Gulltown is the primary trade port of the Vale, but I don’t know if I’d agree that it’s “the crutial link between Braavos/the North and southern Westeros.” Nothing’s stopping Braavos or ships from White Harbor from sailing directly to the Trident or King’s Landing or the like. 

As for why the Graftons are not particularly prominent, I think part of that is relatively recent – they backed the Targaryens during the Rebellion, forcing Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, and Robert Baratheon to take Gulltown by storm. They no doubt suffered reprisals from that. 

The other part is that they’re not the only game in town. There’s the Arryns of Gulltown, the Shetts of Gulltown and Gull’s Tower (who are vassals to the nearby Royces of Runestone), etc. 

I didn’t read much of it at the time. I recall dimly that I liked the premise of seeing what a mutant-run society would look like. 

I definitely remember that I really disliked the “no more mutants” ending.

Braavos coerced Pentos into abolishing slavery by beating them in a war and imposing it on them at the treaty table. So I’m afraid spears and fire very much in effect. 

poorquentyn:

Series so far here

“Now Théoden son of Thengel, will you hearken to me?’
said Gandalf. “Do you ask for help?” He lifted his staff and
pointed to a high window. There the darkness seemed to
clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far,
a patch of shining sky. “Not all is dark. Take courage, Lord
of the Mark; for better help you will not find. No counsel
have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you. Will you hear them? They
are not for all ears. I bid you come out before your doors and
look abroad. Too long have you sat in shadows and trusted
to twisted tales and crooked promptings.”

So there are dreams that are spooky and sad and expose those parts of yourself and your past you would prefer not to think about, and there are dreams that are wistful and nostalgic and unearth those parts of yourself and your past you only wish you could marinate in forever…

…and then there are dreams that leave you with a roar on your lips and a fire in your heart, and you go through your day with a skip in your step, because amidst all the subconscious slurry, you stumbled upon your innermost core. You discovered who you are. It was just a dream, of course; Wyman Manderly never intended to execute you after all. But that doesn’t mean what you learned about yourself is invalid. This is the chapter where every facet of Davos Seaworth shines through: politician and father, lord and smuggler, the fingerless Hand. “He is here,” to borrow from Varys.

Davos’ external struggle in this chapter is inextricably wrapped up in that inner journey, and therein lies his victory: the more perfect union of his lord-self and smuggler-self, because the former’s argument in the Merman’s Court wouldn’t be possible without the latter. Davos III is the Arena of the Self, a crucible. Two Davoses enter, one Davos leaves. 

Keep reading

Brilliant stuff! To me, this Davos chapter justifies the whole of ADWD, for the sheer catharsis of someone finally standing up and calling the Freys and the Lannisters out for their bullshit.

And it’s a lovely moment of existential heroism, too. Davos is completely alone, surrounded by enemies, and appealing to a judge we believe to be unsympathetic. But in that moment, he stands true to his better self, even at the seeming cost of his life. And that’s all we can hope for, in the end.

elanabrooklyn:

allofthefeelings:

lauralot89:

libertinem:

libertinem:

I don’t care how upset you are. Nothing justifies death threats. For the love of FUCK MARVEL FANDOM. Do not threaten Nick Spencer! That’s a felony! That’s wrong! And if nothing reasonable convinces you, then think about how fucking disappointed Steve Rogers would be with you!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/05/25/captain-america-writer-nick-spencer-gets-death-threats-on-social-media/

People, don’t do this.  This is wrong.

Death threats are never acceptable.

But it’s worth noting that bleedingcool clearly just did a search for the word “die,” because several of the tweets there aren’t threats on Spencer at all. They’re people horrified that Steve Rogers is a person who’d want to see them dead. And that conversation is, I think, very much appropriate.

Thanks for pointing out Bleeding Cool’s yellow journalism. Johnson is a corporate shill and a troll who has violated my privacy. http://bit.ly/gpisncp

But anyway, goes without saying if any of those tweets are death threats of course that’s terrible.

I think @allofthefeelings nails it here.

Several is putting it mildly. The majority of those tweets were just people expressing their disapproval of Spencer’s writing choices.

That being said, people: FFS, do not issue death threats. For any reason. 

Be like Steve. 

That’s a good question, and a little hard to answer, since taxes on trade from Kings Landing are kind of a mix of both, and we don’t know what kind of a rate the king gets from the seven kingdoms.

I’m going to guess that feudal taxes are probably more, but not by much.

Burnside is a goodun, although somewhat lacking in visual flair.

But if we’re going by not in the MCU…MODOK. Kirby’s very own giant Olmec head baby assassin.