If Dany kills Khal Jhaqo in her first chapter in Winds of Winter why would she go to Vaes Dothrak instead of returning to Mereen?

To fulfill her destiny as the Stallion Who Mounts the World.

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Hey folks: so the fixing of the physical manuscript for Volume II is almost done, and should be done by this Friday, and Volume I should be done the following Friday. And once that process is done, we will actually be off to the printers! Tyrion III is up to 4300 words and Politics of Dorne Part II is up to three pages, so we’ll see how writing goes. In the mean-time I have a few things from the…

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Why was Littlefinger named Lord Paramount of The Trident and not the Freys? The Freys were now lords of the Riverlands in all but name and Littlefinger is small fry upstart. Perhaps it is clear or has been answered before but thank you.

This is actually quite typical of Tywin, trying to divide and rule. Littlefinger has the title but doesn’t have the power (for some weird worldbuilding reason) to rule the Riverlands de-facto; the Freys have the power (although they’re spreading themselves quite thin) but they don’t have the legal authority to rule the Riverlands.

As a result, everyone remains dependent on the authority of the Lannisters in King’s Landing.

“High Spider” world-building: would it make sense for a dead High Septon to be buried under the name of his successor, as a way of killing two birds with one stone in terms of symbolism? (1: the previous High Septon can be given a burial of some consequence without breaking the mystique of the office as something greater than Mortal 2: the current High Septon quite literally buries his past identity as he becomes The Voice of the Gods).

It’s not a bad idea, but that doesn’t seem to be the way it goes in the novels (since we’ve had at least two High Septons die in ASOIAF) – for one thing, the fact that Septons surrender their last names means that the family name is long gone before they get to the position of Most Devout or High Septon, and since funerals are primarily about helping families process death, I don’t think you’d get that sort of custom.

New to the series so sorry if this is a dumb question but Bastardy only exists from the moment of physical birth, not conception? Like if a woman is nine months pregnant, suddenly gets married and gives birth the next day, that baby is legitimate right?

Sort of? Basically what happens is that you get a social fiction that the obviously pregnant bride is nothing of the sort and everyone pretends when she gives birth a few months later that the birth is premature despite the surprising heft of the child.

But that’s not quite the same as the custom being that birth not conception matters. The social fiction is there to preserve the custom even in the breach.

How do you think the Targaryen monarchy would have fared if Daeron the Drunken didn’t die prematurely and succeeded Maekar, but had the same personality?

Very poorly. Daeron’s alcoholism is ultimately secondary to his psychological alienation from his oneiromancy and his Targaryen heritage more broadly, and even putting those aside he’s an extremely passive and uncertain person who can’t stand up to anybody.

In OTL, he drank and screwed himself to death as quickly as possible even when he was merely a crown prince. Put him on the throne and that would only be intensified.

What information/new detail(s) from “Sons” do you suspect may be important or crucial to understand when it comes to TWOW and ADOS?

Relevant to TWOW and ADOS?

I really can’t think of anything. I mean, this is really, really early in Targaryen history. There’s been hundreds and hundreds of years since that have interposed themselves between then and the events of ASOIAF.

Sort of following up re: Redwyne fleet. Historically, how would such a force be used? Mostly as a convoy system a la the Flota de Indias, or was it more common to see such fleets engaged in general policing maneuvers to keep down piracy and wrecking (as I imagine the Imperial Roman Navy was employed in peacetime)? How do you think the Redwyne’s fleet operates; protecting the home waters or escorting larger mercantile convoys through dangerous areas like the Stepstones?

I would imagine you don’t need as extensive a convoy system for wine than you did for gold and silver, so I would guess that in times of peace most of the fleet is patrolling the coasts of the Reach and 10-20 warships at a time have escort duty to and from Essos.

Would it be a good idea for the head of House Redwyne, during a time of peace in Westeros, to use the Redwyne Fleet as a sellsail fleet? He could get a lot of money since the entire fleet is his. Perhaps taking contracts from the Free Cities to attack pirates in the stepstones? They could take the loot the pirates grabbed, get cash form the Free Cities and look noble while doing it. Any real disadvantages (other than the risk of being defeated and losing the fleet)?

They’re kind of engaged in something more profitable, namely being used to protect the Redwyne’s merchantile fleet.

House Broom

What’s the deal with House Broom? They’re sworn to the Lannisters yet their fief is due north or Riverrun and well east of the “Golden Hills” – practically bordering Oldstones (https://racefortheironthrone.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/westerlands-political-map.jpg?w=580&h=768). My theory is that they were once sworn to the ruling Riverlands dynasty but switched fealty to the Lannisters during one of the periods of crisis to ensure adequate protection against the Ironborn. Thoughts?

That chunk of land is still part of the hills of the Westerlands, just the easternmost part of those hills – although it can’t be that passable if there’s still a need to go down the Golden Tooth pass.

Also, it looks less easterly in other maps. Keep in mind WOIAF maps aren’t great (see the botch job they did on the Vale of Arryn).