All Aboard the Loony Express!

I'd argue that the Dance still happens. ~95% of the attendees voted for Viserys at the Great Council. Naming Laenor means royally pissing off the nobles who supported Viserys's claim. I doubt Laenor lives to even get married in that scenario.

Thanks for the question, Cle-Guy.

I'd argue that the Dance still happens. ~95% of the attendees voted for Viserys at the Great Council. Naming Laenor means royally pissing off the nobles who supported Viserys's claim. I doubt Laenor lives to even get married in that scenario.

Thanks for the question, Cle-Guy.

I am risking nothing

I AM SORRY FOLLOWERS, I LOVE MY MOMMY

Will not risk.

Yes, Viserys was an idiot to remarry. No, it didn’t matter if he had married Laena—Corlys’ greed made Otto look like a saint. Unlike the book, Rhaenyra was old enough to be married off and have children of her own; remarrying with enough children to populate a new house was Viserys’ own greed and pride. Blame Viserys for Rhaenyra’s inevitable downfall

Yes, naming Aegon heir would’ve solved a lot of issues. Namely, the fact that literally no one would have contested that claim. Not even Rhaenyra, who spent her entire life up Aemma’s death as conveniently not-the-heir.

No, naming Rhaenyra queen and abdicating while he was alive would not have stopped the Dance, merely pushed it down a generation. Y’all seem to keep forgetting that Jace and Co are very obvious bastards; if not Aegon v Rhaenyra, it would be Aegon v Jace or Jace v Aegon the Younger v Jaehaerys

No, Jace’s reign was not secured or safe. Again —> very obviously a bastard, surrounded by what’s going to be dozens of white-haired sons and daughters. Ntm, I doubt the many lords would let him rest easy for it. A very harmful precedent there

No, Jace and Helaena would not have been enough. The claim to contest are Aegon and his brothers’, which still exist even if Helaena married Jace. Aegon and Baela would’ve been the better option, but that would only work if Baela were to inherit Driftmark—and we all know Rhaenyra would never allow it.

No, it really doesn’t matter that Aegon was a mediocre-to-bad king. Viserys was a shit king, Rhaenyra was a shit queen, Daemon would’ve been terrible—they all sucked. The Council matters way more than the king does, and the Black Council as it stands are all fucking morons. Jace has the most sense there and he’s 16; that’s how bad it is

Rhaenyra’s not exactly the pinnacle of genius. Girlie’s also stupid as fuck, because for someone who does want to rule and knows that her rule is constantly contested on, she decides to run away and do nothing for close to seven years. Might as well hangup the claim and the crown, for all the effort she placed into securing it. Which was basically none. Maybe start by not having such obvious bastards, or marrying the man you were named heir to keep away from the crown and producing even more bastards.

I’m skeptical. I know slavery is deeply taboo in Westeros but Dany wouldn’t be bringing the institution to Westeros (Eunuchs are taboo there too but Varys still rises far).

The red wedding was abhorred by all but there wasn’t a massive rising against the Lannisters the second it happened due to their breaking guest right.

I guess I find Barrisan a bit naive.

Do you agree with him, and if so, who might you imagine would be included in these “good men” who would oppose her in the name of anti-slavery righteousness?

I actually believe Barristan is more right than you might think. At the end of the day, a lot of Westerosi are going to see Daenerys as a foreign invader at the head of a foreign army. Not only is slavery a big taboo in Westeros, but the east coast of Westeros periodically deals with slave raids from the Triarchy - which even included nobility among its victims like Johanna Swann. Dany can make her case to the Westerosi but the taboo is so strong that people are going to rush to judgment.

I'd disagree about people not liking the Lannisters for the Red Wedding. House Frey is mostly taking the brunt for it and even noted political dunce Cersei is understanding that someone has to pay from House Frey for the sheer level of societal transgression. People haven't stormed the Twins yet due to hostages and the devastation of the War of the Five Kings, but the anger at such an action is burning strong and will trigger sometime likely in book six.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

I’m skeptical. I know slavery is deeply taboo in Westeros but Dany wouldn’t be bringing the institution to Westeros (Eunuchs are taboo there too but Varys still rises far).

The red wedding was abhorred by all but there wasn’t a massive rising against the Lannisters the second it happened due to their breaking guest right.

I guess I find Barrisan a bit naive.

Do you agree with him, and if so, who might you imagine would be included in these “good men” who would oppose her in the name of anti-slavery righteousness?

I actually believe Barristan is more right than you might think. At the end of the day, a lot of Westerosi are going to see Daenerys as a foreign invader at the head of a foreign army. Not only is slavery a big taboo in Westeros, but the east coast of Westeros periodically deals with slave raids from the Triarchy - which even included nobility among its victims like Johanna Swann. Dany can make her case to the Westerosi but the taboo is so strong that people are going to rush to judgment.

I'd disagree about people not liking the Lannisters for the Red Wedding. House Frey is mostly taking the brunt for it and even noted political dunce Cersei is understanding that someone has to pay from House Frey for the sheer level of societal transgression. People haven't stormed the Twins yet due to hostages and the devastation of the War of the Five Kings, but the anger at such an action is burning strong and will trigger sometime likely in book six.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

I would tell him the absolute and unvarnished truth. Royal marriages are meant to create dynastic succession so marrying another woman will create a branch family who would anticipate becoming part of the royal line, especially if you have a son. So only do that if you don't want Rhaenyra to ascend after you.

This requires no actual foreknowledge of the Dance of the Dragons - Maegor is proof enough of the danger a branch member would provide and Jaehaerys's ascension over Aerea provides justification for male-preference primogentiure. You also have Daemon the Rogue Prince waiting in the wings, and he is a chaotic monkey wrench to throw into the mix because he also wants his own crown. You're already going to have problems with him, so unless you want to make things even harder for Rhaenyra's inheritance, don't do it.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

I am risking nothing

I AM SORRY FOLLOWERS, I LOVE MY MOMMY

Will not risk.

I am risking nothing

I AM SORRY FOLLOWERS, I LOVE MY MOMMY

Will not risk.