Daena the Defiant

But where is the lie?

This. Riverrun sits at the conflux of rivers. It should have flowered into a fabulous mercantile city. Also, the Tullys should have owned a veritable armada of trading boats with entrepots and ports up and down the entire network.

"Ours is the Emo Bullshit"

"We Don't Bounce, We Don't Float"

That's a bingo. It's for Ellinor who is betrothed to a nice young knight but was seduced by the Bastard of Driftmark.

doesn't it take like rotten meat?

This is a fun counterfactual - but we shall assume several things and do away with with several of the blunders and catastrophes that make it possible for King Robb to need a Regency Council in the first place. Lady Catelyn Stark, the actual named Regent of Winterfell Ser Edmure Tully, as representative of Riverrun assuming Lord Hoster is still alive; if Edmure is Lord, then Ser Brynden Lord Wyman Manderly, - after that it becomes more questionable: which of the Stark Bannermen are among the first rank? The Boltons and Karstarks, but they seem unreliable. Lords Flint, Cerywn? Ladies Dustin or Mormont? - similarly, they would need to include a few powerful Riverlords as well - Lord Mallister? Lord Piper? Braken or Blackwood? And also what do you about House Frey? They are the mightiest of the houses sworn to Riverrun, and I guess, in this scenario, Lord Walder is goodfather to King Robb, -

The one that really fascinates me and is the source of much speculation is Nymeria, who was sent as Doran's proxy to sit in the Small Council. Firstly, it seems be extremely uncommon, if not unheard of, for a woman to be seated on the council, let alone a young woman who is not a lady in her own right or even close relative of one of the landowning magnates, never mind that she is also a bastard and prone to wearing her lingerie in public. I really can't fathom how that is supposed to play out. Of course, I am hoping something cool happens with Sarella the Sphynx.

Not to be wet blanket, but foxes are linked with mischief and magic and general trustworthiness in many, many cultures.

This - although we don't actually know if the Tyrell sisters were already married at this point. Also, doesn't Lord Leyton of Hightower have numerous daughters who should be around the right age?

Someone had to say it.

That would make sense, although under the vague system, one of those daughters would be named as the correct heiress. One would think that those daughters would be openly bitching about the Dowager Lady refusing to give up power - unless they are all minors. Once the putative heiress marries, then I'd expect .... the new Lady Dustin and her Lord Protector husband would give Babs the ole heave ho.

If you do enough hand waving, it's .... probably explained that Lady Barbrey has been in power before the Wot5K, and there is an heir out there somewhere but since Lady Barbrey was successfully governing the lands, it wasn't tremendously urgent, whereas Lady Donella was newly thrust into authority in the middle of a war and the whole thing was just too unstable to leave her "un-secured." But yes, it is an inconsistency.

Asha has some viciously cutting remarks at her Queensmoot.

Don't forget she gave her handmaidens and attendants to be used in medical experimentations, and .... there's always this gem of an episode of how a woman in a position of authority should inspire service and loyalty: "That work can wait," Tyrion said. "The chain first." "M'lord, begging your pardon, Her Grace said those as didn't meet their numbers would have their hands crushed," the anxious smith persisted. "Smashed on their own anvils, she said."