Poll: Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire. Whose banner do you follow?

[janjotat]

Spoiler: Major spoilers about characters in 5th book

Sadly it appears John Snow also dies in the 5 book, so that leaves me Daenerys.

Spoiler

'Appears' being the operative word. Character deaths are usually more explicit than that, look how Davos or Theon were thought to be dead. And Tyrion appeared to die on the river barge, but only a few chapters passed before we found it he didn't. Even when it is quite explicit, they might still come back, Catelyn Stark being a good example of that.

Spoiler: character death conversation don't read unless done with all books

Well, John Snow was stabbed multiple times in the back by the night's watch. Reminds me a bit of Julius Caesar, we both know what happened to him. Granted he was surrounded by wildings, so they will probably end up killing his killers. Everything points to his death but I still have hope he might be alive, because the Red Priestess might give him the kiss of life just like Thoros of Myr. ON the other hand I think the wildings are just going to slaughter everyone. So I have hope but it is a slim chance, he might even become a cripple like Bran.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

Picking one of the houses, The Starks of Winterfell. Winter is Coming. I hate being on a losing side but they're still awesome. I hate the Lannisters, which is strange, since my avatar is Jamie.

That being said, my real choice:

Spoiler

Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.

I've seen how the politics ends up and it gives me a headache. I'll take my chances with the Others. If I could only find some obsidian...

 

[spartan231490]

Other: The house of: that's an awful series. Seriously, who wants to put themselves into that world of total depression and destruction where nothing good ever happens. To anyone. Ever.

Says the guy who enjoys the absolute trash that is the Sword of Truth series... Goodkind is shit GRRM is awesome, stay mad.

Not mad, just pointing out the obvious. And yes I enjoy Sword of Truth, and I'm proud of it. I've read enough and I know enough serious readers who agree with me to know that SoT is a damn good book series, and I have enough faith in myself not to need your validation of my opinion.

 

[Goofguy]

While they may not be a major House, I do also like House Reed. They're these elusive, crafty people who don't fight conventionally and yet are valued allies. I guess you could call them the guerilla fighters of Westeros.

Their current Lord is the only remaining survivor from the mysterious skirmish at the Tower of Joy and his children are currently part of one of the most important plotlines in the series. I'm really hoping to see more of the crannogmen in the future.

 

[Mordekaien]

Greyjoys, because they are like Vikings, raiders and have a great deity. And finger dance.
My god finger dance.
They're not fucking around.

 

[WINDOWCLEAN2]

The Starks.
Why? because Winter is coming......and Westeros ain't ready

 

[Imperius]

Lannisters gunna Lannist.
And Haters gunna Hate.

 

[Thoric485]

Baelish.

I like certain characters from the major houses, dislike others, but Littlefinger - he's always a joy to read.

 

[Arsen]

Honestly, I found the traditional houses to be overly boring. If I had to pick my favourite group it would have to be the Nights Watch. I found Jon Snow to be the most interesting character and he quickly became my favourite from the start. I have to say... my heart sunk after what happened at the end of A Dance with Dragons...

Spoiler

Jon Snow was one of the most sensible leaders left by the end of it. With Stannis being a close second. If they are both dead I shudder to think what will happen.

I am not reading this, but I have heard from multiple sources that Jon may infact....

Spoiler

not be dead...it's ambiguous as to if he really dies or not

Note: I do not know HOW. This doesn't mean tell me.

 

[Smiley Face]

Honestly, I found the traditional houses to be overly boring. If I had to pick my favourite group it would have to be the Nights Watch. I found Jon Snow to be the most interesting character and he quickly became my favourite from the start. I have to say... my heart sunk after what happened at the end of A Dance with Dragons...

Spoiler

Jon Snow was one of the most sensible leaders left by the end of it. With Stannis being a close second. If they are both dead I shudder to think what will happen.

I am not reading this, but I have heard from multiple sources that Jon may infact....

Spoiler

not be dead...it's ambiguous as to if he really dies or not

Note: I do not know HOW. This doesn't mean tell me.

Well, if you or anyone else, want speculation - it's not crazy complex or anything, just my thoughts.

Spoiler: General conjecture on the previous spoiler

He's probably dead, but there's already a lot of established ways of cheating death. The Red Priests can bring folks back to semi-life, as a shifter he can live on in Ghost, not to mention the whole White Walkers schtick... I'd say that, ignoring what the writer is likely to do, his specific situation seems to be stacked in favour of him surviving, somehow. Also, how was Stannis a sensible leader? He always seemed to me to be blindly insisting on his right to the throne, despite the fact that people really have no reason to acquiesce, and should they refuse, he insists on punishing them. He's unrealistic, and a jerk, and was fortunate enough to get a crazy powerful magic lady.

 

[gim73]

Targaryen.
Robert Baratheon was an asshole who killed thousands, committed treason, and killed babies because his betrothed was in love with Rhaegar. They are the true royal house of Westeros.

Also, Daenerys has dragons and a slave army.
Plus, in A Dance With Dragons ***SPOILERS*** Aegon VI has a whole friggin mercenary army.

Uh, you missed the whole 'Rhaegar' storyline. While he too had some charisma, he also fell in love with another woman while married with several children. Then he used the war to kidnap, rape and murder her to deny Robert. Oh yeah, the war that was started because his father is frakking INSANE. Robert was just a charismatic leader who managed to escape before a madman declared him a traitor. The babies dying comes on the head of Tywin Lannister and the Mountain. Calling him a traitor is like calling Rob Stark a traitor for not bending knee after the Lannisters broke their word and murdered his father.

As far as the 'true' royal family... Targaryn was a fringe house on a remote outpost when their country was utterly destroyed. They used three great dragons to subjegate Westeros only a mere 300 ago. Most of the houses in Westeros can trace their lineage several THOUSAND years. It's the reason why people still call it the seven kingdoms, even though it hasn't been for some time. It's amazing these freaks feel so entitled to any power, considering there are alot more legitimate candidates for the throne. Simply controlling dragons doesn't mean that you are entitled to rule. Also, Daenerys has a eunach army, not a slave army. She freed everyone and got half the world pissed at her.

 

[eels05]

Alot of Stark love here.People still like to associate themselves with a sense of honour.

Victarion Greyjoy has forced me to admire the Greyjoys.The guy makes our own historical Vikings look like pussies.'WE DO NOT SOW'.Brilliant.
Dour,merciless and hard as nails.Though no doubt only a bit player.

 

[gim73]

Also, Daenerys has a eunach army, not a slave army. She freed everyone and got half the world pissed at her.

she has awesome boobs, but is a dumb naive *****, i hate naive people. but i like awesome boobs, this causes some conflict, but i think i hate her.

In the books she is only a 12 year old girl. One who gets sexually abused by her older brother. Personally, I hate her. I want Tyrion to kill her and steal her dragons.

Imp 4-eva

 

[KiKiweaky]

Greyjoy read all the books and the parts that involved people from the Iron Islands were a head and shoulders above the rest of them for me personally. They respect one thing and one thing only strength, if you cannot hold onto your lands or your ships with strength of arms then they dont belong to you anymore, simple

The gold kraken on the black field would fly from my banners without a doubt.

 

[KillKill]

Seems like Greyjoy isnt getting much love. They have cool islands, whats not to love?

Theon? I hope he dies...

 

[KillKill]

all i can say is FUCK GEOFFREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have important opinions that need to be heard!

 

[ccggenius12]

Lannister. One reason: Tyrion. I can cast aside all other flaws of that house purely for him (I'm on Clash of Kings at the moment, but I'm guessing he's going to die at some point. Possibly raped as well, like nearly all other characters).

Spoiler

well, Jaime has a Heel/face turn around book 4 that makes him far more bearable.

OT: Petyr Baelesh shall inherit the world! All hail Littlefinger!

PS: People need to learn what the hell spoiler tags are. Common courtesy is to not talk about that stuff unspoilered 'till 6 months after the paperback hits shelves.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

In the books she is only a 12 year old girl.

she's 14 when A Game Of Thrones begins, 17 by the end of A Dance With Dragons

 

[KiKiweaky]

Spoiler: EVEN MORE SPOILERS

Tywin's ruthlessly practical character, his evident military and economic prowess, means that he would likely have been a very effective ruler. Heck, he had the political savvy to get out of his job as Aerys' hand, unscathed. Not that there was any situation where he could have really come to direct power, but still.

A Baratheon-Stark government would have crashed and burned - Blind Honor combined with Pure Instinct, bad move. Stark wouldn't have let them engage in the lending practices that kept the kingdom afloat during Robert's reign, and neither of them had the economic skill to actually make money - nor would Stark stoop to dealing with any of the ones who did.

As for my house, I'm amazed that no-one has picked my favourite so far. House BAELISH.

Spoiler: And here's why

Petyr is in the major leagues of people playing the great game, enough that it could be argued he's at the top, tied or not - and he's also got the most class.

He stays out of the eye of the other big players, and every time he shows up, it's with a major win. 1st is the whole Stark thing. Then he's sent as envoy to Renly's gang, as such avoiding all the chaos of Joffrey's reign, and at the 11th hour, Renly's crew saves the day at King's Landing. Then he gets the seat of Harrenhal (or something), uses it to court Lysa, secure more power, comes back for Joffrey's wedding, and then pulls all those coups at the Vale. He hasn't made a wrong step yet.

He's got style. He's polite, but he will stab you in the back in the most efficient way possible if you are in his way. Yeah, some people aren't going to like him for that, but you have to admire the skill with which he goes about it. Moreover, I honestly believe that if Ned Stark had been more rational or competent, willing to go ahead with his plan - secure Joffrey, and act as regent - he wouldn't necessarily have backstabbed him, Brandon Stark or no. But instead, Ned insisted on the 'honourable' path of just shouting 'STANNIS FOR KING' and leaving a localized power vacuum and serious legitimacy problems. WHY would Littlefinger allow that to happen?

And yet, I feel because of the whole Sansa thing, he'll eventually make a mistake, put himself in a vulnerable position, and get delayed karmic payback. And I don't want that to happen, he's played too well, and he isn't really a BAD guy on the level that more than half the other characters are.

Baelish.

I like certain characters from the major houses, dislike others, but Littlefinger - he's always a joy to read.

Spoiler

Baelish makes a great read for sure, his story is easily the best of the more politicaly orientated characters/storylines. Yes he stays out of the way and yes he destroys anything that gets in his way but I still reckon he is going to end up with a dirk pressed into his dangly bits, while I enjoy reading his story I have to say if he ends up in a pool of blood cluthing his genitalia I'm not going to mourn his passing.

His deep lust for Sansa is a little unsettling too, he has been a gent so far except for a minor slip of the tongue but his lust isnt going to go away any time soon and I reckon Sansa is going to get pretty distressed should things go south. The worst part is with her house effectively destroyed, her new identity and her total dependance on Peytr Baelish if things get nasty she's in deep, deep shit.