Legitimate_Bastard

Hear, hear! So, when the wheel gets broken will be looking at some sort of constitutional monarchy? Or would Westeros fall afoul and end up with Estates? The Lords, The Faith, The Smallfolk? I love how this conversation has evolved.

There are def. exceptions. Asha does not conform that is for sure. Would she have been all that if Theon wasn't sent off North you reckon? Are there any other examples of female Ironborn who take on such roles?

Agree on sending Euron to the NW. Shows how foolish Balon was not to see ahead there. Either overly self confident or just dumb. Idk which. Is it even worth looking at his actions through a modern societal lens? Westeros isn’t know for its equality. The Iron Islands even less so, I would argue. The dude allowed Salt Wives - that kills any argument that he was somehow not patriarchal. Unmarried grown daughter... I would not cite that as evidence of Balon being progressive. It is evidence of a badass female - cant give Balon credit for that! Asha as heir was a good choice in one sense, sharp as a tack and strong etc. - but did he really think she would be acclaimed as Queen? Another lack of foresight with Euron.

@Seams on the warlock/sorcerer line - I think you are right.There is more to be unpacked. I always felt like the citadel are more involved too. I wonder why some of the surviving mummers were heading for Oldtown. Methinks their crypto boss might live there.

This is funny because the portion of the books that feature Ser Robert Strong always put me in mind of Hodor. Bran could take control of a body that does not (I assume) have a mind that would issue protest... Morally speaking, if Bran begins to feel guilty for taking control of Hodor and refuses to do it anymore, would Strong provide him a loophole? My brain then wants to go down the avenue of “what else is there to Qyburn and his backstory”? His proximity to the Gods Eye always made me hope that he is an older Bran, somehow back from the future. He has figured out how to reanimate his own broken legs and does the same to the Mountain, but on a much larger scale. Crackpot with no evidence anywhere I can think of. LOL. The death/crow/Bran/Qyburn connection is more interesting than meets the eye. Fun to think about if nothing else. Bring on the chastisement! I expect it and am waiting

Anything is possible.

Glad you got a laugh. I LOL all the time on here.

The prince/king part I cannot reconcile. Other than - when the Lady Stark and Bael were involved, he was not yet a King? I'm grasping at straws LOL But I do think it is possible Dareon heard the song, perhaps from another NW brother? Dareon spent time at Eastwatch and could have rubbed shoulders with people Mance knew, just like Jon did. Eastwatch does trade with some Free Folk, so it is at least possible. Seems other southerners are aware of the song/tale. Not likely, agreed.

My money is on this particular stupid lady (Lady Stark) The prince was Bael.

I agree with that.

If Joff had brown hair Jon Arryn wouldn't have been murdered, because there would have been nothing for him to have pried into. Ned thusly would not have been asked to Hand. The Starks would not have left Winterfell and we wouldn't have a story. That incest is important!! Not to say it wouldn't all have ended the same anyway - but I think not, at all. It would be a totally different story, potentially no war of the 5 kings etc.

Night's Blood - Dissection

I would enjoy something like that. The Weirwoods and the COTF are surely going to be involved.

Yeah I am with you - I don't see that happening either. Although I don't think that Melisandre will resurrect him either - I could see the COTF having a hand in bringing him back though. Somehow. Maybe Bran sees it and performs some intervention.

Is it possible that Bloodraven already did this with Coldhands? Reason I say this is becuase of the fact Coldhands rides an elk, and that green men are known to also ride elk. Plus, Leaf says that Bloodraven "has lived beyond his mortal span, and yet he lingers" and also says of Coldhands "They killed him long ago". Could Bloodraven have skinchanged in to Coldhands so he has a literal set of legs and kept him 'alive' enough to use?