SerGregori Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Ok. So we all know that Dragons are the biggest, baddest magical creatures around. To the point that just having one on your side pretty much means victory. But...On my third re-read of the series, something jumped out at me. In book 1, when Dany is having fun looking around the market (post Vaes Dothrak) she sees someone selling...Manticores. Flipping MANTICORES. For those unfamilier with Manticore lore (manitlore :P) thats a lion with the wings of a bat and tail of a scorpian. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but that would be a pretty kick-ass thing to have fighting for you, no?Bearing in mind the dragons hadn't been born yet, so buying some manticores might've not been a bad idea. Surely the westerosi would poop their pants at the sight of one of these almost as much as when they seen a dragon.Surely the manticore's existence within the world of ASOIAF means that other mythological beasts are possible. Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dornishman's Wife Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Manticores make a fearsome weapon, but I don't think it's for the battlefield. For one, the ASOIAF manticores are pretty tiny, not like the manticores from rl-Persion mythology. They seem to be mainly very poisonous insects, and as such you'd probably have a very hard time training them as soldiers. But they make extremely dangerous assassination tools - Barristan saves Dany from one later in the books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidoW101MakeR Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Isn't there a horn the greyjoys posses that summons a kraken? I've been expecting the monster to show up at any moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerGregori Posted June 15, 2013 Author Share Posted June 15, 2013 Barristan saves Dany from one later in the books.Oh yeah! I'd totally forgotten about that. Maybe that was just a baby :P I agree, the maticores would not be east to 'train', but dragons don't seem to be either... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k11u Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Probably means this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticora_(genus) a " tiger beetle" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mountain That Flies Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Surely the manticore's existence within the world of ASOIAF means that other mythological beasts are possible. Discuss.If we're just throwing out theoretical possibilities, a minotaur would be pretty damn cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Red Pope Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 There are always the unicorns, the pride of Skagos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongest Of All Belwas Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Yeah, Manticores are some sort of arthropod/arachnid critter. Basilisks seem more intriguing, based on descriptions and the asian themed lands they come from, they sound similar to a Komodo Dragon or another large Monitor Lizard with a venomous bite (and yes, monitors like the Komodo ARE venomous, it was discovered a few years back. Their bites aren't just septic).There are always the unicorns, the pride of Skagos.Skagosi Unicorns are large, one horned goats. Shaggydog killed one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerGregori Posted June 15, 2013 Author Share Posted June 15, 2013 Yeah, Manticores are some sort of arthropod/arachnid critter. Basilisks seem more intriguing, based on descriptions and the asian themed lands they come from, they sound similar to a Komodo Dragon or another large Monitor Lizard with a venomous bite (and yes, monitors like the Komodo ARE venomous, it was discovered a few years back. Their bites aren't just septic).Skagosi Unicorns are large, one horned goats. Shaggydog killed one.Thanks for your input! But what is the point in giving the name 'Manitcore' if its not a reference? If it was just some mad insect, call it a Myrekur or a Denskyre or some other made up name. To use the name from classical fiction ispires thoughts in that direction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongest Of All Belwas Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Mythical Manticores are HIGHLY venomous, as are ASoIaF Manticore Bugs. Also, House Lorch has the Manticore on it's family arms, and our mythical Manticores also exist, in a mythological sense, in Valyria (it's a gargoyle at Dragonstone, built by the Targaryens), so maybe they named the highly venomous bug after it based on the potency of it's venom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Eater Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Isn't there a horn the greyjoys posses that summons a kraken? I've been expecting the monster to show up at any moment.The Celtigars possess it not the Greyjoys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongest Of All Belwas Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 The Celtigars possess it not the Greyjoys.The Celtigars have a badass name, Valyrian blood, a Valyrian Steel Axe, and a Kraken Horn.So cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dornishman's Wife Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 The Celtigars possess it not the Greyjoys.It would be cool if someone sounds it before the series is out.I find it quite interesting that all the special horns we hear of are supposed to summon/wake/control elemental creatures: Claw Isle horn krakens, Valyrian horn dragons, Joramun's horn giants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongest Of All Belwas Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 It would be cool if someone sounds it before the series is out.I find it quite interesting that all the special horns we hear of are supposed to summon/wake/control elemental creatures: Claw Isle horn krakens, Valyrian horn dragons, Joramun's horn giants.The Valyrian Horn burns you up on the inside.... So does the Claw isle Horn cause you to drown via fluid build up in the lungs, and the Horn of Joramun give you internal frostbite? Probably not, but it would be hilarious if magical horns ALWAYS killed their blowers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dornishman's Wife Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 The Valyrian Horn burns you up on the inside.... So does the Claw isle Horn cause you to drown via fluid build up in the lungs, and the Horn of Joramun give you internal frostbite? Probably not, but it would be hilarious if magical horns ALWAYS killed their blowers.Interesting... I assume Sam hasn't tried to sound the Horn of Chekhov which he found beyond the Wall yet, has he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongest Of All Belwas Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Interesting... I assume Sam hasn't tried to sound the Horn of Chekhov which he found beyond the Wall yet, has he?I'm not sure, but I don't think he has.But if he did, perhaps that's how the Fat Pink Mast came to be. Joramun's Horn was a Horn of Male Enhancement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daario's man Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Interesting... I assume Sam hasn't tried to sound the Horn of Chekhov which he found beyond the Wall yet, has he?I think he tried but it didn't work, I can't remember if it was cracked or just full of mud, but for some reason it wouldn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dornishman's Wife Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I think he tried but it didn't work, I can't remember if it was cracked or just full of mud, but for some reason it wouldn't work.Thanks, now that you mention the cracked bit, I was able to find the passage: "The warhorn he [Jon] had given to Sam. On closer examination the horn had proved cracked, and even after he had cleaned all the dirt out, Jon had been unable to get any sound from it." Probably better that way, it's probably to early to blow the Wall down (not to mention the potential risk to the blower). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Pffft, screw that. Kraken army > everything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damon_Tor Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 There are always the unicorns, the pride of Skagos.In ASoIaF, unicorns are apparently a species of very large goat with horns that grow together to form a single spiral in the center of their head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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