Random Questions about ASOIAF

[Ori]

So I keep having these random questions about ASOIAF come to me and have no idea what to make of them. I think it would be best to just have a thread dedicated to it so anyone with questions can ask.

Here's a starter question, I know this was in the HBO series so I will assume the books as well. When the Others are introduced for the first time in the form of the three Night's Watchmen ranging beyond the wall, why are the Wildling bodies placed in a formation? If it was a normal slaughter the bodies would probably be just scattered around the village or at most piled up. Is that formation significant in any way? What is going on here?

[Mount Suribachi]

The formation thing isn't in the books. I assumed the TV series did it to make it look more creepy.

[Kiliç Alì]

In the book they're simply disappeared.

[Lord AcidRocker]

It is a sign of the Great Other whose name must not be spoken

[deusvult6]

In the book they weren't ripped to pieces or even obviously wounded from a distance. Will said it looked like they'd all just fallen down where they stood. When they went back after nightfall, the bodies had disappeared but they had left all their tools, weapons, and possessions behind.

[Ori]

Here's another question. Why do the Targaryens seem to worship the Seven? The Valyrians, at least that I know of, didn't follow the Seven Gods. Yet it seems that the Targaryens did from the very beginning, and I never remember them converting or anything. And it would be very odd for them to change religions to adapt to Westeros culture while at the same time keeping traditions like incest.

[Murfmurf]

Nothing says they didn't worship the seven, and their family had been living on Dragonstone so close to Westeros it's like they picked it up.

Also, as is documented throughout successful invasions in real history, you have to adapt to the culture you've conquered, rather than just force yours. For instance look at the Normans after 1066; they married the French court to the Anglo-Saxon ways.

[deusvult6]

The Valyrians did not follow the Seven, that's an Andal thing. It was mentioned that they worshipped a pantheon in Valyria, with Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhaegar being three of their deities (Aegon's dragons were named after them) and their own naming scheme seems to suggest that at some point they believed themselves divine. I think it mentioned it at some point when talking about Aegon's conquest that he took his conquered lands' gods for his own. And then married his sisters and declared himself above the laws of man and gods alike. I believe Jaehaerhys the Conciliator was the one to finally placate the Faith about that.

[Ori]

After Cersei is seized by the High Septon the Master of Ships (I forget his name) leaves with all of her newly built war ships. I remember hearing that it was "feared he'd side with Stannis". However I don't recall him ever arriving to Eastwatch-by-the-sea or anywhere else. Where'd he go?

Edit: I checked the ASOIAF wiki too by the way. It simply says he "fled with his new ships".

Also, I'm beginning to think fleeing with the ships was a really good move on his part. If he had stayed the Tyrells would've seized the ships and removed him from the Small Council, putting someone loyal to Highgarden in his place.

[Mhaedros]

I think he joined Salla Saan somewhere around the Stepstones (?)

[Mount Suribachi]

One theory is that he's gone over the Tyrells and is sailing round to Oldtown to protect them from the Ironborn fleet. Another is that the Iron Bank of Braavos have taken the ships as part payment on the debt the crown owes them.

[zburanuki]

how exactly arya killed the old man with the coin in braavos?

[Murfmurf]

I think she knew he had a weak heart and induced a cardiac arrest or something similar.

[deusvult6]

He suspected that his life was being targeted and took several precautions against assassination, he was constantly escorted by two guards who only allowed his clients to approach him and tasted all his food and drink beforehand. However, he had a habit of biting each and every coin to test proper mintage. The night before she killed him she sought the help of the waif in her preparations. As the waif is in charge of poison brewing, it can be surmised that Arya coated her coin in a poison that would mimic a heart attack, giving the appearance of a natural death.

[zburanuki]

ok that makes sense with the waif.one more thing, has anyone noticed that the greyjoys' names are very similar with the targaryens? do they have a relation each other or something like that? it's very curious that victarion have the dragon horn and a red priest on his side who have seen victarion in his fires.

[Ori]

ok that makes sense with the waif.one more thing, has anyone noticed that the greyjoys' names are very similar with the targaryens? do they have a relation each other or something like that? it's very curious that victarion have the dragon horn and a red priest on his side who have seen victarion in his fires.

I think he has seen Victarion in the fires because of what Victarion will do soon with Dragonbinder.

As for the names, I don't know. They never really had any contact until Harren the Black and all his sons were roasted alive by Aegon. I assume it's just a coincidence though.

[ComradeH]

A lot of characters from different regions of Westeros have similar names. I don't think the Greyjoy's have much to do with the Targaryans besides what's coming up.

[Mount Suribachi]

I did read something from GMMR where he said different houses from different eras have different sounding names. So the old houses in the north like the Starks, Boltons and Umbers have simple names, those from Valaria - Targaryen, Baratheon - have more exotic sounding names.

[zburanuki]

their first names do sound like targaryen names,victarion,euron,aeron,baelon even theon, all of them could be targaryen or better, valyrian names. also how croweye euron manage to take the dragon horn among so many people?

[Bryce Caron]

Huh? You mean how did he manage to take it while so many probably sought it? Because they were scared of the Doom one can assume, and didn't act as he did, sailing there and just taking it. . . Me think's.