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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Taking sides in ASOIAF

If ASOIAF is indeed structured like Ragnarok, on which ASOIAF is obviously based, what are the two forces that will clash in the end of days? Given the complexity of the struggles in the series, it's hard to believe there are only two sides in this apocalyptic conflict. But, two is the smallest number possible in a conflict, so it's best to start from this assumption.

Participants on Side 1 with decreasing certainty: Dragons, all Targaryens (excluding Blackfyre offspring?), Grand Maester Marwyn, magic, red priests (Melisandre, Moqorro, and Thoros), the god of fire R'hllor, maybe the reborn Azor Ahai (Jon Snow?).

Participants on Side 2 with decreasing certainty: mainstream maesters in the Citadel (who may have caused the extinction of dragons), House of Lannister (especially Jaime), by extension Brienne?.

If we go by the Ragnarok theory and assign the role of Tyr to Jaime Lannister and Fanrir to Bran Stark, then all Stark children would be on Side 1. That seems to tip the balance a bit too much to Side 1, as clearly the Children of the Forest and the Three-Eyed Crow would clearly be on the same side as the Starks.

One wild card so far is the Night's King and his army of the Others. It could be on either Side 1 or Side 2. Logically they would be on the opposite side of Dragons, ie, ice and fire are opposites. However, an argument can be made for their being on the same side as the Children and their invasion threatens Lannisters' rule. Or perhaps they are on neither side and is a force onto itself.

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