This Small Question Thing

[The Sleeper]

He rode well at the Hands Tourney and made the quarterfinals, so he seems to have some good skill. I wasn't saying Egen is a slouch by any means, but he is certainly older and slower than some of the others, and was Captain of the Guard based on past rep and honor more than other things I image (1 - he got worked by Bronn, 2 - the best fighters are not always the best leaders).

I expect Corbray would have been smart enough not to fight in full armor like Egen did, as well.

Lady Forlorn would have made a lot of difference on it's own and Corbray had a lot of experience in duels. Yeah, I think it's fair to say Bronn would have had a much harder time with him.

[Iron-born]

Ok, this is probably an obvious question but I'm just gonna go ahead and ask.

It was my understanding that the bannermen sworn to a Great House must serve to whoever holds that House's holdfast. Like, the bannermen are attached to the castle, not to the family. I thought that this is why Stannis had to kill Cortnay Penrose and take Storm's End so Renly's bannermen would go to him instead.

However, if this is true, then why Robb's bannermen didn't go to Theon when he took Winterfell? Are the people in the north just too loyal? Also, again, if this is true, does this means that Aegon will get some of Stannis' bannermen if he takes Storm's End?

Please, don't kill me if this is too stupid :dunce:

[Foxhound]

No, they're sworn to the family. When Renly died most of his bannermen went over to Stannis immediately. They were already on his side when he talks to Penrose. Stannis needed Storm's End for the castle itself as well as to get Edric Storm. Losing your castle is a big blow to your prestige and power, but your bannermen still owe you their allegiance. And I'd imagine those who have stuck with Stannis are in it to the bitter end. The only people who aren't sworn to the family are maesters, at least in theory.

[Summer is Ending]

Ok, this is probably an obvious question but I'm just gonna go ahead and ask.

It was my understanding that the bannermen sworn to a Great House must serve to whoever holds that House's holdfast. Like, the bannermen are attached to the castle, not to the family. I thought that this is why Stannis had to kill Cortnay Penrose and take Storm's End so Renly's bannermen would go to him instead.

However, if this is true, then why Robb's bannermen didn't go to Theon when he took Winterfell? Are the people in the north just too loyal? Also, again, if this is true, does this means that Aegon will get some of Stannis' bannermen if he takes Storm's End?

Please, don't kill me if this is too stupid :dunce:

Men give oaths to their lords not castles.

[Iron-born]

Oh, ok, thanks!

[RumHam]

Lady Forlorn would have made a lot of difference on it's own and Corbray had a lot of experience in duels. Yeah, I think it's fair to say Bronn would have had a much harder time with him.

Doesn't Lysa also insist that Egen fight with Jon Arryn's sword? I seem to remember Catlyen thinking he would be more comfortable with his own sword.

[Summer is Ending]

Doesn't Lysa also insist that Egen fight with Jon Arryn's sword? I seem to remember Catlyen thinking he would be more comfortable with his own sword.

Yes.

Ser Vardis held out a gauntleted hand, and his squire placed a handsome double-edged longsword in his grasp. The blade was engraved with a delicate silver tracery of a mountain sky; its pommel was a falcon’s head, its crossguard fashioned into the shape of wings. “I had that sword crafted for Jon in King’s Landing,” Lysa told her guests proudly as they watched Ser Vardis try a practice cut. “He wore it whenever he sat the Iron Throne in King Robert’s place. Isn’t it a lovely thing? I thought it only fitting that our champion avenge Jon with his own blade.”

The engraved silver blade was beautiful beyond a doubt, but it seemed to Catelyn that Ser Vardis might have been more comfortable with his own sword. Yet she said nothing; she was weary of futile arguments with her sister.

[Lux in Tenebris]

Yes.

Ser Vardis held out a gauntleted hand, and his squire placed a handsome double-edged longsword in his grasp. The blade was engraved with a delicate silver tracery of a mountain sky; its pommel was a falcon’s head, its crossguard fashioned into the shape of wings. “I had that sword crafted for Jon in King’s Landing,” Lysa told her guests proudly as they watched Ser Vardis try a practice cut. “He wore it whenever he sat the Iron Throne in King Robert’s place. Isn’t it a lovely thing? I thought it only fitting that our champion avenge Jon with his own blade.”

The engraved silver blade was beautiful beyond a doubt, but it seemed to Catelyn that Ser Vardis might have been more comfortable with his own sword. Yet she said nothing; she was weary of futile arguments with her sister.

Just reread this chapter. God, Lysa is annoying and stupid.

[ACVG]

Another question. Ramsay Snow knows that Bran and Rickon are alive somewhere, and mostly through that, even Roose Bolton knows this fact. Both of them would surely know Winterfell and The North isn't fully secured to be theirs until all the Stark heirs are put to sword. Has there been any indication in the books that the Boltons are actively pursuing Bran and Rickon, hoping to find him somewhere in the North?

Ramsay has also tried his "girls" (his group of dogs) to kill wolves

[ser naes yennet]

It was Lord Whent's Tourney at Harrenhal. Harren Hoare (he was Lord Hoare) and his heirs were killed by Aegon's dragons the day they finished Harrenhal.

Edited because I was also a little bit wrong. Yikes.

Yes, my bad. i had the name wrong, kumped to correct to quick and didn't think all the way through.

HODOR!

[ACVG]

Where weren't the Tullys in attendance at the Tourney of Harrenhal ( like Lysa or Cat)

The Whents are Tully bannermen, isn't it rude that everyone else comes, but they didn't

Why wasn't Cersei there either?

[Fire Eater]

Where weren't the Tullys in attendance at the Tourney of Harrenhal ( like Lysa or Cat)

The Whents are Tully bannermen, isn't it rude that everyone else comes, but they didn't

Why wasn't Cersei there either?

Cersei wasn't there because Tywin didn't want to be there where Jaime was given a white cloak.

It isn't considered rude if your overlords don't come to your tourney, none of the Tullys came to the tourney at Whitewalls.

[Dr. Pepper]

Where weren't the Tullys in attendance at the Tourney of Harrenhal ( like Lysa or Cat)

The Whents are Tully bannermen, isn't it rude that everyone else comes, but they didn't

I don't think it's considered rude not to attend a tourney. Though it is curious that Hoster wouldn't attend considering his wife was a Whent and there was a betrothal agreement with the Starks. Apart from just not being interested in tourneys, a couple reasons for not attending could be that the Littlefinger/Brandon/Lysa fiasco had recently occurred or Minisa Whent's death. It's probable that keeping Lysa out of the spotlight for a bit was necessary plus it could have been shameful or something that his ward had requested a duel of the heir of a great house. Another reason, though highly improbable, would be that his wife had recently died. Improbable because it seems she died much earlier, but it's not really clear how many years after Edmure was born that she and babe died in childbirth.

[Lady Kelsey]

Sooo.. this may have been discussed already but.. I was just thinking.. Does the valonqar (sp?) necessarily have to be Cersei's little brother? It's "the valonqar" not "your valonqar." I think I just need some sleep and this probably doesn't make any sense at all, but any thoughts?

Be nice, y'all.

[Fire Eater]

Sooo.. this may have been discussed already but.. I was just thinking.. Does the valonqar (sp?) necessarily have to be Cersei's little brother? It's "the valonqar" not "your valonqar." I think I just need some sleep and this probably doesn't make any sense at all, but any thoughts?

Be nice, y'all.

There are different theories regarding Cersei's valonqar. One is that it could be Jaime, who was born right after Cersei, given the foreshadowing:

I cannot die while Cersei lives, he told himself. We will die together as we were born together.

We will leave this world together, as we once came into it.

"If he were dead, I would know it. We came into this world together, Uncle. He would not go without me."

[Black Wolf Smith]

Cersei wasn't there because Tywin didn't want to be there where Jaime was given a white cloak.

I could be wrong, but I always thought that 1. Tywins argument with the MK was over Aery's not even considering Cersei as match for Rhaegar. 2. That Tywin left KL and quit being the Hand. 3. He called Cersei back to Castle Rock and keep her there. 4. The MK made Jaime a KG to get back at Tywin. 5. That Tywin did not know Jaime was being may KG until after it happened.

Sooo.. this may have been discussed already but.. I was just thinking.. Does the valonqar (sp?) necessarily have to be Cersei's little brother? It's "the valonqar" not "your valonqar." I think I just need some sleep and this probably doesn't make any sense at all, but any thoughts?

Thats around the 5th most ask question on the board(easily in top 10) and every body has a different idea of who the valonqar is.Just search and you will find all kinds of topics about it, and its not a small question. IMO its Stannis.

[MacNobody]

Hodor?

[FittleLinger]

Do we have any evidence of the dothraki actually taking (ok, breaching in and ravaging) a city? Except the futile attempt against the Unsullied at Astapor? I mean how can a dothraki siege work, except for starving the occupants to death?

[MtnLion]

5. That Tywin did not know Jaime was being may KG until after it happened.

In Meera's story he stayed away because Jaime was being given a white cloak. As I recall the story of Jaime's white cloak, Cersei was instrumental in convincing those necessary that Jaime was worthy when one of the older White Knights passed somewhat mysteriously. It is when it is known that Jaime will be given his cloak that Tywin resigns as Hand and takes Cersei back to Casterly Rock with him. It had been Cersei's intent to give Jaime and herself time together, but the cloak only served to separate them.

[TheCrannogDweller]

Do we have any evidence of the dothraki actually taking (ok, breaching in and ravaging) a city? Except the futile attempt against the Unsullied at Astapor? I mean how can a dothraki siege work, except for starving the occupants to death?

Well, I don't really have an answer, but I've always assumed that the dothraki were based on the mongols of Genghis Khan. And those were a pretty resourceful bunch - they quickly learned how to besiege a fortress and it is even said that they were the first to employ biological warfare - by flinging plague-infested corpses into a city they were attacking.