are rotten, I said the majority are. Which is true by the way. 

Quite a lot are documented scum, such as Clayton Suggs. And not many that Jame had praise for. How many did Tywin dirty work in the Riverlands? While other where hiding in their castles. Or did and said nothing, only kissing Tywin's butt afterward?

1 hour ago, sweetsunray said:

He knows she's politically stupid, a bad mother and dangerous. "But only if Rhaegar had wed Cersei"...

Rhaegar would have taken care of the children. And Cersei would just have been a pretty queen doing noting. So think Kevan...

Or more likely, Rhaegar would have sent her away, even before the marriage.

59 minutes ago, Lord Varys said:

The Others won't break anything.

Really? I find you optimistic. Is Old Nan stories only wind?

1 hour ago, Lord Varys said:

And again - Barristan Selmy is a great man

This world is a meat grinder. If it needs the Others to break it, so be it. I'll cheer them. Barristan is oiling the gears while Sandor is kicking, trying to derail it (if unwittingly). I have hopes for Sandor. Not so for Barrisan who I find disappointing, for his smugness. Despite his place of respect, he helps nothing. I don't ask him to die charging windmills. But at least to think ... a bit.

On 1/19/2023 at 6:33 PM, Phylum of Alexandria said:

Maybe the dream of spring that GRRM is envisioning will require the death of the old gods, and all other potential swords without hilts.

I believe GRRM has made it clear that the men can make a Hell of Westeros and Essos without magic. Maybe it's worse with it... Sure, most men are worse with it. It needs superhuman moral to yield magic for good.

On 1/19/2023 at 6:33 PM, Phylum of Alexandria said:

And that these entities may indeed be alien to Planetos, a strange invasive species come from afar long ago.

The farther we go from Westeros and the human's places, the more alien the world seem to be. I have the feeling that it is the humans (a recent creation of gods) who are the aliens in this world of magic.

I would think Tywin was not believing Gregor and Amory to be reliable enough. To keep such order secret when the shit would hit the fan. I believe he sent them "to secure" Elia and the children. But knowing the men, he fully expected the outcome. While still able to deny the responsibility. What he told Tyrion must be exactly what he told everyone.

Rickon is the logical heir. No one would question that, even if Robb named Jon heir. And even if, I don't think Jon will be available to rule the North. Not as a king anyway. No more than Bran would. Whatever his fate, Jon is beyond mortality now. Bran too, if he follows BR's path.

Rickon just has to live. He is too young now. He will first need a regent. Jon or Manderly or whoever.

3 hours ago, Lord Varys said:

The guy didn't rebel against anything. He ran away when the fire broke him. He didn't refuse orders out of conviction.

It's not the kind of Jaime's rebellion: backstabbing the king. But Jaime was/is not rebelling. He is just continuing to enforce this system. What do you expect for rebelion? What could he do? He is not Brienne. She has not his fury. He is not nice, not a good fellow to be with. He is kicking blindly in every direction. But he tries, his way, to destroy the system. No very helpful I agree. He is angry at this shame that are the vows. Not a good man. But for me it's better than the beatific fool too proud of himself.

1 hour ago, Odej said:

Sandor also did absolutely everything Cersei and Joffrey comanded him and he really seemed to enjoy killing. I think there was a reason why Joffrey liked him so much.

Yes. He is violent, half mad with rage and blood. Angry with everyone playing this game. Maybe he was angry too with Mycah for pretending. But he sees the world as it is. He knows what these fucking vows mean. And for me, it's better than Baristan, Who is the incarnation of this folly. Not that Sandor is great, but Baristan is worse. The kind man who makes bad kings thrive. And after Sansa, Arya and the Riverlands, maybe Sandor has changed and will find causes worth fighting for.

17 hours ago, KingMaekarWasHere said:

Westerosi history would have gone a whole lot smoother

Then, there would be nothing for GRRM to write about.

Or it would happen only 3 or 4 generations later. And we would not care of that happened in Tywin's time.

2 hours ago, Odej said:

Why?

Barristan served Aerys, Robert and Joffrey, 3 awful kings. He did all they asked. And he is still proud of his job. Is he lobotomized? At least Sandor is rebelling against this system. He is no knight, but a better man.