So happy that the Christmas Filks have become a tradition. A lot of my favorite podcasts have nice yearly things like that and I'm glad that it's continuing for one of the absolute best.

Glad that LMB was able to join in and really loved his thoughts. I had no idea that the most prolific poster had never been on a show before.

I love the Jaqen = Scarecrow theory. Lines up nicely with Arya = Batman. Going to have to assign Batman roles to every character strictly in Arya's POV from now on.

Ghost of High Heart gives the vision about Balon and probably a Faceless Man with a drowned crow (Euron Crowseye Greyjoy) on his shoulder.
And we know that Balon supposedly fell off a bridge from the report Robb received.

I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth, but I think that we Vassals agreed on the last FeastDance episode that while we find Dorne appealing from a cultural standpoint, its just inherently less interesting because it was introduced to the story so late. We also took issue with Doran keeping Arianne in the dark and some of his other decisions. I personally don't think he's nearly as smart as he's given credit for. The fact that he's still trying to play a long game while potentially getting into bed with Varys/Illyrio who have shown that they are willing to let plans burn pretty flippantly doesn't make much sense.

However, I'm sure that a continued discussion on Dorne and their value to the story and the merit of Doran's strategy would be more than welcome in the future.

Oh great, put me on right after Paul's studio-produced track and the gorgeously sultry tones of Lady Grey.

Awesome episode. Great to hear Leigh on the main podcast. Can't believe how much you guys are able to pull out of just one chapter.

Also, has there ever been a more terrifying image than a blood-splattered jester, riding a zebra through the woods, laughing maniacally with a mace in hand?

Great episode guys. LMB meshed really well with the crew. Nice to have a chapter recap as well. Also; Ashley's wrap up was the best thing ever.

I don't think Arya will die. She is apparently the favorite character of George's wife who has sworn vengeance should anything befall her. I think I heard this on the podcast actually, it was a guest host who mentioned it. Maybe one of the Beyond the Wall episodes.

To the Wit and Wisdom of the Baratheon Bros, I submit this gem:

aw thanks! And we should make the wit and wisdom of the brothers baratheon, they're all hilarious. Also, we better hope George and his wife don't run into any marital difficulties then!!!

Another awesome episode. You guys really got A LOT out of that one chapter and I agree that one chapter was enough cause if you added the house of the undying I'd probably still be listening to the episode from last night. Already I think ACOK 48 might break your record for longest recording.



Wit of the Baratheon Bros:
Good Renly quote:
Tyrell swords will make me king. Rowan and Tarly and Caron will make me king, with axe and mace and warhammer. Tarth arrows and Penrose lances, Fossoway, Cuy, Mullendore, Estermont, Selmy, Hightower, Oakheart, Crane, Caswell, Blackbar, Morrigen, Beesbury, Shermer, Dunn, Footly . . . even House Florent, your own wife’s brothers and uncles, they will make me king. All the chivalry of the south rides with me, and that is the least part of my power. My foot is coming behind, a hundred thousand swords and spears and pikes. And you will destroy me? With what, pray? That paltry rabble I see there huddled under the castle walls? I’ll call them five thousand and be generous, codfish lords and onion knights and sellswords. Half of them are like to come over to me before the battle starts. You have fewer than four hundred horse, my scouts tell me-freeriders in boiled leather who will not stand an instant against armored lances. I do not care how seasoned a warrior you think you are, Stannis, that host of yours won’t survive the first charge of my vanguard.

Still listening but REALLY enjoying so far.

I think the situation at Harrenhal with the Arya and the Bloody Mummers/Northern Host is very similar to Egg in The Mystery Knight and Bloodraven's Army. They both inadvertently stumble into a plan that is already well under way so that it appears that they are the catalyst but they are really largely observers.

Also -




From this thread regarding Jaquen and Balon -

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=442

I want 1!

Totally solid!
Great to hear LMB with the gang and hope it happens again.. And again & again

Edit: Forgot to mention that I sometimes undervalue the place where I live but Leigh helped me to appreciate being a Floridian right now.

Also, it's great that Ashley snuck that Sandor baby in as a pleasant surprise. Wouldn't be right to have a year without the Queen of Filks.

Well glad I could help And tahnks FTWard! Ithink you're right, maybe Jaqen swung by the Isles real quick for some murder. If only we knew how they communicated with each other!!

Regarding Faceless Men faces.
My belief is that once you absorb a face that you could recall it for later use. You would not need to return to Braavos to use a different face.
JH does not physically remove Pate's face to transform does he?

Unknown correct? because Pate's still around when Sam get's back right? So he either stole his glamour or something.

I think it may be part glamour (hair and eyes) but also just physical manipulation. That would go along with the lessons that Arya learns. If so then a face is not one and done but reusable. A FM would have to be very careful in re-using a face though. There is more than likely a very good reason for changing your face.

OMG

Zorses + LordManderblee + Christmas Filks = Greatest Podcast ever !!

Really enjoyed this podcast guys. I didn't think it was possible, but this years Filks were as good or better than last years submissions. Grats to everyone who worked on this.

According to Littlefinger to hire a faceless man is as costly as hiring the Second Sons, I have come to the conclusion that H' ghar is ... I haven't a clue! Is Marwyn looking at his dragonglass lava lamp and getting a glimpse of the future & sending out H'ghar to aid/oppose events? No, Arya will not die, if you consider the number of children being named Arya, the backlash would be insane. GRRM could never go out to eat every again for fear of Arya inspired spit in food revenge.

The most convincing theory to me is that Jaqen was the FM who cast Balon from the bridge and that he is still in Euron's employ. His next assignment being to obtain the book. Euron is one of the few people at the moment who would have a vested interest in a book that's basically the Care and Feeding of Dragons. His payment was likely the dragon egg he mentions to Victarion, making the half-hearted excuse that he threw it in the sea during one of his black moods.

I totally believe the dragon egg was used for payment as well.

Would a Bravossi take a dragon egg as payment? I doubt it, even the Iron Bank rep wasn't pleased at the mention of dragons.

I choose to believe that not all Bravoosi are in bed with the Faceless Men, as so often seems to be the assumption.

Much of the information we have on the FM is muddied with myth and legend, but the concept seems to be that the price simply needs to be very dear to the client, which the egg presumably would have been to Euron. If the FM are vehemently anti-dragon, who better to seize the egg for safe keeping?

Well depending on the timeline they may have thought that the dragon eggs would never hatch is this was pre last Dany chapter in AGOT. But still the FM take what's most dear it would be their life whether their actual life or their life in servitude.

Christmas Filks was great and very hilarious and the recap was awesome. My feeling re: FM is that they're definitely a part of Braavosi culture but the FM are like:



and the broader culture is like



meaning respect for the FM but they are outside of day to day Braavosi society. Your average Braavosi person respects them but isn't exactly knocking on the House of Black & White's door with a casserole or anything.

Yeah I see your point because even waif's father gave waif to the FM in addition to the 2/3 wealth he gave them. But that whole story with throwing the egg in the ocean seemed way to convenient and although we don't have all the details, given all we know of their extreme value and rarity, when negotiating with the FM a dragon egg seems like a p good place to start.

Prince Gifs rock.

Yeah, I just had this image of Jaquen Hagar as Prince and got carried away. Anyway, that egg totally did not get thrown in the sea, which is not to say that it isn't a red herring. Based on how long it takes for dragons to mature and how difficult they are to get to accept a rider, even if that egg did hatch, I don't know that any dragon that may come of it would come into play.

Blee ROCKED this episode!

I always thought the price Euron has to pay for the FM's killing of Balon was linked more to Dany's dragons than the dragon egg. It needs to be something that's nearly too high a cost, as with Lady Jane's example of the waif, which I don't think the egg is. I'm undecided whether Euron either plots to let Victarion die killing the dragons for him, or that he can get control of the dragons and pull one over the FM.

I can't really think of anything else that Euron holds dear as a price the FM would demand from him. If the FM were so concerned with dragon eggs, etc, it'd would be easier for one of their own just to kill and take it.

(Also, congrats to everyone on the filks. They were excellent, I really enjoyed them!)

This episode was so much fun to listen to, awesome job everyone!



This is my theory as well, and the only way I can think to explain Jaqen's transformation in front of Arya.

Thanks Bina! And I agree Inkasrain, I feel like if they had to return for every face it would kinda cramp their style, make it hard for them to do their thing. Also, the filks are amazing guys! Congratulations!! And my feelings on FM/braavos is that they're not necessarily tied together by obligation, just by shared culture. Like living in Rome in the middle ages you kinda can't help but work with the pope to some extent, it's just the way things are and the way you're raised to be.

great ep guys lots of fun glad the band aid filk made the cut , which led me to wonder are you familiar with the band aid song over the pond, and slade for that matter? they are very much part of the xmas landscape here and I just assume you all know them

i'm just happy no one made fun of my one take unedited unrehearsed one, complete with forgotten lines and a missing verse.

I loved it! I can't tell you how many recordings of mine end in

I loved the little chuckle at the end. Totally captured the spirit of the filking for me! Let's not take it too seriously