Which region(s) of the Seven Kingdoms would have the best chances to beat an invasion of Daenerys' forces (minus the dragons) ?

[Bowen 747]

On 2/3/2022 at 4:32 PM, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

Of the nine kingdoms composing Westeros below the Wall, which ones do you think would fare the best against an invasion of Daenerys Targaryen's essosi forces (Unsullied, Dothraki, sellswords, meereeneese fighters) with her dragons having been removed of the equation ?

Which ones should at least have chances to repel them ? With what strategy and tactics ?

It doesn't work that way.  Each kingdom will be split in half.  Half will welcome the return of Targaryen rule.  The other half will support the opposition.  We have already discussed the Martells.  Let us use them as the example.  They will obviously get behind fAegon Blackfyre.  But that does not mean that the rest of Dorne will follow the Martells.  It would make little sense for them to do so.  Backing a boy who cannot prove his identity over the Child of Three is just not something that most people would do.  Daenerys is the Child of Three, of House Targaryen.  She looks like a Targaryen and she has dragons.  Her identity is confirmed to be the Targaryen heir. 

[Alester Florent]

1 hour ago, Bowen 747 said:

It doesn't work that way.  Each kingdom will be split in half.  Half will welcome the return of Targaryen rule.  The other half will support the opposition.  We have already discussed the Martells.  Let us use them as the example.  They will obviously get behind fAegon Blackfyre.  But that does not mean that the rest of Dorne will follow the Martells.  It would make little sense for them to do so.  Backing a boy who cannot prove his identity over the Child of Three is just not something that most people would do.  Daenerys is the Child of Three, of House Targaryen.  She looks like a Targaryen and she has dragons.  Her identity is confirmed to be the Targaryen heir. 

But she's also a woman and that may still be a problem for a deeply misogynistic society that has already fought one massive war specifically to try to keep an undisputed Targaryen with dragons off the throne purely because she was a woman.

The sensible thing to do would be to combine Aegon and Daenerys's claims (i.e. through marriage), thus unifying the Targaryen claim and maximising its impact. In the absence of an opposing unifying candidate to rally round (which barring something spectacular from Stannis, doesn't exist), this might well bring neutrals over to the Targ side. This seems to be Aegon's plan, but Dany is both a terrible politician and, in her way, incredibly arrogant, and will probably end up doing something else for reasons of pride or whatever.

[Only 89 selfies today]

On 2/5/2022 at 5:29 PM, Rosetta Stone said:

The dragons are only going to be removed from the equation if you write the novels.  The dragons are the story.  Take all of the books written and published of the Song of Ice and Fire.  They all have dragons.  Dragon dragons and human dragons.  Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion are integrated into Dany's story.  The dragons will go where the prime protagonist goes.  Where she goes, they go. 

Winter has come.  The forces of Westeros are weak because the Starks and the Lannisters created a conflict which got other houses involved.  So no region at this time can repel a combined force of Dothraki, Westerosi allies, Unsullied, and mercenaries.  Tyrell, Ironborn, and many more will flock to the Targaryen banner to put Dany on the throne. 

Westeros is weak.  Winter will only weaken them further.  The only reason for Daenerys Targaryen to negotiate is the desire to preserve resources and avoid a prolonged war.  Daenerys is blessed with a lot of savvy and intelligence.  She will take the path which not only avoids too much compromise but also preserves as much of her resources as possible.  Marriage may be on the table but it does not mean surrendering control of her forces.  She is the rightful ruler of Westeros after all.  It will be similar to her marriage to Hizdahr. 

[Only 89 selfies today]

8 hours ago, Adelstein said:

But she's also a woman and that may still be a problem for a deeply misogynistic society that has already fought one massive war specifically to try to keep an undisputed Targaryen with dragons off the throne purely because she was a woman.

The sensible thing to do would be to combine Aegon and Daenerys's claims (i.e. through marriage), thus unifying the Targaryen claim and maximising its impact. In the absence of an opposing unifying candidate to rally round (which barring something spectacular from Stannis, doesn't exist), this might well bring neutrals over to the Targ side. This seems to be Aegon's plan, but Dany is both a terrible politician and, in her way, incredibly arrogant, and will probably end up doing something else for reasons of pride or whatever.

Did she allow the Dothraki's customs to determine her fate?  She did not.  She chose to avoid Vaes Dothrak.  I see no reason why she should give in to the gender bias in Westeros.  She is an agent of change.  Culture can be changed.  And should be changed. 

 

[Alester Florent]

6 hours ago, Only 89 selfies today said:

Did she allow the Dothraki's customs to determine her fate?  She did not.  She chose to avoid Vaes Dothrak.  I see no reason why she should give in to the gender bias in Westeros.  She is an agent of change.  Culture can be changed.  And should be changed.

She will try to stand up for her rights as she perceives them, of course, and fight to maintain them. But that won't necessarily win her any friends. If the question is, as it was in this instance, about gathering support, rather than just flattening all in her path, then being a woman is a hindrance in that respect and she would find that part of the job easier if her claim were combined with that of a husband.

Aegon is, of those available, the best such option. Quentyn was a reasonable one, since he came with Dorne attached, but he's no longer on the cards. Hizdahr, meanwhile, does nothing for her Westerosi claim and probably hinders it further, since nobody will want a Ghiscari slaver near the throne, and it prevents her from making useful marriage alliances on arrival. So he'll have to go.

[Aldarion]

On 2/7/2022 at 10:51 AM, rotting sea cow said:

The Reach forces are nearly intact, but Euron and its ironborn are a greater threat than people imagine. We can be sure that the Redwyne fleet will be destroyed. Euron has anywhere between 30k to 100k fighting men who can land anywhere. So the Reach need to keep men spread out if they want to prevent massive damage. Furthermore, it might be possible that the army encircling Storm's End will be destroyed by Aegon, unless they surrender (another possibility). Yes, the Reach is up to a nasty surprise next book.

 

Where the hell is he going to get 30 000 to 100 000 men? Should be impossible, unless he recruits zombie mermaids.

On 2/7/2022 at 10:51 AM, rotting sea cow said:

Yes, I agree here, and a good military commander will be fundamental to make good use of these forces. Numerical advantage is assured however. Dany may have anywhere between 100k to half a million of Dothraki screamers. Hundred of thousands of (former) slave soldiers (think of the Volanese tigers for example), she can hire dozens of sellswords companies and she will have dragons.

 

Again, where is she going to get such forces, and how is she going to transport them to Westeros? Half a million Dothraki screamers is likely more than the entire population of Dothraki - even Mongols could not get that many troops overall, let alone in one place. And hundreds of thousands of former slave soldiers - again, from where? And even if she does get such numbers, she wouldn't be able to use them all in Westeros.

 

 

[Rondo]

Only a few houses will resist.  Daenerys will come to Westeros because of an invitation to rule.  It is not going to be an invasion because Westeros is hers.  She inherited Westeros from her brother, Viserys.  

The people will have had enough of the suffering brought upon them by the war of the five kings.  Add winter to their misery and they will look back to the days of Targaryen rule and wish its return.  Robert, Robb, Euron, Jon Snow, Jaime, and Cersei have wrecked Westeros.  The people will grow weary.  I would be surprised if the people don't overthrow Cersei soon.  The watch has already overthrown Jon already.  The Freys overthrew Robb.  Littlefinger, Sansa, and Harry will be the next to get the Louis XVI ending.  

 

 

 

[A_upton]

Has to be either the north or the vale. If her army invade the north they would have to land via ship somewhere or try to attack via moat calin. The vale the army would have to land in gull town and try assault the bloody gate which would very difficult. Dorne has good natural defences like the mountains / terrain and the heat.