#dornish plot

[c-m-li]

Rereading A Song of Ice and Fire and trying to keep track of the Sand Snakes for the Dornish plot and I just -

There are so many.

Oberyn Martell, you whore!

[catofoldstones]

Okay but Doran is such a Tired Dad™ lol. His daughter is actively working against him, literally planning a coup in the adjacent kingdom they have been warring with till only a 100 years back. Not to mention his well-educated, politically savvy, kill machines of nieces who have always been too hot to handle are now are specifically hell bent on revenge lmao

[lagosbratzdoll]

Whenever I see adaptations of novels, comics, and games that elevate the source material, I get deeply and monstrously bitter. Wheel of Time, Foundation, Percy Jackson, The Boys, Outlander, Big Little Lies, Pachinko, Sharp Objects, WATCHMEN!!! All are so good, so beautifully written and moving that when you stack shit like Game of Thrones beside them, it falls flat on its face.

I still think about Jon telling Angela that he is in every moment they spent together all at once. Every time I think about Watchmen S01E9, my throat gets tight and my mouth wobbles. A triumph of storytelling. When you compare this with the disappointment that is Game of Thrones, it becomes clear that being mediocre, white, and a man often leads to success even when you fail.

I get angry because it’s possible to take novels/comics with so many moving parts and rich history, update them for our time and make the rich source material even richer. Those men just didn’t know how. 

And before anyone says the first three seasons are good. Are they? Are they really? Or are we just blinded by the perceived faithfulness to GRRM’s work when we weigh it against the utter shit show that was the last season? The show lifts all the best parts wholesale from the books and magnifies all the worst parts. 

They portrayed the Dothraki with a lack of care compared to the Free Folk. They furthered the lack of non-white perspectives by erasing what little we had. Presenting freedom as if it is worse than chattel slavery. The extinction of the Dothraki in service of white Northerners who were less than welcoming. 

The show does not name more than half of Daenerys' more prominent Dothraki characters on screen. Killing Irri, Jhiqui and Doreah to further isolate Daenerys. Transferring all the better traits from women to the men in their lives. Turning Jorah from an old paedophilic creep into whatever the fuck that was on the show. Alluding to the “first they came” poem for rapists, slavers and other monsters. Peddling the gentle slave-owner myth as if owning a person is not inherently violent. 

Having Missandei be beheaded in chains to fuel madness for literally no reason. Cersei could’ve bargained for her life or at least some concession from Daenerys with Missandei’s life, but they have her behead Missandei for no other reason than to piss off a woman with a large army and an even larger dragon. It made little sense then, and it makes even less sense now. 

I know it’s a bit much to still be so affected by that dumpster fire almost a decade in, but I saw that interview with those idiots yesterday, and I have been furious ever since. 

[martellspear]

the complete disregard for Elia and her children in sickening

[fromtheseventhhell]

Arianne being excluded from the show was one of the worst decisions D&D made cause it led to the collapse of the Dorne plot, which could've been adapted so well to screen if they had actually cared to put in the effort

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

god tywin lannister deserved worse

just remembering elias death and i wanna puke and the way tywin talks about elia and what happened is so damn gross

but rip tommen and myrcella we all know what’s about to happen in the next book :/

the cycle of violence just keeps spinning and damn you tywin for beginning it

(i got a bit crazy in the tags 💀)

[cardinalvalentino]

i hate when i have a deadline to finish a book. spoils all the fun. however i have to give affc back to my brother next week sooooo

[khalesci]

ngl besties I'm struggling with AFFC a little because honestly it feels like we've taken a detour into Side Quest Central

[calla-lefford]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Open starter (1/3) / Set during the Dornish Ball

Calla was hardly in a celebratory mood, though there was a part of her that welcomed the distraction that the ball the Martells hosted provided. It was almost jarring, that she could have a crisis of anxiety in the morning and sit here in the evening dressed in a fine gown and wearing some of her mother’s jewelry. No one could know. The lady ate and drank and danced, gladly surrendering control as she automatically went through the motions of what was expected of her. She played the part to perfection, albeit without her usual inner fire.

A throbbing headache had made an appearance and despite drinking some water, it didn’t recede. “I’ll go to the balcony to get some air,” she said to someone and to no one as she got up from her place amongst some Reach people. She lightly brushed her forehead, her fingers trailing sideways to massage her temple, not paying much attention to where she walked. “Goodness, I’m sorry,” she said as she accidentally bumped into someone on her way to the open balcony.

[jin-renshu]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Open starter (2/3) / Set during the Dornish Ball

He didn’t partake in the ball, instead remaining by the sidelines, keeping a weather eye on the King and Queen of the Vale as well as the Arryn siblings as he subtly did his rounds around the main hall, balconies and gateways to the palace gardens. He moved with ease, steady and serene, making sure not to draw attention to himself and make it evident in any way that he was there to guard the royal family of the Vale of Arryn.

From where he stood, under an adorned archway leading to the gardens, he witnessed a rather pitiful scene of drunken bravado from two rugged lords in the face of Dornish guards, followed by the stomachal mess that came with drinking too much. He’d seen much of the world —for the first time, this side of the world— and while there was so much that gave the soldier reason to be in awe of Dorne and how different it was from Yi Ti and Essos, and every land in between those two, one thing remained the same: drunken folk would cause disturbances at social events of this kind. “I’d suggest to steer clear from that area,” he advised as he felt an approaching presence, “There’s quite a mess over there”. Literally and figuratively. The drunken drawl of curses from the pair of drunkards could still be heard as they were being dragged away.

[gael-hightower]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Closed starter for @merynpeake​ / During the Dornish Ball

Gods, how could he let time get away from him in such a way? Gael had gone to visit the group of poets that Lady Fowler had introduced him to, spent the afternoon learning from them the most famous Dornish poems, their most common metrical patterns, their rules of prosody; every wondrous new way of articulating syllables and turning them into meaningful art. Time flew by and before he knew it he was already late for the ball hosted at the palace of Sunspear.

The young Hightower made haste to return, change and try to make as inconspicuous an entrance as possible, so his tardiness wouldn’t be noticed. Most people in attendance were already dancing, dining or otherwise occupied, as he’d spotted a few people not so subtly seeking more private spaces like the balconies or gardens. Gael scurried towards a table where he spotted a few familiar faces from his homeland. “Meryn,” he greeted Lord Peake with an amicable smile as he took a seat. Meryn gave him a look that Gael was quick to interpret. “Oh, I wasn’t— I wasn’t out there. I’m just late”.

[seffora-merryweather]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Closed starter @falcxnking / Set during the Dornish Ball​

Seffora had never had quite this much fun at a ball before. Perhaps what had always been missing from such events were games and singing and telling jokes with new people that suddenly felt like life-long friends. The little flower of Longtable had lost some of the rounds of Jhandi Munda, and then won some, ultimately ending up with more or less the same amount of coin she’d had when she walked into the game room. The best part was when one of the players, a man by the name of Trystane, suddenly burst into song to celebrate his victory round and others joined in clapping and accompanying him in the chorus. And from there, it all devolved into rowdy singing and joke-telling. Emaline ended up excusing herself and Seffora assured her that she wanted to stay a little bit longer, that she’d be alright in the company of these new friends. Gods, and how much she laughed! So much so that at some point she spat some of her drink and the whole table burst out in laughter.

“Gods, I’ll be back in a moment,” the blonde said through laughter, “I think I need some air”. Heading towards the door she could feel the effect of the alcohol in her. She could walk properly so she knew she wasn’t drunk. She didn’t feel drunk... At least she didn’t think she was, she only felt a sort of warm giddiness inside her and a peculiar drive to break her composure and continue to have such carefree, light-hearted fun. And just as she walked out the doors, she collided with a body. “Whoa,” she held on to his arm to stay in place and not stumble. “Rhys. Hi,” she greeted him with a warm smile.

[adam-stark]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Closed starter for @islewitch​​​ / Set during the Dornish Ball

He’d visited the Vale enough times to be somewhat familiar with a few members of King Rowan’s council. Lady Mariela Upcliff was more of an enigma than others were in his eyes, for she was quite reserved. He could relate in that sense, being similar in his attitude towards most. Here, in the lush ball the Martells had hosted for the guests from all the realms, the Stark prince and the Lady of Witch Isle were the only two still seated where the King and Queen of Winter had been spending their evening in the company of Northerners and Vale folk alike. Everyone else had gotten up to dance already, or perhaps find other ways to spend their evening.

“Please don’t take it as an insult that I’ve not asked you to dance, Lady Upcliff,” the Commander of the Kingsguard stated after a moment, aware that it was in some way expected that he asked the lady to join him on the dancefloor. “I’m simply not a good dancer,” he said with sincerity, “It’s best I spare you the embarrassment”.

[rhea-florent]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Closed starter for @goldcnaura​​ / During the Dornish Ball

The Mistress of Whispers got up to get a drink, taking the opportunity to observe the guests in attendance at the ball the Martells had hosted as she walked about the main hall. Reach and Dorne relations were decent enough, amicable, but Rhea knew the same couldn’t be said about some other of the realms. Even on occasions such as this one, she found it hard to not remain focused on studying interactions or subtly listening to whispered words from those around her. She poured herself a drink and glanced over the area where most Reach members had been sitting; the majority already on the dance floor or scattered towards the gambling room, or even to the gardens. But she spotted Lucca’s wife sitting there.

Rhea got a cup of Dornish red for the princess and made her way toward the redheaded woman. She didn’t ask for permission to sit at Elyse’s side, she simply did, a polite smile on her lips as she held out the cup of wine for her. “Your grace”. It didn’t escape her notice the way the princess eyed the cup of wine and Rhea’s lips curved into a knowing smile as she began to draw conclusions. Whether they were correct or not, only time would tell. “Should I have gotten something else? Water, perhaps?”

[dastan-allyrion]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Open starter for the Dornish / Set during the Dornish Ball

The Lord of Godsgrace stood with a group of his family and friends, as they took a respite from dancing. “It’s going fairly well, I believe,” Dastan stated with a tilt of his head, looking ahead towards the guests that came to Dorne. One skirmish or two had happened, as was almost necessary in grand balls with various realms gathered, and he was sure he’d seen his sister argue heatedly with some lady but for the most part, no diplomatic incidents had taken place. It was just past midnight, so there was still time for fate to laugh at them.

**Tagging the ones on the group chat list ( @ladyofthereddunes​, @opheliafowler​, @ellariamartells​ ) but everyone who wants to jump in, feel free to do so!**

[deimos-velaryon]

Location: Dorne, Sunspear Closed starter for @ellievswann​ / Set during the Dornish Ball

The Lord of Driftmark had mostly kept to himself during the ball, with the exception of a drink or two had in the company of his friend, Alestor Celtigar. He couldn’t shake off the discussion he had with Selene, even less so as he spotted his sister at the ball in the company of her lover. She seemed happy, and yet he couldn’t let himself appreciate that after they spoke so harsh, cruel words to one another. Her well-being ought to stop mattering to him, as she’d clearly stated she didn’t want ties to the family... ties to him, as her brother.

His attention fell on the area where some of the Stormlanders were, his gaze landing on Elenda. She still thought him an arrogant prick, he was certain, as everyone did. But at least during her last visit to King’s Landing matters between them had taken a more civil, amicable turn. That led him to believe his presence might not be entirely unwelcomed as he approached her. “Lady Swann, may I have this dance?” he asked as he approached his betrothed, holding out a hand for her to take. The music that played had slowed, which encouraged several non-Dornish folk to dare to dance and not make absolute fools of themselves in the company of the local, far more skilled dancers.