#guyard morrigen

[a-song-of-art-and-fire]

Ser Guyard Morrigen, Guyard the Green of the Rainbow Guard

"It takes more than a pretty cloak to charge a shield wall. I was leading Mace Tyrell's van when you were still sucking on your mother's teat, Guyard."

I feel like Guyard is a character with 8 million times more cool characteristics than his place in the narrative necessarily requires. His name is Morrigan, he has a "black crow on a storm green sky" as his sigil, he's a green knight... and he's kind of a chump. One of his two lines of description on the wiki is "he fancies himself a singer" - brutal. I also there's an inherent awkwardness to having a green rainbow knight and also having a super fancy suit of green armour for yourself... feels very on brand for Renly.

The sculpt is a lovely one, a very simple yet powerful pose. The green armour is the same coloured ink over silver technique as the other rainbow guards, and I think it looks even better than the metallic green I've used in the past. We don't know much about House Morrigen, so I went with a Baratheon look as a safe bet for any stormlander!

[aremixoficeandfire]

Renly: Peer pressure me into going on a run. Guyard: Do it or you're straight. Renly: I said peer pressure, not THREATEN!

[zetaaa]

Fine, I'm going nowhere with this, so here they are, the knights children of summer, Renly's seven or whatever. Not satisfied with Loras, but... Renly x Loras forever!!! 💔(Please GRRM be kind with Loras and my baby Brienne)

Once upon a time, in a fortress by the sea...

[agentrouka-blog]

Something that niggles in my mind.

Stalwart Shield, the dead man Dany is told be to wary of in her first ADWD chapter:

The dead man's face was smooth and hairless, though his cheeks had been slashed open ear to ear. He had been a tall man, blue-eyed and fair of face. Some child of Lys or Old Volantis, snatched off a ship by corsairs and sold into bondage in red Astapor.

People of Lys are best known to be very Valyrian-looking.

While Jon is obviously a reference in that opening warning and carried the previous chapter transition in a clearly ominous manner, we are also for the first time introduced to a certain Valyrian-looking boy in ADWD - and a prophecy warning Dany of "the sun's son and the mummer's dragon".

They are mentioned in conjunction for some reason. In the same book we get this line:

Axell Florent's brother had been burned by Melisandre, Maester Aemon had informed him, yet Ser Axell had done little and less to stop it. What sort of man can stand by idly and watch his own brother being burned alive? (ADWD, Jon IX)

There is a brother Jon doesn't yet know he has in great danger of facing dragonflame at some point. A dead man walking, most agree, and unlikely to rise again unlike Jon.

The flies rising up from the corpses of the crucified masters are called the "dead man's revenge" - a plague arising from Dany's impulsively executed mass killing in ASOS, but worded to match the single corpse she is warned about in ADWD. Death comes at a price.

Flies also feature heavily in AGOT, Daenerys VIII, buzzing around Drogo after his wound taken in the destruction of the Lhazareen city has festered. There is an air of consequences and doom surrounding them.

Something about that soup keeps reminding me of Garlan in Renly's armor.

"It was Lord Renly! Lord Renly in his green armor, with the fires shimmering off his golden antlers! Lord Renly with his tall spear in his hand! They say he killed Ser Guyard Morrigen himself in single combat, and a dozen other great knights as well. It was Renly, it was Renly, it was Renly! Oh! the banners, darling Sansa! Oh! to be a knight!" (ACOK, Sansa VII)

Ser Garlan Tyrell, five years senior to Ser Loras, was a taller bearded version of his more famous younger brother. He was thicker about the chest and broader at the shoulders, and though his face was comely enough, he lacked Ser Loras's startling beauty.  (ACOK, Sansa VIII)

My hirelings betray me, my friends are scourged and shamed, and I lie here rotting, Tyrion thought. I thought I won the bloody battle. Is this what triumph tastes like? "Is it true that Stannis was put to rout by Renly's ghost?" Bronn smiled thinly. "From the winch towers, all we saw was banners in the mud and men throwing down their spears to run, but there's hundreds in the pot shops and brothels who'll tell you how they saw Lord Renly kill this one or that one. Most of Stannis's host had been Renly's to start, and they went right back over at the sight of him in that shiny green armor." After all his planning, after the sortie and the bridge of ships, after getting his face slashed in two, Tyrion had been eclipsed by a dead man. (ASOS, Tyrion I)

Dare I say, another twist on the mummer's dragon?

I'm not convinced of this scenario in every way, but if it's not Jon wearing his brother's armor to bring his ghost alive against the person who killed him, this image will still come back in another way. The concept is too powerful and we only saw it executed from afar.

[isefyres-archive]

𝔑𝔢𝔴 𝔞𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔡 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔰:

Lord Lester Morrigen: Lester Morrigen is the Lord of Crow's Nest and the head of House Morrigen in the stormlands. His heir is his younger brother, Ser Richard Morrigen. House Morrigen supports Renly Baratheon during the War of the Five Kings. After Renly's death, Lester allies with Stannis Baratheon. Lester's youngest brother, Ser Guyard Morrigen, is slain in the Battle of the Blackwater. Stannis tells Ser Davos Seaworth that Lester is among the stormlords who still remain loyal to him following his loss at the Blackwater. Lester goes to the North among his brother, leaving his sister as Regent of Crow's Nest before it's fall. Crow's Nest is usually the seat where prisoners are taken before send to the Wall, henche it's name. Lester takes the newly arriveed prisoners to the Wall on his journey to provide more men to Stannis. He would later sworn to Jon Snow. Canon. Song Era.

Lady Hermia Morrigen: Hermia is the younger sister of Lester and twin of Richard Morrigen. As both her brothers were going to the North, Hermia was left as Regent of the Crow's Nest. Her Regency however, was cut short as the stormlands are invaded with the landing of the Golden Company. Ser Tristan Rivers sets off to seize the seat of House Morrigen at Crow's Nest and Crow's Nest is taken, with Hermia remaining at the castle under the pretense that Tristan Rivers and the Company are her "guests". Her own political views support a female leader on the throne, be it Daenerys or Myrcella or Margaery, believing the throne has lacked rights for women and ladies for a while. OC. Song Era.

Lord Alesender Staedmon: Alesander Staedmon, called Pennylover, is the Lord of Broad Arch and the head of House Staedmon. Alesander is part of Stannis Baratheon's army. He is captured during the Battle of the Blackwater and later submits to King Joffrey I Baratheon. Staedmon is forced to remain at King's Landing and attends the Purple Wedding as well the coronation of Tommen Baratheon after the death of Joffrey. He is called Pennylover for many things, more so, for spending coin on pleasure houses on the most expensive women. House Staedmon is known for bringing high Courtesans from the Free Cities for former King Robert and has contacts with all the houses there. Canon. Song Era.

Lady Alys Karstark: Alesander is part of Stannis Baratheon's army. He is captured during the Battle of the Blackwater and later submits to King Joffrey I Baratheon. When she was six, Alys and her father, Lord Rickard, visited Winterfell. Despite Alys's young age, Rickard wanted her to charm Robb Stark in hopes of arranging a betrothal. She danced with Robb, whom she considered courteous, and with Jon Snow, who was sullen. In some verses, she will be married to Sigorn of Thenn, for the new House Thenn, while in others, she is the now Lady of Karkhold and Lady of House Karstark, offering her shield to Jon, for saving her from marrying her uncle. Canon. Song Era.

Lady Jeyne Farman: Jeyne Farman is a noblewoman of House Farman. She is the sister of Lord Sebaston Farman, the Lord of Fair Isle, and is the wife of Ser Gareth Clifton. A former childhood friend of Cersei Lannister and companion, she spend her early days at Casterly Rock, attending to Lady Joanna and taking her courtly lessons from her as well making companionship with Cersei. She accompanied Cersei and Melara Hetherspoon into the tent of Maggy the Frog during the tournament in honor of Viserys's birth in 276 AC, to hear their futures told. When Maggy opened her eyes, Jeyne fled into the night, never hearing her future. Jeyne has at least 12 children, all surviving to infancy and is now at King's Landing. Canon. Song Era.

Lord Sebaston Farman: Sebaston Farman is the Lord of Fair Isle and the head of House Farman. His sister, Jeyne, is married to Ser Gareth Clifton and was a former friend of Cersei while childhood. Sebaston used to squire for Tywin Lannister in his youth and spend time there as companion to Addam Marbrand and Jaime Lannister. The Red Wedding has caused Sebaston to doubt House Farman support to the Lannister, as the sacred act of guest rights was broken and the Farman are superticious regarding prophecies and rites. Canon. Song Era.

Kasporio: Kasporio, who styles himself Kasporio the Cunning, is a bravo who serves as the second-in-command of the Second Sons, a sellsword company. He wields a slender bravo's blade with a jeweled hilt, and wears a slashed pink doublet. Sometimes cruel, dismissive and swift but a generous lover. As the second siege of Meereen resumes, Kasporio goes with Brown Ben Plumm to visit Malazza, the Girl General. After they return he attends the meeting Ben has called. During the meeting he remarks that Malazza and Gorzhak zo Eraz, whom he calls "Pudding Face", are no better than one another. Canon. Song Era.

The Merling Queen: The Merling Queen is a famous courtesan in Braavos, her given name is Nereia but only her highest ranking lovers, who pay for her expenses know it. She is said to enjoy having relationships in water, and her hair makes her stand out among Braavos, she is the first Merling Queen of Braavos and she is said to be a woman from Westeros, stolen as a child and taken to Braavos, who started as a helper of another courtesan and rose to her own rank due her beauty. The beautiful Merling Queen is never seen without her Mermaids, young maidens in the blush of their first flowering, to hold her hair and veil. Like every Braavosi courtesan, she has her own barge, and servants to pole her through the canals of Braavos to her trysts. Canon. Song Era.

The Nightingale: The Nightingale is a famous courtesan in Braavos. Her given name is unknown. She is however, candidly named Gale by those who are around her and who sleep with her or pay her services. Originally from Tyrosh, she worked in a pleasure house in Tyrosh before founding true fame and status in Braavos. In this city, the Courtesans seem to hold certain type of power and Gale sends messages and information of some of her clients to sellsword companies. She is renowned for her beauty. Like every Braavosi courtesan, she has her own barge and servants to pole her to trysts. In Braavos, men are challenged to a duel by bravos if they do not say that the Nightingale is the most beautiful woman in the world when asked. Canon. Song Era.

Moonshadow: The Moonshadow is a famous courtesan in Braavos. Her given name is unknown. However, she gained the nickname of Shade, taken from her courtesan name. The beautiful Moonshadow wears only white and silver. Like every Braavosi courtesan, she has her own barge and servants to pole her to trysts. The Moonshadow gives Dareon a kiss for singing so wonderfully by the Moon Pool in Braavos. All is known of her is that her mother or father were from Dorne and she was paid to be given proper lodging and raised as a courtesan. She is hired by both men and women, in the case of women, to teach them how to pleasure their husband. Canon. Song Era.

Dārilaros Jaeson Veltheos of Tyrosh: Jaeson Veltheos is from one of the ancient houses of Tyrosh who survived the Doom of Valyria and stablished power in Tyrosh after the dragonriders were killed alongside dragons. Jaeson is a maester of ships and a sailor. He is the heir of his house, given the title of Darilaros, meaning Prince or Princess in High Valyrian. Jaeson shows support for Daenerys Targaryen and offers her more Tyrosh sellswords and ships, in exchange he wants one of her heirs or herself to wed a Veltheos, as previous Targaryen had taken Tyroshi wives or lovers. OC. Song Era.

Riña Dārilaros Ember Assharis of Myr: Her title comes from Valyrian and can be roughly translated to Lady Prince or Lady Princess. Ember is one of the first women on her House to inherit the title of heir, which is why many use it as Lady Prince. The Assharis family had come first from Asshai by the Shadow and worship the Red God, R'hallor and Ember herself praises Nissa Nissa, she was taught in a Red Temple and is known to have visions. House Assharis, unlike the other houses who have Valyrian features or some features, they have Asshai'i features, like Melisandre, Ember has ruby quartz like eyes. She is said to be warm to touch. OC. Song Era.

[onmyoddyknocky]

AGOT:Ser Guyard Morrigen by Thaldir

[nogoodsheepstealing-greatgrandma]

[thebluelemontree]

What would a victorious King Stannis Baratheon have done with the remaining Kingsguard in Kings Landing, in your opinion? For that matter, what was Renly’s former Rainbow Guard’s role in Stannis’ army, following his brothers death? Do you think it was Stannis’ expectation that Guyard Morrigen, Parmen Crane, and Lord Bryce Caron, were to stay on in their roles as members of Stannis’ Seven, after the fact?

This is just my best guess since I haven't had a reread in a while. I think there would be a lot of taking out the trash.

What would a victorious King Stannis Baratheon have done with the remaining Kingsguard in Kings Landing, in your opinion?

Meryn Trant: life spared if he swears fealty to Stannis and converts to R'hllor, but also dismissed from the kingsguard.

Boros Blount: same as Meryn. He and Trant were purely Lannister crony appointees. Has an earned reputation for cowardice. Surrendered Prince Tommen without a fight to Ser Jaclyn Bywater. Utterly useless.

Balon Swan: has an older brother, Donnel, who fought for Renly, but swore fealty to Stannis after Renly's death. With a Stannis victory, Donnel isn't captured and does not bend the knee to Joffrey. Balon, who is fairly well-regarded, stands the best chance I think of remaining a kingsguard if he swears fealty to Stannis and converts to R'hllor.

Osmund Kettleblack: He's a whole lot of WTF was Cersei thinking. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. If he was strongly interrogated on how he came to be raised to the kingsguard, he would crack like an egg. Bottom line, he's a sellsword, through and through. I think the most mercy he could expect is to be sent to the Wall.

Sandor Clegane (deserted): While he's not in KL anymore, Stannis would uphold the warrant for his arrest and execution if he's ever captured.

Arys Oakheart (away protecting Myrcella in Dorne): This is a little trickier. His mother, Arwyn Oakheart, followed the Tyrells in siding with Joffrey. Assuming Lady Arwyn or any of her sons are captured, they could be useful hostages. Even though Arys would have forsworn any familial loyalties, emotionally, this is easier said than done. Stannis might promise to spare the life of her son, Arys, if he turns over the abomination, Myrcella, willingly. Assuming both Arys and Arwyn bend the knee to Stannis, keeping Arys as a kingsguard (but semi hostage like Jaime was to Aerys), could be a way to start de-thorning the Tyrell powerbase. But Arys might also find the cojones to lay down his life for Myrcella if Stannis's men came for them in Dorne. At least I would like to think he would. This is all tied up with speculation on Dorne's response to a Stannis victory, which I don't really have the brainpower for right now. Stannis might be more inclined to give Doran justice by executing Gregor Clegane and Tywin Lannister, but I'm not sure about that. Tywin is pretty shit out of luck with a defeat in KL. As a result, the Red Wedding never happens if Walder Frey has no strong allies to back him now.

Jaime Lannister: Nothing but trial and execution for treasonous and incestuous adultery against Robert, along with Cersei, and the children. Jaime is currently Robb's prisoner at Riverrun. With Stannis's victory, Sansa becomes Stannis's hostage. There might be some grumbling that Robb didn't come immediately to Stannis's side, but in a show of goodwill, Stannis might negotiate trading Sansa (still Robb's heir as she is unwed to Tyrion) for Jaime with the stipulation that Robb gives up his crown and bends the knee. Robb would probably be amendable to this since he needs to return north to oust the Ironborn from WF.

For that matter, what was Renly’s former Rainbow Guard’s role in Stannis’ army, following his brothers death?

All we know of Bryce Caron is that he fought at the Blackwater and was killed by Ser Philip Foote, who received all his lands and incomes as a reward. It's not said if he held any position of honor or command. On the other hand, Guyard Morrigen was placed in charge of leading the van, which is considered a decent place of honor. Parmen Crane was tasked with taking control of Renly's forces at Bitterbridge and bringing them over to Stannis's, but he was defeated by Loras Tyrell and imprisoned at High Garden.

Do you think it was Stannis’ expectation that Guyard Morrigen, Parmen Crane, and Lord Bryce Caron, were to stay on in their roles as members of Stannis’ Seven, after the fact?

Would he have had a Seven (kingsguard) if he publically renounced the Faith, burned a godswood and statues of the Seven, and embraced R'hllorism as AAR? I don't know. I think he might still have a kingsguard but reframed as something less steeped in the Faith, at the bare minimum. The matter of religion is going to be a real problem for Stannis, as the majority of his kingdom is not going to be keen on conversion, especially if he did something stupid like burn the Sept of Balor. (Hard stare at the show that shall not be named).

"Davos, I have missed you sorely," the king said. "Aye, I have a tail of traitors, your nose does not deceive you. My lords bannermen [Caron & Morrigen] are inconstant even in their treasons. I need them, but you should know how it sickens me to pardon such as these when I have punished better men for lesser crimes. You have every right to reproach me, Ser Davos."

This is the sausage-making of coalition building. Stannis does not have Renly or Robert's charisma, and he's prone to dressing down lords in his service that are not accustomed to being spoken to that way. Doling out honors and appointments is his best way to keep people on his side. Assuming they had lived or not been captured, yeah, Sers Morrigen and Crane stood a chance of being raised to Stannis's hypothetical kingsguard, though Stannis would begrudge ever doing so. Maybe not Lord Bryce Caron as he's the last lord and heir to Nightsong, having only a bastard half-brother. There are other ways he could be rewarded, like lands, incomes, or an appointment to the small council.

Thanks for the question.

[renlysrainbowguard]

"The Rainbow Guard?"

"Renly's made his own Kingsguard, but these seven don't wear white. Each one has his own color. Loras Tyrell's their Lord Commander."

[happychappy439]

28mm A Song of Ice and Fire: Rainbow Guard

Hi! I’ve been working on a bit of a project to build up some tabletop-wargaming versions of ASoIaF characters for a couple of years, so figured I might as well share what I’ve been working on here! I’ve been posting on a thread on the LeadAdventureForum for a couple of years, so these are also posted there!

So for a start here, here’s Renly Baratheon’s Rainbow Guard from A Clash of Kings, the figures are mostly builds from the Perry Miniatures Agincourt Mounted Knights set, with some added cloaks, while Loras is a War of the Roses man-at-arms. I tend to imagine ASoIaF as being sort of...fantasy 15th-century so I try to keep things in-line with that sort of period (minus the anachronistic heater shields!) 

And here’s their rainbow cloaks from the back

And here’s some pictures of the individual knights

The unfortunate Robar Royce and Emmon Cuy

Bryce Caron, Guyard Morrigen and Parmen Crane (who is apparently still alive I guess?), who defect to King Stannis 

Brienne of Tarth, with Renly’s standard

And finally Loras Tyrell 

Hopefully I’ve done them justice! free-handing the sigils is slow going! 

I’ll be periodically posting up the other figures I’ve done as well!

[goodqueenaly]

House Words Wednesdays: House Morrigen

Welcome to House Words Wednesdays! Each week, I take a House without known canon or semi-canon words and present what I think could make sense as that House’s motto. You’re free to suggest more as well, if your favored House has not yet been suggested; take a look at this link to see what has already been suggested, and shoot me an ask through Tumblr if you have another House you’d like to see done. 

House Morrigen of Crow's Nest is a noble House of the Stormlands, one of the principal Houses sworn to Storm's End. While the Morrigens are as a family at least as old as the Targaryen Conquest (Dickon Morrigen was one of King Argilac Durrandon's warriors in the Last Storm, a commander of the vanguard who fell to the grounded Meraxes' flames), given that it was supposedly Durran Godsgrief himself who conquered the rainwood, it's probable the Morrigens are a very old family indeed. Unlike their Durrandon overlords, the Morrigens survived past the death of Argilac, as it was Ser Damon Morrigen, Captain of the Warrior's Sons, who faced off against Maegor and his champions in a trial of seven at the beginning of Maegor's reign - although, unfortunately for Damon, only Maegor of the 14 combatants survived that ordeal. A Lord Morrigen was later briefly mentioned in the context of Jon Connington's stop at Griffin's Roost with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, with Lord Armond Connington spending the entire evening trying to win the prince to his side in his dispute with the Lord of Crow's Nest (it's a pet headcanon of mine that JonCon's mother was a Morrigen, and that this dispute was over some dower property of Lady Morrigen's which Papa Armond wanted to keep for House Connington). 

The most notable Morrigen in the main series, however, is undoubtedly Ser Guyard Morrigen. A younger brother of Lord Lester Morrigen, Ser Guyard joined his House when it declared for Renly at the start of the War of the Five Kings, and was chosen by Renly as one of his seven Rainbow Guard members. As Guyard the Green, Ser Guyard is seen by Catelyn at the feast at Bitterbridge, “diddl[ing] a harp” and making up a song about tying lions’ tails in knots. Guyard is not present when Renly is killed, but immediately thereafter joins Stannis (alongside his fellow Rainbow Guard veteran Bryce Caron). Given command of the vanguard (which he had wanted in Renly's army, but been passed over in favor of Ser Loras) during the Blackwater, Guyard is slain in single combat by “Renly's ghost” - Ser Garlan Tyrell, wearing Renly's armor. (The remaining Morrigen men, however, seem to be still loyal to Stannis, with at least Lord Lester apparently joining Stannis at the Wall.)

Both the sigil (a black crow in flight on storm-green) and the name of House Morrigen are an obvious reference to the Morrigan, a figure (well, a three-in-one figure) out of Irish mythology. A shapeshifter with strong magical powers, the Morrigan would often transform into a crow or raven, hovering over battlefields waiting to feast on the corpses below. Her presence in this form was said to foretell both the outcome in that battle and the fates of the warriors fighting in it, giving the Morrigen a role as a goddess of fate as well as battle and death Given this background, I decided to make the Morrigen words No Dread of Death. A crow does not dread death, but rather welcomes it where it finds it; to a crow, a corpse is a welcome sight, sustenance for its own life. In the same way, the Morrigens of Crow's Nest might wish to boast that they welcomed the work of the battlefield, and would make a (hopefully metaphorical) feast of their enemies in victory. Like the Morrigan which inspired their name and the crow on their banners, the Morrigens are at home amongst the carnage and death of war, relishing in the bloodshed. Certainly, neither Ser Damon nor Ser Guyard dreaded death, with Damon challenging the terrifyingly monstrous Maegor and Guyard leading Stannis' van in the devastating Battle of the Blackwater. Of course, for both situations, the Morrigen crow on their banners might as well have been the Morrigan herself, foretelling their doom in their combat.

Let me know what you think of these words for the Morrigens of Crow’s Nest. Next week stays in the Stormlands but moves out of the rainwood to a family of more divided loyalty.

[gameoffanarts]

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ACOK: Davos II (Chapter 42)

I dedicate this Stannis chapter to @cappymightwrite.

Sometimes you need to get out of the way, and let a girl love her trash can. ❤️

He looks half a corpse too, years older than when I left Dragonstone. Devan said the king scarcely slept of late.

x

Seen at close hand, Stannis looked worse than Davos had realized from afar. His face had grown haggard, and he had dark circles under his eyes.    

It’s hard work making shadows that murder your family. Maybe try fire next time.

+.+

"There is but one true king, and one true god," announced Lord Florent.

"Are we here to dispute theology, my lord? Had I known, I would have brought a septon."

(...)

"And what of Edric Storm?"         

"My brother's bastard must be surrendered to me."                 

"Then my answer is still no, my lord."

(...)

Melisandre spoke instead. "May the Lord of Light protect you in your darkness, Ser Cortnay."                 

"May the Others bugger your Lord of Light," Penrose spat back, "and wipe his arse with that rag you bear."

(...)

Morrigen bristled. "Be glad this is a parley, Penrose, or I would have your tongue for those words."                 

"And cast it in the same fire where you left your manhood?"

(...)

"I have heard your proposal, Lord Stannis. Now here is mine." He pulled off his glove and flung it full in the king's face. "Single combat. Sword, lance, or any weapon you care to name. Or if you fear to hazard your magic sword and royal skin against an old man, name you a champion, and I shall do the same." He gave Guyard Morrigen and Bryce Caron a scathing look. "Either of these pups would do nicely, I should think."    

How did I manage to forget that Cortnay Penrose is the best character in all of ASoIaF?

+.+

Where is Brienne of Tarth, I ask you?"                  

"That one?" Ser Guyard Morrigen laughed harshly. "She ran. As well she might. Hers was the hand that slew the king."

Killed the king and ran? Brienne and Sansa are kindred-souls.

+.+

Ser Cortnay did not seem surprised. "Is it the justice of your cause you doubt, my lord, or the strength of your arm? Are you afraid I'll piss on your burning sword and put it out?"                 

"Do you take me for an utter fool, ser?" asked Stannis. "I have twenty thousand men. You are besieged by land and sea. Why would I choose single combat when my eventual victory is certain?"

What’s the matter, Stannis? Won’t the Lord of Light will you to victory?

"Enough!" Stannis said. "The Lord of Light willed that my brother die for his treason. Who did the deed matters not." - Davos II, ACOK

^ Said paragraphs earlier. He’s so full of shit.

+.+

Only Melisandre kept pace, bearing the great standard of the fiery heart with the crowned stag within. As if it had been swallowed whole.    

Yes it’s the sigil, yes it’s how Lightbringer was forged, but there’s something weird going on with Stannis and hearts.

Could he be stabbed in the heart? How very Daenerys of him. Hear me out, I know a lot of you have speculated Selyse might kill him, wouldn’t it be funny if this Dollar Tree Azor Ahai gets stabbed in the heart by his wife? Beautiful, right?

+.+

"Lord Alester urges me to bring old Lord Penrose here. Ser Cortnay's father. You know the man, I believe?"                 

"When I came as your envoy, Lord Penrose received me more courteously than most," Davos said. "He is an old done man, sire. Sickly and failing."

It was dangerous to oppose the queen's men, but Davos had vowed always to tell his king the truth. "I think that would be ill done, my liege. Ser Cortnay will watch his father die before he would ever betray his trust. It would gain us nothing, and bring dishonor to our cause."                 

"What dishonor?" Stannis bristled.

Sure, let’s murder an old man. Lovely. Didn’t the Freys do this with Edmure and Blackfish? Always good to share siege strategies with House Frey.

+.+

For a long time the king did not speak. Then, very softly, he said, "I dream of it sometimes. Of Renly's dying. A green tent, candles, a woman screaming. And blood." Stannis looked down at his hands. "I was still abed when he died. Your Devan will tell you. He tried to wake me. Dawn was nigh and my lords were waiting, fretting. I should have been ahorse, armored. I knew Renly would attack at break of day. Devan says I thrashed and cried out, but what does it matter? It was a dream. I was in my tent when Renly died, and when I woke my hands were clean."

You think I buy this horse shit for one second?

+.+

"Then hear me. Ser Cortnay's lieutenant is cousin to the Fossoways. Lord Meadows, a green boy of twenty. Should some ill chance strike down Penrose, command of Storm's End would pass to this stripling, and his cousins believe he would accept my terms and yield up the castle."

(...)

"Stubborn or craven, what does it matter? Ser Cortnay Penrose seemed hale and hearty to me."

"So did my brother, the day before his death. The night is dark and full of terrors, Davos."

Davos Seaworth felt the small hairs rising on the back of his neck. "My lord, I do not understand you."

"I do not require your understanding. Only your service. Ser Cortnay will be dead within the day. Melisandre has seen it in the flames of the future. His death and the manner of it. He will not die in knightly combat, needless to say." Stannis held out his cup, and Devan filled it again from the flagon. "Her flames do not lie. She saw Renly's doom as well. On Dragonstone she saw it, and told Selyse.

(...)

Others whisper that she has no place in my war councils, that I ought to send her back to Asshai, that it is sinful to keep her in my tent of a night. Aye, they whisper . . . while she serves."

"Serves how?" Davos asked, dreading the answer.

"As needed." The king looked at him. "And you?"    

"I . . ." Davos licked his lips. "I am yours to command. What would you have me do?"

"Nothing you have not done before. Only land a boat beneath the castle, unseen, in the black of night. Can you do that?"

Do you want to know how innocent Stannis Baratheon is? He accepts the objective, fucks the witch knowing it creates the dark magic, then he implements an action plan to ensure success.

+.+

Melisandre saw another day in her flames as well. A morrow where Renly rode out of the south in his green armor to smash my host beneath the walls of King's Landing. Had I met my brother there, it might have been me who died in place of him."

Get directions from Melisandre, and you’ll end up in the Atlantic Ocean. This is why I can’t hate her, she’s going to send him to his grave.

My favourite little dizzy red priestess.

+.+

This single combat . . . could it be that Ser Cortnay seeks for a way to yield with honor? Even if it means his own life?"

A troubled look crossed the king's face like a passing cloud. "More like he plans some treachery.

Are you kidding me right now? How can a person lack this much self-awareness?

+.+

The flames do not lie, Davos."                 

Yet they require me to make them true, he thought.

THANK YOU.

+.+

She laughed. "Is it me you fear? Or what we do?"

"What you do. I'll have no part of it."

"Your hand raised the sail. Your hand holds the tiller."

She’s got you there, Davos.

+.+

"Are you a good man, Davos Seaworth?" she asked.

Would a good man be doing this? "I am a man," he said. "I am kind to my wife, but I have known other women. I have tried to be a father to my sons, to help make them a place in this world. Aye, I've broken laws, but I never felt evil until tonight. I would say my parts are mixed, m'lady. Good and bad."

"A grey man," she said. "Neither white nor black, but partaking of both. Is that what you are, Ser Davos?"

Cheater.

I can’t stand George R. R. Martin and his stupid grey spectrum. Your book has clearly defined heroes and villains, please shut up.

+.+

"What if I am? It seems to me that most men are grey."

"If half of an onion is black with rot, it is a rotten onion. A man is good, or he is evil."

When Craster's wives brought onions, he seized one eagerly. One side was black with rot, but he cut that part off with his dagger and ate the good half raw. - Samwell II, ASOS

I get it, George. Thank you.

+.+

"And Renly Baratheon? Who was it who killed him?"

Her head turned. Beneath the shadow of the cowl, her eyes burned like pale red candle flames. "Not I."

Pathetic.

+.+

Panting, she squatted and spread her legs. Blood ran down her thighs, black as ink. Her cry might have been agony or ecstasy or both. And Davos saw the crown of the child's head push its way out of her. Two arms wriggled free, grasping, black fingers coiling around Melisandre's straining thighs, pushing, until the whole of the shadow slid out into the world and rose taller than Davos, tall as the tunnel, towering above the boat. He had only an instant to look at it before it was gone, twisting between the bars of the portcullis and racing across the surface of the water, but that instant was long enough.

Shit’s evil yo.

+.+

He knew that shadow. As he knew the man who'd cast it.

Jon! One of my favourite shadows.

Final thoughts:

Aegon VI is to Daenerys as Renly is to Stannis.

🤯

-> return to menu <-

[aegor-bamfsteel]

What would a victorious King Stannis Baratheon have done with the remaining Kingsguard in Kings Landing, in your opinion? For that matter, what was Renly’s former Rainbow Guard’s role in Stannis’ army, following his brothers death? Do you think it was Stannis’ expectation that Guyard Morrigen, Parmen Crane, and Lord Bryce Caron, were to stay on in their roles as members of Stannis’ Seven, after the fact?

Unlike Renly and Daenerys, Stannis hasn’t officially appointed a Kingsguard despite being a claimant, probably because he technically already has one serving Joffrey (one rightful King= one Kingsguard). There is precedent for executing (Maladon Moore, Giles Fell, Terrence Toyne) or sending to the Wall (Lucamore Strong, 4 members of Maegor’s Kingsguard by Jaehaerys) certain members especially after a war. Those who were executed had to be accused of committing a crime other than fighting for the wrong side, such as being involved in the monarch’s death. This is to say he’s probably executing Jaime, Boros, and Meryn for their crimes against the monarch and loyalty to the Lannisters. He might keep Balon Swann, since his house has divided loyalties. Sandor, Mandon, and Preston are either dead or fled by the Battle of Blackwater. Arys is gone south to Dorne with Myrcella, but I don’t see Stannis keeping him around unless he gives her up, so it’s likely the Wall for him.

Lord Bryce certainly seemed like a loyal man to Stannis at the Storm’s End parley, however he’s the only legitimate son of House Caron, so I don’t think Stannis is letting him take Kingsguard vows and leaving Nightstong to Rolland. Guyard Morrigen is a younger son and seems willing to fight for Stannis, so it’s possible. We know the least about Parmen Crane, but if he’s competent enough (though the fight with Loras calls that in question), it‘s also possible.

[sayruq]

Hallyne the Pyromancer was waiting on him when Tyrion returned to his solar, and Maester Frenken had brought messages. He let the alchemist wait a little longer while he read what the ravens had brought him. There was an old letter from Doran Martell, warning him that Storm's End had fallen...

This is such an interesting piece of information. Doran is barely keeping up appearances of caring about the Lannister’s chances against their many enemies despite the fact that they’re technically in an alliance due to Myrcella’s betrothal to Trystane and Doran being offered a seat at the Small Council. Of course Tyrion would know about Stannis’ win soon after it happens so this letter is just a superfluous.

I just think it works as foreshadowing. In TWOW, we find out that Aegon has taken Storm’s End and is currently residing there. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get another scene where Tyrion finds out that Storm’s End has fallen to a kid he underestimated. This time Doran’s support will be genuine.

"The Dornishmen thus far have held aloof from these wars. Doran Martell has called his banners, but no more. His hatred for House Lannister is well known, and it is commonly thought he will join Lord Renly. You wish to dissuade him."

Yet another foreshadowing that Dorne will support Aegon is his war against the Lannisters. Plus another comparison between Renly and Aegon. Some people believe that Aegon will never make it as far as King’s Landing, that he’ll die before his campaign truly takes off just like Renly.

"It was Lord Renly! Lord Renly in his green armor, with the fires shimmering off his golden antlers! Lord Renly with his tall spear in his hand! They say he killed Ser Guyard Morrigen himself in single combat, and a dozen other great knights as well. It was Renly, it was Renly, it was Renly! Oh! the banners, darling Sansa! Oh! to be a knight!"

Years ago, I theorised that there will be a reversal of the Sack of King’s Landing by the Lannister soldiers. The Lannisters will be inside the city and Aegon and Arianne will be outside. Instead of a Sack, most of the fighting will occur between soldiers and in the Red Keep. Instead of Rhaenys and a baby boy, Tommen and Myrcella’s bodies will be presented to Aegon. Instead of it being done by Tywin, someone Robert barely knew, it will be done by JonCon, someone Aegon loves. Instead of smiling down at the corpses of the children like Robert did, Aegon would condemn the act and that will lead to his greatest personal sacrifice- he’ll have to cut ties with Jon Connington. In a lot of ways Aegon resembles Renly but he’ll have the substance to back it up.

I don’t know where I was going with this. I just love talking about Aegon and Doran.

[warsofasoiaf]

What would a victorious King Stannis Baratheon have done with the remaining Kingsguard in Kings Landing, in your opinion? For that matter, what was Renly’s former Rainbow Guard’s role in Stannis’ army, following his brothers death? Do you think it was Stannis’ expectation that Guyard Morrigen, Parmen Crane, and Lord Bryce Caron, were to stay on in their roles as members of Stannis’ Seven, after the fact?

Chances are good he would have had the members of Joffrey's Kingsguard either executed or sent to the Wall for treason (not Barristan though, in the unlikely event that Barristan was still around). I think Stannis also figured that once Renly was dead, the Rainbow Guard dissolved as well, and there would be no need for them.

What would be interesting is what if Renly submitted. How would he incorporate the Rainbow Guard. Obviously, bringing them in as the Kingsguard is right out, but would they be sworn swords to Renly, or agents of the crown? Fascinating to consider.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King