Welcome back one again!
As you may or may not know, Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire has its own Tumblr page (as well as its own Twitter and Facebook pages). Even more excitingly, we here at the blog have partnered with ASOIAF University to answer questions about A Song of Ice and Fire. We – that is, NFriel and I – take the text-based questions submitted to us, write up thoughtful text-based answers, and publish these answers on the Tumblr.
So every Monday we present to you The Ravenry. We collect the questions we’ve answered during the previous week over on the Tumblr in post form, with a brief description of each, and publish it here, and link that post on Twitter and Facebook as well. Lot of at-length questions and responses, with some lengthy meta on Barristan Selmy, Euron Greyjoy, Dragonstone as a holding, three certain pies, a new theory on why Jaehaerys bypassed Rhaenys the Queen-Who-Never-Was, and a 1,500 word piece on why Robert’s Rebellion and Renly’s Rebellion were different beasts.
Without further ado, here’s The Ravenry for the week of December 7:
- NFriel denies that warging and Targaryen-style dragontaming are the same thing.
- NFriel discusses which among Aegon III’s three daughters would be good at ruling.
- SomethingLikeALawyer foresees a Dothraki invasion of Westeros failing quickly.
- NFriel outlines what turned Westeros off to ladies in power (hint: Rhaenyra).
- NFriel defines the word ‘fair’ in the arcane usage of the past.
- NFriel clarifies that the Donation of Alysanne was brilliant, but that does not make it a good idea.
- NFriel points out Viserys’s big mistake in starting the Dance of the Dragons.
- SomethingLikeALawyer details his thoughts on Criston Cole.
- NFriel speaks on the times a seated lady may surrender her seat for a different one.
- SomethingLikeALawyer predicts Rowan and Tarly will join Aegon.
- SomethingLikeALawyer answers why the Ironborn wouldn’t raid Dorne.
- NFriel concludes that Barristan was a horrid hypocrite.
- SomethingLikeALawyer gives a run-down on the green council.
- SomethingLikeALawyer goes into why Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke hate each other.
- NFriel talks at length about Dragonstone as a holding versus just a title.
- NFriel offers how betrothals and marriages are broken in Westeros.
- NFriel posits how Orivel the Open-Handed got his shameful name.
- SomethingLikeALawyer criticizes Euron as a commander, follows up by pointing out Euron’s lack of follow-through on his plans.
- NFriel hypothesizes what a Stannis-Cersei union would be like.
- NFriel sadly lays out how little a choice Visenya had in her marriage.
- SomethingLikeALawyer agrees that the R+L=J reveal will devastate Jon.
- SomethingLikeALawyer shows why the joust is preferred as the knightly art.
- SomethingLikeALawyer doubts there was bad blood between Houses Stark and Dayne.
- SomethingLikeALawyer explains why Arthur Dayne didn’t counsel Rhaegar against his plan.
- SomethingLikeALawyer dismisses Stannis marching to Bitterbridge to pick up the Reachmen foot.
- SomethingLikeALawyer tallies up the Northern houses and their fighting strength.
- SomethingLikeALawyer answers why no one just eliminated all of the ironborn.
- SomethingLikeALawyer guesses the reaction of the people to the Others will be incredulity and horror.
- SomethingLikeALawyer hypothesizes how Tywin would take the city if he was looking to mitigate civilian casualties.
- SomethingLikeALawyer ponders the reactions of other players would react if they conclusively knew Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen were bastards.
- SomethingLikeALawyer thinks on if the Dothraki following Daenerys would integrate into Westeros or return home.
- SomethingLikeALawyer touches on the possible uses for Manderly’s fleet.
- NFriel wonders on whether the ‘Strong Bastards’ had any suspicion on their parentage, and clarifies that it was Gyldayn who referred to it as treason.
- NFriel acknowledges some kinship between Arthur Dayne and Rhaegar, but doubts it means much.
- NFriel showcases some similarities between the Prince that was Promised and Azor Ahai prophecies.
- NFriel declares that only a king can legitimize a bastard.
- NFriel writes up some details on Robb’s input needed to legitimize Larence Snow.
- SomethingLikeALawyer doesn’t believe that a dragon is necessary to rule Westeros, and points to good government as a sounder policy.
- SomethingLikeALawyer looks at Daenerys’s role as half fantasy Chosen One and half biblical prophetess.
- SomethingLikeALawyer reasons out why there was no holdings at the Blackwater Rush.
- SomethingLikeALawyer concludes that Roose intentionally threw the Battle of the Green Fork, his possible motives, and his plans for selling the victory to Robb.
- SomethingLikeALawyer charts out Duncan’s fighting and jousting prowess.
- SomethingLikeALawyer lists out the strength of the Iron Islands noble houses.
- NFriel uses Wyman’s reasoning to demonstrate that Frey Pies were not a violation of guest right.
- NFriel doesn’t assign any particular importance to Rhaegar’s nickname of the Last Dragon.
- NFriel goes in-depth as to why Rodrik the Reader is so confident and collected – Asha/Rodrik 2016!
- NFriel speculates on Barristan’s motives on why he does not give her the full low-down on Aerys II.
- SomethingLikeALawyer ponders why Larys Strong elected to die rather than go to the Wall.
- NFriel ruminates on why the Northern exiles named themselves “The Company of the Rose.”
- NFriel breaks down the succession of Ten Towers.
- SomethingLikeALawyer shows some error in uncle-niece unions being accepted as okay and condemned by the Faith as incest.
- SomethingLikeALawyer rejects the Euron-Cersei marriage theory.
- NFriel shoots down the notion that Daeron the Daring didn’t die at Tumbleton and was one of the pretenders claiming to be him.
- NFriel shares her thoughts on why Daeron I and Aemon the Dragonknight were never wed.
- SomethingLikeALawyer dismisses the idea that Arya will become the First Sword of Braavos.
- SomethingLikeALawyer dons his campaign manager’s hat for Asha to become Iron Queen.
- NFriel demonstrates that Rhaenyra was a terrible monarch, and doesn’t believe that losing her children was an excuse.
- SomethingLikeALawyer assents in the power of archery, and gives the Westerosi views on the craft.
- NFriel hands out some possible explanations as to why Silverwing was never tamed and ridden again.
- NFriel gives her take on the fire that took out Lyonel and Harwin Strong.
- SomethingLikeALawyer examines Dorne and their opinion on guest right.
- NFriel jumps inside Jaime’s head to see if he truly believed Tywin wouldn’t hurt Rhaegar’s kids.
- NFriel channels Old Nan to prove that the gods do not curse one who knowingly makes another a cannibal.
- SomethingLikeALawyer writes an essay explaining why Robert and Renly had two different motives for rebelling.
- NFriel gives some thoughts on Maegor and wonder if he’ll ever reappear.
- SomethingLikeALawyer uses history to prove that a new dynasty invalidates the claims of the old one.
- SomethingLikeALawyer states that Rohanne is correct in her notion of ‘pissing contests,’ and that life is terrible for women in Planetos.
- SomethingLikeALawyer theorizes why Jaehaerys bypassed Rhaenys for Baelon the Brave.
As always, we love to hear your text-based questions, so if you have a burning question about ASOIAF, click this link to send us a raven.
Until next week,
SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King
Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire 