Here, this is the actual quote:
This. And while Illyrio is certainly a person who lies, the eggs themselves are described as being solid and heavy, and cold to the touch (aside from Dany touching them, of course). There’s no reason to think they were like large scaly chicken eggs, sloshing around.
Nitpick, but they wouldn’t use the word “fossilized” since they don’t really have that level of scientific understanding in the SoIaF universe. The specific phrase Illyrio uses when he gives them to Dany is that “the eons have turned them to stone”. Of course, “eons” being an indefinite period of time one can’t say for sure, but I think your interpretation that they are older than the most recent ~100 year-extinct dragons would be fair.
ETA: Just saw in the next post you quoted this.
I’m guessing this is yet to come on the show,but just how much more war can Westeros support? At some point you run out of supplies and food, and from what we have seen so far I just can’t see new wars starting right away. There is such a thing as sheer resource and mental exhaustion.
Do we have any good read on the church that sent Meli to Stannis? Why Stannis? What is their motivation?
The rich people are fine, and the smallfolk can bear. As long as it stays summer. And as far as I know, that situation will remain constant :).
Followers of R’hllor, which the show almost consistently calls “the Red God.” The real world equivalent appears to be some form of Gnosticism, although keep in mind that most of what we see is Melisandre’s rather brutal interpretation of her faith and it may not be representative of all followers.
AFAIK it is her own motivation/visions that made her choose Stannis, who she believes the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, and she is not acting on any official orders. I hope I didn’t miss anything. There is much subtle and not-so-subtle suggestions that she is wrong and misread her own signs.
Although the church appears to order some, as Thoros was sent to proselytize by some superior (and failed miserably, at least in that respect). Melisandre managed to convert the better part of an army, so that much was successful.
Westeros can’t support much more war. That’s basically what A Feast for Crows is about. The land is broken, especially the Riverlands. The smallfolk have been brutalized. That is what led to an ascendancy of the Faith - and the resurrection of the Warrior’s Sons and Poor Fellows… which basically end up taking over King’s Landing.
So, that’s an interesting question as to what Aegon’s invasion is going to mean for a completely battle weary Westeros. Especially since Aegon’s army seems to be moving North, towards King’s Landing.
There are plenty of areas in Westeros that have gone untouched by war, although it looks like that is going to change in future books. Dorne’s only casualty was Oberyn, but now it looks like they are going to have beef with the lannisters as per the show. Highgarden itself went untouched, they did support the crown with troops and food and now they seem to be under attack by the Iron Islands. Most of the storm lands lords and armies were at war fighting in Renly then Stannis army but their lands were untouched, until Aegon attacked. The Vale refused to join the war, they had their own internal problems (the clans supported by lannister armaments) but now it looks like they are joining the war against the Boltons (as per the show). The north and the Riverlands are utterly crushed in both books and show. One thing the show doesn’t touch much on is how every other northern house is in just as dire straits as the Starks or worse completely annihilated, the only hint we get of this is the Mormonts being ruled by a 10yo girl. There is plenty of war left in the seven kingdoms, i think nobody is going to go untouched by the time Dany or the White Walkers finally get there.
Well Storm’s End has been under siege twice in the Song of Ice and Fire narrative - once when Stannis was siegeing (was it Cortnay Penrose who was holding out? Requiring the 2nd shadow baby) and then when Mace Tyrell was siegeing it against who Stannis left as castellan before the Battle of the Blackwater.
So maybe the Stormlands are ok, but Storm’s End area is in pretty bad shape.
Mace Tyrell sieging Stannis happened in the war of the usurper, 17 years before. And Stannis ended the siege of Stormsend by having Ser Penrose murdered with no other casualties.
Mace Tyrell is siegeing Storm’s End again, at the order of Cersei. He doesn’t go to Braavos in the books. Though he does leave with most of his host when his daughter is arrested by the Faith. Do I do believe he left someone behind to continue the siege.
Something bothering me about the many-faced god after watching season 5.
Can someone help explain without too many spoilers (I know this is the spoilers thread, but there isn’t really a non-zombie, no-spoilers thread right now).
So when arya saved jaqH and two other people, he said she stole 3 deaths from the MFG and they needed to be repaid (by killing 3 arbitrary guys).
When she killed meryn, he also said she’d stolen a death and that needed to be repaid by someone (arbitrary) dying.
So I’m a bit confused by this…humans kill and save other humans all the time in westeros. How do we know when someone is supposed to die, and which human activities are considered part of the plan?
Who says ordinary humans are supposed to know?
I don’t think we know… but Jaqen seems to know.
The problem was that Arya claimed she was ready to become No One (i.e., stop having a personal identity) but killed on a personal vendetta.
That she killed Trant was certainly a huge part of the problem…I think the bigger picture was that she allowed herself to become distracted by “Arya”'s emotions and revenge, and due to that she never killed the insurance salesman that she was assigned to kill (we never saw that she did this, right?). Could be that was the death that was stolen?
That’s how I saw it, too. She had not fully accepted her responsibility to kill only who she was ordered to.
Thanks for the answers.
I think the “paying back a life” thing doesn’t really make sense right now…it seems to be getting applied inconsistently at best. But it makes sense for Ayra to be punished.
Looks like Harington was being a filthy liar when he said he’s not coming back for S6. He was spotted heading back to Belfast on the same plane as the actor who plays Jaqen H’ghar. Not 100% proof, but pretty strong evidence for Jon being alive.