Lady_Qohor

Jon and Randyl Tarly - so that Jon could throw in his face what a great and brave person Sam is Robb and Sansa/Arya - it would be interesting to see the girls reaction to their brother after finding out he wouldn't trade Jaime to save them yet was perfectly happy to jeopardise his cause to marry Jeyne Westerling Ramsay and Joffrey

I don't think we know enough about the Ryswells to know the answer to this. In particular we know next to nothing about the character or motivations of Lord Ryswell

That probably contributed. Knowing me however, I think the visible aging of the actors also screwed up my own perception of the timeline

I agree, I think the timeline is definitely reasonable. That said, time seems to pass very slowly in Asoiaf (to me at least) so it might not feel like only three months to some readers. Maybe I was influenced by the show and how visibly the child actors aged but when I first read the books I often forgot that things were happening at a very fast pace but described in such detail that it felt much slower. I remember thinking, how can Lollys still be pregnant, years must have passed since the Kings Landing riot?

These might have contributed to his reputation by the end of RR: - His outrage at the deaths of Elia and her children and demand for justice on their behalf (he seems to be alone in this among the non-Dornish Lords) - His desire that Jaime should join the Nights Watch as punishment for breaking his Kingsguard vows - Returning Dawn to Starfall (in an age where its very much 'finders keepers') He probably also acted honourably during the war, punishing his men for war crimes etc.

Agree, Oberyn definitely seems better than most dads. His children are loved, well taken care of and prepared for the world they live in. My only criticism of him is how he seems to have taken Obara away from her mother in such a brutal and complete fashion that it left her mother in tears. There is also no sign that Tyene, Nymeria or Sarella have had any contact with their mothers. He doesn't seemed to have cracked that being a good single parent doesn't mean that you forcibly cut the other parent out of your child's life.

Mace Tyrell seems to be a better than average father. His children all seem to be loved, well adjusted and prepared for the world they live in. Yes, he undoubtedly had some help from Oleanna in raising them but that doesn't mean he shouldn't get any credit. Also he seems to be accepting of Loras's sexuality which is a big thing in medieval society.

I think you probably have to allow for how emotion may have been affecting her judgement at when she arrested Tyrion. Completely unexpectedly she comes across the man who has been accused of trying to kill her son and its in her power to get revenge and justice. Arresting him was driven more by pent up emotion than reason. I see that decision as fuelled more by grief and love for Bran rather than trust of Petyr. Later on at the Eyrie, once she's had time to think some more, she appears to second guess her decision.

Lasted 5749 days with three kids. I had it on fast so I didn't see most of the log but apparently I made friends with Theon and enemies with Jon, Sam, Hodor, Doran Martell and the Baratheons. The last of my kids took Kings Landing only to be assassinated the next week by Melisandre. The second to last of my kids was assassinated in Dorne by Hodor of all people - who at one point led an army against me. I really wish you could go back all the way through the log, I want to know how my other people died and I really want to know what I did to upset Hodor so much.

I think Ned must be somewhat of a known quantity by this point. By the time of the Tower of Joy he's been Lord of the North and fighting in Robert's Rebellion for many months. Lots of people would have had the opportunity to see him fight in multiple battle and it does not appear that his performance was the stuff of legends.

That's a very risky strategy though. Wouldn't it make more sense for the FM to carry on pretending to be Kingsguard while fighting the Northerners with Dayne and then defeat whoever emerges victorious. What would be the benefits of opening up a second front mid battle? Why opening go against Dayne the moment when it is most useful to have him on your side?

Does that mean you think that Ned actually killed a Faceless Man, given that he ended up with both the sword and the child? If so, that's impressive.

Apologies for any confusion, I meant that victory in one instance of single combat probably doesn't forge instant legendary status. Battles and sieges are much different and are a lot less dependent on luck and chance. Stannis and Tarly formed their reputations on large complicated acts of war, not a random single combat fight. What's more neither were one hit wonders. By the time we meet Stannis he's proven himself in the Siege of Stormsend, taking Dragonstone and victories in the Greyjoy Rebellion. We don't hear much about Tarly's victories but it seems unlikely that a Lord or his age and status doesn't have anything but the Battle of Ashworth to his name. Meanwhile there are other instances when one off single combat matches fail to affect the lasting reputations of their combatants. For instance Loras Tyrell beats the Mountain at the Hands Tourney but everyone still views the Mountain as the more fearsome foe. Also Jorah Mormont defeats Jaime Lannister at the Lannisport Tourney yet afterwards Jaime still seems to have a better reputation as a fighter.

Even if it is widely known that Ned beat Arthur Dayne, people might have assumed Ned was lucky or that Dayne was having an off day. If Luxembourg beats Brazil in a football match, people don't automatically call Luxembourg a great footballing nation. Reputations are based on performances sustained over a long period of time, not one off matches. I imagine the same principle is true for Westeros knights.

You could have Stannis spending the five year gap fighting a not very interesting war against Tormund and the remaining wildlings (Jon's attempts at peace having failed). It would keep Stannis and Jon busy at the Wall. It would also explain why the Boltons and Lannisters leave Stannis alone for five years as they hoped the wildlings would finish him off for them.