#Lomas Longstrider

[horizon-verizon]

The amount of fanfics I have seen where Jon hatches dragons, takes over Daenerys’ storyline/one-ups her storyline, and becomes the PtwP is insanely high. Daenerys as a man would have been Aegon the Conqueror come again (even though she IS Aegon the Conqueror come again already). People would treat her like Aragorn rather than Anakin Skywalker or Paul Atreides. Her actions would not have been questioned as heavily. Her fate wouldn’t be deemed as one of madness or death.

A lot of fans hate that Daenerys is the one that brought dragons back in the world, and the only hope for survival in Westeros. If Daenerys doesn’t go to Westeros, everyone dies! There’s no hope to defeat the Others without her, but people still think that she isn’t the Prince that was Promised. And please the Song of Ice and Fire is about a war between Ice and Fire, not someone who comes from Ice and Fire (Jon being the son of a Stark and a Targaryen is not a union of Ice and Fire), it’s a war between the side of death (Ice, the Others) and the side of life (Fire, Daenerys and her dragons).

All true. And I think people purposefully "misunderstand" what the Prince that was Promised & Azor Ahai's roles are in ASoIaF's world's legends so they can deny they both refer to the same person AND that Dany is ultimately neither. That bc the term "ptwp" is used more often by Westeorsi and the term "Azor Ahai" is used more often by Essosi people, that these are two completely different entities. That because the Azor Ahai has a specific mythic story to it (Nissa-Nissa being the sacrifice for AA's sword, the gods in the Yi-Tish [but not exclusively] and how they/humans/Amethyst Empress-Bloodstone Emporer brought about the first Long Night), that the Prince is completely unrelated to Azor Ahai...even though the Valyrian word meaning "prince"--which is where the word that is part of the term in the first place--is a gender-neutral and can refer to a woman.

Other than the word, it is rather because comparatively the "PTWP" has less information or place of origin than the lore for AA that it actually always stemmed from the myth of AA AND is actually just another name for AA. We know Essos and many of its present societies are far older than any Westerosi civilization and we know that both the FM and the Andals came from Essos in their separate migrations and at least the Andals have lived at one point under Valyrian exapnsion and rule. When humans migrate, they bring with them the most relevant or inspiring stories for their cultural and mental survival, not to mention that the stories of AA have existed for millennia in most of Essos, from the Narrow Sea to the where we could touch Sothoryos. Many Essosi cities are inheritors of Old Valyria's rule or have developed their own socieiites much from the remnants of Valyrian rule. Through old Valyria's wide colonization and empire, places with great distances b/t them would have had stories and other things translated through Valyrian or carried through Valyrian devices and for hundreds of years. Much of Westeros' commerce and other sorts of exchanges--we hear several times in AWoIaF of maesters learning some tidbits about some Essosi, scientific, legends of Westrsoi travelers like Lomas Longstrider, etc. Even just the knowledge of how people continue to travel b/t Essos and Westeros provides another way as to how the AA prophecy reached Westeros and just as in real life people develop different names for either the same thing. Melisandre, who travels to Westeros from her mission given to her or iparted to her by the Red Priests uses "PTWP" and AA interchangeably, and says AA more often bc it is the most familiar and the older of the two.

Thereby, that the PTWP prophecy came from Essos and is thus just the most recent iteration for AA is proven and very obvious but people are in extreme denial, ignorant, and/or just purposefully sexist. For god sake's, we have THREE separate sources linking the PTWP to AA: Melisandre, Maester Aemon, and Archmaester Marwyn, with the same refrain of "bleeding star", under which Dany is told to us has already hatched her 3 eggs. PTWP is often pictured as having some sort of sword...a principal part of the AA prophecy contain a story about a "sword", and both often have "light" and fire symbolism to connote driving away the "cold" and "dark" of an all consuming, destructive evil. The "last hero" that supposedly drove away the Others with DRAGONGLASS/obsidian (again, a material often shown to be from Valyrian origins and very connected to Valyrian steel swords).

But even with all this reference to an actual sword, we know a singular sword is not gonna do much against a force such like the Others and even a whole army isn't enough (dead bodies coming back and all): magic and fire that come in the form of dragons--who are fire embodied as well as just magical creatures--to utterly obliterate and "purify" the threat is necessary. The fire x "light" creates swords but is a weapon in of itself, not just an "ingredient", as the Others are a mass elemental problem that needs an elemental solution--fire spreads, swords cannot, when we want to get literal.

It's ironic bc in the metaphorical language and paradigms of fantasy and other sorts of fiction narratives in the West, women are constantly relegated as "material" to be used by men and either they or whatever makes them strong or notable is shaped for another thing so the man/boy can use the new creation to defeat evil...and in ASoIaF, Dany is creator, material, director. In our own formula, she really manifests more as a "goddess". Which is why people are so eager to relegate her back to being "material" for Jon.

[dyannawynnedayne]

Which character parallel do you like the best?

Ned and Stannis: art by @sare11aa11eras (1, 2)

Tyrion and Quentyn: art by @rosenroot (1, 2)

Propaganda is encouraged!

Ned and Stannis

Determination

 That was when Stark said, ‘In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it’s true … but what if we prevail?’

ADWD, Davos I

 This is Stannis Baratheon. The man will fight to the bitter end and then some. 

ASOS, Jaime IX

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tyrion and Quentyn

The Great Essosi Roadtrips

Come moonrise, they were back in their saddles, trotting eastward under a mantle of stars. The old Valyrian road glimmered ahead of them like a long silver ribbon winding through wood and dale. For a little while Tyrion Lannister felt almost at peace. “Lomas Longstrider told it true. The road’s a wonder.”

ADWD, Tyrion III

It was possible to go overland to Meereen, that much was true. The old Valyrian roads would take them there. Dragon roads, men called the great stone roadways of the Freehold, but the one that ran eastward from Volantis to Meereen had earned a more sinister name: the demon road.

ADWD, The Merchant's Man

[marblecarved]

@stormbcrn sent a letter to shireen baratheon: ‘‘ i loved that book you recommended. ’’

prompt: compliments and praise.

It’s peaceful, here in Aegon's garden. Tucked in among tall, dark trees, it's not far from the castle, but it's not close either, thus making it an ideal spot for someone searching for quiet. It's no wonder, then, that Shireen so likes to come here to read her books, if she is not feeling like staying inside Dragonstone's dusty library; She comes here so often, in fact, that if she cannot be found in her chambers or in the library, then it's safe to assume that she is in the garden, with her wooden stag as her sole company.

It seems like today is one such day, but there is a slight difference. Daenerys is here with her, too, and Shireen is glad for the company. Since the queen's arrival, they have not talked much, and so a comfortable silence has settled between the two, but it stirs when Daenerys' voice breaks it, prompting Shireen to pause in her reading to listen, index finger stopping just below the word she was reading while she raises her head. What she says surprises her so, that a rare, bright smile makes its appearance. ❝ You did ? ❞ she then exclaims happily.

The book she recommended is simply titled Wonders, by Lomas Longstrider. It's a book she has ready many times, now, making it one of her favourites. Which is why, when she took it from her pile of books to gently hold it out for her to take, recommending she read it, she quietly hoped she would enjoy it too, and perhaps even tell her all she thought about it. ❝ I'm glad to hear that ! ❞ thus encouraged, she continues: ❝ may I ask what your favourite chapter was, your grace ? ❞ while leaning forward, blue eyes sparkling with joy.

[sebeth]

The World Of Ice and Fire: The Rhoynar Vs Valyria

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

The Valyrians conquered their ancient rivals and proceeded to run wild on Essos. The first Valyrians to arrive near the Rhoyne were adventurers, exiles, and traders.

The Rhoynar made their first mistake by welcoming the Valyrians to their land. The Rhoynar, both the government and religious offices, believed all were welcome to the bounty of Mother Rhoyne. The Valyrians follow the “everything is mine, not yours” philosophy.

Resentment between the two groups increased as Valyrian outposts turned into towns and then into cities. The two most prominent rivalries were between Sar Mell and Volon Therys, a Valyrian town in the lower Rhoyne, and between Sarhoy (a port city) and the Free City of Volantis on the shores of the Summer Sea.

Disputes led to wars. Sar Mell and Volon Therys started the first war over the butchering of the Old Men of the River – gigantic river turtles held sacred as the consorts of Mother Rhoyne.

The First Turtle War lasted less than a month. “Sar Mell was raided and burned” but won the war when Rhoynish water wizards flooded half of Volon Therys, resulting in half the city being washed away.

More wars followed: the War of the Three Princes, the Second Turtle War, the Fisherman’s War, the Salt War, the Third Turtle War, the War on Dagger Lake, the Spice War, and numerous others.

The name of the wars clearly describes either the cause or location of the war. I am intrigued by the “War of the Three Princes”. Is the war still only between Sar Mell and Volon Therys? If so, who is the third prince? Does Volon Therys even have a prince? Were princes rapidly dying?

Yandel notes Beldecar’s History of the Rhoynish Wars as the definitive source of the history of the Rhoynish-Valyrian conflicts.

The wars caused the destruction of cities and the death and enslavement of thousands. The Valyrians won most of the battles. The Rhoynar believed in independence and fighting your own battles.  The Valyrians believed in group effort and running home to daddy (the Valyrian Freehold) when they got into trouble. And daddy sent dragons.

The wars occurred over two and a half centuries. The conflicts reached its climax in the Second Spice War. Three Valyrians dragonlords joined the citizens of Volantis in annihilating Sarhoy – the adults were slaughtered, the children sold into slavery, and the city torched.

The destruction of Sarhoy caused the remaining Rhoynar princes to form an alliance. Finally!

Garin of Chroyane, the greatest Rhoynar warrior prince, declared: “We shall all be slaves unless we join together to end this threat.”

Princess Nymeria of Ny Sar disagreed: “This is a war we cannot hope to win”.

Because, you know, dragons!

Nymeria’s warriors wanted to fight so she joined the alliance.

Prince Garin assembled the largest army Essos had ever seen at Chroyane – 750,000 strong.

Garrin’s strategy was to keep the fighting close to the Rhoyne believing the Rhoynar water wizards would be able to combat the dragons.

Garrin divided his army into three parts: “one marched down the east bank of the Rhoyne, one along the west, whilst a huge fleet of war galleys kept pace on the waters between, sweeping the river clean of enemy ships.”

Garrin and company marched downward from Chroyane, “destroying every village, town, and outpost in his path and smashing all opposition.”

Garrin’s forces were on a winning streak: defeating a thirty thousand strong army at Sellhorys and destroying the city. Valysar suffered the same fate.

Garrin and company battled a hundred thousand foes, a hundred war elephants, and three dragons at Volon Therys. The Rhoynar won but it was a costly victory.  Thousands burned but Rhoynish archers killed two of the dragons and wounded a third. The water-wizards caused the Mother Rhoyne to “swallow” Volon Therys.

The Rhoynar proclaimed Garrin as Garrin the Great. The Volantenes retreated behind their black walls and begged the Valyrian Freehold for help.

The Freehold responded by sending dragons – 300 dragons or more. Once hundreds of dragons are sent, its game over. Tens of thousands burned. The Rhoyne itself boiled and turned to steam.

The death of the dragons had to be the cause of the Freehold’s overkill response of 300 dragons. The Rhoynar and the Valyrians had been fighting for centuries and the Freehold’s response amounted to “whatever”, but two dragons die and 300 dragons are sent in response?

Dragons are a precious resource to the Valyrians – it’s the backbone of their empire and the reason they’re able colonize everywhere. The Valyrians cannot let the death of dragons stand or allow the dragons to appear weak. There is no way the Freehold wants the death of dragons by mere archers to be widespread knowledge. Can you imagine if the numerous enemies of Valyria realized a highly skilled archer could take out a dragon? It lessens the awe and mystique of dragons. Not to mention every dragon-rider out on a pleasure ride would have to worry over a potential sniper attack from an archer.

Garrin was captured and forced to watch as his fellow Rhoynar were massacred. So many were executed that “their blood turned the great harbor of Volantis red as far as the eye could see”.

The Volantese and Valyrians followed Garrin’s route in reverse- savagely sacking Sar Mell before advancing on Chroyane. Garrin was locked into a golden cage and forced to watch the destruction of Chroyane – his home city.

 Garrin was hung in his cage from the walls of Chroyane. Garrin’s conquerors wanted him to witness the murder and enslavement of his people. Garrin called upon Mother Rhoyne to avenge her people: “That very night, the Rhoyne flooded out of season and with greater force than was known in living memory. A thick fog full of evil humors fell, and the Valyrian conquerors began to die of greyscale.”

Was this an actual divine/magical response or simply the result of masses of corpses being near a body of water? Is this the first incident/cause of greyscale?

Centuries later, Lomas Longstrider “wrote of the drowned ruins of Chroyane, its foul fogs and waters, and the fact that wayward travelers infected with greyscale now haunt the ruins – a hazard for those who travel the river beneath the broken span of the Bridge of Dreams.”

If I remember correctly, Tyrion and company travel through Chroyane in A Dance With Dragons. I believe this is where Jon Connington caught greyscale.

Nymeria, in Ny Sar, hears of the destruction of Sar Mell and Chroyane and decides now is a perfect time to leave Essos.

 Up next: Nymeria’s travels

[thedragonbloody]

~ Fire & Love ~

previous chapter / next chapter

masterlist

CHAPTER 2

Prince Daeron was the youngest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower. A polite and intelligent, but insecure boy - he was known as the gentlest among his two brothers. At the age of six, Daeron had his own dragon, Tessarion, known as The Blue Queen. He spent more time with his dragon than with his siblings, and sometimes in the company of his sister Helaena.

The prince was also close to his nephew Jacaerys, but this changed with time. When he had completed his twelfth birthday he was sent as a cupbearer and squire to Lord Ormund Hightower, his mother's cousin, in Oldtown. So any proximity to his nephews had been left in a trail of nostalgic memories.

And then there was Aemond the second son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent. The prince was born in 110 AC, and was said to be half the size of his older brother, though he became twice as fierce.

Aemond was the only one among his siblings who did not own a dragon, his egg had not hatched and this for many years left him frustrated. During his childhood he was a short and lanky boy, without much fighting skills. The young prince would rather be in the company of books and away from his brother and nephews.

He was constantly the target of mockery, albeit childish, jokes that his brother enjoyed teasing and leading his nephews Jacaerys and Lucerys to mock Aemond.

Besides the looks that many of the court were directing at him, after all, a Targaryen prince without a dragon? He was less of a man in the eyes of his father and brother, and closer to common men to the rest of the court.

Basically, he wasn't much, at least not what they expected of a Targaryen prince - it was all because of an egg that didn't hatch.

The young prince concentrated on fortifying his mind, and became an avid visitor of the library when he wasn't in the Dragon Pit or in his daily lessons with the maesters.

Aemond grew up keeping his insecurities in an old chest, one of those old ones that seem to contain something dangerous and explosive and left it well hidden deep in his insides. He spent most of his childhood not remembering this chest, he got used to it and accepted to be alone in the corners with his books in the Red Keep. But like all old and dangerous chests, at some moment someone would open it - and perhaps it would be the prince himself.

Aemond Targaryen appreciated silence - even if he couldn't always get it. Especially when a tiny, wild-haired figure was present.

Rhaella found Aemond rather weird, yet she never missed an opportunity to pester him. They spent time together at that age when boys and girls tolerate each other more than they attracted.

The young prince was lonely, especially in the presence of his nephews and brother, but too withdrawn to seek out other company - even among the other children of the court.

Aemond found Rhaella too smiling, too chatty, too pleasant... It was true that the prince appreciated silence, but he appreciated his niece's company even more.

On her secret escapes Rhaella would often find the prince reading in the garden or in some corner of the royal library.

"What are you reading this time?" a voice that did not hide smiles would ask, and her hair would come into Aemond's line of sight as he tried to continue his reading. It was always like this.

"Wonders made by man... " would answer the name of the book hiding a smile.

"Lomas Longstrider!" the girl would reply. "Daddy read it to me, did you get to the part about the Titan of Braavos? Doesn't that sound amazing? It sure is. Wouldn't you like to see it someday?" And then she would speak and speak.

And Aemond would listen gladly. Rhaella never mocked or mentioned the fact that Aemond didn't have a dragon, she didn't seem to care a bit. She was more interested in running around and listening to some stories. He didn't need to talk much, didn't need to try and be tolerable to his little niece. He was interesting enough to make her stay by his side for hours.

"Aemond..."

"Hm"

"You're weird you know..." said Rhaella once in a complaining tone.

Aemond was baffled, surprised, almost as if he had been hit with a short, direct slap. He restrained himself to a sneering smile and replied.

"Don't tell me, princess."

Rhaella stared at his face for a few seconds from where she was lying on the grass, but to Aemond it seemed like hours.

"I do tell you, and I'll tell you even more. How is it possible not to like music?"

Aemond blinked over and over again in confusion and sat up.

"I'm weird for not liking music?"

Rhaella raised her arms as if it was obvious.

"Yeah?! And for not finding sphinxes extremely interesting!"

The prince's lips arched slightly and he threw his head back to hide his smile. She really was a silly one - Aemond had thought.

[aurora-light-blog]

The Mysterious Leng

       By Shella Longclaw

Westeros has had to rely on mostly Qartheen resources to inform us about Leng. Colloquo Votar only traveled as far as Qarth and possibly Yin, though he claims to have visited all the islands of the Jade Sea. Like Lomas Longstrider, who claims to have visited Asshai, maesters didn’t believe his claim, nor I do believe Votar’s. My sources of information concerning Leng comes from half Yi Tish half Lengii of Jinqi and Yin. They attest to the fact that there are apes and tigers on the island. As for "ten thousand tigers and ten million monkeys,” this allegation is obvious wrong. Leng has no monkeys. Yi Ti has four different types of monkeys. As for the spotted hunchback ape, the interpreter is partly to blame. There are spotted apes, however hunchback is a famous illness for the spotted apes. They are intelligent. As for hooded apes, I was fortunate enough to see one. I’m not a tall woman. The ape’s height was to my belly. They’re not the size of giants. As for the ten thousand tigers, there are truly just two breeds with five different color furs. This attest to the inaccuracy of previous records. My conclusion for the Qarth influence stems from the statement of “not welcoming outsiders.” A look into the history and culture of the Lengii will help gain insight.

Lengii worship the God of Balance. The Lengii in Leng Ma still worship only him and the god-empress. Some people of Leng Yi worship various gods and goddess of Yi Tish. Since the conquest of Leng by Emperor Jar Har, Lengii and Yi Tish have intermarried. Emperor Jar Joq evilly tried to forced all Lengii to marry Yi Tish in order to dissolve Leng. The great orange eye conspiracy was establish. They fooled the emperor by making him believe that half Yi Tish and half Lengii offspring could have either light orange eyes or golden eyes. Lengii secretly had affairs. The truth was only revealed after Leng gained its independence. How is this important? All of the Maroon emperors were in fact part Lengii. This gives more insight into the Leng. They’re a fierce people, who fought to keep their culture and ways under Yi Tish rule. They’re very strict but fair people, where females play an equal part in government and the army. According to the God of Balance, all men and women are equal. All men are equal. This point contradicts Qarth who practice slavery. 

A Qartheen prince once visited Leng Yi with his slaves. He and his fellow Qartheen were sacrifice to the Old Ones, while their slaves were set free. Lengii are violently opposed to slavery. With the Free Cities practicing slavery, it is a good thing that they only venture to Yin. Though, I saw Summer Isles swan ships in the ports of Leng Yi and Turrani. My dragon and I were barred from visiting the island. Dragons are considered too destructive. They would consume too much food, thus causing the island to be imbalance. The Lengii didn’t harm or threaten me. This could have been because of my fire breathing beast. Yet,other tales stated similar polite behavior.

The most interesting finding is the shared origin of Naath with Leng. According to the Lengii, a group of peacefully Lengii left their home during the great battle against the Bloodstone Emperor. They believe the Naathi are their distant relatives. The Naathi golden eyes, which Lengii shared with them does add some merit to this. We could conclude the Lengii mated with the Summer Isle people and created the Naathi as we know them now. There is another proof. A mysterious group of Lengii called Hunters of the Forest have practice of small poison drinking. It isn’t sorcery. It’s science. They believe if a person consume small amounts of poison, their body will grow stronger than the poison. This might be how the Lengii were able to settle on Naath without dying from the Butterfly Fever. The Hunters of the Forest are skilled assassins. There are no sorcerers on Leng. Interestingly, the warlocks of Qarth are terrified of the Hunters of the Forest. The Lengii don’t fear magic. Some Yi Tish said that, “Leng protects the world from the evils of Asshai.”

The only true mystery of Leng is the Old Ones, who are still alive. They don’t seem to be worshiped by the Lengii. They’re closer to a powerful Small Council. All the rulers of Leng seek their guidance. Only the ruler and their sworn guards can be in their presences and live. Even Emperor Jar Har knew better than approaching them. They are one mystery, which should be trodden carefully. I hope to visit Leng to learn about the island, once I can find lodging for my dragon. The kingdoms of the Far East are not to be fear but understood by their own words. I hope more maesters and explorers venture there.

[izvozvi]

yet the oldest and greatest of the eastern civilizations endures to our present day: the ancient, glorious, golden empire of yi ti. lomas longstrider, awestruck by its marvels, called yi ti “the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes, ruled by one god-emperor.” in ancient days, the god-emperors of yi ti were as powerful as any ruler on earth, with wealth that exceeded even that of valyria at its height and armies of almost unimaginable size.

— the world of ice and fire

asoiaf meme: cultures | the yitish

[joannalannister]

Once, when I was just a girl in the first flush of my true youth, a young boy gave me a glass flower as a token of his love. He was a rare and precious boy, though I confess that I have long forgotten his name. So too was the flower he gave me. On the steel and plastic worlds where I have spent my lives, the ancient glassblower's art is lost and forgotten, but the unknown artisan who had fashioned my flower remembered it well. My flower has a long and delicate stem, curved and graceful, all of fine thin glass, and from that frail support the bloom explodes, as large as my fist, impossibly exact. Every detail is there, caught, frozen in crystal for eternity; petals large and small crowding each other, bursting from the center of the blossom in a slow transparent riot, surrounded by a crown of six wide drooping leaves, each with its tracery of veins intact, each unique. It was as if an alchemist had been wandering through a garden one day, and in a moment of idle play had transmuted an especially large and beautiful flower into glass. All that it lacks is life. I kept that flower with me for near two hundred years

George R.R. Martin, “The Glass Flower”

[klaradox]

THE LANNISTERS: GERION LANNISTER

Gerion was the youngest and most reckless brother of Lord Tywin Lannister. He was said to be a man quick to laugh and had a gift for making others laugh.

Tyrion and Jaime Lannister often refer to Gerion as their favorite uncle.

Gerion was born in 255 AC, the fifth child and fourth son of Tytos Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, and his wife, Lady Jeyne Marbrand. He was healthy, but his mother died within a month of his birth. Though Tytos was greatly saddened by the death of his wife, he soon became enamored of Gerion's wet nurse and made her his first mistress.

Like his brothers, Kevan and Tygett, Gerion was overshadowed by their older brother, Tywin. While Kevan built up a life at Tywin's side, and Tygett tried to be independent, Gerion mocked this "game" and made jokes. Gerion's relationship with his eldest brother was notoriously stormy. At sixteen, Gerion visited the Free Cities on his coming of age tour.

Gerion once gifted King Robert I Baratheon with a gilded dagger, complete with ivory grip and a sapphire on the pommel. He also gifted Tyrion on his name day with the books Wonders and Wonders Made by Man by Lomas Longstrider, and often had Tyrion recite the sixteen wonders of the world. Once when Tyrion was young, he begged his uncle for a dragon for his nameday present, which Gerion found hilarious. Gerion also taught Tyrion some tumbling tricks when he was six or seven, and would praise his skills.

In 276 AC, Gerion participated in the tournament in honor of Viserys's birth at Lannisport, but he was unhorsed by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

In 288 AC, Gerion had a bastard daughter named Joy Hill, whose mother was a common woman named Briony.

Circa 291 AC, Gerion went on a quest to find House Lannister's ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword, Brightroar, and any other treasures that might have survived the Doom of Valyria. Almost a decade passed after his ship, the Laughing Lion, left Lannisport, but Gerion never returned. Lord Tywin sent men to look for his lost brother and they traced him as far as Volantis, where half his crew had deserted him because of his intent to sail into the Smoking Sea. He had been forced to buy slaves to replace them.

This image will be featured on my upcoming map of the Westerlands.

[horizon-verizon]

As the First Men established their realms following the Pact, little troubled them save their own feuds and wars, or so the histories tell us. It is also from these histories that we learn of the Long Night, when a season of winter came that lasted a generation—a generation in which children were born, grew into adulthood, and in many cases died without ever seeing the spring. Indeed, some of the old wives’ tales say that they never even beheld the light of day, so complete was the winter that fell on the world. While this last may well be no more than fancy, the fact that some cataclysm took place many thousands of years ago seems certain. Lomas Longstrider, in his Wonders Made by Man, recounts meeting descendants of the Rhoynar in the ruins of the festival city of Chroyane who have tales of a darkness that made the Rhoyne dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the Selhoru. According to these tales, the return of the sun came only when a hero convinced Mother Rhoyne’s many children—lesser gods such as the Crab King and the Old Man of the River—to put aside their bickering and join together to sing a secret song that brought back the day.

A World of Ice and Fire, pg. 11

[warsofasoiaf]

Do you think Kevan, Tygett and Gerion were aware of Tywin’s orders re Elia and her children, prior to the sack?

Kevan probably knew for certain, he’s framed within the story as always being Tywin’s loyal right-hand man and he never seems to blanch at any of the distasteful things Tywin orders, so he was probably on Tywin’s war councils and probably one Tywin trusted most. 

Tygett probably also did, I’m only less certain not because I think he’d protest, but because I know so little about him especially in regard to Robert’s Rebellion that speaking about things with any certainty is challenging. For example, did Tygett’s relationship deteriorate with Tywin because of his conduct in the war? Did Tyg feel that Tywin’s conduct was grasping and dishonorable, and that instead they should have taken to the field in conventional battle rather than sack a city by falsehood in a more traditional sense of battlefield honor? Was it living in the shadow of the Reyne-Tarbeck revolt? Or was it stemming more from his patronizing attempts to get him named master-of-arms in the Red Keep all the way back in 270 AC? 

Gerion is a little tougher, because his tour of the Free Cities when he was 16 years old runs very close to Robert’s Rebellion (he turns 16 in 281, Robert’s Rebellion begins in 282 though Tywin would not move until the end of it). He may not have been present when Robert’s Rebellion happened, if the tour of the Free Cities took longer than two years or so. The Narrow Sea is relatively easy to cross, and probably only takes a few days to cross from King’s Landing to Pentos, but depending on how he stayed in each city, what city-fathers would guest and fete him within their halls, and what other distractions he might visit. Gerion was fond of Lomas Longstrider’s books, he may have organized an expedition to the Norvoshi caverns mentioned in his Wonders. But it’s also possible that if news of rebellion happened, he cut his journey short and resumed it after the Rebellion was successfully concluded. GRRM has been pretty scattershot when it comes to durations of things, like how the First Blackfyre, Third Blackfyre, and Robert’s Rebellion all take place in a single year. 

This isn’t to say that Tyg or Gerion would give more regard to Elia than Tywin did, I rather doubt that was the case. If Tygett or Gerion had fiercely protested such conduct, I would think that such a row would have been mentioned. But again, we have so little information about Tywin’s brothers in Robert’s Rebellion that we’re simply left to infer what we can from the nuggets that Genna Lannister provides us.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

[marblecarved-aa]

@theprincepromised sent a question: “ What are you reading ? ”

source: error 404 meme not found.

❝ Father ! ❞ exclaims Shireen as she rises up from her seat, meeting him halfway across the room. She is wearing a surprised expression on her face, for indeed she did not hear him enter the library, too engrossed in reading the book to take notice to the creak of door's hinges and approaching steps. Shireen leans forward and takes her father's hand with her own, guiding him back towards the table. Waiting their return is Wonders Made by Man, one of two books written by a famous traveller, Lomas Longstrider. Shireen tells him as much once back on her seat, placing a hand upon the yellow, time-munched pages about The Wall, one of the nine wonders made by man. Among all the books Dragonstone's library contains, Longstrider's books are those Shireen always comes back to, all the while wondering if she, too, will one day gaze upon one of these wonders. 

Closing the book with tenderness after bookmarking the page with a dry leaf, Shireen holds it out with both hands for her father to take, squinting up at him with a wide, curious gaze. ❝ Have you ever seen the Wall, father ? ❞ is the sweet-toned question. 

[sebeth]

The World Of Ice And Fire: The Long Night (Revised 11/20/22)

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

   The histories state: “The Long Night, when a season of winter came that lasted a generation – a generation in which children were born, grew into adulthood, and in many cases died without ever seeing the spring. Old wives’ tales say that they never even beheld the light of day.”

This long winter wasn’t contained to the North or even Westeros: Lomas Longstrider’s Wonders Made by Man recounts the Rhoyne river frozen as far south as Selhoru.

Yandel dismisses the belief the inconstancy of the seasons was caused by magical arts. Maester Nicol’s The Measure of Days states the seasons were once more regular in length but could find no evidence supporting his belief.

We learn during the hardest winters, the North’s oldest and most infirm citizens claim to go hunting for food with no intention of returning – leaving more food for the younger and healthier.

The Long Night brings the first mentions of the Others: creatures from the Land Of Always Winter that ride ice spiders and dead horses, and resurrect the dead to fight on their behalf.

Archmaester Fomas’s Lies of the Ancients state “the Others of legend were nothing more than a tribe of the First Men, ancestors of the wildings, that had established itself in the far north. Because of the Long Night, these early wildings were then pressured to begin a wave of conquests to the south. That they became monstrous in the tales told thereafter…reflects the desire of the Night’s Watch and the Starks to give themselves a more heroic identity as saviors of mankind.”

Sure, okay, the Starks created the Others as an ego boost. Makes sense.

 Each culture has its own distinct version of the Long Night:

 ·         The Rhoynar believe a hero “convinced Mother Rhoyne’s man children – lesser gods such as the Crab King and the Old Man of the River” to “join together to sing a secret song that brought back the day.”

 ·         A legend in Asshai states Azor Ahai fought against the darkness “with a red sword. His deeds are said to have been performed before the rise of Valyria, in the earliest age when Old Ghis was first forming its empire”. The followers of R’hollor claim Azor Ahai will return. The Azor Ahai legend is the most popular and has spread to Westeros.

 ·         Colloquo Votar’s Jade Companion recalls a Yi Ti legend that states “that the sun hid its face from the earth for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, and that disaster was averted only by the deeds of a woman with a monkey’s tail.”

 ·         The North has its own version: A group of heroes sought the aid of the Children of the Forest. The group fought giants, cold servants, and the Others until one last hero remained. The Children joined the last hero and the first men of the Night’s Watch and won the Battle For The Dawn. The battle broke the endless winter and sent the Others “fleeing to the icy north”.

Yandel again dismisses the possibility of supernatural aspects to the Long Night claiming the cause was some unknown cataclysm.

The obvious cause for the Long Night is the Others’ push southward. But what caused the massive increase in power for the Others? To darken the entire world takes serious magic mojo – more than has been demonstrated in the current series.

Did the Children create the Others in the books as they did in the tv show? In the show, the Children created the Others as a tool in the war with the First Men. In the books, the first mention of the Others happens during the Long Night – a time when the Children and the First Men were supposed to be at peace. Did the Children create a few Others during the war, put down and forget about their new toys during the peace, and a thousand years later, Westeros has a massive Others invasion and the Longest Night ever?

And how big was the invasion? Westeros, and the North in particular, seems to have taken the brunt of it.  Most of the non-Westeros legends speak of darkness but not of the Others or wights. I would think walking corpses would feature prominently in the legends if they were wandering around the countryside. It’s not something I’d forget if I encountered one.

Bran “the Builder” Stark and the Children of the Forest built the Wall during the Age of Heroes. I doubt it was to hold back the Wildings. The Wildings may be fierce but they are only people – not a big enough threat to build an enormous wall. The Giants were already dwindling in population – again, no need for a wall. Did the Children warn Brandon of the supernatural time bomb in the far North and suggest building a wall to keep the Others away from the rest of Westeros? Or was it put up in the aftermath of the Long Night?

Was the last hero a Stark? Did he form the Night’s Watch? Did it form at a suggestion from the Children of the Forest? Perhaps they realized if you build a wall, it should also be monitored in case of impending invasion from the other side?

We know the 13th Lord Commander becomes the Night King after dealing with the Others. His name was stricken from the records.  The common theory is the Night King was a Stark which would explain why the name was struck from history – the family wouldn’t want their shame to be known.

How many years passed between the end of the Long Night and the reign of the Night King? We know there were twelve previous Lord Commanders but their reigns could have lasted anywhere from one month to fifty years. If we grant each of the previous Lord Commanders a fifty-year reign, the Others were back within 600 years.

 As for Azor Ahai, “the hero who fought the darkness with a red sword” – what exactly was the darkness? Was it in Asshai? Did he travel to Westeros? Did he team up with the last hero? Was he the last hero? Was he one of the causes of the Long Night – the legend states he cracked the moon in the forging of Lightbringer – that could cause the off-kilter seasons. Did an extended winter allow the Others to gain more power? Wouldn’t his adventures have to be at the beginning of the Age of Heroes considering Old Ghis was “Very Young Ghis” at this point? Was Azor from the Empire of the Dawn? Did his moon-cracking cause the fall of the Empire and the transformation of Asshai into a poisoned, dark land? Are we sure Azor was even a good guy? Between the wife-killing and the potential mass destruction caused by the moon cracking, he reads as a villain to me.

And his red sword, the “Lightbringer” – was it an actual sword (perhaps Dawn)? A theory I’ve read, and love, is Lightbringer was a dragon. It makes the most sense – it explains Azor’s ability to be in multiple places vast distances apart, Lightbringer’s destructive power against the Others, and the sacrifice of his wife to create Lightbringer. Daenerys had to use blood magic and the sacrifice of her loved ones to hatch her dragon eggs.

It would make sense for Lightbringer to be the creation of the first dragon considering all Azor had to sacrifice/murder to ensure its creation – but it’s implied the Empire of the Dawn consisted of dragonriders – was Lightbringer simply a super-powerful dragon? Of did the survivors of the Empire perfect Azor’s recipe to create the dragon species and it wasn’t until the formation of Valyria that the dragonriders became a prevalent part of society.

The Empire of the Dawn went from “Gemstone Emperors” to a Freehold during the founding of Valyria – multiple groups possessing dragons would prevent any individual from proclaiming himself Emperor – its hard to make your claim to be the most important person in society when multiple families have weapons of mass destruction.

I prefer the last hero and his companions as the final solution to the Long Night.  The problem should be solved by the Children and the Northerners. That said, when the Long Night part 2 happens in the main series I’m all for a sing-along led by a woman with a monkey tail saving the day.

Up next, the Rise of Valyria…

[agirlingrey]

"You know, Lomas Longstrider had great esteem for this place,” Alys announced unceremoniously as she sat next to the tall lady on the bench UNINVITED, crossing her legs under her to get more comfortable. “He said that while the gods made seven wonders, men made NINE. And the Wall was quite high on his list.”

The Lady Brienne seemed to have difficulty interacting with most people on her best day, but she imagined it was particularly difficult with her. She had, after all, come all this way north in order to find Sansa Stark or even Arya Stark if the gods were kind. She must have had HIGH HOPES once the Red Witch announced seeing the younger Stark girl — until the mystery figure turned out to be Alys instead. She was quite used to seeing that familiar DISAPPOINTMENT thanks to her friendship with Jon, even though he usually had the grace to try to hide it.

“However, the Wall’s admittedly RUSTIC charms seem lost on you, my lady.” After a brief pause, she added gently, “You’ve heard the Lord Commander: the roads are impassable at the moment. You would not SURVIVE if you were to try and journey back to South.”

♡ PLOTTED STARTER.  /  ❛ @coerulus ❜

[stromuprisahat]

Many accounts inform us that the mountain warriors of Kayakayanaya, Samyriana, and Bayasabhad are all women, daughters of the Great Fathers who rule these cities, where girls learn to ride and climb before they learn to walk, and are schooled in the arts of the bow, the spear, the knife, and the sling from earliest childhood. Lomas Longstrider himself tells us that there are no fiercer fighters on all the earth. As for their brothers, the sons of the Great Fathers, ninety-nine of every hundred are gelded when they reach the age of manhood and live out their lives as eunuchs, serving their cities as scribes, priests, scholars, servants, cooks, farmers, and craftsmen. Only the most promising males, the largest and strongest and most comely, are permitted to mature and breed and become Great Fathers themselves in their turns. Maester Naylin’s Rubies and Iron—named for the penchant of the warrior women to wear iron rings in their nipples and rubies in their cheeks —speculates on the circumstances that led to such strange customs.

The World of Ice and Fire- Beyond the Sunset Kingdom- The Bones and Beyond

(George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García Jr., Linda Antonsson)

[marblecarved]

There are books, in Dragonstone's library, that Shireen has read more than once. Not for lack of other books to read, understand, but because she liked them a lot ! There is ‘‘ Wonders made by Man, ’’ for example, written by Lomas Longstrider, which tells its reader about the nine man-made wonders of the known world; Of the nine, Shireen has lingered the longest on the pages speaking of the Wall, seeking out their familiarity after waking from one of her bad dreams. Then there is also its accompanying book, simply titled ‘‘ Wonders, ’’ which tells instead about the seven natural wonders of the known world; Shireen has read both books with great enthusiasm, but just as much care ( their spines creaks, and their time-gnawed pages are yellow and frail ) because they are old copies, and she does not want to ruin them.