Dorne

Dubya
Commoner
(02-12-03):

I believe Aeron became a priest of the Drownded God because of what happened during the first rebellion. His ship the Golden Storm went down off the Fair Isle. His ship was run over by Stannis' ship Fury when Stannis caught the Iron Fleet in a trap. Aeron was dumped into the sea. It said that the god was not done with him and carried him to shore where he was captured by fishermen and taken to Lannisport in chains where they threw him in the dungeon of Castlerly Rock. Aeron said he was reborn from the sea, the gods own prophet.

Installment three, the last one.

It is pointed out that 'the boy' is a bastard, if Stannis can be believed, Doran tells Nym.

"Only royal blood can avenge my father's murder" says Nym. This opens the possibility that Tommen will be spared after all.

Doran advises Nym not to provoke Tywin unduly, but she replies " My sisters and I will not wait seven and ten years for our vengance".

At last the party approaches Sunspear, fantastically orange-red-brown. The spear tower is 150 feet tall. Nearly as tall is the tower of the Sun. A third formation is described (sketchy on detail here). Here the air smelled of dust and smoke. Houses were built of mud and straw. Along the massive walls were found mudbrick shops and windowless houses.

It was not much compared to Tyrosh or Mir or Great Norvas. Yet, it was the nearest thing to a true city these Dornish had . (Remember: Areo POV, is from Norvas.)

The party begins to approach the city walls. "Make way for the Prince of Dorne" is called out.
"The Prince is dead", some cry. "To spears", many cry. Cries of "Vengance for the Viper" ring in the air. "War, war...to the spears" is heard. There is no answer from within the silken litter.

At last the party enters Sunspear, the portcullis closing behind them. Princess Arianne, heir to the throne, is waiting to great her father. Doran's party enters the palace to find Arianne, the Castallan, the Maester, Myrcella and Aerys Oakheart waiting for them.

Arianne tries flattery and says "Father, Sunspear rejoices at your return". Doran simply replies, with irony "Yes, I heard the joy."

A feast is prepared. Doran says that he does not see Tyene. He is told that she begs a private word for him and is waiting in the throne room.

The third Sand Snake is wearing a clinging gown with blue samite sleeves and Myrish lace. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. But there is something about the eyes. Something (piercing? detail sketchy here). Doran realizes that all of the Red Viper's daughters have their father's eyes, no matter the color.

Tyene's mother had been a Septa. She seems quite gentle, asking her uncle if there is anything she can do to ease his pain. She has made a tapestry which shows Oberyn, and she presents it to Doran. "I am not likely to forget your father", he says.

Tyene speaks of Gregor. She says that they have prayed so long for his death. She assures her Uncle that Gregor will pray for it too, for she knows the poison her father used.

It is discussed that Dornishmen fight best at home. The Lannister's and Tyrell's will be drawn into Dorne and then ambushed.

Tyene speaks of Myrcella and says they have the Imp to thank for her, and that she envies her long blonde curls. Trystane and Myrcella are so innocent she remarks. Yet it is understood that under Dornish custom, Myrcella is heir to the Iron Throne, rightful Queen of the Andals. She is the eldest, the throne passes to the eldest regardless of gender in Dorne.

Doran asks to think on it. Tyrene opines that he thinks too much and that her father thought too little.

Tyene asks for her Uncles blessing and kneels to be touched on the head. She likely touches his hand at some point for after she has left, Doran and Maester C. examine his hand to make sure the skin is not broken for this would indicate poison. He appears to be unharmed.

Doran calls for milk of the poppy, something he refused before for his pain He then asks Areo how many of the guards are truly loyal to him. Areo says that they are Dornishmen and they will do as he commands.

Prince Doran tells Captain Areo that he has a special task for a few of them. It must be quick, quiet and bloodless. "Take the Sand Snakes into custody", he says. "Confine them in cells at the top of the Spear Tower" All eight are to be taken into custody.

Doran is told that the common folk will howl in the streets. But he does not care. He says that he will let Tywin see what a friend he has in Doran.

Arianne Martell

Ran
King o' the Board
(09-01-03):

Lyanna posted:

ok, this is gonna be brief and more people can elaborate... i only slept 4 hours last night and i'm a little fuzzy.

as banditski said before, the "pov" for this chapter is arianne martell, daughter of doran. same woman as from the soiled knight chapter. but she is NOT the new POV. this is just a prologue chapter.

It begins with arianne waiting outside somewhere in a field with some companions: Andrey Dalt of Lemonwood (called Dray), Lady Silver something (called Spotted Silver), Gay Garren (a "green orphan" who was arianne's milk brother) and Ser Gerald Dayne of Starfall called the Black Star, who is also arianne's lover. someone says some thing about gazing into a pool and seeing you're true love's face (someone will probably need to correct me on that :p )and arianne remembers how she used to dream that some handsome scoundrel would kidnap her and take her out and ravish her... definitely another hot dornish woman (yay!) arianne thinks that ser gerald is the handsomest man she's ever seen and is afraid that if arys oakheart finds out that gerald is her lover they would fight to the death. she doesn't know who would win.

we hear some news about fighting in the free cities. the qohori have revolted, throwing down the statue of the black goat (i think). myr, tyrosh and lys are also mentioned, some of them are fighting, someone else will have to elaborate on that. i pay more attention to the sex parts than the free city war parts.

arianne is musing about her brother quentin, who is ahead of her in the succession. he was sent away for some reason but she knows that he has been seen nearby disguised as a merchant.

then we find out that mycella has indeed been crowned by the dornish (whether by doran or just arianne did the crowning i am not sure). gerald mentions just killing myrcella, arianne says that arys will defend her with his life, and gerald replies " Daynes have been killing Oakhearts for hundreds (or was it thousands?) of yeats. arianne replies "and Oakhearts have been killing Daynes for just as many."

the see arys approaching with myrcella. it is night time, as it is too hot to ride in the day. arianne's companions bow to her calling her "your grace" and such, and myrcella is confused. "why are they calling me that, arianne?" she asks when she recognizes ariannce. arianne explains that since myrcella is older than tommen (pronounced "tome-in," btw, she is actually the rightful heir to the iron throne. myrcella seems wary but easily convinced.

at one point arys pushes arianne up against a tree and starts fondling her, but she laughs and says "later." her thoughts seem to say that though she likes arys in bed, she finds him rather ponderous and boring.

myrcella asks gerald dayne if he was related to the famous sword of the morning. gerald says he is, and from starfall. arys says "he was a great knight" and gerald says "he had a great SWORD." i think it was at this point where myrella asks is he is the SOTM, or if he uses Dawn, and gerald replies "no, i am of the night, not the morning" (or something).

trystane had wanted to come with arys and myrcella, but he did not in the end. arys and mycella left "stunt doubles" as it were, back at sunspear. myrcella curled her doubles hair herself, a distant lannister cousin. arys' double is sam swyft.

and so they ride all night. they are going to the "green blood," a river where the "green orphans" live. we learn they are not truly orphans, but that their mother is the great river, Mother Rhoyne. they are the blood of the rhoynars. there was mention of a fight with the rhoynes and the targs, and how a king sent his dragon to go eat elephants (lol).

when they dismount, arys says something to arianne about how she needs a veil to cover her face because otherwise her beauty would overwhelm that of the sun., something like that. arianne wonders how long it took him to come up with that compliment. she thinks of ayrs "wit and he were strangers."

they see trees called sand beggars, which grow only near water. they know they are close. arianne means to crown myrcella and raise her banners at hellholt. they will follow the green blood to the vaith and then to hellholt.

they come to a village and arianne sees oroh hatah (sp?) she realizes they are caught. oroh says that doran order him and his guard to bring back arianne and mycella safely, but to kill their companions if they do not yield. arys wasnts to fight for "his princess" at first (which one?) but ariannce calms him. she asks oroh, "how did you know?" and he replies, "how else? someone told."

everyone else who is not insane with sleep deprivation can fill in the rest

Queenmaker

Rhelle
Mother of Dragons
(09-01-03):

Arianne is sitting in a desert and the wells are going dry. The sand is golden, changing to red as the sun goes down. She is with the Darkstar (Gerald Dayne) and Gay Garren (sp?).

Arianne thinks about a past outing to this same spot with Oberyn and the Sand Snakes. Prince Oberyn caught and milked a viper here. Arianne thinks that Oberyn was always full of stories.

Arianne and Garren were milk brothers (seems it is brothers, even if one is female).

Arianne looks at the Darkstar and thinks about how very damn hot he is. (?) Arianne would like him as a Consort, but he has a cruel mouth and tongue. The Darkstar also has almost purple eyes and Arianne thinks that their children would be as beautiful as the Dragon lords. The Darkstar is another drinker of unsweetened lemon water. His castle is High Hermitage.

Arianne thinks of the news coming in from the seaport. Qohor (?) has a riot of the red priests, slave revolts are in (wherever it was that Dany was). Dragons are in (wherever it was that Dany was there- Qarth maybe?). A sellsword company (I think it was The Golden Company), whose words are "beneath the gold, the bitter steel" [Inserted by Ran: What a motto!] who was formed by a bastard Targ switched sides.

Arianne thinks of her grand plans and thinks she will be another Nymeria.

Arianne's mother is livid about Quentyn (I think it was Quentyn) being fostered out. Mom is calling it a selling of flesh and blood. Dorne doesn't encourage fosterlings.

Myrcella will be crowned but Arianne thinks she will never sit on the Iron Throne.

Aerys shows up at the camp with Myrcella and Arianne has to explain what is going on-that Myrcella will have the crown. Myrcella protests, saying that Tommen is the heir but Arianne says Myrcella is in Dorne now and Tommen is in the hands of bad men.

Supporters at the camp: Andray Dalt of Lemonwood, Lady Silversantal (Spotswood?), Guy Garron an orphan of the Greenblood, Ser Gerald Dayne the Darkstar, Arianne, Myrcella, and Arys. Arianne takes the fact that there are 7 in the party as a good omen.

The Darkstar and Myrcella speak and the Darkstar says he is not the Sword of the Morning. Darkstar goes on about the Daynes-that their line goes back 10,000 years and why should the only member of the Daynes have so much renown is SOTM.

Arianne and Arys kiss and he is hot for her, but Arianne pushes him away. Arianne says they will be together later.

Prince Trystane wanted to come with Myrcella, but they said no. Sam Swyft is pretending to be Arys and Myrcella's maid and relative, Rosamon is pretending to be Myrcella.

Arianne thinks that she wants her father's place, but not at the cost of his honor or his pride. She wants him to return to the seashore and live out his days in piece.

Arianne thinks Yronwood will declare for Quentyn and ignore her claim.

Greenbloods are known for their gifts of healing. They are of the Rhoynar and blood of the river Rhoyne (who is seen as a god) flows in their veins. An orphan of the Greenblood was made from the burning of the ships when Nymeria landed. (No, we didn't get much on this)

Arys tries some flattery on Arianne and she thinks how clumsy it is. However, she likes his smooth body in her bed. She also thinks that Arys isn't that bright.

The Prince's Pass is mentioned. The Young Dragon wrote that of the sun and spear on Dorne's flag, the sun is the most dangerous. All the riders veil against the sand except Aerys. The Greenblood River is the heart of Dorne.

The riders travel throughout the night and arrive at a hidden boat to travel on the river. Arianne thinks Sandstone and (?) [Ran: Hellholt, I'll bet, from other spoilers] will help them cross the heavy sands when the get off the boat. The crew doesn't seem to be in sight and someone calls out. Areo Hotah comes out of the boat and guards armed with spears surround the riders. Areo says that Prince Doran ordered all of them killed except for Arianne and Myrcella.

Arys is going to protect Myrcella, but gives in when Arianne tells him to yield. Arys is bound and they are brought to D(?) town.

Arianne asks how her father knew, and Aero Hotah says "Because someone told".

Rhelle
Mother of Dragons
(09-01-03):

My thoughts:

"Queenmaker," huh? And she so seemed to dislike the idea of Kingmakers.

Well, my theory is largely blown out of the water. I think I'm right that Doran was _letting_ Arianne plot ... but in this case, I now think it was only up to the point we see in the story. He wanted her to do something he could lawfully toss her into the clink for, rather than treating her like the Sand Snakes, which would have gotten all the lords who support her up in arms in her particular case. Still, from here, it can still blowup. There can still be a rebellion brewing.

The Darkstar is handsome ... well, he's a Dayne, ain't he? And High Hermitage ... either they are a long standing junior branch of the Daynes (like the Royces of the Gates of the Moon) or (likelier) High Hermitage is a vassal castle to Starfall and he's just a recent cousin who was given charge of it. It's likely up in the mountains above Starfall, by the sounds of it.

He has a really big chip on his shoulder about Arthur Dayne. I wonder ... was he specifically referring to Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, when he complained about the SotM being the only one getting any recognition? Because, as GRRM has revealed, SotM is an office that only a Dayne found "worthy" can hold. Clearly, he wanted to be SotM, and Arthur was the one deemed suitable ... probably because Arthur was a good knight and a true, while Gerald is merely a good knight, by the sounds of it.

Any mention on his haircolor, BTW? Fair, I suppose?

Red priests running riot in Qohor. From other reports, throwing down the Black Goat, too. Well, the Goat is the emblem of the religion of Qohor, so ... But one wonders what sparked it?

The Golden Company broke its contract with Myr and left the Disputed Lands, heading west for Volantis. Volantis may simply be the closest Free City to their present location with access to the sea. However, given Illyrio's concerns in the Tyrion spoiler chapter, and given the fact that Volantis is the only Free City to which the Astapori send missives, it's entirely possible that Volantis happens to be the closest Free City to Slaver's Bay as well .... and that they may be headed to Dany.

And it sure looks like the infamous Bittersteel, one of Aegon IV's Great Bastards, is the one who founded the Golden Company. I suspected this after the reference to his exile in the Free Cities following the Blackfyre Rebellion, but this confirms it. Strangely, we have no clue as to his actual name, while his half-brother's name is known.

Does it specifically say that Dorne does not have a tradition of fostering? I think Os mentioned that Oberyn was fostered at Hellholt, and Water Garden is full of fostered noble children. Note that Quentyn's mother and Doran's wife is _not_ Dornish, and her feelings about fostering may be to her upbringing in the Free City of Norvos.

Arianne admits that Myrcella will never sit the Iron Throne? Interesting. So her plan is to use Myrcella as a lever to force her father out (more-or-less honorably), a cause for the lords who support her to coalesce behind, rather than a real (and rather mad) attempt to get Myrcella to rule all the realm. She's more sensible than initial misgivings from the Arys chapter suggested.

These references to Quentyn (referring to Lyanna's bit and some of what Os told me) are confusing. Is he or is he not in Dorne?

Silver.... Silverwhat? Silversandal? Silversantal? Silver San... Oh-ho! Could her name be Silver (I guess her dad liked silver ...) Santagar? Is Spotswood supposed to be their castle, maybe? Or do you think that's the house name?

Andray Dalt must be son or sibling or cousin or something to Ser Deziel Dalt, the Knight of Lemonwood, one of Oberyn's entourage.

Fascinating, these orphans. They focus on a place named Planky Town, apparently, which sounds like a port of some sort, and they spread a game called cyvasse up and down the Greenblood. So ... they didn't want to give up their ships, so converted them to riverboats and plied the Greenblood .... Gypsies of the Greenblood (tm), an official 'A Song of Ice and Fire RPG' (tm) supplement, coming to a game store near you!

The Prince's Pass .. is it mentioned in any particular context? Something about Daeron? Who seems to be an infinitely quotable young fellow. Like Caesar.

I wonder what the D(?) town is.

Dorne

OsRavan�
Shield of Lannisport
(09-02-03):

Dorne:

starts with the princess and company waiting in the desert for myyrcella and her kg protector with osme of her compantions. they chat nad joek a bit.. they all have nicknames htye go by for the msot part. The dark star acts scary lol and thats that. They discuss the rumors all ready mentioend in distant parts.

And this is important. Let me try to clear up the quentin in or out of dorne thing. His sister thinks he is out of dorne going to buy the golden ocmpany. She was told he was in yronwood.... but he was seen sneaking around sunspear in disguise hiding with big crates of what had to be gold looking for a ship. She assumes its to go buy the golden company.

But.. and htis is my opinion.. i think he is to go join dany. Think about it. Doran can know about dany.. right before this we are hearing the rurmros from the east. its reasonable to assume doran has spys and knows whats going on. And why else do you send your own son with gold out? we *know* hes not *really* buying the golden company from the other spoiler chapters. And this woudl explain why he is 'doing nothing' and not crowning myrcella. he is waiting for dany.

When Oakheart finally does arrive with myrcella its remarked on how the princess trusts her protctor fully. When she left with tyrion she was informed that she shouldnt question anything arys said. ITs also commented that she was able to be snuck out of sunspear because tyrion provided her a duplicate. a 'lannsiter of lannisport not casterly rock' who looked like her a little bit. when they were ocmign up on the ships myrcella dyed her hair and switched places with this girl. so if stannis took the ship he woudlgrab the wrong girl. and htats what they did now. myrcella didnt dye her hair but htey braided the other girls hair and left heri n myrcellas place.

MMm... while they are traveling we hear more of dorans daughters plans. she wants to head into the desert where she has lots of support and have myrcella crowned at hellholt where obertyn was fostered. And that most of dorne wil rally behind her because they lvoe her. not quentyn. All except the yronwoods.

ohh. And to clear up the fostering thing. its nto that the martells dont foster. ITs that quentyn was fostered way way way too young apparently. And Dorans wife protested saying soemtihng like "what sort of man sells his son for political coin" and doran replies "The princely kind". I have to say this chapter made my opinion of doran go soaring way way up. in his own way hes as clever as tywin imo. Anyway so thats hte fostering thing. and its implied he was fostered too early to have a full appreciation for martell customs.

With the dark star. What i remember of the guy. Hes one of the greatest knights in dorne. A feared fighter. Everyones a little wary around him. I think dorans daughter even thnks that 'maybe she shouldnt have brought him along. but he would be very usefull. and help bring starfall to her cause" And.. i coudl be confusing this bit so dont quote me on it.. but i even remember a tiny bit where she considers sleepign with the dark star. lol consdiers it a momment then shudders nad shrugs it off.

speaking of that though. something i forgot. While they are hanging out aroudn the oasis our favorite dornish pricness is remembeirng that the red viper first took her here where he showed one of his sand snakes how to melt a viper for venom. when someoen asks her what she did here she falls silent nad thinks " I used to dream of a fearsoem warrior with a widows peak raping me" ie i tihnk she used to day dream of the red viper raping her. and i was like oooohkaaaay.

anyway. The dark star is one freaky guy. Theres another bit when he meets oakheart he gets realy threatenign to the kngiht. He also makes some comment about how 'House dayne stretches back 10,000 years. And its in our blood to kill oakhearts. We have been killing them for thousands of years" To wich someone responds "and htey have been killing daynes for just as long" and the darkstar goes "Well all familys have their little hobbies" heh. freaky guy. And when oakheart is introduced he mentions arhtur dayne which is a mistake. cause th dark star gets all bitter and upset over how the sword of the morning is the only dayne anyoen ever remember.

He then comments and i think this is IMPORTANT that "it was the sword not the man that made arthur dayne great" And its also clearly impleid by the dark star that he considers hismelf a better fighter then dayne. Oakheart responded ot that comment btw that arthur dayne has the right spirit and attitude... and dark star looks liek he was going to jump oakheart there. heh.

anywho. They put on veils of sand silk as they go throguh the desert. Oak heart makes some inane comment about how the dornish pricness is putitng on the viel to hdie her beuty from the sun. the princess rolls her eyes (thinkign he probably spent an hour to think that one up) and comments she wears the viel to keep the sun off her head and the sand out of her mouth. And oakheart should do the same. HE refuses thoguh and is soon suffering horribly in his armour. The dornish pricness thinks that the martell banner is the spear and sun.. the two dornish weapons.

The oyung dragon (these guys are like cosntantly quoting the young dragon) once said "The dornishmens two weaposn are their spear and the sun. OF the two the sun is the mroe deadly" She comments how of old the dornishmen would let armies ocme through the pricnes pass only to see them floudner and falter in the desert.

she also explains the orphans.. whom they are heading to. Theres a comemtn how they are 'true rhoynar'. They still worship the rhoynar gods. I got al ittle ocnfused on how the rhoynar gods worked. Maybe soemoen else coudl clear me up. Theres a turtlegod they worship (We heard a legend how the turtle god defeated the crab god). And this god is common knowledge in westeors. myrcella knew abotu it. But apparently thats not the real god of the true rhoynar. the top god. somethign about how mother rhoyner nurses them and protects them. The dornishmen make alot of ocmments to 'the orphans mothers' like 'their mother did this or this' and when myrcella comments how htey can have mothers being orphans they respond its mother rhyonar. And soemthing how the greenblood is mother rhyonar too. IT was pretty confusing for me. Oh and the greenblood is called the greenblood cause the waters are (you guessed it) green. its also the lifeblood of dorne. Theres a comment of how if they didnt reach it by the time the sun went up myrcella probably woudlnt survive the journey. even though this was not true desert but only semi desert. so you can imagine what it must be like for knights to cross the real desert durring the day.

Mmmm. the orphans as was said ply up and odwn the greenblood.. from plankytown all the way up.. and their rafts. we hear anotehr quote from the young dragon i forgeti nsutlign them. but the dornish princess thinks to herself that the young dragon didnt know what he was talkign about. and that the orphans boats were extremly beutifull if you looekd for it. intricitly carved. apparnetly when nymeriana burned their boats signilign the logn journey being at an end and there beign no return msot were happy. but not all. and the unhappy ones who didnt want to abandon their gods or boats stole bits of wood from thsoe ships and built the first rafts of the orphans. its mpleid that these are the true rhyonar. ie no mixed blood with those already there. The dornish pricness commetns how she has rhoynar blood rom nymeriana but she cant comapre ot the orphans.

anyway. they get to the boat. and no ones on top of it. the compantion (he was milk brother with the dornish princess but i forget his name) is the one 'in charge' of the orphans. they have no real leaders that were mentioend but this guy has alot of influence with them. he calls out for htem to wake up and get their lazy sleves ondeck. Instead that guard with the ax who works for doran steps up. And before they can flee a huge old pile of crosbowmen and gaurds pop up. And the guy with the ax whose name i forget declares he has orders to kill everyone but the two pricness if htey resist. So one by one everyone dorps their swords and surrenders.

for a momment oakheart refuses syaing thery have to get throguh his body to reach myrcella but at the dornish pricness pleadinbg and the dark stars insultign comments on his idiocy he eventually gives in and is taken pisoner too. Basicly our dornish pricness last thoguhts are 'hwo the hell did he know what i was doing' heh.

on a side ntoe myrcella was never actually crowned. htat was to have happeend in hellholt .but they did plant the idea in ehr head. callign her queen. and commenting how tommen robbed her of her birth right. 'tis nto his fault but he has bad advisors. and oyu would be a better queen then him'. And she seemed intruiged by it. so. yeah Thats it.

Pl Secundus
Landed Knight
(09-02-03):

Here are just a few notes in addition to what has already been covered.

Freeing the Sand Snakes is an integral part of Arianne's plan, she mentions it (or thinks about it) several times throughout the chapter; it appears that she has no doubts as to their full support.

In Arianne conversation with Ser Gerald Dayne she takes it as a given that crowning Myrcella means war with the Lannisters. Apparently it is a part of the plan of exacting Dorn's revenge on them. Ser Gerald then comments that simply killing Myrcella would bring the Lannisters down on them with even more certainty. Arianne is scared by his suggestion and insists that Myrcella should not be harmed.

From the beginning of the chapter I had a feeling that Arianne's plot was doomed. The clearest indication that they would be found out came during the conversation between Arianne and Myrcella half way through the desert. Apparently Myrcella is very bright and, hence, kicks butt at some popular (among the nobility, of course) board game (probably similar to chess). For instance, she beats Prince Trystane all the time. Myrcella explains that this is because Trystane always uses the same opening and she is able to decimate his elephants with her dragons. Arianne asks if Rosamun (the stand-in distant cousin) is a good player too and Myrcella says - no, she (Rosamun) could not even master the rules of the game, which she found too complicated. Arianne becomes uneasy after that response.

It is Doran's wife who is not from Westeros who was opposed to fostering of Quentyn.

Dany sent Daario to negotiate with the Lamb Men regarding opening trade through which she hopes to solve her looming food crises.