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The Tragedy of Summerhall

The Tragedy of Summerhall was a spectacular attempt by Aegon V to hatch dragon eggs, and it failed spectacularly, killing most to all of the participants plus at least some, probably most of, the witnesses. Summerhall has some really surprising aspects to it, and explains quite a lot more than we could’ve hoped it would, despite so much of it still remaining mysterious. Not just in what happened, but in how it impacts the more recent, and even the current, ASOIAF storyline.

This episode will have a second (shorter) part focusing on the aftermath of Summerhall, examining the effects on Aerys, Rhaegar, and the realm… Listen to part 2 here!

The primary topics in this episode:

  1. History of Summerhall
  2. The Realm of Aegon V, Treason & Turmoil
  3. Dragon Dreams
  4. Enablers: The Wisdom & the Ghost
  5. The Ritual

What became of the dream of dragons was a grievous tragedy born in a moment of joy. In the fateful year 259 AC, the king summoned many of those closest to him to Summerhall, his favorite castle, there to celebrate the impending birth of his first great-grandchild, a boy later named Rhaegar, to his grandson Aerys and granddaughter Rhaella, the children of Prince Jaehaerys.


“Treason and turmoil followed, as night follows day, ending at Summerhall in sorcery, fire, and grief.”


The last years of Aegon’s reign were consumed by a search for ancient lore about the dragon breeding of Valyria, and it was said that Aegon commissioned journeys to places as far away as Asshai-by-the-Shadow with the hopes of finding texts and knowledge that had not been preserved in Westeros.


Dreams

“My brothers dreamed of dragons too, and the dreams killed them, every one.”


As he grew older, Aegon V had come to dream of dragons flying once more above the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. In this, he was not unlike his predecessors, who brought septons to pray over the last eggs, mages to work spells over them, and maesters to pore over them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK25XfDFsIM

The dragons are done. The Targaryens tried to bring them back half a dozen times. And made fools of themselves, or corpses.

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: aegon the unlikely, aegon v targaryen, aemon targaryen, aerion targaryen, aerys ii targaryen, archmaester gyldayn, audio, betha blackwood, black betha, brynden rivers, daemon ii blackfyre, daenora targaryen, daeron ii the good, dragon eggs, dreams, duncan the tall, ghost of high heart, hallyne, house targaryen, jaehaerys targaryen, jenny of oldstones, prince duncan the small, pyromancers, rhaegar targaryen, rhaella targaryen, rhaelle targaryen, robert baratheon, shaera targaryen, shiera seastar, summerhall, the citadel, the mad king, the tales of dunk and egg, the tragedy of summerhall, video, wildfire

The Heresies of Septon Barth (spoilers)

A detailed look at the life, times and works of the man who knows the most about the “higher mysteries”. Want to learn more about dragons, ravens, or why the seasons are so crazy? You do not want to miss this episode on Septon Barth. He’s the leading expert in all of A Song of Ice and Fire on those topics and more! We made this episode before Fire and Blood.

Ser Ryam Redwyne was the greatest knight of his day, and one of the worst Hands ever to serve a king. Septon Murmison’s prayers worked miracles, but as Hand he soon had the whole realm praying for his death. Lord Butterwell was renowned for wit, Myles Smallwood for courage, Ser Otto Hightower for learning, yet they failed as Hands, every one. As for birth, the dragonkings oft chose Hands from amongst their own blood, with results as various as Baelor Breakspear and Maegor the Cruel. Against this, you have Septon Barth, the blacksmith’s son the Old King plucked from the Red Keep’s library, who gave the realm forty years of peace and plenty.


He was the son of a common blacksmith and had been given to the Faith while young. But his brilliance made itself known, and in time he came to serve in the library at the Red Keep, tending the king’s books and records. There King Jaehaerys became acquainted with him…


With Barth’s aid and advice, King Jaehaerys did more to reform the realm than any other king who lived before or after.


Yet if Alysanne was Jaehaerys’s great love, his greatest friend was Septon Barth. No man of humble birth ever rose so high as the plainspoken but brilliant septon.


Dragons

Septon Barth’s claim that the Valyrians came to Westeros because their priests prophesied that the Doom of Man would come out of the land beyond the narrow sea can safely be dismissed as nonsense, as can many of Barth’s queerer beliefs and suppositions.


Dragons are neither male nor female. Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years. Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke. The dragons prove it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-86Pn9XLuc

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: alysanne targaryen, audio, baelor the blessed, davos seaworth, dragons, jaehaerys targaryen, jaehaerys the conciliator, maester aemon targaryen, maesters, magic, religion, ryam redwyne, septon barth, the citadel, unnatural history, valyria, video

History: Oldtown & The Citadel (spoiler free)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gVID7JUQJE

[row][column size=”1/2″]This week, Aziz and Steve are joined by Ashaya for a spoiler free discussion on Oldtown and the Citadel. This conversation takes us up through the book A Clash of Kings and season two of Game of Thrones.[/column] [column size=”1/2″]Flowery as a perfumed dowager.[/column][/row]
[column size=”1/1″ center=”yes”]I am a maester chained and sworn. My order serves. We give counsel, not commands.[/column]

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: audio, house hightower, isle of ravens, maester, oldtown, spoiler free, the citadel, video

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Aziz & Ashaya’s Recommendations!

The Dunk & Egg Collection
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Other Short Stories in Westeros
The Rogue Prince (Prince Daemon)
The Princess & The Queen
The Book of Swords (Sons of the Dragon)

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The Last Wish - Book 1 of The Witcher
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The Expanse - Book 1

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