Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 One of the powers and opportunities that Ned had when Robert made him Hand of the King was to bring changes and replacements to the Small Council which means that he could have dismissed at least one or two members of the Small Council to replace them by people he trusted more or wanted to become closer to in order to prevent the Lannisters coup that Ned was foreseeing. Knowing this, whose allies or bannermen loyal to him do you think that Ned should have called to King's Landing to make them members of his Small Council ? At which positions ? What would have been the changes in the balance of powers and other consequences with them ? Also which members of the Council do you think that he would have removed and replaced in priority if he had used that power, even knowing about the true colors and motivés of the Small Council members such as Pycelle, Littlefinger Varys and Renly ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craving Peaches Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Realistically he wouldn't be able to remove anyone because Robert would probably put them right back again. He probably has the best chance of dismissing Littlefinger and possibly Varys but Robert will definitely want both of his brothers to stay and Pycelle he would need good reason to dismiss since Pycell is chosen by the citadel and so is supposedly neutral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 29 minutes ago, Craving Peaches said: Realistically he wouldn't be able to remove anyone because Robert would probably put them right back again. He probably has the best chance of dismissing Littlefinger and possibly Varys but Robert will definitely want both of his brothers to stay and Pycelle he would need good reason to dismiss since Pycell is chosen by the citadel and so is supposedly neutral. I doubt it, Robert has never been very interested in ruling and aside from naming Jon Arryn and his brothers and later Ned, he seemed happy to let Jon name and replace members of the Small Council as he saw fit. I doubt he would have reinstated men removed by Ned nor would have made a ruckus of it if Ned placed men such as Wyman Manderly or Yohn Royce on the Small Council. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astarkchoice Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Theres few he could have altered he has no reason to suspect pycelle , roberts brothers are sound(sorta) , varys he has no one to replace him.with (roose would be a good choice though if he had reason to repace him ) and of course his own wife told.him to trust littlefinger who seemingly has a rep.from the vale.of vastly increasing revenue anyway! So for changes hmmm maybe placed jory or someone honest like him in charge of the gold cloaks , if he suspected LF (or just wanted a 2nd opinion on where all the money went) hes shown he can reach out and use bravosi experience (his daughters water dancer , bravos is across the sea from the north so there prob is strong trade and plenty of northern knowledge of that area) thus ned might ask the iron bank for accountants etc to reasses things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 2 hours ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said: One of the powers and opportunities that Ned had when Robert made him Hand of the King was to bring changes and replacements to the Small Council which means that he could have dismissed at least one or two members of the Small Council to replace them by people he trusted more or wanted to become closer to in order to prevent the Lannisters coup that Ned was foreseeing. Knowing this, whose allies or bannermen loyal to him do you think that Ned should have called to King's Landing to make them members of his Small Council ? At which positions ? What would have been the changes in the balance of powers and other consequences with them ? Also which members of the Council do you think that he would have removed and replaced in priority if he had used that power, even knowing about the true colors and motivés of the Small Council members such as Pycelle, Littlefinger Varys and Renly ? Hand of the King- Ned Stark Grand Maester- Marwyn Master of Laws- Renly (i'd prefer to have him on hand than not) Master of Ships- Stannis (Prior to Roberts death) Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Sir Barristan Selmy Master of Whispers Sir Rufus 'The Red Wolf' Bolton Master of Coin Wyman Manderley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 23 minutes ago, Alden Rothack said: Master of Whispers Sir Rufus 'The Red Wolf' Bolton OC characters don't count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 6 minutes ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said: OC characters don't count. I can't use Manderley twice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifth Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Melisandre would make a great master of whispers, if she could be trusted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 1 minute ago, sifth said: Melisandre would make a great master of whispers, if she could be trusted. she can't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King_Tristifer_IV_Mudd Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 He should’ve removed them all and put his own people as most Hands would have. I’m sure Robert would’ve allowed his friend to do it at his discretion. Pycelle would’ve been the only issue that would’ve probably stayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astarkchoice Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Ok assuming ned wants a proper clear out Hand: himself Master of laws: stannis = places him in a powerful position to soothe his ego, will be utterly ruthless and tireless in persuing justice and rooting out corruption. Will push to crack down on vice but ned can push back on that. Insist 1st new law declared to all lords is that all currently held prisoners to be offered chance to be sent to the wall unless murderers or rapists etc they will get sent regardless Master of ships : lord paxter rydwynne , the man runs the largest military and trading fleet in westeros hes perfect for the role. Master of whispers: roose bolton =brings the head of the most traditionaly rebellious house with him AND roose would be great at the role, excellent at keeping and getting secrets from people (even supressing ramsays crimes) ...he may begin with fleying secrets from varys and maybe even LF before he goes. Add in the crowns finances for a force of snitches and hes in hogs heaven Grand maester: id send pycelle home citing concern for his fake weak old man routine and ask for someone fit and young Commander of the kingsguard : keep on ser barristan but insist on jamie being released and replace him with someone like loras and at the same time replace blout,greenfield and trant with swann or other decent fighters Master of coin: id invite tywin or kevan lannister given half the crowns debt is to them and insist they bring in experts hired from the iron bank to check littlefingers accounts and investments etc. Commander of the goldcloaks: hand this to greatjon umber , putting the goldcloaks undersomeome reliable (rooting out the unreliable ) and having the big man protecting your back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Stag Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Ned very likely had some say who was on the small council, if not directly he likely could have convinced Robert on some changes. I don't think that Ned really moved to make some changes as he trying solve Jon Arryn's murder, that was his initial focus. However: Master of Ships: Stannis arguably deserted the role. Ned should have reached out, if he declined to come back, then Ned should have replaced him with Wyman Manderly. He is capable enough, and this gives Ned a much needed ally at court. Master of Coin: Mace Tyrell, if for no other reason than some powerful new allies / players are going to be needed counter the Lannister's power and influence. Not a member of small council (initially), but get rid of Janos Slynt and replace him Yohn Royce or one of the Royce boys. This again give Ned an ally, Robert will not likely object as he seems friendly with Yohn Royce and we get someone who isn't corrupt in the position. Additionally, Ned should have looked for a new Squire and a Page from houses outside the North to try and build some minor alliances with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevets Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Ned's got bigger fish to fry than changing the membership of the small council. He's mainly focused on solving Arryn's murder and figuring out what Stannis is up to. He has no real reason to suspect anyone of disloyalty, dishonesty, or incompetence, so no good excuse to replace anyone. And those he might suspect the most, like Baelish or Varys, he has no good replacements for. If he'd been around longer and was more secure in his position, changes might have been made. He would have more authority and could search out replacements for the difficult positions (masters of coin and whispers mainly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 5 hours ago, Nevets said: Ned's got bigger fish to fry than changing the membership of the small council. He's mainly focused on solving Arryn's murder and figuring out what Stannis is up to. He has no real reason to suspect anyone of disloyalty, dishonesty, or incompetence, so no good excuse to replace anyone. And those he might suspect the most, like Baelish or Varys, he has no good replacements for. If he'd been around longer and was more secure in his position, changes might have been made. He would have more authority and could search out replacements for the difficult positions (masters of coin and whispers mainly). He really doesn't, he has no reason to trust any of them part from Stannis and Selmy who he knows from the Greyjoy Rebellion, as for Varys specifically, hes either imcompetent or he knows who killed Jon Arryn and hasn't brought it to the king, the first makes him unfit for his position and the second makes him a traitor Ned doing nothing to get his own people into position is why he died Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craving Peaches Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 8 hours ago, Green Stag said: Ned should have reached out, if he declined to come back I think he tried, but either Pycelle made sure the letter wasn't sent or Stannis didn't respond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Craving Peaches said: I think he tried, but either Pycelle made sure the letter wasn't sent or Stannis didn't respond. If I was Ned I'd send someone directly to Stannis preferably before I leave Winterfell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craving Peaches Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 2 minutes ago, Alden Rothack said: If I was Ned I'd send someone directly to Stannis preferably before I leave Winterfell Had Stannis left at that point? If so, he's not responding to any messages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alden Rothack Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 3 minutes ago, Craving Peaches said: Had Stannis left at that point? If so, he's not responding to any messages. I don't think he left until Robert came back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevets Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Alden Rothack said: If I was Ned I'd send someone directly to Stannis preferably before I leave Winterfell 1 hour ago, Craving Peaches said: Had Stannis left at that point? If so, he's not responding to any messages. Stannis was already gone when Ned arrived in Kings Landing. And travelers to Dragonstone weren't being allowed to leave. So Ned essentially has no means of communication with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifth Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 He should have kept Renly and got rid of everyone else. Littlefinger and Varys first. Luwin or Pylos would be good replacements for Grand Maester. Wyman Manderly would be great for Littlefingers job. Replacing Varys will be the hard part; I honestly can't think of anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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