Explore every episode of The Ghosts of Harrenhal: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast (ASOIAF)
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08 Feb 2022
Chapter Fifty-Four - Tyrion 12 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion learns that Bran and Rickon Stark are dead. Cersei reveals that she has caught his “little whore.” But Tyrion’s sophistry has worked, and she’s captured the wrong woman. Tyrion promises grim vengeance against his sister. Mackelly and Simon mourn the death of sibling detente.
Chapter Review: Lord Varys reveals that the Greyjoys have killed the Stark boys. Tyrion Lannister is shocked and wants to know if Cersei will be shocked too. He hurries to join her for dinner.
She is surprised and slightly irked that she always gets blamed when harm befalls a Stark - it was Jamie who pushed Bran. They both worry for Jamie, and are determined to keep Sansa as safe as possible. Tyrion wants Balon Swann and Sandor Clegane fighting when Stannis comes, Cersie worries that they should be protecting the King.
Things go very sour when Cersei reveals that she has captured Tyrion’s whore. She has Alayaya dragged in. She’s bloodied but not broken. Tyrion promises to free her. He rounds on Cersei and promises that he’ll hurt her for this. Someday her safety and joy will turn to ashes in her mouth.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. King Joffrey Baratheon - Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Currently King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Acting Hand of the King. Lord Varys - Master of Spies, member of the Small Council. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Stark. Jacelyn Bywater - New Commander of the City Watch (AKA Gold Cloaks). Bronn - A sellsword. Now Tyrion’s friend and bodyguard. Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne. Brother to the late king Robert Baratheon. Shae - Former prostitute, paramour of Tyrion Lannister. Alayaya - King’s Landing prostitute who helped Tyrion with his trysts with Shae. Now captive of Cersei.
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All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
15 Feb 2022
Chapter Fifty-Five - Catelyn 7 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Cat tries to come to terms with the news of Bran's and Rickon’s deaths. She visits Jamie Lannister who defends his decision to kill the King and break his oath, but goes too far when he belittles Ned Stark. Cat calls for Brienne’s sword. Mackelly and Simon quickly buy up pine boxes in Riverrun.
Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark listens to the citizens of Riverrun celebrate the victory over Tywin Lannister’s forces, while trying to process the news that Bran and Rickon have been murdered by Theon Greyjoy. She spends some time with her father Hoster, who sleeps throughout.
At midnight, she and Brienne visit Jamie in the dungeons. Jamie agrees to answer Cat’s questions as long as she will do the same with his. He admits to throwing Bran from the tower, but denies sending the assassin. He also admits to being the father of Cersei’s children. He backs up Tyrion’s story of the dagger used in the attempt on Bran's life. If the Imp bet, it was on Jamie and he lost, so he never won the dagger. In return, Cat reveals the state of the war - Robb winning more and more castles in the Westerlands.
Jamie then tells the story of Brandon and Rickard Stark’s death, painting a terrible picture of Aerys and the other Kingsguard. Jamie bemoans that he’s forever tainted whilst honor-bound sticklers like Ned Stark are sanctified. He goes a bit too far, and Cat demands Brienne’s sword.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Widow of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Brienne of Tarth - Tall and homely Daughter of Lord Selwyn Tarth the Evenstar. She is an expert with a sword. Edmure Tully - Younger brother to Catelyn Stark, heir to Riverrun. Hoster Tully - Cat’s father. Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Bed-ridden and in failing health. Tywin Lannister - Lord of the Westerlands. Jamie Lannister - Son of Tywin, brother to Cersei and Tyrion, lover of Cersei, father to Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tom
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
22 Feb 2022
Chapter Fifty-Six - Theon 5 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Theon's nightly nightmares often revolve around his lies, deceits, and the atrocities he's committed. His sister Asha shoots him straight about his dire situation in Winterfell. He refuses to heed her advice and puts his last bit of hope on the shoulders of Reek. Simon and Mackelly raise their eyebrows in skepticism.
Chapter Review: Theon Greyjoy wakes from another bad dream to learn that his sister Asha has finally arrived in Winterfell. On his way to the Winterfell Great Hall to see her, he's surrounded by bodyguards. Ironborn have been dropping like flies around the castle, since they returned from the mill with the bodies of Bran and Rickon. Theon knows it's Reek who has committed the murders, to keep the secret of what happened at the mill from getting out. However, Theon uses the kennel master Farlen as a scapegoat for the crimes, and beheads him.
Asha has brought Theon reinforcements to help hold Winterfell. Unfortunately, she's brought him a mere 10 men. Theon says it's not enough, Ser Rodrik Cassel is riding toward the castle with an army. Asha points out that's something he should've thought about before taking Winterfell. She asks him to give up on the castle and come with her back to Deepwood Motte. He refuses, so she leaves. Theon gives Reek silver to buy men to help hold the castle. He then second-guesses why he didn't do the smart thing and leave with his sister. As dawn breaks over Winterfell, he looks at the heads of the boys on the spikes and thinks of the Miller's sons. They were the perfect stand-ins for the still-missing Stark boys.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Theon Greyjoy - Heir to the Iron Islands. Betrayed his former friend Robb Stark and invaded the North in the name of the Iron Islands. Asha Greyjoy - Elder sister to Theon. Oldest surviving child of Balon Greyjoy. Balon Greyjoy - Lord of the Iron Islands. Victarion Greyjoy - Younger brother of Balon Greyjoy. Maester Luwin - Maester of Winterfell. Bran Stark - Paraplegic middle son of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Rickon Stark - Youngest child of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Farlen - Kennel-master of Winterfell. Palla - Farlen’s daughter. Black Lorren - Cruel Iron Islander. Lieutenant to Theon Greyjoy. Reek - Malodorous servant to the now dead bastard of the dreadfort Ramsay S
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
01 Mar 2022
Chapter Fifty-Seven - Sansa 5 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa bounces around the Red Keep, as the battle starts beyond the city's walls. She prays for everyone, even Tyrion and the Hound. She draws the line at Joffrey. She meets Shae and takes her place in the Red Keep with Cersei, the other women and children, and Illyn Payne. Simon and Mackelly load the trebuchets.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark speaks with Tyrion Lannister before the battle. He muses that he should have sent her to Rosby with Tommen. Too late now. She still can't read his heart but is less sure of his animosity. Joffrey calls her over like a dog. He charmingly invites her to kiss his new sword Hearteater. She obliges and goads Joffrey to prove himself in battle. The narcissistic little coward ignores the barbs.
She prays in the sept, along with everyone else who isn’t fighting (and some who will be very soon). She muses on how the contradictory gods can possibly heed all the prayers. But takes solace in holding hands with strangers as they pray. When prayers for Joffrey begin, she gets out of there. She heads to the Queen’s ballroom. En route she meets the Stokeworths who are struggling to get Lollys to accompany them. She’s freaked out about something, and not easy to reason with. Eventually Shae and Lollys’ sister Falyse manhandle her into the ballroom.
Within, Sansa sits with Cersei and questions why ser Ilyn Payne is present, wielding Sansa’s father’s sword Ice. Cersei believes that they’ll be glad of his presence should Stannis’ men reach the doors. We’re guessing not because he would be able to single-handedly hold them at bay.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Captive of the Lannisters. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name - Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Tyrion “The Imp” Lannister - Brother to Queen Cersei. Acting Hand of the King. Shae - Tyrion’s lover. Handmaiden to Lollys Stokeworth. Lollys Stokeworth - Recently member of the court. Deeply scarred and rumored to be pregnant. Sandor Clegane - The Hound. King Joffrey's personal protector. Member of the Kingsgua
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
07 Mar 2022
Chapter Fifty-Eight - Davos 3 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos sails into Blackwater Bay with Stannis’ giant fleet. He has some misgivings, but initially the battle goes to plan. However, a series of barges full of wildfire sail into the fleet and all is lost. Davos is thrown overboard but is being drawn into the burning mess that is gathering on Tyrion’s great chain. Simon and Mackelly pick through the flotsam.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth stands on the deck of the Black Betha, in the second row of King Stannis Baratheon's fleet. The enormous fleet is made up of 10 rows of 20 ships, not including the ships of Salladhor Saan's Lysene fleet that will stay out in the Blackwater Bay as the rear guard.
Ser Imry Florent, brother to Stannis's wife Selyse, has been named Lord High Captain of the fleet. He plans to use the fleet's superior numbers to overwhelm the much smaller royal fleet. Once they've been dispatched, the ships will both land troops on the northern bank of the Blackwater Rush and ferry Stannis and his army across from the southern bank. Ser Davos has reservations about the plan, most notably the decision to take all 200 ships into the river at once.
When the two sides meet, the fighting is fierce. However, it's clear that the numbers of Stannis' fleet will carry the day for them. Everything changes when boats ladened with wildfire are drifted into the fleet. As they are rammed or catch fire, the explosions are immense. When the first boat explodes, Davos is thrown from his ship. As he treads water, he sees many other ships engulfed in green flames. Davos figures he'll let the river current take him out to the bay to meet up with Saan's fleet for rescue. But as he looks down-river, he sees that a thick boom chain has been raised across the mouth of the river, trapping them all. The current is taking him right for it and the burning husks that have been trapped against it.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Ser Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Advisor to King Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - (Arguably) The rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, as younger brother to King Robert Baratheon. Husband to Selyse Florent. Father of Shireen. Ser Imry Florent - Brother to Selyse, in charge of Stannis’ fleet in the Battle of the Blackwater. Melisandre - The Red Woman of Ashaii. Priestess of R’Hellor, the Lord of Li
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
15 Mar 2022
Chapter Fifty-Nine - Tyrion 13 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion surveys the wildfire destruction on the Blackwater Rush. King Joffrey gleefully prepares to fire a new type of projectile from the trebuchets. And the Hound refuses to return to the fighting outside the walls. In the end, Tyrion leads the sortie to defend the King's Gate himself. Simon and Mackelly tremulously reach for their helmets.
Chapter Review Tyrion Lannister watches from the city walls, as chaos and fire reign on the river below. The wildfire did what he'd hoped it would do, almost. The vast majority of Stannis' fleet has been destroyed, but there's still enough ships left to get him and his men across the river. In fact, some men have already reached the north shore. He plans to turn the three huge trebuchets west and continue raining boulders on the remaining ships. However, King Joffrey has a different plan. He wants to launch the traitors known as the Antler Men instead.
After the king leaves to play with his new toys, word reaches Tyrion that there are enemies at the King's Gate with a battering ram. When Tyrion arrives at the gate, he finds the Hound unwilling to lead the men back out to defend it. Tyrion tries to command him to do so, but to no affect. With no other choice, he saddles up to lead the men himself. At first, few follow. He's reminds them that they say he's half a man, so what does that make them? That gets a reaction, and more men join his cause. With that, he turns and rides for the sally port.
Characters/Places/Names/Events Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Acting Hand of the King. King Joffrey Baratheon - bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Currently King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Sandor Clegane - The Hound. King Joffrey's personal protector. Member of the Kingsguard. Jacelyn Bywater - New Commander of the City Watch (AKA Gold Cloaks). Bronn - A sellsword. Now Tyrion’s friend and bodyguard. Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne. Brother to the late king Robert Baratheon. Alayaya - King’s Landing prostitute who helped Tyrion with his trysts with Shae. Now captive of Cersei.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
22 Mar 2022
Chapter Sixty - Sansa 6 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa sits with Cersei as the queen gets both news of the battle and becomes increasingly drunk. Sansa's heart almost stops when Cersei says she knows of Sansa’s treasons in the godswood. Finally, Cersei reveals that Ser Ilyn Payne is there to remove their heads, if Stannis should take the castle. Simon and Mackelly scan the room for exits.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark sits next to Queen Cersei in the Queen’s Ballroom of Maegor’s Holdfast, along with the other highborn ladies. Osney and Osfryd Kettleblack bring updates regarding the battle. Both the King’s Gate and the Mud Gate are under attack. That’s too close for the queen’s comfort, as King Joffrey is at the giant trebuchets inside the Mud Gate. She commands that he be brought back inside Maegor’s Holdfast.
The two ladies pass the time by Cersei explaining what being a woman is really like to Sansa. Tears and feminine wiles are a woman’s weapons, she explains. She wishes she’d been trained to wield a sword, like her twin brother Jamie, so she wouldn’t have to sit here so helplessly. But, despite being the Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, she has little power to do anything aside from sit here with the other frightened hens, who she has little respect for.
Sansa inquires about the plan, should the castle fall. Cersei says she will give herself over to Stannis, if Maegor’s Holdfast holds until he arrives. If it doesn’t, they’ll be in for a rough night. However, later she reveals that she’s kept Ser Ilyn Payne around in the event the castle falls. If that happens, Ser Ilyn will take their heads, yes Sansa’s too. Cersei will not have House Stark benefit from the fall of House Lannister.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Captive of the Lannisters. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name - bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Tyrion “The Imp” Lannister - brother to Queen Cersei. Acting Hand of the King. Shae - Tyrion’s lover. Handmaiden to Lollys Stokeworth. Lollys Stokeworth - recently raped member of the court. Deeply scarred and rumored to b
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
29 Mar 2022
Chapter Sixty-One - Tyrion 14 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion rides at the point of a flying wedge, clearing the King’s Gate of the enemy. Success in battle and the admiration of his men infects him with battle fever. He leads his men to clear a bridge of ships. Death nearly comes at the hand of his own Kingsguard. But before the death blow falls, he’s saved by an unlikely hero. Simon and Mackelly applaud young Pod.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister leads a sortie to clear the King’s Gate of Stannis Baratheon’s men, who have employed a battering ram to bring the gate down. Tyrion heads the wedge formation of his men, with Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard on his right and, to his surprise, his squire Podrick Payne on his left. Tyrion and his men smash the enemy at the gate, then ride to aid in the other fighting. Tyrion is overcome by battle fever, slashing and chopping men down with his axe.
Ser Balon Swann alerts Tyrion to a phenomenon happening downriver. All of the destruction on the river has caused ships to pile up and form a bridge. Stannis’ men are using it to cross the river. Tyrion leads a group to dispatch the men. Chaos reigns on the bridge, with death everywhere. While he’s on the bridge, it begins to break up, stranding Tyrion.
Ser Mandon reaches out a hand to save Tyrion. However, as the men touch hands, Tyrion realizes too late that it’s a trap. Ser Mandon smashes Tyrion in the face with his sword. The blow nearly knocks Tyrion into the water, leaving him clinging to an oar. He shimmies his way back up to the deck. He lays on the deck motionless, while Ser Mandon prepares to run him through. Before he can do so, he stumbles and falls overboard. Instead, it’s Pod looking over Tyrion.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Acting Hand of the King. Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne. Brother to the late king Robert Baratheon. Ser Mandon Moore - Expressionless member of the Kingsguard. Ser Balon Swann - Newer member of the Kingsguard, replacing the late Ser Preston Greenfield. Podrick Payne - Shy squire to Tyrion Lannister.
Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
05 Apr 2022
Chapter Sixty-Two - Sansa 7 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa overhears disquieting news of the battle, has a run-in with Sandor Clegane, and learns from an elated Ser Dontos Hollard that the battle has turned as reinforcements have arrived from the east in the form of the Tyrells, Tywin Lannister, and somehow Renly Baratheon. Simon and Mackelly mourn the missed opportunities.
Chapter Review: Lancel Lannister brings news of the battle. Things are not going well. As the king was pulled back to safety, the men lost heart and threw down their arms. There are enemy forces at multiple gates, Tyrion is likely dead, and the defenders are outmatched. Cersei Lannister takes all this as evidence that Joffrey should be further withdrawn. Lancel objects but Cersei insists, smacks him in a wound in his side, and storms out.
Sansa tries to reassure the frightened ladies, but then uses the opportunity to go to her chamber. Figuring some distance between herself and Ser Ilyn Payne is prudent. There she finds the Hound waiting for her. He offers to rescue her and take her north, but she’d rather take her chances here. He leaves. She takes a well-earned nap.
She’s awoken some time later by Ser Dontos who is cock-a-hoop with joy, but barely coherent. When she calms him down enough, it transpires that Stannis’ forces have been routed by an army comprising Tywin’s force from the West, and the combined forces of the Reach apparently (and puzzlingly) led by Renly.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Captive of the Lannisters. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name - Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Tyrion “The Imp” Lannister - Brother to Queen Cersei. Acting Hand of the King. Ser Dontos Hollard - Last member of house Hollard. Saved from execution on King Joffrey’s name day by Sansa Stark. Ser Ilyn Payne - Executioner. Ser Lancel Lannister - Cousin and lover to Queen Cersei, spy for Tyrion Lannister. Sandor Clegane, The Hound - Member of the Kingsguard and personal protector of King Joffrey. Tywin Lannister - Father of Cersei, Tyrion, and Jamie. Stannis
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
12 Apr 2022
Chapter Sixty-Three - Daenerys 5 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys fends off proposals of marriage and trade from Xaro Xhoan Daxos and accepts his insistence that she leave both his home and Qarth. She's given a deadly gift from a stranger but is saved by new friends bearing good news. Simon and Mackelly pack their bags for Pentos.
Chapter Review: Xaro Xhoan Daxos tells Daenerys Targaryen that she's worn out her welcome in Qarth, after her role in the destruction of the House of the Undying. Many want her banished, some want her dead. Xaro makes one final proposal of marriage, which Dany rejects. He then offers a trade of ships for a dragon. Again, she says no. Xaro wants her out and his gifts back.
Dany and her bloodriders head to the docks, in search of a ship to take them out of the city. Asking for much, with little to offer, they face rejection after rejection. Ser Jorah Mormont realizes that they're being followed. Dany turns to confront the followers, but is handed a box by a stranger. Without thinking, she opens the box to find a manticore. Before it can attack her, one of the men following her knocks the box out of her hands and kills the manticore.
It seems the men who had been following her were sent by Illyrio Mopatis. They've brought ships to take her, her khalasar, and her dragons to Pentos. Dany is grateful but wants the ships renamed to Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar. The dragons have returned.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Daughter of King Aerys. Widow of Khal Drogo. Mother of dragons. Claimant to the Iron Throne. Khaleesi of small khalasar in Essos. Ser Jorah Mormont - Banished Lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targaryen. Jhogo - Dothraki warrior. Bloodrider of Daenerys Targaryen. Aggo - Dothraki warrior. Bloodrider of Daenerys Targaryen. Rakharo - Dothraki warrior. Bloodrider of Daenerys Targaryen. Qarth - City on the south coast of Essos. Pyat Pree - Great warlock of Qarth. Xaro Xhoan Daxos - Merchant Prince of Qarth. Ilyrio Mopatis - Wealthy merchant of Pentos. Former host of the Targaryens and believed to be plotting with Varys to reinstall the Targaryen rule in Westeros. Strong Belwas - Slave of Illyrio Mopatis, formerly of the Meereen Fighting Pits. Sent by Illyrio Mopatis to bring Dany to Pentos. Arstan - Westerosi squire of Strong Belwas
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
19 Apr 2022
Chapter Sixty-Four - Arya 10 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya sits in as the Freys express concern about King Robb’s chances of success, now that House Tyrell has joined with House Lannister. She unknowingly learns her impending wedding is off. And she escapes Harrenhal for Riverrun with Gendry and Hot Pie. Simon and Mackelly saddle up for the ride.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark blends into the background of Lord Roose Bolton's chambers, while a large group of Frey men suggest that King Robb has lost the war and must kneel to the Lannister. Roose points out that King Robb has won every battle he’s entered into against the Lannisters. The Freys remind him that Tywin Lannister’s army has expanded greatly since their alliance with House Tyrell. She then receives the devastating news that Winterfell has been taken and Bran and Rickon killed.
When the Freys leave, Roose dictates a letter to Helman Tallhart, who has taken Castle Darry. He wants Tallhart to put Darry to the torch and then march on Duskendale, alongside Robett Glover. Arya’s tasked with cleaning Roose’s chambers, while he leaves for a wolf hunt. During her chores, she finds a map showing Riverrun’s location compared to Harrenhal. It’s not too far away.
After a trip to the godswood, Arya returns to serve Roose his dinner and wine. He tells her that she will stay in Harrenhal when he leaves and serve Vargo Hoat. Arya then makes her way back to the godswood. However, on her way she comes across Elmar Frey. He’s upset that due to a dishonor to his house he won’t be marrying the princess he’s been betrothed to. Neither of them realize that Arya is that princess.
In the godswood, she prays to the heart tree for direction. A wolf howls in the distance. She takes that as a sign it’s time to rejoin her family. She talks Gendry into coming with her, and sends him to fetch Hot Pie. Arya kills the guard at a postern gate, and the trio ride for Riverrun.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Working in the Harrenhal smiths. Hot Pie - Friend of Arya. Working in the Harrenhal kitchens. Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Heading up the eastern contingent of Robb Stark’s army. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions, a
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
26 Apr 2022
Chapter Sixty-Five - Sansa 8 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa watches as Tywin Lannister takes control in King’s Landing. The Tyrells fully embrace the new alliance, the Lannisters dole out rewards to loyalists, punish their enemies, and pat themselves on the back. King Joffrey drops her for another, putting Sansa on cloud nine. But Dontos brings her crashing back to earth. Simon and Mackelly try to break her fall.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark stands in attendance as the Lannister family congratulate themselves and their allies. Lord Tywin Lannister takes over as Hand of the King. Mace, Garlan, and Loras Tyrell ask favors of the king, all are granted. The biggest ask being that Joffrey put Sansa aside and marry Margaery Tyrell.
After that, it’s time to split up the winning from the Battle of the Blackwater. New lords are made, including Lancel Lannister and Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish. More than six hundred men are knighted. Finally, the Stannis Baratheon supporters are dragged before the king. They’re made to beg his forgiveness, to retain their titles and lands. Most do, but some choose death by vocally disparaging the boy king.
When all the glad-handing, promotions, and begging for forgiveness are over, Sansa returns to her chamber. She can hardly remember a time she’s been this happy. She won’t have to marry Joffrey. She doesn’t know what will happen to her, but it has to be better than marrying that monster. Ser Dontos Hollard disagrees. He thinks nothing has changed. But he’s set a date for their escape: Joff’s and Margaery’s wedding day. He also has a present for her, in the form of a beautiful hair net. He claims it holds justice for her father.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Formerly betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Captive of the Lannisters. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name - Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Father of Cersei, Tyrion, and Jamie. New Hand of the King. Ser Dontos Hollard - Saved from execution on King Joffrey’s name day by Sansa Stark. Now a fool. Ser Loras Tyrell - Young, dashing, talented knight from the Reach. The son of L
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03 May 2022
Chapter Sixty-Six - Theon 6 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Theon is surrounded. Ser Rodrik Cassel has amassed Northern forces to surround and retake Winterfell. At the 11th hour, Theon is saved by Reek, who has brought hundreds of Bolton men. But Reek wants more than just Theon’s good wishes. Simon and Mackelly weigh the treacheries.
Chapter Review: Maester Luwin advises Theon Greyjoy to yield Winterfell. Ser Rodrik Cassel has brought perhaps 2,000 loyal northmen who have Winterfell surrounded. Theon doubts Luwin’s loyalty, but the maester reminds him that he serves the Lord of Winterfell, who is Theon (kinda).
Theon gives the ironborn a rousing speech, but only 17 rally to his cause. The rest flee back to his sister Asha. Ser Rodrik wants to parlay and Theon rides out to meet him. Cassel is twitching to kill the turncloak, but Theon has a trump card. At a signal, Rodrik’s daughter Beth is paraded on the walls with a noose around her neck. Theon tells Rodrik that she dies at sunset and another citizen will join her every morning and night until the besiegers withdraw. Cassel offers himself in Beth’s place, but Theon’s not buying.
Luwin suggest that Theon take the Black. Theon considers how high someone with his training might rise in the Night’s Watch. But before he can answer, sounds of fighting are heard. Reek has returned, with hundreds of mounted Bolton men. They decimate the other northmen and kill Cassel and others. Reek reveals himself to be Ramsay Snow, Roose Bolton’s bastard. Theon is grateful, but Ramsay’s men are not done. They knock Theon unconscious, run Luwin through, and are ordered to burn the entire castle, save the Frey boys.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Theon Greyjoy - Heir to the Iron Islands. Betrayed his former friend Robb Stark and invaded the North in the name of the Iron Islands. Asha Greyjoy - Elder sister to Theon. Oldest surviving child of Balon Greyjoy. Balon Greyjoy - Lord of the Iron Islands. Father to Asha and Theon. Victarion Greyjoy - Younger brother of Balon Greyjoy. Maester Luwin - Maester of Winterfell. Palla - Farlen’s daughter. Works in the Winterfell kennel. Black Lorren - Cruel Iron Islander. Lieutenant to Theon Greyjoy. Ramsay Snow - Bastard son of Roose Bolton. Believed killed by Ser Rodrik Cassel. Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Bet
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10 May 2022
Chapter Sixty-Seven - Tyrion 15 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion recovers from the wounds he sustained in the Battle of the Blackwater. He’s horribly disfigured and having wild fever dreams. Mackelly and Simon sniff the boiled wine.
Chapter Review: Tyrion dreams of death and carrion. He is in a dungeon with other dying men. In his dream, he is mouthless and the city gates are barred to him. He lies in his own filth and seems to have no help or hope.
He wakes briefly in the Tower of the Hand in his own bed. What is dream and reality become blurred. He is visited by Cersei, Tywin, Littlefinger, and Varys. He dreams of feasts in his honor, where songs are sung of his bravery and he is knighted by his brother Jamie. He wakes again, but a maester forces him to drink milk of the poppy, and sleep claims him once more. Now he dreams of his happy honeymoon with Tysha, how loving and sweet those times seem to him.
The next time he wakes he refuses more drugs. Tyrion demands to see his wounds. Maester Ballabar advises otherwise, but Tyrion insists. His bandages are removed to reveal a terrible scar across his face, involving the loss of most of his nose. He also learns that he’s in Maegor’s Holdfast so that Cersei can personally oversee his care. He’s lost his position as his father has taken the role of Hand of the King, having saved the city. Pod updates him that Bronn is now Ser Bronn, and he confirms that Ser Mandon Moore is dead.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Ser Mandon Moore - Expressionless member of the Kingsguard. Killed in the Battle of the Blackwater. Podrick Payne - Shy squire to Tyrion Lannister. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon. Tywin Lannister - Father of Tyrion, Lord of Casterly Rock. Newly self-appointed Hand of the King. Ser Bronn - Sell sword, friend of Tyrion. Now Ser Bronn. Shae - Tyrion’s lover. Tysha - Tyrion’s former wife. Maester Ballabar - Attending to Tyrion’s recovery.
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17 May 2022
Chapter Sixty-Eight - Jon 8 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon and Qhorin cannot escape the pursuing wildlings. The Halfhand orders Jon to yield to the wildlings, to infiltrate, and to never forget his vows. Jon proves his loyalty by killing Qhorin, with considerable help from Ghost. Simon and Mackelly mourn his passing.
Chapter Review: Qhorin Halfhand has sent Ebben on ahead with the fastest horse, and Stonesnake by foot separately, with news for Lord Commander Mormont of what Jon saw and how he saw it. The “old powers are awaking." Ebben suggests Jon Snow should go, as the youngest, but the Halfhand has a different plan for Snow. The situation seems hopeless. Qhorin orders a fire.
Jon prepares for death, but Qhorin has a plan. He wants Jon to yield to the wildlings, spy on them, do whatever necessary to convince them of his turned-cloak, but to never forget his vow. They backtrack to a secret tunnel behind a waterfall. The fire was to throw off pursuers. They spend the night and then take the tunnel through the mountain. The ruse hasn’t worked.
The chieftain Rattleshirt awaits them. Jon yields as instructed, and gets support from Ygritte who is a member of the party. Rattleshirt is skeptical. Qhorin feigns fury. Jon proves himself by killing Qhorin, with a bit of help from Ghost. Begrudgingly he’s welcomed into the wildling fold.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Night's Watch - Men who guard the Seven Kingdoms against threats from beyond the Wall. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night’s Watch. Ser Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Ghost - Jon Snow’s direwolf. Mance Rayder - Leader of the wildlings, self-styled King-Beyond-The-Wall. Qhorin Halfhand - Ranger of the Night’s Watch from the Shadow Tower. Stonesnake - Ranger from the Shadow Tower. Best climber in the Night’s Watch. Ygritte - Wildling girl captured by Jon but subsequently released. Ebben - Ranger of the Night’s Watch from the Shadow Tower. Squire Dalbridge - Ranger of the Night's Watch from the Shadow Tower. Rattleshirt - Wildling chief. Warg - Person who can enter the mind of, and control, an animal. Frostfangs - Mountain range north of the Wall. Skirling Pass - Series of passes into the Frostfangs. Milkwater - River that runs north to south beyond the Wall.
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07 Jun 2022
Interview with Elio M. Garcia and Linda Antonsson from westeros.org
In this special episode, Mackelly and Simon sit down with Elio M. Garcia and Linda Antonsson. Elio and Linda are the co-authors, along with George R.R. Martin, of the well-known “A World of Ice and Fire” and the soon-to-be-released “Rise of the Dragon.” They’re also the founders of the incredibly popular westeros.org.
Some of the topics we discuss include:
How did Elio and Linda come to work so closely with George R.R. Martin?
How does co-writing books with Martin work?
What are their thoughts on Game of Thrones and the up-coming House of the Dragon?
Oh, and spoilers, spoilers, spoilers! We go beyond A Dance of Dragons and pick their brains about what they think is coming in The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.
Who do they think Azor Ahai is?
Who do they think will sit the Iron Throne when the story wraps up?
If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.
We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
24 May 2022
Chapter Sixty-Nine - Bran 7 - A Clash of Kings | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Bran and company are hiding in the crypts of Winterfell. They venture out to find the castle destroyed and Maester Luwin mortally wounded. Mackelly and Simon sort through the debris.
Chapter Review: Bran Stark sees and smells the destruction of Winterfell through the eyes of Summer. He’s been in wolf form for three days, but Osha, Hodor, Rickon and the Reeds are waiting for, and on, him in the crypts beneath Winterfell. With what he’s learned, the party decides to venture forth - they need food anyway.
Only Hodor has the strength to move the door which is blocked by rubble. The destruction is wanton and considerable: horses, dogs, and people lie dead everywhere. Bran blames Theon Greyjoy, but Osha suspects that the "Squid Prince" might have been a victim here too. Rickon doesn’t recognize it as his home. But he does recognize the direwolves who come trotting up. The wolves scent something and head for the Godswood.
There they find Maester Luwin on the edge of death. He counsels Osha to split the boys up. Take Rickon to the King’s Road and Bran to the Wall. She does so, taking Rickon, while the remainder accompanies Bran north. He thinks that while the crypts remain Winterfell will always be the home of the Starks and the heart of the North.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Brandon (Bran) Stark - Middle son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. He was pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister and lost the use of his legs. Rickon Stark - Youngest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Summer - Direwolf of Bran Stark. Shaggydog - Direwolf of Rickon Stark. Maester Luwin - Maester in the service of house Stark at Winterfell. Hodor - Huge but simple man who carries Bran Stark wherever he wishes to go. Osha - Wildling captured by the Starks now held as servant/prisoner in Winterfell. Theon Greyjoy - Heir to the Iron Islands. Former ward of Ned Stark. Ramsay Snow (Bolton) - Illegitimate son of Roose Bolton. Husband of the unwilling Donella Hornwood. Meera Reed - Sixteen-year-old daughter of Howland Reed Jojen Reed - Thirteen-year-old son of Howland Reed.
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14 Jun 2022
Prologue - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Chett’s plan to murder the Night’s Watch leadership is defeated by the arrival of the White Walkers. Simon and Mackelly check the temperature.
Chapter Review: Chett is trying to convince his canine charges to follow some bear prints. The Night’s Watch badly need some food. The dogs are not interested. Chett and his companions discuss the plan to murder Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and anyone who could track them. Chett’s plan is well thought through, but he’s worried about the reliability of the men he’s conspiring with.
They give up the hunt and return to the Fist of the First Men, where Grenn and Edd are giving Samwell Tarly archery lessons. Chett sticks around to heckle Sam, who he blames for his woes. Sam took the job that Chett used to hold, a time he thinks of as the best of his life. Sam is on the list of who dies tonight, partially to prevent ravens being sent to the Wall with word of their treachery, but mostly out of spite.
Chett’s plans crumble when snow falls. Even the least competent tracker can follow 14 traitors through fresh snow. Chett’s distraught, but decides to vent that fury on Sam. He finds him sleeping by the ravens. He pulls a knife but just before he can act, three horn blasts sound - The White Walkers are coming.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Chett - Member of the Night’s Watch, keeper of the hounds. Sam Tarly - Member of the Night’s Watch, assistant to Maester Aemon. Grenn - Friend of Sam and Jon Snow. Edd Tollard - laconic friend of Sam and Jon Snow. Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Fist of the First Men - Outcrop of rock north of the wall. In ancient times used a fort. White Walkers - AKA The Others. Supernatural creatures of the far north, who can raise the dead to their aid.
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21 Jun 2022
Chapter One - Jaime 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime takes a river cruise down the Red Fork with family and friends. Well, not exactly. He's been freed by Cat but still in shackles, having vowed to send Sansa and Arya home in return. Things go smoothly, until they don't. Only Brienne's smarts and strength save the trio from recapture. Simon and Mackelly pull the oars.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister has been freed from his Riverrun dungeon by Catelyn Stark. He vowed, under dubious conditions, to convince his brother Tyrion Lannister to send Sansa and Arya Stark home in return.
Jaime is still fettered and under the protection of Brienne of Tarth. His cousin Ser Cleos Frey rounds out the trio. They sail down the Red Fork of the Trident on a small skiff. Jaime antagonizes Brienne and she does her best to ignore the barbs.
They survey the destruction of the Riverlands from their boat, until Brienne sees a tree with dead women hanging in it. The sight is too much for her. She lands with the intent to cut the women down and bury them. While in the branches of the tree, Brienne sees a sail in the distance and they hurry for the boat.
Try as they might, their little boat cannot outrun the larger galley. Ser Robin Ryger and his crew make up the distance. The ship and boat play cat and mouse, until Brienne climbs a high bluff and pushes a boulder onto the ship, sinking it.
Jaime thinks he's free of the big warrior woman. But she leaps from the bluff into the water. Rather than using his oar as a weapon, putting an end to Brienne, he uses it to reel her back to the boat.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Cat Stark. Ser Cleos Frey - Cousin to Jaime Lannister. Captive of the Starks. Playing messenger between the Starks and Lannisters in their negotiations. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Ser Robin Ryger - Older knight. Captain of the Guard for Hoster Tully at Riverrun. Riverrun - Capital of the Riverlands, seat of House Tully
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28 Jun 2022
Chapter Two - Catelyn 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Catelyn Stark is confined to her father’s chambers for freeing Jamie Lannister, there she stumbles upon a family secret. Simon and Mackelly muse upon the butterfly effect.
Chapter Review: Desmond Grell and Utherydes Wayn have the tricky task of punishing their Lord’s daughter for her treasonous act of freeing Jamie Lannister. She both makes it harder for them (by being entirely unrepentant and refusing to play along with their extenuating circumstance olive branches) and easier for them (by readily agreeing to confinement in her father’s chambers).
Her dying father calls out about “Tansy”, “blood”, “forgiveness”, “You’ll have more sons, and trueborn”. Cat has never heard of Tansy and asking around doesn’t help, as the servants and attendants are on orders not to engage with her beyond what is strictly necessary. After some speculation Cat decides that Hoster is referring to Lysa - and the baby she lost when she was first married to Jon Arryn.
Cat pens a letter to Lysa pleading for her to visit, but doesn’t expect a positive response. Edmure arrives home and reports that Stannis was defeated at King’s Landing with Tyrion injured and expected to die, the Riverlands are free of invaders, and he’s sending ravens to Harrenhal to have Roose Bolton block any possible routes south for Jamie and Brienne. Cat despairs.
Characters/Places/Names/Events Catelyn Stark - Eldest child of Hoster Tully, widow of Ned Stark, father of King Robb. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident. Dying of old age. Lysa Arryn - sister to Catelyn Stark, widow of Jon Arryn hiding in the Vale with her son Lord Robert Arryn. Edmure Tully - brother to Catelyn, heir to Riverrun. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Cat. Renowned soldier. Brienne of Tarth - former Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon, witness to his murder. Sworn her sword to Catelyn. Currently escorting Jamie Lannister south. Jamie Lannister - Father and uncle to King Joffrey Baratheon. Twin of Cersei Lannister. Freed from captivity by Catelyn. Desmond Grell - master-at-arms at Riverrun. Utherydes Wayn - steward of Lord Hoster Tully Ser Robin Ryger - captain of the guards at Riverrun. Dispatched to bring Jamie Lannister back.
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05 Jul 2022
Chapter Three - Arya 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry make their way north from Harrenhal, in hopes of reaching the safety of Riverrun. The trip won’t be an easy one, as they avoid the roads in favor of the cover the rugged terrain provides. Arya’s worried about being hunted by Roose Bolton’s men, but gets some help from an old friend. Simon and Mackelly saddle up for the ride.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and her friends Hot Pie and Gendry successfully escaped Harrenhal. However, they now find themselves traveling through dense woods and high hills, and across rivers, with nothing more than a vague map and Arya’s comprehension of geographical orientation to keep them going in the right direction.
Arya’s plan is to go north to the Red Fork of the Trident, then follow the river west to Riverrun. She’s sure Lord Roose Bolton will send a hunting party after her, as she stole and murdered a guard, to make their escape. Along their travels, they hear wolves howl and have a run-in with a trio of them. But they’ve seen no sign of any men tracking her and the boys.
When they can go no further without falling asleep in their saddles, they make camp for the night. Arya dreams she’s a huge wolf. Her pack attacks four members of the Brave Companions. The pack kills three, and she kills the fourth herself.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Worked in the Harrenhal smiths. Hot Pie - Friend of Arya. Worked in the Harrenhal kitchens. Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Heading up the eastern contingent of Robb Stark’s army. Currently the lord of Harrenhal. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions, aka the Bloody Mummers. Flamboyant, lisping swellsword. Jaqen H’ghar - Mysterious Lorathi assassin whom Arya saved from death during the battle between the Night’s Watch recruits and Armory Lorch’s men. Nymeria - Arya's direwolf that she was forced to abandon in the Riverlands, while traveling to King's Landing, in order to save her from execution for attacking Prince Joffrey.
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12 Jul 2022
Chapter Four - Tyrion 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion gets a visit from newly-knighted Ser Bronn. Bronn lacks bedside manner and takes Tyrion step-by-step through how Tyrion has lost everything he’s built while in King’s Landing. Tyrion then has an equally unpleasant conversation with his father, where Tywin holds nothing back about why Tyrion will never be lord of Casterly Rock. Simon and Mackelly find something interesting to stare at on the floor.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister is recovering from his wounds suffered at the hand of Ser Mandon Moore of the Royal Kingsguard, during the Battle of the Blackwater. His top sellsword aide Bronn pays him a visit. He’s now Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, having been knighted by command of Tywin Lannister. The move irks Tyrion, but the bad news is only beginning. He also learns he’s officially been replaced as Hand of the King by his father, his trusted Commander of the City Watch Jacelyn Bywater is dead, his mountain clans won’t be returning to the city, Alayaya was released but not before being whipped, and he’s lost his control over Tommen in Rosby.
Tyrion decides it’s time to get out of bed and pay a visit to his father. He finds him in Tyrion’s old chambers in the Tower of the Hand, now occupied by his father. Tywin is busy writing important letters but puts them aside to talk with his youngest son. He tells Tyrion that he's sent men to trap and eliminate a Stark force headed for Duskendale.
The men disagree over Tyrion's level of involvement in saving the city. Tywin puts much of it on himself, the Tyrells, and Cersei. Although, he does give Tyrion some credit, and asks what he wants as his reward. Tyrion cuts to the chase. He wants his father to publicly name him heir to Casterly Rock. Tywin's not having it. He's tired of the prostitutes Tyrion continually associates with and he won't have him bringing them into Casterly Rock. In fact, the next one he finds in Tyrion's bed, he'll hang.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Ser Mandon Moore - Expressionless member of the Kingsguard. Killed in the Battle of the Blackwater, after attacking Tyrion. Podrick Payne - Shy squire to Tyrion Lannister. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Bara
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19 Jul 2022
Chapter Five - Davos 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos survived. He’s been clinging to a rock in Blackwater Bay for two weeks. A ship rescues him. Simon and Mackelly consider the wreckage.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight, is marooned on a rock in the Blackwater Bay. He’s eked out an existence for a couple of weeks, but his fresh water is gone, and he’s delerious. He recalls the battle and the almost certain death of four of his sons, and wonders if he should just let the sea take him.
A ship appears heading in his direction. He’s not sure if he wants saving, but he prays to the mother and she appears to remind him that he took part in the burning of her effigy on Dragonstone. Davos is pretty sorry for all that he has done. But his ruminations give him a new determination to survive. He waves his hands and the ship sends a boat to rescue him. Davos recognizes the markings as Lyseni, so he expects that they fought for Stannis, but it is a heart-in-mouth moment admitting his loyalty. The sailors assure him that they are Stannis’ men too. Davos is saved.
Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, now close advisor to King Stannis Baratheon. Dale Seaworth - Son of Davos, presumed lost in the Battle of the Blackwater. Allard Seaworth - Son of Davos, presumed lost in the Battle of the Blackwater. Matthos Seaworth - Son of Davos, presumed lost in the Battle of the Blackwater. Maric Seaworth - Son of Davos, presumed lost in the Battle of the Blackwater. Devan Seaworth - Son of Davos, squire to King Stannis. Stannis Seaworth - Son of Davos, safe at home with his mother. Steffon Seaworth - Son of Davos, safe at home with his mother. Marya Seaworth - Wife of Davos Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Salladhor Saan - Lyseni pirate. Friend of Davos.
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26 Jul 2022
Chapter Six - Sansa 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa chats with various Tyrells, who are making a positive impression in King’s Landing. She’s lured into being honest about King Joffrey, but the Tyrell women don’t seem mad, indeed they offer her a way out of King’s Landing. Simon and Mackelly consider the proposal.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark mulls whether to accept an invitation to dine with her future queen, Margaery Tyrell. She knows she must, but she’s struggling to understand why she’s invited. Her mood brightens when none other than Ser Loras Tyrell arrives to escort her to the Maidenvault, where the Tyrells have been housed. Sansa’s smitten and cannot believe they are touching arms while they walk.
The pleasant conversation sours somewhat when he doesn’t remember giving her the red rose at the Hand’s Tourney, and she mentions that he unsearted Robar Royce, who he has since killed in battle.
She has better luck with the female Tyrells, notably Margaery and her grandmother Lady Olenna Tyrell. They charm her and pointedly ask for the truth about Joffrey. After some hesitation, Sansa admits that he is a monster. Both ladies take the news in their stride. Furthermore they suggest that Sansa move to Highgarden and wed the heir Willas Tyrell. He’s no Loras, but he’s also no Joffrey.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Maergery Tyrell - Fiancée of King Joffrey Baratheon. Lady Olenna Tyrell - Mother of Lord Mace Tyrell and grandmother to Margaery. Loras Tyrell - Third son of Mace Tyrell, member of the Kingsguard. Butterbumps - Fool in the Tyrell court. Willas Tyrell - Heir to Highgarden. In some measure injured and disabled by a horse as a child. Oberyn Martell - Younger brother of Doran Martell, prince of Dorne. Blamed for Willas’ injury by the Tyrells.
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02 Aug 2022
Chapter Seven - Jon 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
The next phase of Qhorin Halfhand’s plan begins, as Jon is marched through the enormous wildling encampment and meets Mance Rayder. They bond over not really belonging. Mackelly and Simon wonder if the old crow might be a bit too trusting.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow and Ghost are escorted through the wildling encampment on the banks of the Milkwater. Jon cannot count the cookfires. The numbers are extraordinary. With his training he does notice that the structure and defenses are pitiful. Even 300 brothers of the Night’s Watch could inflict incalculable losses on the wildlings, unless they tighten things up.
He’s shown into Mance Rayder’s tent and mistakes Styr for Mance. The king-beyond-the-wall turns out to be the musician. Rattleshirt repeats his misgivings about Jon. Mance tells Jon that they’ve met before. Most recently when disguised as a singer, Mance entered Winterfell while King Robert Baratheon visited. Mance describes his desertion when he was saved by a wildling woman who repaired his tattered cloak with red silk. On arrival back at the Wall, he was reissued the regulation black cloak. So he left.
In return, Jon concocts a decent cover story, Mance would have seen where Jon was seated at the feast, a row after the dogs. Mance buys it and welcomes Jon into the fold.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall. A former brother of the Night’s Watch who defected and is now treated as a leader by the wildlings. Ghost - Jon’s direwolf and constant companion. Qhorin Halfhand - Killed by Jon as part of the ruse to prove his bona fides to the wildlings. Ygritte - Wildling girl who has taken a shine to Jon. Tormund - Lieutenant of Mance Rayder.
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09 Aug 2022
Chapter Eight - Daenerys 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys is sailing the Summer Sea watching her dragons grow. She receives ambiguous reports of the kind of men her father and eldest brother were, advice from Ser Jorah as to her next move, and possibly unwanted advances from Mormont. Simon and Mackelly weigh up the suitors and their suits.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen watches her dragons play above the three ships that bear her west towards Pentos, slowly. The dragons are growing, but remain more of a liability than an asset. In her honor, the three ships have been renamed for dragons of Aegon the Conqueror and his sister wives: Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar.
Arstan Whitebeard provides some dragon-lore from his time in King’s Landing where he knew both her father and her brother Rhaegar. He treads carefully, but it’s not hard to see his true feelings about King Aerys. And unlike most people, he has a nuanced view of Rhaegar. “Able above all else” is not the most ringing endorsement.
Ser Jorah warns her to beware of Arstan - something’s not right about him. But Dany has too few friends to doubt those who’ve saved her life. Ser Jorah proposes a plan to both test Illyrio Mopatis’ loyalty to Dany, and to ensure it. They’ll redirect for Astapor, sell all Mopatis’ goods on the ships, and use that money to buy an army of Unsullied - the finest warriors in Essos - with whom they’ll march to Pentos.
Dany likes the plan and Ser Jorah celebrates by kissing her unbidden. A tense moment ensues.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon - Daenerys’ dragons. The size of small dogs. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ Lord Commander of her Queensguard and loyal advisor. Illyrio Mopatis - Wealthy merchant of Pentos who cared for the young Daenerys and her brother Viserys. Strong Belwas - Fighter sent by Mopatis to bring Daenerys safely to Pentos. Arstan Whitebeard - Westerosi squire to Strong Belwas. Seems to know a lot about King’s Landing and the Targaryens. Pentos - City on the west coast of Essos. Summer Sea - Sea to the south of Essos. Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fightin
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16 Aug 2022
Chapter Nine - Bran 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Bran and company have to decide where to next. They are safe for now, but Bran is in danger of losing himself to warging with Summer and Jojen doesn’t feel he can teach everything that Bran needs to learn. North is the answer. Simon and Mackelly get out the snow shoes.
Chapter Review: Bran Stark, in the mind of Summer, is enjoying being the prince of the Wolfswood. His smaller wolf cousins respect him and his potential prey fear him. He hunts, he fights, he runs. All the things that Bran the boy cannot do. Sooner than he’d like, Hodor calls him back to himself.
Bran neglected to do the things that Jojen suggested, basic and simple attempts to do things that Summer wouldn’t do by himself. Bran is not learning to control the direwolf as he needs to. Meera provides dinner which they eat in the safety of the Tumbledown Tower north of Winterfell. They discuss the next actions. They’re safe and have food, but Jojen is worried that without a true teacher Bran will fall into his third eye, and never come back.
The only place where the three-eyed crow can be found, who Jojen believes will teach Bran all that he needs, is north of the Wall. Eschewing the comforts and probable-safety of holing up with a loyal bannerman, Bran agrees that they’ll head that way. A long walk awaits them.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Brandon Stark - Prince of Winterfell. Paralyzed when pushed from tower by Jamie Lannister. Hodor - Enormous but simple-minded helper of Bran. Meera Reed - daughter of Howland Reed. Jojen Reed - son of Howland Reed. Has green dreams that invariably come true. Summer - Bran’s direwolf. Three-Eyed Crow - A crow that has frequents Bran's dreams since his fall and offers to teach Bran to fly.
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23 Aug 2022
Chapter Ten - Davos 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos gets back to Dragonstone where Salladhor Saan tries to dissuade him from attempting to murder Melisandre. Davos is determined, but is arrested before he even gets close. Simon and Mackelly apply the aloe.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth returns to a much changed Dragonstone. The harbor is only sparsely populated with Lysene ships and there are very few people around. He meets with old friend Salladhor Saan, who fills him in on the news. King Stannis and Melisandre spend all their time together staring into the flames of the volcano. Queen Selyse and her uncle Alester have taken over the day-to-day running of the diminished kingdom. Their zeal for the religion of R’Hellor has now seen them burning alive those who don’t follow it, or them.
Saan confirms that Davos’ son Devan was saved and is in Dragonstone. The Lyseni suggests that Davos return to the seas. He has a ship he could captain, and the new laws allow for them to intercept, board, and pillage almost any ships in the bay. It’ll be fun. Like old times. Maybe go visit Mrs. Seaworth at Cape Wrath? Davos is having none of it. He was saved from death by the Mother. And the Mother has only one mission for him: kill the red priestess who brought down all this misfortune upon them.
He goes to the castle, where he is happy to see Shireen, puzzled by Patchface’s prophetic babbling, and meets Edric Storm, Robert’s bastard son, who proves to be a decent lad. Before Davos can get any further, Axell Florent and armed guards arrest him and send him to the dungeons for attempting to assassinate "their lady."
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Davos Seaworth - Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, now close advisor to King Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - Rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Selyse Baratheon (ne Florent) - Wife of Stannis. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Salladhor Saan - Lysene pirate. Friend of Davos. Shireen Baratheon - Daughter of Stannis, disfigured by Greyscale. Patchface - Shireen’s seriously creepy fool. Edric Storm - Child of Robert Baratheon and Delena Florent, conceived at Stannis and Selyse’s wedding, to general disapproval. Raised at Storm’s End and now on Dragonstone. Alester Florent - Head of House Florent, uncle of Selyse, Hand of the
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30 Aug 2022
Chapter Eleven - Jaime 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime and Brienne switch to horseback as they travel to King’s Landing. This gives them time to discuss who is the bigger Kingslayer. Jaime dreams of his infamous act. Mackelly and Simon try to interpret.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister spots an inn and Brienne brings the boat to shore so they can sleep under a roof. However, the proprietor is a bit dodgy and after dinner they decide to push on immediately. The inn has horses in the stables, and Brienne blows a big chunk of their per diem on securing rides. This also means that Jaime’s leg irons must be struck, although the vision of trying to get the horse to step his back legs over the chain to allow Jaime to shimmy aboard is rather delicious.
The three (don’t forget the always forgettable Ser Cleos Frey) ride through the night, scrupulously avoiding the route that the barkeep suggested along Get Robbed and Murdered Avenue. When they’ve put some miles between them and the inn, they camp. Jaime and Brienne chat about chivalry, vows, kingslaying, all the fun stuff. They don’t really see eye to eye. Jaime continues to look for opportunities to escape.
That night Jaime dreams of killing Aerys. How the king had ordered him to murder his father Tywin. How the tyrant plotted with his pyromancer to do some mischief (Jaime killed him too). And how he didn’t sit the Iron Throne to claim anything, he was just curious who would be first to come and claim it. Of course it would be judgy Ned Stark, who saw the ambitious and murderous Lannister usurping the hard won throne, rather than just Jaime: tired and dispirited.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Freed by Catelyn Stark. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Catelyn Stark. Ser Cleos Frey - Cousin to Jaime Lannister. Captive of the Starks. Playing messenger between the Starks and Lannisters in their negotiations. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jaime Lannister. Former acting Hand of the King. Riverrun - Capital of the Riverlands, seat of House Tully. Red Fork - Southern most fork
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06 Sep 2022
Chapter Twelve - Tyrion 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion visits Lord Varys in his chambers. He learns about changes on the small council and the kingsguard, and about the long list of people spying on him for his family. He coordinates a rendezvous with Shea, where he plans to break it off with her. Instead, he reaffirms that he’ll keep and protect her. Simon and Mackelly slowly shake their heads.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister makes an unannounced visit to Lord Varys’ chambers in the Red Keep. When Varys arrives, he apologizes to Tyrion for not visiting him in his sick bed. His nose was just too gross to look at. Varys informs Tyrion that Grand Maester Pycelle has been reinstated to the small council, by order of his father Tywin. Tywin's work doesn't stop their. He's also reinstated Ser Boros Blount to the Royal Kingsguard.
The conversation turns to Ser Mandon Moore, but despite Tyrion's hope's, Varys provides no additional information about the man than what Tyrion already knows. Varys informs Tyrion that a great deal of people are actively spying on him for Cersei and that Varys himself has been tasked with spying on Tyrion for his lord father.
Tyrion changes the subject. He wants Varys to plan a meet-up between Tyrion and Shae. The agreed upon location is determined to be these very chambers. Later that night, Shae and Tyrion get down to business. Afterward, he tries to break it off with Shae, explaining that it's now too dangerous for her with his father in town. She refuses to discuss it, and redirects the conversation to the royal wedding. She's gotten news of the amazing festivities planned, from the singer Symon Silver Tongue. She wants to go. Tyrion puts his foot down. Too dangerous. She relents, but asks that he keep her and keep her from harm. Against his better judgment, he agrees. Later, he then sends Bronn to find Symon before anyone else does.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Member of the small council. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Reinstated member of the king's Small Council. Ser Mandon Moore - Expressionless member of the Kingsguard. Killed in the Battle of the Blackwater, aft
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13 Sep 2022
Chapter Thirteen - Arya 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry run into another trio on the road to Riverrun, whose motives are hard to read. Ultimately, the starving kids decide to trust them and accompany the men for promised food and shelter. They get the food, but lose their horses. Right when Arya thinks all is lost, she sees a friendly face, but has her secret revealed to all. Mackelly gets goosebumps. Simon’s not so sure it’s all good news.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Hot Pie, and Gendry dig up some vegetables in a garden of a burned-out cottage. The sound of singing puts them on high alert and they hide. They are quickly discovered by three men on foot. The men fancy the kids’ horses but offer them a meal and shelter at an inn not far away. When the archer sends an arrow an inch from Arya’s head, they realize they have no choice and comply.
The inn is the same one Brienne, Jamie, and Cleos visited, the Inn of the Kneeling Man. This time the wife Sharna is home. She offers them food and ale. The men discuss how the kids’ horses are better than the ones the innkeeper gave away. He insists he sent the three who bought the horses toward the men, to reclaim those horses. But the men say they never showed up.
A man named Tom offers Arya an IOU for their horses. Arya’s not interested. She’ll give them the horses for the sailboat tied up at the dock. Everyone gets a good laugh at her boldness. But negotiations are broken off when a group of men arrive. The kids are scared and prepare to defend themselves. However, the newcomers include a familiar face. Harwin, from Winterfell, is among the group. He doesn’t recognize Arya at first. But when he does, he takes a knee and announces her as the Hand’s daughter Arya Stark of Winterfell.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Worked in the Harrenhal smiths. Hot Pie - Friend of Arya. Worked in the Harrenhal kitchens. Tom of Sevenstreams - A singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - A soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - An archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Sharna - Proprietor of the Inn of the Kneeling Man. Inkeep/Husband: Proprietor of the Inn of the Kneeling Man. Harwin
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27 Sep 2022
Chapter Fourteen - Catelyn 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Robb returns to Riverrun, where he exchanges forgiveness of transgressions with his mother. Cat for freeing Jamie. Robb for marrying a non-Frey. Robb also scolds his uncle Edmure for preventing Tywin and his army from reaching the Westerlands, where Robb's force laid in wait. All consider ways to appease House Frey's wounded ego. Simon and Mackelly peruse belated wedding gifts.
Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark is alerted that her son King Robb has commanded that she join him in the great hall. There, she is quickly forgiven by her son for freeing Jamie Lannister. Lord Rickard Karstark is not so forgiving. He calls her actions treason.
After the hall has been cleared, Robb introduces Cat to a group of strangers who surround him. Ser Rolph Spicer, his sister Sybell Westerling, and her children. The last of those children he introduces as Jeyne, his new bride and queen. Cat realizes immediately that this means they've lost the support of the Freys, as Robb agreed to marry a Frey to cement the house's allegiance to him.
King Robb and Brynden Blackfish Tully then lay into Cat's brother Ser Edmure Tully for harassing Tywin's army, as it tried to ford the Red Fork on it's way back to the Westerlands. It turns out that Robb and his force were waiting on Tywin's army and planned to pin them in the west or destroy them. That would've allowed Stannis Baratheon to destroy the Lannisters in King's Landing. Instead, Edmure's victory over Tywin allowed him to get word of Stannis' attack on King's Landing and swoop in and save the city.
Cat says none of that matters, at the moment. More important is winning back the north from the Iron Born. Robb thinks the only chance they have of success is to earn back the Frey's fealty. There must be something he can offer to Lord Walder Frey. Cat doesn't think it is something, as much as it is someone.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn "Cat" Stark - Eldest child of Hoster Tully, widow of Ned Stark, father of King Robb. King Robb Stark: Eldest son of Eddard "Ned" and Cat Stark. The King in the North and King of the Trident. Jeyne Westerling: Eldest daughter of Lord Gawen and Sybell Westerling. New Bride to King Robb. Edmure Tully - Brother to Catelyn, heir to Riverrun. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - Brother of Hoster Tully, un
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04 Oct 2022
Chapter Fifteen - Jon 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon Snow has a busy day. He discovers that the wildling host contains giants, and lots of them. He and Tormund discuss the pros and cons of Jon bedding Yigrette. Jon gets attacked by an eagle. Finally, he gets called out on his lie about how many of the Night’s Watch were north of the Wall. His day seems to be heading toward wrapping up with a tryst with Yigrette. Simon and Mackelly flip on the Do Not Disturb sign.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow and Tormund Giantsbane watch a procession of giants mounted on wooly mammoths ride by. After that, the pair make their way toward the front of the host. On the way, Jon tries in vain to explain to Tormund why he hasn’t touched Yigrette, despite her clear advances. The idea of a bastard child being an unwanted result of Jon bedding Yigrette is beyond Tormund’s comprehension.
They catch up with Yigrette. She and some of the other wildlings treat Jon to a rousing rendition of “The Last of the Giants.” After the song fades, Jon is attacked by an eagle that gouges his face with its talons. The eagle heralds the arrival of Rattleshirt, who announces that he’s to take Jon to Mance Rayder.
Yigrette accompanies Jon to the top of the First of the First Men, where Mance waits. Along the way, they discover the bodies of dead horses strewn about the slope of the hill. Mance wants Jon to tell him true how many Black Brothers there were and who led them. Jon hesitates but does as commanded. Three hundred men, led by Jeor Mormont. Mance thinks their war is won, if they get to the Wall before Mormont does. But there’s still the matter of Jon’s lying. Yigrette announces that she and Jon have been intimate under Jon’s new cloak. Mance decides to send the love birds along with Jarl and Styr over the Wall. Yigrette tells Jon that doing is better than saying, so Jon needs to find another place for Ghost to sleep tonight.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall. A former brother of the Night’s Watch who defected and is now treated as a leader by the wildlings. Ghost - Jon’s direwolf and constant companion. Qhorin Halfhand - Killed by Jon as part of the ruse to prove his bona fides to the wildlings. Ygritte - W
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11 Oct 2022
Chapter Sixteen - Sansa 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa gets fitted for a new dress and Ser Dontos warns her that her new friends the Tyrells are as bad as the Lannisters. Simon and Mackelly get their haute-couture on.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark gets measured for a new dress. The seamstress has been sent by Queen Cersei Lannister. Sansa doesn’t trust the motives for this largesse, but she does need a new frock. She’s grown since moving to King’s Landing and is busting out of her Winterfell dresses in eye-catching ways. The dressmaker is coy about what color the dress will be.
Sansa continues to try to warn Margaery Tyrell against marrying King Joffrey Baratheon. Margeary thinks that having her brother Ser Loras Tyrell as a member of the Kingsguard is protection enough. Sansa thinks the older girl is underestimating the evil and depravity of her betrothed.
Sansa shares the Tyrell’s plan, that Sansa marries Willas Tyrell the heir to Highgarden, with Ser Dontos. He is not a fan. She’d be trading one trap for another, the Tyrells are the Lannisters with flowers, and his own plan is already in place. See it through, wear the hairnet to Joffrey and Margaery’s wedding, and he’ll have her out of here and truly free. Sansa isn't buying it. She'll go to Highgarden and marry Willas.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Margaery Tyrell - Fiancée of King Joffrey Baratheon. Lady Olenna Tyrell - Mother of Lord Mace Tyrell and grandmother to Margaery. Loras Tyrell - Third son of Mace Tyrell, member of the Kingsguard. Ser Dontos Hollard - Fool to King Joffrey, confidante of Sansa Stark. Has a plan to rescue her, but is rather too fond of a tipple. Willas Tyrell - Heir to Highgarden. In some measure disabled by a horse as a child.
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18 Oct 2022
Chapter Seventeen - Arya 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and Gendry are not taken to Riverrun, rather they are escorted south to meet with Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. En route Arya tries to escape, but Harwin - a Stark bannerman, no less - chases her and captures her. Oh perfidy! Mackelly and Simon discuss the origin story of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Chapter Review: Hot Pie has elected to stay and become head baker at the Inn of the Kneeling Man. Arya Stark and Gendry are headed to Riverrun. Only, they’re headed in the wrong direction. Arya is sure. She’s accompanied by Harwin, amongst others, so she hears how things have been for him since he left King’s Landing. Not all rainbows and unicorns.
The Mountain lay in wait for them at the Mummer’s Ford and decimated two thirds of Dondarrion’s force. Beric himself was gravely wounded but was nursed back to health by Thoros of Myr. The latter is a priest of R’Hellor, and seems to use the power for slightly nicer things than his compadre Melisandre does.
The Brotherhood Without Banners, as they term themselves, has decided to stay in the field, not to fight for either side, but to protect the smallfolk from the armies that abuse them. They do this in the name of King Robert. Arya tries to escape, but Harwin’s father was the master of horse, so he catches her. His loyalty is to Beric, Thoros, and his new brothers. The Lightning Lord will decide what to do with Arya.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Hot Pie - Friend of Arya. Former recruit to the Night's Watch. Tom Sevenstreams - Singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - Soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - Archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Sharna - Proprietor of the Inn of the Kneeling Man. Harwin: Member of the Stark household guard. Son of Hullen, the Winterfell Master of Horse.
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25 Oct 2022
Chapter Eighteen - Samwell 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sam and the remnants of the Great Ranging are high-tailing it back to the wall. They’ve been decimated by the Others and wights. Sam eventually falls behind, but with a dragonglass dagger he manages to kill a White Walker. Mackelly and Simon walk way less than a mile in his shoes.
Chapter Review: Sam Tarly is sobbing with tiredness, pain, and cold. The reader, with annoyance at Sam’s bleating. But he has had it rough. He was rudely awaken by three blasts of the Night’s Watch horn. Said a cheery hello to his incontinent would-be assassin Chett. Failed in his mission to release ravens with the increasingly dire news of how the battle progressed between the Great Ranging and the army of Others that overwhelmed them. And finally fled on horseback. That didn’t last. Lord Commander Mormont gathered the remnants together, enforced a circle of torch bearers to keep pursuit by the undead at bay, and made the able-bodied dismount in favor of the injured and supplies. Finally, he points them in the direction of the Wall. Sam collapses. He can go no further. Grenn cannot move him, but Small Paul carries him for a while - on the promise of a talking raven. The trio fall outside the ring of torches and a White Walker upon an undead horse attacks them. Paul succumbs but his weight pulls the sword from the Other’s grip. Sam gropes for a weapon and finds the dragonglass dagger. He thrusts it at the assailant who incredibly melts into nothing at its touch.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to Jon Snow. Slayer of Others. Grenn - Brother of the Night’s Watch. Dolorous Edd - Brother of the Night’s Watch. Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch Chett - Brother of the Night’s Watch. Has an axe to grind with Sam. Small Paul - Simple-minded brother of the Night’s Watch. Carried Sam for a while before being killed by a White Walker. White Walker - Monsters from north of the Wall. Able to reanimate the dead to their cause. The Wall - 700ft wall across the continent. Manned by the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch at the Wall.
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01 Nov 2022
Chapter Nineteen - Tyrion 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion attends a Small Council meeting chaired by his father. Much news is discussed. Afterward, Tywin announces that Cersei will marry Willas Tyrell, the heir to Highgarden, and Tyrion will marry Sansa Stark. Shae was unavailable for comment. Simon and Mackelly plan the bachelor party.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister attends the Small Council along with his father Tywin, uncle Kevan, sister Cersei, the familiar figures of Petyr Littlefinger Baelish, Lord Varys, and the reinstated Grand Maester Pycelle. In addition, Lords Tyrell, Redwyne, and Rowan take their seats. Tyrion’s not sure he knows the rules of the new game, but he’s sure he better learn them, fast. The news flows thick and fast: Randyll Tarly has defeated the northerners at Duskendale. Devan Lannister is rounding up the remnants of his late father Stafford’s army to march on Riverrun. Balon Greyjoy offers alliance in return for recognition of him as King of the Isles and the North, Tywin’s not ready to respond to that. Greyjoy is already doing everything the Lannisters would want of him - for nothing. Littlefinger is to woo and marry Lysa Arryn to bring the Vale over to King Joffrey. Tyrion takes over as Master of Coin - he senses that Baelish has left him a trap. The Reach lords divide the spoils of war. The Tyrells take Brightwater Keep from the Florents. Tywin dismisses all but family and announces that Cersei will marry. She’s not pleased. He suggests some suitors but eventually chooses Willas Tyrell. She storms off. Tyrion is to marry Sansa Stark. Both of these are to derail the plan to marry Sansa to Willas, which Littlefinger unearthed and reported to Tywin. Lastly news of Robb’s marriage to Jeyne Westerling is revealed. Tyrion is astonished. The Westerlings surely know what happens to those who cross Tywin. But Tywin is oddly sanguine, hinting that he might be pulling the strings.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Member of the Small Council. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon. Tywin Lannister - Father of Tyrion, Lord of Casterly Rock. Newly self-appointed Hand of the King. Mace Tyrell - Lord of Highgarden. Willas Tyrell
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08 Nov 2022
Chapter Twenty - Catelyn 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Catelyn watches in dismay as Robb is forced to execute Rickhard Karstark for murdering two minor Lannister captives. She also chats with her new daughter-in-law Jeyne. Simon and Mackelly watch the northern alliance crumble.
Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark and the other nobles convene in the hall of Riverrun. The scene is grim. Two teen boys bodies are laid out. A storm provides an appropriate vibe. The corpses are Willam Lannister and Tion Frey. They’d been held captive since the Whispering Wood. But Rickard Karstark has finally got a measure of revenge on the Lannisters for the death of his two sons. Karstark is unrepentant and blames Catelyn. King Robb Stark has the accomplices hung and executes the lord himself, just as his father would have. The Karstark knights have left Riverrun, determined to find Jamie. The heir to Karhold is with Roose Bolton in Harrenhal. Robb assumes he’s made an enemy for life. Robb and Brynden Tully try to figure a way to salvage things. Their routes to the North are all stymied. Lord Hoster Tully is even closer to death’s door, and Robb’s new wife Jeyne Westerling visits Cat while she stays by her father’s bedside. Cat advises Jeyne to accept Robb’s dark moods, and to get pregnant. Jeyne says that her mom is helping with a herbal supplement.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Eldest child of Hoster Tully, widow of Ned Stark, father of King Robb. Robb Stark - Eldest child of Catelyn Stark. King in the North. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident. Dying of old age. Lysa Arryn - Sister to Catelyn Stark, widow of Jon Arryn. Hiding in the Vale with her son Lord Robert Arryn. Edmure Tully - Brother to Catelyn, heir to Riverrun. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - Brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Cat. Renowned soldier. Rickard Karstark - Lord of Karhold. Two of his sons were killed by Jamie Lannister at the battle of the Whispering Woods. The GreatJon Umber - Lord of Last Hearth. Robb Stark loyalist. Jeyne Westerling - Robb’s new bride. Queen of the North.
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15 Nov 2022
Chapter Twenty-One - Jaime 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime, Brienne, and Cleos run into bands of outlaws. One of the three doesn't survive. The other two aren't in much better shape, now being in the hands of the Brave Companions. Jaime urges their leader Vargo Hoat to hand him over to his father. Hoat considers it but wants to hand-deliver a message to Tywin first. Simon and Mackelly clasp hands and hope for the best.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister, Cleos Frey, and Brienne of Tarth have made it to Maidenpool. The town is in ruins, with dead bodies everywhere. The trio leaves and make their way down the Duskendale Road toward King's Landing. An unexpected hail of arrows claims the life of Cleos. Jaime picks up Cleos' sword and attacks Brienne. At the end of a long fight, the pair are surprised to find they're surrounded by members of the Brave Companions. Jaime mistakenly thinks they still support his father Tywin Lannister. He's quickly disabused of that notion. They now support Roose Bolton and the King in the North. Jaime fears Brienne will be raped by the men. He suggests she's worth a lot in ransom, hoping it will keep her save. When the group meets up with the main body of the Brave Companions, Vargo Hoat claims Jaime as his captive. Jaime tells Vargo it's not too late to come back to the Lannister fold. Return him to his father and Vargo will reap a massive reward. Vargo isn't opposed to the idea. However, he wants to send a message first. With that, he has Jaime's arms laid across a rock. A sword is swung down toward Jaime.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Freed by Catelyn Stark. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Catelyn Stark. Ser Cleos Frey - Cousin to Jaime Lannister. Captive of the Starks. Playing messenger between the Starks and Lannisters in their negotiations. Tywin Lannister - Father of Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion. Lord of Casterly Rock and Hand of the King. Brave Companions - AKA The Bloody Mummers. A band of sellswords from Essos. Switched allegiance from the Lannisters to the Starks. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions. Maidenpool - A town on the
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22 Nov 2022
Chapter Twenty-Two - Arya 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Brotherhood Without Banners trek through the Riverlands in search of Beric Dondarrion. They come up empty-handed but learn bits of information at each stop along the way. Simon and Mackelly fire-up the Bat-Signal.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Gendry ride south with the members of the Brotherhood Without Banners. They're looking for their leader Beric Dondarrion, to get orders on what to do with Arya. They make several stops along their way but most news is that he's already dead. The men have heard these rumors before and quickly discount them. Their final stop is at Acorn Hall, where Lady Smallwood insists Arya be bathed and put in a frilly dress. Here they get a useful update. Beric and his men visited only two weeks ago. At dinner, they learn the Kingslayer truly is free and the rumor is Lady Catelyn freed him. With that, Arya is banished from the room. The next morning the gang heads out in pursuit of Lord Beric once again.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Tom of Sevenstreams - A singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - A soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - An archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Harwin: Member of the Stark household guard. Son of Hullen, the Winterfell Master of Horse. Now a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
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29 Nov 2022
Chapter Twenty-Three - Daenerys 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys lays her eyes upon the Unsullied slave army with mixed emotion. She then takes her frustrations of the day out on Ser Jorah. She confronts Irri about a late-night tryst between the two women. Finally, she asks Jorah if buying the slave army is more of a Rhaegar or Viserys move. Simon and Mackelly hug their dogs.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen has made it to Astapor in Slaver’s Bay. She meets with slave master Kraznys mo Nakloz to see his Unsullied eunuch slave soldiers. Dany and Arstan Whitebeard are aghast at the terrible training process the Unsullied must endure. She decides to think on whether she wants to purchase the slaves to create an army for herself. On her way back to the ships, Dany thinks of Jorah’s kiss and how inappropriate it was. However, as much as she found it unwanted, the kiss has stirred something within her she thought died with Drogo. When she and Arstan arrive at the ships, she lashes out at Jorah, punctuating her feelings with a slap across his face. Later that evening, she confides to Jorah that the act of buying a slave army doesn't feel in-line with what her brother Rhaegar would’ve done. Rhaegar had free men fighting for him. Jorah confirms that Rhaegar did have free, noble, and brave men. However, it all amounted to nothing, as Rhaegar lost the war and the Iron Throne. Whereas Dany needs to win.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon - Daenerys’ dragons. The size of small dogs. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ bodyguard and loyal advisor. Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess. Arstan Whitebeard- Westerosi squire of Strong Belwas. Sent by Illyrio Mopatis to bring Dany to Pentos. Astapor - City on Slaver’s Bay, where Unsullied are made from slave boys.
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06 Dec 2022
Chapter Twenty-Four - Bran 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Bran, Hodor, and the Reeds make their way through mountainous terrain, where they meet an unexpected but kind fellow traveler. The traveler brings news of the unrest in the North since the fall of Winterfell. Meera then tells Bran a story of the Great Tourney at Harrenhal. Mackelly and Simon settle in and open their listening ears.
Chapter Review: Bran Stark, Hodor, and the Reed siblings trudge their way through the undulating terrain north of the Wolfswood. They’re in northern mountain clan territory but so far they’ve not seen another soul. However, Bran knows eyes are watching, he’s seen them while warging Summer. One cold, rainy night the group finds shelter in a cave, only to discover that it’s already occupied. A mountain clansman has a fire going and offers for the kids and Hodor to share its warmth and his food. The man tells them of Bolten men scouring the Kingsroad looking for Stark loyalists and a certain “walking dead.” The next day the man is gone and the group continues on their way north. To pass the time, Meera tells Bran a story about a crannogman who wound up at the Great Tourney at Harrenhal. The Reeds are surprised to hear Bran has never heard this story before. They tell of how a “she-wolf” protected the crannogman from squire bullies and took the little man into the family fold. The next day a mystery knight arrived and defeated the knights who the squires belonged to. Afterward, the mystery knight disappeared never to be seen again.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Brandon Stark - Prince of Winterfell. Paralyzed when pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister. Hodor - Enormous but simple-minded helper of Bran. Meera Reed - Daughter of Howland Reed. Jojen Reed - Son of Howland Reed. Has green dreams that invariably come true. Summer - Bran’s direwolf. Harrenhal - Largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms, located in the Riverlands. Mostly ruined by dragonfire.
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13 Dec 2022
Chapter Twenty-Five - Davos 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos is imprisoned in the Dragonstone dungeon. He receives a visit from Melisandre, where he learns that she had no role in the disaster on the Blackwater, as well as learns that she believes Stannis is Azor Ahai reborn. Next he welcomes a new cellmate, in the form of Hand of the King Lord Alester Florent. Mackelly and Simon bake some cookies for the newbie on the block.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth finds himself in the dungeon of Dragonstone. It’s dark and dank but at least it’s warm. His illness from his time on the little island in Blackwater Bay has gotten worse. However, just when Davos thinks he’ll soon die, Maester Pylos nurses him back to health. Melisandre pays him a visit. The Red Woman tells Davos that there is a war that has raged on since the dawn of time. A war between R’hllor and The Great Other. She also divulges that Stannis Baratheon is the Chosen One of R’hllor. He is Azor Ahai reborn. She saw it in her flames. Davos asks why she didn’t save them from the flames on the Blackwater, if she can see the future? She explains that Stannis’ faith was weak, and he left her at home. If she’d been there the outcome of the battle would’ve been different. Three days later, Davos gets a new cellmate. It’s Stannis’ Hand of the King Alester Florent. He’s here for the crime of trying to broker a peace deal with the Lannisters, without the knowledge of King Stannis. His plan was for Stannis to recant his claims of Lannister incest and bend the knee to Joffery Baratheon. In response, the Lannisters will name Stannis lord of Dragonstone and Storm’s End. To seal the deal, Shireen Baratheon and Tommen Lannister will marry. Davos can see the flaw in this plan. Stannis would never agree to any of it.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, now close advisor to King Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Salladhor Saan - Lysene pirate. Friend of Davos. Alester Florent - head of House Florent, uncle of Selyse, Hand of the King to Stannis.
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20 Dec 2022
Chapter Twenty-Six - Jon 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon Snow says a fond farewell to his best friend before meeting with the top brass on the wildling expedition. He gives up some inside information about the Night’s Watch but then gets called out when he tries to over-inflate their numbers. He meets up with Yigrette in a private cave and the pair do what they do best, twice. Mackelly and Simon can’t help but blush.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow knows he can’t take his direwolf Ghost over the Wall with him, when his wildling raider party starts their climb. He asks Ghost to meet him at Castle Black. The direwolf takes off, but Jon is unsure if it's to get a jump on their reunion or if he’s chasing prey. He’s called to Styr and Jarl, the co-leaders of the raiding party. They ask him about the state of certain castles on the west side of the Wall and want to know how often Night’s Watch patrols inspect the length of the Wall. Jon reluctantly gives them the information. Styr next asks about the total numbers of the Night’s Watch. Jon exaggerates a bit and Jarl calls him out as a liar. After he’s dismissed, he goes in search of Yigrette. The pair have been having sex on a very regular basis, and the guilt has weighed on Jon. However, with each time they’re intimate, he feels less and less guilty. He finds Yigrette in a hidden cave. The couple discuss Jon having stolen Yigrette. It’s a fact Jon disputes, claiming he didn’t even know she was a girl when he put the dagger to her throat, on the mountain. The couple get down to business twice before the torch goes out. Yigrette suggests they make their way deep into the cavern system and leave the rest of it all behind.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Styr - Magnar of Thenn. Leader of the wildling group from Thenn. Jarl - Wildling raider. In a relationship with Val, the sister of Dalla who is the wife of Mance Rayder. Ghost - Jon’s direwolf and constant companion. Ygritte - Wildling girl who has taken a shine to Jon.
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We don't have a traditional episode this week, but we've cobbled together some outtakes for your listening pleasure. So sit back and enjoy us embarrassing ourselves in various and creative ways.
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03 Jan 2023
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Daenerys 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys buys the Unsullied army that she needs but pays a huge cost. Not only the three ships and all their contents, but also her dragon Drogon. However, she has a nasty surprise in store for the slavers. Simon and Mackelly consider the economic crimes that pave Daenerys’ path to the Iron Throne.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen is willing to pay any price to get her Unsullied slave army. Ultimately, she and the masters of Astapor agree upon the sum: the three ships she sailed into Slaver’s Bay on, all of their contents, and… Drogon. Arstan Whitebeard pleads with Dany not to agree to that last bit, but she has him removed from her presence. In return, Dany gets all 8,600 fully-trained Unsullied, along with the partially trained, the recently-cut boys, and the translator slave named Missandei. That night, on board her ship Balerion, she has a vision of Quaithe repeating the riddle she told Dany in Qarth. The next morning she rides to the meeting place among her meager force, including all three dragons. She hands the chain attached to Drogon’s neck to Kraznys mo Nakloz and receives the ceremonial whip indicating she now has control over the Unsullied. While Kraznys and the other masters struggle controlling Drogon, Dany rides past the Unsullied shouting to them in High Valyrian that she now owns them and they’ll do as she says. She turns back to Drogon and shouts "Dracarys." The dragon bathes Krasnys in flame. The other two dragons are released and all three begin pouring fire down on the Astapori elite in attendance. She commands the Unsullied to kill anyone wearing a tokar, free all slaves, but leave any children unharmed. She then tells the Unsullied soldiers that they are now free.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon - Daenerys’ dragons. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ bodyguard and loyal advisor. Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess. Kraznys mo Nakloz - Astapori Unsullied slave master. Arstan Whitebeard- Westerosi squire to Strong Belwas. Sent by Illyrio Mopatis to bring Dany to Pentos. Astapor - City on Slaver’s Ba
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10 Jan 2023
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Sansa 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa’s dress has arrived. It’s as beautiful as she’d hoped but there’s a rather large string attached. It’s a wedding dress and the groom is Tyrion. Sansa protests. Tyrion commiserates. Joffrey is awful. The whole thing is a fiasco, and their post-wedding bedding goes equally as poorly. Simon and Mackelly keep the receipt for their wedding gift.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark finally gets her long-awaited dress she’d been measured for a while back. She loves it and can’t wait for Willas Tyrell to see her in it. She’s sure it will make him love her for who she is, not her claim to Winterfell. She has Queen Cersei’s entire retinue of handmaids working on beautifying her. Right when she couldn’t be any happier about how she looks in the dress, Cersei drops the bomb saying it’s wasted on “that gargoyle.” Turns out it’s a wedding dress and her groom will be Tyrion Lannister. She refuses and tries to flee, but ultimately concedes to her fate. At the sept, Tyrion offers to call it off, if she’d prefer to marry Lancel Lannister. Sansa figures it doesn’t matter. A Lannister is a Lannister. Sansa cries throughout the wedding and things only get worse when Tyrion can’t reach Sansa’s shoulders to put the Lannister cloak on her. The wedding feast doesn’t improve on things, ending with Tyrion threatening to geld King Joffrey. Later in a bedchamber in the Tower of the Hand, the new couple struggle to connect. Sansa is too polite, and too young. Tyrion brings up his previous wife. He makes her undress and get into bed but ultimately can’t go through with the bedding. He offers not to touch her until she wants him to. She says that might never happen.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Margaery Tyrell - Fiancee of King Joffrey Baratheon. Lady Olenna Tyrell - Mother of Lord Mace Tyrell and grandmother to Margaery. Ser Dontos Hollard - Fool to King Joffrey, confidante of Sansa Stark. Has a plan to rescue her, but is rather too fond of a tipple. Willas Tyrell - Heir to Highgarden. In some measure disabled by a horse as a child. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Jo
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16 Jan 2023
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Arya 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and company ride into Stoney Sept. She finds some of her own kind and puts them out of their misery. She uses the powers of deduction to determine what’s unique about the inn she’s spending the night in. The next morning her prayers are mysteriously answered by the arrival of a Lannister prisoner. Mackelly and Simon light a candle to the Father.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Gendry, and their companions from the Brotherhood Without Banners find themselves in the town of Stoney Sept, on their hunt for Beric Dondarion and Thoros of Myr. The town is run by a man called the Mad Huntsman. The huntsman has taken to torturing those who run afoul of the law. Currently, several northmen are dead or dying in crow cages in the town square. Arya, feeling a kinship to the men, gives each some water before Anguy puts an arrow through them. The group then stops at an inn called The Peach, where they’re treated (some reluctantly) to baths, fresh clothes, food, and entertainment. Arya, observing the scene in the common room, realizes it’s no ordinary inn. The Peach is a brothel. She meets a girl who claims to be the daughter of King Robert. Arya also meets an old man who wants to get to know her better. He’s run off by Gendry, but Arya accidentally offends Gendry and he sends her to her room. The next morning the group is awoken by the barking of many dogs. The Mad Huntsman has returned with a Lannister prisoner. Gendry wonders if it’s Jamie. However, when Arya sees the man’s face, she knows it’s not the Kingslayer. Instead, it’s an answer to a prayer.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Worked in the Harrenhal smiths. Tom of Sevenstreams - A singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - A soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - An archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Harwin: Member of the Stark household guard. Son of Hullen, the Winterfell Master of Horse.
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24 Jan 2023
Chapter Thirty - Jon 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon Snow and his wildling associates get up-close and personal with the Wall. It’s a long, dangerous vertical journey, fraught with peril at every step. Jon ponders his future, and whether or not it includes Yigrette. Finally, he gets some of the intel he was tasked with acquiring. Simon and Mackelly wait for the ladder to be dropped.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow sees no sign of Ghost, when he emerges from the cave he and the wildlings have been using as a campsite. He does see the Wall looming ominously in front of him. Jarl and his climbers are tasked with getting to the top of the Wall, in order to help the rest of the group make their ascent. Styr has sent scouts east and west to watch for Black Brothers. However, there’s been no sign of the Night’s Watch thus far. Jarl and his men make the slow, arduous climb up the Wall, aided by landscape and the forest’s encroachment on the Wall. While Jon watches the men climb, he wonders what comes next for him. Does he join the wildlings fully, run back to Castle Black at his first opportunity, or take Yigrette and run away from all they know. Up on the Wall, disaster strikes when a large section of the Wall sloughs off, taking Jarl and several other men with it. Hours later the remaining climbers reach the top, drop down rope, and pull up huge ladders. The rest of the group climb the ladders to scale the Wall. When Yigrette reaches the top, she tells Jon of her frustration that they were unable to find the Horn of Winter in the Frostfangs to bring the Wall down.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Styr - Magnar of Thenn. Leader of the wildling group from Thenn. Jarl - Wildling raider. In a relationship with Val, the sister of Dalla who is the wife of Mance Rayder. Ygritte - Wildling girl who Jon has broken his vow of celibacy with, time and time again.
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31 Jan 2023
Chapter Thirty-One - Jaime 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime's loses his hand and his will to live. Brienne helps him restore one of the two. Jaime returns the favor by sparing Brienne from rape. The pair end up in Harrenhal, where Roose Bolton has Jaime's wound tended to. Simon and Mackelly grab the smelling salts.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth are in the custody of the Brave Companions. Jaime has lost his right hand. His sword hand. He's sick from the infection in the wound. He wants to die but Brienne reminds him of his reasons for living: his family and revenge. The pair are taken to Harrenhal. Jaime can't help but think of the irony. Harrenhal is where he was given his white cloak. Now he returns injured, sick, and helpless. The two are paraded in front of Lord Roose Bolton. Vargo Hoat explains his plan for Jaime. Brienne explains how she and Bolton are on the same side and so he should let her continue on her assigned mission. Roose sends Jaime and Brienne to private chambers and has Jaime's wound attended to. Jaime insists Qyburn keep his arm intact and just clean the wound. Qyburn tells Jaime of the events of the Battle of the Blackwater. Jaime asks that Qyburn check in on Brienne's wounds as well.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Freed by Catelyn Stark. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Catelyn Stark. Brave Companions - AKA The Bloody Mummers. A band of sellswords from Essos. Switched allegiance from the Lannisters to the Starks. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions. Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Acting lord of Harrenhal. Bannerman to King Robb Stark. Qyburn - Maester-like member of the Brave Companions.
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07 Feb 2023
Chapter Thirty-Two - Tyrion 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion has a busy day. He surveys post-battle repair needs, meets with Symon Silver Tongue, inspects two new family heirlooms, is told by his father to do the impossible, gets marital advice from his father, and participates in a discussion regarding the Night’s Watch. None of it is going to make his life any easier. Simon and Mackelly pour him a tall cup of Arbor Gold.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister surveys the damages done during the battle. The repair costs will well exceed what the crown has in its coffers. Before returning to the Red Keep, he and Bronn make a detour to visit the singer Symon Silver Tongue, in a run-down wine sink. Tyrion offers to pay the man to take his act on a tour of Essos. However, Symon instead tells Tyrion that if Tyrion can’t get him a spot in the singing competition at the royal wedding, he’ll sing a song about Tyrion’s affair with Shea for all to hear. Afterward, Tyrion tells Bronn to make sure Symon’s body is never found. Next, Tyrion learns he’s been summoned by his father. Tywin Lannister shows Tyrion two new Valyrian steel swords he's commissioned. One is for Joff and the other for Jamie. Next order of business is the city repairs. Tyrion reports what he’s found and that there’s not enough coin to pay for the repairs. Tywin tells him he’ll find the coin or Tywin will find someone who can. The topic then turns toward Tyrion’s marriage to Sansa Stark. Tywin wants it consummated immediately. Tyrion asks about his father’s betrothal plans for Cersei and Willas Tyrell. Tywin informs him that Mace Tyrell rejected the notion. As Tywin begins to mention replacement suitors, Grand Maester Pycelle arrives. He’s gotten a letter from Castle Black asking for more men. Tywin couldn't care less about the Night’s Watch’s woes. However, he does see an opportunity to put a Lannister loyalist in charge of the Black Brothers. He wants Pycelle to respond that the crown can’t help at the moment but King Joffrey sends his best wishes to his faithful friend Lord Janos Slynt.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Symon Silver Tongue - Singer who knows about Tyrion’s relationship with Shea. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon.
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14 Feb 2023
Chapter Thirty-Three - Samwell 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sam and the remnants of the Great Ranging find respite at Craster’s Keep. However, their host isn’t overflowing with generosity. Hunger and frustration eventually bubble over into mutiny. Sam finds himself without his friends but with two dependents, while the Others are set to enter stage right at any moment. Mackelly and Simon pack the diaper bag.
Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly attends to the ailing ranger Bannen, while he and many of the other Night’s Watch brothers shelter in Craster’s Keep. Craster gives them only a weak onion soup for sustenance, while Craster dines on a sausage. Sam eventually goes outside, where some of his brothers call him “Slayer” in a mocking reference to his claim to have killed an Other. While Sam chats with Grenn, Lord Commander Mormont arrives and pulls Sam aside. Sam had told the Lord Commander about how he killed an Other with a dragonglass dagger. Mormont realizes that the Night’s Watch has forgotten their true purpose over the thousands of years. You don’t build a 700 foot wall to keep wildlings out. Unfortunately, they only have a few dragonglass weapons available to them. Most of the cache Jon found was left on the Fist during the fight with the wights. Craster emerges from the hall with news that his daughter-wife Gilly has given him a boy. Later, Mormont announces they’re leaving in the morning. During a feast provided by Craster, using the dead horses of the Night’s Watch, a mutiny transpires. Craster and Mormont are killed. Two of Craster’s wives urge Sam to flee and take Gilly and her son with him. The Others will be here soon.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Samwell Tarly - brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of Others. Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Craster - Wildling who marries his daughters and disposed of newborn sons. Considered a friend of the Night’s Watch by some. White Walker (Other) - Ice beings from north of the Wall. Able to reanimate the dead to their cause. The Wall - 700ft wall across the continent. Manned by the Night’s Watch.
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21 Feb 2023
Chapter Thirty-Four - Arya 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and Co. finally meet Beric Dondarrion. He gives Sandor Clegane a trial-by-combat, which the Hound wins. But Dondarrion is dead for only a brief moment. Mackelly and Simon do a head-whip double-take with everyone else.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Gendry, and their companions from the Brotherhood Without Banners reach a secret hideout where Thoros of Myr, Beric Dondarrion, and the higher-ups of the Brotherhood reside. The other prisoner, Sandor Clegane is brought before the Brotherhood, where a list of accusations is leveled against him. None really hold water. Thoros was known to the Hound as a false priest, but the Myrhenese insists that he really has found his true calling now. The rest of the Brotherhood seem to be firm believers in R'hllor. Lord Beric, a battered version of the man that Arya recalls Jeyne Poole swooning over, grants the Hound a trial by combat. Dondarrion’s sword bursts into flames when he slices his own palm with it. Scaring the pyrrophobic Hound. The battle ebbs and flows, but a huge Clegane blow breaks the burning sword and cuts through Beric’s kneck down into his chest killing him instantly. The Hound puts out the flames that threaten to engulf him, while Dondarrion’s body is dragged away by his followers. Arya tries to take matters into her own hands, but is restrained. She tells the Hound to go to hell, to which a revived Dondarrion replies “he has."
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Tom of Sevenstreams - Singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - Soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - Archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Harwin: Soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Former member of the Stark household guard. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Beric Dondarrion - Lightning Lord. Head of the Brotherhood without Banners. Thoros of Myr - Priest of R’hellor, former drinking companion of King Robert Baratheon. Friend of Beric Dondarrion and member of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
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28 Feb 2023
Chapter Thirty-Five - Catelyn 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Hoster Tully is laid to rest. Cat learns of Sansa’s marriage and Winterfell’s destruction. Lord Edmure Tully is unwillingly betrothed to Roslin Frey, while Lord Walder wants the king to come and apologize for ditching his daughter. Simon and Mackelly worry the Starks hopes continue to fray (pun intended).
Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark watches as her father is laid to rest. Lord Edmure cannot hit the funeral boat with a flaming arrow. His blushes are spared, and exacerbated, by his uncle Brynden - who nails it with one shot. The Freys have come to pay their respects and to answer Robb’s proposals. Robb and Cat learn of Sansa’s marriage to Tyrion, the defeat at Duskendale, and later the sacking of Winterfell. The Freys brought the last news courtesy of the two Walders (the cockroaches of the north) who have written from the Dreadfort, where they were “rescued” by Bolton’s bastard. The Freys have chosen Roslin as Edmure’s bride, he’d like to meet her first, but he’s accused of looking a gift horse in the mouth. Since the Starks didn’t hold their last promise, the Freys want the wedding immediately and they want a face-to-face apology from King Robb to Lord Walder. All-in-all its a small price to pay, and the young king agrees.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Eldest child of Hoster Tully, widow of Ned Stark, father of King Robb. King Robb Stark - Eldest child of Ned and Catelyn Stark. King in the North. Edmure Tully - New Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident. Brother to Catelyn. Hoster Tully - Deceased Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident. Lysa Arryn - Sister to Catelyn Stark and Edmure Tully. Widow of Jon Arryn. Hiding in the Vale with her son Lord Robert Arryn. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - Brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Cat. Renowned soldier. Jeyne Westerling - Robb’s new bride. Queen of the North.
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07 Mar 2023
Chapter Thirty-Six - Davos 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos speaks the truth to king Stannis and is rewarded with his freedom and a promotion. Melisandre uses the blood (not all of it, thankfully) of Edric Storm to curse the false kings: Joffrey Baratheon, Balong Greyjoy, and Robb Stark. Mackelly and Simon hope that Robb’s string of bad luck is behind him.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth is brought from the dungeons of Dragonstone by Axel Florent, the brother of his cellmate Alester. Florent shares that he has seen Stannis on the throne in the flames. But a precondition was that he, Axel, become Stannis’ Hand of the King. If Davos supports Florent good things will follow, but woe betide Seaworth should he fail to. Stannis asks Davos what he thinks of Floernt’s plan to invade Claw Isle as punishment for Lord Celtigar’s decision to bend the knee to Joffrey. Davos, Stannis’ spirit animal, cannot help himself and dismisses the plan as pointless and unfair. The men of Claw Isle fought and died for Stannis on the Blackwater, while victory would be assured, those people deserve better of their king. Stannis agrees, dismisses Florent and makes Davos his Hand of the King. Enter Melisandre with a plate of swollen leeches. The blood comes from Edric Storm, Robert’s bastard son, who is already much beloved within Dragonstone. The three leeches go in the flames each with a curse for Joffrey Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy, and Robb Stark.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, now Hand of The King to Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Salladhor Saan - Lysene pirate. Friend of Davos. Alester Florent - Head of House Florent, uncle of Selyse, former Hand of the King to Stannis. Axel Florent - Brother to Alester. Edric Storm - Bastard son of Robert Baratheon.
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14 Mar 2023
Chapter Thirty-Seven - Jaime 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime and Brienne share a bath. Jaime also shares a story that comes as a shock to Brienne. Later, they both dine with Lord Roose Bolton. The pair learn why Vargo Hoat cut off Jaime's hand, as well as what Roose plans to do with them both. It’s good news for Jaime, not so much for Brienne. Simon and Mackelly ask Jaime to please pass the prunes.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister slides himself into the tub currently occupied by Brienne of Tarth, much to Brienne’s dismay. After a squabble between the two, Jaime tells the full story of how he came to be known as the “Kingslayer.” He reveals never-before known details that paint him in a much more heroic light. Brienne is speechless. After bath time, Brienne helps Jaime dress and then escorts him to dinner with Lord Roose Bolton. Jaime wants to know what Roose plans to do with Brienne and him. Roose explains that he has many options to consider regarding Jaime’s fate. Brienne says he must let them finish their prisoner exchange in King’s Landing. Roose says he’s been told it was a prison break, and if so Brienne is guilty of treason. All that said, he does plan on sending Jaime on to King’s Landing. First, he needs Jaime to promise to clear his name with Lord Tywin. Roose explains Vargo Hoat cut off Jaime's hand to dissuade Roose from sending Jaime back to his family, since Vargo is Roose’s man, as Roose is King Robb’s man. Therefore, Roose should take some blame for the act. Jaime promises to make it clear Roose saved Jaime and Vargo acted alone. Brienne assumes she’ll be accompanying Jaime on his way. However, Roose sets her straight. She’ll stay in Harrenhal, as Vargo’s prize possession. He suggests she turn her attention to sapphires.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Freed by Catelyn Stark. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Catelyn Stark. Brave Companions - AKA The Bloody Mummers. A band of sellswords from Essos. Switched allegiance from the Lannisters to the Starks. Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Acting lord of Harrenhal. Bannerman to King Robb Stark. Vargo Hoat - Leader o
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21 Mar 2023
Chapter Thirty-Eight - Tyrion 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion is surprised to welcome the feared warrior Oberyn Martell, rather than his more placid brother Prince Doran, to King’s Landing. Oberyn is here for justice. Simon and Mackelly weigh up the chances.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister leads a group of dignitaries to welcome and accompany the 300-strong delegation from Dorne across the Blackwater. All the major Dornish houses are represented, but Prince Doran is uwell and has sent his firebrand brother Oberyn, the Red Viper, in his stead. Tyrion worries for Myrcella and peace. Oberyn has met Tyrion before, whenTyrion was a baby, and Martell a teenager. He was disappointed that Tyrion was not all that monstrous. He relates how Cersei abused Tyrion, and Jamie came to his rescue. All the while their father Tywin was absent in his grief over his lost wife. Martell wants justice for his beloved sister Elia who was murdered by the Mountain in the Sack of King’s Landing. He wants Clegane and he wants to know who ordered the murder. Tyrion tries to stall, but that triggers an angry reaction from Oberyn. Tyrion tries to warn of the power imbalance. The 300 are no match for the thousands of Lannister and Tyrell forces still in the capital. Oberyn seems unconcerned.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey Baratheon - King of the seven kingdoms. Bastard son of Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Father of Tyrion, Lord of Casterly Rock. Newly self-appointed Hand of the King. Mace Tyrell - Lord of Highgarden. Willas Tyrell - Heir to Highgarden. Podrick Payne - Squire to Tyrion Lannister. Ser Bronn of the Blackwater - Sellsword friend of Tyrion. Oberyn Martell - The Red Viper. Younger brother of Prince Doran Martell. Ellaria Sand - Paramour of Oberyn Martell. Elia Martell - Murdered sister of Oberyn Martell. Was married to Rhaegar Targaryen with whom she had two children. Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain. Vassal lord of House Lannister. Widely thought to be the murderer of Elia Martell and her children.
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28 Mar 2023
Chapter Thirty-Nine - Arya 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya takes in a battle between the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Brave Companions. Gendry makes a big decision that upsets Arya. The Hound shows up out of the blue wanting his gold back but the Brotherhood has already spent it. Finally, Beric promises to return Arya to her family. Mackelly and Simon wonder if she can make it to her family in time to attend her uncle’s wedding.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Gendry take in a battle between the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Brave Companions, from the safety of a ridge. When the smoke clears, the surviving Brave Companions are given a speedy trial and then hung from a tree. Septon Utt wasn’t spared that fate, as he was charged with crimes against young boys. After dinner, Beric Dondarion and Thoros of Myr tell Arya that Beric has died and been brought back to life six times. Thoros says it’s all the work of R’Hellor. He can’t explain why it’s happening. Beric also promises to safely return Arya to her family, but he’s going to require gold in return. Gendry surprisingly offers his services to the Brotherhood as a blacksmith, much to the dismay of Arya. Beric knights Gendry and accepts him into the group. Right then, the Hound unexpectedly crashes the party. He’s looking for the gold the Brotherhood took from him before they set him free. Beric breaks the news to him that the gold is gone. They spent it on food and supplies for the small folk of the Riverlands. He takes stalk of everyone in the room, then leaves without a word.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Tom of Sevenstreams - Singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - Soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - Archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Harwin: Former member of the Stark household guard. Now in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Beric Dondarrion - Lightning Lord. Head of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Thoros of Myr - Priest of R’hellor, friend of Beric Dondarrion, member of the Brotherhoo
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04 Apr 2023
Chapter Forty - Bran 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Bran, Hodor, and the Reeds take shelter in a tower in a lake. Strangers roll into the nearby abandoned village. Bran wargs into Hodor to shut him up. Mackelly and Simon break out the tin foil hats.
Chapter Review: Bran Stark, Hodor, and the Reed siblings discover an abandoned village at the northern edge of the New Gift. A storm blows in and the buildings offer little shelter. But a tower rises from the lake. Bran recalls it from Old Nan’s stories. There is a sunken causeway leading to it. Sure enough Meera finds it and guide them across. Inside, they debate their next move. Bran wants to head to Castle Black, but Jojen wants to find a quieter way past the Wall. The storm intensifies. Jojen spots a rider coming into town. The man tries to get out of the weather in the tumble-down inn. Hodor shouts wildly with each crack of thunder. A flash of lightning reveals that the small village is now overrun with armed men. Hodor must be silenced. Bran wargs into him and shuts him up. Next stop for Bran the brain-invader is Summer. He’s out there somewhere. He finds the direwolf cringing in the brush. The stench of human fear redolent in his mighty nostrils.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Brandon Stark - Prince of Winterfell. Paralyzed when pushed from tower by Jamie Lannister. Hodor - Enormous but simple-minded helper of Bran. Meera Reed - Daughter of Howland Reed. Jojen Reed - Son of Howland Reed. Has green dreams that invariably come true.\ Summer - Bran’s direwolf. The Gift - A strip of land south of the Wall that is farmed for the benefit of the Night’s Watch. It comprises the original Brandon’s Gift, and the New Gift which was bestowed by Queen Alysanne Targaryen to extend the wealth of the Night’s Watch. Queenscrown - A small holdfast in the Gift where Queen Alysanne Targaryen spent a night during her visit to the North.
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11 Apr 2023
Chapter Forty-One - Jon 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon and his wildling friends take cover from a storm in a ruined village and discover an old man. The men hear voices coming from the old tower in the lake. Jon refuses to kill the old man, and when a direwolf attacks the group, Jon flees on the man’s horse. Simon and Mackelly think maybe they heard "Hodor" coming from that tower.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow, Yigrette, and the wildling raiders ride south through The Gift, to avoid Night’s Watch patrols. The wildlings are amazed by the occasional “castle” that are actually nothing more than watchtowers. Jon and Yigrette debate the pros and cons of stealing women before Jon confides in Yigrette that the wildlings stand no chance at winning this war. The statement makes Yigrette concerned that she’s backed the wrong horse, vouching for him as a fallen crow.
Jon knows he has to beat this group to Castle Black or his brothers will be in serious trouble, as the castle has no defenses on the southern side. However, he worries about what will happen to Yigrette if he escapes.
When a bad storm rolls in, the group takes refuge in an abandoned village next to a lake. The lake has a ruined tower sitting in its middle. The wildling scouts find an old man occupying the village. Jon knows the man will die and leaves the scene. He tells Yigrette the history of the tower in the lake, and Yigrette tells him some men have heard voices coming from it. She thinks it’s ghosts.
Jon is called back to the old man and told to kill him to prove his loyalty to the wildlings. Jon refuses, so Yigrette does the deed. At that moment, a direwolf attacks the group and Jon uses the chaos to jump on the dead man’s horse and escape. Later he finds an arrow in his leg and wonders if it’s Yigrette’s. He cleans the wound and rides for Castle Black.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Ygritte - wildling girl who has taken a shine to Jon. Styr - Magnar of Thenn. Leader of the wildling group from Thenn. The Gift - Lands owned by the Night's Watch.
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16 Apr 2023
Chapter Forty-Two - Daenerys 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys surveys the Yunkish host awaiting her. She meets with, then offers deals and deadlines to, the leaders of the enemy force. She makes a possible new friend, berates an old one, and gets a history lesson about her brother Rhaegar. Simon and Mackelly ponder buyer’s remorse with sellsword armies.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen surveys the host awaiting her own outside the gates of Yunkai. She asks Ser Jorah Mormont to invite the leaders of the three factions of the force to meet her in her tent, spreading out the meeting times so she can meet with each group separately. She offers the sellsword company the Stormcrows an alliance, wanting an answer the next day. She offers the leader of the sellsword company the Second Sons a wagon of wine to consider joining her side, again wanting an answer the next day. Finally, she offers the Yunkai envoy three days to send out every slave in the city loaded down with goods and gold. If they do as asked, they and their city will be spared. When the men have left, she tells her council that they’ll attack an hour after midnight, while the enemy are distracted by her offers.
Later that night, Daario Naharis one of the leaders of the Stormcrows is found in camp. He tells Dany the Stormcrows are hers, as is he. Jorah is uncertain of the man’s intentions. Dany disregards Ser Jorah and sends Daario back to prepare his men to turn their cloaks when the battle begins. She then lashes out at Jorah for pushing all other men away. She loves and respects him, but does not desire him.
As the battle begins, Dany and Arstan Whitebeard pass the time discussing her brother Rhaegar. Their conversation is cut off by the news of their victory against the Yunkish force. The Stormcrows fought on Dany’s side, as Daario promised. Three days later, the slaves of Yunkai are freed. As they exit the city, the begin chanting “mother” to Dany.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ bodyguard and loyal advisor. Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess. Arstan Whitebeard- Westerosi squire of Strong Belwas. Sent by Ill
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
25 Apr 2023
Chapter Forty-Three - Arya 8 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Brotherhood Without Banners hear about the prophetic dreams of the Ghost of High Heart. Arya also hears news of her family’s history that shocks and angers her. Thoros of Myr’s vision halts their progress toward Riverrun. Finally, the Hound makes off with Arya. Mackelly and Simon fire up the search lights.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Gendry, and the Brotherhood Without Banners, have made their way back to High Heart. While there, they meet with the Ghost of High Heart. She tells them of her dreams. Some seem clearer than others. One thing she makes clear is that if the Brotherhood wants to reunite Arya with her mother, Riverrun isn’t the place to go. Catelyn and King Robb have left for a wedding at the Twins.
The next day, Beric Dondarion’s young squire Ned tells Arya of his connection to her bastard brother Jon Snow. He says they are milk brothers, as his wet nurse Wylla was Jon’s mother. It turns out Ned is actually Edric Dayne, lord of Starfall. He explains how his aunt Ashara and Arya’s father Ned were once in love long ago, and how Ashara killed herself over a broken heart. Arya doesn’t want to hear about it and rides off.
That evening, Thoros of Myr sees a vision in the flames of Riverrun under siege by a Lannister army. This news causes lord Beric to pause their progress toward Riverrun until more information can be gathered. An upset Arya runs off. However, she’s wet and cold and turns back, only to be intercepted by the Hound.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Gendry - Friend of Arya. Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Tom of Sevenstreams - Singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Lem Lemoncloak - Soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Anguy - Archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners. Harwin: Member of the Stark household guard. Son of Hullen, the Winterfell Master of Horse. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Beric Dondarrion - Lightning Lord. Head of the Brotherhood without Banners. Thoros of Myr - Priest of R’hellor, former drinking companion of King Robert Baratheon, friend of Beric Dondarrion,
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
02 May 2023
Chapter Forty-Four - Jaime 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime heads south while Brienne stays a captive of Vargo Hoat. After a night’s sleep and a dream, his conscience pricked, he heads back to Harrenhal and saves Brienne from a terrible fate. Simon and Mackelly open their minds a tiny crack toward his redemption?!
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister leaves Harrenhal alongside Lord Roose Bolton. The pair split up and head in opposite directions, both sending regards to Robb Stark and Tywin Lannister, respectively. Jaime reminisces about his trip through these parts after first donning the white cloak of the Kingsguard. He learns that Vargo Hoat was unhappy with Lord Selwyn Tarth's offer of 300 gold dragons for Brienne's safe return.
That night he dreams that he's deep in Casterly Rock, where his family abandons him to the darkness. Only Brienne stays by his side. He's visited by the shades of his Kingsguard brothers and Rhaegar Targaryen. They admonish him for killing King Aerys and allowing Rhaegar's wife and children to be killed. He wakes and determines he's going back to Harrenhal.
Upon arrival at Harrenhal, he discovers that Brienne has been thrown in the bear pit with nothing but a dress of silk and a tourney sword. He jumps in to save her. He protects her until crossbowmen kill the bear. Later, when Brienne asks why he returned to Harrenhal, he simply says he dreamed of her.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Freed by Catelyn Stark. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. Now in the service of Catelyn Stark. Brave Companions - AKA The Bloody Mummers. A band of sellswords from Essos. Switched allegiance from the Lannisters to the Starks. Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Acting lord of Harrenhal. Bannerman to King Robb Stark. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions. Qyburn - Maester-like member of the Brave Companions. Cared for Jaime after his, Jaime’s, hand was severed by Hoat. Steelshanks Walton - Soldier in Bolton’s forces, tasked with bringing Jaime safely to King’s Landing.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
09 May 2023
Chapter Forty-Five - Catelyn 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Cat rides through the rain to Edmure’s wedding venue. Along the way, she manages to offend both her brother and her son. Robb contemplates his heir, and his choice to fill the role until he has children isn’t one that Cat can get behind. We get confirmation about the fate of Balon Greyjoy. Finally, Robb unveils his plan to unseat the Iron Born from Moat Cailin.
Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark rides with her son King Robb’s host through non-stop rain from Riverrun to the Twins, on their way to Lord Edmure’s wedding. Robb’s young queen Jeyne had trouble saying goodbye to her husband, but eventually Robb sent her back to Riverrun, where she’ll await his return. Edmure is nervous about his future bride. He can’t see any reason Lord Walder Frey would pick a beautiful daughter to marry to him. Edmure’s shallow thinking irks Cat and her retort offends him.
King Robb tells his mother that he needs to have an heir. With Bran and Rickon dead, and no children conceived between him and Jeyne, he’s considering Jon Snow. Cat points out that Jon is a brother of the Night’s Watch, so can’t hold lands or titles. Robb figures if he sends the Night’s Watch 100 men, they’ll find a way to let Jon go. After that, Robb will legitimize Jon and he’ll act as Robb heir until Robb has children. Cat can’t support the plan. Robb says it doesn’t matter, he’s the king.
Cat is present when a ship captain tells Robb and his council that Balon Greyjoy is dead and his brother Euron has assumed the Seastone Chair. Robb then tells of his plan to get past the Iron Born at Moat Cailin. He sends two of his officers to rouse the crannogmen to help his host navigate the bogs of the Neck. He will use their knowledge of the area to attack Moat Cailin from multiple sides. Robb plans to send Cat to Seaguard for safe keeping. Finally, he produces a document that his bannermen must witness that will sure-up his succession plan, should he die without children.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Eldest child of Hoster Tully, widow of Ned Stark, father of King Robb. Robb Stark - Eldest child of Catelyn Stark. King in the North. Edmure Tully - brother to Catelyn, heir to Riverrun.\ Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Cat. Renowned soldier. Rickard Karstark - Lord of Karhold.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
16 May 2023
Chapter Forty-Six - Samwell 3 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sam and Gilly are lost, exhausted, and hungry. They find an abandoned wildling village for shelter but receive unexpected house guests. Sam wrangles the wight of an old friend. When all hope seems lost, a new friend emerges. Simon and Mackelly sing a song for the Stranger. (Really, we do.)
Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly, Gilly, and Gilly’s baby come across a wildling village, on their trek back to Castle Black. Sam hopes it’s Whitetree, a village the Great Ranging stopped at on their way north. They hunker down in a hall for the night. Sam wonders what he’s going to do with Gilly when they reach Castle Black. However, he decides to put it out of his mind until the time comes.
While eating, he shares stories of his life at Horn Hill and even serenades Gilly with a children’s song. That night he dreams of hosting a great feast as the lord of Horn Hill. He wakes to a frigid cold temperature. The wight of Small Paul shambles into the hall. Sam fights Paul, while Gilly and the baby escape. Sam eventually destroys the wight and hurries out to give Gilly the good news. Instead, he faces with a horde of wights surrounding Gilly and the baby.
When it looks like there’s no way to save Gilly and baby, a large unkindness of ravens descends upon the wights. With the wights distracted by the ravens, Sam runs to Gilly. He’s unsure what to do next when he hears a voice call, “brother.” A man wearing Night Watch blacks and riding a huge elk calls for them. When he helps the trio onto the elk, Sam realizes the man’s hands are as cold, black, and hard as a wight’s.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of Others. Gilly - Daughter/Wife of Craster. Craster - Wildling who marries his daughters and disposes of newborn sons. Considered a friend of the Night’s Watch by some. White Walker (Other) - Ice beings from north of the Wall. Able to reanimate the dead to their cause. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch. The Wall - 700ft wall across the continent. Manned by the Night’s Watch.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
23 May 2023
Chapter Forty-Seven - Arya 9 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Hound brave the rapids of the Trident. Arya tries many and varied ways to escape or kill the Hound, all without success. Eventually she discovers that their goals are more aligned than she thought. The Kingsroad awaits ahead, and beyond that, the Twins and Arya’s family. Mackelly and Simon buckle-up their life jackets.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AKA the Hound) are quoted an exorbitant rate to be ferried across the swollen Trident. Arya thinks it’s the Blackwater Rush, assuming the Hound is taking her back to King’s Landing. When the pair reach the far side of the river, after a wild ride, the Hound pays the rate with the IOU provided to him by the Brotherhood Without Banners when they took his gold. The ferryman isn’t happy, and the Hound figures that’ll prevent him from taking paper promises from any future patrons.
The Hound learns that Arya met his brother Gregor, when Gregor had taken her captive and marched her to Harrenhal. The Hound gets a kick out of the idea that Gregor had such a prized possession and didn’t realize it. The Hound tells Arya of how he saved Sansa from danger during the riot of King’s Landing and tells Arya that if she behaves they’ll make much better time. When the Hound asks Arya where she thinks they’re going, she realizes it’s not King’s Landing like she thought. It turns out he’s taking her to the Twins. He plans to ransom her to her family and hopes to be handsomely rewarded for his efforts. If they hussle, they might even make it in time for her uncle’s wedding.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Trident - The primary river system that flows through the Riverlands, consisting of three main tributaries: the Green Fork, Blue Fork, and Red Fork. The Twins - The seat of House Frey.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
30 May 2023
Chapter Forty-Eight - Jon 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon returns to Castle Black to spread the word of the impending wildling attack. He discovers he was spotted riding with wildlings. Jon grapples with his feelings on Yigrette, while Maester Aemon repairs the damage the wildling arrow did to Jon’s leg. Finally, he gets news of some of his NIght’s Watch brothers' fate, from the Great Ranging. Simon and Mackelly hunt for a get-well-soon gift.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow finally returns to Castle Black. He’s sick with fever from his infected leg wound. The castle is severely depleted of men. He finds Donal Noye who tells Jon that he was seen riding freely with the wildlings. Jon explains about his mission from Qhorin Halfhand.
Noye insists Jon go see Maester Aemon to have his wound tended to but Jon thinks there’s no time, as the wildlings are headed to Castle Black. However, Noye gets his way and Maester Aemon needs to cut out the infection and sear the wound with a hot knife. While Aemon is preparing for his work, he tells Jon of Lord Commander Mormont’s death at the hands of his own men. Jon then ponders the possibilities to succeed Mormont.
When the pain of the hot knife gets too intense, Jon passes out. He wakes to find two old friends waiting with him. They tell him who survived the mutiny at Craster’s Keep and of how they left a catatonic Sam Tarly. Aemon again is the bearer of bad news, informing Jon of the fate of Bran and Rickon and the sacking of Winterfell. Finally, Jon dreams of being in Winterfell with Yigrette. They’re in a hot pool together but he refuses to father a bastard with her and she melts into the water.
Characters/Places/Names/Events; Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings. Ygritte - Wildling girl who Jon developed a romantic relationship with. Maester Aemon - Ancient maester of the Night’s Watch. Donal Noye - One-armed blacksmith of the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
06 Jun 2023
Chapter Forty-Nine - Catelyn 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Cat and co arrive at the Twins to a frosty reception. Edmure is delighted by Roslin - she takes after her Rosby mother. Roose Bolton confirms some of the news from the north, shares more bad news, and tells a few lies. Simon and Mackelly get measured for our wedding bonnets.
Chapter Review: Catelyn, Robb, and Edmure arrive at the Twins. A welcoming party of Freys is all-but attacked by Grey Wind - who's not really doing his part to smooth things over. He’s banished to the dog house with Ser Raynald Westerling.
Inside Walder Frey lords it over Robb demanding that the young king apologize to a whole bevvy of Frey girls, any one of which might have been his queen. Robb is contrite and says the right things. Walder is disappointed that Queen Jeyne didn’t make the trip, he’d wanted to see what would make a king forget his vow, but he concedes that he remembers being young and in love. They break bread together and Catelyn relaxes - now they have guest right, and no harm will befall them.
Edmure is pleased with his betrothed Roslin, who cries “with joy” when she meets her future husband. Roose Bolton is there and lies about who was to blame for the debacle at Duskendale, and reports that his march north was interrupted by Gregor Clegane who waited until his forces were split by the Trident before attacking the rearguard. Bolton was forced to leave men behind to prevent the Mountain from crossing the river. Roose is also dishonest (or misinformed) about his bastard Ramsey’s part in the destruction of Winterfell. All agree to ransom Theon’s execution, not his life, to the next Lord of the Iron Islands.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Mother of King Robb. Robb Stark - Eldest child of Ned and Catelyn Stark. King in the North. Jeyne Westerling - Robb’s new bride. Queen of the North. Edmure Tully - Lord of Riverrun, brother to Catelyn Stark. Lord Walder Frey - Nonogenarian Lord of the Twins. Father of multitudes. Roslin Frey - Daughter of Lord Walder. Betrothed to Edmure Tully. Roose Bolton - Trusted lieutenant of Robb Stark. His motives and behavior are a bit questionable. Ramsey Snow - Bastard son of Roose Bolton. Destroyer of Winterfell. Captor of Theon Greyjoy. Theon Greyjoy - Heir to the now vacant Seastone Chair. Betrayer. Captive
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
13 Jun 2023
Chapter Fifty - Arya 10 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Hound arrive at the twins disguised as farmers bringing salt pork to the wedding. Arya keeps looking for a friendly face to reveal herself to, but it’s all strange sigils and strangers. It shouldn’t a be problem though - Clegane is determined to hand her over to her family personally. Mackelly and Simon join the revelry.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane arrive at the Twins in a farmer's wagon, towing the Hound’s fearsome warhorse Stranger behind. They’re first challenged by a contingent of knights who ask their business. Arya is dutifully silent while Sandor describes their cargo (salt pork and pigs feet), but leaving out the part where they stole the meat and the cart from an unlucky farmer. Stranger is explained as a wedding gift from Lady Whent.
They’re waved through and the Hound laughs that Ser Donnel Haigh ought to have recognized him (although Clegane kept his face hooded) as Haigh had repeatedly lost to the Hound in tourneys.
In the encampment of soldiers on the east bank, Arya looks for familiar sigils and friendly faces, but doesn’t see anyone she knows or trusts. She hears a toast to a Queen Jeyne, a name she’s never heard before. She suggests turning themselves in to the nearest northmen, but Clegane ditches the disguise and leads her towards the castle.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Trident - Primary river system that flows through the Riverlands, consisting of three main tributaries: the Green Fork, Blue Fork, and Red Fork. The Twins - Seat of House Frey.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
20 Jun 2023
Chapter Fifty-One - Catelyn 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Cat watches in horror as the Freys spring their trap. King Robb and many loyal northerners are cut down, and after she murders Lord Walder’s grandson, Cat is also dispatched. Simon and Mackelly rend their garments.
Chapter Review: The music is terrible, the food unappealing, but Edmure Tully seems in love with his new bride Roslin - who maintains her rictus smile throughout. The drinking is heavy, particularly from the GreatJon Umber. Lord Walder Frey calls for the bedding, the borderline sexual assault whereby the newlyweds are stripped and carried to the marital bed, and King Robb agrees.
When the lovers leave, Catelyn Stark’s hackles raise when Edwyn Frey pushes Darcey Mormont aside, when she only asked to dance. At this point, the band finally finds a tune: The Rains of Castermere - the song whose only message is “Don’t cross the Lannisters.” Crossbow bolts rain down and King Robb and Cat are both struck. A melee ensues, but the Stark guards are outmanned and unable to do more than fight a rearguard.
Northmen rush in, but they fight for the wrong side. Cat holds a knife to Jinglebell and threatens/bargains with Lord Walder - but he doesn’t care what she does and a figure who appears to be Roose Bolton delivers the coup de grace to his King. Cat cuts Jinglebell's throat but she herself has her throat cut, as she thinks of Ned and her children.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Mother of King Robb. Robb Stark - Eldest child of Catelyn Stark. King in the North. Jeyne Westerling - Robb’s new bride. Queen of the North. Edmure Tully - Lord of Riverrun, brother to Catelyn Stark. Lord Walder Frey - nonogenarian Lord of the Twins. Father of multitudes. Roslin Frey - Daughter of Lord Walder. Bride to Edmure Tully. Roose Bolton - Trusted lieutenant of Robb Stark. His motives and behavior are a bit questionable. Even more so now. Ramsey Snow - Bastard son of Roose Bolton. Destroyer of Winterfell. Captor of Theon Greyjoy.
This episode's music is provided by WBreadenMadden. To hear the full version of "The Rains of Castamere" and other musical creations from WBreadenMadden, see: SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/wbreadenmadden
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
27 Jun 2023
Chapter Fifty-Two - Arya 11 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Hound become aware of what might be going down inside the Twins. He gives her the brutal truth. They are attacked by three Frey knights. They survive because of his skills. But she still wants to see for herself. He stops her in less-than-gentle fashion. Mackelly and Simon give up trying to fix this poor broken child.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AKA the Hound) discover that the eastern castle of the Twins isn’t closed after all, as the guard said it was. Arya fights a smile of excitement and anticipation for the reunion with her mother and brother. However, those feelings are quickly squashed when the Hound knocks her to the ground in an attempt to hide her. Frey knights pour from the castle and chaos begins to reign in the camps. The feast tents have become flaming infernos.
Three Frey knights ride toward Arya and the Hound. The Hound takes on two, and the other tries to corral Arya. She’s confused, the Freys are her brother Robb’s friends, why are they attacking people? Before she can consider the question much longer, the Hound puts an ax through the skull of the knight chasing her, having already dispatched the other two knights.
The Hound bluntly tells Arya her family is dead and they must flee. Arya isn’t convinced. She wants to enter the castle and at least look for her mother. The camps are now a butcher’s field, and the Hound gives her an ultimatum. She flees now with him or stays and dies. Arya slips past him and runs for the rising drawbridge. The Hound charges after her on the back of Stranger. His ax takes her in the back of her head.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. King Robb Stark - Murdered King in the North, elder brother to Arya. Catelyn Stark - Murdered mother of Arya. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Trident - Primary river system that flows through the Riverlands, consisting of three main tributaries: the Green Fork, Blue Fork, and Red Fork. The Twins - Seat of House Frey.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
04 Jul 2023
Chapter Fifty-Three - Tyrion 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion has an awkward dinner with Sansa then gets lost in Littlefinger’s financial books. He then has a family gathering filled with news of Robb Stark’s death and his family's involvement, as well as Tywin's plan for Gregor Clegane. Throughout it all, King Joffrey is rotten, but this time he attacks Tywin. That does not go over well. Mackelly and Simon ponder the punishments for our dear king.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister dines with his wife Sansa Stark. Awkwardness still reigns between them. Afterward, Sansa goes to the godswood and Tyrion digs into the crown’s financial books maintained by Petyr Baelish.
He’s summoned to the Tower of the Hand. Upon arriving, Tyrion is handed a letter indicating that a Frey married a Tully and did something with wolf pelts. Joffrey blurts out that Robb Stark is dead. Awful Joff wants Robb’s head to make Sansa kiss it. Tyrion takes umbrage and calls Joff a monster. When Joff calls him the same, Tyrion says that if he is, Joff should be careful as kings are dying like flies lately. The back and forth ends with Joff telling Tywin that he hid under Casterly Rock during Robert’s Rebellion. Joff is sent to bed and Cersei is admonished for poor parenting before also being shown the door.
Tywin tells Tyrion the price of the Frey alliance. Some Lannisters will marry some Freys and Roose Bolton is Warden of the North and will marry Arya Stark to his bastard son Ramsay.
Tywin says he doesn’t plan to give Gregor Clegane to Oberyn Martell. He’s going to feed Oberyn the deceased Amory Lorch instead. Tyrion is dubious about the plan. Tywin thinks Tyrion should focus on fathering a son with Sansa.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey Baratheon - King of the seven kingdoms. Bastard son of Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock. Hand of the King. Oberyn Martell - The Red Viper. Younger brother of Lord Doran Martell. Elia Martell - Murdered sister of Oberyn. Was married to Rhaegar Targaryen with whom she had two children. Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain - Vassal lord of House Lannister. Widely thought to be
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
11 Jul 2023
Chapter Fifty-Four - Davos 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos is part of the king’s council when Stannis learns that Robb Stark is dead. Melisandre wants the boy Edric Storm as a sacrifice to R'Hllor, in return Stannis will receive a stone dragon turned to life. Davos questions his worth as Hand of the King, since he can’t read. While learning to read, Davos encounters a letter begging for help from the Night’s Watch. Simon and Mackelly
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth participates in a council with King Stannis, Queen Selyse, Axell Florent, and Melisandre to hear the news from Salladhor Saan. King Robb Stark and his mother Catelyn are dead. Stannis plans to offer pardons to any lords who will repent and pledge fealty to him. Melisandre says that’s not going to work. New kings will rise to replace the fallen. He needs to show his power to the realm to unite them. She wants the king’s nephew Edric Storm as a sacrifice to R’Hllor. With the boy’s king’s blood, a stone dragon will come to life and aid Stannis in claiming the realm.
Stannis is reluctant to give up the boy. He is the king’s own blood. Davos points out that two kings are dead, but Melisandre threw three leeches into the fire. King Joffrey still lives. Melisandre says when Joffrey dies it will prove the power of R’Hllor. Stannis grows tired of them all and boots them from the room. Davos stays to plead Edric’s case. Stannis says it doesn’t matter how good the boy might be. It’s him against a realm full of people. He boots Davos from the room as well.
Davos, feeling unworthy of his station as Hand of the King, begins taking reading lessons from Maester Pylos. When Davos realizes that his reading assignment for the day is a letter from the Night’s Watch begging for support, he wonders what Stannis and Melisandre would think. Both have had visions of trouble coming from the north.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Selyse Baratheon - Stannis’ queen and fervent follower of R’Hllor. Salladhor Saan - Lysene pirate. Friend of Davos. Axel Florent - Brother to Queen Selyse. Edric Storm - Bastard son of Robert Baratheon.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
18 Jul 2023
Chapter Fifty-Five - Jon 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon and his Night’s Watch brothers prepare Castle Black for battle. The wildlings overwhelm the Black Brothers with their superior numbers. However, the Night’s Watch set a trap and the wildlings run right into it. After the fighting ends, Jon finds Ygritte. She’s in bad shape. Simon and Mackelly remove their helms in respect.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow waits atop the King’s Tower with two of his Night’s Watch brothers and six scarecrows dressed as Black Bothers. He knows the wildlings are getting close, as Mole’s Town burns in the distance. Jon hopes Ygritte won’t come with the rest, but he knows better. He hopes he’ll get a shot at the Magnar of Thenn, an enemy he’ll have no qualms putting an arrow through.
The wildlings attack at night. Jon and his brothers in the towers rain arrows down on them. However, there are too many to stop. The wildlings overrun the barricade set up to protect the gate to the Wall and the steps up the Wall. The Night’s Watch men flee up the stairs and the wildlings follow. When the wildlings are fully committed to the stairs, Jon and the archers send fire arrows into flammables placed under the stairs. Donal Noye lights the stairs above the wildlings on fire, trapping the wildlings between the set of flames. The wildling force is extinguished when a huge slab of ice breaks off of the Wall and crushes them.
Jon, aided by a new brother named Satin, finds Ygritte lying with an arrow in her chest. Jon tells her that Maester Aemon will fix her up and she will see 100 real castles. She touches Jon on the face and tells him that he knows nothing, as she dies.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Ygritte - Wildling girl who Jon developed a romantic relationship with. Styr - Magnar of Thenn. Leader of the wildling group. Donal Noye - One-armed blacksmith of the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
25 Jul 2023
Chapter Fifty-Six - Bran 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Bran and friends make it to the Nightfort. The problem is, they’ve got no way past the Wall. In the night, a huge black monster emerges from a well. It turns out to be Sam, who has the means they need to cross the Wall. Coldhands will be waiting for them on the other side. Simon and Mackelly grab their mittens.
Chapter Review: Bran Stark, the Reeds, and Hodor have finally reached the Wall. They’ve made it to the Nightfort, through instructions from Jojen’s green dream. Unfortunately, the instructions didn’t indicate how to get past the Wall. Meera scales the Wall and finds no route that way. The boys search the ruined castle and have similarly poor luck.
They spend the night in the castle kitchen. One feature of the kitchen is a large well in the center. While all else sleeps, Bran hears labored footsteps coming from the well. He knows it’s a terrible creature of legend, from Old Nan’s tales. However, when Meera nets it, the creature turns out to be Sam Tarly. Gilly and baby are close behind.
Eventually, Sam realizes who Bran is and tells Bran that Jon was his best friend but was lost in the Frostfangs. Bran says he just saw Jon on the southern side of the Wall with a wildling group. Bran then asks Sam to please not tell anyone that he’s alive. Sam agrees and tells them that Coldhands is waiting for them on the other side of the Wall. Sam then leads them down into the well and through the Black Gate, which can only be opened by a brother of the Night’s Watch.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Brandon Stark - Prince (now king?) of Winterfell. Paralyzed when pushed from tower by Jamie Lannister. Hodor - Enormous but simple-minded helper of Bran. Meera Reed - Daughter of Howland Reed. Jojen Reed - Son of Howland Reed. Has green dreams that invariably come true. Summer - Bran’s direwolf. Sam Tarly - Steward in the Night’s Watch. Best friend of Jon Snow. Gilly - New mother and wife of the deceased Craster. Fleeing south with Sam. Nightfort - Huge, ruined former headquarters of the Night’s Watch. Old Nan - Ancient storyteller at Winterfell.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
01 Aug 2023
Chapter Fifty-Seven - Daenerys 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys and her host reach the walls of Meereen. She picks a champion to face the city’s hero in man-to-man combat. She meets an old foe and is saved by an unlikely defender. Finally, she discovers two huge secrets and reels from the shocking truth. Mackelly and Simon thank the Seven it’s not them who deceived her.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen and her host of freed people make camp outside the walls of Meereen. A hero waits for Dany outside the city walls. Dany sends Strong Belwas to face the Meereenese hero. The fight doesn’t last long, ending in Belwas decapitating the other man.
Later, Dany discusses ways to defeat the city, with her council. Nobody has any useful ideas, so she dismisses them. While ruminating on the task in front of her, she considers Daario Naharis. Dany fancies him and wonders what it’d be like to take him as a lover. She puts the thought aside and goes for a ride, with Missandei and Arstan Whitebeard for company. Dany allows her people to touch her, as she rides by. However, one man pulls her from her saddle. It’s Mero, the former commander of the Second Sons. Mero moves to kill her but Arstan instead easily defeats him.
Back inside her tent, Dany wants Jorah to knight Arstan for his efforts. Both men balk at that. It’s then that Jorah realizes who Arstan really is. He introduces Arstan as Ser Barristan Selmy, a traitor to the Targaryans, for serving under Robert the Usurper. Barristan scoffs at the hypocrisy and tells Dany of Jorah’s treason, selling information about her and her brother to Lord Varys, as part of a pardon agreement. Dany is angry and hurt and sends both men away. However, on second thought, she has a great use for the pair of liars!
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ bodyguard and loyal advisor. Arstan Whitebeard- Westerosi squire of Strong Belwas. Sent by Illyrio Mopatis to bring Dany to Pentos. Strong Belwas - Eunuch former slave, sent by Illyrio Mopatis to keep Dany safe. Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows. Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
08 Aug 2023
Chapter Fifty-Eight - Tyrion 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion leaves his marital bed with Sansa for a late-night rendezvous with Shae. He ponders all that vexes him, including his icy cold marriage and his issues with his fellow Small Council members. Finally, he considers his future with Shae and comes to a tough decision. Simon and Mackelly grow tired of buying wedding gifts.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister tip-toes out of his bedchamber that he shares with his wife Sansa Stark. He remembers the day he had to give her the awful news that her brother and mother had been killed at the Twins. He recalls her stoic face that was only betrayed later when he heard sobs through a closed door.
His late-night excursion ends in a dark cellar, where Shae waits for him, amidst dragon skulls. After they finish with their intended business, Tyrion laments the weight on his shoulders dealing with his family and much of the Small Council. In his list of stressors, he includes the sight of his own reflection. Shae defends his war-torn face, and Tyrion thinks of the innocence in her voice. However, he tells himself that there is no true innocence in Shae.
He’s reminded that Varys told him that Shae’s backstory was not meant to hold up against Cersei’s scrutiny. He adds that if Cersei were to ask, Varys would have no choice but to come clean about Shae and her relationship with Tyrion. Tyrion knows the risks of having taken Shae into the service of Sansa. He ultimately decides he must remove her from his life in a permanent way. He’ll marry her to Ser Tallad.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Hostage of the Lannister and wife to Tyrion. Shae - Prostitute, consort of Tyrion Lannister. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Member of the Small Council. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon. Ser Tallad - Tall hedge knight in the court of the Red Keep.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
22 Aug 2023
Chapter Fifty-Nine - Sansa 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa attends the breakfast feast before the royal wedding. King Joffrey isn’t a fan of hers and Tyrion's gift but he does love Tywin’s. He uses the latter to destroy the former, then insists the couple give him a new gift. Tyrion picks up on something in Joff’s behavior that gets his senses tingling. Mackelly and Simon worry about the fate of their gift toaster.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark prepares for a breakfast feast for King Joffrey. She is helped by her handmaids Shae and Brella. Her husband Tyrion Lannister is nowhere to be seen, having woken before her and left their chambers. When Tyrion arrives, he dresses and the pair leave for the queen’s ballroom.
After the food has been eaten, the guests offer gifts to the king. Many fine gifts are proffered, not the least of which is Tyrion and Sansa’s gift. They give Joff a beautiful book illustrated by the author himself. Joff is not impressed. He is much more impressed by his grandfather’s gift of a beautiful Valyrian steel sword. Joff claims prior knowledge of the rare steel and proves it by hacking Tyrion and Sansa’s gift to pieces. The king then insists the pair owe him a new gift. Tyrion suggests a Valyrian steel dagger to go with the sword, and describes the dagger used in the attempt on Bran Stark’s life. The king gives a sharp look, but then agrees the dagger would be a good option.
Later in the litter, Tyrion asks about Bran and Joff’s relationship while in Winterfell together. He mentions Cat falsely accusing Tyrion of something but doesn’t give details. He tells her that she is safe with him. He then asks if Sansa wants the details of her mother and brother’s death. Sansa declines and Tyrion understands.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Forcibly married to Tyrion. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Master of Coin. King Joffrey Baratheon - King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei. Oberyn Martell - Younger brother of the Prince of Dorne. New member of the King’s Small Council. Shae - Prostitute, consort of Tyrion Lannister. Handmaid to Sansa.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
29 Aug 2023
Chapter Sixty - Tyrion 8 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion and Sansa attend the wedding of King Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell. Afterward, they discuss leaving town in the near future. However, things get interesting at the wedding feast culminating in a dead king, Sansa missing, and Tyrion accused of murder. Simon and Mackelly wonder if they can get their gift back.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister and his wife Sansa Stark attend the royal wedding. While watching the ceremony, Tyrion further considers Joffrey as the man behind the attempt on Bran Stark’s life. He had opportunity and means but Tyrion can’t quite figure out what Joff’s motive would’ve been.
On the way back to the Red Keep from the wedding, Tyrion suggests he and Sansa get out of King’s Landing before long. Tyrion feels that his nephew’s behavior toward him is getting increasingly aggressive and worries it’ll end with Tyrion being a head shorter.
At the feast, singers sing of Joff, Cersei, and Renly’s heroics on the Blackwater, with no mention of Tyrion’s efforts to save the city. Next, dwarves mock joust at Joff’s behest and the king commands Tyrion to challenge the victor. When Tyrion refuses, things get ugly. The king dumps a chalice of wine on Tyrion and demands Tyrion be his cupbearer and serve him. Tyrion does as told and the king drinks deeply. He continues to mock Tyrion but a coughing fit worsens to choking. All around, people realize that the king is dying. When Cersei screams, Tyrion knows Joff is dead. What he wasn’t expecting was for Cersei to then have him, and his suddenly missing wife, arrested for murder.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Hostage of the Lannister and wife to Tyrion. King Joffrey Baratheon - King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei. Cersei Lannister - Queen Regent, mother of Joffrey Baratheon.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
05 Sep 2023
Chapter Sixty-One - Sansa 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa flees the scene of the crime with Ser Dontos. After a scary climb she’s rowed to deliverance - which turns out to come with a familiar (although not totally friendly) face. Simon and Mackelly consider her future.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark races to the Godswood where she has hidden a change of clothes. When she takes her hair net off, she realizes a black amethyst is missing and gets a sinking feeling in her stomach that it’s somehow related to King Joffrey’s death. Dontos arrives and denies that the hair net had anything to do with Joff’s death. He choked on pie. Dontos leads her out of the castle to a cliff where a secret ladder has been cut out of the stone that leads to the river below. When the pair make down safely, they find a man waiting to row them out to safety.
When the little boat reaches a ship, a stunned Sansa discovers Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish waiting for her. Dontos, who stayed behind to row himself back to the castle, asks for his reward of 10,000 gold dragons. Instead, he's killed by three crossbow bolts.
Littlefinger explains to a highly-upset Sansa that Dontos did what he did at Littlefinger’s command and did so because he was being handsomely paid. Once he’d drunk this payday, he’d sell Sansa again to Varys or Cersei. When Sansa asks why Littlefinger would want to hurt the Lannisters, who gave him so much, he responds that he had no motive. He likes to keep his foes confused. He says he loved Sansa’s mother Catelyn and thinks in a different world Sansa might’ve been his daughter. He tells Sansa to forget about the Lannisters, Tyrion, and King’s Landing. She’s safe with him and sailing home.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Forcibly married to Tyrion. Ser Dontos Hollard - Drunken jester of King Joffrey, but friend to Sansa. Lord Petyr Baelish - Former member of the Small Council, now lord of Harrenhal. Understood to be in the Vale seeking an alliance with Lysa Arryn. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Master of Coin. Now accused of murdering King Joffrey. King Joffrey Baratheon - King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei. Killed at his wedding fea
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
12 Sep 2023
Chapter Sixty-Two - Jaime 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime and Brienne arrive in King’s Landing. They’ve learned that bad news awaits them. Brienne is immediately imprisoned, while Jaime gets into it with his father and his sister. Simon and Mackelly hope for a bit more love and a lot less, respectively.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister arrives in King’s Landing with Brienne, Qyburn, and Roose Bolton’s men. It’s not changed that much, still stinks. They've learned en-route of the deaths at the weddings (the red and the purple). Jaime is struggling to find the correct emotion. He cares more about how Cersei is feeling and feeling sorry for himself about his hand.
Upon arrival, they meet Ser Loras Tyrell, who denounces Brienne as a kingslayer - of Renly that is. Jaime arranges for Brienne to be imprisoned (temporarily, for her own good). Jaime visits the sept, where Joffrey lies in state. He finds his twin mourning over their dead child. She affirms that it was Tyrion who killed Joffrey. They have sex there and then. Jaime wants to be open about their relationship, but Cersei roughly disabuses him of that idea.
Jaime visits his father, who reports that Vargo Hoat is getting his comeuppance from Gregor Clegane, who has retaken Harrenhal. Jaime is to leave the Kingsguard, marry Margaery Tyrell (Cersei will marry Oberyn Martell) and take King Tommen to Casterly Rock to be raised away from his mother. Jaime flat out refuses. Tywin disowns him.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Lord Commander of the Royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. On a mission to rescue the Stark girls for Catelyn Stark. Vargo Hoat - Leader of the Brave Companions. Steelshanks Walton - Soldier in Bolton’s forces, tasked with bringing Jaime safely to King’s Landing. Ser Loras Tyrell - Knight of Flowers. Brother to Margaery. Reputed former lover of King Renly Baratheon. Now member of the Kingsguard. Gregor Clegane - The Mountain. Tywin’s most feared soldier. Cersei Lannister - Twin to Jaime. Mother to Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. Tywin Lannister - Father of Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion. Lord of Casterly Rock. Hand of the King.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
19 Sep 2023
Chapter Sixty-Three - Davos 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Davos, with the aid of several co-conspirators, returns to his smuggling ways. When he comes clean to King Stannis and Melisandre they are really angry. Stannis prepares to take more than just a few fingers from Davos. However, Davos has what he hopes is an ace up his sleeve. Mackelly and Simon sure hope Davos knows what he’s doing.
Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth, and several trustworthy king’s men, enter Maester Pylos’ chambers. They ask for Edric Storm, and the maester tells Edric to listen to the King’s Hand. The men take Edric to a boat. The boy tries to be brave but it becomes clear he’s nervous and uncertain. Davos persuades him to get on the boat and Edric’s cousin Andrew Estermont and several other men accompany Edric.
Davos makes his way to the Painted Table to wait for Stannis and confess his treachery. When Stannis and Melisandre arrive they are arguing about whether Joffrey Baratheon is indeed dead. Melisandre saw it in her flames, but Stannis doesn’t trust the accuracy of the flames. Davos confirms Melisandre’s story. He’s been told that Joffrey died during his wedding feast. With that, Melisandre feels the case has been proven for her work with Edric’s blood and asks for the rest of the boy to wake the stone dragons and win Stannis his throne.
Davos explains why that’s not possible. Stannis is extremely disappointed with his Hand. Davos explains that, as Hand, it is his job to help the king protect his people. Edric is one of the king’s people. When Stannis draws Lightbringer, Davos explains that he’s learned to read and begins to read a letter. He hopes it’ll be enough to save his life.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Davos Seaworth - The Onion Knight. Former Smuggler, Hand of the King to Stannis Baratheon. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Andrew Estermont - Cousin to Stannis and Edric. Melisandre - Red priestess of R'hllor. Confidante of King Stannis. Selyse Baratheon - Stannis’ queen and fervent follower of R’Hllor. Axel Florent - Brother to Queen Selyse. Edric Storm - Bastard son of Robert Baratheon.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
26 Sep 2023
Chapter Sixty-Four - Jon 8 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
No rest for the wicked. Jon and his black brothers mount the Wall to defend it from the thousands of wildlings of Mance’s army. It’s a long night. Simon and Mackelly flex their tired bow-fingers.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow’s dream of walking in the Winterfell crypts is disrupted by two horn blasts. Wildlings are approaching. Jon limps his way to the cage winch and up to the top of the Wall. It’s night so only sounds can be heard from the northern side. Donal Noye has the men fire casks of burning oil into the darkness. With the fire from the casks, the Black Brothers see mammoths and giants charging the Wall. Noye takes a few men with him to protect the gate and leaves Jon in command on top of the Wall.
Jon and his brothers unleash arrows, rocks, and flaming casks on the huge wilding host below. When the wildlings finally retreat, Jon takes the cage winch back down to check on Noye and the gate. He discovers that Noye and the other brothers who accompanied him are dead, along with the giant Mag The Mighty. Mag destroyed the outer gate and killed the men. However, Noye killed the giant before he died.
Jon tells Maester Aemon about several steps that the new interim commander of the Night’s Watch needs to implement immediately. Aemon tells Jon there’s nobody left to fill the role but Jon. He was chosen and groomed for this. Until Bowen Marsh returns, the Wall is Jon’s.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Ygritte - Wildling girl who Jon developed a romantic relationship with. Mance Rayder - King Beyond The Wall. Leader who has united the wildlings groups. Donal Noye - One-armed blacksmith of the Night’s Watch. Grenn - Large brother of the Night’s Watch. Friends with Jon. Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
03 Oct 2023
Chapter Sixty-Five - Arya 12 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya continues to plot the Hound’s death but never goes through with it. She has a wolf dream that convinces her that her mother is dead. The Hound changes the target of his plan to ransom Arya. Then changes the target again. Arya has a third family member in mind to deliver her to. Simon and Mackelly hope Arya is getting rewards points for the miles she’s logging.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AKA the Hound) continue to ride together, despite what transpired at the Twins. Arya’s head hurts from the axe blow the Hound gave her to prevent her from entering the castle to find her mother. However, that’s nothing compared to the hurt she feels in her heart, after being so close to her mother and then having the reunion ripped away. Arya isn’t convinced that her mother is dead and wants to go back. The Hound is having none of it. When Arya has a wolf dream where she finds her mother and drags her body out of the river, she is convinced that her mother is indeed dead.
The Hound finally tells Arya where they’re headed. He plans to ransom her to her aunt Lysa Arryn. The pair stop in a village in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, where the Hound is hired to help build a palisade around the village. The Hound’s ransom dreams are once again shattered when he learns that getting through the mountains is an impossibility due to attacks from the mountain clans. He’s also told that he and Arya must leave now that the palisade walls are constructed. The Hound decides it’s back to the Riverlands for them. He’s going to ransom Arya to her uncle Blackfish instead.
Characters/Places/Names/Events Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Caelyn Stark - murdered mother of Arya. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Mountains of the Moon - Mountains that surround the Vale. The Twins - The seat of House Frey.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
10 Oct 2023
Chapter Sixty-Six - Tyrion 9 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion stands trial for the murder of the king. The prosecution has no end of witnesses, while Tyrion has none. But at the 11th hour a glimmer of hope appears. Mackelly and Simon weigh the scales of justice.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister languishes for days in a Red Keep tower cell. He’s well-treated and fed as befits his station, but the crime of which he’s accused holds only one possible punishment. He’s getting advice and daily visits from his uncle Kevan, but neither of them is very optimistic of his chances. Cersei is amassing a deluge of witnesses to testify against him.
Tyrion pins his hopes on trial by combat, but knowing that the opponent will be Gregor Clegane, Bronn demurs. The trial, before a three-judge panel of Tywin, Mace Tyrell, and Oberyn Martell, goes very badly for Tyrion. The witnesses either exaggerate, downright lie, or in the case of Varys: accurately report Tyrion’s various threats and comments on the dead king. Kevan advises confession and the Night’s Watch, but Tyrion doesn’t trust his father’s mercy.
On the final night of the trial, Tyrion is visited in his cell by Oberyn. He’s not necessarily there to reassure Tyrion, but knowing that he’s doomed he’s hoping to get the truth about his sister’s death. Tyrion confirms some suspicions: while it was the now dead Lorch who dispatched Princess Rhaenys, it was The Mountain who raped and murdered Elia and killed baby Aegon. But Tyrion denies that Tywin ordered the deaths. Oberyn throws Tyrion a lifeline. He’ll be his champion in trial by combat against Clegane.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Tywin Lannister - Tyrion’s father, Hand of the King. Kevan Lannister - Tyrion’s uncle. Brother and trusted advisor to Tywin Lannister. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Former hostage of the Lannisters. Wife to Tyrion. Cersei Lannister - Mother of the late Joffrey Baratheon, sister to Tyrion. Mace Tyrell - Lord of Highgarden. Oberyn Martell - Brother to Doran Martell the Prince of Dorne. In King’s Landing to seek justice for his murdered sister Elia and her children. Lord Varys - Master of Whisperers in King’s Landing. Has served multiple monar
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
17 Oct 2023
Chapter Sixty-Seven - Jamie 8 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime reminisces about the bygone glory days of the Kingsguard. He turns his attention to righting the wrongs of the current White Swords. He goes man-by-man through his sworn brothers, calling them out on the issues he has with them. Lastly, he has a heart-to-heart with Loras about his claim that Brienne killed Renly. Jenny and Mackelly applaud Jaime’s closing arguments.
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister reads through the White Book, the written history of the Kingsguard, while waiting for his sworn brothers to join. When his brothers arrive, Jaime admonishes them for allowing the king to die under their watch. He then gauges their opinions on Tyrion’s involvement in the death.
He goes through each man and calls them out on issues. Ser Boros Blount will now be King Tommen’s taste tester, as he’s unfit to protect the boy he gave up so easily. He then questions why he’s never heard of Ser Osmund Kettleblack before. After that, he asks Ser Meryn Trant to show him where in their vows it says to beat women and children, like he did to Sansa Stark. He praises Balon Swann's character but questions how he’d handle his family challenging Tommen’s rule. Finally, he turns his attention to Ser Loras Tyrell, who reminds Jaime of himself at that age. Jaime makes a case for Brienne’s possible innocence in the murder of Renly Baratheon. His argument is enough to seed doubt in Loras’ mind. Jaime tasks Loras with talking with Brienne and deciding her innocence or guilt. Whatever Loras determines is the case, Jaime will abide by it.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Ser Boros Blount - Member of the Kingsguard. Gave up Tommen to Tyrion’s men without a fight. Ser Meryn Trant - Member of the KIngsguard. Beat Sansa Stark on the command of King Joffrey. Ser Osmund Kettleblack - Member of the Kingsguard. Former sellsword, with a mysterious past. Ser Balon Swann - Member of the Kingsguard. Seemingly honorable and valiant. Ser Loras Tyrell - Member of the Kingsguard. Young, dashing, talented knight from the Reach. The third son of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. On a mission to rescue the Stark gi
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
24 Oct 2023
Chapter Sixty-Eight - Sansa 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa discovers that Littlefinger’s “you’re sailing home” comment is not exactly what she was expecting. She finds herself in a run-down tower on a rocky coast. She gets a new name, attends a wedding, narrowly avoids sexual assault, and has a reunion with a family member. Mackelly and Simon hold their breath, hoping for no deaths at this wedding.
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark and Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish arrive at Petyr’s ancestral home in the Fingers. It’s a dismal place but the staff is friendly and happy to see their lord. Petyr informs Sansa that she must take a new name, as it’s not safe to be a Stark at the moment. He names her Alayne, after his mother. She will play his natural-born daughter. He also tells her that he will wed Sansa’s aunt Lysa Arryn, who is on her way to meet them at the tower. Finally, Petyr divulges to Sansa that he was working with Olenna Tyrell to murder King Joffrey. It was Olenna who put the poison in the chalice.
When Lysa arrives, Sansa is introduced as Alayne to her aunt. The couple is wed at once. After the festivities, the singer Marillion, who arrived with Lysa, attempts to have his way sexually with Sansa. His effort is thwarted by Ser Lothor Brune. The next morning Sansa is brought to her aunt, who now knows her true identity. Lysa says she’d never turn away Cat’s daughter. They commiserate over forced marriages, then Lysa says that Sansa will marry her young cousin Robert.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Forcibly married to Tyrion. Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish - Former member of the Small Council, now lord of Harrenhal. In the Vale seeking an alliance with Lysa Arryn, with whom he grew up and possibly had a relationship with. Lysa Arryn - Lady of the Eyrie. Widow of Jon Arryn and Catelyn’s sister. Ser Dontos Hollard - Drunken jester of King Joffrey, but friend to Sansa. Fingers - Group of five peninsulas in the Vale. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Master of Coin. Now accused of murdering King Joffrey. King Joffrey Baratheon - King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei. Killed at his wedding feast.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
31 Oct 2023
Chapter Sixty-Nine - Jon 9 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Still no rest for the wicked. Jon and his Black Brothers continue to repel the wildlings. But reinforcements on this side of the Wall spell bad news for Jon. Simon and Mackelly share their fears.
Chapter Review: Morale is running low for Jon Snow and his Night’s Watch brothers, as they defend the gate against the wildlings. The handful of brothers eat, sleep, and fight on top of the Wall, while Mance Rayder can throw limitless fresh troops against them. Mance's latest twist is a huge rolling shelter that can shield many wildlings from attacks from above. The Black Brothers named the contraption “the turtle.” Jon has his men drop barrels of ice and rocks on the turtle and send the wildlings scurrying back to the safety of the forest.
Jon then returns to his little chamber in the King’s Tower for some much needed sleep. When he wakes, four unfamiliar men stand over him. They lead him to Ser Alliser Thorne and Janos Slynt. Slynt says he’s taken control of Castle Black and says Jon has been accused of treason, listing all of the things Jon did while with the wildlings. Jon defends himself and says he was doing as Qhorin Halfhand commanded, but it falls on deaf ears. Slynt decides that Jon will hang for his transgressions.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Pyp - Friend of Jon’s in the Night’s Watch. Grenn - Large brother of the Night’s Watch. Friends with Jon. Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Senior member of the Night’s Watch recently returned from King’s Landing. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
07 Nov 2023
Chapter Seventy - Tyrion 10 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion’s is betrayed by Shae and demands a trial by combat. Oberyn Martell steps up and defeats the Mountain, but then lets his guard down and the Mountain crushes his head, and Tyrion’s hopes. Simon and Mackelly rue the day.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister weighs the offer of Oberyn Martell, but for now allows the trial to continue. Podrik Payne cannot vouch for Tyrion’s innocence, which suggests that few will. The last witness is a surprise: Shae. Of course Cersei would have interviewed, and coerced, Sansa’s handmaids. But Shae is not only going to lie for Cersei, she’s also going to tell the truth. Tyrion and Sansa plotted the murder and Tyrion used her sexually and forced her to refer to him as “her giant of Lannister.” The crowd’s laughter is too much for Tyrion and he demands the trial by combat.
Cersei is thrilled to announce that the Mountain Gregor Clegane will fight for her, but the whole room is stunned when Oberyn Martell offers to champion Tyrion’s cause. Tywin is furious. Tyrion realizes that this situation has no good outcomes for Tywin. If Oberyn wins, the Tyrells will be annoyed, and Tyrion freed. If the Mountain wins, Tyrion will be dead and the Martells might crown Myrcella, Plunging Westeros into another civil war.
Oberyn outwits and defeats the Mountain, with his poisoned spear. But then stands on the vanquished Clegane’s chest to extract a deathbed confession. He gets one, Gregor did rape and murder Elia, and murder her children, but it’s Oberyn’s deathbed. The Mountain trips him and crushes his skull. Tyrion’s hopes die with the Red Viper.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Tywin Lannister - Tyrion’s father, Hand of the King. Kevan Lannister - Tyrion’s uncle, as well as brother and trusted advisor to Tywin Lannister. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark, wife to Tyrion. Cersei Lannister - Mother of the late Joffrey Baratheon, sister to Tyrion. Oberyn Martell - Brother to Doran Martell the Prince of Dorne. In King’s Landing to seek justice for his murdered sister Elia and her children. Shae - Prostitute and lover of Tyrion. Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane - Feared fighter and Lannister loyali
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
14 Nov 2023
Chapter Seventy-One - Daenerys 6 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Daenerys has taken Meereen, but Astapor and Yunkai are backsliding. She forgives Barristan Selmy for his failures to protect her family, but banishes Jorah Mormont from her sight. She’ll stay in Meereen and rule. Mackelly and Simon settle in to watch some dragons grow.
Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen surveys Meereen from the great pyramid. She’s bothered by flies who’ve gathered to feast on the many dead, including the 163 she crucified as payment for what they did to the slave children.
She meets an envoy from Astapor. The council she appointed have all lost their heads, literally, and a former (and apparently current) butcher Cleon, has made himself King. He offers his hand in marriage. Dany is distinctly disinterested. The second petitioner is a Qartheen trader. He has goods he wants to trade for slaves. He’s surely barking up the wrong tree. Only Daario Naharis confirms that many freed slaves are down at the docks offering to reenter slavery. Dany begrudgingly allows it and imposes a tax on the trade to swell her own coffers.
Next she sees Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jorah Mormont. The former gives it to her straight. Her father was mad, Viserys had the hallmarks too. Robert Baratheon was a great knight, and could have been a good king. She appreciates the candor and reinstates him to her service. Mormont tries a similar tack. He spied for Varys for a pardon, as recently as Qarth. But this is too much for Dany. She banishes Jorah forever.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled former Lord of Bear Island. Daenerys’ bodyguard and loyal advisor. Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess. Barristan Selmy, aka Arstan Whitebeard- Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Sent by Illyrio Mopatis to bring Dany to Pentos. Strong Belwas - Eunuch former slave, sent by Illyrio Mopatis to keep Dany safe. Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows. Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
21 Nov 2023
Chapter Seventy-Two - Jaime 9 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jaime has a curious goodbye with Arya Stark. He refuses to leave the Kingsguard, despite a strong push from his family. He resists an advance from his sister, which results in a heated argument between the two. Finally, he gives Brienne a jaw-dropping gift and then tasks her with a surprising mission in return. Simon and Mackelly squint hard at “Arya Stark.”
Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister grows bored of watching the king sign documents that offer rewards or punishment to houses, for their roles in the war. He returns to the White Sword Tower. On his way, he runs into a girl claiming to be Arya Stark. Jaime is skeptical.
Cersei waits for him in his chambers. She begs him to talk to their father about Tywin’s plan to send her back to Casterly Rock, effectively separating her from her son Tommen. Jaime doesn’t think it’ll do any good, but Cersei believes it will, if he agrees to leave the Kingsguard. Jaime refuses. Cersei makes a sexual advance that Jaime rebuffs. She throws insults as she storms out.
Jaime calls for Ser Loras Tyrell and Brienne of Tarth. Loras admits Brienne might be telling the truth about Renly Baratheon's death. After dismissing Loras, Jaime gives Brienne the Valyrian steel sword his father gave him. In return, he asks she use it to find Sansa Stark and keep her safe.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jaime Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Ser Loras Tyrell - Member of the Kingsguard. Young, dashing, talented knight from the Reach. The third son of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. Brienne of Tarth - Warrior woman. Once "Brienne the Blue" in King Renly's Rainbow Guard. On a mission to rescue the Stark girls for Catelyn Stark. Cersei Lannister - twin to Jaime, mother to Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. Tywin Lannister - father of Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion. Lord of Casterly Rock. Hand of the King. Tyrion Lannister - youngest sibling of Jaime and Cersei. Imprisoned awaiting trial for murdering his nephew King Jofrrey. Tommen Lannister - King of the Andals, Roynar, and the First men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the Realm.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
28 Nov 2023
Chapter Seventy-Three - Jon 10 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon gets a reprieve from the ice cell and noose that Thorne and Slynt had promised. Hooray! It's so he can go on a suicide mission to assassinate Mance Rayder. Boo! But at the last second redemption comes from an unlikely source. Simon and Mackelly consider the new power structures at the Wall.
Chapter Review: Jon is lowered down the north face of the Wall in a cage. It beats the tiny ice cell in which he’d been held for the last 4 days. Thorne and Slynt’s plan to hang him had been foiled by Maester Aemon. But they’ve found a sure-fire alternative. He’s to go parlay with Mance Rayder, murder the King Beyond the Wall in the middle of his army, and then make it back alone to Castle Black - this will prove his loyalty.
Tormund guides him through angry faces - none are pleased to see the turncoat back in black. Mance’s woman Dalla is about to give birth. Mance himself is relatively sanguine about Jon’s return. He never trusted Jon enough to tell him that they had found the fabled Horn of Winter in the Frostfangs. Mance says that the Night’s Watch will let the wildlings pass through the Wall or the horn will be blown in three days, and they’ll pass through the rubble instead.
Jon concedes that the Night’s Watch might consider this, if Mance and his people bend the knee. But Mance won’t promise that. Seeing an impasse, Jon looks for ways to carry out the assassination. But before anything happens, an army attack the wildlings. It’s Stannis coming west from Eastwatch, and he routes Mance’s forces with ease. During the chaos, Dalla goes into labor.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Senior member of the Night’s Watch. Recently returned from King’s Landing. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Former commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing. Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall. Former brother of the Night’s Watch Dalla - Mance’s pregnant partner. Thormund Giantsbane - Wildling leader. Stannis Baratheon - Brother of dead King Robert Baratheon, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s children are not Robert’s.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
05 Dec 2023
Chapter Seventy-Four - Arya 13 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Arya and the Hound return to the Inn at the Crossroads, where they meet some of the Mountain’s men. Trouble ensues, leaving three dead and the Hound mortally wounded. Arya refuses him mercy and leaves him to die. Finally, she uses her mysterious iron coin to earn her passage out of Westeros. Simon and Mackelly wish Arya a bon voyage.
Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AKA the Hound) find themselves back at the Inn at the Crossroads. As soon as they enter, Arya knows there’s trouble. She recognizes two of Gregor Clegane’s men: Polliver and the Tickler. They’re accompanied by a young squire. The men recognize the Hound.
The soldiers fill them in on news of the realm: King Joffrey is dead, Sansa Stark killed him, and Sansa’s sister has been found. The Hound finds that last bit funny but doesn’t share why. When the Tickler wants Sandor to come with them to Harrenhal, chaos breaks out. Sandor has his hands full fighting Polliver and the Tickler. Arya is distracted by the fighting and is surprised by the squire. She turns and stabs him with a dagger. The Hound kills Polliver and Arya stabs the Tickler repeatedly. Sandor makes Arya finish the squire off. She pulls Needle from Polliver’s belt and slides it into the boy’s heart.
The next day the Hound is unable to continue riding to Saltpans due to his injuries. He wants mercy from Arya, and spews horrible things at her to get her to do it. She leaves him to die on the side of the road and continues to Saltpans. At the port town, she sells Craven and tries to buy passage on a ship for Eastwatch. The ship is going to Braavos, and she doesn’t have the funds to catch a ride. She pulls out the iron coin Jaqen H’ghar gave her and utters "Valar Morghulis." The shocked captain offers her passage and her own cabin.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - Former personal bodyguard to King Joffrey Baratheon, younger brother of the Mountain (Gregor Clegane), deserter from the Lannister forces. Polliver - Soldier in Gregor Clegane’s company. Tickler - Torturer in Gregor Clegane’s company. Needle - Small, thin sword given to Arya by Jon before they left Winterfell. Inn at The Crossroads - Inn at the intersection of three major roads in th
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
12 Dec 2023
Chapter Seventy-Five - Samwell 4 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sam and Gilly have made to Castle Black. Gilly has taken on a second baby to feed. Sam has a crafty idea to ensure Gilly and son are cared for. Janos Slynt is making waves in the vote for Lord Commander. Mackelly and Simon consider voter fraud to keep Slynt out of the top spot.
Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly, Gilly, and Gilly’s baby have finally made it to Castle Black. Gilly has begun feeding Mance and Dalla’s newborn son. Dalla’s sister Val has heard that Melasandre plans to burn Mance and asks that he be allowed to see his son first. Jon Snow says he’ll ask.
Later, Jon asks Sam about his feelings for Gilly. Sam says he knows there’s no future for them but tells Jon of a plan to send Gilly and the baby to Sam’s mother at Horn Hill. Sam will lie and say that the boy is his. Jon thinks it could work, but it depends on the type of man the boy grows up to be. It is killing Sam to keep a secret from Jon. Sam knows that Bran is alive but swore multiple times not to reveal it, and he holds true to his word.
That night the men vote on a new Lord Commander. Nobody is close to the two-thirds vote necessary to win. Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke are the front-runners but Janos Slynt continues to climb in the voting. Sam knows that if Mallister and Pyke could agree on only one of the men running, they’d be very close to having the numbers. However, Sam is too craven to raise the idea to his superiors.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of Others. Gilly - Wildling daughter/wife of Craster. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Denys Mallister - Commander of the Shadow Tower. Cotter Pyke - Commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal. Mance Rayder - The King Beyond the Wall, a former brother of the Night’s Watch. Val - Sister to Mance’s woman Dalla.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
19 Dec 2023
Chapter Seventy-Six - Jon 11 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon is summoned by King Stannis. The king offers Jon his dream come true; the title of Lord Stark of Winterfell. Stannis also plans to let the wildlings through the Wall, if they bend the knee. Jon agrees with the wildling plan but needs time to think about being legitimized and made lord of Winterfell. Simon and Mackelly consider shopping for castle-warming gifts.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow spars in the yard of Castle Black with Satin. Melisandre interrupts; King Stannis wants a word with Jon. Stannis tells Jon he’s heard much about him. Jon confirms some facts and dispels some rumors. The bottom line is that he never turned his cloak. The king believes him. Stannis knows Janos Slynt and knew Ned Stark. Stannis reveals that he plans to let the wildlings through the Wall, as long as they bend the knee and take R’hllor as their true god. The king explains that he’s here to fight the true enemy: the Great Other. They will need the wildling’s help in that fight.
Stannis then tells Jon the primary reason he sent for him. The king doesn’t need another sword in the Night’s Watch. He needs the North. There’s no better way to rally the North than through a son of Eddard Stark. He plans to legitimize Jon, making him Jon Stark the Lord of Winterfell. It was a dream of Jon’s when he was young, but he never wanted harm to come to his siblings. However, he’s likely the last of them alive. But there’s another issue: he’s taken The Black. Melisandre says his vow is meaningless, since it wasn’t said to R’hellor. The final detail of the plan is that Stannis wants to marry Jon to the wildling Val. Jon asks for time to consider the offer.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Stannis Baratheon - Brother of dead King Robert, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s children are not Robert’s. Melisandre - Red Woman of Ashaii. Priestess of R’Hellor, the Lord of Light. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal. Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall, a former brother of the Night’s Watch. Val - Sister to Mance's woman Dalla.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
Please enjoy some outtakes, miscues, and general mayhem that we suffered through and saved just for your listening pleasure. Thank you all for being part of this journey.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
09 Jan 2024
Chapter Seventy-Seven - Tyrion 11 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Tyrion is rescued from his cell by Jaime, but learns the awful truth of Jaime’s previous betrayal. Tyrion, in turn, tells Jaime he killed Joffrey. The two part ways acrimoniously. On his way to freedom, Tyrion stops to visit his father. He finds a familiar face waiting in Tywin’s bed and Tywin in the privy. Tyrion deals with them both in similar fashion. Simon and Mackelly wallow in the sadness and betrayal.
Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister prepares to attack, as the door to his cell opens. It turns out to be his brother Jaime. Jaime is here to rescue him. When Tyrion thanks him, Jaime says he’s repaying a debt. Tyrion insists on knowing the secret of this debt. Jaime tells him he lied to Tyrion about Tysha, on their father’s command. Tyrion’s wife truly was a crofter’s daughter, met on the road. The news sends Tyrion into a fury. He tells Jaime that Cersei has been unfaithful to Jaime and that, yes, he killed Joffrey. With that the two part ways.
Tyrion meets Varys, to escape through the dungeons and to the sea, bound for Essos. Along the way, Tyrion realizes he’s below the Tower of the Hand. He insists Varys tell him how to find his father’s bed chamber. When Tyrion arrives, he finds Shae in Tywin’s bed. She says she was forced to say horrible things about him at trial. She calls him her Giant of Lannister. At that, Tyrion strangles her with the Hand of the King chain she wears.
He finds a crossbow and tracks his father to the privy. Tywin says he doesn’t know what happens to the “whore” Tysha after Tyrion’s “sharp lesson.” Tyrion says if he uses the term again, he will kill his father. True to his word, when Tywin says it again, Tyrion shoots him dead.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Tywin Lannister - Tyrion’s father, Hand of the King. Shae - Prostitute and lover of Tyrion. Tysha - Tyrion’s first wife. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark, wife to Tyrion. Lord Varys - Master of Whisperers in King’s Landing, has served multiple monarchs as chief spy.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
16 Jan 2024
Chapter Seventy-Eight - Samwell 5 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sam and the men vying for Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch attend an audience with King Stannis. Stannis wants a Lord Commander chosen tonight. Sam hatches a plan to consolidate the votes between the leading contenders. Both men agree a new candidate might suffice. Sam knows just the guy. Simon and Mackelly pick up what he’s putting down.
Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly assists Maester Aemon to a summons by King Stannis Baratheon. They are accompanied by the current vote-getters for Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. King Stannis has had enough of waiting for the brothers to agree on a leader. He wants this wrapped up today. When Janos Slynt suggests King Stannis offer guidance to the brothers, Stannis says anybody but Janos should suffice.
King Stannis has other needs from the Night’s Watch, and the Lord Commander should have a say in the matter. He wants the Gift and the abandoned castles. The brothers don’t take this news well. Stannis says he needs to rebuild the castles to garrison a force to stop the Others’ attack.
Before leaving, Maester Aemon asks to “see” Lightbringer. Sam describes the beautifully glowing sword to the blind maester. Afterward, Aemon finds it odd the sword gave off no heat. Later, Sam hatches a plan to stop Slynt from being voted Lord Commander. He asks Cotter Pyke to back Ser Deny Mallister. Pyke has no interest. Sam asks Ser Denys to back Pyke. Again, no interest. Sam suggests a different candidate. To Ser Denys he touts the mystery brother as well-educated, from old blood, castle trained, and highly trusted. To Pyke he describes the man as a good fighter but a bastard. Both men agree this unnamed candidate has potential.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of an Other. Stannis Baratheon - Lord of Dragonstone, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. Denys Mallister - Commander of the Shadow Tower. Cotter Pyke - Commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal. Maester Aemon - 100 year-old maester of the Night’s Watch. The Gift - The lands south of the Wall that are owned by the Night’s Watch.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
23 Jan 2024
Chapter Seventy-Nine - Jon 12 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Jon decides that he will accept Stannis’ offer and become Lord of Winterfell. But at that moment Ghost returns, reminding him of his belief in the old gods and his outsider status to the Starks. He joins his brothers for the vote for the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and is surprised as anyone when he wins. Mackelly and Simon start drawing up a transition team.
Chapter Review: Jon Snow spars in the yard of Castle Black with Iron Emmett. A ringing blow to the head brings back memories of Winterfell, sparring with Robb, and Catelyn’s enmity. When he is back in the present he discovers he’s viciously assaulted Emmett and is being restrained by several brothers.
Jon takes a bath to ease his muscles. While there he overhears Alliser Thorne, Bowen Marsh and a reluctant Orwell Yarwyck plotting to install Janos Slynt as Lord Commander. Jon heads north of Wall to consider Stannis’ offer of legitimacy, Winterfell, and Val’s hand in marriage. He admits to himself that it is all he ever wanted and that he’ll give up his vows and his gods for it. At that moment Ghost returns, his red eyes and white fur redolent of a weirwood. They reunite and Jon takes it as a sign that his decision was wrong.
He joins his brothers in the latest round of voting for the Lord Commandership. Stannis has promised to keep them sequestered until they have made a choice. Edd has put forward Jon’s name. Thorne invites Yarwyck to speak but is surprised when the First Builder advises every man to vote with his conscience. Jon’s case is bolstered by Mormont’s raven who lands on Jon’s shoulder announcing “Snow” over and over again. Jon wins in a landslide.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Robb Stark - Jon’s dead half brother. Catelyn Stark - Robb’s mother. Never a fan of Jon. Maester Aemon - Elderly, blind maester of the Night’s Watch. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Senior member of the Night’s Watch recently returned from King’s Landing. Janos Slynt - New recruit to the Night’s Watch. Formerly commander of the Gold Cloaks in King’s Landing and briefly Lord of Harrenhal. Stannis Baratheon - brother of dead King Robert Baratheon, claims the Iron Throne because Cersei’s childre
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
30 Jan 2024
Chapter Eighty - Sansa 7 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)
Sansa builds a snow-castle, and squabbles with Robert Arryn. Petyr Baelish kisses her against her will. Lysa confronts Sansa about trying to steal Littlefinger from her and threatens to push her out of the Moon Door. Baelish intervenes and pushes Lysa out instead. Simon and Mackelly try to pick up the pieces (not of Lysa, that would be nasty).
Chapter Review: Sansa Stark wakes early to snow falling. It makes her wistful for Winterfell. She dresses and builds a snow castle, which quickly turns into Winterfell. She’s joined by Petyr Baelish who says she is even more beautiful than her mother was at her age. He kisses her, she yields briefly before pushing him away. Cousin Robert arrives and uses his doll as a giant to smash the walls. Sansa tries to stop him, and his beloved doll is destroyed.
Later she’s summoned to her aunt by the singer Marillion. He’s a favorite of Lysa Arryn, to whom he’s unfailingly pleasant. He uses this as a license to abuse the servants and force himself on the unwilling. They proceed to the great hall. Lysa saw Sansa kiss Baelish, but blames the child. Sansa protests. Lysa compares Sansa to Catelyn - both want to steal away Lysa’s love Petyr. She describes how he deflowered her and the termination of the subsequent pregnancy.
She threatens to push Sansa out of the Moon Door, but is prevented by the timely arrival of Lord Baelish. He talks Lysa down. She reveals that it was she who murdered her husband Jon, with the help of Petyr. He reassures Lysa that he only ever loved one woman. She softens, but then he adds “Only Cat” and pushes her out of the door. He calls for guards to arrest Marillion.
Characters/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish - Former member of the Small Council, now lord of Harrenhal and Protector of the Vale. Lysa Arryn - Lady of the Eyrie. Widow of Jon Arryn, wife of Petyr, and sister to Catelyn. Robert Arryn - AKA Sweetrobin. Son of Jon and Lysa Arryn. Lord of the Vale. Eight going on three. Marillion - Singer and favorite of Lysa Arryn. The Eyrie - Seat of House Arryn in the Vale. The Moon Door - Door to the outside in the Eyrie. Used for execution of prisoners.
All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M
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