ASOIAF Lore Q & A

**Barry Goldwater** · April 18, 2012, 08:03 PM

While designing your houses & characters, feel free to ask questions concerning ASOIAF lore here. Canon background, possible divergence points to jump from concerning your houses' backgrounds (especially if they're a non-canon lesser house or a canon house that was extinguished in the actual series but which you want to revive), traditional friendships & rivalries especially if you're using a canon house, magical items, and so on. I and other players better versed in the series's background information will be happy to answer, I'm sure

Just note that you don't have to stick precisely to canon. For example, if you wanted and with the cooperation of House Lannister's player, you could take the canonically-extinct House Reyne and justify their continued existence with something along the lines of 'oh, the Lannisters decided not to wipe them from the face of the earth after their botched rebellion because *insert given Lannister reasoning here*'. You should, however, use some canonical elements as a base for your family, so we don't get anything too outlandish (ex. no Florent history saying they were the Kings of the Reach instead of the Gardeners).

**~~Dance2~~** · April 18, 2012, 09:27 PM

I like this idea, I'd be more than happy to help somebody with any questions. Let me know!

**Narf** · April 19, 2012, 02:55 AM

Don't know more than the series. Is it possible for house Redwyne to have been Independent up until this recent coronation? Or a few years before? Where they were conquered.

**Majonga** · April 19, 2012, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by Narf

Don't know more than the series. Is it possible for house Redwyne to have been Independent up until this recent coronation? Or a few years before? Where they were conquered.

OK, the Tyrell's of Highgarden were, nearly 300 years before we start, Kings in their own right. The Redwyne's were their vassals even then and when the Tyrells surrendered before Aegon the conqueror, the Redwyne's followed them. Since then there haven't, to our knowledge been any major disputes between the two houses. So really I don't think that the Redwyne's have ever had tendancy's towards independance. It's possible, due to the power of the Redwyne's that they might challenge the Tyrell's for control of the Reach and the Southwest, but even then that would be under the rule of the King in King's Landing.

The way I see it, there are two ways that Redwyne's could become independent.

1. Replace the Tyrell's as rulers of the South-west and thereby gain the opportunity to secede from the Iron crown.

Or

2. The Tyrell's have already seceded and your replace them.

What is more likely is that you wouldn't aim to become independant, but with a Tyrell sitting on the throne to all of the 7 kingdoms, you would seek to replace them. Why rule one of the 7 kingdoms when you can rule them all?

**Narf** · April 19, 2012, 04:36 AM

Okay, I'll be a loyal Tyrell Lord then.

**Barry Goldwater** · April 19, 2012, 02:29 PM

@Narf If you still want a more ambitious, disloyal Tyrell vassal, you could always go with the Florents. They, like the Tyrells and most of the other houses of the Reach, claim descent from the Gardeners, the old kings of the Reach, but insist that their bloodline is superior to that of the Tyrells (who were only Stewards of the Reach before their boss got roasted on the Field of Fire) and so Lordship of the Reach should rightfully be theirs.

They're also apparently the second strongest house in the Reach behind only the Tyrells themselves, so there's that

**Narf** · April 19, 2012, 02:48 PM

I'm in love with the Redwynes, I like them. The Queen of Thorns is a Redwyne. It sad this RPs history is so set in stone. To me. I'd like to change some history. But It is cool as it is now.

**Bonez** · April 19, 2012, 07:42 PM

Yeah, history can/will be changed but not when so many are against the desicion.

Also, this is not for me but I want a second opinion. Would it be possible for the Lannisters to have a Valryian steel sword? As far as I know they don't have one until the fourth book, but I don't want to make this without a second opinion.

**Barry Goldwater** · April 19, 2012, 07:58 PM

They apparently lost theirs (Brightroar) before the War of Conquest, so over 300 years ago when the Rock was still an independent kingdom. Given the massive time issue here, I would be inclined to say no. In any case, Valyrian swords are supposed to be extremely rare, to the point where impoverished houses would freely trade their daughters before their Valyrian swords, so for the unfortunate majority of us that don't have a starting sword, we should have to work extremely hard for it.

**Bonez** · April 19, 2012, 08:08 PM

Score one for Bonez, getting the jump on the Proposal thread and calling House Stark! Now, as long as Bonez doesn't try to take control of the kingdom and have his daughter rat him out its all going good.

**Xion** · April 19, 2012, 08:11 PM

..Wonderful..now that's 2 high risk quests I have to do.

**Pericles of Athens** · April 19, 2012, 08:30 PM

Do I start with Nightfall(the Valyrian sword owned by House Harlaw)?

**Barry Goldwater** · April 19, 2012, 08:37 PM

I'd mind it less if you could come up with a very good background reason for still having Brightroar (ex. some event intervened to prevent King Tommen II of the Rock from going to Valyria) but it'd better be convincing

And of course, should the other mods approve.

@Perry Yup, you should.

**Pericles of Athens** · April 19, 2012, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Barry Goldwater

@Perry Yup, you should.

Good, good.

**~~Dance2~~** · April 19, 2012, 09:13 PM

Problem this poses with houses obtaining artifacts such as Valyrian Swords, is it gives a duel/fight bonus does it not? Obviously if we're able to obtain equipment, its like a good damage freebie weapon for any house that possesses one. That might pose a bit of a disadvantage for instance Starks Ice Valyrian Sword bonus vs. House Cheesewheels Frying Pan... (Obvious exaggeration)

**Barry Goldwater** · April 19, 2012, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Dance

Problem this poses with houses obtaining artifacts such as Valyrian Swords, is it gives a duel/fight bonus does it not? Obviously if we're able to obtain equipment, its like a good damage freebie weapon for any house that possesses one. That might pose a bit of a disadvantage for instance Starks Ice Valyrian Sword bonus vs. House Cheesewheels Frying Pan... (Obvious exaggeration)

Yeah, the balance issue needs to be taken into account. As it stands only a tiny handful of houses (Stark, Harlaw and Dayne as far as I can remember atm) have them. These houses already wield advantages in battle just from having those swords around. If more are given out, it'll further imbalance the game's battles in favor of the houses given them, and if too many are handed out at game start that defeats the purpose of having them. That only Stark, out of the Great Houses, still has a Valyrian sword should underscore their rarity.