The Hoare

Perharps because Steffon wasn't a king

It's not really that weird, clocks aren't really a recent invention. Perhaps they use sundials or water clocks.

If Roose decides to attack, all the hostages that the ironborn took would be killed. How would these northern lords react if all of their families were being murdered because Roose decided to start a war? Why would the ironborn face a northern army in the open field? And we have no reason to believe that the ironborn are less disciplined than any mainlander. To maintain a defensible position you don't really need a a especially strong castle. Just somewhere where you can prevent the knights from attacking. Would they truly risk so much starting a war soo close to the winter? Roose do not have the advantage of home ground there, the Dreadfort is on the other side of the North. The ironborn already conquered and took hostages from the major houses that actualy know the land.

They would. Why the hell would the King allow two of his main loyal vassals to wage war agains't each other? Irrelevant. The North only accept Roose because the IT had hostages and the ironborn kept hostages too. The ironborn would never be able to stand agains't Rodrik anyway. They were being attacked on two front by Torrhen's Square garrison and Rodrik's soldiers. Asha was right, which was why conquering Winterfell was a stupidity. The ironborn have the advantage in any place with navigable rivers or the sea, which was why they made sure to not conquer any castle far from the sea. None of these "strong northmen" are going to care about fighting the ironborn. Karstark(where many died in battle anyway) and Manderly are on the east coast, and more concerned with their own schemings than to any ironborn threat that would never affect their own lands. Lord Bolton would be more concerned with the threat that Stannis posed, as the Lannisters are the source of his power, than to a bunch of ironmen settling in some sparsely populated plot of land. Even if Roose wanted to go into open war agains't the ironborn, it would take weeks to unite a host with enough men to face the ironborn, and during this time the ironborn would surely fortify their position.

My entire point was that Balon shouldn't have declared himself king. After the Red Wedding the North had lost any coin to bargain. It was either accept whatever Tywin decided or die. That's why they accepted the Boltons as their overlords. Famously? Who said that? We have no reason to believe in that. The vikings never fought like that either. Rodrik had much more soldiers than Dagmer. Pretty much like the current North. Only green boys survived Robb's stupidity.

What do you mean with "force of law"? Even the power of the King itself resides on tradition instead of written laws.

This would never happen. With the Crown's support the North would be obligated to accept whatever the King decided. And what do you mean with lack of discipline? The ironborn of old used to rule the entire of the Riverlands and most of the current Crownlands.

All of it not, but the west coast could be theirs if they accepted Joffrey as their king. Only if Robb decided to make peace with the IT, and only if Balon kept claiming kingship. After Stannis's defeat the northern cause was clearly over.

They would never be able to hold the Westerlands. The ironborn probably though Robb would be a terrible military commander, considering his age. Balon's only mistake was declaring himself King. He should've attacked the North and declare his allegiance to either Joffrey or Renly, perhaps Stannis after Renly's death.

Westeros laws are based on customs

He wouldn't start a war agains't the lannisters, he would just put Robert's children under the "guidance" of a Baratheon ally. Tywin wouldn't be able to do anything. If Renly decided to make Eddard the regent, who really would stand agains't it? Everyone knew Eddard was Robert's friend and a loyal vassal after all.

No. See the Second Blackfyre "Rebellion".

To be fair, the ironborn have been abandoned there.

I wouldn't say that. From what we know is happening in the east, it's more likely that he would die in the voyage than actually meet Dany. And Tyrion was right, it's the perfect timing for a invasion, the Seven Kingdoms are on chaos, the Tyrells are being attacked by the IB, the North is divided, the Riverlands are ruined, the Westerlands are virtually leaderless and a opportunist rules the Vale.

Everyone thinks that what they're doing is right