Something rubbed against his leg beneath the table. Jon saw red eyes staring up at him. “Hungry again?” he asked. There was still half a honeyed chicken in the center of the table. Jon reached out to tear off a leg, then had a better idea. He knifed the bird whole and let the carcass slide to the floor between his legs. Ghost ripped into it in savage silence. His brothers and sisters had not been permitted to bring their wolves to the banquet, but there were more curs than Jon could count at this end of the hall, and no one had said a word about his pup. He told himself he was fortunate in that too.
His eyes stung. Jon rubbed at them savagely, cursing the smoke. He swallowed another gulp of wine and watched his direwolf devour the chicken.
Dogs moved between the tables, trailing after the serving girls. One of them, a black mongrel bitch with long yellow eyes, caught a scent of the chicken. She stopped and edged under the bench to get a share. Jon watched the confrontation. The bitch growled low in her throat and moved closer. Ghost looked up, silent, and fixed the dog with those hot red eyes. The bitch snapped an angry challenge. She was three times the size of the direwolf pup. Ghost did not move. He stood over his prize and opened his mouth, baring his fangs. The bitch tensed, barked again, then thought better of this fight. She turned and slunk away, with one last defiant snap to save her pride. Ghost went back to his meal.
Jon grinned and reached under the table to ruffle the shaggy white fur. The direwolf looked up at him, nipped gently at his hand, then went back to eating.
Jon I, AGOT
It's interesting that GRRM would dedicate several paragraphs to a seemingly unimportant exchange between a boy, his wolf, and an unfriendly third party. But there's just something about this passage that has continued to nag at me for years since I first read it because, considering how heavy handed GRRM was with the foreshadowing in AGOT, this feels important.
Jon is sitting at table full of squires - aka would be knights. We don't really know who they are or what families they belong to, but it's safe to assume that they come from a certain level of privilege; this is considering the fact that it cannot be financially easy to be a squire. And these boys already have a slew of tales detailing all their previous knightly exploits regarding "battle and bedding and the hunt" which suggests that they have some capital. So you have boys who will soon be men. And they will, presumably, become men of some power.
These lads eat their fill of the chicken until only half remains, which Jon then gives to Ghost. The direwolf's name is not so important here but what he represents is. Throughout the series, we're told that Ghost is reminiscent of the weirwood trees (because of his red eyes and white fur). He's stated to be of and from the Old Gods and since he's a personification of the weirwoods, he might as well be one of them. It's almost as if Jon is presenting whatever is left on the table to the Old Gods (Ghost). He lets them devour his offerings while he silently watches. And the motif of watching is so interesting here because it's kind of like Jon takes on a stewardship role - to watch over land/people/etc. He oversees Ghost eating the chicken, so he's overseeing whatever has been given to the Old Gods. This is not new imagery to his arc. As a brother of the Night's Watch and eventually its leader, we have several instances where he leads people to adopting the Old Gods in some fashion. In ADWD, several recruits swear their vows to the Old Gods while he watches on as their Lord Commander. The Old Gods are also primarily of the North and we're told that Jon has more of the north in him than his brothers; interesting that this also includes Bran. So perhaps whatever is being offered to the Old Gods relates to the North.
We must also note that Jon initially thinks to give only a small portion, a leg, before pivoting and providing the entire thing. It feels to me a bit like the process of carving up a kingdom or something similar. The lords (represented by the squires) take what they want and leave aside what they don't; or perhaps they have eaten to their fill and can take no more. Then when his time comes, Jon first considers a small piece of land/group of people before eventually absorbing all of whatever is left behind. The concept of carving up a kingdom rings harder considering that we have several callbacks to the ideals of kingship in this chapter. Robert, Jaime, Tyrion, and even Mance though we don't know it yet, all play into this. And then there's the aspect of Jon letting the chicken slip between his legs which evokes birth/fatherhood, a very curious choice when GRRM could've just had Jon place the chicken on the floor. So land/people are carved up and Jon then uses whatever is left to birth his own type of kingdom. And this kingdom is one for the Old Gods.
This also touches on something that has been quite prevalent throughout Jon's arc. It's the concept of accepting the "others" or "those left over" who live apart from the accepted social norms. Arya (a tomboy), Sam (a gender non-confirming boy), the Night's Watch (criminals, extra sons, and men who have no future left or place to go), and even the wildlings are all examples of this. And Jon takes on a leadership/paternal role to every single one of them. He looks after them as a leader would/should. Sometimes, in the case of Arya and the wildlings, he's equated to a king. He's a steward/shepherd/king. There's messianic undertones to this:
Come unto me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).
If you're familiar with Judeo-Christian tradition, you'll know that Jesus is often personified as one who spent the majority his time among the outcasts. The idea is that he came to save them too and that anew kingdom (or new earth depending on your translation) would spring up after the end of the world where he would forever rule as king; which presents the idea of a final king after the earthly ones are done away with. Now GRRM isn't so heavy handed with Christian allusions as other authors out there, but he does have a Catholic background and Jon is so overtly a Jesus figure. And in Revelation, Jesus is king and god at the very end....
One last thing: the mention of the mongrel who challenges Jon has always been rather interesting but confusing to me. A mongrel doesn't really relate to one specific type of dog. But it's interesting that Jon notes several roaming about where he is. They follow the serving girls who carry the food to be offered. Mongrels are used to describe antagonist/villainous groups in ASOIAF. Sometimes, they're used to describe slavers in Essos. But what's interesting is that most of the time, they're used to describe Euron's Ironborn especially in Victorian's POV. So I don't think the mongrel who challenges Ghost is a supernatural threat of death (i.e., the Others) but rather a human one. They represent those who are called to the scene once the lords have finished playing their games. It almost feels like a feast for (carrion) crows....
But it doesn't really matter because this mongrel isn't much of a challenge for Ghost. Though the mongrel is much larger, the direwolf is able to fend her off very effortlessly. Given that "mongrel" is used to describe Ironborn raiders, could this exchange between Ghost and the mongrel point to reavers or sea raiders who rise and fail challenge Jon kingdom? There is a historical King Jon Stark who did this....
When sea raiders landed in the east, Jon drove them out and built a castle, the Wolf's Den, at the mouth of the White Knife, so as to be able to defend the mouth of the river.[1][2] His son, Rickard, followed him on the throne and annexed the Neck to the north.
ref.
So this might shed some light not only on Jon's already published arc, but also on what we can expect in the future. We have some foreshadowing through Jon's ADWD dream that he will not only rise with the dawn (thereby live through the Long Night), but will be in a position to lead people (wildings in that chapter) to a new peace after a hard fought war. Also remember that the wildlings, rather enthusiastically, swear oaths to him as if swearing oaths to their king. In this instance, the supernatural (a dream of the war for the dawn) is followed by the natural/human. So perhaps this particular passage (and Jon's dream) can be used to predict that Jon comes out on top, and quite effortlessly too, as a leader. And he becomes a leader who rules by association with the Old Gods; or rules a kingdom for them.
To end, I think it's of note that this passage immediately precedes Jon's conversation with Benjen where he voices his desire to go out on his own - the hero's call to action. This is the adventure that's going to kickstart his growth as a man, warrior and most importantly, a leader. So it looks like before we even began, GRRM telegraphed how it would all end in just three short paragraphs.
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🅱️loodborne height headcanons
But first, the canon ones - the official video introducing Maria's figma ( x ) reveals that Maria (and the Doll, as follows) is 6'7'' (201 cm), whereas default Paleblood Hunter is 5'11'' (180 cm).
Then by stretching the image of ripped models ( x ) across the chart with the heights and comparing them to Maria, I concluded Micolash is 5'11'' (180 cm), Gascoigne is 7'2'' (218 cm) and Gehrman is ~7'7''-7'8'' (approximately 233 cm)! Now to the actual hcs! Centimeters scaling is approximate since inches do not convert into very round numbers.
Two lists - in alphabetical order and from tallest to shortest, as self-reference. Might be a subject to change if I ever manage to compare models between themselves better!
In alphabetical order:
Adeline (initial) - 5'6'' (168 cm)
Adeline (transformed) - 6'9'' (206 cm)
Adella - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Alfred - 6'2'' (188 cm)
Amelia - 6'10'' (208 cm)
Annalise - 6'7'' (201 cm)
Antal - 5'10'' (178 cm)
Archibald - 5'8'' (173 cm)
Arianna - 5'5'' (165 cm)
Bestial hunter - 6'1'' (185 cm)
Black Church female hunter - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Black Church male hunter - 5'8'' (173 cm)
Blood Minister - 6'6'' (198 cm)
Brador - 6'1'' (185 cm)
Cainhurst librarian (cut content) - 5'1'' (155 cm)
Carla - 6'5'' (196 cm)
Caryll - 6'2'' (188 cm)
Chapel Dweller - 6'11'' (211 cm)
Chester - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Cleric Beast of the bridge (as human) - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Crow of Cainhurst - 5'11'' (180 cm)
Damian - 6'2'' (188 cm)
Desperate Hunter (Yharnam) - 5'11'' (180 cm)
Desperate hunter (Church) - 6'1'' (185 cm)
Djura - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Djura's Ally - 6'2'' (188 cm)
Djura's apprentice - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Dores - 6'4'' (193 cm)
Edgar - 6'2.5'' (190 cm)
Eileen - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Fishing Hamlet priest - 6'11.5 (210 cm)
Forgotten Madman - 5'4'' (163 cm)
Gascoigne - 7'2'' (218 cm)
Gatekeeper - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Gehrman - 7'7.5'' (233 cm)
Gilbert - 5'10'' (178 cm)
Gratia - 7'9'' (236 cm)
Gremia - 6'6.5 (200 cm)
Henriett - 5'8'' (173 cm)
Henryk - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Iosefka + imposter - 5'10'' (178 cm)
Izzy - 6'2'' (188 cm)
Josef - 6'1'' (185 cm)
King (initial) - 5'8.5'' (174 cm)
King (transformed) - 6'8'' (203 cm)
Laurence - 5'2'' (157 cm)
Leo - 6'5'' (196 cm)
Logarius - 8'1'' (246 cm)
Lonely old dear - 5'4'' (163 cm)
Ludwig (as human) - 7'00'' (213 cm)
Madaras Twins - 5'10'' (178 cm)
Madman's Escort - 6'1'' (185 cm)
Maria + Doll - 6'7'' (201 cm)
Micolash - 5'11'' (180 cm)
Older daughter - 4'3'' (130 cm)
Olek - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Paleblood Hunter - 5'11'' (180 cm)
Patches - 6'2.5'' (190 cm)
Queen Killer - 6'1'' (185 cm)
Rom - 5'0'' (152 cm)
Sceptical man - 5'9'' (175 cm)
Simon - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Suspicious Beggar - 5'9'' (175 cm)
Valtr - 6'3'' (191 cm)
Viola - 5'10'' (178 cm)
Vitus - 6'6'' (198 cm)
Wallar - 6'0'' (183 cm)
White Church female hunter - 5'9'' (175 cm)
Willem - 6'10'' (208 cm)
Yahar'gul hunter (Tonitrus) - 6'0'' (183 cm)
Yahar'gul hunter (cane) - 5'11'' (180 cm)
Yahar'gul hunter (cannon) - 6'6'' (198 cm)
Yahar'gul hunter (in the cell) - 5'9'' (175 cm)
Yahar'gul hunters (the twins) - 5'7'' (170 cm)
Yamamura - 5'5'' (165 cm)
Yharnam - 7'3'' (221 cm)
Younger daughter - 3'8'' (112 cm)
Yurie - 5'8'' (173 cm)
From tallest to shortest:
8'1'' (246 cm) - Logarius
7'9'' (236 cm) - Gratia
7'7.5'' (233 cm) - Gehrman
7'3'' (221 cm) - Yharnam
7'2'' (218 cm) - Gascoigne
7'00'' (213 cm) - Ludwig (as human)
6'11.5 (210 cm) - Fishing Hamlet priest
6'11'' (211 cm) - Chapel Dweller
6'10'' (208 cm) - Willem, Amelia
6'9'' (206 cm) - Adeline (transformed)
6'8'' (203 cm) - King (transformed)
6'7'' (201 cm) - Maria + Doll, Annalise
6'6.5 (200 cm) - Gremia
6'6'' (198 cm) - Yahar'gul hunter (cannon), Vitus, Blood Minister
6'5'' (196 cm) - Leo, Carla
6'4'' (193 cm) - Dores
6'3'' (191 cm) - Valtr
6'2.5'' (190 cm) - Edgar, Patches
6'2'' (188 cm) - Caryll, Damian, Alfred, Izzy, Djura's ally
6'1'' (185 cm) - Bestial hunter, Brador, Josef, Madman's Escort, Queen Killer, Desperate hunter (Church)
6'0'' (183 cm) - Gatekeeper, Henryk, Chester, Black Church female hunter, Wallar, Cleric Beast of the bridge (as human), Yahar'gul hunter (Tonitrus)
5'11'' (180 cm) - Micolash, Paleblood hunter, Crow of Cainhurst, Desperate Hunter (Yharnam), Yahar'gul hunter (cane)
5'10'' (178 cm) - Iosefka + imposter, Antal, Gilbert, Madaras twins, Viola
5'9'' (175 cm) - White Church female hunter, Yahar'gul hunter (in the cell), Suspicious Beggar, Sceptical man
5'8.5'' (174 cm) - King (initial)
5'8'' (173 cm) - Yurie, Black Church male hunter, Henriett, Archibald
5'7'' (170 cm) - Eileen, Adella, Simon + Djura's apprentice, Djura, Yahar'gul hunters (the twins), Olek
5'6'' (168 cm) - Adeline (initial)
5'5'' (165 cm) - Yamamura, Arianna
5'4'' (163 cm) - Forgotten Madman, Lonely old dear
5'2'' (157 cm) - Laurence
5'1'' (155 cm) - Cainhurst librarian (cut content)
5'0'' (152 cm) - Rom
4'3'' (130 cm) - Older daughter
3'8'' (112 cm) - Younger daughter
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