[Dalven]

I need to check this thread more often, so much to speak about. Bear with me while I bring up some old points...

Originally Posted by Tenlaar

I want to expound a bit on the Blackfyre thing, because I think it's an interesting possibility. The vast plot goes something like this - Varys and Serra were brother and sister, children of the Blackfyre house. Upon the doom of the house they ended up as slaves. Now, Varys was picked specifically and bought by the wizard that...eunichized? him. At that point, Varys was already well into an apprenticeship (you know, as a MUMMER), so I'm sure buying him would have been a lot more expensive than any unskilled slave. So, why? After his junk was cut off, it was thrown into a fire during a spell. And what makes magic more powerful? The blood of kings!
Also, Varys said that when Selmy killed Maelys at the battle of Stepstones, it was the end of the male line of house Blackfyre. Not the end of the line, the end of the male line. So this leaves us with Serra, Varys' sister. The last of the female line of Blackfyre. Illyrio marries his first wife in order to increase his station. She dies (how convenient), and he marries Serra. Illyrio and Serra have a child...a child they name Aegon. DUN DUN DUUUUNNNNN!

Also love this, I'm certain Aegon is a Blackfyre and also believe the comment about the "male line" being extinguished as being important. Have toyed with the idea of Varys being a Blackfyre and talked earlier in the thread about Aegon being Illyrio's son (although I declared it crackpot) - this makes sense to me.

Originally Posted by Tenlaar

Satin claimed that before he joined the Night's Watch he was a "pillow boy" at the Citadel. The maesters of the Citadel are the ones that killed the last dragons, and work to prevent the return of magic to the world. That's why I think Satin is the perfumed seneschal and is working for the Citadel in some capacity.

I'm not convinced Satin is the perfumed seneschal (his scenes with Jon in ASOS when they are on the rooftop defending Castle Black from Ygritte et al make me think he was a bit clueless when he joined the Watch - although I've been wrong many times before) although I agree with the stuff about the Citadel being against the return of dragons. Marwyn's position as being seen as an outsider in the Citadel, his secrecy from the rest of the Maesters about his trip to see Daenaerys and the skepticism Luwin displays about magic to Bran implies to me that it is thought of as foolish and a waste of time amongst the Citadel although the reason for this is open to interpretation.

Originally Posted by Sirken

so was thinking.. doesnt stannis burn those 3 slugs pretty early book 3? one for each of the 3 remaining kings hes aware of (ie: Robb, Joffrey, and Balon. Stannis obviously not aware of Mance or Dany, or it would be called "the war of the 7 kings" instead of "the war of the 5 kings". and ofcourse Renly already dead).

Aye, all dead by the end of ASOS as well, more displays of the power in Melisandre's magic... or coincidence?

Originally Posted by Sirken

Barriston Chapters

Can't wait for TWOW. Pay off at last!

Originally Posted by Eccezan

I think this is the same Vargo Hoat that the mountain captures, tortures slowly, goes insane from an infection after brienne bites his ear off, and then feeds to his men, amirite?

Aye, although I think the Mountain feeds Vargo his own hands and feet first, then feeds him to the bear. Brienne was in the pit when Jaime rescues her because she'd bit of Vargo's ear. Biter then makes a mess of Brienne's face when she is defending that inn Gendry is at from Rorge and the remnants of the Brave Companions he is leading.

Originally Posted by Sirken

im thinking they are gonna cut a bunch of the brave companion stuff out and just have Boltons do it.

Robb left Roose at Harrenhall, which doesnt happen in the book. in the book Roose gets to HH after Jaimes hand was removed by Vargo.

i do not see HOW Roose Bolton or his men can lob off Jaime's hand and still make the deal with the Lannisters. unless they change it so the hand thing doesnt happen at harrenhall, but happens after he saves Brienne from the bear pits.

Also wondering how they will have the Boltons do it and make it plausible the Lannisters team up with them. If that was the Brave Companions rather than Bolton men, they will probably get a bit of fleshing out in the next episode. I hope they cut off Jaime's hand in the way it was meant to, as he deserved it as has been said above. Vargo had a penchant for cutting off hands in the books, but would also make sense to do it to effectively neuter Jaime, a dangerous man.

Originally Posted by Mani

So the Theon torture scene.. is the main guy in that meant to be Ramsey? Or maybe its the guy that says he going to let Theon escape... I remember Ramsey liked to let them loose and hunt them down.

I was also trying to work that one out. I can't remember if the Ramsay/Reek character was introduced in the last season, but I think it was an iron born who was encouraging Theon to do the kid killing stuff. I had assumed the guy speaking to Theon claiming he was from his sister was 'Wex' for some reason - the guy who ends up tongueless in ADWD who tells Manderly that he saw Rickon and Osha. However if it is Ramsay messing with Theon that wouldn't be bad introduction for the Bastard. I'm surprised they introduced Theon so early as he is missing for two whole books, are we gonna get two seasons of Theon being turned into less than a man?

That's all for now, love a ASOIAF wall of text.